Aboard the Slaugth ship, Howard Fender stared at the fifteen Cerabvores trapped in amber.
'Where is the Slaugth?'
The Arbiter Lord knew that Fellwatch Keep was, for the Black Emperor, not just a planet rich in mineral resources, but also a fortress watching over the frontier beyond the Coronid Deeps.
Deploying the asset of a Ramillies-class starfort underscored the importance of this system.
Possessing a starfort meant at least a Slaugth Supervisor, posing a potential, enormous threat to Fellwatch Keep.
"Sheriffs, immediately enter your new jurisdictions."
Howard's eyes deepened. He extended his psychic energy, surveying the new "jurisdictions".
"My Lord, no findings in Zone One."
"..."
A series of reports confirmed for Howard that the Slaugth was not on its ship.
At that moment, his helmet's internal comm buzzed.
Howard saw the communication was from Toby Bandak, commander of the Elysian Drop Troops. He immediately answered.
After hearing the briefing, he gave a solemn order.
"I'm on my way. Hold your position until I arrive!"
On the surface of Fellwatch Keep, Toby, having ended the communication, stared grimly at the casualty report.
'First Regiment, First Company: First Platoon, 4th Platoon, 6th Platoon – entire platoons KIA.
2nd Platoon, 5th Platoon, 8th Platoon – heavily damaged, over 50% casualties.
...'
The moment the constructs appeared, they had wiped out three of his elite platoons.
He looked up at the gloomy sky, thinking silently.
'I hope the Lord arrives quickly.'
Toby took a deep breath and grabbed the vox-caster.
"This is Toby of House Bandak. We've cornered the xenos' murder-minds."
"We've won the highest honor. As long as we hold our position and don't let a single xenos escape."
"For Elysia! Death from above!"
On the high ground, the Elysian Drop Troops, watching their burning Blyek tanks, stared with resolute eyes and shouted loudly.
"For Elysia! Death from above!"
The 8th Platoon howled as they leaped, their grav-chute thrusters carrying them screaming towards the constructs.
Constructs swung bone-blades, carving through a dozen soldiers.
Broken bodies and blood spattered the ground.
Two veterans dodged a bone-blade. A construct opened its maw wide, lunging to bite.
Grav-chutes weren't as agile as an Astartes' jump pack, but they didn't need to dodge.
Simultaneously, the veterans pulled grenades, yanking the pins just before being bitten.
As blood and limbs sprayed from the construct's maw, explosions thundered.
Destroying the first construct galvanized the Elysian Drop Troops.
Shouts of "Death from above!" rang out as platoon after platoon leaped down.
Amidst a series of explosions, four more constructs fell.
The remaining veterans didn't continue their suicidal attacks.
Using the opportunities created by their comrades, they established defensive lines using the fortifications.
Their primary mission was to hold back the enemy, not destroy the target.
The constructs' mechanical legs clung to the mountainside, their bodies constantly rotating, searching for hidden enemies on the high ground.
The Elysian Drop Troops buried themselves in the rubble, accustomed to using every scrap of environment and limited resources. They had ample patience.
A veteran warily watched a construct ten meters away. It's disgusting slime dripped onto the surface, burning a large hole in the hard rock.
He saw its rotating head point in his direction. He pulled the trigger with his right hand while yanking the pin on an un-blessed xenos weapon with his left.
He saw the las-beam precisely enter the construct's mouth, and the energy beam also struck it. He smiled.
The construct lurched. Its necrotic beam went wide, striking the surroundings.
Calmly seizing the opportunity, the veteran fired a second shot.
Then, amidst the agony of his dissolving body, he cried out.
"For Elysia! Death from above!"
Four constructs fell before they reached the mid-slope.
Toby reviewed the tactical network. Holding the high ground offered no confidence; he had lost all his armored vehicles.
The Elysian Drop Troops were completely exposed to the constructs' attacks. Losses accelerated. The five regiments were already over 50% casualties.
Toby looked to the sky. He saw no hoped-for gleaming light.
He withdrew his gaze and resolutely issued the order.
"All command vehicles, advance!"
After ending the communication, he shouted to the driver.
"Do it!"
"Yes, Commander!" The driver floored the accelerator. "It's an honor to fight alongside you!"
"For Elysia! Death from above!"
The engine roared. The Taurus command vehicle surged forward.
Toby climbed into the rear seat, gripped the twin-linked lascannon, and assumed the gunner's role.
The moment he saw the construct's disgusting form, he aimed and pulled the trigger.
The beam lanced into the xenos' tooth-filled maw. With a blinding red flash, the construct crashed down.
Two constructs simultaneously rotated. Several beams struck the Taurus.
With a piercing crackle, the Taurus was torn apart in an instant.
Toby rolled clear. He drew his laspistol, determined to fight to the last.
Just as he raised it, a deafening roar sounded in his ears. A blinding light blazed.
His vision filled with light. He was blinded.
The ground shook. He gripped his pistol tightly, fear gripping him in the darkness.
"Toby, well done. The Elysian Drop Troops has proven itself."
"Withdraw your men. I'll handle the rest of the fight!"
Hearing the Arbiter Lord's commanding voice, Toby immediately felt reassured.
'I completed the Lord's mission.'
As he spoke, Howard raised his power gauntlet and declared authoritatively in Dunnic: "Flog!"
