General Brutis Gladorus

Brutis lunged into the fray firing his bolt pistol into the mass of wracks before slaming into one shoulder first knocking one down as Onyx dug his fangs into it ripping out its throat. Brutis took a half step back reseting himself before using his power sword aided by the strength of his mechanical arm to cleave another as the smell of blood searing off the blade starts to fill the air.

The shattered broken shell of what once was the 3rd fleet limped into space dock.

“Reports are in my Lord….”

Lord Admiral Kilos held out his hand as he took the pad looking it over.

“Status of the torch and remaining ships?”

“Sir the Colonel has set up triage centers in hangers two and three, his guardsmen are assisting teams in recovery and repair. Void shields are collapsed, we have multiple breaches across most decks, we have one lance battery online but its questionable, and only 15% of macro and defense weapons are online. We are currently towing the cruiser Armageddon her main drive section is still open to void space, the rest of the fleet is in need of major refit and repair.”

“Inform Segmentium Command, if they are still alive that the 3rd fleet is combat ineffective for the foreseeable future.”

The ships remaining astropath began to shake violently as he struggle to receive a message.

“Message….encrypted…..code violet…”

“Find Colonel Gladorus now I need him and the remaining senior officers in whats left of my office.”

In hanger two Brutis had his hands full. Wounded were laid across the blood slick floor, body bags were half haphazardly stacked where ever there was room.

“YOUR A GUARDSMEN DAMN IT! HOLD STILL OR ILL RIP THE DAMN ARM OFF!” He pushed down on a guardsmen as a doctor was attempting to remove a crushed arm.

“Doc cant we give him anything?”

“Sir we ran out of stims hours ago just hold him!”

Brutis look down at the guardsmen. “ This is going to hurt.” He grabbed him with his servo arm squeezing tightly on the crushed arm. “Now cut damn it!”

With one quick slice from the powered blade the arm was off. The guardsmen screamed with the sudden rush of pain as he lost concessions.

A naval officer rushed into Brutis view as he was wiping the blood off his hands.

“Sir you and the remain officers are wanted on the bridge.”

“What could the old man want now emperor damn it! Fine your in charge down here see to the wounded.”

Brutis pushed his micro bead “If your a officer and alive get to the bridge now. Gally, Juno get over to the Armageddon find a tech priest team get that breach sealed.”

As Brutis walked threw the decks tech priest and servitors struggled to keep systems online. Men nodded at him as they removed dead from the rubble. “I don’t know what held her together this ships just as stubborn as the Admiral.” Brutis makes it to the door of the Admirals office he pressed the button as it sparked “Come on….” He grabbed the door seam with his arm and yanked it open.

Kilos looked up “You know theirs a manual override.”

“With all do respect sir I don’t care.”

Kilos chuckled “You haven’t lost your charm Colonel.”

A few officers all battered and bloody entered shortly after.

“Gentlemen the reason I have summoned you all here is we have received a transmission from Terra.” Kilos turned on the holo map as it fizzled and flickered. “We lost Cadia, the Cadia defense fleet is all but gone, countless dead guardsmen and space marine forces. And most of the fleets that were called in for support are in worse shape then us believe it or not. Terra was assaulted by chaos forces but the Lord commander had beaten them back. The segmentum is split in half and the eye has grown exponentially.”

“So we are lost.” A officer said as Brutis threw his cup at him.

“NO! We are not lost not as long as I draw breath…” Drawing his bolt pistol pointing it at him. “ And speak like that is Heresy..”

“Stay your pistol Colonel!” Kilos barked out looking him dead in the eyes. “Save that wrath of yours for chaos.”

Brutis looked over holstering his pistol “We will talk about this later Captian.”

“We can’t be at each others throats or chaos will win…” He punched up another screen showing the current Intel on chaos forces. “Our orders after we are space worthy again we are to head out to these three different sectors to show the people of the Imperium we are still in command of this space that the Emperors light has not faded from them. Rebellions have already started to break out chaos cold grip is starting to take hold. And it is our job to stop it, you’ll get your chance for pay back General Brutis….”

Brutis looked up “You talking to me Admiral?

Kilos tossed him some General pins “Just came threw it appears we are short on experienced officers.”

