Devoured?

"Computer. Record my log for today," said Commissioner Harro. "Yes Commissioner. Starting now," came the digitised voice of the computer. "This is my sixth day on this wretched planet, and already I hate this place. It must be some kind of joke that the Administratum sent me to this holiday planet," he went on. His fingers constantly fingered the battle honours on his traditional black cloak. "The troops like it though, but all this doing nothing is no good for them." His fingers finally rested on the most recent of them and the one that caused him the most pain.

Hesitantly he ended the log and then looking at the clock on the wall he picked up his heavily ornate bolt pistol and power sword and began to walk out. On the way he stopped and looking at the ribbon on his chest said to himself, "Those wretched bugs, if I never see one again it will be too soon."

"Sir!" Snapped the sergeant on duty at the Guardsmen's Command HQ, giving off a textbook salute as though he was in a parade ground.

"At ease sergeant. Anything to report ?" inquired Harro.

"Nothing really Sir," said the soldier, going at ease. "Except. Well there were a few slash marks found in the town hall and the local preacher is going mad about it. It's probably just kids."

"On this planet ?"

"Well, yes Sir. Do you want me to send a patrol just to make sure?"

"You do that soldier. In the mean time I have to send my report back to the Administratum."

"Very good Sir."

"Sir! Sir! I'm glad I found you! I've got an urgent message for you from Colonel Markus, Sir," spluttered out the messenger.

"Well come on, out with it man."

"The patrol Sir. The one you sent out to investigate those slash marks Sir. It's gone missing, and you have been ordered to take as many men as you need and find out what happened to them, Sir."

"Is that all! What's all the panic for?"

"Well that was half an hour ago, earth time, Sir, and the Colonel told me to find you immediately."

"Right you go and tell those Catachan guys to send me a tactical squad and an assault squad to meet me outside the Temple of the Emperor's Worship for a search mission."

Five minutes later twenty guardsmen all kitted out with combat suits and flak jackets were getting their mission briefing from Commissioner Harro. "Now remember we don't expect this to be anything more than a simple error, but don't take anything for granted. Keep your weapons with you at all times. Now Johnson."

"Yes Sir."

"I want you and Richards to take the missile launcher and cover the street. Plakus, Michael and Steven take the throwers and cover the exits."

"Yes, Sir."

"Now, you know the drill. The rest of you split into three squads and take a sector each. I'll go with B squad. Now move it," finished Harro.

"Squad C, anything to report ?," said a crackly voice over the Com-Link.

"Nothing Commissioner. It's looking like a wild goose chase from here."

"Right check the last building then report back, its beginning to look like those guys have just run off somewhere."

"Right sir" and with that Sergeant Andrews switched off the Com-Link.

"Ok, Carlton," he shouted out. "You go and check out that last building. We''ll wait here."

"Yes Sir."

Carlton slowly advanced towards the door his Lasgun at the ready. He opened it and cautiously he walked in. Everything seemed OK, so relaxing he pulled out his Com-Link.

"Everything OK sir, I'm coming.... What, nooooo. Get away, get away. Aggggggggggggghhhhhhh."

"#Zonk#"

"Carlton ? Carlton !" yelled the sergeant into the dead link. "You three cover the way out, while I call the Commissioner."

"Sir! Sir! Its terrible, something's got Carlton. We have got it surrounded. Get here quick Agghh stop it quick, Zhh, Zhh, its com......."

"Andrews, Andrews. What's wrong ? What's wrong ?" yelled Harro. "All units report in, I want everyone here now. I think we have a problem."

"Now listen here and listen good, I want you all to spread out and cover every exit from this place. We don't know what we are dealing with, but we know it killed at least five good men, and probably others. We can't afford to let it out. Reinforcements are on the way but they wont be here for a few minutes. Right, you know what to do, go to it."

In ordinary military precision the Imperial Guard troopers set up their weapons in the most defensive positions they could find. Harro helped set up the missile launcher on the east bank.

"All right you lot," Harro spoke into the Com-Link. "What ever it is in there, it knows we have discovered it and will almost certainly try to break out. So keep your eyes open and don't take anything for granted." In his heart Harro had a feeling that he knew exactly what they were, something that he hoped he would never see again.

His thoughts were shattered by the sound of a laser blast.

"What was that for ?" he snapped.

