PRIDE

Pride. That’s what he had felt in the core of his being as he led his men across the open fields littered with the broken bodies of the enemy and of fallen brothers. Pride is what kept his head high and voice strong as wave after wave of enemy warriors attacked and fell back and attacked again. Pride. It was enough to keep him going as long as he could lift his weapons and serve the Emperor. Chapter Master Matthias raised the Blades of Hate and gave the command to attack.

What Marines remained of the 2^nd company he led himself, they charged out of the trenches, boltguns roaring as the ground shook from the heavy artillery of the enemy. The intense rain made the earth wet and muddy, some places it was hard maneuver but they pressed on. Every step they took brought more incoming fire and more his brothers fell as they were almost out in the open.

The enemy outnumbered them and could match them in every way possible, as they were once Astartes, like themselves. They were traitors though, worshippers of false gods, they had turned from the light of the Emperor and they meant to kill every last loyalist Asartes on this rock. They were the Sons of Malice and they were near victory.

“ Dragon Hawks! “ Mathias screamed as he cleaved a Traitors head clean from his shoulders, the blood spraying across his blade and quickly running off from the heavy down pour above.

“ Show these dogs how the Emperors chosen fight!”

He ducked a Sons power axe and slammed him to the ground, smashing his helmet to pulp with the butt of his own axe over and over.

“ Squad Gilleand! Swing right and take out that Predator! Squad Santori with me, we need to break through this blockade. Sky Hawks! Advance on the next trench system we will meet you there! “ The Chapter Master gave his orders without waiting for response. He needed to get his men some cover and the traitorous Sons had dug enough trench line to offer them some respite.

Two-dozen Sons of Malice stood in-between the Dragon Hawks and the next trench line. Two enemy Rhinos were on the move, probably intending to give the Sons some cover. Squad Santori and Matthias zigzagged across the flooded craters and muddied debris, the Sons empting clip after clip of bolter rounds into them. They had the Emperor’s blessings though as not a single brother fell in the sprint.

The Sons Rhinos unloaded their smoke canisters, fogging the locale and the sounds of chainswords and chain axes being turned on filled the air.

The Sky Hawks on their jump packs screamed above them as they launched themselves to the trench line.

“ Brothers! Ready bayonets if you still have them, combat knives at the ready! I hope you have your side arms yet- looks like these heathen dogs want a real fight! “ Sgt. Santori bellowed as he activated his power glove, it’s ancient generator humming louder as he flexed it.

“ Aye my brothers, strike hard and true and be swift in the name of the Emperor!
We are Dragon Hawks and we shall not fall this day!” Master Matthias added.

They charged through the smoke, the Sons meeting them with bolt pistol fire as the broke through the makeshift Rhino barricade. Two Dragon Hawks rammed into a Son of Malice, their combined weight and strength sending him reeling of his feet. Sgt. Santori backhanded another Son, his black and white armor crunching under the devastating blow. The squad was holding their own, their bravado a perfect match for the brutality of the Sons.

Chapter Master Matthias parried chainsword and combat blade alike, swatting them away with his sword and rending into black and white armor with his axe. Both of his weapons were chained to his wrists, both powered and forged by a High Priest of the Mechanicum.

They were dubbed the Blades of Hate, as they were Blessed by the High Chaplains of the Chapter, inscribed was the name of every Chapter Master that had wielded the blades and died. Matthias fought like savage youth from his home world, slashing, elbowing, kicking and head butting. He showed no mercy to the renegades and made every Son who squared off with him die as painful a death as he could offer.

The swirl of combat blurred away as the last Son of Malice was kicked to the soggy turf, a bayonet yanked out his chest plate. Sgt. Santori winced as he adjusted the lens of his cybernetic eye. He gave a thumbs up to his Chapter Master as he took in the carnage around them.

Twenty-two dead Sons of Malice, three dead Dragon Hawks and three Sons unaccounted for. The Rhinos were abandoned and melta charges were placed before the squad marched on. Never leave behind anything for anyone.

“ It’s only three hundred yards to the trench line my brothers, the Sky Hawks have engaged a large force of traitor marines minutes ago.” Matthias said.

“ Move out Hawks.” Santori ordered as the remaining squad as they ran double time across the killing fields.

“ What’s their numbers? “ asked Santori.

“ Not sure yet, they are too busy exchanging fire to report back. We just need to rendezvous ASAP and give them sweeping support fire. “

Matthias clicked on his vox bead again, trying to hail Squad Gilleand.

“ Status report Sergeant.”

The vox link creaked with pure static for a few moments as Matthias and squad Santori hustled across the open plain coming closer to the dug in Sons of Malice.

Finally the vox linked clicked back on.

“ My Lord, we have destroyed the Predator and are en route to your position. We would have been there sooner but the heretics had several Obliterator teams hiding in the hills west of here that we had to enlighten. See you soon my Lord.”

Sgt. Gilleand switched off his vox line and Matthias smiled inside his ancient helmet. They had done well despite the odds stacked against them.

Coming over several mounds of earthworks, the squad was immediately spotted and several missiles were fired in their direction. The drove hard to the ground, taking what cover they could from the upturned soil. The blast sent chunks of gravel showering over them but none of the squad was injured. They kept their heads low as they pushed forward, firing controlled burst of bolter fire at the dug in renegade marines.

