ACTS OF VENGEANCE

by Richard Walter (Sniper)

A loud hiss bounced around the cold room as the port door whooshed upwards. From his position, Markus Gritz, the Imperial Guard chief commander, could see the huge shape of the Space Marine warrior. Even though he was sitting, Gritz guessed the brother was 8 feet tall, a giant, even in Space Marine standards.

"What is this evil that I hear so much about?" spoke the Dark Brotherhood Chaplain. Gritz strode over to the warrior. The Space Marine remained seated. At the side of his throne rested a huge pole axe. Almost as tall as a man and probably twice as deadly, Gritz hoped that he would see much more of this strange artifact.

"Brother Compages, forgive me for this intrusion. We have reports that a large Ork Waaggh! is heading this way. We have been told that Borzag Facesmasha is leading them. We are awaiting your orders." Gritz spoke to the Chaplain. The huge Space Marine rose from his seat, Gritz stared in awe at the huge figure. Jet black power armour shone in the dark chamber, even in
the dark Gritz could make out the mark of the fallen, a sign which every Dark Brotherhood marine bears. A deep red cloak hung from the Chaplains neck, the colour gave an even greater effect to the warrior of vengeance. The huge skull mask stared into Gritz's eyes.

"Ready the Brothers, arm them all. preach the Litanies of Strages, we shall have a thousand Ork heads for every brother that fell during the battle of Asumpta. This time Borzag, you will pay for the heresy." Roared the Chaplain in a fearsome barrage of fury. Compages picked up the huge pole axe as if it were nothing, Gritz cowered in fear at the Chaplains words. The Imperial Commander got a better look at the strange weapon. It was very long, at one end of the weapon was the symbol of the Emperor, on the other end was a power axe. These two weapons combined made a more than capable weapon.

Gritz hurriedly exited the room. "Hell, I'm glad that guys on our side. He puts the fear of the Emperor into me. Lets get back to the base, we have a crisis to take care of." the commander said to his men outside the chamber, they walked off in the direction a huge ship. Seconds later the Dark Brothers made for the steaming desert world of Regalis Five.

On board the Dark Brotherhood ship, Chaplain Compages uttered the words of Strages. Nothing but his booming voice could be heard in the darkness of the ship. The bone face plate of every brother gave an impression of a fearsome host from the dead, ready to do battle and avenge the fallen, no matter what the cost. The ship jolted suddenly, a loud booming sound followed by a low hissing sound resounded through the chamber. A voice crackled over the com-net. "The foul tide of green have sighted us my lord, shall we not avenge the fallen Brother Chaplain?", the voice of Commander Darcels spoke.
Brother Lysandus looked through the ships port-hole, the wing had taken a shot and was damaged, black smoke and fire assaulted it as the ground rolled beneath the ship, he gripped his weapon tightly and prepared for impact.

The ship struck the ground fast and hard, a loud CRUMP! greeted the stricken ship as it ploughed through the desert sand. A few Brothers were flung of their seats, apart from that, no one was injured. "Everyone out, lets show the spawns of evil just how bad the Emperors retribution is." Howled Compages as he flung open the emergency door. The black mass of Space
Marines clashed with the green Orks as soon as the doors were flung open. Shot after shot was fired between the two armies as a nasty fire fight began.

Chaplain Compages stood up from his crouched position, ignored the volley of shots flying around him and yelled to his men, "The greatest terror for us is to die without avenging. Brothers, follow me and we shall avenge our fallen, follow me and we shall march into the darkness, follow me and we shall have our glory." A tremendous roar of approval cascaded around the
battlefield. The war host got to their feet and charged head long into the tide of evil. Compages at the front.

The Acolytes of Redemption were the first to combat, the grinning skulls clearly visible over the carnage, their close combat weapons dealing death at every blow. Second to combat were the Warriors of the Storm, led by their master Captain Perditor, the bike mounted company was a fearsome sight. As Compages neared an Ork held bunker, he chanted the Litanies of Liberatio, a particularly mean looking Ork snapped of a shot at the Chaplain, the bullet struck him in the chest, bright red blood oozed out from the hole. Compages ran on.

