Warsmith Stahl travels to Hexis

Bezhok paced back and forth in the command bunker, he did not appreciate being kept waiting. All local commanders of the small Iron Warriors force had assembled at the request of “Honourable” Horozhka – anyone else would have been refused, but the Sergeant had enough respect to call him the old moniker, and had advanced far into the Necron tomb on Hexis, so they had taken him at his word.

In the distance, the sound of human and alien gunfire echoed, numerous firefights, skirmishes and battles raged, and even titans had clashed in the desolate plains. Loose debris fell in a fine dust as another of the heavy ordinance boomed away at some distant target.

 

Nicator was late, again, but the others were here. Eznath the unveiled, once an apothecary alongside Stahl, was working on a techno daemonic device with his mechanadrils, Gregor and Dazkhov were bickering over a hololith, each arguing their point as to the key weaknesses in the enemy dispositions. Their arguments seemed to conclude “not enough troops”. Zoran and Šalić sat in opposite corners from each another as usual. The heavy weapons commanders never saw eye to eye and being in too close proximity would lead to blood. The smiths kept their own counsel, Bezhok, despite being in overall command at this time only knew the name of Tkalčec, the others’ names had been unnecessary. Lastly, there was Razko, self styled  “The Duellist”, he fancied himself a swordsman. Most scoffed at such frippery, but he also had an excellent understanding of fire patterns and it irked Bezhok that he would waste his mind and time on swordsmanship.

Honourable Horozhka finally entered, flanked by Nicator; in the IV, nobody truly liked or trusted one another, but the two were what came closest to friends among the bitter fraternity.

“So did you find it?” Bezhok asked Horozhka without preamble.

“Yes Lord, the Aeldari clowns were guarding it, they've reformed their alliance with the Federal Humans and Tau, the Chamber to the device is secure for now”.

“I have of course informed the Warsmith of the success”  Nicator chimed in before Bezhok could respond, no doubt the slimy bastard had taken the opportunity to laud his own efforts.

“Make preparations to secure-”

“Sorry sire. But it is not possible to 'secure' anything, the inner chamber holding the device is sealed and the Federal mortals hold the key in their fortress. Naturally I informed the Warsmith of this also”, again Nicator jibed whenever he could, he would have clearly blamed this oversight on Bezhok to Stahl.

Horozka stepped forward to the Hololith, Gregor and Dazkov respectfully taking a step back to allow the veteran room, with a hiss of air the seals on Horozhka's helm released and he removed it. It was said that Stahl had brought many of the 144th back from death and this was how he ensured their loyalty like few others, in none was it so obvious than Horozhka. In the defence of Krade, while in the 45th Grand Company, Horozhka had taken a bolt round to the throat, blowing apart his jaw, a large portion of his skull, right collar bone and shoulder. Through some miracle it had not prevented blood flow to his brain and so his comatose, largely dead body was shipped to Enceladus. That was the Heresy, now Horozhka's lower right face, jaw and neck were a pattern of pale, off colour flesh, blackened veins and small bionics, his right eye most unsettling with it's unnatural green glow that was not from a normal bionic. Treated by any normal Apothecary, Horozhka should have died 10,000 years ago, but he had been a patient of Stahl. 

Horozhka turned to the others as he brought up the display of the Federal fortress.

“Warsmith Lycurgus Stahl relayed these orders – take this fortress, make all moves to annihilate the Federals and secure the key by 16001711.018.M42 local time”.

There was an awkward silence in the room.

Razko was the first to speak “Stahl knows we don't have the ordinance to take the Fortress in that time, it's suicide”. Tkalčec blurted in binary **There is only 25% chance of success, assuming sacrificing all other fronts, including the chamber**, blurts of binary buzzed back and forth from the three Warpsmiths who were clearly arguing.

Nicator raised his voice “Honourable Horozhka did not relay the last point of the Warsmiths response”.

“And what's that?!” Bezhok said with far more venom than intended. 

“He is coming”.

The collected Legionaries gave worried glances at one another, all other petty arguments draining away, as well as the blood from their faces.

“Gather everything” ordered Bezhok “We must be ready for the Warsmiths arrival, Iron Within”.

“Iron Without” came the unified response.