Sons of Fenris

by Lee Lightner

  He missed life on Fenris.

  The Dark Angels, whatever their motives, were the enemy, and had to be treated as such. In their place, he doubted the Space Wolves would have behaved any differently.

  Hearing enemy approaching, Ragnar clicked his belt and a grenade came free. With one hand, he set the charge and threw it towards the large refrigerated promethium pipe in the centre of the tunnel. Without waiting, Ragnar leapt as far as he could into the shaft. Behind him, the grenade went off.

  The initial blast was a simple burst. Then, there was a rush of flame and a great roaring, as the promethium ignited and split the pipe, spilling its deadly contents into the tunnel. Ragnar reached a ladder at the end of the shaft and began climbing up it. Below him the shaft filled with light as the fireball flew into it.

  ‘By the Fire Wolf itself,’ said Haegr, reaching down and grabbing Ragnar’s arm, ‘you managed not to kill yourself, lad.’

  ‘That should discourage them from entering the tunnel, and I suspect the lower part of the ladder melted,’ said Ragnar.

  ‘Do you think you got any of them?’ asked Haegr.

  ‘No, I was trying to stop them pursuing us,’ said Ragnar.

  They had climbed up the ladder into an empty corridor, fitting Varnus’s description of the unused mine monitoring station. In Imperial Gothic, a sign on a metal door at the hall’s end declared it to be a security station. The three Space Wolves exchanged glances, gathered their prisoners, one each, and made their way forwards.

  Haegr placed his Dark Angel on the ground, roared, and threw himself against the security door. The door groaned, but didn’t budge.

  ‘Haegr…’ said Torin.

  But there was no stopping the massive Space Wolf. He took his hammer and pounded the door, again and again. The booming strikes resounded in the hall. After several blows, Haegr threw down his hammer and charged the door once more. This time the enormous girth of the Space Wolf was too much for the door and it collapsed beneath Haegr, falling into the room.

  ‘There,’ declared Haegr. ‘Now Torin, what were you going to say?’

  Torin clapped his large battle-brother on the shoulder. ‘I was going to say something unimportant about knowing the House Belisarius security override codes.’

  Ragnar laughed and then his battle-brothers joined him. ‘It was much more impressive Haegr’s way’

  ‘Indeed.’ said Torin, ‘and after that clamour, we know that our enemies are truly unconscious, but, perhaps I can use the security codes on these vid-screens.’

  Haegr and Ragnar carried their unconscious prisoners into the room, laying them apart and keeping a watchful eye on them, while Torin worked on the command centre’s controls.

  The security station had several vid-screens, but based on the signs and indicators, Ragnar could tell that it was more for monitoring the unused sections of the mines than for city security. Still, Torin stood in front of one of the vid-screens and gave the codes, performing the required ritual to activate the machine-spirits within the security monitors.

  Amazingly, half of the screens flickered to life. At first, they showed only darkened images of the mines. Then, with a few gestures, Torin moved dials and changed indicators and views of the city filled the screens.

  ‘Torin, you did it,’ said Ragnar. Are you sure you aren’t part Iron Priest?’

  Torin didn’t answer, pointing to the screens instead.

  The activated vid-screens showed the ongoing battle.^ On one large screen, a dramatic encounter drew the attention of the Space Wolves. A Dark Angels Dreadnought strode through the streets of Lethe. Three Imperial Guard Sentinels closed on it, each one carrying deadly saws and blades, designed for cutting through the jungles of Hyades, but now put to deadly

  use on the battlefield. A twin-linked lascannon from the Dreadnought made short work of one Sentinel, while the others covered the Dark Angels war machine in promethium fire. The Dreadnought disappeared in a cloud of smoke for only a moment, before striding out to smash one of the Sentinels with its massive power fist, shattering it as if it was a child’s toy.

  Other screens showed the defence guns firing at Thunderhawk gunships and drop-pods. Ragnar also saw the people of Hyades fighting back as best they could. The entire populace used makeshift weapons, along with flamers, grenades and lasguns to defend themselves. Ragnar was impressed with the raw courage, and he saw that the Dark Angels were not unscathed.

  ‘People fight hardest protecting their homes. It’s true even here,’ said Ragnar.

  ‘One of the smartest things you’ve ever said.’ said Torin. ‘We need to find out why the Dark Angels attacked, and that means waking these men up.’