Now Compages was ten meters away from the bunker, the crumpling of his boots against the sand seemed to fill the Orks with dread, the terrible skull mask did little to calm their nerves. Now five meters away, the Ork aimed his hideous weapon straight at the warrior. "Not this time, unclean one." roared the Chaplain as he wielded his Pole Axe and prepared to charge.

Compages gripped the large weapons tightly as he barraged into the Ork. The Ork fell down, unconscious, the Chaplain carried on the assault. A second Ork charged into the fanatical Chaplain. Compages grabbed the Pole Axe in both hands and swung it round in a bloody arc of death. Three Orks were killed outright as the Chaplain carried on with his maniacal slaughter. Two more Orks were fatally injured, they too were out of action.

A brave Ork jumped into the Brothers path, a savage grin crawled across its face as it readied a cruel chain sword. The Ork smashed down upon Comapges with animalistic savagery, however the Chaplain easily parried the blow and retaliated in turn. The Axe slicing through armour and flesh alike.

Compages had taken the bunker single handedly, twenty five Orks had fallen in one furious rush. Calling to the Steel Brotherhood to hold the bunker with their awesome firepower, Compages rushed onwards. The Chaplain yelled to a huge Ork. It was Borzag Facesmasha the Ork leader, the two rivals had met again and Borzag was not happy at all.

"Borzag, prepare your pitiful soul for whatever realm it is that you vile brethren leave to when they die." Roared the Chaplain as he stood atop a mountain of dead Orks. A hush fell across the battlefield. Borzag glared at the Chaplain. "I have never forgot you ill doings, creature of evil. Today, after many years of searching, I have found your pitiful army. The sons of the Order will not go into the hall of heroes without being avenged. Your time has come, foul master of evil." Roared the Chaplain as he stormed into close combat with the Ork Warlord.

Borzag roared a challenge in a bestial tongue as he readied his weapons. Compages flung himself at the Ork and the two set about fighting. Although the Ork was brutally strong, Compages was a fearsome opponent and not one to take things lightly. Huge hands locked around the Chaplains mask as the Ork snarled like an enraged beast. An armoured gauntlet shot up and struck the foul Ork in the chin, Borzag relaxed his iron grip. Dazed and confused, the two warriors got to their feet.

The Orks around Borzag started chanting his name and saying things such as "Break iz nek." and "Smash iz stoopid body ina ground." This seemed to fuel Borzag as he rained blow upon blow on the stricken Chaplain. The Dark Brothers watching the fight set upon the Orks, they would not have ill disciplined creatures goading their foul master.

A particularly solid bow caught Compages in the face. Bright red blood dripped from his mask, his cloak was tattered and so was his armour. He was not to give up just yet. Standing up, Compages drew his knife, Borzags hideous face contorted into a wicked grin as he drew a rusty sword. The Ork charged straight for Compages.

The Chaplain raised his boot, a loud SNAP! was made as the heavy kick connected, surprised, the Ork looked down, a gaping hole was in his chest. Attached to that hole was Compages, and the Chaplain was not happy at all. Smashing down with all his force, Compages slashed the Orks face. A terrible scar formed on Borzags face as the Chaplain withdrew his boot from the Orks chest. The fearsome Chaplains armour was stained a muddy colour, Space Marine and Ork blood mixed together.

Drawing his bolter to finish the Ork, Compages spoke to the creature, "Are you afraid to die, creature of the night. Or will your foul gods save your pitiful life?", Borzag stared back at the enraged Chaplain. "Da ladz 'ave lost dere rezpect for me. Ow will I leadz dem again, kill me." the startled Ork Warlord stammered.

"You want to die, green skinned horror of evil?." continued Compages. The Ork nodded as the Chaplain pressed the Bolter into the Orks head. Borzag closed his eyes tight. No sound came. The Ork opened his eyes. "Iz dis it den, am I ded?" he said to himself. "NO, you would want to be dead wouldn't you?. But for all your sins, death is an escape from you debts. I will make sure that you will pay for your sins. Now, Begone from this place or I may just loose my temper." roared Compages.

Borzag left the planet of Regalis, a broken creature. Once again, the fanatical rage of the Dark Brotherhood has rid a planet of an unwelcome guest.