The Multiverse Project: Warhammer 40,000

"I can't believe you found a Stormhammer of all things," Tangmo scooped a spoonful of tasteless gray ration into his mouth.

"Yeah man, I freaked out bad," Henry agreed enthusiastically. "And I mean freaked the fuck out, like one of those MLG montage."

"And six Macharius too, holy shit," Tangmo chewed another mouthful. "You saved our ass tonight dude."

"That's me, your typical knight in shining armor," Henry twirled his spoon regally, "always there to save the damsels in distress."

Tangmo choked and waving hurriedly around them, "dude!"

Cringing, Henry glanced timidly at the gathered main characters seated around the warm white chemical fire, both the tank crew and guardsmen. Leilatha, Krix, Luva, Tyra, Korri, Hera, Ladaee and Elpida shot him a look that varied between consternation, inquisitiveness and outright challenge.

"Damsel, huh?" Krix glare was sharp enough to make him bleed.

"You and the commissar seem to have low opinion on women, sir," Luva added.

"No I don't!" Henry blurted. "And what do you mean me and the commissar?"

"Dude, I just said I didn't realize there were so many women in the guards," Tangmo spoke up defensively. "I mean, it was an inquiry statement not an insult, goddamn."

"Well, he did say it without any condescension," Tyra made her input.

"Of course you're gonna take his side," Krix gave the pilot a little nudged with her foot then softened her visage. "But seriously though, we all know you both meant nothing by it."

"Just be aware that we will take offense," Luva took a petite bite from her runny ration, chin held up haughtily.

"Well, prepare to be offended then sergeant," Tangmo grinned wickedly. "We're equal opportunists you see, so trust me when I say that your gender will prove to be of little defense against our teasing, ain't that right Henry my main man?"

"I'm afraid he's right ladies," Henry was proud of his ability to be both polite and obnoxious at the same time.

"Damn right I am, too sweet me broski," Tangmo held up the fox head corna and touched it with Henry's own, "anyway, can't we all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that we're alive?"

Nodding murmurs rippled in agreement to that statement, the conversation veering away into companionable silence as the main characters took the opportunity to reflect on last night events.

After getting the guardsmen safely inside the Chimeras, Henry had the eight transport trucks formed up behind the Stormhammer, with the six Macharius flanking them, three on each side. Knowing that he can't let the traitors regroup, Henry decided to shock and awe their asses. So, after setting the quickest route out of Kidemonas, Henry ordered the tanks to plow through the city like a vengeful tempest, the Stormhammer and Macharius bulldozing everything in their path while dishing out savage volleys on any heretic patrols and check points they came across. When they'd reached the city outskirt an hour later, where the main Chaos forces were gathered, Henry ordered everyone to put the pedal to the metal. The armor column plunged into the heretics like white hot knife through butter, so stunned were the traitors that none offered resistance, becoming nothing but wheat before a farmer's scythe.

Within minutes they were thundering across the open field and toward the besieging Imperial forces. Having been notified earlier of their coming lieutenant Vakon, a pale lad with a close cropped light brown hair, was there, along with an army of medic, to personally welcome them back. At the sight of the general, the man embraced him and wept in relief.

And now, after getting their wounds patched up and cleaned, the main characters were finally getting a well-deserved rest.

"How are you doing dear?" Ladaee broke the silence, running a caring hand down Elpida's back.

"I'm alright," Elpida smiled softly. "It just hurt a little."

Henry flinched from the less than kind look Ladaee shot him. Worst still, was that Tangmo saw it.

"So…" Tangmo eyed both Henry and Elpida. "Is there something I should know about?"

Not one to be cliché, Henry braced himself and said.

"I…beat the living crap out of her."

The main characters now shifted their attention to Henry, the silence crushingly oppressive.

"Wait, that's a girl? Ow! What?!" Meko rammed his elbow into Orhul's side.

"You're not the kind of dude that goes around beating up little girl, even if there's a good reason for it," Tangmo said. "So what the hell happened?"

"I thought she was Chaos," Henry shook his head resignedly. "Her grandpa was a head honcho devoted to Tzeentch and Elpida got roped into the whole thing. Apparently the Kolasian referred to the Imperial aquila as the Great Phoenix, which the heretic also used to call the bird god."

"That is true," Xiphos gave his input. "Most of the urbanites called the Imperial eagle 'phoenix'."

"Add you beat the poor girl up regardless?" Meko added judgmentally.

"I didn't know she was a girl man," Henry went on defensively. "I found out after I…"

"He had my legs spread apart then kicked me in the groin," Elpida gave her testimony, all the while glaring crossly at the general. The women around the campfire, minus Ladaee, shot him homicidal look.

"Dude, this happened for real?" Tangmo asked, his face unreadable.

"Yes," Henry nodded grimly like a man awaiting his sentence, ready for the scorn, vilification and consternation from those under his command.

Then Tangmo burst out laughing, the commissar doubling over in gut wrenching laughter as he tossed his empty ration carton into the fire, the women combined outrage were now honed on the chortling Thai.

"Holy fuck!" Tangmo wiped tears from his eyes. "Oh God, that is fucking amazing!"

"Dude, that's not funny!" Henry yelled indignantly.

"It really fucking is, goddamn," Tangmo continued. "Shit, now I'm wondering if this qualifies as child abuse or sexual assault."

"Dude! Shut up!"

"After something like this? Hell no!"

"You shouldn't make light of this, commissar," Ladaee said sternly. "Although it is true that we fight to destroy mankind's enemies, we must conduct ourselves with dignity and honor. So forgive me if I find your hilarity, at the expense of this innocent little girl, to be in very poor taste."

Tangmo raised his hands up in supplication, "I understand where you're coming from Ladaee. True, we fight and kill, but that doesn't mean we can't be civil. War's already bad enough, no need to pour more shit on it. Sorry for laughing."

Ladaee was far from mollified, but her gaze softened somewhat.

"Beside, Elpida's already here," Tangmo went on easily. "The past is done and there's nothing else to do but move on. And I'm sure Henry's gonna do everything in his power to make up for the less than auspicious first meeting, right dude?"

"Count on it," Henry nodded.

"And from what I understand, mama bear have already taken you in?" Tangmo asked Elpida to a resounding snicker from the tank crew, Ladaee's death glare returning with ten times the original intensity.

"Mama bear?" Elpida asked.

"I mean Ladaee," Tangmo continued.

"Yes, she's taking care of me now, teaching me how to work the machines," Elpida gave Ladaee a pleading look. "You'll look after me, right?"

"Of course dear," Ladaee drew her into a motherly embrace.

"See, mama bear."

"The girl can't stay with us," Leilatha spoke up. "She is tainted by the Ruinous power."

"With all due respect, commissar," Ladaee straightened her back. "But I can assure you that Elpida is not tainted."

"Are you a priest of the Ecclesiarch then, engineer Ladaee?" A smug grin curved up Leilatha's lips when Ladaee remained silent. "Just as I thought. Now, what is going to happen, engineer, is that you're going to take the girl back to her parents or any surviving siblings. But if you insist on bringing her along, then I'm afraid she must be confined to the brig until she can be properly examined."

"I have no one left…" Elpida said lowly, petite voice slurred by tear. "Mama and papa were killed by pappous, and now he's dead. I have nothing to return to."

"Elpida's staying, lady commissar," Henry announced. "I can vouch for her, she has been nothing but helpful to us. And if it wasn't for her, we would never have found the STC, the Stormhammer and the Macharius."

