For Liberty, Unity, Purity and the Minitor Sector

[Yuno]

Vierna nodded at Lorenzo stooping with some effort to stand again and move off for supplies. She neared the central tent to see it moving slightly. She took one of her smaller knives and cut the top open to reveal the Sorcerer. It was clear he was very near death and had still been trying to escape the confines of the tent.

His hand grasped for her and she didn't resist him despite the disdain he felt for her. "Who are you? Who is there?" She cleared her throat which was dry from running and responded "Vierna Alustriel."

His eyes widened with hope in them. " You weren't at camp. You are still alive." She nodded at him strangely. "Yes, I'm fine." He coughed hard for several moments before gasping out. "And the baby? The baby is safe." She wanted to yell at him that it wasn't thanks to him, but something in her restrained the desire. "Yes, the baby is fine." The Sorcerer weakly dug at his chest pulling forth a symbol of Nurgalesh which he held out to her. "Take this please. It will protect you and your child. Please, for the sake of us all be safe." her eyebrows raised she accepted the pendant wiping the blood off of it onto her sleeve and then hanging it. The chain she could now see was meant to be raised up in battle because the pendent fell so that it was at the beginning of her stomach.
"Peace, go with you. We'll claim victory." The Sorcerer's eyes darkened with a smile as she stood up cutting apart the rest of the tent until she found medical supplies. She took what was still of use tossing it into a backpack and then moved to the next tent collecting food, ammo, and several canteens of water as she went.

When she finally returned to Lorenzo she was burdened with these things which she dropped next to him. "Here. I found what is left." She dropped beside him a pack filled with food and medical supplies and a canteen along with several rounds of ammo. She herself held near the same except for the ammo which it was clear she wouldn't want.

She offered a hand to help Lorenzo up. "Come on. You don't look in great shape but I'm sure together we can stumble there somehow." It was strange, if Lorenzo hadn't seen her belly earlier and been told she was pregnant he'd never have known she was. The armor and clothing was cut to hide this fact very well, and it appeared she'd found a way to walk and bear the extra weight.

[mantisstalker]

Pest stalked into the forest making an effort to avoid the rag tag groups of troops using it as cover and headed towards where the sick looking tree's where thickest. After a few more minutes he was in what looked to be a plain clearing, the floor devoid of anything other than dirt and a single large stone resting in the center. Not wasting any time Pest kicked the stone aside before dropping to his knee's and scraping up the dirt at a frantic pace until a scrap of cloth revealed its self. For a second he stared at it before slowly pulling the package free of the earth and holding up to inspect it. It looked to be in the same condition as when he had buried it and with a quick flick of the cloth confirmed it was fine.

Something stirred at the back of his mind causing him to freeze until he realized it was just one of them "turning" in there sleep. Letting out a sigh of relief Pest stood quickly tucking the package inside his carapace and looking around. Now he had to find that xeno and her imperial lover before anything else happened. But where would they be?

Noticing a few men starting to scamper in his direction Pest pulled his hood low over his eyes before setting off again. Time was of the essence after all.

[daboss]

Toran donned his helmet and nervously glanced back in the general direction of the camp. There was no more sounds of fighting coming from it, but he was not sure. The coalition forces could control it, or it could be whatever those things were. Still, if An'yra felt that was the best decision, he would go along with it. After all, she knew the others way batter than he did.

'On approach....Two min-......Caran, open that hatch!...Grav-chutes rea-.....Go, Go Go!...'

The chatter on the vox-link built into Toran's helmet increased as they moved closer. He listened to it so intently at first that he did not notice the sound of approaching jet engines. As the jet grew closer, Toran turned and knew exactly who it served. the distinct silver glimmer of grav-chutes told him only one thing. The reserves had arrived. Elements from the 356th-172nd and the 23rd-42nd Elysian Regiments began to fall from the sky. And this was no small drop. The sky was soon covered in silver parachutes and dark shapes of stormtroopers.

"Get to the camp! Go!,"Toran yelled as he sprinted after An'yra. Behind him, the distinct sounds of las-fire erupted as the Elysians eliminated survivors who had escaped the coalition attack and fled. Toran and An'yra did not turn back until they reached the outskirts of the camp. In the distance, Liberator-class shuttles began to land and disgorge tank after tank of the Armageddon 192nd Tank company.

