Violent Ends

Sergeant Tituncus surveyed the scene in front of him with his usual grim resolve, a frown etched onto his face and his brow furrowed. The scenes of friendship and revelry were not his preferred environment, particularly in these times of political tension. Though not high enough up the legion hierarchy to influence events, Tituncus had kept a keen ear out for the rumours and reports of the succession crisis that was secretly unfolding. This celebration between his squad and the squad of his sworn brother Krivart’s Shadow Warriors offered only a brief respite from training and preparing for the expected move towards Certus. His hand subconsciously brushed against his bolt pistol, loaded with Banestrike Ammunition as it always was when he left his quarters or the training halls. A slap on the shoulder snapped him out of his daydreams.

“Come on, Stoneface! I will get a laugh out of you before the night is done!” chuckled Krivart, his dark-skinned features grinning from ear to ear. Tituncus smiled faintly and raised his flask.

“Don’t mind me, Kriv, winding down isn’t really in my nature. Winding up on the other hand I can do perfectly well.” Tituncus put his arm around Krivart’s shoulder and beckoned to the table in front of them.

Krivart groaned theatrically as several nearby Shadow Warriors turned to the two and laughed at his discomfort. Tituncus took a large gulp of his drink and cleared his throat.

“There was one time when Kriv and I were on a campaign that I had to save his rear from a mortal with a combat knife. A mortal. We had been fighting on Podiri V for months...”

[...]

Tituncus finished his story and the huddle of Shadow Warriors and Iron Revenants surrounding him burst out laughing. Kriv raised his finger and tried to interject, but the group laughed him down. Over the din of the cheering and babble, Tituncus heard the vox in his helmet crackle.

“Excuse me, brothers.”

Tituncus got up swiftly and extracted himself from the group and headed to the corridor outside the room. He unclipped his helmet mag-locked to his waist and slid it on.

“Sergeant Tituncus of the 12th Company, reporting.”

“Code Cami Belli has been activated. Secure Corridor S1-2X and eliminate any who try to pass without authorisation.”

Tituncus stiffened, his mind instantly clearing and calculations beginning to churn. He unclipped the flap on his holster but did not draw his bolt pistol, and unsheathed his power sword a small amount to check it was ready to be drawn smoothly.

*For the First and the Emperor.*

Tituncus walked back into the room of chattering friends, and nodded slightly at the closest Iron Revenant, his second-in-command Mabius. Mabius returned the nod, slowly heading around the wall of the room until he had arrived unnoticed at the other door in the room. Tituncus made efforts to catch the eye of each of the ten Revenants, managing to nod to Sotanus and Drala before Krivart noticed his friend re-enter the room and made his way towards him.

“Everything ok?” He asked with a tone of confusion at his helmeted friend.

“Of course, my friend, forgive me.” Replied Tituncus, and he drew his pistol and hit Krivart in the chest. The Banestrike bolt round pierced the power armour with ease, sending Krivart to the ground with a cry of pain. Sotanus and Drala slit the throats of the two closest Shadow Warriors and threw their bodies into the crowd of Warriors in the centre of the room. One of the Revenants, stunned by the sudden violence, was knocked to the floor in the panic. One of the Shadow Warriors bolted for the far door, but Mabius blocked his path, grappling him and unloading his bolt pistol into his chest at point blank range. Tituncus drew his power sword and activated the power field, just as two Shadow Warriors rushed him. The first tried to shoulder barge Tituncus to the ground or deflect his sword, but Tituncus kept his guard up and sidestepped the charge. He jabbed with his sword into the thigh of the Astartes, hearing a cry of pain as the second Warrior wrapped his hands around Tituncus’ wrist. Tituncus twisted to try and break his grasp, but the Warrior pushed forward and the two Astartes tumbled to the ground. The Warrior shot his elbow into Tituncus’ helmet several times, but Tituncus refused to let go of his sword and began turning the blade towards the Warrior. The wounded Warrior crawled over to the two struggling Astartes and punched Tituncus hard, breaking one of his lenses on his helmet. Tituncus, stunned, released the sword and the second Astartes got onto his knees and pulled the sword back. An armoured boot sent the Astartes tumbling across the room as a blood-covered Sotanus stamped on the hand of the wounded Warrior as he tried to reach for the sword. Tituncus grabbed the sword and slashed it across the face of the Warrior, bisecting his head and sending the top half sliding down the nearby wall. Tituncus got up as Sotanus held the second Warrior in place, and Tituncus gripped his sword with both hands and thrust it straight through the Warrior’s head. Tituncus turned and saw that the rest of the Warriors in the room were killed, his squad piling the bodies in the corner of the room and removing any weapons or ammunition. Only one of the Revenants had perished in the fighting, Tituncus observing his face crushed under the force of a stamp.

*Disappointing casualty numbers.*

Two Revenants approached him dragging the wounded Krivart. Though there was a hole in his chest, he still struggled and breathed heavily. The two Revenants held him in place in front of Tituncus, who studied his friend.

“Traitor… Bastard… Why?” Gasped Krivart.

“I am sorry, brother. We shall be vindicated.” Tituncus replied as he raised his sword and beheaded his once-friend.