Angels and Ravens - The Chronicles of Squad Darkhunter

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:01 pm

Across the starlit world of Targus II, Veteran Milvus found a strange tranquility. He frowned. Surely this was forbidden, was this was it felt like to be tainted by chaos? He could not remember anything as the numb feeling reached the edged of his brain. There was a sharp cry behind him and Milvus spun round. He saw the creature in the distance. His training took over. Abandoning his thoughts he rolled forward and raised his plasma pistol. It charged in his hand and unleashed a searing bolt of energy towards the creature. The creature dropped into a nearby pool of water.

Milvus stepped cautiously towards it, a panther edging towards his fallen prey. Splayed out on the water was an elegant bird, entirely black, with large wings and deep, black eyes. A raven. Milvus stumbled to the right. It was well known that to kill a raven was to bring great shame of the chapter, and Milvus was humbled in a wave of remorse. A fellow marine stepped from the shadows. It was Ensis Ferrae, the Chief Chaplain of the Raven Guard. Milvus' voice sounded hoarse.
"You saw it?"
Ferrae replied with a clipped and precise tone, even vowel formed perfectly before it left his mouth.
"Of course, I have been following you since you left camp. The Lord instructed it."
The Veteran knew not how to reply.
"You won't... can't..."
Once again, the Chaplain's reply was as mysterious as his persona.
"Fate has many things in store for you, Brother Milvus. A rite of penitence is not one of them."

It would be three decades before Milvus would know the full implications of this encounter. He would always live though, with the blood of a raven upon his hands.

23 Terran Years later.

Brother Corvaan withdrew the power sword from the Orks torso, bringing it up through his head as he did so. He sighted the next Ork running across the ridge almost a hundred yards away like a hawk. He slammed his chin against the activator in his helmet and felt the jump pack on his back rumble as it propelled him through the air. His landing was not as graceful. The fuel in began to run low and Corvaan hit the back of the Ork with a thump. The Ork turned around slowly and grunted barely discernible words.
"A space 'oomie? Come 'ere!"
The Ork reached forward with his power klaw and attempted to crush the young marine's head, Corvaan had other plans. He whirled his sword like a tempest in his right hand and lunged quickly slicign off the arm attached to the power klaw. The Ork roared, a wounded beast beside a lion. His one good hand pinned the marine to the ground and began slowly to crush his wind pipe underneath the armour. Corvaan lost the control of his arms and the flailing sword arm dropped the sword. Now a guttural sound of triumph was emmitted from the Orks mouth. So this is what its like to die, wondered Corvaan. His body went limp as he lost conciousness. A distant crack echoed through the air, and the marine finally blacked out.

He awoke in the chapter's temporary Apothecarium tent. The face of his sergeant, Milvus looked down on him. The younger marine struggled up in an attempt to salute.
"Relax", murmered the sergeant. "You're not on parade here."
"Milvus, what happened?!"
The sergeant grinned.
"I fired a .75 calibre round into the Ork's excuse for a brain. It killed him instantly, and he released his grip on you."
Corvaan still couldn't understand.
"I failed... I was bested by xeno scum..."
Milvus shook his head.
"No Corvaan, you learned, thats what it means to be a Vanguard Veteran."

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:39 pm

Within a few days, Corvaan had completely recovered. However, the Raven Guard had recieved intelligence that a main Ork supply base was situated aproximately 40 klicks east. Milvus confronted his squad in the Ops centre. Corvaan, Talonne, Hawke and Vixul all stood at attention in front of him.
"Marines...", began Milvus.
"You're sending us on some suicidal mission, aren't you?", replied Talonne with a rougish grin.
"We're taking out a main Ork supply base, not to far from here.", an exasperated Milvus replied.
"Real crowd pleaser, aren't you?"