"I was just checking the action sir," pleaded the unfortunate Guardsman. Well just...." started Harro, when something caught his eye in the building to the left. "You lot. Quick. Get that hunk of junk working and fire a fragmentation bomb into that building."

"Yes, Sir."

There was a long drawn out screech and a final ear shattering explosion as the missile hit its mark. Then to the guardsmens horror several creatures with four arms and claws apeace lept out of the building. "WHAT THE HELL'S THAT?"

"By the Emperor, Genestealers! All troops fire at will."

In reality no one heard him say "at will" because it was drowned out by the guardsmen opening fire. Harro quickly drew his bolt pistol and blew a fist sized hole in the nearest creature. The genestealers were obviously falling but the creatures numbers seemed ever increasing. It would not be long before they were on them.

"All troops fall back," yelled Harro at his men.

Slowly the guardsmen retreated until they had their backs to a brick wall. It was looking like the end, Smith had just been cut down and any second now they would be next. Slowly Harro steadied himself for the inevitable.

"Hey Harro," a voice echoed out of the load speaker. "You called for some help ?"

Harro recognised the voice as his old friend, Tank Commander Murry. "I thought you'd never come Minty."

"You never forget anything do you Harro."

"I try not to."

"Well you and whats left of your men had better get your butts down to HQ. The Colonel wants to see you. We'll clear up here."

"Look, calm down, calm down. How do you know they are coming here?"

"Because of the Genestealers. They send out a psycic beacon to the Tranids telling them where to come.

"But...."

"No buts, Sir! We have to call for help, and at least start evacuating the planet immediately."

"OK, I'll do it," said the Colonel almost groaning. "I'll get it all sorted. In the mean time though I'm putting you in charge of the planets defence, I'm giving you full security clearance."

"Yes Sir."

"Right dismissed." Slowly Colonel Markus watched Harro walk out, then putting his head in his hand said to himself. "Why me ?"

"How are the evacuation procedures going?" asked Commissioner Harro.

"Fine Sir. We have got two thirds of the civilians out already and the rest will be leaving within three hours. It's looking like we should be able to get everyone out after all." replied Lieutenant Fresby.

"What about the troop transports ?" asked Harro, his hand constantly fidgeting with the action on his bolt pistol.

"Well that's a bit of a problem Sir. They are scheduled to arrive at almost the exact same time as the Tyranid fleet. If they decide to destroy the ships it will mean that the Guard will have to remain here for days longer."

"I know, I know. Still we will deal with that problem when it arrrives. What news from the Space Marines ?"

"Well the two nearest chapters, the Green Scurge and the Red Hornets have dispatched ships, but they won't be here for at least three days."

"Right. Now what about that small scout ship that broke away from the rest of the fleet. Any news of that?" asked the worried Commissioner.

"Yes Sir, it has crash landed in a jungle by Outpost 7 Sir. From its speed nothing could have survived the crash, but the outpost has sent out a patrol to investigate the crash site just in case."

"Good."

"Receiving you patrol, are you near crash site?"

"Yes it is aproximately 3 parcects away."

"Affirimative, don't take any chances out there you guys."

"I know, this is not the first time. I've fought Tyranids before," finished Nelson switching off his Link.

When they found the crash site it looked deserted. All they could see was the small ship no bigger than a shuttle but completely unlike anything any of the Guardsmen had seen before.

"Parkins get over here and do a life form scan on the ship." said Nelson.

"Hey ,hurry up about it. We don't have all day, Parkins. Parkins ? Where are you ?. Oh you lot. Have any of you seen Parkins anywhere ? I was sure he was in this patrol."

"He was behind me when we turned the corner to see the ship. I think he was checking his scanner. You know what those Tech Priests are like, he's probably still doing it."

"Right lets go and have a look. Wilson you stay here and examine the ship," said the Sergeant.

Slowly the guardsmen went round the corner looking for signs of the lost tech priest.

"Hey Sarge, I've found his scanner."

"Let me see. Yes, its his alright, hummmm. It looks like someone got him but there is no blood and no signs of a struggle, I wonder."

"Agg..."

"What was that?" asked Rogers.

"I don't know, but it came from the ship... Oh no. Quick! It's Wilson! Quick, back to the ship."

Rounding the corner again they searched the whole area but they could not find Wilson anywhere. "Hey Sarge what's this thing ?" inquired Philip bending to pick an object up.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Yelled Nelson. "Its a flesh hook, it must have broken off when it attacked Wilson."

