On the grounds of a world covered in desolated ruins and lava pits, Blood Phoenix Pony Marines fired at Discord Pony Marines from behind cover. They would shoot at the heretics and quickly duck from incoming bullets. Behind them, Michael Pegalos and the Unicorn Twilight Sparkle fought against Discord Marines that thrived on melee combat.
"Captain Pegalos," said Twilight as she blasted the heretics with deadly magic bolts, "you know as well as I that this is folly. We are in desperate need of reinforcement!"
"We have no choice but to press on, Twilight." said Pegalos. "I shall not abandon this place again." He crushed the traitor marine he fought with one slam from his DaemonHammer. "What few allies we have already know of our task, and we can wait for them no longer."
Twilight had a Discord Marine in a deadly magic grip and threw the corpse far back. "I would never suggest retreat." said Twilight as she turned and blasted the heretics atop the cliffs. "But I can feel his power... the Warp screams all around us! Worse, his forces beset our battle siblings on all fronts. It is all they can do to hold their position."
"Then it falls to you and I, Unicorn." said Pegalos. "We descend into the crater."
Pegalos and Twilight headed down the path to the great pit, where an ancient evil was waiting for them. But before they could make any progress, Discord Cultists appeared on the path.
"Yet more pathetic rabble seek to bar our path!" said Twilight.
"Then on our path they shall die." said Pegalos. "To the attack!"
Pegalos and Twilight went in, and the Cultists drew their blades. Pegalos swung his Hammer while Twilight obliterated them with magic bolts. When all the cultists that were in their way were killed, they progressed forth. But then another force of Discord appeared before their eyes. Lesser daemons of Khorne were leaping around, looking for a victim's blood to spill.
"Captain, if these foes close upon me with their blades, it will be all I can do to defend myself in melee." said Twilight. "While so engaged, I will be unable to strike any foe at range."
"Worry not, Unicorn." said Pegalos. "if it is melee combat they seek, I and my hammer shall grant their wish."
Pegalos went in to attack. The daemons saw him and came after his blood. Twilight kept her distance and blasted them with lethal spells. The daemons fell to the holy might of Pegalos's Warhammer, as was the power of God-Splitter. More daemons appeared and attacked, but they all met the same fate. They moved on, but Discord Pony Marines appeared atop a ledge.
"The cowards attack us from that vantage!" Pegalos yelled.
"No gap may protect them from my powers." said Twilight. "I shall smash their minds and bodies from afar!"
Twilight approached the edge and shot her magic missiles at the Discord Marines. Two keeled over and died from the killer magic, and one exploded from the blast he received. Pegalos and Twilight kept pushing on, but a whole squad of Discord Cultists and Marines appeared in the distance.
"There seems no shortage of heretics to slow our advance." said Twilight.
"A delay we cannot afford." said Pegalos. "Be there dozens or hundreds, the abilities of a Pony Marine shall scatter them all!"
Pegalos rushed in and plowed right through their numbers. Twilight proceeded to shoot them with more deadly spells. Pegalos smashed the remaining heretic to pieces. Twilight approached him, and then Termineightors appeared where she stood.
"Termineightors, make ready!" One said.
"Service unto death!" Another said.
Pegalos, Twilight, and the Termineightors went down the spiraling hole. The foul energies of the Warp were very present amongst them.
"He is there, Captain Pegalos!" said Twilight as they reached the bottom of the pit.
"We part ways here, Twilight Sparkle." said Pegalos. "Lend support to our siblings and hold back the tide of Discord!"
"These many decades have been an honor, Michael." said Twilight. "Commend my service to the Empress."
"Empress keep you, Unicorn." said Pegalos. "I go now to redeem our Chapter."
Pegalos took up his hammer and rushed in to combat the great evil he sought to exact retribution on for ten years.
"For the Blood Phoenixes!" Pegalos shouted as he swung a strike at the massive monster in the pit.
In the jungles of Salika, near the edge of a cliff, Captain Helios Philosophies stood, without his helm, looking over the forest. Next to him stood TechDrake Spike. They had a mission at hoof that has dragged out for a whole decade. Now was the time they accomplished what they had to complete.
"For ten years Skarsend and his coven of cowards have run," said Helios, "and for ten years we have given chase. Now our quarry has gone to ground. We shall see that Salika becomes not their sanctuary, but their tomb."
"Captain, our advance forces are reporting contact with Discord Pony Marines." Spike said as they turned and headed into the jungle. "They have engaged the enemy."
"Then let us advance, siblings." said Helios. "With blood and fire, we shall cleanse this black stain from our Chapter's honor."
They moved on. Helios had a Power Sword and a Plasma Pistol, while Spike had a standard Bolter.
"Skarsend is close, now." said Helios. "These traitors will meet the Empress's horn before long."
"I have infiltrated the enemy vox channel, Captain," said Spike, "the rabble claim to have felled a sibling Blood Phoenix."
"Then let us dispatch these heretics and make haste." said Helios. "It may not be too late to aid our fallen sibling."
They spotted a squad of Cultists surrounding a Pony Marine wearing a white helmet. Helios took to the sky with his wings and slammed into the squad, killing and sending them flying. Anyone who survived the attack was either slashed by the Captain's blade or shot by Spike. When they were all slain, Helios approached the downed marine.
"By the Empress's grace, our sibling still lives." said Helios. He looked to Spike. "Revive her. Her experience will be needed if we are to crush these Discord scum."
Spike gave the fallen Blood Phoenix medical treatment, and the Pony Marine was back on her hooves. Helios recognized this marine to be the one known as "The Ancient", who was fighting to make amends for past sins.
"Your reckless desire to atone will get you killed, Sergeant." said Helios. "What have you to say for yourself?"
"You know very well she will say nothing." said Spike. "She keeps her silence in penance for deeds committed. Regardless, her armor may have been compromised. Initiating proper rites can prevent this from happening again."
They stood still to recuperate and recover, but an explosion came from up ahead, and more cultists came after them.
"An ambush?" said Helios, somewhat surprised by this act, but not that much. "I suppose the dregs of Discord do possess some measure of cunning." He took up his sword and charged. "At them, Pony Marines! Show them the folly of their actions!"
Helios charged at the squad. Spike and the Ancient fired their Bolters. The heretics were soon nothing but torn up pieces.
"Traitor blood has only begun to run." said Helios. "Forward, siblings, Skarsend awaits us."
The Blood Phoenixes moved forward. But more Discord forces, with heavy weapons, awaited them.
"Engage the enemy from cover." Helios said to Spike and The Ancient. "Our armor is formidable, but not infallible."
Spike and The Ancient got behind an old, decaying feeding tube from the Paranid war. They fired their Bolters while Helios went in and struck them down. Discord Marines attacked Helios, but were no match against him. When the coast was clear, they proceeded onward. Spike spotted something ahead.
"Captain, this is a relay beacon." He said. "If we capture this structure, we can use our teleport arrays to rapidly deploy reinforcements."
They approached the beacon. Spike quickly began the capture process. When the process was complete, three Scout Pony Marines appeared.
"Scouts are our basic infantry choice." Spike explained. "They are competent marksmen, though their light armor makes them vulnerable. They are best used in missions of stealth, and can be equipped in the field for either close or long-range support."
Fortunately, there were supply and weapon crates near the beacon. Each of the scouts received Sniper Rifles, and would be deadly from afar. The Pony Marines continued along the path, but Discord Marines with Heavy Bolters stood atop a ledge and opened fire upon them.
"The rabble has deployed heavy weapons." said Helios. "As the Codex demands, flank their position and avoid their lanes of fire."
They managed to get past them, and traveled up a hill back towards their position. Helios took to the sky and slammed into them. He then slashed and stabbed them to ensure their deaths. Spike and the others regrouped with him and they moved on. They heard more gunfire in the distance. When they got a better view, they could see a band of Hogs near a destroyed ship attacking the Discord Marines.
"A Hog ship." said Helios. "Pigskins are obsessed with salvage. Perhaps there are resources here that could be of use."
"What they have not already desecrated with their looting..." said Spike.
They went in and surprise attacked the Hogs, who were now in real trouble. Pony Marines on their left, Discord Marines on their right. They were all slain from both sides. Then the Blood Phoenixes attacked the Discord Marines, who met the same fate as the Hogs. The Pony Marines kept marching towards their objective, and came to both a holdable position and another relay beacon. Spike captured the beacon in ten seconds.
"A Devastator squad would be ideal here." said Spike. "Their Heavy Bolters can lay down suppressing fire that slows and debilitates the enemy."
Immediately, a squad of Devastator Pony Marines appeared. They and the Scouts garrisoned the shrine. With a combined firepower of Heavy Bolters and Sniper Rifles, Nothing would get close.
"The Dark Legion would never allow us to keep such a hoof hold." said Helios. "Expect a counterattack!"
Spike and The Ancient also went into the shrine. Helios, being a Pegasus Marine, remained outside. Spike had deployed some Firagun Turrets in openings around the shrine and in blind spots where he and the Pony Marines could not shoot. After a minute of waiting, the wall that was on the left of the shrine exploded, and lesser daemons of Khorne came sprinting towards the Pony Marines' position, as well as a splinter group of cultists. The daemons lunged over the barricaded moat and attacked Helios. The Captain hacked and slashed at the abominations with skill and steel, not once backing down against the terrible monsters. Meanwhile, Spike, The Ancient, and the other Blood Phoenixes shot at the cultists. The heretics tried to get into their blind spots, but the Firagun Turrets Spike deployed said otherwise. Helios had managed to hold his own, and the last daemon fell to his blade.
"The way is open!" Helios called. "While they are licking their wounds, forward once more! There shall be no mercy, no respite."
The Pony Marines exited the shrine, and they moved onwards. Skarsend waited for them up ahead, Sure enough, when they descended the hill, he came trotting towards them with a smug look on his face.
"Ah, the Puppet-Captain joins us, siblings." said Skarsend. "See how merrily he dances, blind to the Dark Gods who pull at his strings?" Helios and the Pony Marines approached. "Welcome, sibling. Know your decade-long hunt is all for naught. I will slay you here, and your souls shall be devoured."
Helios stepped up. "Save your words, cur." He said. "Our Empress will see us victorious this day."
There were two empty structures near the battlefield. Spike and the Scout Marines garrisoned one, The Ancient and the Devastator Marines garrisoned the other. Helios readied himself for combat against the Discord Lord, and Skarsend continued to look arrogant against the Royal Guard Captain.
Helios and Skarsend clashed. Their Power Swords surged with electrical conflict as they struggled to cleave each other. They broke from their struggle and clashed again, and again, and again. The Blood Phoenixes fired away at the Discord Lord from their vantage points. The two leaders kept striking each other's blades, but Skarsend was receiving the worse of the fight.
"You are slowing, Scourger." said Helios. "Gone is the cunning that troubled the Blood Phoenixes. This battle will be your last."
Skarsend bared his sharp teeth in anger. "I shall not be stopped!" He shouted. "Again and again I shall rise, as I always have!"
Discord Marines appeared and took cover behind sandbags. Spike deployed more Firegun Turrets near them, and the sentry guns tore them to pieces. Helios and Skarsend still clashed blades, neither one willing to give in. Helios had had enough. He struck Skarsend's blade hard enough to break it in two. He then pierced the Discord Lord through the chest, shot some Plasma rounds into his body, and then kicked him off his sword.
