//------------------------------//
// Governor-Militant Duke Rockvolter's Last Stand 
// Story: PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War | Dark March 
// by Dragon Heart 
//------------------------------//

	The Pony Marines had destroyed every forward base that was set up. Goliath Nule had killed Commissar Gidyup and the Fifth Company turned on the other Guardponies. They even disabled the Titan Cannon. Duke Rockvolter was outraged by their actions against his base; in fact, he suggested they have fallen to heresy.

"These Pony Marines are gripped by madness, stallions!" Rockvolter yelled. "They fight against the Empress's holy will!"

Captain Nule gritted his teeth in anger against Duke's proclamation. "I will not be called a traitor, General!"

"You haven't silenced me yet, Blood Phoenix." Duke back-sassed.

The Blood Phoenixes pushed their way to the main headquarters. Duke combated against Goliath, but met his end to Nule's bolter. The Pony Marines shot at and destroyed the Regimental Command Center, they then engaged the remaining forces near the Titan Cannon. Ponies died "honorable" deaths as they stood against each other. A TechDonkey Engineer approached a Sergeant, who faced the builder with a last ditch plan.

"The command post is gone!" The Sergeant said. "We can't hold them back much longer! We can't allow the Titan Cannon to fall into their hooves. Overload the core!"

The Donkey ran back to the Titan to carry out the bold order. "For the Empress!" He said as he tinkered with the Titan's circuits and overpowered the great weapon. After a few seconds, the Cannon blew up in a massive inferno of metal and fire.


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When the Blood Phoenixes leveled the Governor-Militant's palace in Firstion Bay, they brought an end to a sad conflict within the Equestrium. Both Captain Nule and Governor Rockvolter were acting under orders of their superiors and neither could back down when those orders brought them into conflict. Captain Nule and Chaplain Aries went so far as to praise the slain Governor for his stalwart dedication to his orders. With his death, they arranged for the transport of the surviving Guardponies off world. Most were sent toward Segmaretum Command with testimonials that they had done their Regiment proud.

The Blood Phoenixes were less forgiving to the rebellious Guardponies of the Fifth Company. Although these stallions had shouted their loyalty to the Empress's Holy Celestial Warriors upon the death of Commissar Gidyup, the Pony Marines showed them no favor. Indeed, these Guardponies had taken up arms against their Regiment and the Blood Phoenixes judged them traitors to be executed. The Pony Marines' greatest penalty, however, was reserved for the TechDonkeys, who sabotaged the great Maelstrom Cannon rather than have it fall into the Chapter's hooves. The one Engineer, who survived to be interrogated, claimed he had done what he must to keep the Cannon from unworthy hooves.