The squad assembled quickly, all donning their power armour. A civilian had once said they looked like Homer's Greek gods. In Milvus' opinio they fought like them too. All members were armed with their regular weapons of choice.
"Darkhunters, board Thunderhawk "Ravenstorm" immediately!", barked Milvus.
The tread of armoured boots on the boarding ramp sounded like an ominous funeral march. This day however their enemies would be setting pyres.
"Is the cargo secured?", a metallic voice sounded thoughout Milvus' helmet causing, reverberating through his skull.
"Of course, pilot."
THe pilot had always thought of humans strangely. Cargo that could talk? He was easily confused. He settled into his wired chair and started the engines.

"Ravenstorm" rumbled as it began to lift sleekly into the air, the pilot executing a perfect VTOL takeoff. When the craft was exactly 50 metres into the air the afterburners flared and the ship was propelled like a dark comet through the atmosphere.
"Prepare for deposition in 180 seconds.", again the metallic voice filled the marine's Corvus helmets.
The Thunderhawk decreased its power output and flew low over the rocky landscape, minimising its radar signature. It was an arrow of death, the perpetual night making it easy to blend in.

"Darkhunters! Prepare to drop, 5..4..3..2..Go go go!", the sergeant roared.
The dual side exits both opened with a hiss and all veterans fell beackwards out of them, Hawke going last. He allowed hinself a few moments to relish the sensation of freefall, the wind whistling over his armour. A warning siren rang throughtout his helmet, 100 metres to go... He pressed his chin down on the activator switch, hard. It felt like his arms were being wrenched from their sockets as the jump pack flared. He had down it too late, Hawke slammed down hard into the sand and rock. Rolling over, he looked around the landscape, and over the caldera, near which he had fallen. The members of his squad were on all sides of him, recovering from their drop. Overhead, he watched their transport burst into flame thanks to Ork fire.
"Guess we're walking home...", Corvaans dismal tone broke the silence.
"If we're still walking at all.", Milvus replied tersely.

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:35 pm

Vixul took point and the squad advanced slowly, in combat positions. Vixul held up his hand and clenched his fist slowly, the indication to come to an immediate stop. He motioned to Talonne and he stepped forward. There were a few moments of hurried conversation and Talonne returned.
"We've got an Ork patrol up ahead, moving pretty tight through the forest. We could try and intercept them, your call boss."
Milvus' reply was short and to the point. A way of speaking that could only have come from a soldier.
"Ignore them we have our mission, Emperor doom them."
"Of course, sir."
The squad advanced still, the undergrowth moving slowly as their feet brushed past it. So adept were they at infiltration techniques it appeared in the dark as if the grass was moving of its own accord.

Faint beeps erupted inside the sergeants helmet. An indication that the Ork encampment was simply over the ridge ahead.
"Beta manouvere, lets go Darkhunters."
Each marine's head titled forward slightly as they all chinned the jump pack activation buttons. The Darkhunters were lifted up onto the ridge, in a perfect position to survey the enemy.
Hawke opened up a channel with the strike cruiser on orbit.
"Give the the Emperor's retribution brother."
There was a muffled bang followed by a shower of dirt erupting out of the ground in the camp. The Vanguard Veterans knew what to do. With a grace not commonly associated with their bulky power armour they rose into the air like true angels of death. Tactical Squad Blackfeather was emerging from their 'pod when the Darkhunters struck.

Hawke's lightning claws crackled as the energy field around them burst into existance. He went low and swung the claws around him in an arc, ending the pitiful lives of several Ork shooters. Bolter fire merged with the death-throes of Orks as the Veterans cut a bloody swathe through the Ork forces.
"Reloading!", yelled Corvaan above the din of battle!
Milvus replied quickly, "I have you brother!".
His bolt pistol spat several shells at the three Ork slugga boyz trying to take advantage of the sudden lapse of fighting from the young marine.
"Done!"
Corvaan jumped forward into the path of another Ork firing his bolt pistol at point blanc range into the Orks chest, and then cutting through his arm with his power sword. Milvus was still fighting like a raging tempest through the horde, trying to reach the Tactical Marines that were quickly being overwhelmed.