Skarsend lifted his head up off the ground and still gave the Captain a smug look. "Know this puppet..." He said, struggling to speak. "Even with my death here, the Dark Gods still hold you Blood Phoenixes in their grip..." He coughed up blood. "Soon the Gods will have your Chapter's loyalty. And you, good puppet, are still too blind to see this... Hmm ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA-UCKGH!" He choked on his own blood and went limp.
"LIES!" Helios yelled. "... all lies..."
Helios stood, anger burned inside him from what Skarsend said. The Discord Gods have no hold on him or his Chapter, he thought, and once the Dark Legion was wiped off the face of the Sub-Sector, their names will be clear of any dark stains and deeds.
"Well done, well done..." came a voice through Helios's comm link. "It was wise to send our Chapter's greatest champion to scour the Legion from the subsector! You, Philosophies."
Helios was surprised from the voice. "My Lord!" He addressed, "Chapter Master Traytus, I-I was not expecting communication with you so swiftly."
"As both Chapter Master and Chief Unicorn, my reach is long Captain." said Traytus. "I watched your victory unfold. See to it that Salika is secured while you await further orders... and, again, Helios, congratulations..."
"I... Thank you, my Lord." said Helios. "You honor me." Helios heard the familiar light hoofsteps through water approach from behind. "Are you satisfied?" He asked the Scout Sergeant.
"I am not." Pinkie stated. "I am, however, disappointed." She approached Helios, outraged towards the Captain. "With just a few honeyed words of favor, you discard all that we revealed to you of Arctika in an instant!"
"Enough!" said Helios, "The Dark Legion has routed! As for you, I will see that your fates are decided shortly."
They boarded a ship and were recovering from the battle, but a call from someone of high authority came to them.
"Captain, we have incoming vox," said Spike, "from the Inquisition sir."
The face of a white furred, purple maned Unicorn wearing black light armor and a matching hat appeared onscreen.
"This is Inquisitor Rarity of the Ordo Horseticus." The Inquisitor said. "Captain Philosophies, it seems you have been busy, as of late."
"You have no doubt heard the reports." said Helios. "Skarsend the Scourger and his forces are defeated. The Dark Legion has been routed from here. I trust this puts the question of the Blood Phoenix loyalty to rest."
"This news changes very little." said Rarity. "In fact, I am contacting you to inform you the situation has escalated. One of your own Captains has made some disturbing accusations regarding your Chapter Master, Benedict Traytus."
"Pegalos!" Helios said in anger, "It is he and his followers who are traitor and renegade! By all rights, I should turn Michael's stallions over to Traytus."
"So you have often said." said Rarity. "Fortunately he did not mirror this sentiment when he sent them to you to command. It is by Captain Pegalos' recommendation that you are being given the chance to clear the Blood Phoenixes of guilt. The Ordo Horseticus, of the Inquisition, will soon deal with these problems, in a quite permanent fashion. Exterminatus. The complete and utter destruction of every inhabited world in this sector. No one will be spared, traitor, xenos, or loyal, all will die."
Helios raised his head and eyebrows in shock. "Exterminatus..." He breathed, "But..."
"Captain, if Traytus is truly the source of the sector's troubles, you must expose it and stop him." said Rarity. "If you can, then perhaps I will be able to help call off the Exterminatus. And if you cannot, your Chapter will be declared heretics and you will burn with the rest of the subsector. I suggest you act quickly, Captain Philosophies. Rarity out."
The transmission ended, and Pinkie stepped up.
"Such an investigation will need to be performed without Chapter Command's notice." She said. "We will need to move quickly and subtly."
"On Salika, there are the remains of an ancient teleport network called the Teleportariums." said Spike. "If we can find and activate it, we can use it to promptly travel the subsector unnoticed. Enemy forces lie between us and a Teleportarium. We must engage them if we wish to proceed."
Spike played an intercepted vox transmission from Equestrial Guard troops. *To all officers and regiments that may be receiving, we're through with Equestrial command!* the renegade said. *If we have to fight, we're going to do it for ourselves from now on. You want to call that defection, fine. We were dead stallions anyway. At least the cults promise something in return. This region is ours now. We see anyone, ANYONE, within a mile of here, we'll bury them in ordinance. Don't doubt we can, either. The regiment's "holy armor" isn't that particular about the holiness of them that drives it.*
On the grounds of the old ruins, more renegade Guardponies patrolled the area. A Sentinel strode briskly along the mossy path. Helios, Spike, Pinkie, and The Ancient teleported onto the field near a beacon.
"Scouts have discovered a vital point of terrain." Pinkie whispered to the other Marines as they slowly approached a bridge.
When the coast was clear, they crossed the bridge and made their way down the path towards the Teleportarium, but they would not get very far without alerting the renegades of their presence.
"Intruders!" A renegade panicked, "Oh hell, we've been found!" Explosions occurred ahead of the Blood Phoenixes along the path. "Alright you fiends, I don't care who you are... feel the might of the Baneblade!" Sure enough, a Baneblade, one of the most powerful of Equestrial war machines, came rumbling towards their position.
"None of our weaponry is potent enough to penetrate the Baneblade's armor!" said Spike. "We need to fall back, now!"
They turned around and retreated from the eleven-barreled tank with all the speed they could use. Pinkie, being a swiftly fast Scout Marine, made it back before the others. Helios and The Ancient crossed the bridge back. But before Spike could cross, a large artillery shell struck him down, and destroyed the bridge.
"Damnation, we can't get through here!" said the renegade. "Find another path!"
Using some resources gathered from previous battles, Helios had Spike teleported back aboard their ship, and then redeployed back with them. They headed up a different way, but stopped as they overheard more Guardponies and even cultists talking amongst each other.
"Protect those targeting cogitators!" a Guard ordered. "The turrets could go haywire if a cogitator is destroyed."
Helios and the Pony Marines fired at the cogitator until it was reduced to scrap metal. The turrets ahead then began to shoot at the Guardponies and cultists, tearing them to bloody pieces with entire crates worth of ammunition. When the renegades were dead and the turrets rendered useless, they moved onward. As they trotted the path, more explosions erupted to their left, and the Baneblade returned.
"Ah. Found ya!" said the Driver. "Demolisher Cannon, open fire!"
The Baneblade's main gun blasted a shell near the Pony Marines, but the Blood Phoenixes kept moving, still lacking the means to destroy the beast of a tank. They managed to escape the tank's firing range, but it would find them again in due time. The Pony Marines encountered Discord Cultists along the path, and they laid waste to them with blades and bullets. Again, the Baneblade came from seemingly out of nowhere and attacked them again. The Blood Phoenixes did not waste time, and kept fleeing from the tank. They escaped death again, but encountered more renegade Guardponies and a Sentinel. Helios took to the sky and slammed into the Guardpony squad, killing them with ease. The Sentinel took dozens of hits from the Captain's power sword and the others' bullets before succumbing to destruction and falling to the ground in a heap of scorched metal. More explosions occurred, and the Baneblade appeared yet again to slow the Pony Marines' advance. The Blood Phoenixes simply just ignored the guns and took off down the path. They engaged a splinter group of cultists and renegades that stood in their way. Helios charged and smashed through their numbers quickly. They expected the Baneblade to return, but when it did arrive, it stopped in its tracks.
"What do you mean we can't pursue any further?" The driver screamed through the vox. "We can't let them get away! They can't escape!"
The Baneblade then turned tail and headed back into the thick jungle foliage. The Pony Marines pressed on, slaying any who dared to be an obstacle, until they finally found the Teleportarium, but not without one last challenge.
"There they are!" The driver yelled. "This is it, you maggots! We'll bury you here!"
The Baneblade came out of a tunnel and tried to block the way. Helios spotted a turret cogitator atop the steps near the Teleportarium. If they can destroy it, the anti-armor turrets guarding the Teleportarium would turn and hopefully annihilate the Baneblade. He took to the sky, flew over the Monstrous tank, and landed next to the mechanism. He then proceeded to utterly slash and bash the cogitator into pieces. The turrets that were surrounding the Baneblade malfunctioned and blasted the titanic vehicle until it was finally done in, and the driver inside perished with it.
Spike, Pinkie, and The Ancient headed up the stairs and approached the Teleportarium.
"I believe this is it, Captain." said Spike. "I will need a day to examine the relic and determine its usage."
"The sooner we can pursue this farce, the better." said Helios.
"Farce, Captain?" Pinkie asked, further questioning Philosophies.
"Do not doubt this." Helios warned. "At the Inquisition's behest, we are engaged in a mutiny most foul against the Chapter's leadership. The Inquisition has placed the Blood Phoenixes at the brink of oblivion, and it is for that reason alone we do this. We will search for evidence that will damn Traytus... Or perhaps, redeem him."
"Redeem him?" Pinkie asked. "You still believe there is innocence to be found?"
"I doubt we will find much of anything." said Helios. "Knowledge is power to us Blood Phoenixes, and we guard it very well."
After a full day of analysis and fixing, Spike had managed to reactivate the ancient relic.
"The Teleportarium is now active, Captain." He said. "We may leave Salika at any time. We must locate further Teleportariums in order to reach more planets."
The first planet they could travel to was the feudal world of Dolmaska. There they picked up upon a transmission coming from their own battle siblings.
*Attention, all Blood Phoenixes of Strike Force Bravo in the Angus district!* said a Pony Marine. *This message is encoded, do not worry about our "siblings" receiving. The Ascendant fears investigation and pursuit by those who are less enlightened. He wishes to ensure that all traces of his passing on Dolmaska are eliminated. As such, Angus Settlement is to be razed to the ground. Success will ensure that his pursuers' trails shall grow cold, and his great plans realized.*
The transmission ended. Blood Phoenixes destroying a key area on their own recruiting world? No doubt that Traytus was behind all of this, but Helios was still to ignorant to realize it himself.
"Such desecration of our recruiting world by our own battle-siblings cannot be allowed to stand." said Spike. "We must intervene."
Helios and the others appeared within Angus Settlement, and had to quickly stop their other siblings from destroying everything around them.
"I advise capturing that Stronghold." said Spike. "With it we can deploy our heavy infantry and holy armor."
Helios approached the headquarters and began the capturing rites for the structure. Meanwhile, Pinkie and The Ancient gathered nearby resources. After thirty seconds had passed, the stronghold was theirs, and a squad of Devastator Marines along with a large Transport Tank were immediately deployed. Spike, Pinkie, and The Ancient embarked the vehicle, and Helios flew up and stood on top the tank. The transport began to advance to the war-zone, driving through an arch and smashing through a barricade of metal girders covered in barbed wire. At the bottom of the stairs, a squad of scouts were demolishing buildings throughout this part of the settlement.
Helios brought his hoof to his comm link and kept his gaze focused on the scene before him. "This is Captain Helios Philosophies of the Royal Guard. I am issuing a stand down order to all Blood Phoenixes in Angus Settlement. Cease this pointless slaughter at once."
"We no longer accept orders from the likes of you, Helios Philosophies." A marine chided. "We answer to a higher authority."
Helios sighed. "I see... Then I will have to do what even Pegalos will not." He switched vox channels. "To all Blood Phoenixes under my command: Sibling-Marines are engaged in the destruction of Angus Settlement. They must be stopped at all costs. Should they refuse to stand down, use of lethal force is authorized."
The rogue marines heard that as Helios's transport approached. "You would not dare!" the marine said, calling out the Captain's bluff.