Leilatha narrowed her eyes on him then turned to Tangmo, "you agree with this, don't you?"

"Oh yeah, a hundred percent," Tangmo nodded.

"Fine then," Leilatha relented coldly. "Just remember that this was your decision, made absent counsel."

"Well, maybe I will," Henry spat and finished his super disgusting breakfast. Goddamn, no wonder everybody in this universe was so moody, the food's absolute dog shit.

"Finish your food dear," Ladaee said but Elpida just stared glumly at her carton.

"I'm not hungry anymore," Elpida handed Ladaee the half-finished food, the engineer taking it with a kindly, understanding nod.

"Hey," Elpida looked up to see Korri standing above her, a soft smile gracing her face. "Can I join you?"

Dumbfounded by the request, it took Elpida a few seconds to answer with a hurried 'yes'.

Scooting down beside the Kolasian, Henry noticed that the two girls were of the same age.

"I know the food's horrible," Korri fished a small thump size square wrapped in silvery paper out of her pocket. "So here, this should taste better."

"What is it?" Elpida tore the wrapper open, revealing a milky white block.

"Cadian sugar candy, try it."

With some reservation, Elpida popped the candy into her mouth, the cube bouncing around her cheeks, downcast eyes brightening up almost immediately.

"Did you like it?" Korri asked expectantly.

"It's very good," Elpida smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Korri grabbed Elpida hand and squeezed friendlily, the Kolasian returning the gesture firmly.

"That's really cute, no joke," Tangmo commented.

"Oh yeah," Henry shuffled into a more comfortable position. "A little break from the grimdark is always nice."

Everyone, even the stoically bitchy Leilatha and the emo mopey Krillen, agreed. Then the air around them trembled to the rhythm of marching feet and trudging war machine. Guess those Chaos bastards couldn't wait for sunrise.

"Welp, it was good while it lasted," Tangmo got up. "Back to bloodletting it is then. Let's go ladies and gentlemen, into the fray once more, to the trench!"

With a hollering cheer, Tangmo and Leilatha led the guardsmen toward the northern trench, around them whistles and bugles stirred the soldiery awake, barking shouts of officers and clangs of priming guns answering the call to war.

"We're not gonna let them have all the fun," Henry adjusted his awesome general cap, "right boys and girls?!"

The tank crew roared and headed for the Stormhammer, situated just behind the crisscrossing network of trenches and barbwires. Upon reaching the super heavy tank, Henry found Vakon and his six man crew clambering down to the ground, all of them panting heavily.

"Sir!" The artillery lieutenant whizzed, body bent and heaving great lungful, "we've loaded the extra shells you've brought from the research center." Vakon took a deep breath. "Damn, those things were heavy."

"Thank you, lieutenant," Henry gave Vakon a tap on the shoulder. "Now go get the fireworks ready, the crowd's getting restless."

"Yes sir!" Vakon cracked a smile and sprinted back toward the column of Earthshaker cannons and Basilisk artillery guns, the gleaming black barrels rising skyward.

"This is gonna be so fucking awesome!" Henry cackled giddily as he climbed up the Stormhammer and settled down on the gun emplacement above the hatch, headphone snugged tight around his ears.

"Alright y'all, sound off for me," Henry spoke into the mic, "Ruven, you there?"

"Standing by and ready sir," the tank commander answered.

"Ladaee?"

"Here sir."

"Tangmo, make some noise dude."

"Ready to open a can of whoop ass!"

"That's what I want to hear!" Henry laughed. "Macharius, sound off."

"Macharius one, ready."

"Two ready."

"Three standing by."

"Four ready."

"Five ready to unleash hell."

"Six standing by and ready."

"Very good ladies and gentlemen, now make ready, things are about to get really hot," Henry lifted up the binocular and watched as the Chaos traitors stampeded into rank three miles from the Imperial line, unruly and formless, no better than a raucous mob. Then without warning, the heretics surged forward, formless and churning like a rushing tide. The guardsmen opened fire, dawn coming early in flashes of iridescent las light. The Chaos forces wavered but pressed on, heedless of the barrage, their trajectory remained true like a trusting sword.

"Vakon, do you read me?" Henry said.

"Loud and clear sir," Vakon responded.

"I want section one and four to open fire on their flanks, squeeze those bastards in so my tanks can get a clear shot. Bring the sky crashing down upon them!"

"With pleasure general! All batteries set elevation and take aim," behind Henry the guns whirled into motion, the roar of pistons and gears music to his ears. "Steady…steady…all batteries open fire, unleash hell!"

Cacophonic boom shattered the twilight dawn, the earth shuddering from the concussive discharge, screaming shells tearing across the sky. Inferno bloom across the heretic right and left wings, mushroom clouds of fire, miniature atomic bombs, wreathed the earth in twisting, all-consuming flame. As Henry had predicted, the Chaos moshing mass caved inward, compressing into a bulging circle that careened toward them like a malformed comet.

"That's our cue, Ruven light them up!" Henry bellowed into his mic.

"Yes sir!" Not a moment after that, the Stormhammer, Macharius and Leman Russ unleashed their payload, adding a thundering salvo to the lasgun barrage, balls of fire erupting in the midst of the heretics, sending flaming mutilated body parts cartwheeling across the air.

Soon enough, all that remained of the Chaos's first wave were sizzling craters and black cremated remains that swirled away on the westerly wind. But despite the staggering casualty they'd suffered, while dealing absolutely no damage to the Imperial line, a new mob was already forming on the edge of Kidemonas.

"Those bastards can't take a fucking hint," Tangmo voxed in.

"They never do," Henry agreed then noticed that one of the Macharius hasn't fired its main gun. The blocky, futuristic barrel writhed in dark swirling neon mauve remained cold despite the eager hum it was giving off.

"Macharius number two, why have you not fired your main gun?" Henry asked.

"The weapon specification is unfamiliar to us sir," a subdued male voice said. "That's why we've only fired the auxiliary guns."

"Ready the main cannon and prepare to fire," Henry commanded

"Really?! We can fire the big gun?!" A frighteningly eager, girlish voice cut in.

"Umm…yes?" Henry said.

"Yay!"

"Sir," the man went on guardedly. "I don't think that's a good idea…"

"Piss off!" The girl shrieked. "All system fired up and ready. Target general?"

"The thickest mass of heretic," Henry said.

"I see it, here goes!"

Hissing vapor rose from the barrel as it glowed to a glaring intensity, bathing the land in bright violet hue. Then, with a high pitched roar, the Macharius unleashed its firepower, the force sending the tank rolling back a good twenty feet. Henry watched the swirling orb of purple, laced with energized lighting, soared across the killing field and struck the ground like a meteorite, sending chunks of earth and dust skyward in great towering plume. When the orb finally rolled to a stop it ruptured and exploded into an all-consuming firestorm that swallowed the entire southern section of Kidemonas in hellish flame that spread like a tsunami, the cascading wall of searing orange sweeping out in all direction. It was only after burning away half of no man's land that the tide finally stopped, much to Henry relief. When the soot and smog cleared, all that remained across the killing field looked like ground zero where the Tsar Bomba went off.

"Oh my God what the fuck just happened?!" Tangmo hollered.

"What do you mean what happened?! What are you, blind?! Jesus!" Henry bellowed. "There were millions of them, and I fucking destroyed them all! Holy mother of God, do you see that shit?! There's nothing left! From every blade of grass to the molecules in the air, everything is fucking purged from existence!"

"Umm…dude, you might wanna calm down with the diabolical laugh," Tangmo was understandably a little worried, "sounding a bit too much like the Joker there."

