Mathias Herzog, clad in purple power armor with silver trim and a green emblem on his shoulder plate, led nine subordinates into the camp of the Kyno 52nd Thousand-strong Cohort.
Herzog observed the Kyno soldiers bowing respectfully to his party. Their uniforms were neat, their equipment excellent.
He recalled information about the Kyno 52nd Thousand-strong Cohort. They were among the most ancient and elite forces in the Imperial military, comprised of one thousand companies.
Their history stretched back to the Unification Wars, originating from the remnants of warlords from the Age of Strife. They had been preserved by the Emperor's grace, one of the ancient Hundred Companies.
As Herzog reached the temporary command tent, he signaled for the others to guard the perimeter and ducked inside alone.
The moment he saw the commander, he recognized him.
"Brigadier Vett."
As the Great Crusade expanded, new Imperial institutions had emerged. The Departmento Munitorum was one.
This new body had begun to exert influence over the Auxilia.
Standardizing ranks was part of that.
The Auxilia, founded on command and obedience, had mostly accepted these ranks.
"Esteemed Alpha, may I know your name?"
"Of course," Herzog nodded. "Omegon."
"I have the honor of speaking with a gene-son," Brigadier Vett exclaimed in surprise. "Salutations, my Lord."
After Vett and the other officers saluted, he spoke.
"My Lord, my Thousand-strong Cohort has been ordered to cooperate with your Legion's operations. What are your commands?"
"My Legion has already infiltrated Zone I-20 and completed reconnaissance. There is a xenos armed force in that area."
"Move out immediately. Attack the xenos fortress."
"As you will, Lord Omegon." Brigadier Vett bowed and issued the order.
The Kyno 52nd Thousand-strong Cohort demonstrated its rapid response. Twenty minutes later, the Dancer Company was the first to depart.
Herzog watched this company, founded six hundred thirty years ago. They marched with heads held high, quite an impressive sight.
Each soldier was the result of careful genetic engineering.
The Kyno's form-fitting uniform consisted of an outer layer of chainmail and an inner layer of leather.
Their waist-length yellow cloaks were made of Terran silk, covered in ornate company insignia and squad markings.
They carried light packs, long bayonets, ammunition belts, and canteens filled with double rations, which clinked against liquid nitrogen canisters.
Major Pius stuck his head out of his armored command vehicle. Fighting alongside Lord Omegon filled him with honor.
He gazed at the mist-shrouded mountains and found his visible range was only one hundred thirty meters, with two hundred meters the absolute limit.
Pius ducked back into the vehicle, checking his tactical display, the readings were slightly, but noticeably, improved.
He looked ahead at the gradually widening mountain pass, where cliffs created four separate channels.
Pius leaned out of the command vehicle. "Lord Omegon, your orders?"
"Your company, you should know what to do with them."
"Tactical reconnaissance, is that not it?"
"Yes," Pius quickly replied. "My Lord."
He immediately returned to the vehicle, marked positions on his tactical display, selected four squads skilled in reconnaissance, and assigned their tasks.
The 25th Squad entered Operational Zone Four.
Soldiers in bright yellow spiked helmets warily raised their lascarbines, scanning the surroundings.
The squad leader, adorned with fur and beads, heard a scream from behind and to the right.
"Take cover!"
He rolled behind a rock as he gave the command.
After scanning the mist and seeing no enemies, he turned to look at the screaming soldier.
"Summerville, report."
"I... I've been poisoned." Summerville replied in terror.
The soldiers looked. Blisters were forming and bursting all over Summerville's body.
"Ah!" Another scream. Another soldier dropped his weapon, drew his bayonet, and began popping the 'blisters' on his body.
He suppressed his fear and picked up his weapon again.
"I'm fine..."
His voice cut off. A tumor burst on his forehead, and his body collapsed.
The squad leader, with seventy years of service, had never seen such a bizarre scene.
'Airborne virus?'
He speculated, uncertain of what was happening, but certain it was due to the xenos.
As he thought, a silvery-white figure emerged from the mist.
"Open fire!"
Seven laser beams precisely struck the silvery-white outline.
The gunner raised his man-portable rocket launcher. A missile streaked towards the bulbous head.
ZZZZAAAP... BOOM!
The xenos kept advancing. Its curved arm raised. A gust of wind rose in the canyon.
A soldier, uncontrollably, spun towards the Cerabvore.
The Cerabvore's curved arm reached for the soldier, pulling out a chunk of flesh and stuffing it into its slime-covered maw.
"Withdraw!"
The squad leader scrambled up. His beads scattered. The black slit on his bulging, orange-red hemispherical goggles had widened to a fist.
He tore off the goggles, raised his lascarbine, and fired frantically, trying to mask his terror.