But Helios never bluffs. "By the Empress, I dare! I will do what I must!"
Helios took to the sky and slammed into the squad of scouts. Pinkie and The Ancient disembarked from the tank and attacked as well. Rogue Pony Marines came in to support the scouts, who had already fallen. Helios went in to engage. His Power Sword slew the marines, and he shook his head in pity as he looked upon their corpses.
"I know not how you lost your way, but I will not see this desecration of our recruiting world carried out." said Helios. "You will stop. One way... or the other."
Helios and his forces continued on, putting any and all rogues out of commission. They soon found a forward base that could supply them with upgrades for their load-outs.
"For countering heavy armor, our Devastators can be given Lascannons." said Spike. "Melta weaponry and Powerhooves are also formidable."
Half of the Devastator Marines were given Lascannons, Spike took up a Melta Gun for future uses, and The Ancient equipped herself with a Powerhoof. With their inventory set, they went on with their mission. They quickly engaged another strike team of rogues.
"Sergeant Kelpeisos, come in!" one of the scouts called. "We have come under fire! Our mission has been compromised!"
"Stay calm young siblings!" said Kelpeisos. "I will deploy heavy support. It will arrive in moments, and crush these worms."
Helios and the others waited for whatever was to come. Soon, a drop pod landed atop the stairs, and a Harmonaught emerged to attack. The Devastators with Lascannons fired away at the assaulting mech. When the Harmonaught was destroyed, they moved on, and found the base of operations behind the razing of the settlement. Helios charged at the stronghold, and the Pony Marines opened fire. Eventually, the base was leveled, and Kelpeisos himself was crushed beneath the wreckage.
The sergeant struggled to breathe with a spike driven through his chest. "You... you are... too late..." said Kelpeisos. "The Ascendant... will... be triumphant..." More heavy rubble fell upon him, crushing his body, and he went limp.
After the brutal mission against their once loyal battle siblings, Helios and the Pony Marines returned to their ship. Spike did a sweep scan of Dolmaska and discovered something at the Blood River site.
"I have detected xenos activity." said Spike. "While not related to our objective, investigating may be beneficial."
Spike played an intercepted vox recording for the Blood Phoenixes to hear. From the sounds of it, Hogs have gathered at the area for a delivery to their SNAARL!
*... and remember: use dose shiny bridges, cuz dey bring good lukk.* a big gruff Hog, likely the Warboss, said. *If dere's an ambush, be at da supply depot it will. Don't let da enemy reach da supply depot! An' protect da trucks! I don'ts care how many of ya gitz gets smashed... I'm sendin' some boarz ta loot an make sure dere's no ambush; send kanz, and den send boarz: all kindz o' boarz.*
Before continuing with their next mission, Spike confronted Helios with some helpful advice.
"Captain, our forces and battle options have grown recently." said Spike. "Though I am loathe to remain behind, you might consider deploying without Pinkie, The Ancient, or myself. Doing such will allow you to deploy with more forces."
On the surface of Dolmaska, the Hogs were prepared to make the delivery run, though most of them were annoying by their Warboss's instructions.
"'Drive slow or you's break me bitz' he sayz'..." a Hog Nob said to himself in a mocking manner. "'N don't ferget ta drive on da shiny bridges fer good luck'..."
But the instructions did not matter to them that much, because to them, anything will be worth it if they got a chance for a good old fight.
"Listen up gitz," the Nob called out, "Warboss Bashsnout sayz dere will be fightin' ahead, 'n we need ta get our gear to da SNAARL! So just be sure ta get enuf trukks past da supply station for da SNAARL!"
The Hog trucks can driving through the ravine, along with many varieties of Hog Boarz: Sluggaz, Shootaz, Stormboarz, and other kinds. Helios, Pinkie, and The Ancient along with a squad of Scout Marines, Tactical Marines, Devastator Marines, and Termineightors watched them from high atop a cliff.
"We should not strike the Hog convoy just yet." Spike advised from the ship. "If we continue for the supply station, we may find a better ambush site."
Helios and the Pony Marines headed off towards the station, galloping with great speed and destroying any dead shrubbery that stood before them. They came to a clearing at a ledge and scanned the area before them. The supply station was just yards away from their position, and the area was teaming with Hogs. Nevertheless, the Blood Phoenixes would not allow that to slow their advance. They continued along the path, and encountered a squad of Shoota Boarz. The Pony Marines opened fire at them, and the Hogs shot back. Helios charged at them and slammed into a couple of Hogs, killing them. The surviving Hogs turned and headed to the station. The Pony Marines chased after them and were then under attack by Hogs garrisoned inside guard towers. More Hogs came in and were surprised by all this.
"Wut? Dere wazn't s'posed to be any fightin while we woz lootin..." one of the Hogs said. "Da trucks are almost 'ere!" The Hog looked to the other boars. "Ready dem shootas boarz: Boss Bashsnout sayz wez need ta keep dis way clear for 'em!"
Helios and the Termineightors attacked the Hogs that were in the open. Pinkie and The Ancient took care of the garrisoned Hogs with explosives, clearing them out of the towers and making room for their forces. Helios took to the sky and slammed into the Hogs. The Termineightors' Storm Bolters tore through the Hogs like paper. Soon, all the Hogs in the area were killed off. Pinkie placed charges on explosives near the bridges. When the charges were set, Pinkie pressed the trigger, and the bridges were demolished.
The Nob leading the Hogs was immediately informed of this. "Umm, Boss? Dey destroyed dose shiny bridges you liked..." He said nervously.
"Wot?" Bashsnout said, outraged, "Oh, youz bettah be lyin' ta me boar, and youz bettah be dead before I git dere cuz don't likes bein' lied ta! Now outta me way!" He sighed in annoyance. "Looks like I gotta do all da work meself. And when I'z done fightin' yer all gettin' yer snouts bashed."
The Pony Marines now had there perfect location for an ambush. Pinkie and Scouts equipped with Sniper Rifles garrisoned the high towers, giving them a good sight range of the battlefield. The Ancient, the Tactical Pony Marines, and the Lascannon Devastators garrisoned the towers on their end of the bridge that could not be destroyed. Helios had Spike deploy Firagun turrets near opening where Hog infantry would likely come through. The Captain and the Termineightors stood at the bridge, waiting for the Hogs to strike.
"Ere we go boarz!" the Nob shouted. "Dis is where dey said da fightin' wuz!" The Hog cracked up laughing. "Hahaha, dis is excitin'! Can ya feels it boarz?"
The first truck came into view, along with two Killa Kanz and squads of Shoota Boarz. The Devastators fired their Lascannons at the truck, which took about five hit before succumbing to its damages, then they focused fire on the Kanz. Meanwhile, Helios charged at the Shootas. The Ancient, the Tactical Marines, and the Termineightors opened fire on any Hogs that came close to them. Then Stormboarz flew over them to attack from behind, but Pinkie and her Scouts quickly dispatched them. The Firagun turret gunned down Hogs coming through the pathway that no vehicle could get through. The next truck came, and was reduced to scrap by the Devastators along with the Hogs protecting it. Then the final truck came, followed by five Killa Kanz and a plethora of Hogs. The Pony Marine unleashed their fury upon the animals. The Hogs struck back as well. Blades clashed, bullets flew, and blood was spilled, but soon the Hogs were slain, and the final truck was destroyed.
"Awww, wiv all dat fightin we lost all our gear." the Nob complained. "Now its gonna take a 'HOLE day ta find all our gear again!"
Fortunately, the Blood Phoenixes had managed to find and secure another Teleportarium, which would take them to the icy planet of Arctika. Upon arriving, they discovered the planet was still ripe with Discord heresy. Spike picked up on a Discord communication vox, and from the sounds of it, it would be worse than what happened a decade ago.
*Siblings, we must give praise to Khorne, for the construction of the Dark Portal is complete!* a Discord Marine announced. *Where Aroghent's temple was sundered, we may once again freely coax the beings of a warp into reality! The Portal radiates ruinous power, celebrate as you witness the constructs of lesser beings tainted and lain to waste around it!*
If there was a Warp Portal on Arctika, then the entire planet would be overrun by daemons and heretics alike. Such an invasion would take a damnable time to eliminate.
"I realize time is short, but whatever deeds these heretics are committing cannot be ignored." said Spike. "We should investigate."
Helios and the Blood Phoenixes immediately deployed onto the Toros Iceworks, where the portal was located, and caught the attention of the Discord Marines.
"Ha ha ha ha, interlopers! Come to witness the glory of the Dark Portal?" the Discord Marine exclaimed. "Draw near, then. Watch as the entropy of the Warp claims and cripples flesh and steel! We shall savor your despair!"
Already, a squad of Discord Pony Marines came charging after them in a full throttle assault. Helios and the Blood Phoenixes attacked and left nothing standing. They moved on in search for the portal, killing any heretic they came across. They discovered another Teleportarium, but it was swirling with corrupting energies of the Warp.
"No way across that thing." said Pinkie.
"Magnificent, is it not?" said the Discord Marine. "We have succeeded where even the great Nettor could not. Come closer. Approach the portal. Gaze directly into the maw of the Warp! If you are fortunate, your lives may be snuffed by its entropy, rather than our blades!"
Helios knew that in order to secure the Teleportarium, they had to destroy the Warp portal feeding it the damned energies. They pushed forward, gunning down and slaying the Discord Marines with bullets and blades. When the Pony Marines reached the portal, they acted quickly. Helios had Spike deploy Firagun turrets to protect their flanks. They then got to work destroying the opening. First they razed the generators, then they began attacking the portal itself, which alerted the Discord Marines.
"The portal is under attack! To battle!" The Discord Marine shouted. "Daemons of Khorne, come forth! A feast of blood and bones awaits you!"
Khornate Daemons appeared from the portal and attacked the Pony Marines. Helios clashed blades with them. Pinkie and The Ancient shot at the approaching Discord Marines. And the other Pony Marines continued to attack the portal. Helios had managed to slay the daemons, and went to attack the Discord Marines that approached. Suddenly, the portal began to spew fireballs that threatened to burn them alive. Despite what the force of Discord threw at them, the Pony Marines kept striking the portal until it caved in upon itself and was gone.
"No... NO! Blasphemous wretches!" the Discord Marine shouted in anger. "Siblings, after them! Do not let them escape!"
With the dark portal destroyed, the Teleportarium was nearly clear of any lethal warp energies, but there were still more places that continued to defile it. The Blood Phoenixes swiftly headed off to deal with the meddlers. They found the first group of cultists, who were trying to summon daemons in their place. The Pony Marines killed them off and went on to the next. Discord Marines, who were protecting more cultists trying to summon daemons, opened fire at the Blood Phoenixes. Helios took to the air and slammed into them. Explosions occurred in the distance, and two daemons, one riding the other, bursted from the wreckage and attacked everything in its sight. It attacked the Discord Marines, who had to deal with both it and the Pony Marines. The Blood Phoenixes did away with the cultists and then turned their attentions to the other heretics. The Discord Marines were quickly killed, followed by the rampaging daemons.
The Pony Marines reached the Teleportarium, but a squad of Vinyl Marines and a Disharmonaught guarded it. Pinkie and The Ancient dealt with the Vinyl Marines, while Helios and the other Blood Phoenixes fought the Disharmonaught. The Vinyl Marines began to produce a loud booming noise that disrupted Pinkie's and The Ancient's attacks, knocking them away with every sound-wave that was produced, but when their cacophony stopped, Pinkie and The Ancient shot them down.
