Ragnar felt his anger grow. Jeremiah had insulted Leman Russ. While Ragnar may have lost the Spear of Russ, he would not fail his primarch in this challenge. He felt the rage of the wolf within him, giving him strength and enhancing his senses.
For a moment, Jeremiah appeared to have the advantage. As Ragnar struggled with the beast inside, Jeremiah hammered blows against him. Then with a howl, Ragnar found the strength he needed.
In a rage, he grabbed Jeremiah and hefted him off his feet, ramming him against the wall. The world went blood-red and Ragnar could no longer hear the battle around him. He smashed Jeremiah's head against the wall then smashed it again. Then, it seemed to shift to resemble the helm of the Thousand Sons, the traitor Chaos Marines who were the eternal enemies of the Space Wolves. He could no longer think about anything but the honour of the Space Wolves and Leman Russ.
'For Russ!' he screamed and smashed his head into Jeremiah's, drawing blood.
'Lad, that's enough. We want them alive for questioning.’ Haegr said, grabbing Ragnar and pulling him
off Jeremiah. Ragnar looked at Haegr, taking a moment to recognise his old friend. Finally, the anger subsided.
Jeremiah lay unconscious, his handsome face covered in blood. Nathaniel groaned on the ground. His power armour had not yielded to Haegr's strength, but his bones had not fared as well. Torin's blade remained at Elijah's throat, and the young Dark Angel had lost his weapons.
'You're the only one awake, so I guess it's up to you to surrender,' offered Torin.
'Dark Angels don't surrender to Space Wolves,' snarled Elijah.
Haegr smashed the young Dark Angel on the head, dropping him instantly.
'So that would make this case a special exception,' remarked Torin.
Ragnar retrieved his weapons and tried the comm. 'Markham, do you read me?'
The comm crackled with static before coming to life. 'We've suffered some casualties among the men, Wolf-blade Ragnar, but we've got them on the run. They are making their way to the surface. I'm broadcasting the location to Commander Cadmus. I believe we have them. The rest of the Wolfblade are giving chase,' said Markham.
'Good work. You are a tribute to House Belisarius. Ragnar out.’ He clicked off his comm.
Ragnar was impressed. The Dark Angels had split up to try and draw his men away. In some ways, the members of this kill team thought like Space Wolves.
Are you all right, brother?' asked Torin.
Ragnar nodded. He had come close to losing control and letting the wolf come out. Within every Space Wolf lived a beast, a primal savage. They all had to work to control it, to constantly keep the beast in check. Now that the adrenaline had died, Ragnar was starting to feel aches and bruises. Jeremiah had given him a good bout.
'Let's take these prisoners back up to the surface and see how the defences are holding. We need to know why they are here. Perhaps they know something we don't.’ said Ragnar.
'Perhaps they think they know something we don't,' offered Torin.
'1 suspect that they all needed a good sound thrashing, and once they heard that Haegr was here, well, they knew they'd found the most solid thrashings in the galaxy. What say you to that?' Haegr kicked Nathaniel.
The Dark Angel groaned.
'I'd say he agrees,' said Ragnar.
An explosion rocked the mines. The scent of the anointing oils intensified heavily. More Dark Angels were coming, most likely from the surface. Some of them had penetrated the mine, and it was bad luck that they had entered near the Space Wolves' location.
'They better be careful. Too many more explosions like that and they'll puncture one of the pipes and set the promethium ablaze,' said Torin.
'This whole place, the refinery and the mines, could turn into an inferno!' said Haegr.
'I hope not,' said Torin. 'I believe that the machine-spirits would shut down parts of the pipes where any
explosions took place. This whole set of tunnels is convoluted simply because they have an array of pipe systems in case a section malfunctions… Maybe if someone intentionally sabotaged the system.'
'What?' asked Ragnar. 'You mean that if one of us shot one of the pipes it wouldn't cause all of these tunnels to erupt?'
'Exactly,' said Torin. 'Ragnar, did you think… That's why you looked so nervous about the man with the flamer.' Torin chuckled. 'If the whole place was likely to erupt, Lethe would have been destroyed a long time ago. Even the servants of the Machine-God. aren't flaw-, less. You'd start a large fire, Ragnar in one section of tunnel, like this one, roughly like getting roasted by a heavy flamer point-blank or an Inferno cannon. Hardly healthy, but that's why we are Space Marines in power armour.'
'So, it's not much more than using a heavy flamer?' asked Ragnar.
'No.’ said Torin. 'Believe me if it was, I'm sure one of the Dark Angels would have shot that promethium pipe during our hand-to-hand combat. I know I would have if I was sure that we'd die on an espionage mission rather than be captured by the enemy. However, I think, rather than debate the explosiveness of the tunnels, we need to consider getting out of here. I smell more Dark Angels.’
The tunnel where the Wolfblade stood connected the abandoned mines to the working refinery. The sound of bolter fire came from the direction of the refinery. Ragnar could smell Space Marines from both ends of the tunnel. It was hard to tell just how far
away they were. 'Don't worry,' said Ragnar, 'Varnus told me that the maintenance shaft we hid in leads to an old command centre for the unused sections of the mines.'
'What?' asked Haegr. 'Tell me that I didn't hear that right?'
'He's right old friend. We may have to leave you behind. Too many pies, roast meat and barrels of ale.' Torin paused to sigh. 'I doubt you'll fit in the shaft, so you won't make the climb.'
'That's only because Haegr has so much power that he needs food worthy of his stature.’ said Haegr.
They heard more bolter fire from the direction of the refinery, and the explosions of grenades. A flash of light came from that direction as well, along with a blast of heat.
'See, they detonated part of the promethium,' said Torin.
In a strangely serious tone, Haegr said, 'Don't worry, I'll fit in the maintenance shaft, even holding one or two of these Dark Angels. I'll bring up the rear.' Then he added, 'Besides, that way I can best protect you two in case the enemy comes down this tunnel and decides to check the maintenance shaft.'
'I'll go last. I'm going to discourage any pursuit.’ said Ragnar.
'Fine, I'm not going to waste time debating.’ Torin grabbed Elijah and pulled him into the maintenance shaft.
'Are you sure about bringing up the rear, Ragnar?' asked Haegr.
'I'm sure, but I may need your help with Jeremiah.’
The giant heaved Nathaniel and Jeremiah, laying one over each shoulder. The large Space Marines looked like children on Haegr's shoulders. 'Even if I have to go on my knees.’ Haegr said ducking down and entering the shaft.
Ragnar was torn. He had decided to turn this tunnel into a flaming ruin. On one hand, maybe he should wait until the last moment to see if he could catch any Dark Angels in the blast. He still felt that it was dishonourable, even if it was no worse than using a heavy flamer. These were the hated Dark Angels, but they were Space Marines as well.
Once again, he had to make a choice: to remain loyal to House Belisarius and to his oath of duty, or to listen to his heart and trust in the Emperor.
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.