  They won’t tell us willingly. Maybe they think we’re Chaos-tainted,’ said Ragnar.

  ‘What is this bunker?’ he asked Torin. ‘It seems more to be than an old mine security room.’

  ‘It appears to be a secondary command post. Commander Cadmus probably has a couple of backups hidden throughout Lethe.’

  Ragnar found a communications station. Messages flashed across the screen. One in particular caught his attention. It read ‘Dark Angels escaping, Wolfblade in pursuit on the street. Quadrant three, sector five north, target on Markham’.

  ‘Can we see quadrant three, sector five?’ asked Ragnar.

  ‘Give me a moment.’ Torin fiddled with the dials and levers. ‘Yes, this screen.’ he said.

  A message flashed across the screen: Bombardment imminent’.

  Cadmus was going to kill both sets of Space Marines.

  SEVEN

  Betrayal

  The Dark Angels had surprised Lieutenant Markham and the Space Wolves with their sudden attack and withdrawal. Markham’s team had given pursuit, only to be ambushed a second time. They suffered three casualties, but the lieutenant didn’t have time to tend to them, as the enemy was close. He and his men had followed the Dark Angels through an access hatch back into the streets of Lethe.

  The city of Lethe was in a state of pure carnage. Down the street, a squad of men fired their lasguns at an unseen foe in the ruins of a habitation complex. The night breezes had a caustic tinge and particles of ash floated in the air. Explosions punctuated the night, bright flashes of light followed by

  booming sounds as if a hundred storms were competing to make the loudest thunder.

  In the light from burning buildings, Markham saw three Dark Angels crossing the street, seeking cover provided by the sparking rubble of what might have been a manufactorum due to its many wires and bits of twisted machinery. The Wolfblades accompanying him howled. ‘We’ll take care of this,’ one of them ordered. ‘Head to the wall.’

  Just as the Space Wolves charged, Markham’s vox buzzed. This is Commander Cadmus. Belay that order. Stay with the Space Wolves and keep your vox ready for further orders.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ replied Markham, leading his men after the Space Wolves.

  The lieutenant was a hard man, a veteran of countless wars. In his time, he had seen massive green-skinned orks tear the guts out of living men with their teeth. He had seen violent act upon violent act, and he had committed more than his fair share of them too, but he knew that he and the PDF would be no match for the Dark Angels and little help to the Space Wolves in a fight. Nevertheless, he would perform his duty.

  The Space Wolves engaged the Dark Angels in the middle of a cratered street, ‘Wait for a clear shot,’ Markham ordered his men as he watched the genetically altered warriors attack each other with chainswords and bolt pistols.

  ‘Lieutenant, I thank you for your fine service.’ said Cadmus over the vox.

  Markham felt his heart leap into his throat. Both groups of Space Marines fought hard, exchanging

  bolter fire and blows that would have left squads of guardsmen dead. ‘Disengage.’ Markham yelled to the Space Wolves and the men around him.

  If the Wolfblade heard him, they paid him no heed. They were lost in battle. Markham heard an eerie whistling noise. He dived tow
ards a shallow crater in the street, even as his brain told him that he, the Space Wolves, the Dark Angels, and his men were all about to die.

  Ragnar, Torin and Haegr watched the vid-screen in the old command post, while the message ‘Bombardment imminent’ scrolled across the screen. The Dark Angels still lay unmoving on the ground. Ragnar kept a close eye on them; they were Space Marines and would recover soon. On the grainy vid-screen, Space Wolves were fighting Dark Angels in the city streets, guard units close behind them.

  ‘It’s the rest of the Wolfblade.’ said Haegr as a Space Wolf knocked a Dark Angel to the ground. And isn’t that Markham?’

  Ragnar felt his blood quicken. The Space Wolves had the Dark Angels outnumbered, but the outcome was by no means certain. He tried to raise the other members of the Wolfblade on the comm, but all he received was interference.

  ‘Torin, do you think the PDF will fire on them?’ asked Ragnar.

  ‘Doubtful, it probably means that they expect the Dark Angels to bombard that area. Keep trying to establish contact with them. We need to let them know they are in danger.’ he answered.

  Markham’s men still had not engaged or retreated for cover. Perhaps the message was wrong, because surely someone would have informed the PDF. Then, Lieutenant Markham looked skywards, shouted, and dived towards a crater. For the briefest moment, Rag-nar saw the blurred outline of a massive shell hurtle towards the battle scene, then there was a blinding white flash.