[Esiphas]

An'yra kept running as the tank fire erupted behind them. As she ran, she almost collided with Lorenzo, stopping just short. "Huh. That was easier than I thought." She said, surprised to have found him so easily. "No time to explain, we have to move. Heavy Tank Company's- apparently, Torans helmet still works on the Voxchannels of the Crusade, so we heard them coming. Also... I think the 'Necrons' are here. Have you seen them? Metal skeletons that walk like men, commanding emerald lightning. There's a bit of information on them in the Code of Fire, but they aren't paticularily well documented."

[t⊗theark]

Lorenzo, still aching, hobbled at a faster pace, he wasn't in a condition to. He too heard the sound of imperial forces approaching fast, yet unseen like the the very real coming of winter. Over the horizon, the battered tanks of the more Koservitch Union had returned to find the camp almost wiped out to instead battle the Crusade, but they weren't in a condition to handle this. He turned to An'yra,
"Those robots weren't from the Imperium?" he asked, pointing at Toran.

Desperate to avoid the insanely large force, he espied a hole in the ground - a cave. He got there and slid down with the group. It was dark down there, muggy but instead of decay it smelt of rust. It was very clean, lit by a very dim green glow, the floor and walls almost seemed polished, as if this was built. Suddenly, Lorenzo spotted those slender phantoms again as they hopped into the dark, he finally got a good loot at one, a woman in bone coloured armour, red hair and a shining sword. She war a mask with a gaping maw and in her chest was embeded a green stone. She too faded into the darkness. Lorenzo, more importantly, saw Coalition supplies.
"This is how they've been pushing against us so successfully. This must be a cave network they've been using to out maneuver us and the Crusade"

A boom made them jump, a shell must have landed by the mouth of the cave.

[daboss]

Toran raised his hands in the air when Lorenzo pointed at him. "Those were not ours. They killed whatever they saw. Which almost included me."

Toran saw Lorenzo look past him, and turned to see a female in bone-colored armor just fade into the dark. "Oh feth, we gotta get out of here. I know what those are, and you do not want to fight them."

The rumble of treads and the boom of cannons above them marked the position of the imperial forces. "we have got to get going," Toran said, "it will not be long before they come in here. We Elysians are very thorough."

[Esiphas]

"I'm with Toran. Lets get moving. Necron warriors, Space marines, Baneblade tanks... I may be a good shot, but this is ridiculous. It's like a battle of demigods. And we are the mortals, racing around under the feet of the titans." She smiled. "Ancient Human History. It's amazing what you'll find one a burnt out dark age ship." Following Lorenzo, she tapped a few buttons on her Auspex, alertin te others to their locations. "Lorenzo! Is there anywhere we can grab a flier? Like a Valkyrie gunship or something? I can fly us out of here quicker than we can move."

[t⊗theark]

Lorenzo looked at Toran,
"What is it than? Those things have been in the corner of my eyes, as well those machine you claim not to be fighting for you."

He turned away while going through the Coalition supplies. He took a handful of pain killers, a topographical map with the subterranean network crudely outlined out, the entrences marked in red. He saw some of their plans in their markings, where the camp had been, for example, and what entrances come out behind enemy lines, including to an enemy airbase. He pocketed some rations and some smoke grenades. He then turned to An'yra, laying out the map before her.
"We are here," he said, placing his claw on the red mark by the camp, "we want to get over there." He traced his hand across to Calidoania. "We can use these tunnels to get to an enemy airfield I see, there's an entrance not too far away from it. We can then fly to Calidonia, I know there is a Koservitch presence there, although tenuous, it is the closest. Also, we would be safer flying an enemy vehicle into contested territory."

He rolled up the map,
"This is a lot of intel, it stays with me, let's go. This way!"

[mantisstalker]

Pest was in a full out sprint now as he reached the camp and spotted the Tau jumping into a cave. "Just my luck." He muttered as someone gave another roll in their sleep. It wouldn't be long and all this fresh death wasn't helping. Closing the last few meters Pest skidded to a halt before jumping down into the cave and looking around. When he spotted the Tau he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away from the other not caring for any protests she gave. When they where out of hearing distance he shoved the bundle of cloth into her arms. "Now we had a deal. I gave you the uniform, you keep that safe. It's simple. But you can never tell anyone. Well I suppose Romeo already knows but just don't talk about it. Especially to me." He whispered the entire thing so fast it almost blurred the words together but when he was done Pest turned to the stocks around the cave and started to grab as many grenades and knives as possible.

He noticed the Tau still looking at him and rolled his eyes. "I have to do something to keep them alive now get going." When she had hidden the package and turned away Pest stood up again and slowly put his mask back on before addressing Lerenzo. "Now you don't need me any more... I'll wake the others up." When he was done Pest just seemed to stand there looking at the floor but gradually his body began to twitch and shudder until finally his eyes closed. When they opened again they where dilated but full of the urge to kill.

