The Hobby Hobbit

Chapter 3: All Quiet On The Western Front

The dusty wasteland of Armageddon did not reward sightseers. Brother Vulbrandt squinted through the think optic hatch, hoping that his genetically enhanced vision would yield more than the blank proximity sensor humming in his hand.

Nothing. Nothing ahead but the choking fog that enveloped every barren surface of this wretched world. The God Emperor has forsaken this place, thought Vulbrandt as he prayed for a hint of xenos treachery to liven up what had so far become a dreary journey.

“Sensors are blank sir, and the Sanctifier reports all clear on their quadrant also. The brutes aren’t here, we’ve missed them,” said Vulbrandt regretfully.

“Inform me if the auspex reading changes and continue on our current vector,” replied Helfast, seemingly unphased.

“Forgive me brother, but aren’t we wasting our time here? Surely we’d have more luck surveying the Northeast valley. At least there we might come across something breathing… ideally breathing against the will of our Lord Emperor,” said Vulbrandt.

“Oh they’re close Brother,” Helfast said, grinning slightly. “They’re like rats you see. Vermin. It only takes a handful of the accursed beasts to set root and before you can say Throne of Terra, these plains will be crawling with the filth. No, for the time being we press forward and may the God Emperor guide us. Stay vigilant.”

The land raider continued lumbering forward through the dense fog. The Deliverance was the pride of Marshal Baldwin’s transport fleet, capable of carrying an entire squad of crusade brothers through dense rackets of crossfire to meet their foes. That wasn’t how the Deliverance earned its nickname, however. Sigismund’s Deliverance referred to the twin flamestorm cannons mounted on each flank, the embodiment of the Templars’ battle fury and heralds of the chainsword slaughter awaiting any foe defiant enough to survive the scorching death they harvested. The Deliverance delivered the God Emperor’s purity where corruption defiled the ground only moments before.

As Brother Vulbrandt reflected on how well the fresh team had adjusted to piloting the metal harbinger of death, his auspex screen beeped. All of the black helmets in the pilot chamber turned in unison. Red visors glowed in anticipation. The auspex screen beeped again.

“Anomaly sighted, straight ahead,” barked Vulbrandt, as he stared at the red dot on the edge of the screen.

The auspex beeped again. A second red dot appeared.

“Second anomaly, north northeast. Both converging on this vector.”

“Continue on current course,” ordered Helfast calmly. “Finally,” whispered Vulbrandt under his helm.

On the other side of the chamber a vox crackled abruptly. It was still on the Sanctifier’s frequency. “…multiple targets inbound… surrounded… evasive action…” The vox cut out, leaving the room in silence.

Vulbrandt’s auspex sprung back to life, beeping furiously now as a swarm of dots appeared on the screen.

Helfast leaned forward on his chair, visibly concerned. “Disrupt and delay… this was a disrupt and delay mission.”

“That’s the horde,” said Vulbrandt as realisation dawned on him. “Emperor protect us,” he muttered, staring at the sea of red dots drifting towards the centre of the auspex screen.

Helfast snapped out of the daze that had overtaken his brothers. “Battle stations. Ready all weapons,” he shouted. The pilot team kicked into action, pulling levers and hammering buttons. A faint rumble grew in the distance. Through the optic hatch, Vulbrandt swore that the poisonous mist ahead was growing thicker.

The vox crackled again, cutting through the rising tremor. “Deliverance, this is Chaplain Ulrund, do you read?” Helfast grabbed the vox, “Deliverance reporting, we’ve found the host we were searching for Chaplain,” he replied. “Or rather, they’ve found us.”

“Deliverance, it is imperative that you change course. Fall back to the ridge, a strike force has already been deployed.”

“Received and understood, Chaplain. Changing course as instructed,” shouted Helfast, as the rumbling threatened to drown out his words.

“May the God Emperor watch over you, Deliverance.” The vox cut out.

All of the glowing visors in the chamber were fixated on the now roaring cloud of dust in the distance. It seemed to be rolling directly towards them, engulfing every barren rock and outcrop in its path.

Helfast turned to Vulbrandt. “Reverse cour..”

Vulbrandt’s ears rang. As his vision readjusted, he swung the tank’s guidance control and felt the tracks roll over the lip of a crater that had appeared right in front of them. They landed on the other side with a groaning thump.

All hands in the chamber paused, as a rolling heap of metal and smoke burst through the dusty veil. As he watched the crude war machine barreling towards them, Vulbrandt’s eyes filled with hate.

* * *

“Any word from the Deliverance?” Marshal Baldwin shot at Chaplain Ulrund, not looking up from the holoterrain map at the centre of the command deck. Many eyes, both human and astartes, watched the floating terrain intently. Encircling the bridge chamber was a transparent surveillance deck, through which the planet Armageddon floated with a slow certainty, as it had done for eons.

“The command to fall back has been received, Lord,” Ulrund replied. “Now, the assault force’s fate is in the hands of our Lord Emperor.”

Marshal Baldwin looked up at the Chaplain, who recognised the stern glare that threatened to burn a hole through his helm. “No,” the Marshal said firmly. “Today we will carry out the God Emperor’s work ourselves. Ready the landing party and open a channel to Lord Helbrecht.” Baldwin raised his right hand and addressed the room. “By His Will, we will reconsecrate this world and ensure the alien filth never sets foot here again.”

The room rang with cheer.

Marshal Baldwin’s deep, battle hardened voice echoed through the hall of command. “Kill the mutant! Burn the heretic! Abhor the witch! Purge the unclean!”

The hall responded. KILL THE MUTANT. BURN THE HERETIC. ABHOR THE WITCH. PURGE THE UNCLEAN. Chaplain Ulrund’s voice rang loudest of all.

“And purge we shall,” Baldwin agreed.