A huge, ear-splitting metallic screech echoed throughout the compartment.
The Plague Marine looked at the approaching sound, abandoning their hunt for the mortals in front of them, their attention turning to the more threatening side.
Bang!!!
A tremendous explosion, accompanied by countless spraying ship fragments, sent several Plague Marine staggering.
A vermillion and gold boarding torpedo pierced the hull, its breaching shield adorned with ornate and shining winged blood.
Watching the tall, red-armored warrior emerge from the smoke, Horatio's heart was filled with excitement and reverence.
That was his favorite Chapter: the ancient and renowned The Ninth Legion—the Sons of Sanguinius, the Blood Angels.
"+Valiant Imperial warriors, the 'Purebloods' answer your plea for aid!+" A reassuringly resonant voice emanated from the power armor's comm-grille.
[Purebloods, Blood Angels Second Company.]
Horatio knew that the Blood Angels Second Company was renowned for its purity of mind and body, with golden blood drops painted on their shoulder pads.
Among all the Blood Angels companies, they were the least prone to large-scale Black Rage.
The tall warrior leading them wore sturdy muscle power armor, with Skyhawk-shaped power packs on either side of his back, and wielded a power sword engraved with Blood Angels markings.
Horatio recognized the Space Marine's identity—the famous Blood Angels Second Company Commander, Watch Master, Donatos Afell.
This meant that he hadn't misheard; the cruiser that warped in with a hum was likely the Blood Angels' battle barge, the "vengeance blade."
The survivors caught the Blood Angels during their resupply and readiness at Abyss Port. This was a necessary route for them to return to Baal, their homeworld, and they were frequent visitors.
Those closest to them, huddled behind cover, performed the aquila salute to the death angel.
"+Warriors, this is no time for formalities; the vile traitors are still before us! Kill them all!+" Captain Afiel raised his power sword.
"+For the Emperor! For Sanguinius!+"
"+Do not fail Sanguinius's blood!+"
The crimson Blood Angel roared, charging with Chainsword in hand, while simultaneously raising their Bolt Pistols to fire upon the Death Guard Plague Marine, sending several Plague Marine staggering.
These noble gene-enhanced warriors were swift, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary men.
Captain Afiel, even cleaved an incoming bolt with his sword, charging towards the stinking tin cans.
"+Hellspawns, the time for counterattack has come! Reclaim our warship! For the Imperial Navy! For the Gothic Fleet! Attack!+" Horatio threw away his empty Hellgun, holding a Navy Blast Pistol in one hand and a Battle Sisters Chainsword in the other, shouting towards the Plague Marine.
"+Sister, charge! Bring down divine retribution upon the despicable traitors!+" The Battle Sisters also shouted in unison.
Sister Arabella unleashed a wave of holy light to stun the enemy, covering the charging warriors.
Horatio moved with the Blood Angels, doubly enhanced by his prosthetic capabilities and special surgery, he was the only mortal on the field who could barely keep pace with the Space Marine's movements.
Two monks continuously fired, covering Horatio as he ascended to the transformer control panel and shut down the Warp engine.
Deprived of the power to tear open a Warp rift, the cruiser remained stationary.
Above and below, from all directions, more boarding impacts resounded. The Blood Angels, the Sacred Rose Sisterhood, and the Imperial Navy were launching a full-scale assault to reclaim the lost and fallen warship.
Captain Afiel, severed a Plague Marine's arm with a single sword stroke; the next second, his power sword pierced the stinking tin can's chest.
The stinking tin can still attempted a desperate struggle, but the Second Company Commander mercilessly smashed the head of the foul traitor with a punch.
The Blood Angel began to engage, and the Hellspawns and Battle Sisters also joined their assault.
Horatio cleaved a Plague Marine's plague blade with a single sword stroke, then raised his hand and blasted off half of the stinking tin can's head with a bolt shot.
But he didn't die; the venomous war blade in his hand swung towards Horatio.
Bang!
A Blood Angel elbowed him, knocking the Plague Marine to the ground, then stepped on his greasy chest, holding a bolt pistol in one hand and blasting the stinking tin can's upper body to smithereens.
Such a gruesome sight, perhaps only the benevolent father himself could clean up that mess.
