Chapter 10 Part 4

Chapter 10: Tonight, we dine in hell

=ATBS=

Part 4

=ATBS=​

Upper Wastes

Kronus

Rohan's forces achieved their first objective as soon as they left the labyrinth that was the Webway. For a brief moment, all anyone could see was a frozen stark wasteland. Next, the Aeldari registered the sorcery cloaking everything around them. Technology and spells from the handful of Warlocks riding on top of the Grav Tanks rent the veil, allowing them to perceive the truth.

The Biel-Tan's contingent had established their operation's base right on top of the gateway, thus risking exposing its location. There weren't many of them present – a handful of guards spread all over the place, some fixed defenses and a group of snow-covered Walkers towering in the distance. The warmongers' response was slow and sluggish. Rohan already had half his tanks through the gate, and the infantry riding on them dismounted and ready by the time a wide-eyed Guardian challenged their incursion.

The Biel-Tan warrior first to encounter them was very young, little more than a boy really. There was no trace of his helmet, a fact partially explained by a fresh, severe burn covering part of his face and right side of the head. The ghastly wound had received some basic treatment, likely just enough to prevent infection, nothing more.

"Where is Taldeer?" Rohan hissed more harshly than he intended. The more he saw and experienced from this place, the worse his option of the disaster became. An aura of shock and defeat surrounded the whole area, clinging to it harder than the ice gripping the ground below his armored boots.

The youth slowly raised a hand and pointed at a nearby wraithbone building.

"My thanks, warrior," Rohan said in a gentler tone. He briefly looked at the Warlock riding on top of the Grav Tank beside him. "Deploy our forces to secure the area. I want real-time intelligence of the surrounding regions."

Rohan went to find his sister, doing his best to get his temper under control. He didn't know for sure what forces the warmongers deployed to Kronus. What he knew was he could see their shattered remains, and they were a pitiful sight.

The building he entered was an armory, which was now empty of most weaponry and ordnance, highlighting the losses Biel-Tan suffered so far. Now it served a different primary purpose, that of a hospital. Wounded Aeldari laid or sat in the corridors and rooms Rohan passed by. Some were left alone, healing themselves through a Psychic Trance. Others had Guardians and the odd Aspect Warrior doing their best to keep them alive. Anger burned within the Ranger's hearth at the sight of so many broken Aeldari who suffered for no good reason.

He finally found Taldeer at the far end of the Armory. The room supposed to hold heavy weaponry had been stripped bare and turned into yet another healing point. Taldeer laid in a corner, looking small and fragile. Seeing her that way, reminded Rohan just how young and inexperienced his sister was. Yet that hasn't stopped the fools at Biel-Tan from giving her an independent command.

Taldeer stirred when he approached. In the artificial light, her hair looked like a smoldering flame. Her skin was paler than the snow outside. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at him without recognition.

"Sister." Rohan greeted quietly. His voice sounded tired and resigned to his ears. "What had you wrought?"

"Rohan?!" Slowly, a spark of life and recognition appeared in her empty eyes.

"It's me, sister. What happened?"

"The Mon-Keigh… and the soulless abominations… They slaughtered us…" Taldeer spoke slowly, haltingly. Her voice was chock-full of pain and disbelief.

"I'll need more than that, Farseer." Even though Rohan knew better, he couldn't help it and snap. He wasn't just angry with Taldeer but with himself as well. Perhaps if he had stayed behind, or found some way to get his sister away from those maniacs…

What ifs didn't matter. He wasn't a damned Farseer. Rohan left his sister behind, and now he had to pick up the pieces if it was at all possible.

Taldeer simply stared up at him and the spark of recognition in her eyes burned out. The dull empty look was back.

"Mon-Keigh, Tau, and Ork infestations detected on arrival. Divination pointed at possible Necron awakening. We needed to secure the planet and prepare to neutralize Necron threat without distractions." Taldeer began her report like an automaton. "The Path was obvious – direct the lesser species to kill off each other, sweep off the survivors, and then neutralize the real threat. Stirred Orks and pointed at Mon-Keigh. The brutes failed. Convinced local Tau forces to assault Mon-Keigh positions to provide distraction and expend their offensive forces."

At that point, Taldeer halted her matter of fact monologue and flinched.

"Mon-Keigh allied with the abominations. It was a trap!" The Farseer shook and stared intently at Rohan. "It was a trap…" She repeated. "We slaughtered the Mon-Keigh until the streets ran red with blood. They didn't break!" She became more and more frantic as she spoke. Her eyes looked through Rohan, seeing the bloody past. "The beasts kept coming, then the Necrons struck!" Taldeer all but screamed. "They slaughtered us! It isn't right! We're Aeldari! The galaxy is our birthright! It's not right!"

At that moment, Rohan had never been more grateful for the helm he wore. It hid the way he blanched at seeing his sister fall apart in such a way. One thing was certain, he wasn't getting a better report from her anytime soon.

"Rest, Taldeer. The monsters are far away." He said in his best soothing tone.

Taldeer's face twitched twice before she laid back on the ground and visibly relaxed. Yet, all the same, she kept muttering: "It isn't right!"

Rohan had to consciously keep himself from running while he made his way out of the building. That was… He focused upon the tenets of his chosen path and began to rapidly recite them in his mind. The familiar monotony of the action was like a soothing balm to his frayed soul. This, all of this, was at least in part his fault. What happened to his little sister most of all. Taldeer should never have been here, much less leading this disaster of a mission!

He spent a few moments to calm down and focus, before striding towards the closest hale Biel-Tan warrior. Rohan needed better answers than Taldeer could currently provide. Once he had them and knew exactly what he was dealing with, he had to find a way to fix this.

He had to! Anything less was simply unthinkable.