  Bodies of Space Wolves, Dark Angels and planetary defence forces flew into the air.

  They’ve used Earthshakers.’ Torin gasped.

  The Earthshaker was a ground-based artillery piece, and the Wolfblade knew that Cadmus had several of them in the city. Unlike the encounter at the kill zone, Hyades’s planetary defence force wasn’t taking any chance with killing Space Marines.

  The scrolling message changed from ‘Bombardment successful’ to Targets destroyed’.

  ‘No…’ gasped Jeremiah, sitting up from where he lay on the floor. He lunged towards the monitor and fell, obviously still groggy from the fight. His companions remained motionless.

  Ragnar didn’t even care that the Dark Angel had been faking his unconsciousness, as he, Torin, Haegr and Jeremiah all watched their companions die. They were stunned and shocked. Of the nine Wolfblade who had come to Hyades, only the three of them and perhaps Magni survived.

  Ragnar decided to try Magni. The younger Space Wolf was supposed to be with Lady Gabriella, guarding her, and he was due for some luck with the comms.

  Torin and Haegr turned their attention to their prisoners. Both of them looked more than ready for another fight.

  ‘Magni,’ shouted Ragnar into his comm unit.

  Surprisingly, he received an answer. ‘Ragnar? No need to shout! I can still hear. My ears weren’t damaged. I’m still holding out with Lady Gabriella and Governor Pelias. The house guard is here as well. We’re secure in a bunker beneath the Imperial palace,’ answered Magni. ‘Do they need me out on the streets to help fight off the Dark Angels?’

  ‘Which house guard? The ones we brought from Terra or the ones here on Hyades?’

  ‘Terra, why? What’s wrong, Ragnar?’ asked Magni.

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Ragnar looked around at the consoles, hoping he could figure out the situation. ‘We may have just lost every member of the Wolfblade except for Torin, Haegr, you and me. Stay with Gabriella, and trust no one. I’ll report back when I know more, Ragnar out.’

  Ragnar’s comm buzzed immediately.

  ‘Ragnar, this is Commander Cadmus, I’m surprised that you answered. Was your mission a success? I’m afraid that you lost several of your men, according to my information.’

  ‘You bastard! You ordered those strikes against the Wolfblade! I knew that I couldn’t trust you.’ growled Ragnar. I’m sure that Markham didn’t survive that close to four Earthshaker blasts, and he was one of your own men.’

  ‘I’m impressed that you found a way to stay aware of the situation.’ said Cadmus. ‘Unfortunately, you survived, Ragnar. I’m afraid that although I need Space Marines, they don’t have to be alive. Thanks to this little communication, I’ve located your position. Don’t worry, Space Wolf, I won’t underestimate you again. Oh, and you do have my admiration. You and the Wolfblade are worthy of your reputation. This is your last communication, so give my regards to Leman Russ when you see him.’

  The power went off through the room. All of the monitors died at once. Ragnar suspected that the commander had cut the power to the entire building. As if to demonstrate Cadmus’s authority, Ragnar’s comm went dead with a burst of static as well.

  Haegr and Ragnar activated the torches at their belts in unison.

  Torin stood over Jeremiah with his thin blade at the Dark Angel’s throat. He hadn’t given Jeremiah an opportunity to take advantage of the darkness. Without glancing over at Ragnar, he clicked his comm. ‘My comm is dead too, brother.’

  ‘They have even jammed the communicator of mighty Haegr. They will not escape Haegr’s vengeance.’ growled the largest Space Wolf.

  ‘We should kill our prisoners.’ pronounced Torin in a flat tone.

  Jeremiah looked over at Ragnar. Dark Angel or not, Jeremiah was an honourable opponent, and had fought well. He had also lost his men in that salvo.

  ‘What is going on? Why are you here? Who is Cadmus? Is he the reason that you are here?’ asked Ragnar, going from question to question without pausing to let the Dark Angel answer.

  ‘He will kill us all if you let him. I need a weapon.’ answered Jeremiah. ‘Can my brethren, Nathaniel or Elijah, be revived?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ said Haegr, ‘both received a mighty thrashing at my hands.’