Brutis looked at the pins “Sir what about my boy’s?”

‘You have been given command of three Unlimbic units the 707th, 706th light Infantry and the 2nd Lance from House Gilith. They should arrive in the next couple of days. You will depart on the troop transport Fury with 6 escort ships. Rigous 2 is having a problem with what they think is rebellious forces the Torch will join you as soon as we can.” Kilos holds out a pad with his orders on it, and taking the pins out of Brutis hands pinning them to his collar. He snaps a quick salute. “Good Hunting General Brutis, now if you’ll excuse me gentlemen we have 6 hrs till space dock, we are still towing a Cruiser.” Kilos exits heading to the battle bridge.

“Ya hear that Mister Sims? We’re almost out of the warp spawned hell. Get ya some proper help.”, she said as she cheeked the man again.

 Since they had fleed the fight, she had been helping with the Navigator after he lost most and burned through the rest of his aides as well as helping with the choir. Both tasked had drained her greatly and left those around her concerned for how long she could hold out. She had noticed how jumpy some of the guardsmen would get when she would slump or stagger. She couldn’t really blame them, no one wanted to be near if a psyker lost themselves and became consumed by the things that lurked in that warp. Still, the last thing she wanted was a battle thin guardsmen with an itchy trigger finger to get spooked.

Your companions would make sure that the fool that ended you would not outlive you long., came a reply to her unspoken concern.

“Not really a comforting thought.”, she muttered as she left the sleeping Navigator. She patted her leg as the door closed behind her and listened as her dog got up from where he had been laying outside the chamber. The months of slow travel and restricted rations showed in bother master and pet. He was thinner and there were a few scares that he had gotten from combat as well as some starved crewmen that took to see him as a fresh meal. Even one of her cats had been a target, the small black cat was now short a tail.

“Come on Rantun, les go congratulate Brutis.”, she said as she softly caressed the torn ear of her dog.

“An think of how close we are to a good meal and a nice long hot bath.”, she said as a sigh escaped her lips as the thought of a hot bath.

On the Cruiser Armageddon Gally and Juno worked with the tech priest to get the main engines online. Gally using his mechanical limbs lifted huge chunks of metal plate holding them in place to seal the ship from open space. “Juno! Did they just say General?!” 

Juno lifted his welding helmet adjusting his rebreather “I think they did, I wonder how they roped the old man into that one.” Juno, and a another guardsmen welded the last piece into place. A Tech priest looked over at Gally. 

“You guardsmen put that cable into that slot...” looking over to Juno “You, Machine god forgive me I need you to flip that switch when I tell you. We are trying a hard restart of the main drive its going to do one of two things work or explode. Torch of will, Cruiser Armageddon be ready to disconnect umbilical cable.” 

“We hear you Armageddon we are ready.”

Gally hefted the cable jamming it into the slot locking it in place. “Set!” 

The tech priest lowered his head “ Aktiva Cons Sequentia.” he raised a lever then hit a couple of buttons on the console “Guardsmen now!” Juno quickly lowered the lever. Power arced threw the cable slamming into the engine as the massive engine began to roar to life. “Torch! DISCONNECT!” The umbilical blew free from the torch as the lights on the Armageddon flickered but came back as the ship was now running on her own power the thrusters out back fired for the first time in months. Juno let out a cry of joy “I can’t believe that worked! Juno to General Brutis Armageddon is now online and functioning on her own power now.”

On the Torch Brutis was working on the docking control console “Copy that Juno, you and Gally finish up there then head back to the Torch.” 

“Yes sir.”

Brutis reached to the back of the console seeing some wires hanging out of place “I wonder if this is the problem.” He grabbed the wires as power surged threw his mechanical arm sending it flying into other parts of the panel as the side of it bulged out from the impact. “Damn it, this close to home.” Brutis pressed his Micro bead “I’m going to need a tech priest to docking control the panels not functioning.” Moving his arm around seeing the hand drawn ruins on it had been scorched since the ship was damaged he has been assigned to watch Zetkin when her marines guards couldn't access parts of the ship. “Im going to need those fixed don’t need her shutting my arm off if she goes crazier then normal.” 

Brutis comes back to his office

“Sir there is a Tech priest here to see you, he is waiting in your office.” his clerk told him.

