The situation is getting worse. The PDF has reached the surface instead of focusing on the underhive, and I know why. The Cult of Admonition has begun to move, and now they're fighting the PDF in the open. It is an open war between two factions.
It's an all-out war between the PDF and the Cult.
Explosions echo in the distance, each one louder and closer. And worse — I can see smoke rising from the Spire. That means the cult has reached the highest levels of the hive. I don't know how they reach that level. The spire is supposedly the most secure area in the Hive.
I lift my binoculars and scan the area. Luckily, I've built up an army of drones. The metal scraps from the hangar gave me plenty of material to work with. We're ready — ready to face the cult, and even a small detachment of the PDF if it comes to that.
Speaking of the PDF, I've never seen them in any mission from the game before. Arbites, yes — but not the PDF. The only time I ever saw them was when the Moebian 6th arrived in Tertium. Then they died fighting against their own people.
In the game, the Inquisition hid the cult's name and called them "Dregs," so the Cult of Admonition wouldn't gain any recognition. In return, the Cult uses it and only attacks in the open when the inquisition uncovers a certain amount of truth. But now? They're attacking openly. Something has changed since I arrived in this world.
I don't know if that's good or bad.
So far? Definitely bad. Everything is escalating too quickly, and I don't know how long I can keep up before something slips through — and becomes a bigger problem.
I snap from my thoughts when the last patrol group returns. But instead of bringing refugees, they look worried. I jump down from the wall to meet them. The others follow behind me. We wait as they approach.
When they stop, Hannah steps forward, her face grim.
"Boss, we have a problem."
"Right… lately, there's always a problem knocking. What is it this time?"
"The cult, boss. They're pushing through the Hob Block and punching through the PDF barricade. We tried to scout for vehicles like you asked, but the PDF already took over the Hob Block. They're fighting the cult. The Infected are moving in hordes, and we saw at least three hundred cultists armed with autoguns — and some lasguns mixed in. The one on the front is the infected holding crude melee weapons."
"How long before they reach us?"
"Depends, boss. If the PDF holds the line — never. But by the look of it, they'll fall. Ten hours, maybe."
Ten hours. That gives us twelve to prepare, if we're lucky. That should be enough for me to increase the defence even more.
"Then we'll prepare to welcome them with everything we've got."
"Err… boss," Hannah says, hesitant.
"Yes?"
"Can we rescue them instead? Instead of waiting here, maybe it's better to help the PDF. The Governor and his so-called Golden Generals are absolute cunts. You know they'll order those soldiers to hold the line and die for nothing."
I sigh. That sounds like a typical Planetary Governor. There are very few competent ones. The most infamous is the Governor of Armageddon — the fool who lost a titan in a pointless battle against the Orks. I don't know his full name, but I remember it is Herman something.
The most famous? Lord Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed. Technically, he was not a planetary governor, but he took over when the previous overlord died. That man faced one of the largest Chaos invasions since the Horus Heresy — and held the line so fiercely that Abaddon decided to crack the planet rather than take it.
He and his Imperial Guard were the first and last line of Cadia's defense—a true leader and someone worth all the respect.
Anyway, good governors are rare in the 40K universe. Maybe there are competent ones out there, but I haven't seen them or read them.
"Instead of abandoning them, it's better to rescue them," Hannah continues. "If we save them, we'll gain allies inside the PDF — eyes in the higher system. We'll be seen as a light of hope, not just another cartel fighting for power."
"Oh? The first part's good, but the second's debatable. You really think they'll let us be? We're technically separatists."
"Even so, we'll have friends in their ranks. That's already a win. Plus, we can loot the battlefield afterward. Might even find a vehicle we can salvage."
"That's true."
I think for a moment, then exhale. I look at my guardians and say.
"What do you all think? Should we rescue them? Anyone in favor, raise your hand."
Most of the group raises their hands.
"The ones opposed?"
As expected, only a few.
"Very well! We'll rescue those soldier boys! Gather the others! Half the guardians will come with us, and the other half will defend the base. I'll take half the drones as well. We move out in fifteen minutes! Go!"
Everyone scrambles to prepare. The people peeking from the hidden entrances move too — this will be our first real battle, and everyone knows it. I see a few guardians hug their families tightly before heading out.
That part always hurts. Watching your people prepare to die.
{You should not blame yourself, Kael. They volunteered. They want to prove themselves, and their families understand. Just like those before them, they're willing to give their lives for yours.}
'I know. That's what makes it worse.'
{Such is the weight of a crown. The fact that you feel this way makes you a good leader, Kael.}
I chuckle softly.
'You've been talkative lately, Canto.'
{Of course. I'm a growing AI, after all. Installed directly in your brain, linked to your soul. As long as you grow, I grow. I achieved sentience long ago.}
'Truly? That's good to hear. But be careful, Canto.'
