These new foes stood as tall as the Space Marines. Grey-green scales covered their bodies along with tufts of green, brown and red fur. Their large eyes were yellow with diamond-shaped black pupils. Long fangs and sharp teeth filled their jaws, although they moved
more like primates than lizards. Many of them had strange warpaint in red and purple streaked across their bodies. Fearlessly, they launched themselves at the Space Marines.
The attack startled the Wolf Guard, but it did not deter them. No matter the foe, they would fight for their Chapter and the Emperor. If these creatures did not already know enough to fear the Space Wolves, then by the end of the day they would.
Serrated jaws clamped on Mikal's arms, although they had less of an impact than the chainsword had moments before. Mikal threw the creature aside, and blew the guts out of another with his storm bolter. In their power armour, the Space Wolves were nearly impervious to the creatures' blows, but the sheer weight of the attackers' numbers threatened to drag Mikal and the Wolf Guard down.
Mikal redoubled his efforts, giving the wulfen its head and letting the anger and fury within his breast guide him. He was a berserker, slashing and smashing his foes. Mikal tore through tails and teeth, heads and hearts, pushing himself to the limits to overcome his enemies.
The Wolf Guard were hard-pressed. Mikal saw his men pulled down under the horde of aliens to his left and right. They still moved in their armour and he had every hope that they still lived, but the tide of beasts was too much. They could not hold.
The ground shook violently. Mikal didn't notice at first, thinking that it was more explosions. Then screeching started from the horde of creatures. Several hissed and turned to face something down the street.
A large shadow blocked out the sun and one of the beasts fighting Mikal unlocked its jaws and leapt away.
A giant metal claw flung the bodies of three lizard creatures skyward against the smoke– and flame-filled heavens. Mikal felt his blood boil with pride. The shadow belonged to a massive venerable Dreadnought. Towering over the enemy, Gymir the Ice-Fisted reached down to slay them in massive swathes. The mighty Dreadnought had come to the aid of his fellow Space Wolves.
'Die, xenos scum! Face the fury of Fenris,' Gymir boomed through his array of speakers.
Gymir continued to wield his power claw like a scythe, moving it back and forth, and cutting down the creatures in a gory harvest. Bones snapped as the Dreadnought unleashed his might against the beasts. The mere presence of the ancient machine shook the aliens, who stared and hissed at the machine in fear, frusUation and rage. Ultimately, fear won out over the other emotions, and the surviving lizards broke off their attack and scattered in all directions. Gymir stood, surrounded by mounds of bodies, looking for more of the creatures to fight. Finding none, he turned with a whirr to face Mikal.
'Are you well, my brothers?' asked Gymir.
Aye,' answered Mikal.
As the Wolf Guard clambered to their feet and reformed, Mikal noticed something unusual. The bodies of the Dark Angels lay shredded. Mikal walked over and knelt down beside the body of one of the fallen Marines.
During the attack, some of the creatures had opened up the Space Marine's power armour and dug their
claws into his flesh. Mikal felt a chill run through him. Chunks had been dug out of the Dark Angel. Organs had been removed, including the Marine's gene-seed. He checked the other bodies; all of them showed the same signs. The beasts had been collecting the gene-seed of the Emperor's finest.
Mikal looked over at the Wolf Guard and then up to Gymir. 'The creatures stole the Dark Angels' gene-seed.’ he roared.
Mikal's comm crackled to life. 'Wolf Guard Mikal, this is Lieutenant Markham. We have reptos entering the city in untold numbers.'
Above the planet, the Fist ofRuss hung in space and for the moment her guns lay silent. The Dark Angels' fleet backed away from the Space Wolves' ships while Thun-derhawks from the planet below docked with their parent vessels.
From his bridge, sitting in his stone command chair, Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist could not believe his eyes. The battle runes indicated the Dark Angels' retreat, as did the holographic projections of the battle. The Dark Angels were breaking off their attack. The ship's herald called to him, 'M'lord, we are receiving hails from the Dark Angels' battle-barge.'
Berek waited for a moment. He couldn't believe that Ragnar had negotiated something like this. He knew that the young lad had courage to spare and a zeal for battle, but Ragnar wasn't a diplomat unless his time with the Wolfblade had changed him quite a bit.
The Wolf Lord's men held their posts, waiting for orders. They would follow Berek into the Eye of Terror
itself if he so commanded. The Wolf Lord stood up. 'Herald, accept the transmission from the Dark Angels.'