"What attacked Wilson ?"

"Well I hate to say it, but I'm afraid we have got a spook!"

"What?"

"A spook, its a kind of monstrous scout of the Tyranids, its job is to find an isolated sector and kill anything and everyone that enters it, one by one."

"Sir, Sir, Outpost 7 they are reporting a 'spook' Sir."

"A spook! Oh great I might have known that was what the ship was for."

"Harro, what's a spook?" asked the Colonel.

"A form of Tyranid scout, sorry I can't say much more but I've got to get there now, I'll take my Jet Bike."

"This is Harro to Outpost 7. Are you receiving me ?"

"Affirmative."

"Feed the exact coordinates of the location of the patrol into my onboard computer."

"Will do Commisioner."

Boy, thought Harro, and I thought this place was going to be boring. With a spray of dust he adjusted his trajectory to an intercept course and pressed the button to engage the supercharger.

"Sarge what are we going to do ?" Asked the more than a little nervouse voice of Peter.

"Nothing. Just stay put and keep an eye in every direction. Spooks normally only attack individuals who can't be seen by the rest of the group."

"But what if it does attack us here ?"

"Then we just stay put and fire on it."

"That will work, will it ?"

"Not really, but it's our only chance."

Silently the Guardsmen waited, each of them dealing with the anxiety in their own way. Finally Michael stood up.

"I can't stand this waiting any longer. I'm going to find this thing!" "Sit down, you'll only get.... LOOK OUT!" Yelled Nelson as the Spook lept out of the undergrowth and pounced on Michael.

The remaining Guardsmen transfixed with horror did not make a move. The 'thing' looked like a huge lizard, its huge scythe like arms cut the hapless guardsman in two, while its horrific head drooled poisonous slime all over him. It was like a walking arsenal of talons, hooks, claws and poison. With the barely distinguishable body of Michael below him it turned and gave him a gaze that brought terror into Nelson's heart. It was a gaze as old as centuries. One that just looking at made you feel old and helpless. It lept up straight at Nelson, only to be knocked back by the Sergeant's chainsword. Quickly it stood up and made ready to pounce again but at that moment it was blown back by a sudden burst of fire from behind. A jet bike zoomed past and opened up with another burst from it's bolters, the wounded creature looked up at it and giving out a sound between a hiss and a scream lept off into the jungle.

"Are you ok ?" asked Harro putting his Jet Bike down and drawing his bolt pistol.

"I, I think so," spluttered out Nelson shakily.

"Good, how many casulties?"

"Three including Michael there."

"Right tell your men to get ready to move, we are going to have to get out of this jungle, before it has another go at us."

"But if we move the thing will get us one by one."

"Relax, tie yourselves together with something and keep tight, I'll cover you from above with my Jet Bike. If it does show up, it will have to deal with all our firepower put together."

It did not take long to get the men ready to move out, most of them wanted to leave anyway. Slowly they continued their way through the jungle. All the time just barely audible was the sound of the cruising Jet Bike overhead. It did little to relieve the guardsmen's spirits.

"Sarge ?"

"Yerr, Peter ?"

"Do you think the spook will come back?"

"I don't know," replied Nelson. Some movement in the corner of his eye made him look round, and to his horror he met the gaze of the creature a second time. This time though he was ready, "All troops open fire!" Came the shout. The trooper sprang round and opened fire on the creature. It was all over in the space of seconds, the creature lay dead on the ground, its horific head in a state of anguise. Slowly Harro came down.

"You lot better get back to your base, you won't need me anymore, I've got to get back."

"Bye Sir, and thanks."

"Its all right, see you soon, I hope."

"All distroyed completely I'm afraid Sir."

"Great," said Commissioner Harro, "That means that there's no way we can get the guard off the planet. At least we got the civilians out in time. Where is the bugs fleet going to land ?"

"About a thousand parsects west of our position Sir."

"Right, how are the barricades coming on ?"

"They should be ready in time Sir."

"OK,send all available men to the front, but keep the reserves back in case we get a break through."

"Ok, Sir"

"Right Howsar, you're in command of the HQ, I'm going to the front."

"Yes Sir."

"How long until they get within range of the defence lasers ?" asked Harro to the nearest Tech Priest who was working on the barricade.

"About thirty minutes, Commissar."