"Die, ghoul!"
A Blood Angel was knocked to the ground by a horned-helmeted Plague Marine. He desperately parried the Plague Marine's corrosive war axe with his Chainsword, sparks flying as they clashed, and broken steel fragments clanged against their bodies.
Horatio leaped up, preparing to strike the Plague Marine's horned head.
The opponent swiftly dodged, jumping away from the endangered Blood Angel.
Horatio quickly closed in, and the Plague Marine also swung his corrosive war axe.
Clang! The two weapons intertwined, and Horatio's iron hand began to churn with surging steam.
The Blood Angel, having stood up, punched the Plague Marine in the face, pushing him back.
"You cursed monster's offspring!" The Plague Marine focused his energy on dealing with the Blood Angel, completely disregarding Horatio. His leech-like circular mouth, filled with sharp teeth, cursed, and his slender tongue dripped with disgusting slime.
"I'll stick my sword into that rotten mouth of yours!" the Blood Angel shouted furiously.
The two charged, engaging in a fierce battle, but this Plague Marine, as a veteran of the long war, clearly had more experience.
The Blood Angel was a beat too slow and was struck through the shoulder by the axe-saw, revealing a large area of horrifying flesh.
He staggered back, and the Plague Marine swung his axe, throwing it at his neck.
Just as he was about to be decapitated, Horatio pulled the trigger.
The Navy Blast Pistol struck the axe blade, deflecting the fierce war axe thrown at the Blood Angel.
"How is that possible! You!" The Plague Marine's hoarse voice was filled with astonishment.
The Blood Angel attacked again, and the Plague Marine quickly turned, drawing a short knife from his waist.
Horatio swiftly adjusted his aim, and, catching him off guard, pulled the trigger, aiming at his ugly, yellowish eye.
"Ugh!" The Plague Marine stumbled back, clutching his eye. The wounded Blood Angel stepped forward and thrust his sword into the Plague Marine's mouth.
Whirr!!! The Chainsword began to spin. The Blood Angel forcefully lifted it, then swung it horizontally, and the rotten head, along with countless fragments and decaying flesh, fell to the ground.
He flung the foul slime clinging to his sword onto the ground, then turned to Horatio, nodding in acknowledgment, and simultaneously drew a blood drop on his chest.
This was the highest respect a demigod could show a mortal.
Horatio, weapon in hand, also bowed and performed a simplified battlefield aquila salute to him.
"Brother Roman Roland, tend to your wounds," Captain Afiel said to the Blood Angel, then looked at Horatio, the surprisingly capable mortal warrior.
Suddenly, he swiftly turned his head, instinctively raising his sword.
A long scythe flew with extraordinary speed, piercing the wounded Blood Angel's chest.
He couldn't dodge in time, clutching his chest, which was impaled by the scythe blade, and fell to the ground.
Captain Afiel immediately grabbed his power sword and took a stance. Even through his helmet, Horatio could feel his uncontrollable rage.
Thump, thump.
Dull footsteps suddenly emanated from the darkness of the outer compartment door. The long scythe was instantly ensnared by a launched tentacle and reeled back.
Horatio clearly saw the terrifying appearance of the attacker: it was a figure wearing a tattered hood, an MK.4 Iron pattern helmet, with a thick, long horn silently proclaiming his long and corrupt existence since 30K.
Reason told Horatio that those wielding scythes in the Death Guard were never easy to deal with.
Not to mention that even more Plague Marine stood behind him.
[What's going on? Is the Death Guard having a collective team-building outing today?] Horatio tightened his grip on the Chainsword.
It's probably unheard of for a Kill-teams' first mission to be fighting stinking tin cans, and alongside the Blood Angels, no less.
"+Battle brothers, stop these traitors! Tear them apart!+" Captain Afiel saw the newcomers' objective and issued commands, sword ready.
If these guys reactivated the Warp engine and returned to the Warp, that would be their home ground, and the Blood Angels Second Company battle brothers and other forces who had boarded would be dragged into the embrace of the Chaos God.
This was the Plague Marine of the Death Guard's only chance for a comeback victory.
Red and green, like blood and sewage, distinct and irreconcilable.
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