Sergeant Blackfeather fired his bolter from the hip at the encroaching Orks taking out dozens of them as the gun forged its vicious path. Suddenly he heard the sound of a shell ricocheting of armour and found the back of Veteran Sergeant Milvus pointing at him.
Blackfeather spoke first.
"Nice of you to drop in."
"The pleasure is all mine."
Suddenly, a short and tense silence fell over the battlefield. A gap was opening up through the battlefield and through it Milvus saw the Ork Boss. Realising what he had to do he charged. The Ork boss replied with equal fashion, charign head first towards Milvus. The sergeant ducked the first clumsy swipe of the enemies power klaw and attempted to drive his sword into the stomach of the monstrosity. However, a powerful energy field deflected the attack and Milvus was thrown onto the floor. It was thus that the sergeant wondered if he was due to die...

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:50 pm

As fate would have it, he was not. Brother Corvaan threw himself upon the Ork with a cry, slamming his armoured gauntlet into the creatures face. The Ork was immensly strong however and he wrestled Corvaan from him. Corvaan landed on the blood-ridden sand elegantly and unsheathed his power sword. As the power klaw arced through the air towards him, Corvaan parried it, jarring his arm. The marine rolled sideways and fired his bolt pistol numerous times into the Orks armoured chest. Yet even the weapons of the Astartes could not penetrate this Ork technology. Corvaan realised something. Sprinting as fast as he could he reached the now immobile drop pod. The boss has mistook this for cowardice and was now jeering. The single Darkhunter though, overloaded the reactor of the 'pod and the resulting EMP blast disabled the Ork boss' energy field.

Now that he was vulnerable, Corvaan dived towards the Ork and drove his power sword into the Ork's face. As he commited this final act, the Ork's power klaw flew upwards, severing the marine's hand from his weapon and caused him to recoil in pain. While this duel had been taking place, Squad Blackfeather had reformed around the downed Milvus and the Ork force had been routed. The casulties had been high. Four marines from the Tactical squad had fallen and the Darkhunters were all seriously wounded. It was a pryhhic victory of sorts as the mission had been accomplished and the base was now in the hands of the Imperium.
Milvus weakly beckoned for Corvaan to come to him.
"Sir?"
"Why Corvaan... why risk everything for me?"
"I could ask you the same question... sir."
Corvaan turned smartly and marched onto the entry ramp of the nearby Thunderhawk.

+++

Hawke smashed his fist down on the table in fustration.
"Damn admins!"
The squad was currently in transit in an available strike cruiser, having been transferred from the Targus warzone five months ago. Milvus had been told that the Ravenspire had a dangerously low garrison and so the Darkhunters, along with squads Blackfeather and Shadow-wing had been sent to re-inforce the fortress-monastrey.
"Calm down Hawke", Vixul advised. "You know that is this is one of the most honourable duties... if not.. satisfactory."
Despite his outward frustrations, Hawke secretly longed to be back within the hallowed halls of the Ravenspire. He was well aware that even the 1st Company Captain, Strykker thought this way.

Talonne walked cautiously down the shadowed hallway. He was all ways alert, Shrike had taught him that to strike from the shadows, you must always be wary that they could strike out at you. As he approached the sealed door that led to the bridge, he rapidly tapped the keypad. 29173632943936. He had embedded the number deep in his memory, he wasn't likely to forget it anytime soon. He looked around the bridge. Excellent, empty. They would all be at the self-destruction alarm standby stations by now. It wouldn't stay that way for long though. He sighted the data-files and opened them on the nav-screen.
The file that documented how to navigate the defences of the monastrey was at the top. He sent it to his personal data-slate. The Warmaster would be pleased.

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:23 pm

The strike cruiser appeared outof the warp and prepared to enter the orbit of deliverance.
THe captain spoke.
"Power down reactors C through E, and prepare to enter orbit. Contact command and inform them we are on our approach."
"Aye sir", the ship's servitors replied in a monotonous, almost dismal tone.

