THE WALL OF DEATH

"The Emperor has decreed that all upon this world must die. We offer you the chance to regain your honor, surrender now, and the emperor shall forgive."

The message boomed out of every radio, com beacon, and speaker on the planet, the noise was horrendous. Gorlin winced at the thought.. surrender, why should he surrender when he had served so well.

He looked around him, people everywhere were arguing rampantly. "Don't be a fool! The only forgiveness you will recieve will be at the end of a barrel! You know they wont let any of us off this world.. Those damn marines, and thier damned emperor!" shouted one man to the croud of confused and frightened citizens. They were afraid, and had good cause to be. The govenor of thier hive world had seen it in himself to declare himself free of the empire, and his first act was to bomb the Adeptus Arbites fortress. The rest...

Now they were waiting.. they knew the marine ships were circling the planet, what were they waiting for? Why didnt they just land, and wipe them out... There had been landings, minor ones.. scouts mainly.. A few scouts in a ship, land and get torn to pieces by the local militia. What caused the fear was the fact that the marines weakest troops still had a better kill ratio then the milita. The citizens were innocent.. the govenor was the one that went mad... "WHY MUST WE PAY FOR HIS CRIMES!!", Gorlin shouted, out of nowhere. People turned to look at him.. He was angry, scared, and had had enough of Imperial justice for one day.

"If we will die today in our cities, then let us first quench our thirst with thier blood! They will win, but it will cost them dearly!" Gorlin screamed at the top of his lungs, while picking up a sword, and a small pistol. The people began to rally behind him, they rushed about, collecting arms, and preparing themselves for thier certain doom.. But unlike others who know thier doom is at hand... they were not afraid anymore, they were frenzied, prepared to die valiantly.

It had been two days... The men of the town had built a small fortress, nothing that could withstand a real assault.. but a fortress none the less. And they had many arms, weapons taken from the dead scouts, and thier ships, even some heavy weapons, though in a foul state of repair.. they were fully prepared... or so they thought.

Nothing could have prepared them for the sight they beheld. From the sky dropped hundreds of ships, tremendous ships.. Every one exactly alike, black, with yellow trim.As one of them flew overhead, the symbol on the bottom became clear. A large red scorpion. The Red Scorpions were known in this sector quite well.. Many times had the stories of thier valiant battles reached this small world.

Suddenly the sound of a las pistol rang out.. then a scream.. They all tensed, fearing the marines were upon them. Yet they saw nothing.. Turning, Gorlin saw the cause of the commotion. One of "his men" took his own life. Many shook thier heads at his cowardice.. Gorlin knew he was the one man here who would die well.

Without warning the sound of explosions rang out.. In the distance Gorlin could see the marines closing in, destroying everything in thier path. Squads upon squads of assault troops, all in red and black armor, flew about the town. Men were being torn limb from limb by the insane warriors. Thier fists flashed like hammers in the night.. Blood covered thier suits, yet still they pressed on.

Soon they came in range, Gorlin ordered his men to fire. A hundred lasers blasted out at once. Marines dropped like flies from the sky. Not one of the assault marines reached the bunker. The cries of victory were short lived. Five red hulks loomed in the distance. Obviously they were the enemy, but Gorlin had never seen the likes of them before. They slowly advanced, and as they grew closer, Gorlin noticed they each had two tremendous red claws. They came into range, and Gorlin opened fire. Once again, hundereds upon hundreds of shots rang out..

The smoke cleared, and they all gazed out expectantly. Yet al but one of the five marines still advanced. "They arent even bothering to run at us" thought Gorlin to himself. The men fired furiosly, the light from the las guns was blinding. Explosions in the bunkers could be heard as the guns began to overheat and explode. A tremendous explosion rang out as one of the heavy weapons ended it's wielders career in a flash of plasma. And then it happened.

Gorlin turned, and saw the huge things right behind him. He realized what they were now... the Red Scourge. He had heard tales of thier valor, but hoped never to find out. Striken with fear he ran, and hid under rubble. He watched as his comrades fought valiently against them. At one point he saw over 20 men scambling over the terminator with las pistols flashing, and knives scraping it. Only to see each one torn and crushed by the mighty claws.

All of his men lay dead. The three hulks gathered together in the center of the shattered fortress. One pulled off his helmet.

"Mission successful. Two casualties. No survivors.".

Gorlin looked at the man. Twelve bolts he counted in his head... That man had to be nearly 200 years old.. or more.. That was no normal man in that suit... What sort of man could kill nearly 200 battle crazed citizens, and not even shed a drop of blood.

"Hail Brother Commander Cullen!" Shouted the marine suddenly. Gorlin spun his head around to see a man in yellow and black armor enter the room. He was wearing a massive cape, and his helmet had two giant golden eagle wings on it. The man stood directly in front of Gorlin, his back to him. He slowly took off his helmet, revealing a head of greying hair, feebly dyed black, with two long white stripes running down it.

"Excellent work my brothers. You have done well. This mass of resistance was totally unexpected. Our work here is done. Your brethen have wiped this planet clean of the filth. You were the last to draw blood upon this world Brother Narget, you hold the ultimate honor." Spoke the commander to his men.

"That is the man... the one that caused us so much pain... he has destroyed my home, my children, my friends... my world... He Has Spoken too soon... the honor shall be mine" thought Gorlin to himself. He drew his dagger very slowly, quietly.

Suddenly, he jumped into the air.. His dagger raised high above him. He could see the back of the Commander's neck.. His aim would be true. Time seemed to move ever so slowly to him.. He saw his dagger, not two feet from the neck, he saw the surprise in the eyes of the terminator before him. Then it all went insane.. He felt his mind coming apart... He saw his dagger, growing closer, and closer... yet he was struggling to hold on.. He began to fade.. his vision failing..

Commander Cullen turned slowly. He looked at the bloody heap of flesh that laid before him upon the scorched ground. He bowed his head in a moment of silence, turned to the terminator before him, who was utterly astounded by what he just saw. He then apoloized, "I am sorry my brother.. the honor that was rightfully yours... I have taken from you."