"Sorry, I get high on power," Henry resumed a more professional tone. "Alright, Macharius number two, kindly fire the death ray again please."

"…Yeah, I don't think that would be possible general," the woman said timidly.

"Care to elaborate?" Henry glanced at the Macharius and saw that it was dull black, no light shone from the headlights or barrel that had glowed so vividly before.

"All systems just shut down sir," the woman said. "Everything went into hibernation, can't even get the blasted thing to move."

"What's the point of having a tank that can fire one time before going dead?" Ruven spoke up.

"Hey, after dealing that much damage, she can take a nap as long as she wants," Henry saw movement behind the barren crater and pressed the binocular to his face. "You gotta be shitting me!"

"General, sensor's picking up a large armor column amassing at the edge of the city," Ladaee informed him. "It's going to be another push sir, but this time with tanks."

"You hear that Vakon? Ready the cannons my dude!" Henry said.

"Already done sir, all batteries awaiting your command."

"Yo! Tangmo! Pull everyone out of the trenches, I'm not using the guardsmen as meat shield, fall back behind the Earth Shakers and Basilisks."

"Excellent idea," Henry could practically see Tangmo smiling. "Guardsmen! Initiate tactical withdraw, fall back to the rear. Don't give me that look Leilatha, general's order! Now go, get moving, go, go, go!"

Henry watched as the guardsmen abandoned the trenches and sprinted back down the line, flowing and brushing against the tanks. Spotting Tangmo bobbing above the crowd, Henry held up his corna in salute, the Thai responding with a metal horn of his own.

"All tanks form up and follow me!" Henry ordered as the Stormhammer lurched forward, the five still functioning Macharius rolled up to take their place beside the super heavy tank, while the Leman Russ under Vakon's command, about fifty in number, formed the flanks. An admittedly formidable sight, but the traitor's legion still outnumbered them by about five to one.

"Lock and load ladies and gents!" Henry checked the ammo then primed the twin heavy bolter attached atop the hatch, replacing the impromptu MG42 from earlier.

"Sir, are you sure you want to be up there?" Ladaee asked.

"Don't worry Ladaee, I don't plan on dying today," Henry said.

"I understand sir, just…please be careful, yes?"

"Always."

"Just say you love him and be done with it," Henry almost laughed at how earnest Konas was with that statement. His nonconfrontational honesty was lost on Ladaee however, made worse by the laughing crews.

"How about you mind your own bloody business and keep your head forward?!" Ladaee snapped.

"Yes mam," Konas replied quickly.

"I counted two hundred tanks moving toward us sir," Elpida spoke up. "They're closing in fast."

"All hands prepare for contact," Henry trained the heavy bolters on the approaching wall of dust and steel.

"Oh yeah, Kursk time baby!" Henry grinned despite knowing that he was the Wehrmacht in this situation, not the Red Army. "Vakon, show them we mean business."

The thunder of artilleries roared behind him, the wailing shells slammed into the Chaos's tank, turning many into flaming gutted corpses. But the surviving war machines simply bulled aside their dead comrades before unleashing a counter salvo, the shot wild and unruly but some managed to hit the Imperial tanks. The damages were insubstantial but annoying none the less.

"Oh, so that how's it gonna be?!" Henry squawked when a shell struck the Stormhammer's thick armor, shrapnel flying pass his face. "Bektra, give them hell!"

The Stormhammer's triple barrel fired in quick succession, the first two shots took out a pair of Leman Russ while the third tore a straight line through three tanks, killing all of them. Around him the Imperial tanks charged into the heretic's vanguard, firing from all cylinders. Henry squeezed the bolter's triggers, adding a stream of screaming bolts to the mix.

"We are the panzer elite! Born to compete! Never retreat! Ghost Division!" Henry sang into the mic, his dual heavy bolters tearing into a Leman Russ's auxiliary gun. "Leaving your dead! Always ahead! Fed by your dread!"

"Hah! Finally you sing!" Ruven laughed. "From what I heard, the commissar made a rather rousing performance earlier."

"Like hell I'm going to be outdone!" Henry eased his fingers from the triggers and blinked away pulsing glare in time to see one of the Macharius breaking rank and rushing the enemy's thickest line.

"Who is that?!" Henry demanded, wincing when three solid shots hit the Macharius's hull, the damage was minimal but it still looked really scary. "Get back in line with everybody else goddamn it!"

"We're trying sir!" The Macharius's commander said, his voice strained, "but…by the Throne, the tank's fighting our command!"

"The Machine Spirit is restless," Ladaee gave her diagnostic.

"Commander, rein that tank in…" another shell struck the Macharius, bringing the war machine to a halt. Henry's heart sank to the bottom of his stomach.

"Damage report!" Henry yelled.

"We're okay sir but…" The commander paused for a moment, when he spoke again there was an edge of panic in his voice. "Merrin, what the fuck is happening?!"

"I don't know Kaela!" Merrin said. "All systems are going haywire!"

"Corrin, Vatthew, check the mainframe integrity. Sa'lor, Avokin, status report!"

"Damn it Vatthew, keep her still will you?!" A gruff old voice answered Kaela.

"I'm trying! I'm throwing every gear back and stepping on the breaks, but she's fighting it!"

Suddenly, the troubled Macharius fired its primary twin-linked lascannon, the two melta side guns and the Vulcan mega-bolter positioned beneath the main turret at the same time, turning everything directly in front of it into shredded burning metal. Then the Macharius rolled forward again, pushing deeper into the heretic's rank.

"Ay! Yo! Pull back into position goddamn it, you're gonna get killed!" Henry barked into the mic.

"I'm trying!" Kaela yelled. "But she just keeps pushing forward! It's like she get angrier every time she get hit."

"The weapon system is becoming more…fluid?" Another make his input.

"What the fuck do you mean fluid?!" Henry demanded.

"I don't know, but she's becoming more proficient in combat sir," the man said, unbelieving of his own words.

"What in the hell?!" Henry wanted to argue but pushed aside his frustration and bellowed, "fuck it, forward! Keep pace with the crazy Macharius, don't get separated! Onward! First in the line of fire! First into hostile land! Tanks leading the way!"

The column pushed forward, all guns blazing, adding another layer of crimson to the rising blood red dawn. Although the Imperial tanks were devastating in their advance, the traitors were not giving up without a fight. Soon, the loyalist Leman Russ quickly found themselves succumbing to superior number, like mighty knights being pulled off their horses by a raving mad mob, many of the Imperial tanks were pounded into flaming carcasses.

"Vakon!" Henry yelled over the pounding din. "Have all artillery sections concentrate fire on the enemy's right flank. Clear a path for me!"

"Right away general! New coordinates! Load and set elevation, fire at will!"

With no way to counter the bombardment, and bunched up too close to perform an orderly retreat, the Chaos tanks were torn apart by the merciless barrage, flaming flakes of iron drifted down from the sky like searing snow.

"Ruven! Go right dude!" The Stormhammer veered toward the avenue of destroyed tanks, crushing dead metal and fleeing people indiscriminately. "Macharius! Follow me! Oi, did you managed to get your tank under control yet?!"

"Barely sir!" Henry assumed this was Vatthew the driver speaking. "As long as we allow her to go after the enemy, she seems more or less inclined to follow our orders."

"Well shit, she's gonna get what she wants then, we're about to Chi-Ha-Tan this bitch," Henry loaded new belts into the heavy bolters and pulled back the cocking lever. "To the Leman Russ, be the anvil my brave brothers and sisters! Hold the line as we bring the hammer down on them, in the name of the Emperor stand fast and true like the Spartan of old, no retreat, no surrender!"