  We should kill them.’ said Torin. ‘Their Chapter is destroying the holdings of House Belisarius, and I don’t think we can break them, brother.’

  ‘Ragnar, I pledge to you by my faith in Lion El’Jon-son and the Emperor, that my men and I will remain your prisoners, unless the time comes when our brethren free us or you release us. Give us weapons. We are Space Marines, just as you are, and we share a common enemy, this Commander Cadmus.’ said Jeremiah.

  Something about the sincerity with which Jeremiah made his pledge made Ragnar believe him. Furthermore, he knew the Dark Angel was an enemy of Cadmus, and Cadmus had proven his treason by threatening the Space Wolves. He decided they had to trust the Dark Angels. Torin, give the Dark Angel a weapon. We can trust him.’

  ‘Lad, have you gone mad?’ asked Haegr. ‘These are Dark Angels. We can’t trust them.’

  ‘Haegr, Torin, old friends, we need to trust them. They know something about Cadmus. You both heard him threaten us and we all know that he ordered the Earthshakers to bombard the other members of the Wolfblade.’ said Ragnar. ‘They came here to remove Cadmus. We share a common enemy.’

  ‘You have good instincts, Ragnar of the Space Wolves.’ said Jeremiah. ‘I will handle my men.’

  Torin reluctantly handed Jeremiah his sword. ‘I try to keep good weapons, even if they are slightly damaged.’

  Jeremiah nodded, and raised his sword skywards. ‘In the name of the Lion, I swear upon my soul that the lives of my brethren: Gilead, Sebastian and Mar-ius, will be avenged.’ He then sheathed his blade and wiped the caked blood from his face.

  Ragnar found a medkit under a console and gave it to Jeremiah who went over to Elijah first.

  ‘Hurry, we don’t have much time.’ said Ragnar. ‘Cadmus killed our electricity and he knows where we are. If he thinks we are still a threat to him, then he’ll send troops to kill us.’

  Jeremiah nodded and injected Elijah with a stimulant. ‘We won’t surrender.’ gasped Elijah as he woke. The young Dark Angel swung his fist wildly in the air.

  ‘Stop.’ commanded Jeremiah. ‘We did surrender, Brother Elijah; we are prisoners of the Wolfblade, and we will fight alongside them and not attempt to escape. They know we have a common enemy. Say nothing more. Our mission has not
failed.’

  Elijah nodded and moved slowly. Distrust filled his eyes. ‘I will obey.’ he said, reluctantly.

  Jeremiah helped Nathaniel up and woke him using the same litanies that he had used on Elijah. ‘Brother, we triumphed?’ asked Nathaniel before his eyes focused on the Space Wolves.

  ‘No, but we’ve come to an understanding. How bad are your wounds?’ Jeremiah asked.

  ‘I can fight.’ Nathaniel stood, determined not to fall.

  Seeing the Dark Angels this way reminded Ragnar of life with the Space Wolves. The Dark Angels made him think of a Claw of young Space Wolves, a group bound together in fellowship, even friendship in some cases. Although Torin and Haegr were truly Rag-nar’s battle-brothers, the feeling was different. These Dark Angels were men who had become accustomed to working together in a battle zone. They had a bond stronger than words, a constant sense of shared purpose.

  ЛУе need to find a way out, besides the main doors to this section of the building or the mines below.’ said Torin.

  Ragnar knew he was right. The seldom-used corridor they had used to enter this monitor room was just a maintenance corridor and access route to the mines and refinery below. Ragnar could see that the large sliding double doors were made of plasteel and marked with the double-headed Imperial eagle. Cad-mus’s forces would come through those doors and there were probably more Dark Angels in the tunnels below.

  The walls are reinforced.’ said Haegr, ‘but we can burn through with melta-bombs.’

  ‘Good thing that our prisoners brought some with them.’ Torin produced a pair of melta-bombs, confiscated from the Dark Angels and set them against what Ragnar hoped was the outer wall.

  What are you doing?’ Jeremiah asked Torin. ‘What’s behind that wall?’

  ‘We aren’t sure.’ answered Ragnar, ‘but if the Emperor smiles on us, it will be the outside world and

  even if he doesn’t, it’ll be a new exit that Cadmus’s men won’t expect to be there.’

  ‘Why don’t we run out of the main enUance?’ asked Jeremiah. ‘Surely, the enemy isn’t waiting for us.’