Private Drayton died in a spray of gore. The first bolter round had struck him in the shoulder, the second blew a hole straight through is torso. The third shot splattered brain matter over the other his squad mates. The guardsmen turned in shock as fifty iron clad giants lumbered through a dark tear in reality. The terminators mercilessly dispatched the other members of the enemies rearguard platoon before they could even fire a shot. The sounds of battle echoed from over the rise of the green hill. General Garenth smiled to himself as he watched the battle unfold. The advance of the traitor marines had begun to falter as the heavy artillery, positioned near the top of the slope, opened up." You see Eremus? These traitorous dogs are no match for a well placed earthshaker round. And to think that you were worried about facing these scum."
He paused for a moment as an enemy land raider blew out under sustained fire from the weapons teams in the ruins on the right flank.
"I shall have to commend Sergeant Tarsaul again, his men always seem to be in the right place at the right time."
A mere second after that a battle cannon from the enemy lines blew the position apart.
"Or not, so it would seem. Order Carmel's platoon to take up that positon would you Eremus. I think he will he would like the chance to get to grips with the enemy. I wouldn't like such a talented man as he to spend the entire battle guarding the rear. Move Frapelli's lot to replace him."
"Sir, I'm not getting a response from Sergeant Carmel."
Suddenly an eerie silence fell across the battlefield as the artillery pieces upon the top of the hill ceased firing.
" What does Peten thinks hes doing? Those guns should have enough ammuniton to last a ......"
Upon viewing the guns, the actual reason for them falling silent became apparent as Garenth watched fifty terminators emerge from the fires of the destroyed guns. The leader of this new threat was a terrible sight to behold. Eremus vomited at the sight. Garenth's nose beagn to bleed spontaneously as did the noses of the other members of his retinue. The figure raised his head to the heavens and let out a yell that echoed across the battlefield, his voice amplified by an unknown means.
"Iron Within!"
Every warrior in the enemy force replied as one.
"Iron Without!"
With this the traitors main battle line surged foreword, the Imperial's main line opened up but seemed to be ineffective. Garenth still stared at the towering lord of darkness, unable to look away, even as the terminators began to slaughter Sergeant Frapelli's platoon. The sound of Eremus's crying brought him back into reality. He unsheathed his glimmering power sword and pointed it towards the advancing marines.
"Men of Mordholt, the traitorous enemy commander has revealed himself. Cut of the head and the body shall fall. With me! Charge!"
Two hundred guardsmen joined the charge, screaming curses at the enemy and chanting prayers of cleansing. Robed priests were at the head of the advance, revving their chainswords at the prospect of engaging these traitors to the God-Emperor. As the last of Frapelli's men were finished off, the terminators turned to engage this new threat. Reaper autocannons roared and the chatter of combi-bolters filled the air. The imperials answered with a withering hail of las shots and plasma rounds, seven terminators fell to the initial volley. As the advancing tide of soldiers neared, heavy flamers doused the first few ranks in liquid fire. Men scremed and fell to the ground. The smell of burnt meat and promethium filled the air. Only one hundred and twenty guardsmen reached the lines of the marines. Bayonet met powerfist. For every terminator that fell the imperials lost at least six men.
The fighting was brutal. Garenth swung at a huge monstrosity. His power sword cleaved through the beast armour with ease, severing its arm at the elbow. The giant swung back with his remaining arm, his armoured gauntlet putting Garenth down on his back. He moved to get up, the ends of his broken ribs grinding together. He pushed past the pain, rising to meet the terminator again. The broken body of Eremus lay at its feet, his head in its hand. The giant looked at and hurled the head of Garenth's voxman at him. Dodging the severed head, Garenth lunged forward in a rage, severing the marines remaining hand before cutting its head off with the reverse stroke. Its giant form wobbled for a second before falling upon a limping guardsman, killing him instantly.
A vast shadow fell across Garenth from behind. As he turned he froze in horror as he saw the form of the enemy lord enter his view. Garenth had faced many terrible foes during his time but this was by far the worst. It very presence seemed to defy nature, the grass underfoot turned to ash with its every step. The air became stagnant whilst any water vapour turned to ice and drifted to the blood-soaked ground.
The giant was busy gutting Garenth's standard bearer, a friend for decades, with its pair of shimmering lightning claws. He shook of the effects of the lord's presence and lunged to engage the foul beast. It turned just in time to deflect his initial blow, immediately muttering a praise to something called Tzeentch. Garenth never even got to take a second blow as the lord's other gore covered claw swung upwards, lodging itself under Garenth's ribcage.
Lord Namhaft lifted the squirming maggot that had killed Brother Travidius. Even moments before its death it still defied him, spitting at the insignia of the dark gods on his chest armour. The creature began to chant a prayer to its corpse-god. He laughed.
"The false-emperor cannot hear you mortal. Give your praises to Grandfather Nurgle and you may yet be spared from an eternity of suffering in the warp. The true gods hear and see all."
The pathetic creature gasped for air, both its it lungs punctured. It tried to speak but only blood came from its mouth. Defiance was still in its eyes. Around him, the last of the imperials were being rounded up. Those not intact were offered as a sacrifice for the gods. The few hundred left were shackled and led back to the Iron Warriors encampment. They would be put to work building trenches, temples and fortifications as Namhaft exapanded the influence of Lord Perturabo throughout the sector.
The mortal that clung to its miserable life, still on his blades, was not of any use. He ended its existence with a swipe from the claw on his index finger, offering the severed head to the Khorne.
"Iron Within!" He bellowed in triumph.
"Iron Without" Screamed back his Iron Warriors.
General Obsidius Hakor Garenth, hero of Mordholt, servant of the Emperor, was left to rot on the fields of his homeland, along with the bodies of nine thousand of his loyal guardsmen. The last line of defence to the capital was now gone and the millions of civilians were at the meracy of Lord Namhaft, chosen of Perturabo, the butcher of Hellcorst Maximus.