A hearty roar in thirty different timbres answered him as the Stormhammer's triple barrel fired in unison, the three gigantic shells tearing a bloody gash into the heretic's flank, creating a burning corridor which the super heavy tank quickly exploited. Not expecting a pincer maneuver from the outnumbered Imperial force, the Chaos legion languid respond proved to be fatal. Already dazed from the Basilisks and Earth Shakers bombardment, the close knitted ranks can do nothing but die, much to Henry cackling satisfaction.

"Yo! Can you maybe chill?!" Tangmo interrupted his exaltation. "You're scaring the men!"

"Well, maybe you should blam those fucking pussies for getting scared so easily!" Henry shot back.

"Then I'm going to be the first one on the firing line, because I'm both scared and concern for your mental health!"

"Don't be so melodramatic! Nobody's afraid of me," the stark silent said otherwise, so Henry ominously lowered his voice. "You guys are not afraid of little old me…right?!"

"Of course we're not sir, we were just awestruck by your usual eccentricity," Ladaee eagerly came to his defense.

"Oh yeah, like she's going to say anything bad about you," Tangmo condescending implication was hard to miss, "and what about the Chaos tanks?"

"I fucking destroyed them all!" Henry swept his gaze over the smoldering, but silent battlefield, taking in his successful pincer movement with bursting pride.

"Let me be the judge of that. Meko, binocular please," there was a brief pause before Tangmo spoke again, his tone begrudgingly hushed. "…Holy shit you magnificent bastard, what you did was fucking art. And your casualty seems to be light too, goddamn you're good."

"Aww, you're making me blush!" Henry said sweetly.

"Hey Ladaee, I can give you some pointer for when you and the general are alone together," Henry could practically see Tangmo winking. "I know how he likes his woman."

"Sir! That is highly inappropriate!" Ladaee incredulous declaration was almost drowned out by the suppressed laughter emanating from the tank crew and guardsmen.

"We'll talk later," Tangmo went on quickly. "Anyway Henry, do you still want the guardsmen back inside the trenches? The tanks seem to have everything under control and I think the heretics just exhausted their armor units. They'll probably be sending in only grunts now."

"Looks that way," Henry agreed. "But I rather be safe than sorry, have the guards return to the trenches, if you please."

"Got it."

"Umm, general, sir?" Elpida timidly spoke up. "Sensor's detecting a large troop build up to the east."

"You can't be serious," Henry glanced eastward irritably, eyes squinted against the milky white sun now blazing above the horizon, grunting when he saw the hazy dust cloud creeping toward them, howl and scream rumbling from within.

"Goddamn it, those bastards still can't take a hint," Henry shook his head.

"They're Chaos worshippers, what do you expect? They're already lacking in the IQ department," Tangmo said. "Okay lads and lasses, manned your position, we got another wave incoming…"

"Sir!" Oh shit, Vakon's panicking again, the dude is like a canary for bad news. "The navy is picking up a massive power surge! Another Warp portal is opening up!"

Roaring in frustration, Henry craned his head upward and beheld the kaleidoscopic nightmare of pulsing eldritch pink blooming across the sky, marring and twisting the cerulean canvas with sickening ripples of unreality.

"Fuck my life!" Tangmo yelled, unrestrained in his vilification. "God fucking shit fuck motherfuck shit! Piece of fucking Chaos shit! Fuck!"

The empyrean display lasted for about two minutes before the twitching tendrils of the Immaterium faded away like wisps of smoke on a dying incense, reality resuming its correct corporeal form.

"Vakon, who just came through?" Henry spoke into the mic. "Chaos reinforcement? One of ours? Give me an answer lieutenant!"

Vakon's answer was cut short by piercing static, Henry grounded his teeth until the jagged screeching ceased.

"Brave soldiers of the Imperium," came the trademark voice of a Space Marine. "Take heart, for salvation has arrived. Together, we shall drive the Ruinous power from this planet."

Glancing up, Henry saw a fireball of reentry streaking across the sky and hurtling toward them.

"Tangmo, what the hell is coming down?" Henry spoke into the mic. "I can't see shit!"

"Hold up a second," there was a moment of silence before Tangmo said, "holy shit dude, it's a Thunderhawk! I repeat, a Space Marine Thunderhawk is inbound."

"Color and insignia?" Henry pressed on.

"Give me a sec, the thing just cool down…ugh."

"Ugh?! What do you mean ugh?!"

"Ultramarine blue with a white toilet seat, it's the Smurf."

"Welp, at this point I don't really give a shit. Besides, this is the first time we'll get to see an Astartes up close, you hype?"

"Hell yeah I'm hype. Wanna go meet them?"

"Hold on let me check. Ladaee, Elpida, what's the status on the traitor forces?"

"They're holding position sir," Ladaee said. "That transmission was planet wide, everybody with a decent receiver heard it. I believe the heretics are thinking twice about rushing us."

"Okay then," Henry crawled out of the hatch. "Look alive guys, we have guest."

Climbing down to stand beside the Stormhammer, Henry watched as the Thunderhawk circled them before banking toward the killing field, the huge jet hovering above the destroyed tanks before picking out a clearing and descend.

"Now this is my kind of surprise," Tangmo came to stand beside Henry.

"Oh yeah," Henry nodded, "even if they're the Smurf."

"Honor guard, with us! That means you and the tank crew too Ruven," Tangmo waved for the main character to follow, they comply with a hint of amusement.

"So we're your lackeys now?" Krillen deadpanned his question.

"Don't sulk colonel, it's a great honor," Tangmo grinned.

"And what would we be doing, exactly?" Orhul asked.

"Be the first to die with me, isn't that great!" Tangmo laughed mischievously.

"I don't mind really," Ruven shrugged.

"Of course you don't, you're sitting behind thick plates of moving armor," Luva spoke up.

"I'm with you commissar," Tyra chirped up happily.

"What are you even doing here? You're a pilot, you don't belong with the Imperial Guards," Leilatha cut in sharply.

"Alright you two that's enough," Henry wagged his finger warningly. "If you keep this up, I'm going to have the commissar administer the Thai kick again."

"She'll probably enjoy it," Leilatha sneered.

"Hey!" Tyra squeaked indignantly.

"Enough! The ramp's coming down," Tangmo raised his voice as the Thunderhawk's entrance slowly lowered to the screech of grating steel.

When the ramp finally came down in its entirety, Henry and Tangmo was greeted with blood red demon eyes shrouded in smoke and darkness. Then the eyes, seven pairs in all, strode forward and into the light. Standing tall and proud before them were the Space Marines of the Ultramarines Chapter, the Emperor's angels of death, resplendent in hulking armor of gleaming ultramarine blue.

Swallowing down their nervousness, Henry and Tangmo gave each other a nod before marching crisply toward the sergeant leading the squad.

"Brother sergeant," Henry spoke, saluting in sync with Tangmo. "Your arrival could not have come at a better time, another wave of heretics is poise to overrun our…"

"Ha! I knew I'll find you two here!"

Henry paused, staring mouth agape at the Ultramarines sergeant waving jovially at him, his distorted voice only made the greeting that much more hilarious.

"Wait a minute…" Tangmo strode up to the Ultramarines, "Damien?!"

"You're goddamn right!" The Ultramarines fumbled with his helmet and pulled it off, revealing none other than Damien, the ruggedly handsome Canadian grinning ear to ear.