+++

The Thunderhawk broke free of teh strike cruiser and dived from its docking port. The pilot guided it down with a skill and precision that could only have been aquired from decades in the seat. The paint chipped and flames licked hungrily at the outside, as if they wished to devour the passengers sitting anxiously inside. Tactical Squads Blackfeather and Shadow-wing sat hunched up together, not used to the thrill of a Thunderhawk descent.
The Darkhunters however, were relaxed, chatting in their helmets.
"How long has it been?", started Milvus. "Nine years?"
"Close to it, I'll be glad to be back within its safety again.", replied Vixul.
The vox-speaker blurted out.
"Talking cargo, we are approaching the Ravenspire. The Order will be there to greet you."
"What?!", exclaimed Corvaan. "The Order hasn't been called in centuries, there must be something big going on."

The Thunderhawk touched down on one of the secondary landing pads. As the assault ramp opened with s light hiss, three figures clad in ornate armour and donning pure white cloaks stepped forward. The Darkhunters emerged first from the ramp, they stood shocked at the spectacle in front of them.
"Welcome, Brother-sergeant. I'm sure you know who we are.", the tallest and closest of the group said with a slight smile. Milvus follow us."
The rest of the squad hastened to follow, but the second white cloak raised his hand.
"I am sorry, brothers. The Lord decrees it this way."

As the group entered the door of the fortress, the marines looked up at their home. It was a huge spire with many tiers, rising steadily until they culminating aproxx. two miles up at the White Council Chamber. It was built it a heavy gothic style with landing pads and turbo batteries scattered around the base. Pulse lasers were built in higher, close to the heavily armoured munitions room. Lightning fighters and Land speeders patrolled the skies. They were ready to fire upon any vessel that did not clearly identify itself. Vixul was the only one who looked to his feet. The guards who slept on the lower floor claimed that in the dead of night, moaning could be heard from deep below. It was rumoured that there were hidden dungeons there, dating back to the heresy. No one talked about them. Vixul made the sign of the aquila. Though he doubted whether mere faith would protect him from what lurked in there.

+++

The members of the Order led Milvus into a deserted chapel and gestured for him to sit.
"I would prefer to stand. He who stands is ready."
The tallest replied again, although as he stepped forward his cloak fell away slightly to reveal a magnificent sword, hung at his side. Before Milvus knew what was happening, the sword was pressed to his stomach.
"Yet even the readyist cannot be prepared for the faster."
Milvus stood stunned at the company he found himself in. These had all been Captains once, heroes of the chapter. Yet they had given it up to become part of the Order. He could not imagine making that sacrifice.
The tallest of the trio spoke again.
"You may know who we are, but not our names. I am the First.
"I am the Wisdom."
"I am the Tempest."
We will meet again Milvus, though when we do, it will be on the field of battle. With that they left, leaving the sergeant dumbfounded as to the purpose of this encounter.

White Raven Talonclaw · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:16 pm

"We're shipping out?", questioned Vixul.
"It would appear so. The White Ravens are already there. Talonclaw himself has requested us."
"Milvus, where?", Corvaan said withan eyebrow raised.
"Laconia, Hexperax system."

The Darkhunters had barely been on Deliverance for three standard months. It was with great trepidation that they stepped into the Thunderhawk that would take them to the Strike Cruiser. On the reasonably short journey, they prepared themselves fr the battle. It was in the middle of the fourth month that Milvus recieved a message from the Hexerax system.

++Automated Message++

-Ksszt- by 637. Beware, defences are oper -hzsst- the S -tsszst- is hard to get.

++End++

The message disturbed the Veteran deeply. He forwarded it to Talonclaw with all haste. This was the only moment of interest on the trip, with Milvus being bested in sword drill by Corvaan. He rose to shook hands, and threw the young marine over his shoulder. Then they reached Laconia.

System Alarm:
Earthen cruiser approachig on docking vector.

The Ship Master ignored the vessel.
"Talonclaw will be pleased. Inform him an oppurtune moment has arrived."

sonsofcorax.freeforums.org

Angels and Ravens - The Chronicles of Squad Darkhunter

Who is online

Panel