Oakaan's Fury

“Silence.” Oakaan moaned as he stood there like a lifeless steel coffin. Oakaan was a dreadnought, however he was a special one. He was an apothecary dreadnought. A rare and most unusual pattern for any dreadnought of the Adeptus Astartes. The armoured cyborganic sarcophagus was a gift to the Aasvogels Space Marine Chapter from the brilliant tech-priests of Forge World Horicoln.

As Oakaan stood there amidst the eerie silence, his thoughts briefly drifted to the day he had first been interred into his dreadnought sarcophagus. He recalled the somber ceremony on the barren sands of Aasarikaan within the Fortress Monastery, Carrion Citadel, where the chapter's apothecaries had worked tirelessly to ensure his survival. It had been a trying ordeal, one that had pushed the limits of their skills.

The memory of the Chief Apothecarion, Caashern Chima, standing by his side during those critical hours filled Oakaan with a sense of gratitude. Chima had been a mentor and a friend, guiding him through the transition from Astartes to a mighty dreadnought.
As the seldom echoes of distant gunfire surrounded him, Oakaan silently vowed to honor the legacy of all his brothers who fell before him and all those who had played a part in his transformation. He knew that he carried not only the gene-seed of the fallen, but also the hopes and sacrifices of his brothers.

Oakaan wasn't an old dreadnought by Space Marine standards. The Aasvogels chapter was raised barely 300 years prior during the 26th founding, and Oakaan had been interred roughly 250 years ago. Nevertheless, he was one of the oldest dreadnoughts in the chapter. As a native of Aasarikaan, Oakaan felt a close camaraderie with his brothers.

“Cold.” Oakaan moaned again. The barrels of Oakaan’s cannon have not fired a shell for some time now, and since has returned to a cool core temperature.
At one point during combat, the barrel had reached a critical temperature on multiple occasions from his constant barrage of fire during combat. Now the heat of the battle has come to an end, and an eerie silence befalls Oakaan and all the warriors of the Aasvogels Chapter.
The veterans of the first company have been deadlocked in an intense battle with the Nullmarines for the past couple weeks. But the fighting has since died out giving the beleaguered troops time to replenish supplies and address other issues of lesser priority. The Aasvogels have pursued a large contingent of Nullmarine forces to the civilized planet of Tomis Secundus in Segmentum Ultima.

The Nullmarines thought the local populace of the planet would help provide some respite from attack forcing the Aasvogels to think twice before attacking. However, the Aasvogels did not care for they had their eyes locked in on annihilating the abominations. The Nullmarines were branded as a chimeric chapter and were given the utmost priority of eradicating the twisted warriors. Nothing will stand in their way.

“Brother-Captain, we have retrieved all our fallen brother's gene-seed and terminator armour. However, we were unable to bring back Brother Aandross. His body is in direct line of fire from enemy encampments. Retrieving him would be highly dangerous,” reports Veteran Sergeant Ishtaar.

Captain Samial Kaasvogai brows furrowed. He was visibly frustrated. He did not like leaving a brother behind. It left a sour taste in his mouth. He scowled even harder. He was too prideful to do that, especially as Captain of the first company, *Pride of Aasarikaan*, the finest warriors of the Aasvogels. “Sergeant, ready your squad. We’re going to bring brother Aandross home.” Kaasvogai turned and looked at the Dreadnought, “You’re coming with us Brother Apothecary Oakaan.”

"A mission?" Oakaan stood there, still unmoved, nearly absent-minded. Then suddenly, his engines roared to life. His pistons fired, and exhaust billowed from his ports. His red lights flared brightly. The machines and cogs whirred loudly as he lifted a leg and began moving with Squad Ishtaar and Captain Kaasvogai.

As Squad Ishtaar and Captain Kaasvogai moved through the urban ruins, the remnants of the fierce battle with the Nullmarines were still visible. Burned-out vehicles, shattered walls, and the lingering stench of promethium fires created a grim tableau of war.

Captain Kaasvogai's gaze remained fixed on the horizon as the Aasvogels' squad moved toward Brother Aandross's last known position. The battle had taken its toll on him, not only physically but mentally. He couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility that weighed on him as the leader of the chapter's first company.

As they approached their fallen brother's position, Captain Kaasvogai couldn't help but recall a lesson from his own training, imparted by his predecessor, Captain Aahronus, a grizzled veteran who had seen centuries of war. "Remember, Kaasvogai," Aahronus had said, his voice filled with the weight of experience, "our chapter's legacy is built upon the foundation of resolve and unbreakable bonds. We are the guardians of purity, and we do not leave our own behind, no matter the odds."

Those words had stayed with Kaasvogai throughout his service. Now, as he stood on the edge of danger, he understood their true meaning. The Aasvogels were more than just warriors; they were a brotherhood bound by an unbreakable oath to protect the Imperium and preserve its purity. Kaasvogai's hand gently touched the aquila symbol on his chest plate—a reminder of the chapter's eternal duty. With a deep breath, he made a silent vow to honor that legacy and uphold the values of the Aasvogels, no matter the cost.

"Brother Aandross," he whispered, "we will not leave you behind. We are your shield, your sword, and your salvation. In the Emperor's name, we shall bring you home."

With renewed determination, Captain Kaasvogai signaled to the squad to press on. They would face the dangers ahead as one, united in their purpose.

As the group drew nearer to the last known position of their fallen brother, they found themselves at the edge of urban ruins. There lay several slain Nullmarines, presumably at the hands of Brother Aandross during his final moments. Captain Kaasvogai inspected the area and vividly reconstructed the final battle in his mind from context clues left behind. Eventually, it led the Terminator Captain to a corner where he cautiously peeked. There, he saw the lifeless body of his fallen brother, no more than 10 meters away in the open. Upon closer inspection, he spotted a Nullmarine encampment about 100 meters further.

