Battle of Hive City Rasgulag

Dante quickly made his way to the hangar and headed straight for the Thunderhawk, while the Company Captain moved to gather the members of their Battle Company for a briefing on the upcoming mission. Preparing himself with his Guardian Spear and Vaultsword, Dante examined the map of the landing zone (LZ). Soon after, Captain Zakharia arrived with his troops.

"Captain Zakharia of the 2nd Company, ready to serve alongside Custodes Dante," said Zakharia. The captain, still relatively young with black hair and brown eyes, wore blue armor emblazoned with a shield and crossed spears, accompanied by several Space Marines.

“Captain, have you informed all members of the 2nd Company that this request comes from Hive City Rasgulag?” Dante asked.

“I have informed them all. I've even prepared a Dreadnought unit in case we need to fully deploy,” Captain Zakharia replied.

“Good... and the others?” Dante inquired.

“They're getting ready in the Drop Pods, just waiting for the go-ahead from the Chapter Master,” Captain Zakharia responded.

“All units prepare, deploy the Space Marines!” came the command from the Chapter Master through the Vox radio.

“Pilot, get us to the planet's surface. It’s time to begin,” Dante ordered. The Thunderhawk’s engines roared to life, and it took off. Several Drop Pods were launched immediately, and the Thunderhawk made its descent towards the surface of Citadel IV. Dante stood resolutely inside the Thunderhawk, ready for battle.

"I will repeat our mission: we are to secure the Landing Zone. Further orders will depend on the battlefield situation," Dante commanded.

"Understood!" replied another Space Marine.

Several Drop Pods had already landed and opened, with the Space Marines inside immediately knowing their duty, firing upon the mutants attempting to breach the Upper Hive. The Thunderhawk carrying Chapter Master Yorren landed first, swiftly organizing a defensive formation. Shortly after, the Thunderhawk from the 2nd Company touched down. Dante, along with Captain Zakharia and several Space Marines, disembarked. All the Sisters of Battle knelt in respect.

"Stand up... I do not care for formalities in times of urgency," said Dante.

"It is an honor for us, the Sisters of Battle from the Order of Our Martyred Lady, to fight alongside the Emperor's Angels of Death and the Emperor's Talon," replied Sister Ravenna.

“The situation?” inquired Chapter Master Yorren.

“An Inquisitor from the Ordo Hereticus, Jaene, arrived on this planet a few months ago to investigate gangs rumored to be founded by Chaos Cults. However, reports indicate that the leader of these gangs was also a mutant. After that, Inquisitor Jaene mysteriously disappeared, and a few days later, the Hive City was attacked by mutants,” Sister Ravenna explained.

“Hmm... the situation is indeed dire—a sudden attack with mutants wielding heavy sluggers and laspistols,” noted Chapter Master Yorren.

“We managed to hold out for a few days, but more and more mutants from the Underhive are joining them as time goes on,” Sister Ravenna added.

“Is there an Imperial Guard base here?” asked Dante.

“They are also preoccupied. Due to this massive mutant assault, they too are under attack,” said Sister Ravenna.

“It seems like a well-coordinated strike... Does anyone know where their base is?” Chapter Master Yorren asked.

“We still don’t know,” Sister Ravenna replied.

Captain Zakharia suddenly removed his helmet and began searching through the bodies of the mutants. He found a severed hand from one of the mutants and immediately started eating it. Sister Ravenna, shocked and horrified, was about to reprimand Captain Zakharia, but Dante and Chapter Master Yorren held her back.

"You must be new, Sister Ravenna?" Dante asked. Sister Ravenna only nodded in response.

"It seems I've found their origin," said Captain Zakharia. "Their base is on Level 156 of the Lower Hive—a manufactorum producing rations for the Imperial Guard stationed nearby."

"Good. In that case, we can deploy the 3rd and 4th Companies immediately," said Chapter Master Yorren, who had already prepared his Thunder Hammer.

"Deploy them right away if possible. The sooner we end this battle, the sooner we can proceed with recruiting new Neophytes," Dante added.

"Deploy the 3rd and 4th Companies to Level 156 of the Lower Hive immediately," ordered Chapter Master Yorren. Not long after, a loud explosion echoed from the western part of their location.

"Sister Alicia Ravenna, hold this position... Gather all the refugees here and protect them," Dante commanded. Sister Alicia Ravenna and the other Sisters of Battle nodded in acknowledgment.

A large group of mutants advanced, with one of them throwing an explosive. Luckily, there were no personnel in the area when it detonated. "Hold your positions!" shouted Chapter Master Yorren as he sprinted towards the explosion site, with Dante following close behind. All Space Marines from the 1st and 2nd Companies quickly took up positions and readied their bolters.

"FIRE AT WILL, KILL ALL THE ENEMIES OF THE EMPEROR!" roared Chapter Master Yorren. Immediately, every Space Marine equipped with bolter rifles and heavy bolters unleashed a hail of gunfire on the mutants. The leading mutants, small and agile, were quickly cut down by the bolter fire. As larger mutants began to advance, they managed to withstand several bolter shots before falling. Two mutants that breached the frontline defense were swiftly slain by Chapter Master Yorren and Dante.

With each strike of his Thunder Hammer, Chapter Master Yorren smashed the mutants to pieces, the ground trembling with every blow, creating powerful shockwaves. Dante, armed with his Guardian Spear, moved with grace and agility, slicing through all mutants that attacked him with elegant precision. Severed mutant heads flew as he swept through their ranks.

The Tactical Space Marines, accompanied by a Dreadnought, charged into melee combat. Wielding chainswords, the Space Marines met the mutants head-on. Dante and all members of the 2nd Company fully engaged in close combat, even the Dreadnought, which had previously been firing its autocannon, now activated the power fist on its right arm to crush any mutant in its path.

The battle at Dante and Chapter Master Yorren's location was fierce, but the tide began to turn when a message came through the Vox Radio. The 3rd Company and 4th Company had successfully breached the mutant's headquarters and found the Chaos Cult that was commanding them. Dante moved with incredible agility, having cut down over 60 mutants without realizing it, while Captain Zakharia used his Power Sword to cut through about 20 mutants.

"Chapter Master, what's your status?" asked Captain Zakharia over the Vox Radio.

"A bit busy still, why?" replied Chapter Master Yorren, his voice accompanied by the crackle of his Thunder Hammer striking down mutants.

"It looks like they're retreating," Dante said over the Vox Radio, noticing that the mutants on the 2nd Company’s front were scattering and fleeing in all directions.

"Same here... It seems their chain of command has been broken," Chapter Master Yorren observed, seeing the disarray among the enemy ranks.

"This is Captain Tristan of the 3rd Company. We've eliminated the cultist leaders along with Captain Longmein of the 4th Company," reported Captain Tristan.

"Just another day at the office…," Dante commented calmly.

Chapter Master Yorren chuckled at Dante's remark. "Looks like we’ve won… I’m heading back to the LZ to check on the refugees," said Dante.

"Captain Tristan, Captain Longmein, a Thunderhawk is on its way to your location. Prepare your troops for evacuation," instructed Chapter Master Yorren.

With that, the brutal and bloody battle neared its end. The Space Marines and their allied forces successfully crushed the Chaos Cult’s forces and secured Hive City, putting an end to the mutant and Chaos threat in the area.