Helios slashed the Discord war machine and dodged its swings. Pinkie threw an explosive charge on the Disharmonaught's armored hull, and detonated it. The mech fell forward and disappeared in a flash of warp fire.
The Teleportarium gave them access to another world in the sub-sector, but more business needed to be dealt with on Arctika first. But before they could do anything, Helios sighed as he reflected on the occurrences that happened on Arctika, Dolmaska, and Salika.
"Pinkie, Spike. You were right. Pegalos was right." the Captain said, slowly coming around to the truth. "There is something rotting at the heart of the Chapter, corrupting our battle-siblings."
"Traytus, no doubt." said Pinkie. "He has been busy in our decade-long absence."
Helios shook his head. "No... I do not believe Traytus is to blame." He said. "The traitors named him as 'Ascendant', but that may be only to mislead us."
"Traytus is our Chapter Master, he IS the heart of the Chapter." said Spike angrily. "If he were pure, this corruption would not have flourished."
Pinkie sighed through her nostril. "Philosophies, you have been in service to Traytus for centuries, and know him better than any other." She said. "Let me ask you this: Do you maintain Traytus' innocence because you know him to be a virtuous servant of the Empress? Or because the shame of admitting to a life spent in service to a heretic is too much to endure?"
Helios clamped his eyes shut and looked down. "I do not... Enough!" He shouted as he looked back up. "I will consider your words later. We have other matters to attend. What of the Teleportarium?"
"The new arrays on this planet have been reactivated." said Spike. "They have given us the means to reach Galantius. Furthermore, I have intercepted a disturbing transmission from Renegade Guardponies on that world. It has been prepared for your view, Captain, whenever you wish."
For the time being, they had another problem on Arctika to attend to, specifically more Guardponies who have fallen to Discord.
"I realize time is not on our side, Captain, and striking these heretics is not our immediate objective." said Spike. "I leave it to you whether we act."
Spike played an intercepted communication between two Guardponies.
*Command voxed again, wanting a report.* one of the Guardponies said. *That's the fourth time this week. We keep giving them dead air, and it won't be long 'fore they decide to stop by. They gotta be wondering who's accepting their munition drops, after all.*
*They can vox every minute until doomsday if they please, we will NOT respond!* another Guardpony yelled. *You have heard the whispers! You know Ne... Net... the will, the voice, we are his now, he is here, while they have forsaken us! If they, if ANYPONY, wants these munitions, wants this meat, they must take it from us!*
Helios and the Pony Marines redeployed back onto Arctika, and the traitor Guardponies were immediately alerted of their presence.
"Perimeter breach!" a Guardpony called, "Intruders at Checkpoint Taurus!"
"All forces to arms!" the renegade commander ordered. "Gun them down, bring their flesh to the keep! Nettor shall feast this eve!"
The Blood Phoenixes quickly engaged a squad of Guardponies along with a Sentinel. Helios struck down each and every heretic with one slash from his blade. The Sentinel was armed with a powerful Lascannon, but did not last very long against a squad of Termineightors with shoulder-mounted Missile Launchers.
"Brash. Feeble. Foolish." said Helios. "Cursed sorts of a cursed god."
They moved on, gathering resources along the way, and found a gate blocking their path. They proceeded to utterly demolish the gate. When they passed through, a disturbing voice echoed around them; the voice of Nettor, the Great Unclean One.
"Yes, little ones, crawl and buzz if you like." the voice seemed to have said.
Chimera Tanks drove in to attack, but were soon blown to scrap by a missile barrage. When those vehicles were destroyed, the Blood Phoenixes pushed forward.
"How is it you've allowed the invaders to remain breathing?" the renegade commander asked in a demanding tone. "They walk in the open, begging to be slaughtered! Manticore Batteries, Vengeance and Justice, crush them beneath your rockets!"
The Pony Marines soon spotted a tank with a rocket launching platform atop an icy cliff. The Termineightors immediately teleported to the tank's location and assaulted the troops defending it. When the traitors were killed, they proceeded to assault the Manticore Tank. Once the tank was obliterated, they regrouped with Philosophies and moved on. But the accursed voice of Nettor returned to plague their minds.
"This land shall feel my gangrenous touch. Am I not magnanimous?" Nettor gagged.
Helios and the Pony Marines had come upon a relay beacon, much to their luck, which was surrounded by parked Chimeras.
"Purge these thoughtless hides." the voice said.
A supply depository's doors opened, and Guardponies came galloping out. Some attacked the Pony Marines while others hoped to commandeer a tank while they were distracted. Out of all the remaining heretics, only one was able to enter a Chimera and attack the Blood Phoenixes with its Hot Shot Lasguns. The Pony Marines were able to destroy the tank with little effort, and they continued along the frozen road. They soon stumbled upon what appeared to be Guardponies still loyal to the Empress fighting against the traitors, as well as a small squad of Bison, and Discord Cultists.
"Guardponies. They may be of some help." said Pinkie.
The Pony Marines went in and eliminated the heretics, saving the loyal Equestrial Guard forces from certain death.
"Captain... Captain, do you read?" one of the Guardponies asked. "Thank the Empress you're here. Everypony stationed at this base has been hearing voices, having nightmares... this place is still cursed with the stink of Discord. We've been here for years now, ever since Captain Pegalos and his Pony Marines left. Most went mad... but not all of us. We took action when you arrived, secured the munitions dump, gunned down the traitors here and..."
"Treasonous filth!" the renegade commander shouted over the communications vox. "So eager to join these pretenders? Then your blood and bones shall lead theirs into Nettor's maw!"
At that moment, another supply deposit's doors opened from the southeast, and more cultists came out, as well as a Disharmonaught. From a supply deposit to the southwest, more traitor guardponies, and even renegade Bison, appeared to battle the Blood Phoenixes.
The Pony Marines and the Equestrial Guard held their position and opened fire upon the heretics, gunning them down quickly and mercilessly. The Disharmonaught took five shots from Devastator Lascannons before evaporating into daemon fire and disappearing. Helios engaged the Bison in melee combat, who were very strong and could easily trample a regular Pony beneath their hooves and weight. But Helios was a Pegasus Marine of greater strength and valor, and the Bison fell to his blade. It took several minutes, but the Discord forces and traitor guardponies were soon annihilated.
"Praise the Empress... we've driven them off!" said the Guardpony leader. "Me and the lads can hold this location for now, Captain. If you take the keep, you'll break the back of the renegades. Good luck sir... the Equestrium overcomes!"
The Pony Marines continued on, destroying a gate that blocked the path and passing through. They gunned down every traitor that stood before them until they finally reached the entrance to the keep.
The Blood Phoenixes entered the keep, and the treacherous commander himself attacked from a specially designed Chimera Tank that was equipped with stronger firepower and reinforced with tougher armor. But that would not stop the Pony Marines from ridding the planet of the heretic inside. The Devastators shot blast after blast of Lascannon fire at the vehicle. The Termineightors fired their missile pods and fired their Storm Bolters and Assault Cannons. The Pony Marines unleashed all their combined fury upon the commander. Eventually, the tank gave in to its structural damage, but the commander was still alive. Helios flew onto the wreckage, opened the driver's hatch, pulled the traitor out, and delivered a fatal blow to his chest. The guardpony fell to the ground and slid up to the base of the well, broken and bleeding.
"Enjoy the mercy of death, lunatic." Helios said fiercely.
The dying heretic turned over and leaned his back against the well. "Death... death comes for all." he said, trying to speak with punctured lungs. "May... may my flesh fester and rot... and give life anew... for Nurgle..." The traitor coughed up cups of blood, and then went limp.
With the renegades and traitors dealt with on Arctika, Helios and the Pony Marines used the Teleportarium they found to get to Galantius, where Spike had intercepted a transmission from more traitor guardponies.
*Priority channel vox Thirdatious.* a Guardpony called. *Lord Ascendant, I lead the faithful assaulting Capital Spire. I am pleased to report that the Spire's defenders have fallen. They were unprepared for an attack from within. We shall hold this spire and await your transmission, bearing further instructions. Glory to the Ascendant! Glory to Khorne!* The transmission ended.
"This is the opening we need!" said Pinkie. "If we journey to Galantius, we can intercept this 'Ascendant's' vox communications and expose his identity."
Helios and the Pony Marines deployed onto the streets near the Capital Spire of Galantius, but they alerted the traitorous guardponies of their presence.
"Assailants! Push them back, do not let them gain a hoofhold on the Spire!" the leader ordered.
The Blood Phoenixes had to get past a blockade that was between them and the Spire itself. They moved out, passing ruins and the dead bodies of fallen Equestrial Guardponies who fell in the surprise attack. They soon found the blockade, defended by dozens of traitors. Both engaged each other in combat. The heretics had a Lemon Rust Battle Tank with them, which could take heavy amounts of punishment from enemy attacks. Nevertheless, the Pony Marines had to destroy it, or it could severely hinder their progress. Anti-vehicle Devastators and Termineightors with missile pods opened fire at the tank. When the leader of the traitors found out the battle tank was in danger, he quickly began to give more orders.
"Pull back that Lemon Rust and regroup!" the leader said. "Fourth and Seventeenth, I want an assault line of Spider Banes pressing this position!"
The Lemon Rust ceased fire and headed across a bridge. When it reached the other side, the bridge was destroyed. The Pony Marines continued to attack more traitor guardponies, who fell to their supreme firepower. They came to a headquarter, and Pinkie got to work placing it under Blood Phoenix control. More guardponies came out from a tunnel system and attacked. Helios took to the sky and slammed into the guard, killing them all with one hit. Soon, the base was captured, and the Pony Marines had their hoofhold.
"The fiends, they've broken our lines!" the leader yelled. "Fifteenth, open a vox with air support and stand by; if they encroach the HQ, I want the sky to fall on them!"
A Chimera Tank approached the Pony Marines, who dealt away with it with their heavy weaponry. The Blood Phoenixes moved onward to raze the Air Command Bunkers. Their search led them to a large squad of guardponies, another Chimera, and the Lemon Rust from before attacked them from atop a ledge. Helios flew up to the ledge and the Termineightors teleported up with him to attack the battle tank. Meanwhile, Pinkie threw charges into one of the bunkers and it exploded, killing anyone inside.
"Commencing bombing run, Sir!" said the fifteenth station.
One bunker down, one left. The Pony Marines made haste for the next location. Another Chimera tank appeared in their way. They engaged and struck the tank with all their might until the vehicle was destroyed.
"Hawkeye is hot and on approach!" fifteenth station said.
The Pony Marines quickly moved up the stairway, and a Hawkeye Ship flew over and bombarded the spot where they were. They found the last bunker. Pinkie threw in another charge just as more guardponies approached and attacked. Pinkie set off the charges, and the bunker collapsed and killed the heretics stationed inside.
Now all that was left was the traitors' stronghold. The Pony Marines eliminated the guardponies before them and made for their base of operations. When they found it, they immediately unleashed their righteous fury upon the structure. Even if more guardponies were deployed to defend the base, they were quickly gunned down on the spot. Soon, the base was leveled before them.
"I have intercepted an incoming vox." said Spike. "With luck, it will be the one we were expecting. Relaying now..."