The herald touched a rune and two of the carved wolfs' heads opened their jaws to reveal hidden speakers.
A cold metallic voice came over the speaker. 'Space Wolf commander, this is Interrogator-Chaplain Vargas of the Vinco Redemptor. We are withdrawing our forces from your planet. We trust that you have the strength to keep Chaos in check, now that you are here in numbers. We have stopped our assaults on your vessels, but be assured, we will defend ourselves if you do not break off your attack immediately.’
Berek cleared his throat and took the comms console. The ship's herald stepped back. 'This is Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist, interrogator-chaplain. I'm sure you realise that I'm familiar with your Chapter's history of treachery and duplicity'
'Just as we are familiar with your reputation as ignorant barbarians,' replied Vargas.
'Good,' said Berek baring his fangs. 'Since we understand one another, you are retreating, and you are asking us not to fire upon you. I can understand that, since we've nearly crippled your precious battle-barge and bled you white on the surface. We will stand down. After all, I don't want to leave the Imperium without one of its Chapters of Space Marines, even the Dark Angels, but my men might like to hear you announcing your retreat.'
'I will not rise to your bait, Space Wolf. We will only fire if fired upon. We have accomplished our purpose.
The rest of the mess is yours, Wolf Lord. I also do not wish to leave mankind without several of its defenders, even when they've let their territory be infiltrated by Chaos.'
'Good, so you are retreating,' said Berek.
'We will withdraw once we have retrieved all of our men from the surface,' answered Interrogator-Chaplain Vargas.
The battle in space was over.
The members of the Wolfblade made their way through Hyades's jungles back towards the city. Ragnar supported Gabriella, while he, Torin and Haegr kept up as fast a pace as they could. Choker vines lashed out at them, and they splattered through swarms of buzzing beedes.
One of the trees tried to trip up Haegr with its roots. The giant Space Wolf swung his hammer around and smashed through the living wood. The entire tree shuddered. 'And don't try that again,' Haegr warned it.
When Torin, Haegr and Ragnar burst from the jungle into the kill zone, several columns of smoke and clouds of dust greeted them. Mounds of broken rockcrete maned the once invincible walls of Lethe. One of the gates hung open. Thunderous explosions echoed from the city. The battle hadn't ended yet.
We've made it to the city. Now we just need to get through the fighting to the palace and find a shutde.’ said Gabriella. She still looked tired, but she had regained her air of command.
Ragnar's comm crackled to life. This is Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist. Ragnar, lad, if you're out there, answer.'
This is Ragnar. Have the Dark Angels retreated?' Ragnar was curious since the explosions hadn't stopped.
'They are retreating. I'm impressed, young one. Only one thing prevents us from removing the Dark Angels. The Hyades defence forces keep firing on them. The governor doesn't answer his comm, and well, I know about the commander. Where is Lady Gabriella? Aren't you her bodyguard? I need someone to order the planetary defenders to stand down against the Dark Angels.’ the Wolf Lord chuckled. 'Mikal went out onto the battlefield, but I'm having trouble raising him. Do you have Lady Gabriella?'
'Yes, Wolf Lord. She is here with us,' Ragnar replied.
'Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist is on the comm. He asks you to order the Hyades planetary defence force to stand down against the Dark Angels.’ said Ragnar.
Gabriella leaned over to speak into the comm system. 'This is Lady Gabriella of House Belisarius, Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist. I will immediately give the order to cease hostilities against the Dark Angels.’
'Good to hear your voice, my lady.’ said the Wolf Lord. 'We're still ready to defend House Belisarius. I understand that you have a xenos problem on the ground, but I think it's time to start by removing the Dark Angels.’
'House Belisarius will not keep them here. I'm giving the orders now.’
'Aye. Berek Thunderfist, out.’ responded the Wolf Lord.
Gabriella adjusted the comm codes. 'Hyades planetary defence forces, this is Lady Gabriella of House
Belisarius. You are ordered to cease hostilities against the invading Dark Angels. They have agreed to withdraw. The Space Wolves will help restore order. Governor Pelias and Commander Cadmus have fallen, and as of this moment, you will take all orders from Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist or myself. Again, cease all attacks on the Dark Angels immediately.’
'Now, we just need to listen.’ said Torin. 'If the guns stop, you did it m'lady. If not, then we're in for a long bout of fighting.’