disciple-of-fire

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"Remarkable." Mi'loh replied quietly. “To have stood beside the primarchs, and brought holy retribution to the traitors when they first turned against their oaths… You speak truly. I can only hope to live up to the example set by the loyalists of those dark days. It will be an honor to fight beside you.”

The millennia old Chapter Master lets a weary smile upon his face, concealed by his helmet though it may be, when he sees the Drake Seekers land upon the forward base on the planet he and his Revenants were working to purge of Greenskins.

“Sons of Vulkan. Always a welcome sight.” He calls out. “Although I do not recognize your heraldry. Which chapter do you hail from, cousins?”

These space marine wore the icon of a fiery drake over crossed forge-hammers on their pauldrons.

“The Drake Seekers, Chapter Master.” Mi’loh replies, approaching. “I am called Mi’loh Fire-Eyes, a lieutenant to my chapter.”

[disciple-of-fire]

“Cease fire! It’s just a vox recording!” It seemed that his companions were indeed familiar with the unnerving tactics of VIII. The Night Lords brood frequently sought to overwhelm the senses of their prey before battle was ever met. Mi’loh too remained weary of the empty darkness beyond.

He considered the trajectory data from his scanners, recognizing it as the approach of some sort of transport. “A terror in the night... Our enemy is coming.” Their own gunship had returned to their vessel, concealed in the dark side of the planet.

He turned to the child. “So this center has been attacked by traitor astartes?”

The girl had hunkered down under a metal table, agape. “Yes! Some help might be nice!”

“Records suggest there should be hundreds of personnel here, along with thousands of pupils.”

The girl gave a bitter bark of a laugh. “Not in the summer! There was just a penal battalion, a handful of drill abbots, and two dozen disciplinary cases, including me, sir. Lord.”

“Disciplinary cases?”

“Cadets with disciplinary issues…” the girl admitted, seemingly somewhat embarrassed to admit this to one of the emperor’s angels.

“Such as?”

The girl shrugged under the table. “Fighting other cadets.”

“Where are the other cadets? And the adults?”

“I’m guessing the cons’ are all dead by the barracks. Abbots got picked off too. We cadets took to hiding in the boiler room. The traitors booby-trapped the stairs, my lord. I had to crawl up some vents to grab more rations before they came back.”

“How long have you endured these predations?”

“I think it’s been… three weeks? My lord. Every night. I can’t explain it but… the traitors are saving us for last, for some reason. I’m sure of it.”

Mi’loh nodded. “You have been very brave. What is your name?”

The girl blinked. “Rowan, my lord.”

“Rise, Rowan. Your assessment was correct. We need to move before the traitors begin their prowl. The stairs are clear of hazards. Take us to the boiler room. Our new objective is to retrieve your schola-mates.”

Then the entire schola shook... Something crash-landed outside, followed by a scream of grinding mechanisms. “Dredclaw drop pod.” Mi’loh knew. “Proceed quietly. Protect the girl.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

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She raised her firearm and batted away the tears in her eyes as she came to accept what this meant. Still, she seemed incredulous that they had come this way without knowing why. “You don’t know? How can you not know!?… What time is it…” She turned to look at a battered chrono on her wrist.

“A few minutes past sunset, local chronology. Why?” Mi’loh answered.

“Shit! We need to move before-”

The lumen tubes above went out. It was the same in the mess hall. Strangely, a morning reveille started to blare out of the vox casters - seemingly across the entire schola, judging from the discordant echoes washing in from outside.

The girl wasted no time in gathering her rucksack and snapping a glowstick alight. “Shit, shit, shit!”

Mi’loh began to understand. An urgent proximity notice pinged in his helmet’s display.

The reveille call dwindled all at once, only to be immediately replaced by a looping “WE HAVE COME FOR YOU. WE HAVE COME FOR YOU. WE HAVE COME FOR YOU.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

Their rescuee hardly seemed in need of reassurance as she sidestepped out of the locker, shook her head... and leveled her stub-revolver at each of them in turn, finally settling on Anastasia - perhaps because the psyker was the least obviously armored.

