Siege of Vraks - The Last Defence of the Faithful: Meanwhile. Interrogator Chaplain Belphegor led his battle brothers towards the massive arched entrance of the ruined Basilica. It was now a shell of a building, choked with rubble, fires still burned inside, their smoke thickened the air. The Angels of Absolution had planned the attack in detail, and each squad had its own objectives. Chaplain Belphegor was leading the Sternguard veterans of 1st Company. It would be they who would face down Arkos when, or if, he was found. Careful reconnaissance work from orbit had revealed that the Alpha Legion were still in the Citadel and formed the backbone of the Basilica’s defences. Arkos' warband had been much reduced by the long war, but the potent Chaos Lord would not be far away and he remained a dangerous opponent even for the vaunted Space Marines.Bolt shells were already exploding, their thunderclap detonations echoed around the Citadel. A salvo of cyclone missiles erupted around the Basilica s entrance as Belphegor s men climbed the wide steps up to the archway, into the enemy fire that was now whipping around them. Cresting the steps. Belphegor felt the jarring fire of bullets whining off his own Smç^e of VraksTerminator armour heavy bolter impacts made him stagger as the veterans about him fanned out. dropped into firing position and unleashed a hail of accurate return fire at their enemies who were taking cover behind barricades and rubble in the entrance On his left a Terminator squad waded forward, their own storm bolters adding to the metal storm of explosions and fizzing shrapnel that now engulfed the enemy Taking that archway was the first objective Belphegor waved his squads onwards with his Crozius Arcanum, levelled his plasma gun and fired. Instantly a barricade was vapourized along with its defenders by the super-heated hydrogen impact. The Chaplain charged, his brothers beside him. The enemy rose in response and counter-charged.Suddenly it was a swirling mêlée amongst the rubble Hacking and slashing, Chaplain Belphegor smashed his Crozius into the face of a mutant and saw its skull shatter like thin glass. His back swing swept another mutant off its feet, before he stamped down on his screaming victim, his heavy Terminator-armoured boot crunching bones beneath it. From somewhere a flamer unleashed a blaze of burning promethium, a gush of flaming orange liquid washed over him, but encased inside his armour he barely felt the intense heat. Still burning, he charged on, pitching head long into a huge mutant creature, all slimy skin and festering wounds, its face insectoid with mandibles and fly-like eyes. Again the crozius rose and swung, the bone at the creature’s knee broken its leg buckled under it. A second swing smashed its chest, exposing broken ribs and spilling internal organs. The creature flailed wildly, its claws gouging uselessly across the Chaplain's armour as it writhed Belphegor paused to fire a bolter shell into its head, which exploded in a shower of blood and pink brains that spattered across the stones.Soon, the enemy was falling back, the assault had broken them. The Sternguard squad kept them running with more bolter shells that sent them diving for cover The Basilica's entrance had been captured Belphegor ordered a halt. Now he needed his support.It soon arrived The Space Marine armoured column had roared up the hill, Land Raiders and Vindicators m the vanguard as they scaled the wreckage of the Cardinal Gate and plunged down into the Citadel behind. The heavily armoured vehicles could not be delivered via drop pod and so had been landed days before. When the drop pod landing had begun, they had already en route. Now their heavy weapons tore into the enemy again Vindicator cannons boomed, smashing aside the remains of buildings and blasting holes for the battle brothers now disgorging from their Rhinos around them. The entire strike force was now inside the Citadel. Master Yafrir was in command here and directed his own land Raider towards the Basilica’s entrance. The vehicle roared up the wide steps to Belphegor’s side, tracks locked as it skidded to a sudden halt. The assault ramp fell and Master Yafrir appeared his command squad alongside him After a brief pause to assess the assault s progress, it was time to push on inside.Inside the Angels of Absolution squads spread out and began to search the rubble. The Basilica was vast. Rubble mountains had formed inside where the roof and interior walls had caved in. The battle brothers fought their way towards the transept. It too was now just shattered remains, but here the faithless awaited. Clad in their blue-green armour emblazoned with the hydra symbol of their Chapter, the Alpha Legion made their stand.With Bolter and Bolt Pistol, Chainsword and Power Sword, grenade, knife and power-gauntleted fist, the Space Marines fought. They were old foes. The Alpha Legion had deserted the Emperor ten thousand Terran years before. Their demise would be another step along the path to salvation for the Unforgiven. Those that could be taken alive, even grievously wounded, would be kept alive by the Angels of Absolution's Apothecaries until they reached the Rock. Most died fighting. Driven on by their master and the interrogator Chaplain, the Angels of Resolution hammered at the surviving traitors and cut them down.In the mist of the battle, Master Yafrir found his target. Arkos the Faithless was brought to bay, surrounded by the last of his warband. He still grasped the darkblade in his armoured fist but he had been wounded, blood was seeping through a puncture in his chestplate. He was already gasping for breath, desperation in his eyes. The last battle-worn survivors stood defiantly around their lord, their armour too was blackened and rent, legionnaire was missing his right arm.Arkos bellowed defiance and cursed his enemies as the Angels of Absolution moved in, surrounding their dangerous foes, guns leveled and ready for the order to attack. Arkos stood no chance now, he was trap in his lair. He had done his worst on Vraks. His plotting had brought about this long war and millions had died for it. But there would be no escape now.