"Priority vox channel Thirdatious. This is the Ascendant, Benedict Traytus." the Ascendant spoke. "Marvelously done, Sergeant. Your slaughter of your own siblings in legs shall bring you much favor from Khorne. Without its center of administration, Galantius is as helpless as a babe set upon by wolves. Remain stationed there and repel any invaders. Your reward for your faith shall be... forthcoming. Skulls... to Khorne."
The dying sergeant leading this attack struggled to get up as he reached for the transmitter. "N-no!! Help us, L... Lord... Tray..." And he dropped dead.
It was now crystal clear to those who did not know, including Helios himself: Traytus is, without question, the source of the corruption occurring amongst the sub-sector.
"So. I trust you have your answer, Philosophies." Pinkie said.
Helios looked down and shook his head with great shame of himself. "All these centuries... These years of lies..." He looked back up, a flame of angry determination blazing in his eyes. "TRAYTUS."
"Traytus' signal originated from Salika." said Spike. "Before we act, we should contact Inquisitor Rarity and combine our forces."
"No." said Helios, "She will want more proof before she acts. We go to Salika alone. I will confront Traytus myself."
Before they could leave Galantius, they had to remove a xenos threat that was stirring up in Spire Gargantua.
"Captain, this vox suggests stolen Equestrial archeotech." said Spike. "Recovering it would benefit our cause."
Spike played the intercepted vox. *We found dem powah stations, boss.* a Hog said. *Should give us da juice wez need to finish 'er up.*
*And why's you 'ere tellin' me about it?* another Hog asked rhetorically. *I tolds ya ta find 'em and ta guard 'em! Even if da poniez don't come ta take 'em back, someone else might come nick 'em!*
*We's supposed to just sit on dem powah nodes an' hope a scrap comes ta us?* the first Hog complained. "Where's da fun in dat?*
*We only needs dem nodes long enough ta finish buildin' "Betsy".* the other Hog stated. *DAT is when da fun begins.*
Hordes of Hog waddled about the abandoned streets of the Spire. They were itching for a good fight. When the Pony Marines deployed onto the Spire, their wishes would be granted.
"Oh ho, wot 'ave we 'ere?" a Hog said. "Boss! Looks like a fight came ta us after all!"
"Wot? Well, keep 'em off da powah nodes! Betsy ain't ready yet!" the Hog leader ordered.
"Death to Her enemies, all!" Helios shouted for the Hogs to hear.
The Pony Marines moved out to take and hold the power nodes. They found the first one guarded by a group of Hog Shootas. They quickly dispatched them, and Pinkie got to work hacking the node and transferring its control to them. When it was under their control, Spike deployed generators near the node to amplify its proficiency.
"OY! Who do you fink you iz, stealin' wot we done rightfully stole!" the Hog leader yelled. "Boarz, get in dere and take dat node back!"
Eventually, more Hogs came barreling in on them, with axes and guns. The Pony Marines stood their ground and opened fire upon the animals. The Hogs retaliated with their firepower, but were overwhelmed by the Blood Phoenixes' strength, forcing them to abandon the node and fall back.
"You boarz ain't got dat node back yet?!" the Hog leader yelled. "Fine. Clear off. Wez just use da juice from de others to finish her up."
With the first node secured, the Pony Marines moved on to the next, and eliminated the Hogs guarding it. Pinkie quickly transferred its control to them, and Spike deployed more booster generators.
"Boss! Dey got another powah node!" a Hog yelled.
"Oh well dat's just greedy, dat is!" the Hog leader growled. "I'm sendin' in da big dakka ta take it back!"
The Pony Marines took their position and waited for the Hogs to do their best. Soon, Hog equipped with heavy guns came in and opened fire. The Blood Phoenixes shot back at the Hogs with their weapons. Whole groups of Hogs armed with big guns went in to attack. The Blood Phoenixes kept their positions held until the Hogs decided to turn tail and retreat.
"Wot? We still ain't got da powah node back?" the Hog leader said. "Boarz! Leg it back ta Betsy, sharpish! Keep dese thievin' horses off da last node!"
The Pony Marines headed to the last node, which was guarded by a large band of Hog Nobs. Helios charged at the Hogs and slammed into them with great force. The Pony Marines opened fire and did in the Nobs. Pinkie then got to work with placing the node under Blood Phoenix control. When finished, Spike deployed more generators near it.
"Gah! You want sumfin' stomped 'round 'ere, you gotta stomp it yerself!" the Hog leader said. "Time ta meet Betsy!"
Explosions and the sound of buildings crumbling echoed around the Pony Marines, and the secret weapon "Betsy" drove in to greet them. It was a large Battle Wagon with two turrets on top, a crane with a buzzsaw, and a huge rolling grinder in front.
The Pony Marines opened fire upon the beast of a war machine, though all their weaponry, even their anti-armor weapons barely did any damage to it. The back turret of "Betsy", as the Hogs so fondly named their machine, began to shoot the Blood Phoenixes, but the Hog leader inside wanted to really test out his new toy.
"SNAARL! Crush'em under da Deffrolla!" He yelled.
The Battle Wagon turned to face a squad of Termineightors standing near explosive hazards. Its rolling grinder started to spin and turn red with heat. "Betsy" then charged at the Termineightors, but they teleported out of the way and fooled the Hogs into hitting the explosives.
"Uh, boss? I think wez just hit somefin' we wasn't supposed ta hit..." a Hog said nervously.
"Dat's crazy talk!" the Hog boss said. "Dere's nothin' Betsy ain't supposed ta 'hit!"
The Battle Wagon turned to face a squad of Pegasus Marine, and charged at them with great carelessness. The Pegasus Marines flew out of the way, and "Betsy" ran into more explosives, further damaging it considerably.
"Boss! Da needle is pointin' in da red! Dat ain't good!" the Hog said, scared for his life.
"Course it's good, ya squealin' runt! Red goes fastah!!!" The Hog Boss shouted, oblivious to the damage done.
More Nobs came in to attack the Pony Marines. Helios went in and attacked the Nobs, but the Battle Wagon faced Helios and prepared to run him over. The grinder spun, it turned red with heat, and it charged. He quickly flew up and out of the way as "Betsy" ran over the Nobs, then hit more explosive hazards and succumbed to its damages.
"Gaaaaaaaaah! Me only regret... is... explodin'!" the dying Hog Boss said before the Battle Wagon blew up in a heaping pile of scrap. "GYAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
With the Hog war machine destroyed, and their Equestrial archeotech restored, the Pony Marines headed back to Salika to confront Traytus. Helios's muscles surged with the need to redeem himself for serving a traitor for countless years.
"We have traced Traytus's transmission back to Salika." said Pinkie. "However, something is not right. Auspex scans suggest there is no enemy activity. It is completely tranquil, contrary to the state we left it in..." Pinkie brought a hoof to her chin, suspicious about the situation. "If these scans are true, Traytus is here alone. I suspect otherwise. Be on your guard."
Helios and the Blood Phoenixes deployed onto the grounds of the Salika Arena, and began their search for Traytus, but their presence was alerted to a force who were there before them.
"What is this? Nothing was suppose to find us here." said a Warp Stag Exarch who quickly teleported out of sight. "Warhost, hold fast. They must not disrupt the seer council."
The Pony Marines approached the center of the arena, and Eldeer Shriekers leaped from the stadium and began their attack, screaming their ear piercing battle cries. The Pony Marines retaliated immediately, shooting the Eldeer and clashing blades with them. A marine was shot in the head by Rangers in towers. Pinkie quickly dealt with them. When the Eldeer attackers were killed, they moved onward.
"Savages! Do you have any grasp of the fallout of your actions?" the Warp Stag said to them through telepathy. "You must leave this world at once!"
"I understand the fallout perfectly, Xenos, the very least of which will be scores of dead Eldeer..." said Helios. "Destroy the Eldeer, siblings. I will not leave them to interfere when we face Traytus."
The Pony Marines continued along the path. Helios spotted a squad of Eldeer Guardians. He took to the sky and slammed into them with great force.
"Still the invaders persist!" said the Warp Stag. "My kin, we shall strike them before vanishing, prepare yourselves." The Pony Marines fell under fire by more Rangers garrisoned in towers. Pinkie threw charges into the towers and set them off, killing the Eldeer inside.
"As long as the Webway Gate remains concealed, we may call in help." the Warp Stag said as more Eldeer warriors and a Treelord emerged from said Webway Gate.
The Pony Marines kept on marching through the jungle path until they found seven Warlocks performing some kind of spell. Whatever it was, the Pony Marines had to stop them. Helios charged through a squad of Guardians. The Termineightors equipped with missile pods unleashed a barrage upon the animals.
"Prepare for mass warp jump." the Warp Stag ordered. "I will move the council to safety." Within the blink of an eye, the Warlocks vanished from the area. "Hold back the tide brothers; do not let these invaders find the council again."
The Blood Phoenixes slew the Eldeer that remained behind, and then went on the search for the others again. Eventually, they found the Seer Council again, and all hell broke loose.
The Pony Marines and the Eldeer clashed fiercely. One by one, Ponies and Eldeer fell to each others' blades and guns. The Warp Stag Exarch tried to relocate the Council again. Helios took to the sky, flew over the Eldeer, and slammed into the Warlocks. knocking them down. The Warp Stag got back to his hooves and attacked the Captain, who fought back as well. Helios charged at the Warp Stag, ramming into him, smashing him into and pinning him against a wall with his Power Sword. He then proceeded to utterly strike him to death with his free hoof. After dozens of hits, the Exarch fell to the ground. Helios then thrusted his blade into the Warp Stag's chest.
The Eldeer coughed up blood and looked to the Captain with anger. "Fools... you... blind, murderous fools..." He said before drawing his last breath.
Now the Council had nowhere to go. The Pony Marine laid waste to them in little time. When the last Warlock perished, their mission to eradicate the Eldeer was finished.
Though the Blood Phoenixes succeeded in eliminating the Eldeer, their former Chapter Master was not anywhere to be found, much to Helios's subtle frustration.
"I see. Traytus was never here." said Pinkie. "I fear we were manipulated, drawn to Salika to slay these Eldeer. But to what purpose?"
Without further delay, the Pony Marines redeployed back to Salika's surface, on the arena's perimeter.
When they touched down, Helios heard an all too familiar voice come through his comm link, and congratulate him.
"Bravo, BRAVO, Philosophies." Traytus said. "As always, my greatest champion."
Helios looked around, trying to find the real source of the voice. "Traytus. Where are you? Show yourself!" He demanded.
"I am well removed from Salika, and so needed a puppet there to stop the Eldeer and their wretched ritual." said Traytus. "It has kept the Ordo Stalleus fleet from emerging from the Warp. With the xenos slain, the Exterminatus can commence!"
The word spoken made Helios's heart tense, and his mind go numb with horrific realization. "You... you desire the Exterminatus?"
"My dear Helios..." Traytus cooed, "Long have I orchestrated the slaughter of the subsector, all in Khorne's name..." It was beyond any form of clarification to Helios now. "It is too late for Salika, but it isn't too late for you, Helios. I have beguiled you to this juncture, but I have spoken one truth: You ARE the greatest warrior the Blood Phoenixes has ever seen. Join me in Khorne's service. Kill these creatures of Pegalos that you have surrounded yourself with; become the slaughterer I know you to be!"
Helios looked behind to his battle siblings, they truly served him and the Empress without doubt. He looked at them with scanning eyes. Pinkie and Spike looked to each other, having overheard the conversation, and questioned what Helios would do. Would he turn his back on them and resume serving Traytus, this time for the name of the Discord Gods? Or will he remain loyal to the Empress he served to this day and put down his former master?
