Prologue "Before you, the planet of Datunious," boomed the voice of the Master of the Ravenwing. Echoes sounded through the large hall as the last few pilots of the Ravenwing filed into the briefing room, deep in the Ravenwing sector of the Rock. Pressing a rune with a gauntleted hand, a holovid of a spherical dust ball sprang into life. Rotating, the view zoomed in to display a parched desert world, deeply riveted with unending canyons and valleys. The whole world seemed to have been dug up by a giant rake. Row upon row of canyon filled the holovid screen as the camera panned across the surface of the world. Such inaccessible terrain was a geographical nightmare for any army. And a perfect hunting ground that seemed tailor-made to suit the Ravenwing. A low whistle echoed through the auditorium. This terrain was the dream battleground of all Ravenwing. "Recently there have been numerous raids by Eldar operating in this vicinity, leading Imperial Intelligence to believe that the Eldar have set up a base here." The view shifted to a blurred handheld vid-corder. Explosions filled the view screen as the familiar *crack* of lasguns filled the vox-casters. Screams filled the air as blurred shapes sped across the screen. A final fix on one of the silhouettes revealed an Eldar jetbike, painted in a familiar red and white colour scheme. "We have identified this Craftworld as the Saim-Hann." As if that needed to be said. A loud muttering filled the darkened auditorium. Aside from the White Scars, Speed Freaks and perhaps the Dark Eldar, the Saim Hann were one of the renowned mechanized armies in the 41st millenium, jostling with the Ravenwing for position. The last encounter had ended in defeat for the Ravenwing, and passions ran deep for vengeance. "The holovid was the last transmission of an Imperial Guard reconnaissance force dispatched to eliminate raiders. They were outmaneuvered, outgunned and ousted by the Eldar. Therefore we have been called in to deal with the Eldar as none other have been successful." "The Adeptus Mechanicus has substantial weapon research facilities located here and cannot afford to lose the planet. We touchdown in 2000 hours and will make contact with the Imperial forces on the ground. That will be all, Ravenwing. Ignis Et Tempestus!" "Ignis Et Tempestus!" the echo was drowned out by the clatter of boots as the Ravenwing crews made for their hangars, eager to begin their final checks and launch preparations. Chapter 1: Good to Go Nathaniel Wind Runner took apart the engine of Swift Runner for the thirteenth time and blessed each part individually with the Litany of Protection before assembling the chassis once again. As he placed the final bolt on the bike, he replaced the first purity seal he had gotten with care while soothing the machine spirit with the Litany of Sealing. He stood up and gunned the engine. It purred like a tiger. Nathaniel smiled. Good to go. Nuadhu Fireheart laughed, a joyous laugh. The webway portal dissipated into the night air as the last Wildrider clan appeared through the webway tunnel. Had not the farseers cast the runes of victory and survival? The terrain was perfect, the enemies unready, and the weapon that could very well destroy the Eldar lay unguarded in the canyons of the desert. Tomorrow would be the attack, and tomorrow the Eldar would show the mon-keigh never to underestimate the long-reaching arm of the Eldar, and witness the skill of the Saim Hann Wildriders. Everything was ready. Good to go. With the roar of turbofans igniting, a quartet of Thunderhawks lifted off from the Battlebarge Pride of the Lion. Blending into the inky black void of space, the four Ravenwing dropships sped towards the glowing surface of Datunious, blue halo of the atmosphere setting aglow the ebony shuttles in the friction of entry. Nathaniel muttered an oath as the Dropship jolted and shuddered. The machine spirit within Swift Runner was restless; She was always like that when they were kept in enclosed spaces. He himself had also developed a claustrophobia of a sort; He patted her side to calm her while looking through the rose-tinted port in the side of the Thunderhawk. Valklyrie squadron stood ready in full battle order; ready to deploy given the signal. It was only a precaution, but the servants of the Emperor must always be vigilant. The flight of Thunderhawks broke cloud cover and soared over the dry sand landscape. Nathaniel noticed absent-mindedly out the corner of the window several pyrotechnic-like explosions blossom over a plateau. Turning his full attention to them, he raised his voice. "SERGEANT!" "It is my sacred duty to save your soul from the Dark Gods of Chaos," Asmodai intoned, "and I will save your soul, even if you die in the process." Chapter 2: First Blood "This is Ravenwing Two to Ravenwing One: Requesting permission to investigate target anomaly," "Master of the Ravenwing to Ravenwing Two: Request acknowledged. Permission granted," A single Thunderhawk peeled away from the flight and turned on a direct flight vector towards the explosions far below. Magos Alchemorin screamed desperately into the radio transmitter. The Eldar had come out of nowhere, in a secure sector, and was ripping up the Adeptus Mechanicus convoy piecemeal. He watched from the lead window port as the Chimera in front of the command vehicle exploded, Adepts scrambling out only to be strafed apart by squadrons of jetbikes that screamed over head. They nearly drowned the screaming of his voice into the transmitter. "This is Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Team Zulu! Requesting immediate assistance from any Imperial units! We are under attack from Eldar raiders, Repeat, need immediate assistance! "Request acknowledged, Zulu. Flight vector inbound. Stand by for assistance. Ravenwing Two out. "Ravenwing!? Praise the Emperor! What is your ETA?" "Two minutes and counting. Beginning assault run now." Nathaniel could feel his heart racing, and Swift Runner was gunning its engine restlessly. Sergeant Malkaviel had explained the situation to the Squadron, and the Ravenwing would have first blood soon. Only seconds now. The loading bay ramps opened slowly, and the sudden rush of hot air made Nathaniel gasp. Sand and wind whipped across his helmet and he listened to the vox-caster for the signal. "Three...Two...One....GO GO GO!" |
"IGNIS ET TEMPESTUS" By Yihaen Raen Ragnarok ( Asmodai Asmodean ) |
NEVER ENDING FABLES |