“Very good, I hope this isn’t about he mess Roc made of the mess hall I have had it with these clankers complaints.”

Brutis opens the door seeing the robed figure poking threw his books there was something familiar about him. The figure turns reveling who it is.

“Errr Emperor damit Regis!” He raises the pistol and puts it into its holster as Onyx walks over and starts to lick the wounded Tech Priest. 

“I know your not SIger but you fucken created him! Got my…” He pauses as he thinks about Zetkin. “Friend taken away, and that unholy abomination tore her apart. Now I have to deal with a broken Psyker, and for fuck sake’s man I’m not going to kill you.” Brutis walks behind his desk pulling out a Med kit, walking back over to Regis placing it in front of him. Walking back behind his desk Brutis looks at the long box that was on it puzzled he opened it. There was the power sword he gave to him a long time ago he drew it pointing it in the air he switched it on feeling its familiar hum its weight. He noticed a second switch near the power switch, he flicked it. The sword glowed even brighter the power pulsed with increased frequency as he switched the sword off placing it back in the box. 

“Regis I was never really mad at you just more of disappointed, we were friends and wish you came to me with this whole Siger thing we could of kept it in the family, I could of helped. I didn’t enjoy having to pull strings and go to some of my more unsavory contacts to find out what I did.” He stands up patting Onyx on his head as he walked by his drake stretched out opening its wings. 

Brutis comes back to his office

“Sir there is a Tech priest here to see you, he is waiting in your office.” his clerk told him.

“Very good, I hope this isn’t about he mess Roc made of the mess hall I have had it with these clankers complaints.”

Brutis opens the door seeing the robed figure poking threw his books there was something familiar about him. The figure turns reveling who it is.

“Errr Emperor damit Regis!” He raises the pistol and puts it into its holster as Onyx walks over and starts to lick the wounded Tech Priest. 

“I know your not SIger but you fucken created him! Got my…” He pauses as he thinks about Zetkin. “Friend taken away, and that unholy abomination tore her apart. Now I have to deal with a broken Psyker, and for fuck sake’s man I’m not going to kill you.” Brutis walks behind his desk pulling out a Med kit, walking back over to Regis placing it in front of him. Walking back behind his desk Brutis looks at the long box that was on it puzzled he opened it. There was the power sword he gave to him a long time ago he drew it pointing it in the air he switched it on feeling its familiar hum its weight. He noticed a second switch near the power switch, he flicked it. The sword glowed even brighter the power pulsed with increased frequency as he switched the sword off placing it back in the box. 

Brutis comes back to his office

“Sir there is a Tech priest here to see you, he is waiting in your office.” his clerk told him.

“Very good, I hope this isn’t about he mess Roc made of the mess hall I have had it with these clankers complaints.”

Brutis opens the door seeing the robed figure poking threw his books there was something familiar about him. The figure turns reveling who it is.

“Errr Emperor damit Regis!” He raises the pistol and puts it into its holster as Onyx walks over and starts to lick the wounded Tech Priest. 

“I know your not SIger but you fucken created him! Got my...” He pauses as he thinks about Zetkin. “Friend taken away, and that unholy abomination tore her apart. Now I have to deal with a broken Psyker, and for fuck sake’s man I’m not going to kill you.” Brutis walks behind his desk pulling out a Med kit, walking back over to Regis placing it in front of him. Walking back behind his desk Brutis looks at the long box that was on it puzzled he opened it. There was the power sword he gave to him a long time ago he drew it pointing it in the air he switched it on feeling its familiar hum its weight. He noticed a second switch near the power switch, he flicked it. The sword glowed even brighter the power pulsed with increased frequency as he switched the sword off placing it back in the box. 

“Ya know you don’t gotta call me ‘Miss’. We've known each other long enough ta get past that.”, she said frowning at him even as she grimaced at the name.

The hidden Librarian only lets out a snort before motioning him to take his ward. He knew he did not have to voice what would happen should this acquaintance proved untrustworthy. 

As they entered she looked at the soul before her. She could see it wasn’t quite human but she had been expecting that since Brutis had said he was a mutant. But when he makes a comment about her being a psyker her eyes narrowed behind her blindfold as Rantune shifted beside her, the dog taking a more defensive stance.