The squad began a death run. One soldier after another let out piercing screams.
Pius listened to the screams of despair in the distance. He didn't stick his head out again but opened his comm directly.
"Lord Omegon, what's out there?"
"Xenos." The short answer gave Pius no useful information. He was about to ask again.
"Major, establish defenses."
Pius lowered the comm and immediately directed the Dancer Company to reinforce their positions.
Soldiers carrying demolition charges immediately found cover at the canyon entrance.
Mortars aimed at the four entrances.
"Major, only seven men returned."
Hearing his adjutant's words, Pius shouted, "Report! I need a report!"
"Right, sir."
The adjutant returned a moment later. "They're like madmen. I can't get a clear report."
"They mentioned brain-eating and deadly poison."
"Fire!"
"Open fire! Whatever those damned xenos are, blast them to bits!"
Pius roared, suppressing the thoughts that involuntarily arose in his mind.
'They are bait for Lord Omegon.'
If the Emperor's death angels were using them as bait, the enemy must be powerful and evil.
His company was in a desperate situation.
Pius saw the rapidly increasing red data on his tactical display. He opened the comm, calling for reinforcements from other companies.
Rockets screamed, slamming into the xenos.
Kyno soldiers carrying demolition charges shouted, "For Kyno! For Terra! For the Emperor!"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
The explosions echoed through the mountains. Sand and rock rained down.
Four tall, white figures emerged from the rocks.
Crystal greatswords swung. Kyno demolitionists were cut to bloody mist.
Curved arms reached out, pulling out another soldier's brain, stuffing it into the red line.
Kyno soldiers continued to die agonizingly from neurotoxins. The soldiers didn't panic. They raised their lascarbines, unleashing dense barrages.
The roar of bolt guns drowned out all other sounds. The Kyno soldiers shouted excitedly.
Fighting alongside the Emperor's death angels, they could surely kill these evil xenos.
The first soldier to empty his power pack, while skillfully changing it, swept his gaze across the battlefield.
Terror filled his eyes. Not a single silvery-white xenos had fallen.
The death angels' bolts also exploded before reaching their targets, as if hitting an invisible wall.
More and more Dancer Company soldiers realized this fact.
The xenos passed between their silvery-white, terrifying forms, charging their lines.
One soldier after another fell.
Despair spread among the soldiers. They fired numbly, changing power packs.
Beyond the veil, in the Garden of Decay.
He watched the beautiful spectacle of neurotoxin spreading with amusement.
Rashes, ulcers, suppuration, rot, coughs, dizziness, mad cow disease, explosive diarrhea... He laughed heartily.
The little ones, hopping and skipping around, giggling, were tossed tumbling through the garden by the laughter.
His gaze shifted from one spot to another. Five Cerabvores would bring him even greater pleasure.
Oliver, Captain of the First Company, Fourth Chapter of Shadows of Order, led his warriors bearing green skulls on their pauldrons through the misty valley.
In his witch-sight, five clumps of deathly grey and terrifying scarlet suddenly appeared.
"Alert!"
Oliver halted, staring ahead.
The moment five silvery-white figures emerged from the mist, he recognized them as Cerabvores.
"Worm Talismans!"
He and four "Gravediggers" immediately drew black talismans.
Channeling psychic energy into them, the worm patterns radiated an evil will that made them uncomfortable.
The five hurled the talismans and shouted in Dunnic: "Worms!"
The spinning black metal flew towards the Cerabvores. They uneasily raised their arms.
Flames erupted. Lightning surged.
The next instant, they simultaneously cried out in pain. Their bodies went limp, collapsing to the ground.
Beyond the veil, the laughter in the Garden ceased abruptly.
"Boring."
He walked to a large cauldron emitting thick steam, picked up a ladle, and stirred.
Pius woke up a standard month later.
The poison had permanently taken his arms. Doctors told him his arms had rotted, filled with maggots, and had to be amputated.
More devastating was that his company had only seven men left.
Other Kyno companies had lost forty-one thousand men in that valley.
Finally, Lord Omegon had found a way to kill the xenos, killing them with his power spear.
Pius pulled a flask from his tent and staggered out of the camp.
He sat on a slope, gazing at the valley of death.
As he took his third sip of liquor, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Pius."
Pius rose, staring in surprise at the giant.
"Lord Omegon."
"Are you willing to serve as my agent?" Herzog looked at the bearded, disheveled Pius. "In a new identity, serving the Emperor."
Seconds ticked by. Pius gripped his flask, thinking of the Apothecary's words: four Alphas had fallen.
"I am willing to serve you, my Lord."
Pius was tattooed with the hydra emblem of the three-headed serpent and given his codename: Lerna 222.
.....
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