The Void Scorn(40K)

What was left of Osatar's brain tried to make sense of the various life signatures and readings before her. Both heart readings had begun to pulse as soon as the shock was administered, she could not hide the small smile growing across her face, though she loathed it. It would be a couple more years yet, the first three stages for now, if only I had finished my training, and yet it is all as the Omnissaiah wills, even if life has to spring from between my fingers.

"keep him here, notify me when he awakes" she read, her monotone voice sparking.

"compliance"

Ivex strained against Seeker's restraints, passing acidic saliva through his mouth and teeth, the mild voices slowly fading as The Indomitable grew close. Finnik was opposite, he scowled he was twitching, his eviscerator hung snuggly. He opened the vox.

"Finnik"

"yess lord" he replied

"go to the medbay once we are back on ship. That applies to everyone, I want to make sure no taint followed us back"

Zhouggath gave a warriors salute, holding onto handles on Seeker's roof.

"does this apply to me lord?" Iazhec spoke gingerly

"I trust Finnik with that decision, artificer"

"Tyllalb, once all is in order convene all brothers in the war room. Once again it seems we fell loyalist heads" he continued.

"gladly, the soldiers of the astra militarum deserve to know the injustice of their Emperor" encroached Finnik

"Hold yourself Finnik" Tyllalb spoke.

"We shall give them the pain we felt but make sure to do it in moderation, I wish to not hear about another bloodbath like the Katul"

Finnik nodded, cursing behind his helmet.

"at least this time it should be easier, anything is better than the job they gave us last time" Zhouggath retorted, in a husky rapturing voice.

"agreed" replied Ivex

"Although without that I would not have been able to spy the sheer look of surprise on your face Zhouggath, upon that Aeldari Fireprism showing itself."

"A memory I wish to forget, I was lucky I still had fuel in my jumpack after Ctakle's inconsistent wants!"

Ivex chuckled hoarsely, the tension in the chamber all but gone.

"I believe Ctackle was having too much fun" Tyllalb retorted.

"I had stern words to give him after watching his squad's… mishaps"

"I am sure you did Brother, after all I remember your angry shouting over the vox" Finnik let himself laugh in his helmet. Ivex, remembering the stern old guard somewhat angrily speaking in his usual monotone voice at Tethri, until he himself eeked a smile behind the beak of his helmet.

"this time will be different" the smile had faded now, not to return for at least another millenia. Each marine as soon as they beheld Ivex's words fell silent, memories being dragged up from the long buried chests of their minds.

"This time they will come to us Ivex, this time I'll make good the promise to give them a deep, wrenching cut for each brother we lost that day" Finnik was spitting now, having to take off his helmet to avoid melting the inside of his visor. Tyllalb gave a nod, both hands turned into fists on his knees. Zhouggath now looked straight at Ivex, his eyes drilling a hole. Finnik quickly put his helmet back on, upon meeting Ivex's lenses.

"We will give them our wrath Ivex, of that we assure you" Zhouggath spoke, disgruntled as usual, hissing speech rebounding throughout Seeker's walls. Ivex looked upwards.

"Make ready as soon as we get back on board ship, we will navigate to whatever world these heretics wish us to help take, we will help to avenge our brothers, one by one…" His monotone voice argued with Zhouggath's echo for space, ultimately coming out on top.

Each Brother's face was a grimace, each one crowded back into the titular war room. The room was heavy, the control cogitator beeping and whirring, red displays dotting to and frow in front of Ivex's blue lenses.

"It seems the Chosen has got in over his head" Finnik said, beginning to lean in over the various terrain markings and fortification displays.

"Even our usual drop will be difficult with this arrangement" Ctakle rose, mimicking Finniks movements in dramatic fashion.

"Thats what is going to make it interesting…" Finnik licked his lips.

"Restrain yourself. Finnik." came Tyllalb, pulling his fellow Yaczharri back over the ring of the display. Ivex stood, his arms crossed, several brothers had begun to mutter in hushed tones of Shioldan to one another as the information came in. The display fizzed a large figure suddenly wisping the holograms and dim red lights away. Emaciated and full, simple and yet full of frills and decoration, sound speakers and vox callers were dotted all over it's armour. It wore and battered helmet, bruised like cold dead skin, emphasised by the redness of it's portrayal. The ancient front grill of it's helmet had long been broken and hammered in, a large hole, cracks furrowing it at the edges. Where it's mouth should have been was a large vox speaker, multiple thin finger like appendages grew from where it's lips should have been, the nails digging into the sides of its helmet, as if trying to drag the pieces back together.

"My greetings thin bloods…" its raspy voice spoke, like deserters before a commissar, their voices too weary after their users screamed in front at every horror of the battlefield.

"My name is Antigone, chief player of the Kakophoni and humble servant of the Chosen." It took a bow, the chains and gold filigree rattling and shaking on it's armour.

"We know what is required of us" Ivex spoke, standing still against the thing on display.

"And yet I draw pleasure from seeing you squirm under my voice" Antigone drew out the sentence, no eery beauty this time, just a voice that threatened to strip the paint from their armour.

