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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Old grudges never die.

      Ragnar Blackmane stands on the fourth planet of Avignor. Two of the planets three moons are in the sky over the wolf lord. After the two week journey to the star system, he still has not heard from whoever opened one of "his" vaults. No one was ever supposed to find this one. Yet here he was. The drone on the generator is heard just under the natural sounds of the night. Only the keen senses of the Space Wolves would notice the hum of a plasma generator on the far side of the compound. He could see the occasional light of sentries walking the battlements.
     "We might need our blades after all." Ragnar says to the Blood Claws that are crouched around him. One of less restrained jumped at the words as if to charge the structure all by himself. The warriors of Fenris could hardly contain their excitement. Not only do the they get to blood their chainswords, but they get to do it with the lord.
     "Voggr, get your squad in your Land Raider," the wolf lord orders to the Wolf Guard just on the other side of the hill, "Keep out of sight. Wait for my command."
        "Yes, Lord Blackmane." come the response.
       Then, just as Ragnar goes to issue the rest of his orders another voice cuts in. "Leave, Lord Blackmane!" the derision over the comm is palpable. "You need not interfere here. This is our fortress. Leave now or we will be forced to drive you away."
      Even as Ragnar starts to respond the signal goes down. A roar of frustration leaps from the lungs of the wolf lord and is echoed by all his wolves. The howls pierce the darkness and the rest of the wilds go deathly silent. The howls did not get the reaction that the Wolf Lord had hoped for. Even as he and his warriors come out of their position, shots from the fortress rang out. Despite the woodland cover and the darkness of predawn light, a few of the shots still fall some of his men. " These are not some rabble, boys, prepare for a fight!" yells Ragnar.  Just as he orders his Wolf Guard forward, a shot flashes the sight on the front of the land raider, causing the crew to hesitate enough to stall their advance. Bolter fire and missiles are launched from every position of the battlements. These intruders are organized. They certainly are military. Only the Long Fangs got a hit on the defenders of the building.
    The worst of all fears are noticed as the wolves close nearer to the structure. These are Astartes! The Wolf lord once again howls, but this is to signal a charge towards the structure. This base cannot fall to dark forces. It is far to powerful to be turned to Chaos. "We must take that building and this time we will raze it to the ground! For the All Father! Charge them!" Blackmane bellows for all the wolves to hear. "They must not have it." he states plainly, mostly to himself.
     The Land Raider starts to roll again just as a blinding light flashes just off to one side of it and six hulking figures the color of dried bone materialize in the light. As these figures unleash their fury on the Grey Hunters, the return fire puts them all on the ground. The Long fangs continue trading blows with the defenders of the tower and the Blood Claws charge directly towards the battlements. The defenders of the fortress rain shells and laser fire from their perches. The krakstorm missiles taking marines out of the fight with every volley fired.
    As the Space Wolves advance across the field, a Grey Hunter named Rud notices the markings on the bone armor hulks. Everyone, especially the Wolves, know this symbol. It is the marking of the Deathwing, veterans of the Dark Angels chapter. This is not good. Astartes should not be killing each other. As Rud is disturbed at the thought, so he noticed the Dark Angels are as well. All save one. The Librarian on the battlements is fighting with the righteous zeal that any of the Emperor's finest should. Still the Sons of Russ push on. The Wolf Lord deems it. He must know.
     Rud watches as Wolves fall to the bolters of the Dark Angels, but still they press further. Blood Claws are lost with every volley of fire. But still they advance. When the Blood Claws reach the building there is only one and Ragnar and a wolf Guard. Even the prowess of the Dark Angels' boltguns could not keep the Sons of Russ from their objective. But as tactical marines are cut down by frost blades, the only blue clad marine in sight enters the building. The door into the structure becoming super heated then cooled fusing door and wall together. They will need some powerful plasma cutters to open the door now. The outside of the fortress falls to the Wolf Lord. The secrets are still locked inside with the Dark Angels Librarian. This is the very thing that Ragnar did not want to occur. This is not a proud day for anyone on this field today. Good thing there is always a back up plan.