I powered my way down the dimly lit corridor, coat billowing with the forward momentum. Slung at my side was my slightly weathered power sword and a bolt pistol with a full magazine. The alert sirens had been ringing for some time now and I was growing increasingly worried myself. Although, naturally, as a Commissar I didn't let it show. I'd been in the middle of my breakfast at the time, and the interruption had long lost any sort of excitment for me. There was a storm raging outside, too, judging by the howling wind, dark clouds and the noises of things hitting the reinforced windows.
'Probably another drill', I thought.
Storm Trooper Sergeant Ryovik would inform me of why the alarms had been ringing so long when I reached the Command Centre. I recalled with distaste at been posted so far from anyone else, in a seperate building about 15 minutes drive from the main compound. A forward listening post with a permament staff of 35 staff and two Storm Trooper units on an planet devoid of enemies.
Not entirely deviod, I noted, as I saw the body slumped in the corridor further up from my position. Hurrying up, I saw it was a young man in dress uniform clutching a data slate. The air was stale, warm and heavy and a realized the recyclers weren't working. There was a funny smell in the air, something animalistic almost.
It was unclear how the soldier had died. He obviously had massive lacerations to the chest, as well a clean puncture the size of a fist through his sternum. But that might not have been the cause of death, I noted absently as I realized the top of the man's head was missing. Gingerly peering inside the gaping wound, I fought down the bile rising in my throat as I realized he no longer had a brain. Nothing, just an empty cavity.
Instinctivly I drew my bolt pistol and pressed my back against the opposite wall. I fought down nerves as I slid down the wall towards the double doors, punched in my code and pressed the activation rune to open them. Something was watching me, I could feel it.
The doors opened and I rolled inwards. Most of the staff were there, weapons already drawn, staring at me with fear and surprise.
"Close the door!" Yelled a young administratum adept, and I slammed my first on the rune and felt the doors slam shut behind me.
"Situation report?"
"Tyranid organisms have arrived without warning," replied Sergeant Ryovik without hysteria or hesitation in his voice. "Spores are raining down into the countryside around us." His calm and level voice made me proud.
Emperor's teeth.
"There's a body outside." I said casually, as if I'd suggested the milkman had arrived.
"Adept Frenco." The Sergeant affirmed. "I thought as much. We sent him out to find you. He'd just gone out the door when we heard him screaming."
"And?"
"There's a Lictor outside, somewhere. Tyranid vanguard organism. Don't know how it got in, but we saw it when we went to investigate what was up with him. It disappeared into a maintainance duct before I could even draw my bolter. Musta spooked it or something. By the throne, it was huge." Ryovik replied.
"Frenco's brain has gone. Has anyone seen it?" I asked.
"Really?" Said the Sergeant with a puzzeled look. It was there when we found him. "Lictor must have come back for it."
The thought chilled me.
"Why would it do that?" Someone asked. I began to talk very fast at this point.
"The Lictor is a hyper-intelligent vanguard organism. It is not some petty killer or stupid insect. It can move swiftly and silently and merge with the background around it. It is also possible that, by absorbing Frenco's brain, it could gain his trace memories."
"So?" Replied the adept, confused.
"So," I continued, "It knows exactly how many people are on this base. It knows where they gather, where they eat and where they sleep."
There was a stunned silence which was broken by the screaming of the downstairs receptionist over the vox link. We turned in time to watch on a survelliance camera as the door behind her slid open and somthing burst from it with overwhelming speed. It slammed her head into the desk even as it rammed a talon through her abdomen. Screaming and struggling she was hoisted into the air, sliding down the limb. Feeder tentacles from the Spook swarmed into her open mouth and forced their way into her brain. I turned the caster off.
"It also knows all of Frenco's door codes, I'm afraid."
Someone swore.
"Arm yourselves, barricade the door and shoot anything that tries to get through. Second Storm Trooper will remain with you." I instructed.
"And what about yourself, Commissar?"
"First Storm Trooper will accompany me to the motor pool where we shall take a Chimera and report back to main base. We will have relief in an hour, tops."
It was clear that this was not a popular idea, but my authority went unquestioned. It came with the job, with the hat, and with the pistol.
As we cautiously opened the main doors again, First Storm Trooper immediately split into fire-teams, covering each other down the corridor. We made it to the lift without incident and descended into the motorpool. We were greeted by the bodies of two mechanics in grey overalls. The Squad immediately embarked into the Chimera, along with our accompanying driver and gunner. I was the last inside. As the ramp began to close, we heard an inhuman screech as the Lictor burst from the shadows and attempted to close.
"Spook!" Yelled Ryovik, hosing it with bolter fire. The thing recoiled and the ramp slammed shut. Without hesitation the driver floored it, bursting from the underground garage into a swirling spore-storm. As we powered our way through the mud, something bounced off the front of the Chimera with a sickeningly wet thud.
The spore sacks were starting to open.
=====================================
Commissar: Master Crafted Power Sword, Bolt Pistol, Carapace Armour, Honourifica, Trade Mark Item (Fancy hat and "Aura of Awesomeness"). I wish to remain independent and free to move.
Storm Trooper Veteran Sergeant: Boltgun, Auspex, Close Combat Weapon. 19
9 Stormies: Comm Link, Flamer, Flamer. 107
Chimera: Extra Armour, Searchlight, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull heavy Bolter, Turret Heavy bolter, Track Guards. 113
- 340 Points.