"Enough noise marine, we will do our jobs as instructed and then we will leave, once we have begun the decapitation of the hive city, you will be free to do as you please"

"We are sending you, some… reinforcements, use them as you wish, and do enjoy our song once it starts"

"Reinforcements? I was not informed of this by the Chosen"

"They requested to be part of your assault, im sure you can find some use for them thin blood. By the will of the prince, I wish you good hunting" Antigone's lips curled around the vox speaker, parting and drawing thin liquid around it's metal edges.

The hologram cut, red light giving way to the calming usual deep blue.

"I will do the deed Ivex, Yanuthlu will meet them when they come aboard." Zhouggath made a cut around his neck with his gauntlet.

"at least let me get in on the fun fun Zhouggath, you might be overwhelmed" Finnik said, shooting a glare in his direction.

"We will use them" Ivex spoke, silencing the room, each marine gave a nod and a salute.

"Tyllalb, take tethri and meet them in the hangar, should they come before repairs start. I must attend to the bodies of our brothers"

Khatal wheezed, the haunched figures of his pack stood around him, gripping with talons and claws into the metal cage that was the thunderhawk. He has the Night Reaver oh how the legion will thank me for this deed. Although how it came to be in a thin blood warband is to be explained. He coughed, red liquid spilling, too much time in the immaterium. He smiled, thin gnawing teeth drawing blood on his thin lips. Oh how fun this will be.

"attention, approaching location" called the pilot servitor, all manner of cables beginning to writhe with energy as the whine of the ship's engines began to slow. Khatal's felt his malformed heart begin to beat quickly, pumping new blood and stims back into his lungs. His jump pack began to rev, drewl foaming at the corners of his bestial mouth, flames began to sputter out of it's thrusters, as it anxiously waited for orders to jump. The thunderhawk stopped, coming to a rocky landing. As the ramp lowered, he felt the longing of each of his brothers, claws at the ready and twitching, itching, pulling and reaching. As soon as it had lowered enough the 10 bodies, flew out of the opening, soaring into the hanger with the speed of the darkened winds, it was music to Khatal's ears as his lungs began to more frantically open and close, drawing breath in and out, his jump pack now firing on both thrusters, matching his breath. They landed in a compact group, Khatal on all fours, his talons gripping into the metal flooring.

"Are you done?" a deep voice billowed, 2 blue eye lenses stared directly down towards Khatal, the barrel of its heavy weapon lowered to the point it was almost pressed against his chest. 2 more marines pressed forward from behind, rushing into the thunderhawk and filling the interior with promethium. The servitor did not screech as he was burned. Khatal looked back up, a large collar obscured most of the marine's lower helmet. Khatal quickly pulled back, begrudgingly standing on two feet as the red of his eyes lenses clashed with the opposites light blue.

"We are the redeemed, here to-"

"Your names matter little mutant, you are to meet the rest of the warband in the war room, where Ivex in all his grace may find purpose for you" each word was a large full stop, the high gothic, crude, punctual.

"You should not speak ill of us thin blood"

"I will do as I please when you are aboard my lord's ship"

"Have you finished your work yet Dhibrocz?" Iazhec spoke, the cold reverberations of both pairs of boots thudding on the ship floor.

"the more you ask about it the worse I begin to feel"

"well when you put it that way. You sure you don't need help at all?"

"you know master Tyllalb's attitude, although im not surprised you would ask anyway"

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"keep to your own work, despite your novelty, our lords want to keep you around. Just keep yourself mild like the rest of us"

"yeah because that is definitely not what the last person in my position did. And lord does not exactly tell me what happened to his previous artificers"

"I have to say I liked the one before you, he ran his mouth less"

"and what happened to him?"

"no idea" Dhibrocz looked upwards, climbing the stairs towards the top deck, his black hair straying over his eyes and ears.

"ahh builders" came a female voice. Iazhec almost gagged, Dhibrocz folding his arms. Norma looked back at them bewildered. Had she said something wrong?, I don't think so.

"did I say something wrong? Or is there something off with my face?" Iazhec was doubling over, trying to maintain his composure.

"Accex, nas llasasdi, xiciss nors fral?" The speech came fast, Norma having to strain her ears, partially due to Iazhec's muffled speech.

"calas nash Iazhec, yozar kith uctis" the response from Dhibrocz was clear as usual. The sibillic words entered one side and out the other.

"Dhibrocz, please explain what is going on?" she said sighing, finally giving up.

"just discussing how you need a couple more rota before you can even breath a word around our lords"

"And what level do I have to be at to speak to Ivex?"

Dhibrocz furrowed his brow.

"Don't say his name, call him lord, and nothing else. Less he tell you otherwise"

Norma tried to force an awkward smile.

"alright I won't" a silence dripped for the moment.

"where are you 2 going? Maybe I could be of assistance?"

"perhaps, we are on our way to the engines although im not sure you would…" Dhibrocz paused, pondering for a bit.

"Just let her come along, I see no reason for her not to, if we have been ordered present then I am sure they will allow her" came Iazhec, suddenly putting his arm round Dhibrocz, making him shiver and squirm away.

"you should be less joyful Iazhec, that goes to you as well vice captain. Our lords are putting their brothers to rest"

Norma began to stumble after them, quickly matching their pace, as they decended into the lower levels of the ship.