"Now lets go kill some them Coal bastards." He giggled looking expectantly for the others to lead the way.

[Yuno]

Vierna had lagged behind the others in making it to the title slightly as she reached the opening she watched several Kabal speeders drop from the sky towards her position. A chill of cold fear held her in place as one dismounted from the bike pulling away his helmet a gentle look on his face. "Vierna, stop this. You aren't well." She unfroze as he stalked toward her speaking his home tongue. "The hell I'm not." she spoke back loudly at him in the tongue he'd taught her. She turned rushing off into the caverns. She heard him swear in his home tongue charging to follow her. As he rushed into the darkness she reached up swinging the sword against the cavern wall. With a crack and the sound of a thousand agonized screams echoing the rock-face fell leaving just a crack that showed the light. She saw his hand reaching through to grab at her. "Vierna, you can't run from me forever. You are mine and you have things that are mine." She pushed her pistol through pulling the trigger yelling back. "Well come and get me then." She turned running through the twisting darkness until she found Lorenzo and the others bent over a map. Sweat was pouring from her face as she put her sword back with a grimace. "It would be good if we could get out of here quickly." With that she prepared to follow them through the caves.

[daboss]

Toran heard An'yra say something, but he was not sure what. When he turned to look at her, she was gone. He flipped off the safety of his lasgun and slowly began to move away from Lorenzo. He crept up to a corner, where he just started to hear hushed voices. Toran brought it up to his shoulder and took a wide step into the entryway. He almost collided with An'yra, who was holding a small bundle of cloth. "what was that about," he asked, but she did not give a response. Then Toran saw Pest over her shoulder. That would explain for the mysterious disappearance. He was loaded down with knives and bombs, but he didn't care. He grabbed Pest by the collar and looked him square in the eyes. "If you do that again without my knowledge, you're a dead man. I don't care who you are, or what your station is, if you pull her away without my knowledge, you will end up with a melted gut. You understand?" Toran dropped him before any response could be given. Even though the last thing he needed was to be enemies with Pest, he did not want any surprises.

Toran got back to Lorenzo and An'yra rather quickly. He was half expecting to get a knife in his back. He walked up beside An'yra, just so his hand was touching hers. "Any luck finding a safe way out?,' he asked. Just then Vierna got back. She was covered in sweat, as though something, or someone was following her. Toran heard her say "It would be good if we could get out of here quickly."

"Can you find a way out," Toran asked as he glanced the way Vierna came. There was nothing coming, but he was not sure if what she had been running from was still after her.

[t⊗theark]

Lorenzo pricked up as she panted with fright, he saw some Kabalites pursuing closely. Lorenzo had been itching for battle for too long now! He charged at the group of Dark Eldar with the Fury of the blood god, shooting his hot shot las pistol as he went into his signature blind rage. The denizens of the Dark City dodged the lasers. As Lorenzo flailed his chain axe, they dodge his swings with ease, almost mockingly. One of them with a knife cut him on a particular spot on his chest, a pressure point which he felt incredible pain. He whimped in pain but hardly stopped his flurry at the creatures.

One of them suddenly dropped as abeam of white light sliced its form asunder. A cloaked figure with a long rifle faded back into the dark, embedded in the armour on his chest glowed the same green stone. Distracted, Lorenzo took advantage of their division of attention, able to knock one of them to the ground, slicing another's leg. The other's, including what looked like their leader, retreated one of them saying,
"Eshairr Shlaereen Shelwe Iyanden?" (Literally "Outcast's Silent-death song of Iyanden?" meaning "Was that a Ranger from Craftworld Iyanden that shot at us!?")

Lorenzo went to work at the Eldar he had knocked down, grinding through his kabalite amrour and eviscerating the alien, blood spurting up on his arms and face. When he was sure he was dead, he moved on to the Eldar who's leg me maimed.
"Caihe Sha'eil, Mon-keigh!" (directly translated: "Go to hell, *inferior species*") Lorenzo in one swipe, sliced off the arm she shielded herself with. He grabbed her hair and beheaded her.

He walked back to the group, using a combat knife to flay is recent, grizzly trophy stained in eldar blood and a satisfied grin on his face,
"We must get to the airfield soon," he said, cleaning the skull of viscera and brains, "The Coalition uses these tunnels, we must be swift."

