Full Moon Rising

Alone in his vast war-chamber on Kendrenec, Lieutenant Gallowfen sat in an iron throne and surveyed a bank of screens, each one displaying technical data; armed forces, planetary dispositions, space fleet allocations. As the War Smith's optical receptors glanced from one screen to another in rapid succession, absorbing and processing the information, his heavily augmented mind was forming a plan.

On his lap his Kai-Gun shuddered and growled, pulsing with a dark energy. Gallowfen stroked it like a pet.

"Soon we will have our revenge. Soon the Imperium will pay." He said in a low voice.

"And how will that be achieved?" Slithered a voice from behind him. Even Gallowfen, veteran of a thousand campaigns, was startled. He rose to his feet, hefting his gun and pointing it directly at the intruder.

In front of him was the creature that had both blessed and cursed his operations for a year. The body was of a loyal marine, but it rose on a single worm-like tail which constantly circled the floor. And worst of all was the creature's crescent shaped head and its two beady red eyes that caused even Gallowfen to flinch. It was the creature known only as
Moon Face.

"How dare you enter my chamber!" Roared Gallowfen, not moving the Kai Gun's barrel away from the mutant.

"I simply wished to know how things were proceeding. Whether you had decided on the method of your revenge." Replied Moon Face, apparently unconcerned by the weapon trained on him. In his hands he held his twin swords that had slain so many a man.

"It is not your concern!"

"Oh but it is. You do wish to make the Imperium pay, do you not?"

"Of course, how dare you suggest otherwise." Gallowfen's finger tightened around the Kai Gun's trigger, and the daemonic weapon thrummed beneath his grasp. It was taking all his restraint not to shoot the impudent mutant right now. The trouble was that Moon Face had proved immensely useful over the past few months. The tactical advice offered had bordered on the pre-cognisant.

The mutant had also proved highly resilient. In every battle he would charge ahead, outrunning all men as his tail snaked its way towards the enemy. There he would cut down whole squads with his power swords before being taken down himself. But each time, each time Gallowfen saw his moon head cleaved from his neck, or his whole body blown apart by a Demolisher shell, the creature would suddenly return at the end of the battle unharmed.

"And?" Asked Moon Face calmly.

"We have the troops and ships under our command. We will return to the Perseus Deeps, pillage every planet, destroy Imperium and Tau alike. All will crumble before our might!"

Moon Face looked downcast. "I am disappointed. A chance to strike back is so close."

"Explain yourself, worm." Growled Gallowfen, angered at this insubordination.

"Cerberex."

Gallowfen almost laughed. "Cerberex? The Imperial capital? The most heavily defended planet in the system after Hartak? Ridiculous."

"The Eldar will help us."

"What? I will not ally with those scum and they will not ally with me"

Gallowfen's often limited patience was stretched at its thinnest. The mutant had lost it, his strategic advice had turned to nonsense. Perhaps Moon Face had finally lost the blessing of the dark gods.

"They wish to see the Imperium fall." Moon Face replied, ever calm, but with a slight grin on his pock-marked face.

"I refuse to communicate with them. Now get out of my sight, maggot, or by the gods I will strike you down where you stand."

"How... disappointing. It seems you have outlived your usefulness, War Smith." Moon Face said, slowly slithering across the floor towards Gallowfen.

"Halt!" Barked Gallowfen. But Moon Face came fast at him. In Gallowfen's hands his Kai Gun squealed with pleasure as he squeezed the trigger, two blasts of white energy hurling at the mutant. Moon Face dodged low, but still one shot hit him straight between his eyes. The mutant was thrown back to the floor. His swords seemed to... vanish? Gallowfen had not seen him let go but could not see them now.

Gallowfen paused. In front of him lay the hated Moon Face, his head now a smoking mess. The War Smith walked slowly forward. His gun remained trained on the creature, the mutant looked dead but Gallowfen took no chances.

As he stood over the body he growled. The crescent head was somehow reforming, moving as though made of mercury back into its original form. Gallowfen sighted his gun at Moon Face's body.

Suddenly he was thrown off his feet and landed with a smash on the cold marble floor, Moon Face's tail wrapped tight round his leg. The Kai Gun went spinning across the room. Still entangled, Gallowfen quickly rose to his feet, but the mutant was already up and towered over him. Gallowfen tried a punch at the creature's reformed head but Moon Face grabbed his arm in an iron grip.

"Very disappointing!" It let out a terrible cry, wrenching at the War Smith's arm. His ornate power armour snapped in the mutant's hands. Beneath the armour most of Gallowfen's flesh had been replaced by whirring gears and pistons, which were now crushed. The mutant leaned in, his terrible grinning face leering close to Gallowfen's.

The War Smith suddenly lurched forward, the top of his helmet smashing into Moon Face's nose. The mutant briefly recoiled and let go, Gallowfen using this as an opportunity to dive out of the creature's entanglement. His right arm was useless, but his left still struck out at Moon Face's neck, grasping it tightly. Gallowfen squeezed.

But Moon Face's grin never faltered. Sudden jolts of pain shot through Gallowfen's body. The War Smith looked down to see the mutant holding a sword, flickering blue, and sticking through his chest. Gallowfen barely had time to wonder where the weapon had come from. He staggered back, inside him circuits were failing, gears were shattered and flesh was severed.

Moon Face pulled back his sword from Gallowfen's chest. It was slick with blood and oil.

"Now for my plan." Smiled Moon Face, and with one dramatic arc sliced the War Smith's head from his shoulders.