"Yo! Dude!" Henry laughed and clasped hand with Damien, the Canadian's palm now two times bigger than his. "I was wondering when you were going to show up!"

"Welp, here I am!" Damien released Henry and shook hand with Tangmo, "ready to kick ass and take names."

"Woah, nice grip," Tangmo broke the handshake, "thought you might accidently squish my hand there."

"I'm in full Superman mode dude," Damien said. "Treat everything that wasn't Space Marine related like it was paper."

"Nice."

"Forgive me brother Damien, but you know these two?" Another Space Marine appeared on Damien's right, a bolter cradled ready in his arms.

"Damn right I do, these are my bros!" Damien laughed and gave the Space Marine a friendly slap on the pauldron. "Oh damn, I almost forgot to introduce y'all, 4th squad 4th company, front and center!"

The Space Marines strode handsomely up to Henry and Tangmo, coming to a stop in a pristine parade line.

"This is my second in command, Gallus," Damien pointed at the marine who'd just spoken, "next is Sidonius and Galerius," he gestured next to a pair of Tactical Marines, "this big guy with the heavy bolter is Manius, our heavy weapon specialist." The marine gave a little nod.

"Then we have Helvius and Aurius," Damien introduced the last pair, and Henry saw immediately that something was different about them. Their weapons and armors, although most definitely Space Marine in design, were sleeker and more modern, if the term can be applied to 40k.

"These two are a new breed of Space Marine," Damien threw his arms around both their shoulders, "the Primaris Marines."

Henry and Tangmo traded confuse look before asking in unison:

"What's a Primaris Marines?"

"We were forged for mankind's darkest hour," one of the Primaris spoke up. "And that hour is upon us."

"Ominous, but what does that mean, exactly?" Tangmo said.

"Well it's a long story," Damien stroked his chin. "You see, this all started at the very end of the 13th Black Crusade, with the forces of Abaddon the Despoiler poised on conquering Cadia…"

"Yeah, let me just stop you right there," Henry interrupted. "As much as we want to know more about these new guys, we are in the middle of something here."

"Oh right! Sorry about that," Damien put his helmet back on.

"So why exactly are you here again?" Henry pressed on.

"Evacuation details," Damien pointed up at the sky. "We're here to help get all these nice people off the planet."

"Isn't there a space battle going on right now?" Tangmo asked.

"Nah dude, we took care of that. The new ship we brought really packs a punch, as in, it almost solo the entire Chaos fleet."

"For real?"

"Oh yeah, and look, the transports are here already."

Following Damien's pointing finger, Henry and Tangmo saw more lances of reentry cutting across the sky like brushstrokes on a painter's canvas.

"There's like a few millions people down here, just so you know," Henry continued.

"The air lift is a temporary measure," Damien said. "Once we take care of the Chaos assholes on this planet, we'll return them here so they can be properly processed."

"How many Chaos strongholds are left?" Tangmo asked.

"Welp, this is the last one actually," Damien stabbed his thumb at Kidemonas. "Almost the entire planet has been clear. The Kolasi PDF should be converging on this location in a couple of hours."

"Are you sure they're not Chaos in disguise? I mean, me and Tangmo got fucked pretty hard over yesterday," Henry was understandably skeptic.

"Of course I'm sure dude, come on! Trust me!" Damien whined, making the usually intimidating Space Marines voice sounded super goofy. "Besides, if they try anything we can just glass them from orbit."

"Now that's my kind of insurance policy," Henry chuckled but quickly became solemn when a very angry war cry rolled forth from the decimated Kidemonas. The heretics were taking the initiative to make the first move.

"Round four my dudes, get ready!" Tangmo waved the main characters onward.

"Revved up those tanks guys!" Henry ordered the tank crew. "Positioned yourself behind the guardsmen and make ready!"

"Yo, what about us?" Damien spoke up.

"Say what now?" Tangmo spun around, surprised by the question.

"Where the hell are we supposed to go?" Damien pulled the bolter from the magnetic lock on his thigh and slammed in a new magazine. "We just got here, any pointers?"

"Wait, you're asking us?" Henry said. "I mean, you guys are cool with taking order from us lowly human? You're not gonna be offended and start throwing a hissy fit before taking command away from us?"

"That is a vicious stereotype Henry, you should be ashamed of yourself!" Damien cried indignantly.

"We respect and obey the chain of command lord general, lord commissar," Gallus spoke up. "Tell us where we need to be and it shall be so."

"Well that's mighty neighborly of you brother Gallus, thank you," Tangmo said. "If it's not too much trouble, I would like your squad to join me and the guardsmen in the trench. We need all the help we can get."

"Lead the way then commissar," Gallus nodded.

"Alright dudes, let's do this," Damien bellowed. "Courage and honor brothers! For Guilliman! For Macragge! For the Imperium! And for the Emperor!"

The Ultramarines gave a loud huzzah and marched off to join the guardsmen. Well, six of them at least, one of the Primaris went back to the Thunderhawk and took off toward the rear where the artilleries were arrayed.

"Now we're talking!" Henry laughed and bounded for the Stormhammer. "Let's see what you can do Damien!"

"With pleasure!"

The five hours that followed the Ultramarines's arrival was eventful, in a strangely relaxing and predictable way. Large transport ships that looked like metallic whale descended from the sky in crisp formation and landed behind the artillery line, its awing hull opening up to the millions of refugees gathered around the landing zone. Things got little hectic at first, with people pushing and shoving to the front, eager to be off the planet when two companies of guardsmen marched forth from the ship to restore order. And not just any guardsmen, but the Death Korps of Krieg, the sight of the gasmask wearing soldiers were enough to instill rigid, almost fumbling, order into the refugee. That and the Krieg guardsmen had already gunned down a score of people.

Along the northern front the Chaos heretics charged their line, like grinding waves they slammed against the defenders, retreated, then come at them again, the process repeated with precise regularity. But after three hours Henry, Tangmo and Damien started to realize that they were running out of ammo. It wasn't an hour later, when most of the civilian ships had taken off, that the guardsmen started withdrawing. As per their Cadian pedigree, the artilleries were quickly disassembled and hauled off toward one of the waiting ship. The traitor legion was relentless however, and when the heavy guns went quiet, they redoubled their effort. Thankfully the Macharius tank that had shut down four hours earlier became operational again and fired the super laser on the advancing heretics, the destruction humbling even the Ultramarines. With the Chaos traitors reeling, the Imperial forces finally abandoned the trenches. The immobile Macharius was towed into the transport ship by her super heavy tank buddies, followed by the Cadian and Kolasian guardsmen.

"Leilatha!" Tangmo called the lady commissar over.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Keep everyone safe, I'm putting you in command for now!"

"Wait…what?!"

"There's still one civilian transport left," Tangmo pointed at the last ship still beached on the scorched landing zone, line of shoving civilians snaking away from it. "Me, Henry and Damien will oversee the evacuation and hitch a ride on it."

Leilatha looked about ready to protest but settled with a tired sigh, "we will have words of your reckless behavior once you return, commissar."

"I look forward to it, commissar," they shook hand, the gesture easy and respectful. "Later!"

Leilatha offered a curt nod when the gigantic ramp slowly raised upward, the lady commissar remaining where she was, watching them with piercing, yet unreadable, eyes. The last thing they saw before the ramp closed was Tyra popping up above Leilatha's shoulder, confusion and worry etched on her face.

"Gallus! Take the men back to the Thunderhawk and return to the ship," Damien told his second in command. "I'll accompany the general and the commissar."

"It will be done sergeant," Gallus nodded then turned to the squad. "Fall back!"