The girl herself was pale and freckly. Her ruddy hair was smartly bound. If Mi'loh's understanding of common human development was correct, she had lived a little over a decade, or perhaps she was tall for her age. Whatever had happened here, she did not seem malnourished, and her bearing, along with her dark fatigues, hinted at some martial training.

"How-how's this possible?" demanded the girl. The kind of frown that settled over her features wouldn't have been out of place beneath an officer's brimmed cap. Mi'loh would've been sold on the impression, had her eyes not been brimming with tears. "Abbot Jaye said comms were smashed. Our astropath got killed before that!"

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

Tracking the child was a simple matter. Her heat signature stood out within the locker where she hid. Mi’loh approached, unconcerned.

“I am brother Mi’loh of the Drake Seekers chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. These are my companions. Anastasia Mr’ez, a sanctioned psyker, and her retainer, Jenny. Come out of your own volition, child. We come to your aid.” Mi’loh said, gesturing for Anastasia and Jenny to pitch in.

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

The Death Guard traitor legion, fathered by the archdaemon Mortarion… “Revenants.” Mi’loh lowered his voice. “Then, you fought at Isstvan III?”

The millennia old Chapter Master lets a weary smile upon his face, concealed by his helmet though it may be, when he sees the Drake Seekers land upon the forward base on the planet he and his Revenants were working to purge of Greenskins.

“Sons of Vulkan. Always a welcome sight.” He calls out. “Although I do not recognize your heraldry. Which chapter do you hail from, cousins?”

These space marine wore the icon of a fiery drake over crossed forge-hammers on their pauldrons.

“The Drake Seekers, Chapter Master.” Mi’loh replies, approaching. “I am called Mi’loh Fire-Eyes, a lieutenant to my chapter.”

[disciple-of-fire]

For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then the glint of a firearm. Mi’loh was already moving.

“IMPERATORRR!!!!”

The first gunshot bounced off his armor, as did the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Then the weapon clicked. Before them stood a scrawny youth, a slip of a girl - her eyes flew open, baffled at the apparent ineffectiveness of her stub revolver, and her warcry.

Convinced of this apparent development, the youth bolted deeper into the kitchen, toppling a tower of dehydrated legumes to cover her retreat. Mi’loh could not move to intercept for fear of causing more harm than good…

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

“We are here to help.” Mi’loh said as soothingly as the low, gravely voxcaster on his helmet allowed. “Come out.” He raised his hands as he approached, suggesting to his companions that they should keep their weapons lowered. His bolt rifle remained slung behind his back, his hand-flamer holstered at his hip. He flung the kitchen bulkhead door open ahead of his companions, and worked his way into the cramped space in a surprisingly nimble action - all in time to spot a recently disturbed can roll across the floor.

Behind the serving station, the area opened up to several pressed-metal cabinets, refrigerators, and cooking stations. A number of rations had been neatly arranged here and there… “Let’s sweep the area.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

The infrared rays went offline, and they moved on together without further delay. The rest of the ascent went by in eerie quiet. Suddenly, they found themselves before the mess hall. The plastech doors were buckled and thrown wide open, and flickering lumen panels clung from the roof in a battered state. There seemed to be a tide of shifted and upturned tables within, many still bearing half-eaten meals on trays. On the far wall, was a perfectly normal cafetreium kitchen.

Mi’loh turned his attention to the space beyond the serving line in time to catch a shadow shifting out of sight. He glanced at his companions. “Movement ahead. Kitchen.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

Mi’loh nodded. “Good thinking.” He drove a ceramite-plated elbow into the duracrete wall, pulverizing its surface. Some good, jagged chunks crumbled to the floor. “Jenny. Your turn.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

“I am not so certain these are meant for security. I suspect these are meant to enforce area-denial. But on who’s behalf, and to what end?" Mi'loh considered the servitor skull-consoles jury-rigged onto the turrets above. He gestured at a bundle of trailing cables, following their descent with an armored finger. “There, by the wall. A cogitator unit.”