[mantisstalker]

Pest giggled madly as Toran grabbed him his dilated eyes locking on the troopers and it became quiet evident it wasn't the Pest that had given him the uniform. This was the man they had kill people without hesitation and a smile on his face. "Your a frisky one, ain't ya?" Was his only response before going into a fit of laughter until Toran dropped him where he returned to a more passive state. He started to mutter another nursery rhyme like before but suddenly stopped as if something had just clicked.

"Yea your right Yam... That is a good question..." He said eyes narrowing focused on the back of the retreating trooper. So occupied was he that he didn't even notice the fighting break out. Taking out his sickle he span it in the palm of his hand eyes darting between the Tau and the Imperial. "Where did he get that uniform from? And why are they so cozy all of a sudden?"

[Esiphas]

An'yra took a step to the side and took Torans hand in hers. Her body language said one thing, and one thing only. clearly meant one thing. Touch him, and I'll hunt you across the galaxy. "He got the uniform from a friendly Soldier. He was a lot like you actually a very cheerful fellow, only he wasn't a total (please do not swear). He got killed during the attack, as far as I'm aware. As for us? We're together, sorta. It's only been a little while, and I think I just made it official." Turning her back on pest, she pulled Toran along with her.

[Yuno]

Vierna could only feel grim satisfaction as she watched Lorenzo cut one of her...she wasn't precisely certain what he was to her as she thought about it. She'd been thinking lover but it was hard to define what they'd been. None the less she took satisfaction is seeing one of his lackies that had made it through the rubble she'd created cut down by Lorenzo.

As he died he turned to look at her and that unsettled her slightly, it wasn't a look of pure rage as she expected so much as pity and fear, fear for her. As Lorenzo spoke she could only nod quietly as he left the body she leaned down to it. She turned it over picking some of the toxins off of the corpse. She reached into the helmet that had clattered to the ground as Lorenzo decapitated it and she dug out the ear piece hoping it would be working. It was, and she placed it into her ear listening to the commands of a voice she knew too well.

That voice brought so much back.

*flashback*

Vierna was still chained as she stood over the wych her unbroken arm limply raised in a sign of victory. Bruises and scratches covered her body. The scant uniform they'd given her showed the scars of her torture. And despite how worn she'd been when they'd thrown her into the arena for what she picked up was a final test she'd had one goal. To mercilessly destroy the first of these Kabal that were placed in front of her. She'd succeeded only too well managing to murder the wych with her own blade. Even as she was dragged off by the throat again she could see the Archon watching her from his high seat.

For the first time since she'd been taken, she was cleaned, cured of all her wounds and even though she couldn't understand them she knew something had changed. A normal person would have been frightened, but Vierna hadn't survived because she had time for fear. She wasn't dragged anymore, but instead encouraged to walk into this chamber where the Archon sat. She'd been forced to bow by the guards present, but something in her rebeled over this. She had been tortured to the brink of death, but Vierna was a proud creature and would never bow before her captors. As the guard moved to make her kneel she'd attacked him. While his speed and grace far over-matched her own, she'd managed to take him by surprise and that was all she needed. He was soon underneath her as she savagely beat him closer and closer to death. As she'd moved to deliver the blow that would surely have ended the guard her wrist was caught by the Archon who had watched the display with a mixture of amusement and interest. He pulled her away from the guard roughly and another of the Kabal approached this one too in chains.

The Archon had leaned close to her face holding her by the throat. She resisted him too despite the knowledge he could kill her within seconds. This too only seemed to arouse his interest and amusement further. The other prisoner listened as the Archon spoke and then spoke at the back of Vierna's struggling frame.

“He says you are his. He bought you on the slave market today.”
Vierna ceased struggling and met the Archon's cold glare head on. “Ask him why.”
The slave once again listened before translating.
“He says that you interest him. He says that you are as cold and strong as your dark heritage is. He says you are not like the other Monkeigh he sees.He says you interest him.”
Vierna smiled very coldly at that. “Tell him I'm not a toy for amusement and I won't serve him.” the slave repeated it. Surprisingly, his amusement didn't turn towards displeasure as she'd assumed. Instead he began to pet her hair as an owner of a cat might.
“He says of course you won't be a servant or toy. You are to be his companion and consort. He says he knows you won't agree, but he thinks that will fade with time. For now he has just ordered that you be taken and made healthier. He will visit you soon.” With a final stroke of her long green hair he let go of her throat allowing her to fall to the ground. He returned to his throne watching her with the same eyes as she spit on the ground only to be hauled away by the guards again.

*end*

Vierna was so consumed by this that she simply walked past Pest and the tau with her new lover to follow Lorenzo through the twisting caverns. She did not speak as she followed him, just listened to the sound of the kabal's voices.