“I’ll be fine, I got the boys with me.”, she said as she reached out and ruffled Onyx and Rantunes ears. She gave him a small smile but it seemed tighter than normal but she turned away and moved over to the man.

"Don't worry, Onyx is with her. He is a trained war hound and Tegan for his faults as a mutant is harmless. I would keep my gaze on the streets." Pressing his macro bead "Juno?"

From his position on a neighboring rooftop Juno could see everything. "All clear Colonel, Arbites are conduction a raid a few streets over but nothing out of the normal."

Brutis nods as he starts to pace around.

Inside Tegan has taken his mesurments and started to form the armor.

"So how do you know the good Colonel? Hes a good man you know, I've known his family for a long time back when..." He pauses for a moment attaching some straps to the chest piece. "His wife was alive, you remind me of her strong and confidant that's why he likes you, I see the twinkle in his eye....forgive me I'm rambling." He goes back to work quickly and efficiently forgeing the armor.

"Now to the final part." He moves the chest piece over to what looks like a press as he presses a aquilla on to the chest of the armor a blackish silver one, with gold trim. Putting onto a display stand in a changing room. "I wish you could see this psyker, its some of my finest work. If you require assistance in putting it on feel free to ask."

Outside Brutis see's the little girl he bought the flowers from and a older man.

"Where did you steal this money from wench! No one would give you that much throan for some silly flowers."

"No master a guardsmen officer did." She said in distress as the man grabbed her and slapped her.

Brutis had seen enough.

"HEY!" Brutis walked over shoving the man agenst the wall pushing the girl to Roc.

"Why dont you try hitting me! Then man stuned drew a laz pistol pointing it at Brutis.

"I wont hit you ill just shoot you! Keep your self righteous Imperial nonsense to yourself and mind your own business."

Brutis started to chuckle "You might want to rethink that hasty desision." As he tapped his chest with his mono knife. "Now turn around and crawl back to where you came from."

The man enraged starts to squeeze the trigger as Brutis grabs the pistol with his mechanical arm crushing the pistol then slugging the man.

From the ground "Your going to regret that guardsmen." He ran off.

Kneeling down "Your ok now he wont hurt you why dont you come with me inside the shop."

Wiping the tears from her eyes "ok."

Brutis entered the shop looking at the armor as Juno came across the radio. "Um Colonel you might want to step outside hes back and he brought friends."

Her drake sat on her should, its tail wrapped around her upper arm as its delicate claws held onto her hair and blindfold but its wings flared slightly as it saw Brutis drake. Sitting next to her was Rantune, but unlike Onyx only wore his harness and only spared a look at the other dog before going back to focusing on his owner.

“Bit much dontcha think?”, she said as she took Brutis offered hand and followed him on to the transport.

As they disembarked she saw the small soul as the images of the girl floating across her mind form the drake,

“Such a soft touch wit kids.”, she said with a shake of her head but she gave him a small smile as the girl ran off. Taking the floors she shifted Rantune to her other side as she let Brutis lead her.

After a short walk they arrive at the shop it look more like a shack then anything else. Brutis turns to Elyas “I must warn you this person has the ability to see threw psyker tricks that his Mutation. But there is no one I would trust more with getting the custom armor Miss Zetkin needs.”

They enter the shop as a raspy voice calls out “Lieu.....I’m sorry Colonel Brutis Gladorous never thought I would see your sorry face again.”

Brutis Laughs “And you Tegen I see no one has caught on that you are a slimy mutant.”

Tegan chuckles “Only because of what you did for me...”He looks at Zetkin “Shes a psyker isn’t she?”

“Yes is that a problem?” as Brutis moves his hand to his bolt pistol.

“No problem at all what can we do for you.”

Brutis pulls a bag of coin from his belt slapping it on the table “She needs custom armor made this should be more then enough for the best materials you have.”

Tegan grabs the coin pulling one out giving it a bite “Your coin is always good here Colonel I do have some light weight material that as strong as your carapass but half the weight.”

Brutis smiles “That will do, Onyx will stay here as you take the measurements and Tegan.”

“Yes Colonel?”

“Roc is outside.” Tegan gulps