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

Mi'loh hurried closer, detaching the scope on his boltrifle, and holding it out between the sensor rays. "It is as you say. There are half a dozen concealed tarantula sentry guns, linked to a series of servitor sensoria." The heavy intercessor took a step back, weighing their options. "Neither you, Jenny, nor I will be able to slip through these beams... We need to disable this trap without giving our presence away, or indeed killing the three of us."

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

It is with an appropriate amount of surprise that Mi'loh turns his helmet and glances at Darius. Questions spring to mind, but all immediately strike him as improper.

"I see." Mi'loh speaks instead. "Then I am pleased our chapters are of one mind in this effort."

The millennia old Chapter Master lets a weary smile upon his face, concealed by his helmet though it may be, when he sees the Drake Seekers land upon the forward base on the planet he and his Revenants were working to purge of Greenskins.

“Sons of Vulkan. Always a welcome sight.” He calls out. “Although I do not recognize your heraldry. Which chapter do you hail from, cousins?”

These space marine wore the icon of a fiery drake over crossed forge-hammers on their pauldrons.

“The Drake Seekers, Chapter Master.” Mi’loh replies, approaching. “I am called Mi’loh Fire-Eyes, a lieutenant to my chapter.”

[disciple-of-fire]

"Understood," Mi'loh replied, his voice a deep, resonant echo through his helm's vox. He gestured to Jenny, the Ogryn. "Jenny, stay close to Ana. We will move together. Keep your guard up."

They advanced into the structure. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the muffled sounds of their footsteps. Soon enough, the access corridor opened up into a vast atrium, where a grand staircase stretched upward. Mi'loh's enhanced vision swept across the expanse, noting the high, vaulted ceilings and the cold, gunmetal walls that seemed to close in on them...

There were infra-red rays trailing down from the ceiling… and there was a faint, almost imperceptible hum in the air…

"Halt." He called. "Sensors ahead."

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

Mi'loh considers that for a moment. "And you are certain you are not sons of Vulkan?"

The millennia old Chapter Master lets a weary smile upon his face, concealed by his helmet though it may be, when he sees the Drake Seekers land upon the forward base on the planet he and his Revenants were working to purge of Greenskins.

“Sons of Vulkan. Always a welcome sight.” He calls out. “Although I do not recognize your heraldry. Which chapter do you hail from, cousins?”

These space marine wore the icon of a fiery drake over crossed forge-hammers on their pauldrons.

“The Drake Seekers, Chapter Master.” Mi’loh replies, approaching. “I am called Mi’loh Fire-Eyes, a lieutenant to my chapter.”

[disciple-of-fire]

The curving façade of adamantium ahead spoke of fortress rather than school. Viewports on the standard pressed habdorm blocks around them likewise spoke to total austerity.

Mi'loh wasn't a psyker, had he been - he might've known that the complex was not abandoned. Dred lingered in the habs, just like desperation remained bright and vivid in the mess hall. "Mr'ez, what do you sense?"

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.

[disciple-of-fire]

But there seemed to be no one waiting down there, with AA or otherwise. The stormraven hatch opened to a leaden sky, growing darker past imposing ironwork bastions. The gunship had brought them down on the tell-tale drillsquare of a type-C schola fortress. Silence grew as their transport's jet engines cycled down... Nothing. A pair of servo skulls darted out of the stormraven ahead of the unlikely trio, scanning and finding nothing around the drill square.

Mi'loh glanced at his auspex. No movement. "Stay behind me." He said, before stepping down from the hatch. "Standard records suggest mess hall to the north, habdorms south..."

Anastasia Mr’ez, I presume?

@disciple-of-fire

“Depends on the asker.” The ancient perpetual and her Ogryn companion Jenny both eyed their new companion warily but without hostility. “To whom do we owe this acquaintance?” Jenny, who loomed over the smaller woman, crossed her scarred and heavily muscled arms and tilted her head to the side with a raised eyebrow.