As the Space Marines thundered away, Henry, Tangmo and Damien quickly sprinted toward the ragged refugees being escorted into the ship by a squad of Krieg guardsmen.

"Well, things seem to be moving along quickly enough," Tangmo said as the trio took their place beside a Krieg grenadier, waving the refugee onward.

"Yep, much faster than Disneyland, that's for sure," Henry concurred.

"Because if you don't get on this ride, you're fucking dead," Damien turned to regard Tangmo. "So, two at once?"

"You jealous bro?" Tangmo smirked nastily.

"You're juggling a redhead and a tsundere, yes I'm mad," Damien grunted.

"And Henry got himself a hot Bollywood mama bear," Tangmo stabbed his thump at Henry.

"Dude, you're hitting it off with a MILF?!" Damien spun on the New Yorker.

"She's not a MILF!" Henry retorted. "She's just very protective of those under her command."

"Henry?! General Henry, come in!" Ladaee voice boomed from the headphone.

"Speaking of the devil," Henry tapped the plastic earmuff. "Go ahead Ladaee."

"Sir, is my satchel with you?" Ladaee went on urgently, and what do you know, he was still carrying her satchel.

"Yeah it's with me. Why?"

"The STC's data is in there sir! You're carrying the memory port!"

"WHAT?!" Henry shouted and rummaged through the satchel, finding the removable USB inside. "Oh shit."

"Is that a turntable?" Damien craned his head downward.

"Nope, that's the external hard drive he took from the STC," Tangmo shot Henry a surprised look. "Why do you have it?"

"I thought I gave it to Ladaee," Henry said quickly.

"No you didn't!" Ladaee bellowed.

"Would you calm down?! The damn thing's safe, so chill!"

"You fool! Do you realize what you've done?! Now every heretic on the planet is coming after you!"

"No they won't, those dumbasses don't even know I have it!"

"And you're sure about that?!"

"Of course I'm sure, get off my back already!"

"Well excuse me for actually worrying about you!"

"Hehehe, they're going at it like an old married couple," Damien snickered.

"Tell her you'll be home soon, but a little drunk," Tangmo added.

"Shut the fuck up!" Henry roared at them. "Look Ladaee, the refugees are all inside the ship, I'm following them up the ramp as we speak. There, I'm inside now! Happy!?"

"Fine!" And with that last outburst, Ladaee terminate the communication.

"I swear to God, that woman!" Henry blistered, punching and kicking the air like a tantrum throwing brat.

"You know she's just worry about you, right?" Tangmo irked a brow.

"Yeah, it's obvious she really cares about you dude," Damien said. "You don't have to be a dick about it."

"I wasn't!" Henry cried the same moment the entrance ramp slammed shut, the locks and seals falling into places with piercing clangs and hisses of compressed air. Then his stomach lurched as the ship took off.

"You totally were dude," Tangmo continued.

"Goddamn it, she was being clingy!" Henry stomped his feet.

"You rather she didn't?" Tangmo looked at him flatly.

"Why the hell are you taking her side!?"

"You two shut the fuck up!" Damien bellowed and pointed at his glowing red visors. "My Space Marine sense is tingling."

"Your what?" Henry asked.

"My helmet can detect any anomaly within the vicinity," Damien pulled the bolter from his thigh and held it at the ready, sweeping the barrel over the screaming crowd. "And right now, all the red buzzers are going off."

"Chaos energy?" Tangmo drew his dual laspistols.

"No," Damien shook his head. "But a sudden uniform shift in temperament."

"What the hell does that mean?" Henry asked, laspistol twirling around his finger like a cowboy.

"It means, why are there a dozen people staring menacingly at us right now?"

Following Damien's pointing bolter, Henry now saw that amongst the frightened refugees hovered an alarming number of hostile eyes. Ragged and beaten as they were, the sharp unblinking look they were giving the trio conveyed nothing but boiling hostility, moment from being unleashed.

"They like your purse dude," at Tangmo's words, Henry noticed that indeed the glaring men and women were absolutely transfixed on his satchel, more specifically, the STC's USB port poking above the tanned rim.

"Umm," Henry tried vainly to conceal the device. "This is just a turntable? I'm the DJ for this party…"

"For the Great Phoenix!"

With a harrowing battle cry, the Chaos cultists went berserk and charged the trio, those carrying firearms blasted their way through the wailing refugees, sending mist of red into the air.

"Fuck!" Tangmo ducked behind Damien, Henry quickly following suit. "Shoot them Damien!"

"What do I look like, the Marine Malevolent?!" Damien said, bolter trained on the assailants but not firing. "I'm not gonna kill civilians!"

"You Space Marines got aim assist, headshot those fucks!" Tangmo pressed on.

"There's too many people around you asshole!" Damien retorted the same moment the Chaos madmen broke through the ring of people and rushed forward.

"Welp, that makes things infinitely easier," Henry grinned and swept his laspistol out in a deadly red arch, the pops and fizzes of ionized air sending bodies crashing to the floor. But the heretics continued to press closer until aiming became impossible. Grunting, Henry and Tangmo holstered their laspistols and were readying themselves for a closer quarter fight when Damien exploded into motion. Now, everybody knows how fast a Space Marine can move, but seeing an Ultramarine kicking, punching and chokeslamming Chaos cultists like some unholy spawn of Bruce Lee and the Undertaker, was truly a spectacle to behold.

Flashes of bright lasbolt flickered at the corner of his eyes, Henry spun and saw a group of heavily armed heretics bulling their way through the screaming crowd. The frothing mob took down two Krieg guardsmen before disappearing into a corridor.

"Yo Damien! Hold the fort here, we're going after the stranglers," Henry sprinted after the traitors with Tangmo at his side.

"No problem man, I got this under control," Damien clotheslined a heretic and decapitated him. "Oh shit, my bad!"

Dashing into the grimdark hallway, Henry and Tangmo drew their laspistols and ran after the hollering cultists. Rounding a corner, the pair found the group storming through a wide double door, bangs and pops erupted from beyond, tinged by painful howls. Not slowing down, Henry and Tangmo burst into the room, the Thai spearing a Chaos man to the ground while the New Yorker skidded to a stop and took in his surroundings.

They were in the ship's huge cockpit, and the pilot, copilot and two technicians were dead, the heretics were busy throwing their bodies away.

"In the name of Emperor, stop!" Henry bellowed.

"Kill them!" One of the heretics said as he took the pilot seat and pressed the yoke downward, causing the elevation to dip.

"Oh shit, they're gonna crash this plane with no survivors!" Henry tried to balance himself but three heretic dogpiled him, punching and clawing for the USB. Rolling to the side with a roar, Henry struck a Chaos woman down with a spinning elbow, send another flying with a punch, then shot a Chaos man in the face. Scrambling up to his feet, Henry saw Tangmo leaping at the pilot seat and wrapped his arms around the heretic's neck.

"Let go you fucking terrorist!" Tangmo yelled.

"Never!" He screamed.

"Fuck you then!" Tangmo tightened his grip then twist savagely, breaking the man's neck with a wet crack.

"Get the fuck out!" Tangmo kicked the limp body off the seat and pulled the yoke up until the ship was leveled then turned to the approaching Henry. "You know how to fly this thing?"

"Umm…kinda?" Henry took the pilot seat while Tangmo sat down on the copilot's. "I mean, I clocked few hours into Microsoft's Flight Simulator and I've completed every Ace Combat game. That counts as experience, right?"