Well thought Harro to himself, at least it won't be long to wait. Silently Harro walked away from the barricade and into the tent were Colonel Markus was talking to the various Captains.

"Right, I want Blue Company to cover the east wall while Red and Green Companies cover the west. It is imperative that no Tyranids make it to the town. If that is destroyed the beacon in the Temple will not be able to keep the approaching ships on course and they will be lost in the warp."

"Sir."

"Right I want Black Company to stay back with the Artillery Company. Yellow company, you will be placed in Chimeras. Your job is to form a mobil reserve." went on the Colonel, pointing to different sections on the computerised map.

Looking over, Harro saw the huge group of slowly moving red mass, representing the Tyranid fleet getting closer and closer.

"Keep the Primaris Lord with Red Company, as he is the only Psycic defence we have got. Harro ?"

"Yes Sir."

"I want you to stay with Red Company too, as you're the only one who really knows about the Tyranids."

"Yes Sir."

"Good, everybody get to their positions," finished Markus.

Then looking up, he saw to his horror a huge Carnifex, bigger than anything he had ever seen before, chopping its way through the defence line. The heavy weapons teams poured shot after shot into it, all to no avail. Harro began fingering the large ball shaped object in his pocket and drawing it out he thought to himself, well this is one weapon that I hoped I would never have to use. Drawing back his arm he threw the Vortex grenade directly at the Carnifex. There was a crakle followed by a huge hiss as the fabric of reality was torn apart sucking the Carnifex with it. The Carnifex was gone, but Harro realised that this was only the beginning.

It was over six hours since the Tyranids had landed, and the forces of the Imperial Guard had been beaten back to the temple of the Emperor's Worship. Now there would be no further escape, The Tyranids spore mines had cut off the last escape root. Still it was some consolation that this Holy Place would be the last to fall. Time and time again the Tyranids launched small meaningless attacks on the Temple, every time driving home the fact that no matter how many of the things they killed, the Guard could not win. The situation was hopeless without help. The Guard was doomed.

Thinking to himself Harro recalled the happenings of the day. The whole problem started with the huge bio-titan, eventually we destroyed it, but not before it had broken a hole through our lines. After that all we could do is retreat, all the other troops were destroyed in the fight for the base. My platoon was the only one that survived. Now look, fifty men dug in a Temple against a huge Hive fleet. It was certainly looking bad.

He remembered his first battle against the Tyranids, at Ichar Four, it was one of the most bloody conflicts ever. That was when he was given his ribbon, remembered Harro. What good's a ribbon when you were dead ? That was what he wanted to know. Then he thought back to even before that time when he was just a raw recruit on Armageddon where he was sent to Hades and served under the legendary Commissar Yarrick. He was probably the only man he had ever really looked up to. Yarricks leadership was inspirational. Even here he believed Yarrick could have pulled off a victory. Still he wasn't here. His thoughts were shattered by a guardsmen tapping him on the shoulder.

"Sir, I'm afraid they're coming."

"Now ?"

"Yes Sir."

"Right tell the troops to get ready," said Harro.

Well this is it he thought and looking up to the stars, wondered why he was going to be the one that had to command these men to death! It was then at that moment that in the sky he spotted the huge ships materialise.

"Roger what the hells that!"

"By the Emperor, it's a fleet."

"A fleet it can't be."

But it was and the Tyranids had spotted it, too. It swooped down on the bugs and out of its huge doors two huge Imperator Titans dropped out, followed by numerous smaller ships and troops all bearing the sign of the Inquisition. The Titans were like huge Gods, over a hundred times the hight of a man. Their weapons just opened up, annihilating the Bugs everywhere. To Harro's amazement the Tyranids actually were running away, the first time he had ever seen it happen. Suddenly a tall figure wearing Terminator armour materialised right next to him.

"Good job Harro, if you had not held the Tyranids back for long enough this whole planet would be lost."

"What, who are you?"

"Oh sorry." said the voice as he reached up and removed his helmet.

"Inquisitor Agmar!" Gasped Harro recognising the famous Inquisitor.

"Yes that's right."

"Oh just look at this. Over five thousand good men dead because of them," said Harro almost weeping

"I know. The more I learn about these aliens, the more I come to understand what drives them, the more I hate them. I hate them for what they are and what they may one day become. I hate them not because they hate us but because they are incapable of good, honest, human hatred."