Helios turned back around and sighed. "Master Traytus... thank you. You have shown me the truth that I was unable to see." He said. Pinkie's eyebrows twitched, and she tightened her grip on her rifle. "Centuries of service a lie..." Helios continued as he closed his eyes and lowered his head slightly, "I do not know what I am anymore, but I do know this..." He opened his eyes and looked fiercely forward towards the distance. "I am no traitor. I would rather die." Pinkie silently sighed a breath of relief and eased her grip.
"Hm. Pity. No matter..." said Traytus, "The death you desire is but a moment away..." He chuckled sinisterly.
High in orbit above Salika, dozens of Equestrial ships appeared from the warp. They were the ships of the Inquisition, there to perform their horrific, but necessary task at hoof.
"We have arrived, and it is now that we perform our charge. In fealty to the God-Empress, our undying lord, and by the grace of the Golden Throne..."
The ships took their positions and readied their main weapons.
"I declare Exterminatus upon the Equestrial world of Salika Golmoris. I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire world, and consign a million souls to oblivion. May Equestrial justice account in all balance."
The first ship opened fire.
"The Empress protects."
And the other ships followed suit. The blasts from the Inquisitorial ships created enormous explosions upon impact with Salika's surface, and incinerated anything within their blast area.
Helios and the Pony Marines looked around in horror. The planet was being ravaged before their very eyes, and if they did not leave the world, they would be among those who will perish in the inferno of the Exterminatus.
"We have no choice. Must withdraw." Pinkie shouted.
"It must be... magnificent." Traytus said, taking delight in the destruction even though he was off world. "To see a planet writhe and scream. To feel it convulse beneath your own hooves, witness it dying with living eyes."
Feral Paranids ran around in panic to the chaos that erupted around them.
"In time, perhaps I may share this gift with every last living soul in the galaxy. Until then..." Traytus laughed softly before his voice faded to silence and was no longer heard.
The Pony Marines swiftly had haste for the nearest Teleportarium. They galloped as fast as they could, for their lives depended on it. On the path, they encountered Khornate Daemons that seeked to halt their escape. They dealt with them as quick as they could before moving on. The ships above continued to fire their cataclysmic blasts. Paranids caught within their range of fire were utterly vaporized by the high powered laser blasts.
The Blood Phoenixes were to the halfway point of escape, but someone was determined to make sure they perished with the world. A Discord Champion was battling against a feral Hive Alpha. The Paranid swung both claws at the Discord Marine, but missed and got them stuck into the ground. The Discord Champion slashed the beast across the chest. The Paranid then lunged at the Discord Marine, who dodged and then stepped onto the animal's head and stabbed his power sword through one eye and out the other. He jumped off the dying monster, which screeched before curling up dead. The Discord Champion spotted the Pony Marines, and became furious.
"What is this? You lowly vermin think to escape?" the outraged Champion yelled. "Ungrateful scum, squandering Lord Traytus's gift of a glorious death! Pay your penance in blood! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the skull throne!"
The Pony Marines had to lure him out with blood. They came across a group of Discord Cultists and attacked. The heretics fell to the might of the Pony Marines, and their blood splattered all over the ground. When enough heretics were killed, the Discord Champion appeared.
"None shall escape!" He shouted. "None shall escape the sacrifice!"
"One way only to cleanse you." Helios exclaimed. They clashed blades. They struck each others swords, blow after blow, sparks flashed with every strike. More Discord Marines appeared, and the other Pony Marines dealt with them while Helios battled the Champion.
The Exterminatus was dangerously close to being executed. Helios had to finish this fight. He struck the heretic's hoof that held the sword. He then grabbed the champion, flew up into the air, dropped him from a great height, and then dived down and pierced the traitor though the head with his sword.
With the champion dead, the way was opened for them. Exterminatus was only a couple minutes away. They had no time to deal with the heretics unless they were in their very way. They galloped with great speed to the Teleportarium. There, more Discord Marines were fighting a Paranid Warrior Beast. Helios took to the sky and slammed into them, knocking them away from their escape route. Once everyone was inside, they quickly made their escape from Salika, and left it for dead to the Inquisition.
The Inquisitorial ships had finally ceased their fire, but the damage done was irreversible. The lush jungles and rain forests of Salika were burned and leveled to ashes. Equestrial structures were utterly demolished by the blasts. Ponies, animals, every living thing upon the planet was nearly wiped off the face of the world.
Though some trees still stood, but burned beyond recovery. And some buildings were still standing, though damaged severely. Yet they would not be standing there much longer.
Aboard the flagship of the Inquisitorial fleet, the weapon's crew were preparing the final strike that would seal Salika's fate forever. They were nearing their targeted firing spot. The cannon was loaded and ready to fire. When they reached the target, the cannon fired.
The bomb roared through the atmosphere, searing with the blaze of entering. Survivors looked up in horror as they watched the bomb fall. When it made impact with the surface, a tidal wave of fire blanketed Salika, and utterly incinerated all life.
Helios, Spike, Pinkie, and The Ancient had managed to escape the Exterminatus in time, though now they were somewhere possibly worse than a burned planet.
"The Teleportarium has taken us to the Space Hulk; the Harbinger of Damnation." said Spike.
"Not the safest place in the subsector, but we have our lives." said Pinkie. She looked to Helios. "What is our next move?"
Helios did not look to Pinkie. "We hold position." He said, his voice stripped of any emotion or tone.
Pinkie felt something like a string snap, and her face grew angry. "Philosophies! What did you say?"
Helios turned to the Scout Sergeant. "You heard me. We hold position." His voice was still toneless, but his expression said he was overcome with despair as he turned and looked away again. "I am tired of this hopeless charade. In the end we are nothing but heretics, nay, less than that, pawns of heretics. Puppets. Every century served, every battle in the Empress's name..." He slightly shook his head, and his toneless voice grew frustrated with anger, "All of it ordered by a heretic! All our glories lies!"
He closed his eyes and lowered his head as he took everything in. For countless years, he served a traitor. Everything he did was in vain. He felt nothing like a loyal servant, and everything like a slave to Discord. He felt he had no honor left in him. He felt his life was worthless, pointless, and pathetic.
"There is nothing left to say." Helios said softly.
"No... There is much left to say. And I will break my silence to say it." The Ancient said as she walked closer to Helios.
The Captain recognized that drawled voice. "Sergeant Applejack?!" He whispered in surprise.
The Pony Marine took her white helmet off, and sure enough, it was the veteran Applejack. "There was another like you, Philosophies, and we served together on Cronus." She said, referring to the long deceased Hoovitus. "During the Paranid invasion, we became fast friends. But Traytus called for him, and he went. It corrupted him, and he despaired, betraying us to the Dark Legion. I slew him..." She recalled that fateful day, remembering Hoovitus's dying words, but she focused back on Helios. "Cap'n Philosophies... I look to you now, and see the same signs..." She pointed her Plasma Pistol at Helios as she continued. "I will not risk that. I will slay Traytus myself, and if I must, you as well. Our past glories may be lies, but Traytus has not taken our one true duty from us. No one but the Empress can relieve us of that."
"Applejack..." Helios took in what she said, and then made his true decision. "Let us go. We must escape this place."
"Past records of expeditions to this vessel have reported a Teleportarium relay present." said Spike. "If we reach it, we can escape."
Aboard the Space Hulk, the Blood Phoenixes somehow alerted animal lifeforms of their presence, and one Hog was not very happy about it.
"Oi! Trespassahz! Invadahz! 'ooligans an' ne'er-do-wells!" the Hog yelled. "Nopony, bu' nopony, jus' pops ou' o' thin air on this 'ere Space 'ulk, wifou' me say-so! Now, piss-off, or I'm like to say-so to somfin' nasty!"
Killa Kanz appeared from the machinery behind the Hog, and headed out to kill.
"Let nothing stand in our way." said Helios as they moved out.
Their search for the Teleportarium aboard the ship would be a challenging one, with there being Hogs and Paranids running rampant throughout the entire interior of the vessel. And the longer they were aboard, the more angry the Hog that called them out grew.
"Don' you lo' know when you'z ovahstayed your welcome?" the Hog yelled. "I'm spectin' company!"
The Hog's machine began to spawn Paranids in gruesome amounts. Evidently, both animals were working under the same command. But there was another problem that was more important than a Hog/Paranid alliance of any sort.
"This brute's... contraption... is drawing power from the teleportarium!" said Spike. "We cannot leave the Space Hulk until we destroy it."
The Pony Marines continued to fight against any and all animals they encountered. yet, more would always be spawned from the mad Hog's machines and primitive devices. They found the first teleporting pad and quickly brought destruction upon the structure. They continued down the hall, slaying the animals before them, and found another teleporting pad. They opened fire and razed it to scrap.
"Knock knock? 'ooz dere?" the Hog said to himself. More Killa Kanz appeared just as he yelled, "DIS!" and started laughing at his own joke.
The Pony Marines still had two more teleporting pads to deal with. It did not take long for them to find the third one, and they dealt both it and the xenos defending it a crushing blow. Three down, one left. They moved on and eventually found the last one, and it was guarded by a looted tank. They annihilated the tank first, then laid waste to the fourth and final teleporting pad, and the Teleportarium was now open.
"Oh, oh, I gets it, you's come ta steal me tellyporta!" the Hog said, figuring out the Pony Marines' plans. "Well, nothin' doin'! It took me better'n a decade ta squeeze da juice outta... dat fing back dere!" More Hogs and Paranids spawned from the mad Hog's base. "Should only be anodder decade or so afore I get to zzzap me outta dis bug... INFESTED... 'ELL'OLE!!!"
The Mad Mek decided to take matters into his own hooves. He readied his heavy guns and was determined to protect his self-claimed Teleportarium.
Helios knew the Hog would need to be slain before they could leave the ship. Helios charged towards the Hog and slammed into the animal. The other Pony Marines went in and engaged at ranged. The Hog also had a decent-sized axe, and he clashed blades with Helios. The Hog took several hits from Helios's sword, as well as from the Pony Marines' bullets. Helios then swung his blade into the Hog's gut and slammed him into the ground.
With the Hog dead, the Teleportarium was theirs to use.
The Blood Phoenixes managed to teleport back aboard their ship, which received a call as soon as they boarded.
"There is an incoming transmission from Inquisitor Rarity, Captain." said Spike.
Helios answered the call, and Rarity came through, sounding relieved.
"Philosophies, finally an answer!" said Rarity. "It seems I still have some allies left..." She regathered her composure and continued. "In your absence, I contacted Michael Pegalos once more, and, his response was most... disturbing. I will play it back and let you hear it for yourself.'
She played the recording for Helios and the others to hear.
"Inquisitor," Pegalos's voice spoke, "though it was the daemon Nettor who rotted the heart and mind of Traytus... it is with another daemon the Chapter Master currently treats. This is the daemon of Tartaurus; of the Maledictum. Unwittingly, it was set free... with a blow from my own hammer. It seeks to offer up the skulls of the slain to Khorne so it may open a warprift that swallows the sector... In order to achieve this genocide, Traytus has orchestrated the arrival of the Inquisition and the Exterminatus."
"We learned as much from Traytus himself." said Helios. "It seems every last one of us has played a part in allowing this tragedy..."