"Good enough is good enough," Tangmo's nervous chuckle was interrupted by muffled booms and jarring tremors that rocked through the ship. "Okay, that doesn't sound good."

"It's coming from outside," Henry swiped blood away from the console panel, revealing the blinking radar. "Oh shit, we got seven bogeys converging on us."

"Where the fuck did they even get fighter planes man?" Tangmo asked. "Does this thing have any defensive guns we can use?"

"I don't know and I don't care, cause I'm kicking this bitch into high orbit, hang on!"

Pulling hard on the yoke, the ship titled upward like a rocket, puffs of white clouds flew passed the large cockpit window in whipping wisp. Teeth gritted, Henry could feel the g-force pulling his body back into the chair, his muscles and bones taut to the point of snapping.

"Dude, ease off!" Tangmo's voice could barely be heard over the heavy pressure pounding in his ears.

"I can make it!" Henry said firmly.

"No you idiot! If you keep this up the ship's gonna…"

The ship suddenly ceased its ascension, seemingly suspended in midair before tilting like a felled tree, the cockpit window spinning away from the cerulean sky to the grayish brown surface of the planet below. Then the ship went free falling.

"We're stalling!" Tangmo squawked.

"The stick isn't working!" Henry yanked hurriedly on the yoke to no avail.

"Umm, guys, why are we losing altitude?" Damien asked calmly, screaming people can be heard in the background. "I mean, I'm cool with that, what with the magnetic boots and all. But everybody else is bouncing all over the place like they're inside a washing machine. Hell, I got about twelve children cradled in my arms right now."

"Damien, we just hit major turbulence man!" Henry screamed. "Send help! Ask if anyone knows how to fly this ship!"

"If anybody knows how to fly a space craft, please proceed to the cockpit immediately, the commissar and the general required your assistance," Damien announced. "You four can? Okay, good, go! Yo Henry, help is on the way, hang tight."

"I'm trying!" Henry pulled on the yoked several more time but the ground continues to draw nearer. After what seemed like hours, a firm hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"General, we're here to help," Henry turned to see a man in his forties with a very expensive looking cybernetic right eye. Sure, the thing looked bulky but the high-quality metal and trimmed gold was hard to miss.

"Oh good, because I was about to do the Denzel roll," Henry cracked a smile.

"Take the wheel from him!" Tangmo yelled. "Don't let him do the roll!"

"Here!" Henry carefully crawled away from the pilot's seat, the man swiftly taking his place, while Tangmo was replaced by a young woman about his age, her glossy black hair streaming over her shoulders.

"Engage the auxiliary thrusters and stabilize the ship," the man started flipping switches and punching buttons.

"Done!" The woman said and grabbed hold of the yoke. "Ready?"

"Pull, slowly," the man gently pulled on the control stick and thankfully the ship started to level. Henry and Tangmo was breathing a sigh of relief when two women joined them, both were about the same age as the man, one had a robotic left leg while the other wore a black silky bandana over her forehead.

"You're a life saver my man!" Henry slapped the man heartily on the shoulder.

"I am happy to be of service sir," the man said modestly.

"You got a name dude?"

"It's Coreth sir."

Eyes bulging, Henry and Tangmo traded look of utter, abject shock. Coreth, aka Septimus of the Night Lords Omnibus fame, just saved their collective asses, but didn't the Eighth Legion caught and killed him after the book ended? But before Henry could ponder any further, more explosions raked the ship.

"Eurydice, man the radar. Marlonah, check the ships defenses," he told the two women behind him then turned to the copilot seat. "How's everything holding up Victoria?"

"All reading's normal father."

Wait a minute, father?! Didn't the book say he and Eurydice had a son? What the fuck?!

"We got seven hostiles circling us Coreth," Eurydice, aka Octavia the Navigator, said. "Terrestrial fighters, they can't follow us into high orbit."

"They don't need too," Marlonah, the engineer who was saved by a Night Lords dreadnought, spoke up. "A few more hits from their missiles and we'll be forced to land."

"Can you at least mince words a little?" Eurydice shot her annoyed look.

"Sorry," Marlonah grinned sheepishly then pointed at the two empty seats behind the main radar table, flickering monitors were attached to it via flimsy looking plastic arms. "But if someone could man the defense turrets, we might have a fighting chance."

"We're good at shooting shit!" Tangmo raised his hand enthusiastically.

"By all means commissar, general," Tangmo and Henry leapt onto the leather seats and strapped themselves in.

"Yo dude, check out this joystick," Henry grabbed the polished black stick on the armrest and titled it left and right, the high back gunner chair moving along with the controller. "Damn, this is just like at the arcade."

"This is so freaking cool," Tangmo grinned as the monitor flashed to life, displaying the crystal clear exterior, the ground below passing languidly across the screen. "Oh yeah, now we're talking!"

"Commissar, your turret is on the ship's underside," Marlonah said. "General, yours is on the roof. You both have two thousand rounds of heavy bolts each, so mark your target and fire only when you're sure you can make a kill, don't waste ammo."

"Yes mam," Henry nodded when an enemy fighter flew into his crosshair. Holding down the trigger, Henry dragged a sinuous line of bolts after the plane for a good five seconds. None of the rounds hit.

"She said don't waste ammo!" Eurydice snapped at him.

"Sorry!" Henry said timidly. "I got a little carried away."

"Coreth, get us off this planet," Eurydice told her husband.

"It'll be slow going," Coreth grunted. "We can't just make a sharp ascend, we need to gently ease ourselves up through the stratosphere, unless you want the ship to stall again."

"We'll be nothing but prey for the fighters," Eurydice pressed on hotly.

"Yeah, and our gunner discharge prematurely," Victoria added nastily.

"Hey I got excited!" Henry yelled when two more fighters approached in an attack formation. Gritting his teeth and actually aiming this time, Henry fired a harassing burst at the two fighters, sending them into a panic swerve, not expecting an accurate shot. Breath held, Henry waited until the planes tried to reform their formation before firing again, the shots clipping the wing of one and shredded the hull of another, sending both fighters twirling to the ground in great balls of fire.

"Ha! What do you say to that!?" Henry smirked triumphantly at the nodding Victoria.

"I stand correct general," Victoria admitted.

"Great kid, don't get cocky!" Henry glared dagger at the smirking Tangmo.

"Did you just fucking quote Star Wars at me!?"

"Mesa said nothing! Mesa innocent!"

"One more word and I'm gonna…!"

"Now this is Podracing!"

"YOU DEAD BITCH!"

"Sir! The remaining aircrafts are forming up for another attack run," Marlonah said.

Cursing under his breath, Henry returned his attention to the screen, waiting in morbid anticipation for the fighters to materialize, his concentration honed to a katana edge.

"Henry…" goddamn it Tangmo! "Henry…HENRY…HENRRRYYY!"

"WHAT!?"

"Danger zone."

Despite everything Henry burst out laughing, his previous apprehension replaced by a relaxed easiness that actually helped him concentrate more. And when the fighters flew into view, two above and three below, Henry and Tangmo were ready and smiling.

"Revving up your engine, listen to her howling roar," Tangmo Kenny Loggins up the cockpit, firing a scattering burst at the three planes, managing to decapitate one.

"Metal under tension, begging you to touch and go," Henry took one down and tracked his barrel after the other.

Then together, Henry and Tangmo sang the immortal chorus.

"Highway to the danger zone! Ride into the danger zone!"

Despite having seen a lot of fucked up shit during their time serving the Night Lords, Coreth, Eurydice, and Marlonah could only gaped in unbelieving incomprehension at the two Imperial officers singing and killing their enemy with carefree joy. Victoria on the other hand, seems to be enjoying the display immensely.