The enemy was now fighting on two fronts. The Sky Hawks under command of Chaplain Aceves were engaged in close quarters combat on one end and now faced Master Matthias and Squad Santori on their rear.

“ For our Father and for the Emperor! “ Matthias roared, leaping over the first set of barbed wire lines and nearly decapitating a Son of Malice with a mighty kick.

His men followed suite, each screaming their war cries and firing madly down the trench lines. They stabbed with bayoneted bolters and combat blades, lobbed grenades where crowded black and white armored traitors stood and grappled with those that had lost grips on their weapons. The incredible noise of combat was deafening. Armor scraped on armor and chainswords bit through bone and flesh. The screams of both loyal and renegade Astartes filled the air with sheer havoc. The trenches, already flooded with several days worth of rain, turned crimson as Dragon Hawks and Sons alike took their final blood choked breaths.

Matthias stood atop several dead traitors his mind lost in the sea of violence that surrounded them. He witnessed a massive Son of Malice swinging a two handed chain axe, dealing death blow after blow to the Sky Hawks- their numbers now dwindled almost to the man. He seemed to command the other renegades and Matthias knew what must be done.

He opened up a vox line to both his sergeants and to Chaplain Aceves.

“ My brothers, we our outnumbered still, but we have fought well this day, when you see make contact with the enemy commander break off the attack and head for the orchards east of the trench line. Captain Durran and what is left of the 1^st should be there soon with Thunder Hawk transports. The Emperor protects.”

He shut off the vox link and charged towards the enemy, the Blades of Hate gripped firmly in his power-armored hands.

He slashed a few would be opponents in two as he grinded his way to the center of the melee.

Bolting right at the giant traitor he slammed into his spine before he had a chance to turn about. The momentum knocked the Son to the sopping floor. Matthias kicked him square in the jaw, sending his helmet out of reach.

The enemy now stood slowly, the rain washing his pock marked and twisted face. His teeth had begun to rot Matthias noticed and he realized this was no ordinary Marine but one that had been touched by the foul powers of chaos. His eyes were pale amber and his skin was leathery and beginning to show signs of forming scales. The steam from his skull leapt up and Matthias thought he looked more reptilian than human, more beast than man.

“ In the name of the almighty Emperor I will have vengeance for my brothers, my chapter! “ Matthias blared hefting his axe over his shoulder and raising his sword in challenge.

The beast laughed as he looked down at Matthias. He only nodded his head though and hit the ignition stud on his chain axe.

“ Corpse god lackey !” he spat. “ I’ll have your head same as your young captain- Astartes! Swine all of you… you have lost but still you punish yourselves with more bloodshed. So be it. “ He snarled at Matthias and whipped his weapon towards his head, Matthias barely blocking it in time.

The Sons strength was double what a normal Marine could put out, his body aided by the ruinous powers. Matthias took several blows to the chest and head, though none ripping through his armor, the pain was incredible nonetheless. The Son would attack and Matthias did his best to dodge the blow or block it away. He just needed to hold his ground long enough for his men to flee to safety.

He continued to take the pain as the beast hammered away on Matthias. Finally, Matthias faltered as he over extended a sword swing, the beast bore into his left side with his enormous chain axe. Matthias dropped on one knee, the blood pouring down like a waterfall, mixing with the rain and the mud.

“ This is how a wounded dog is dealt with!” The Son taunted kicking the Chapter Master aside.

He rolled over on his chest and forced himself to stand. Up on his feet, he let his axe dangle from its fastened chain as his left arm was damaged badly from the massive trauma. His vision began to blur and the mud had smeared his visor on his helmet. He unfastened it and he let the cold air wake him up as his enemy waited to deliver his final strike.

Matthias gripped his sword and helmet tightly as he readied himself for death. The beast raised his chain axe both hands over his head, the gross smile stretching from ear to ear.

The killing blow never came down, Matthias looked upwards as did the possessed Son.

Three jade green Thunder Hawks now hovered above the trench line and the enemy commander stood dumb founded, realizing he was the one trapped now.

Matthias wasted no time; he swung his helmet upward crushing the chin and cheek bones of the heretic traitor. He screamed as Matthias laid into him again and again with his ancient helmet. Finally Matthias stood above his enemy.

“ The Emperor Protects” he said quietly, thrusting his blade downwards until he heard bone and armor crunch and he could feel the soft earth with the tip of his sword.

The Thunder Hawks gunned down the fleeing Sons of Malice while the veteran Terminator armored brethren swept the area of those who chose to stay and fight.

Chapter Master William Matthias cleaned the mud of his helmet and donned it again, letting the rain cleanse his battered and faded jade green armor of the enemy’s blood.

His vox link kicked in as he peered into the gray sky.

“ Lord, this is Captain Durran. Shall we prepare for dust off? “

“ Aye Captain, see to it we collect as much gene seed of our brothers as we can. They died bravely and I’m proud to have fought with them. “

“ Understood my Lord. Glad to see your still in one piece.”

Matthias shook his head in agreement. He was proud his brothers had followed orders and turned the tide. Proud they came back for him when all seemed lost.

As long as the Emperor allowed him to fight the enemy he would. As long as he was Chapter Master he would proudly led his troops and die with them if need be. So long as he was alive he would stand proud, as a Dragon Hawk.