{I will. I won't let the creatures of the Warp corrupt me. Your power will soon give you immunity to even the Four Parasites.}
'Let's hope so. Anyway, take over half the drones. We need to test their full combat potential.'
{Roger.}
== Line Break ==
{Kael, I've received a signal from the battlefield. The situation is deteriorating. Captain Taro — the one leading the PDF squad — is requesting reinforcements and permission to retreat.}
'Let me guess — command told him to die in place.'
{Yes. Should I connect you to his Vox?}
'Do it.'
{Connecting… You're linked to his unit, Kael. Speak through your handheld vox.}
I take a breath, lift the device, and say,
"This is Kael, leader of the Sanctuary. We're sending reinforcements. Don't shoot us. We're coming from the west — two minutes out. Hold the line."
There was a pause for a second, and then a voice came from my Vox.
"Roger. We'll hold the line."
I nod and glance at my team. No words needed. They already know what to do.
We sprint through the tunnel toward the roar of battle. They're fighting in the connector between the Hob Block and the Abandoned Factory. Canto sends the drones ahead; by the time we arrive, the sky is alive with their lasers, tearing through the infected.
It looks like the drones arrive just in time to prevent the worst from happening.
My guardians open fire as soon as we emerge. Hannah bellows, unloading a storm of bullets from her machine gun, the barrel glowing red from the heat.
Then I spot it — a creeping green mist, rolling across the battlefield. My [Curse Devouring Physique] warns me immediately: don't touch it. Don't breathe it. It's a concentrated curse. One breath and you will turn into a groaner or poxwalker.
With a grunt, I slot in [Banishing Fire] into my ability slots. With a wave of my hand, white flame erupts, sweeping across the battlefield. It doesn't harm the living — instead, it devours the gas, kills the infected, and burns the curse clinging to the PDF soldiers' armor and weapons. The infected scream as their souls are scorched clean by the fire.
My people take point while I move toward the captain. I stop beside him, offer a small smile, and say,
"My name is Kael. We're here to help."
"Taro. Captain of this ragtag unit." He nods. "It's good to see reinforcements. But as a PDF officer, I have to ask — you're not one of us, are you? You are not soldiers of PDF or Astra Militarum."
"No." I shake my head. "We're a group that fights both the Cartels and the Heretics."
He studies me for a moment.
"So you're the leader of that new faction everyone's whispering about. Did you know the nobles want you allied with their houses?"
I blink.
"Oh?"
He chuckles and says.
"Yes. The Overlord does not want you, but the nobles want you because you are the symbol of resistance against the cartel that stole power from the nobles."
I look at him for a few seconds before shaking my head.
"We'll talk later. For now — let's kill these heretics and give them what they deserve."
"Aye."
And so we fight.
With our arrival — and my cleansing fire driving back the corruption — the PDF soldiers find new courage. They rally, firing harder, shouting louder. The battle turns.
I snipe the infected wielding heavy weapons while manipulating the dust and debris with my power to block incoming grenades. Some explode with bursts of green vapor, but I burn the gas away before it spreads using my [Banishing Fire].
Canto's drones strafe the battlefield, firing from above. The cultists struggle to hit them because they are high in the air, and I pick off any who aim too well.
"Frag out!"
Hannah throws a grenade, reloads, and keeps firing. Her weapon's barrel glows cherry red — second ammo belt already spent.
"Why?! Why reject Grandfather's blessing?! Accept Grandfather Nurgle! Embrace his blessing! There's nothing left for you to—!"
Crack. My Long-Las silences him, turning his head into red mist. His corpse bursts, spewing pus that vaporizes into the same green gas as before, but I burn it away instantly before it can spread.
We have been fighting for so long, my guardians need to enter close combat as they are running out of bullets. Only the one holding a lasgun is still standing. It takes two hours of relentless battle before the last of them falls. Thousands of them — against a few hundred of us.
And we are the ones coming out on top.
With a wave of my hand, I release one final surge of white fire. It washes across the field, purifying every cursed corpse, turning them to ash.
|Congratulations! You have slain over 2,000 of Nurgle's Blessed in a single battle! You receive 1 Platinum Ticket.|
|Congratulations! You have slain a Champion of Nurgle! You receive 1 Diamond Ticket.|
|Congratulations! You have rescued a PDF squad destined for corruption! You receive 3 Silver Tickets.|
|Congratulations! You have changed the destiny of the entire Planet! You receive 2 Gold Tickets.|
|Congratulations! You have weakened the grip of Nurgle on Atoma! You receive 1 Legendary Ticket.|
When the notification appears in front of me, I sigh and release a roar of victory. The others follow my lead, and for some reason, I thought I saw the ground underneath us shake from our roar of victory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For anyone who wants to help me, you can go to my Ko-fi: Ko-fi.com/fangrove
I also post the Warhammer: Darktide fanfic there. There are at least 5 chapters in there!
Or if you want to read more of my work, you can visit my P@treon at: [email protected]/fangrove