"Regardless, this confession does far more to damn the Blood Phoenixes than redeem it." said Rarity. "I cannot halt the Exterminatus while Traytus still breathes, Captain Philosophies. You and Pegalos must act soon, before the Ordo Stalleus plays completely into the daemon's grasp. Rarity out."
Pinkie stepped up. "Philosophies, on the Space Hulk, I asked you what our next move was and you faltered." She said impatiently. "Like a fool, I ask again... What is our next move?"
"It is true that even if we should defeat the traitor, we face condemnation and death." said Helios. "But it is not for pride or favor that we serve, but for the Empress herself and the purpose she has granted us. If we shall die fulfilling that purpose, so be it. None will find us wanting!"
"Hah! To death, then!" said Pinkie. "If Traytus' plan is to succeed, he will need a place to wait out the Exterminatus. There is only one place in the subsector that the Ordo Stalleus will not bring their guns, a world that died long ago..."
"Cyrene."
"The Teleportarium is already configured to take us there." said Spike. "We can leave immediately."
Before they would assault the Discord forces and Traytus on Cyrene, Spike had managed to pick up on something from the Space Hulk that seemed to be of interest.
"I have extracted another vox recording from the Harbinger of Damnation." said Spike. "It appears there is a cargo hold that may yield valuable assets."
Spike played the recording for them to hear.
*Containment Bay Octavius status notification.* the voice said, completely warped and distorted. *Initial Quarantine Designation: 3.5 centuries. Quarantine status: Completed. Cargo Designation: Security level Primarus. Value level Primarus. Power level Primarus. Docket: CONTENTS ERASED. Labor Engine for cargo relocation operational. ADVISE: External containment bay breach. Xenos presence confirmed. Relocate cargo immediately.*
Helios, Applejack, and Pinkie returned to the Space Hulk, along with squads of Anti-Armor Devastators and Termineightors. It would be a very dangerous mission. Their initial scans of the interior of the Quarantine Hold indicated there were massive Paranids roaming around the area. They managed to find the source of the voice, which was the Labor Engine itself, but their work was only half done. Now they had to escort it to the cargo bay and protect it from the Paranids.
*Hostile Xenos infiltration detected.* the Engine said. *Defenses compromised.*
Paranid Generobbers bursted through a sealed door and attacked. Helios slashed them in halves while Applejack and Pinkie offered firing support. When the animals were killed, they and the engine moved on. They eventually reached a large four-way intersection, and the Labor Engine alerted them of more trouble.
The Labor Engine stopped dead in the center of the intersection. More Paranids swarmed upon them. One packed consisted of lesser beasts called Termagaunts, and their forelimbs were fused into a projectile weapon. Another pack was comprised of Hormagaunts, and they had scythe-like claws for ripping their prey apart. Applejack and Pinkie dealt with the Termagaunts, and Helios and the Termineightors fought the Hormagaunts. It took several minutes, but soon all the assaulting Paranids were slain.
*Hostiles purged. Operations recommencing.* the Engine said.
They continued on through the dark halls of the hulk, killing any Paranids that they encountered along the way. They soon reached the cargo bay. There were metal barrels all over the bay, and the floors were partially covered in blood. Helios and the others had reached their destination, but the Labor Engine alerted them again of another impending attack.
*Hostile Bioforms approaching.* the Engine said. *Prepare defenses and pray for deliverance.*
The Pony Marines quickly took their positions. Helios stood on top of the engine. The Termineightors stood around the engine in a defensive circle. Pinkie also got on top of the engine to gain high ground. Applejack and the Devastator Marines used the many barrels as cover against the incoming swarm.
The Blood Phoenixes readied their weapons and tightened their grips. They had to defend the Labor Engine long enough for it to deposit its load. Lesser Paranids began to crawl towards them from the darkness. The Termineightors fired their Assault Cannons and tore them to pieces. The small swarm died off easily, but then something big could be heard approaching them. From the darkness came not a Paranid, but a Harmonaught. Apparently Spike sent it in to give them an upper hoof against the xenos. But then a loud roar and screeches began to echo around them.
And the swarm arrived, consisting of many species of Paranids. From Hormagaunts to Generobbers, Brute Guards to Scorpnoxes. They were there, and they were coming in for the kill. The Devastators focused fire upon the more armored Paranids. Their Lascannons pierced the beasts' thick hides with deadly ease. The Termineightors opened fire upon the more vulnerable beasts. Their guns roared as they leveled their holy fury and thinned the Paranids' numbers.
The engine was nearly finished, and the Paranids were becoming less and less. Eventually, it seemed they stopped coming, but a Hive Alpha bursted through a sealed door and greeted them with a deafening roar.
"That monster... will die." said Helios.
Fortunately, the cargo bay had a fairly high ceiling. Helios took to the air and then slammed into the ground near the Alpha, pushing it back and making it lose its balance. Applejack shot plasma rounds at the beast, and Pinkie shot every single weak spot she could find. The other Pony Marines opened fire upon the large Paranid as well, and the Harmonaught went in to attack. The Hive Alpha fired its Venom Cannon at the Devastators, killing a few of them in slow succession. But soon, the Pony Marines dealt enough damage to it, and it fell to the floor and died in a pool of its own blood.
They had obtained all the precious cargo from the Labor Engine, and returned to the ship. They where about to make for Cyrene, but the ship's scans picked up on xenos activity upon the now exterminated planet of Salika. It was taking place upon the once lush Mount Icarus. Spike intercepted the animal communications.
*Brothers and sisters...* said an Eldeer doe in grief, *the pony ships have carved large fissures into the world... some deep enough to cleave the buried Woodworld. We... we located the Infinity Circuit. The flames reached deep, and... every biodome, every... every soul stone... Nothing remains for us here. All are to report to the Webway Assembly. Once we return to the Webway, we will collapse the channel to the Woodworld, sealing this tomb for eternity.*
"It is rare to have the element of surprise against the Eldeer," said Spike, "and we may obtain something of value from them."
Without delay, Helios, Applejack, and Pinkie were deployed onto the charred surface of Salika, along with Anti-Armor and Building Devastator Marines. The Eldeer were alerted of their presence, and were both shocked and infuriated of them.
"You... you DARE violate this tomb! You pathetic, soulless savages!" the female Eldeer cried. "... Very well. If you are so eager to hear our cries, I shall shred your mind with the wail of the shrieker! Butcher them! Do not let them near the gates nor the Assembly!"
The Pony Marines moved out on the hunt for the animals' gates and their Assembly.
"Eldeer! Your death comes!" Helios shouted for them to hear. He looked up to see Eldeer Guardians atop the small cliff. He took to the sky and slammed into them, crushing them beneath his hooves.
The Pony Marines had to quickly destroy the gates and the Assembly, or the Eldeer would escape. Helios regrouped with the others and they moved onward, defeating every Eldeer they encountered. Their search led them to one of the Webway Gates, which was being defended by more Eldeer.
"Protect the Webway Gates!" the Shrieker ordered. "They lend their power to hasten our escape! Losing one will slow the Assembly's departure into the Webway!"
The Pony Marines unleashed their fury upon the Eldeer, and destroyed the gate along with them. The Assembly's departure was now slowed down by a fair amount of time. The Blood Phoenixes continued along the rocky path, slaying Eldeer and destroying any gates they found.
They soon found the Assembly, and the Shrieker leading the Eldeer. Helios clashed with the Eldeer warrior while the others opened fire and attacked the Assembly. The struggle lasted for minutes, but soon the Assembly was razed to the ground in a smoldering pile of rubble. The Shrieker looked at what was left of the Assembly in horror. She then felt a burning pain as Helios slashed her across the chest.
She fell to the ground bleeding. "Very well..." the dying Shrieker said, "nibble and scavenge at our bodies, mindless vermin..." She took a painful deep breath as she continued. "The Inquisition's ships come for all in this sector... it... matters not whether you die by our hoof... or... theirs." And she breathed her last breath.
Having obtained what they came for from the Eldeer, the Pony Marines returned to their ship and finally made for Cyrene. When they arrived, the first thing Spike's scans picked up on was chatter between Discord Pony Marines, as well as Blood Phoenixes who had turned traitor.
*This armor is a sacred relic of the Adeptus Astartes.* a Pony Marine said. *WE shall deliver it to our Chapter Master.*
*Lord Traytus now serves the dark powers. You now serve the dark powers.* a Discord Marine said. *This corpse goddess's base we stand in is not a sanctified shrine of your chapter, it is a vault to be plundered! And this Land Raver we have unearthed is not a relic, it is a spoil of war, to be defiled and bent to our will!*
*My lords, come in. Do you read?* a traitor Guardpony called.
*What is it, whelp? Why do you interrupt?* the Pony Marine answered.
*Beg your forgiveness, my lord, but... we've found another one.*
"A war machine... a sacred Land Raver... In the hooves of traitors?!" Spike said angrily. "By the Celestial One, Traytus CANNOT be allowed such a sacred weapon."
"Agreed." said Helios, "Not only shall he be denied it, we shall have it for ourselves. The ruin that such a war machine will sow among these traitors will be terrible."
Helios, Spike, Applejack, and Pinkie deployed upon Cyrene. The world that once was home to a proud population of Equestrial citizens was nothing more but a barren wasteland. It was this very planet that Michael Pegalos called his home, his responsibility. But when heresy broke out upon the planet, he forced his hoof to do the worst he could do, and let the Inquisition unleash the holy firestorm.
"Fall back, renegades! Come no closer!" the Traitor Blood Phoenix demanded as he struggled to get the Land Raver to work, but to no avail. "Damnation! Siblings, the Land Raver will not move! Its machine spirit... Quickly, we must crush them!" The tank crew took their positions and readied their weapons, but Helios and the Pony Marines dispatched them in little time. Spike approached the Land Raver and initiated the repair rites to get the tank working. After thirty seconds, the Land Raver's engines roared to life, and Spike entered.
With the Land Raver under their control, any and all the forces of Discord on the battlefield would fall.
Applejack and Pinkie boarded the Land Raver's stable, and Helios got on top of the tank. The Land Raver moved out, and they soon came to an Equestrial Guard stronghold. The Land Raver's Lascannons blasted the stronghold to melted piles of scrap, and the Heavy Bolter turret laid waste to the treacherous Guardponies that were nearby. The Land Raver then moved onto the next location were another stronghold stood. Guardponies tried to used their own Lascannons against the tank, but were outmatched in firepower. Both they and the stronghold were destroyed where they stood. There was now one last stronghold to take out, and this one was well defended by Anti-Vehicle units, but not well defended enough. The Land Raver utterly wiped out every last traitor and heretic, and demolished the base.
But their mission was not yet complete, for there was still another Land Raver, one that was under enemy control.
"Yes... now I can feel it..." the corrupt Pony Marine said, "The frenzy, the bloodlust that Lord Traytus spoke of..."
The enemy Land Raver was surrounded by cultists assuming a crucifix position in midair. The tank was covered in chained, mutilated bodies, and had turned black from the desecration of the Discord forces. The Land Raver then began to slaughter the cultists, their blood further painting the tank with defilement. The surviving cultists broke from their trance and fled from the war machine.
The Blood Phoenixes' Land Raver drove in, and was greeted by the appearance of fallen Termineightors.
"Yes! I shall grind you all to gristle beneath my treads!" the fanatic traitor yelled. "Blood for the Blood God!!!"
"I shall pay it the honor of battle." said Helios.