Kaasvogai pulled himself back and voxed his squad, "Brother Aandross located. Enemy encampment approximately 100 meters downrange. Brother-Sergeant Ishtaar, Brother Aakinyemi, take the second story and provide eyes and overwatch. Brother Aamadu and Brother Aboubacaar, prepare to retrieve the target. The rest of you, standby and prepare for action. Everyone is going home. We're going to do this quietly without drawing attention."

During that moment, Oakaan spoke to himself, "A body. Collect gene-seed." Oakaan's lenses focused on the lifeless body of the Nullmarine lying at his feet. A Narthecium extended from the dreadnought's side toward the dead Space Marine. The needle hovered over the body, and Oakaan took aim at the exposed section of the armor, piercing the undersuit and entering the flesh. The gene-seed was collected, and Oakaan's diagnostic systems interpreted the genetic materials.

Captain Kaasvogai barked, "Move out! Keep your eyes peeled!" as his hand fell from a raised position and pointed in the direction of his lifeless brother, holding his bolter aimed downfield toward the enemy.

As Kaasvogai signaled, the assigned duo immediately moved out in full sprint to retrieve the body. Aamadu led the way with Aboubacaar right behind him. "Stay tight, brother, we're going to get him," voxed Aamadu. Aboubacaar grunted in acknowledgment. They moved swiftly and deftly; their speed inhuman despite donning Terminator armor. However, in that split second, they were detected by the corner of the Nullmarine's eyes and opened fire on the duo.

"Contact!" shouted the captain, and the rest of the squad returned fire.

Just before Aamadu and Aboubacaar could reach Aandross's body, a krak grenade rolled in front of them and exploded with a destructive blast, sending debris flying. Aamadu took most of the blast and sustained a serious injury, causing him to fall backward into his partner's arms. Aboubacaar caught him and shouted, "Hold on, brother, I will drag you back into cover." Then, as he grabbed Aamadu, he noticed that Aandross's body had been flung even further in the opposite direction by the blast of the krak grenade. Rage and frustration filled Aboubacaar's mind, but he knew he had to bring his injured brother back to safety first.

In that moment, something in Oakaan changed. Chemicals and adrenaline filled Oakaan’s mind. First it was confusion, then shock. Clarity came then once Oakaan understood what was discovered, and something deep within him rose. Something dreadful and fearsome. His fury. Oakaan’s exhaust ports suddenly billowed with a roaring deafening flame, and his lenses shone with a blinding light. Kaasvogai and Squad Ishtaar all turned head and witness the carnage that was soon to unfold.

"Multiple gene-seeds detected. Target must be eradicated. Destroy all evidence. Moving to intercept abomination," Oakaan's motors in the legs began to wind, and he took a step. "Abominations are an affront to the image of the Emperor, for He is pure, and His children are the messiah, the one true representation of purity!" By then, Oakaan had taken a few more steps and was now exposed from cover.

Captain Kaasvogai was assisting Aboubacaar reeling in the injured Aamadu and shouted, "Oakaan, stay put! We haven't had the time to lay down suppressing fire!"

Oakaan ignored the captain. "Annihilate the abominations! All targets are subjected to elimination. They are a disgrace to the Imperium!" As soon as Oakaan's cannon came out of the corner, he wasted no time aiming the barrels toward the Nullmarines and promptly opened fire. Oakaan's fury rained down on the encampment, and his relentless barrage of furious fire gave the Space Marines a moment of respite.

Once the captain got himself situated, he shouted “All men lay down fire! Brother Oakaan! What are you doing?!”

By then Oakaan had strode out several meters while continuously hurling round after round toward the Nullmarines. He roared once again “They are an affront to the Throne, and they dare to defile the sanctity of the Imperium! Foul abominations! Your existence tarnishes the Emperor's light, and I shall be the instrument of your obliteration!"

The Nullmarines' rounds pelted Oakaan, but they did nothing to his thick dreadnought armour, for his contempt was strong, and he knew no fear. Suddenly, Oakaan nearly tripped on something, and his sensors recalibrated to the object obstructing his path. His fury blinded him, but curiosity overcame it. A shocking analysis was made; it was Brother Aandross, whom Oakaan knew well. Aandross had been one of the two aspirants he had worked closely with during the trials hundreds of years ago. They had been close, more than brothers. Memories flashed through Oakaan's mind, and he felt something different stir inside him once again—something he hadn't experienced in a long time: anguish, sadness, sorrow. Everything around him became quiet and tranquil as Oakaan filtered out his surroundings.

Simultaneously, while subconsciously laying down a continuous barrage of fire, Oakaan reached out to his fallen brother with his claw and grabbed hold of the armor. "Brother, what has happened to you?" Then, a Narthecium extended from the undersides and began collecting the gene-seed.

***CLUNK***

An unusual collision registered on Oakaan's internal sensors; it wasn't from gunfire. Oakaan rotate his torso to see a bolt pistol lying on the ground next to him and then looked at Captain Kaasvogai. The captain was visibly frustrated. He had thrown the bolt pistol out of rage toward Oakaan for not responding.

"Are you with us, Oakaan?! Great! You've got the body! Now get back here! Sergeant Ishtaar, lay down some smokes! All men, continue laying down fire!"

Oakaan aligned his legs toward the men, and his exhaust billowed once again as he resumed his advance, his mechanical heart filled with the resolve to protect his brother and preserve his gene-seed, “I got you brother, we’re going home.”