"Highway to the danger zone! I'll take you riding into the danger zone!" There were only two left now, and before either fighters can line themselves up for a clear shot, Tangmo and Henry tore the planes apart in a hail of bolts before roaring the closing chorus.

"Highway to the danger zone! Gonna take you right into the Danger zone!"

"Ha! You two really are crazy! Just like everybody said back at the camp!" Victoria laughed.

"At least you're the harmless kind of crazy," Eurydice muttered under her breath. "I'm not detecting anymore hostile, our way up is clear."

"Thank freaking God," Tangmo slumped into his seat, took off his awesome commissar cap and wiped sheen of sweat from his brow before putting it back on. "Is the USB still safe?"

"Yeah," Henry put the satchel on his lap and peeked inside, seeing the black box still intact and unscathed. "Damn, what a rush."

"Kenny Loggins does that people," Tangmo held out his fist and they fist bumped when a steady tremor arrested the ship. Looking out the window, Henry watched as the blue of the sky faded to starry blackness, the shaking stilled to an easy hum.

"Engaging artificial gravity," Coreth flipped a few switches; Henry and Tangmo were starting to rise above the floor when they were pulled back down.

"Yo, are we in space?" Damien asked.

"Yeah dude, we made it," Henry said.

"Woo-hoo! Hey everybody, we're safe!" Happy cries answered Damien's announcement, Henry smiled then took off the headphone and let it hung around his neck.

"So Coreth," Tangmo said after a moment. "How is it that an ace pilot, a weapon specialist and a Navigator ended up in a refugee camp on Kolasi?"

Eurydice narrowed her eyes on him while Coreth remained stoically calm before saying, "we worked on a trading vessel called the Mercurial Tempest lord commissar. It was destroyed while attempting to flee the Cadian system a week ago, we've been stuck here ever since."

"Tough luck dude," Tangmo went on casually. "But judging from how well the four of you worked together, I'm willing to bet that this isn't your first foray into the danger zone, is it?"

"No lord commissar," Eurydice's words were heavy with distrust.

"Must be quite a story to tell," Tangmo met Eurydice's seething glare with a friendly, nonchalant gaze.

"Not one that we wish to tell," Marlonah added grimly.

"I understand," Tangmo tipped his awesome commissar cap respectfully. "A man's past is his own, unless he wants to share it. I'll not pry."

"Thank you lord commissar," Coreth turned back to look at him, genuine gratitude shone in his one human eye.

"Don't mention it man," Tangmo looked at Henry, a non-verbal communication passed between them that roughly translated as: We know who you are, we know what you been through, we're on your side, and we wish you all the best.

"So, how long until we reach the mother ship?" Henry changed to subject.

"We're actually approaching it right now," Victoria pointed at the gleaming sliver ship drifting in front of them. "By the Throne, it's huge."

"That's the ship Damien told us about?" Tangmo went to stand beside Victoria while Henry took his place next to Coreth. "Is it me or there's something off about that thing?"

"Where are the sharp spikey buttresses?" Henry eyed the strange ship. "Where are the skulls? The cathedral? The somber statue and shit?!"

"The ship is unusual," Coreth commented when the blocky Ultramarine Thunderhawk hovered into view, taking position in front of the ship.

"Tangmo, Henry, Gallus said he's gonna escort us to the ship, do you have visual?" Damien asked.

"We see him, so we just follow?" Henry strapped the headphone back on.

"Yeah."

"Follow the Smurf dude," Henry tapped Coreth shoulder.

"Sir?" The former Night Lords slave gave him a confused look.

"I mean the Space Marine," Henry corrected himself as the transport ship followed the Thunderhawk, dipping a bit in elevation before heading straight for the belly of the strangely streamlined Gloriana. Bright, but not unpleasant, white light enveloped them as the two ships soared under the awning, transparent underbelly of the hulking ship, the pristine interior can be seen through the glass like membrane. Henry was beginning to wonder if they were supposed to fly up when one of the clear partitions lowered itself down, the empty space distorted by a rippling force field that took on a clear cubic shape. The Thunderhawk flew smoothly into the elevator like confines, while Coreth slowed the ship down for a final approach.

"Hey, Gallus said don't slow down," Damien spoke.

"He wants us to fly right into that thing?" Henry repeated.

"He wants you to fly right into that thing." Damien confirmed.

"You heard the Ultramarine, fly right into that thing."

Coreth hesitated but complied nonetheless, increasing the speed, Eurydice and Marlonah coming to join them, also perplexed by the strange scene. The transport ship eased into the clear barrier like it wasn't there, the only indication that such threshold exist was the watery ripple it makes when the metal hull touches the transparent surface. When the entire transport ship was inside the membranous confines, the vessel jerked suddenly to a stop, throwing Henry, Eurydice and Marlonah face first to the ground with a squeal.

"Did we just get lock into a tractor beam?" Tangmo asked as he helped Eurydice and Marlonah to their feet.

"Gallus want you to power down," Damien said.

"Power the ship down dude," Henry rose, rubbing his forehead while Coreth and Victoria shut down all the ship's thrusters. The transport ship hovered in midair as the square took them up vertically then slide horizontally into the Gloriana gigantic hangar. Henry was only starting to grasp the vastness of the interior when metallic clasping signaled that the transport ship had made a safe landing.

"We're home free my dudes, open the gate," Damien said.

"Bring the ramp down Coreth, we made it," Coreth grinned at Henry and did just that.

"Freaking amazing jobs," Tangmo shook hand with the four saviors, Henry repeating the same gesture with gusto. "Come on, let's go."

The six of them strode down the now silent corridor at a quickened pace and within minutes were back inside the main hall where the refugees were hurrying outside like sheep rushing for the pasture. And waving the frightened people out like a good stewardess was Damien.

"Hey! Here are our heroes now!" The Space Marine spread his arms wide and wrapped the four Night Lords characters up in a big, but safe, hug, the intimacy probably giving Coreth, Eurydice and Marlonah PTSD. While Victoria, being the innocent one of the group, just laughed. "Thank you for saving us from those two retards!"

"Fuck you Smurf!" Tangmo flipped the Ultramarine off with a smile.

"And can you please let them go? They look really uncomfortable," Henry said.

"Oh! Sorry!" Damien released them, the three adult looked dazed but recovered quickly. They all gave hurried bows before stepping down the ramp.

"Our turn now," Damien said as Henry and Tangmo came to flank him.

"Oh yeah," Henry grinned and together the trio walked down the ramp with mighty, cocksure struts. Roaring ovation greeted them, and Henry saw that all the main characters, along with the surviving Cadian and Kolasian guardsmen were cheering for them, weapons waving in the air, fists pumping like a metal concert. Even the Space Marines were there, but they stood silent, at attention, forever professional.

The trio was about to bask in the attention when the crowd's enthusiasm simmered down to hush whispers, the thick clump of humanity parting a wide berth for something to walk through. Stepping on to the hangar floor, Henry, Tangmo and Damien found a Mechanicus, augmented with so much cybernetic that he barely resembled a human being, shambling down an avenue of gawking people, flanked by six heavily armed Skitarii.

He came to a stop before the trio and regarded them with haunting, lifeless robot eyes, then bowed stiffly, his already hunched frame bending so low that Henry thought his back was going to snap.

"Greeting general, commissar and sergeant," he spoke, voice grated and distorted. "I am Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to one of the greatest discovery mankind has made in the last ten thousand years."