The Termineightors fell, and the Land Raver went in to engage the other. Both tanks shot each other with their Lascannons and Heavy Bolter turrets. A Harmonaught walked into the combat zone and attacked with the strength of its steel. Loyal Termineightors came in as well and fired their shoulder-mounted missile pods.
"Lord Traytus' gaze is upon you." the heretic said. "Do not fail him! Blood for the Blood God!"
Enemy drop pods landed near the fight, and more traitor marines emerged to battle the Blood Phoenixes. The loyal Termineightors fired their Autocannons at the heretics and kept them from getting closer. Spike's Land Raver was taking some damage from the enemy's Land Raver, but his repairing expertise is what kept it from sustaining any critical damages.
"Firing the Bombardment Cannons! Die!" the traitor marine yelled as his Land Raver shot a blast that created a large explosion on impact. Despite the heretics' firepower, they were being overpowered by the Blood Phoenixes' determination and strength. The enemy Land Raver was taking severe damage all over its hull. Soon, with one final shot from Spike's Land Raver's Lascannons, the desecrated tank was done in.
"The Land Raver is lost!" the traitor marine said. "Disengage. Leave the cowards to their doom!"
With their forces in great number, and a Land Raver at their disposal, Helios and the Blood Phoenixes were ready to finally confront Traytus, once and for all.
One their way to the final battle, Spike picked up one last transmission from Traytus himself.
*Faithful... enlightened... ambitious... siblings.* said Traytus's voice. *In but a single decade, a few mere swipes of the pendulum, we have gathered a sacrifice to Khorne that will be made legend. Though it was a simpler, weaker voice that illuminated me during my centuries aboard the Harbinger of Damnation, it was Khorne's messenger who showed me the true path of freedom from our pathetic corpse Empress. And what is this path? This meaning, this purpose to which we gather the skulls of our foes? It is nothing. There is no meaning. No purpose. We murder. We kill. It is mindless savagery, this UNIVERSE is mindless. In mere hours, billions will die! Innocent! Guilty! Strong and weak! Honest and deceitful! ALL of them! They will scream, they will burn, and for no purpose but that mighty Khorne may revel in their bloodshed! And united in this void of purpose, fear, or duty... we shall at long last be free! Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the skull throne! Let the galaxy BURN!!!*
The very speech would send chills up a pony's spine, but the fearless Blood Phoenixes had to exact retribution.
Deep within a massive, spiraling crater, Traytus searched for the perfect place to accept his reward. When he came to a large lava pit, he had found the right spot. He walked into the pit, and allowed the molten rock to engulf him.
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Many minutes later, from the pit of lava, a large Daemon Prince of Discord arose from the inferno and roared a fiery roar.
I am no stranger to the deaths of planets. Cyrene was my home. Yet, when the need was made evident, I did not hesitate to contact the Inquisition.
By my hoof, Cyrene burned.
Cyrene's secrets now live solely with me, and so shall they die with me. Whether I am victorious or slain, my sins will know retribution.
Such is the final testimony of Michael Pegalos, Captain of the Blood Phoenixes' Third Company. Savior of Tartaurus. Bane of the Dark Legion. Servant of the Empress.
Michael Pegalos and Twilight Sparkle battled against Discord Marines along with a small squad of Scouts and Pony Marines.
Far from them, Spike's Land Raver stopped near a relay beacon. Helios, Applejack, Pinkie, and squads of Pony Marines disembarked from the tank. They then began their march to the battlefield where Pegalos would be. They encountered many varieties of Discord Pony Marines on their hunt for Traytus: Tactical Discord Marines with standard weaponry, Havoc Marines with heavy weaponry, Vinyl Marines with their Sonic Blasters and other noise-producing weapons, and Discord Nightmares, Pegasi with bat-like wings for aerial assault and attacks. Any and all who stood in the way of the Blood Phoenixes would meet their ends at their hooves.
Meanwhile, Pegalos and Twilight had just reached the bottom of the pit, and Traytus stood before them in the great lava pool. Termineightors fought against Khornate Daemons.
"These many decades have been an honor, Michael." said Twilight. "Commend my service to the Empress."
"Empress keep you, Unicorn." said Pegalos as he brandished his hammer. "I go now to redeem our Chapter." He slowly approached the Daemon Prince.
"Ahh, Michael! Ever so faithful to that rotting Empress..." said Traytus, "Do you not know her soul has been picked clean centuries ago?"
"Such are the ways of daemons, to lie and mislead us." said Pegalos. "Destroying it is the only way to avoid its influences!"
Helios and the Blood Phoenixes continued their hunt for the traitor, leading them to a ruined portion of a city that use to be a church-like complex.
"Hah... They think to harm me?" said Traytus. "So long as my towers of offerings are in place, I am unbeatable. Warriors, protect the offerings! My ascension is not yet complete..."
Helios and the others heard that loud and clear. They had to destroy these Towers of Offerings in order to render Traytus vulnerable. They moved on until they found the first tower. It was black with a blood red trim that overflowed with pony skulls. It was being defended by Discord Havoc Marines and a Disharmonaught. The Pony Marines first dealt with the protectors, and then demolished the tower itself.
Traytus suddenly felt a surge of pain shock his body just as the tower had been destroyed. "Ugh... what was that? It seems Michael has not come alone..." Traytus then reached into the lava pool and threw flaming rocks into the air, which were destined to land where Helios and the Pony Marines were. "Warriors of Khorne, to war for his favor! They proclaim themselves righteous, and righteous their skulls most certainly will be."
The Pony Marines cleared the area, and the lava rocks collided into the ground. Helios and the others headed for the next towers. They traveled along a ridge that overlooked the battle with the Daemon Prince. Down below, Pegalos and Twilight were the only ones left combating against Traytus and the lesser daemons of Khorne, but they were not willing to give up.
"For the Blood Phoenixes!" Pegalos shouted as he swung his hammer and slew every daemon he hit.
Traytus had had enough of the Captain's living before him. He pressed his right fist into his left hand and raised both arms above his head. "Meet your end Michael!" He shouted before he slammed the ground, and crushed both Pegalos and Twilight beneath his mighty blow.
The Pony Marines saw what had just happened, and were horrified.
"They need more than our prayers." Helios stated. "They need vengeance!"
They continued along the edge, and eventually found the next tower, guarded by Vinyl Marines and blood-thirsty Discord Nightmares. Spike drove in and unleashed the fury of the Blood Phoenixes' Land Raver upon the heretics, tearing them to pieces and burning them alive. He then laid waste to the tower, and brought down the horrendous thing.
Traytus felt another wave of pain course through him, and he laughed. "Ah... haha... Oh how I have waited to feel... the pain of battle once more!" He reached into his pool and threw more lava rocks into the air. "You do nothing but strengthen my resolve, come and offer your blood to the Blood God!"
The Pony Marine left the area, which fell to heavy bombardment from the rocks Traytus threw. They had only one tower left to raze, and Traytus would be vincible to their retribution. They found the last tower, protected by Discord Marines and a Discord Hunter Tank. Helios and the Pony Marines fought the Discord Marines while Spike attacked the Discord Hunter. When the forces was slain, the tower was then leveled to dust by hails of gunfire.
Traytus roared like a deranged beast, and then grabbed more lava rocks and threw them high into the sky. The Blood Phoenixes quickly left the location where the rocks would land, and the rocks fell hard.
Helios approached the ledge and looked down upon the fallen Captain. "Michael... You were always the best of us." Helios lamented. "I will see you avenged." He looked to the daemon. "And Traytus... Now the steed truly reflects the monster."
Traytus looked up to see the Captain of the Chapter Royal Guard. "Philosophies! Survived Salika, did you?" He said, somewhat surprised. "You shall make a fine sacrifice, another step on the path to daemonhood! Both you and Pegalos! Another skull! Another corpse, bloated with blood!"
"No more talk, Traytus." Helios chided. "You have much to answer for." His heart burned with determination as he descended along with his battle siblings. "For what you have done to the Blood Phoenixes, much shall be avenged this day. For Michael! For the Empress!"
"For the Chapter!" Pinkie shouted.
"For those who have fallen!" Applejack cried out. "For those who cannot be redeemed!"
"Come to me then, loyal servants of the corpse-empress!" Traytus roared. "Come to your doom!"
The Blood Phoenixes reached the bottom of the pit. Applejack, Pinkie, and most of the Pony Marines kept their distance and opened fire at Traytus. Spike drove in and attacked as well. Helios engaged Traytus personally in melee combat, along with a squad of Assault Termineightor Veterans.
Traytus was, by far, the most formidable foe the Pony Marines have ever faced in years. He would smashed his fists on the ground and send Termineightors flying back, or pick them up and crush them in his powerful grip. He could breathe a jet stream of fire that would mortally injure anyone within the flame's reach. But the Pony Marines were not going to give up, for they had a battle to win, and fallen siblings to avenge. Helios struck the daemon with vigorous fury, and Traytus would try to seize the Captain, only to miss by mere inches.
The fight dragged on for what felt like forever, but then Spike's Land Raver was being contacted by someone just as Traytus had been weakened enough for him to collapse.
"Captain, I am receiving vox communications from Captain Pegalos' Battle Barge, the Stampede of Fury." said Spike.
"Tell them to execute Orbital Bombardment on Traytus!" Helios ordered. "Quickly, before he regains his strength!"
The Blood Phoenixes evacuated the area as fast as they could. Helios picked up Pegalos' body, and made a miraculous discovery.
"Pegalos, he... he lives, barely!" said Helios. He held onto Pegalos and fled from the spot. They soon got far enough away from the daemon. What was more, Applejack and Pinkie were able to retrieve the fallen Unicorn, Twilight, who had also miraculously survived the battle, and was barely conscious. Her body was battered, her legs were broken, and her recovery would take months or years, but she was alive.
Beams of light began to form over the daemon. They grew wider and brighter, and then erupted into explosions that utterly destroyed Traytus' irredeemably corrupted body. The daemon's mutilated corpse sank into the lava pit and was consumed by the utter destructive force of the bombardment.
Retribution had been delivered, and Traytus was no more.
Helios watched the explosion from a distance. The daemon had finally tasted the bitter sweetness of retribution. But now he had to contact Inquisitor Rarity and have her stop the Exterminatus from continuing.
"Rarity! This is Philosophies, I am on Cyrene! Traytus is dead, you must halt the Exterminatus!"
"... and what of Pegalos?" Rarity asked.
Pegalos was beaten and broken from his battle against Traytus. His face was covered in cuts and gashes. His armor was broken and cracked. His front-right leg and his back-left leg were broken off. But he still drew breath. There was a chance they could save him.
"We have rebuilt, and once more are great." said Helios. "We have forged a Chapter not warped in enigma, but one the Empress can look upon with pride."
"... this has been dark work, Philosophies." said Pegalos. "Traytus left much corrupted and cleansing had to be both thorough and merciless. Yet now we are pure and noble."
Helios bowed before Pegalos, and held his sword against his shoulder. "It has been a necessary act, though." He said. "Our Chapter lives, free of darkness and corruption at last. I know I cannot serve the Chapter in the same manner as before. But, you Michael... Chapter Master is fitting. None shall find you wanting."
Michael Pegalos stood before his Battle Siblings, equipped with new cyborg limbs and cybernetics. Despite these permanent changes, they were nothing compared to his rank as the new Chapter Master of the Blood Phoenixes. He would be the true pure heart of the Chapter. And he would never allow corruption to overwhelm him, or his siblings.
