Forlorn Angels

“Sergeant Danthius says this occurred at least six planetary cycles ago. Whatever the cause, they are long gone.”
Captain Akhos of the Angels Forlorn Tenth Company was not pleased by the images before him. From the bridge of In Glory His Name Endures he observed the images sent back to them from the planet’s surface. A settlement ravaged by battle was not an unfamiliar sight in his centuries of battle experience, but the brutality spoke of something beyond simple warfare. The settlement in question was of no importance, little more than a relay station on Novaria Prime. Given the troubles that plagued this world he would have not even remarked upon it. But the proximity to the Fifth Company’s landing zone made it remarkable.
Dispatched to investigate the rumours of what was happening at Aetheris, they had failed to check in. As their silence became more prolonged Akhos had been sent to investigate. With the rest of the chapter engaged with other matters the Tenth were all that could be spared. Akhos thought of the eclectic group of battle brothers he had brought with him and could not help but feel uneasy. The stubborn tenacity that the Angels Forlorn were known for had cost the Tenth dearly in recent years, necessitating significant replenishment of their ranks. As a result the Tenth were closer to a training company than their traditional roles as a scout company. He hoped that whatever they encountered on this world, his brothers would be equipped to deal with it.
He turned his eyes back to the holopic before him. Of the Fifth there was no sign, but his scouts had already discovered the sights of three battlefields near to the landing zone. The brutality and barbarism evident upon those battlefield concerned Akhos. Either the Fifth had encountered something dire upon this world or…Akhos’s fist tightened as he contemplated the alternative. The mere flirtation with the idea roused something in his blood, the very thing he feared that had been roused within the Fifth. He glanced across the room, to the darkened corner where Chaplain Exoalus was meditating. Akhos allowed his gaze to linger before turning back to the map.
‘No, he thought. ‘There will be another explanation. Something to do with the strange energy readings around the Hive city,’ he concluded.
“The aftermath of whatever caused these anomalous readings is still disrupting comms and interfering with our equipment. We can't risk the Thunderhawks until we know what has happened so it will have to be drop pods and then we're stuck planetside until we uncover the truth of it all.” Lieutenant Hathine's words snapped Akhos out of his reverie. “Reinforcements may not be possible once we’re committed Sir.”
“So be it,” Akhos grunted. “Have Danthius fall back to our drop point, we’ll RV with him there.” He turned from the map and regarded the others in the room, meeting the eyes of each one in turn. “We don't know what awaits us on the surface. We all know why we’re here. If enemies have set upon the Fifth we shall show be the Emperor’s fury! Those who stand against us will be smashed apart and we shall seek our answers amongst their broken bodies. Whatever is happening to this world, it is a danger to the Imperium and I shall not suffer it to continue. We are the Son’s of Sanguinus and we shall know no fear!” Space Marines around the room nodded their agreement, their expressions stern as they committed themselves to the task. The chorus of affirmations that filled the room was solemn but Akhos drew comfort from it.
“Brother Exoalus, I leave you in command to guard over all our souls whilst I take the field personally. I will hand pick those to accompany me and we will depart before dawn strikes our drop point.”
Akhos strode from the chamber to prepare himself, glad finally to be able to act. Although an effective Commander, he knew there were certain facets of his character that were poorly suited to that of the scout company. Decisive, but short of patience he was far more comfortable in Gravis than Phobos armour.
“Brother Captain.” Akhos stopped in his tracks and turned to see that the Chaplain had followed him from the chamber. “Have you considered what you will do if you find the Fifth?”
“We will establish why they failed to check in, then together purge whatever foulness has stained this world. I just pray that they are still intact.”
“And if they are not?”
“Then I will avenge them and If I arrive to find out that they are no longer…” he trailed off, loathe to give voice to the fear that gnawed at his heart.
“Sane,” the Chaplain finished for him.
“Then I will be an agent of the Emperor’s Peace…”