The "Judge" swung his arm. Psychic energy, like a whip, struck the construct.
The construct was struck by an invisible whip. Its flesh split, revealing the disgusting, slime-covered interior.
Howard took a quick step, leaped, and swung his arm. The power gauntlet blazed with crackling lightning.
The disassembly field shrieked. Fungus-like flesh and purple veins were torn apart.
Howard landed, seeing another construct raise its arm, about to strike his Honor Guard.
He lunged forward, swinging his arm, and authoritatively intoned: "Die!"
The "Judge's" body merged with a certain peculiar force. He suddenly accelerated, slamming into the construct, trailing afterimages.
The power gauntlet, in an unstoppable, unavoidable posture, smashed into the construct.
The moment it was struck, the construct froze. Its swinging arm drooped limply.
The Arbiter's Honor Guard followed their Lord's attack.
Missiles screamed from the launchers on their Saturnine-Pattern Terminator prototypes, slamming into the constructs.
Blazing power gauntlets tore through the metal mesh.
Construct after construct fell under the fierce assault. Soon, the white building was brought into their jurisdiction.
The "Sheriffs" halted almost simultaneously. They sensed a powerful, evil will.
A bloody aura, chaotically intertwined and writhing.
A maddening rustling sound, entwining together.
They all looked towards the doorway. A figure wrapped in a tattered shroud emerged from it.
The Slaugth Destroyer let out a long, angry roar. Its tattered robe suddenly billowed.
Arms formed from writhing worms extended continuously, instantly wrapping around an Honor Guard member's waist.
Necrotic fluids screamed, tearing through the conversion field. Two clumps of worms were incinerated to ash.
The worm-arm suddenly probed, gouging a large hole in the Saturnine-Pattern Terminator prototype.
Just as the fluids were about to seep into the Shadows of Order's body, a commanding voice rang out.
"This place forbids bodily extension!"
The worms snapped back like rubber bands.
The Slaugth Destroyer's evil will extended, sweeping towards Howard.
Howard and five "Interrogators" adopted commanding expressions, their gaze locked on the Slaugth.
Within their pupils, two lightning-like flashes simultaneously lit up.
The two points of light grew from small to large, from dim to bright, like lightning tearing across the sky.
The Slaugth was struck as if by lightning. For the first time, it suffered severe damage in the psychic domain.
The Honor Guard members raised their left arms in unison. Plasma cannons spat dazzling light. Flame cannons roared molten streams.
The necrotic shroud was instantly torn apart. Clusters of worms, blackened, crackled and fell to the ground.
The worm-body, constrained by the "Judge's" "Prohibition" into a humanoid outline, writhed constantly.
The fierce firepower, capable of destroying a Knight suit, hammered continuously into the Slaugth Destroyer.
Clusters of worms were blasted black, yet it suffered no substantial damage.
Slime spread. The Slaugth Destroyer's worms continually regenerated.
The "Judge" raised his arm, thrusting his palm forward, and commanded authoritatively in Dunnish.
"This place forbids regeneration!"
Two Guard members charged the Slaugth from both sides. Blazing disassembly fields tore away two large clusters of worms.
Melta beams lanced into the Slaugth's body. Worms visibly blackened.
The next instant, the weakly writhing maggots rapidly whitened again, dancing madly.
Howard's eyes focused. The Slaugth's regenerative ability had breached the "Prohibition" limitation.
'Slaugth Destroyer!'
As the "Judge" pondered, he lunged forward, swinging his arm.
"Die!"
The Saturnine-Pattern Terminator prototype, trailing afterimages, slammed into the Slaugth. His fist, in an unstoppable posture, shattered the arm swinging the necrotic scepter.
With a crack, clusters of worms shriveled together.
The "Judge" didn't stop. His raised arm descended.
"Imprison!"
Layer after layer of viscous, almost solid, transparent liquid slammed onto the Slaugth Destroyer.
The writhing maggots were instantly solidified into a huge amber.
The contradictory sensations of throbbing temples from psychic depletion and the pleasure of vibrant body, mind, and soul erupted within Howard simultaneously.
After meditating to restore his psychic energy, Howard performed a sacrificial ritual aboard the Arbiter.
Black mist churned, engulfing him and the offering.
After hearing Howard's report, Nareth thought silently.
'Only a "Judge" can capture a Slaugth Destroyer.'
'After advancing to Sequence 6, Thierry could defeat a Slaugth Supervisor. Facing a Destroyer, relying on his superior defense and "Hurricane of Light," he would have a chance at victory.'
'The situation is generally similar for Sequence 6s of other Paths.'
Nareth couldn't help but reiterate his hope that every Company would someday have a "Judge."
As Nareth pondered, Howard continued.
"My Lord, my on-site inspection revealed the laboratory on Fellwatch Keep contained numerous imprisoned xenos, along with preserved research data."
"It appears to be the Slaugth Destroyer's laboratory."
Nareth had always intended to make the Keep, this future Deathwatch watch fortress, a key installation in his territories. This discovery further increased its importance.
He said appreciatively, "Well done."
"I'll have Malena take charge there."
With a thought, Nareth sent Howard back to the Arbiter.
He returned to the real world and immediately boarded an Aquila shuttle.
The "Biologist" had reported an important discovery that could influence the war's course.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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