Brief 1:
Deathwatch
Near Kanak
4 420 999 M41
“Remarkable,” Valgard said as he stared at the main display from the captain's chair of the Strike Cruiser Thunderwolf.
“What was that, Captain?” Asked Ulf Redmaw as he manned the controls to the detection array and communications node.
A hungry grin split Valgard’s face. He hadn’t expected to find prey on this snipe hunt.
“I said, it is remarkable. We’re on the backside of a flea’s ass with our tails in our mouths, yet we still warp directly up a Kraken’s ass.” Valgard replied.
“Orders, Sir?” Asked Bjorn Thickclaw as he flexed his fingers and focused on the targeting system for the main ordinance battery.
“Don't get jittery n me, Bjorn?” Asked Valgard.
“Focused, Sir,” Bjorn said while his eyes stayed glued to his display.
“Good. Let's see where this Tyranid bastard takes us." Valgard said as he turned his attention to the array specialist, "Ulf, has it spotted us?”
“No reaction, sir.”
“Good. Alvi bring us around. I want to be up this squid's ass before he feels us coming.”
The Thunderwolf glided through the vastness of open space as the Kraken, a Tyranid bio-ship roughly equivalent to an Imperial Frigate, moved at a sedate pace. Writhing tentacles leered from the vessel, giving the crew no uncertainty of the awaited hunt.
“Hrumph.” Grunted Alvi Grimnar as the Kraken came alive.
“They’ve felt us. And have taken off.” Said Ulf as his blood rose to the chase.
“Alvi, full speed! Do not lose them. Bjorn trigger hot, but hold until I give the order.” Valgard said with lust in his eyes.
The bridge's air felt like fog as the crew's excitement filled the compartment. A Space Wolf enjoys nothing more than a hunt, especially when a Xeno allows them to give chase.
A single Kraken was no match for the might of an Imperial Strike Cruiser, but Valgard Twice-Slain was no fool. There was no such thing as a lone Kraken.
The swarm. Locusts of the universe. Tyranids knew nothing but devouring galaxies and wiping sentient races from existence. They did not need technology because they were technology. Adapting their bodies to gain FTL capabilities and terrifying weapons allowed them to stand up against Imperial steel.
“Let’um bring us to the hen house, BOYS!” Valgard said.
He needed this Kraken. He needed it to lead him to glory. For years, Valgard has been in the wrong place at the wrong time. During the Siege of Fenris, the Thunderwolf was collecting new recruits from Core Theta. During the 13th Black Crusade, he was chasing Dark Angels back to Azreal when those bastards misaligned a warp, sending them into a sun and depriving him of the opportunity for glory. Every time there was an opportunity, he was on the wrong side of the galaxy!
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Captain, the Kraken is heading into a dust cloud. Do we continue to follow?” Asked Ulf.
The chirp of a comms node engaging brought Valgard out of his trance.
“Vally, the fuck you doing up there?” Asks Grans.
The grin slid from Valgard’s face as he replied into the comms node, “Nothing of concern. We have spotted a Kraken. Remain at your post, and we'll let you know if your team is needed.”
“I’m on my way up now!” Came the reply.
“No. Grans, stay at your post! THAT IS AN ORDER!”
Why in the Chaos Waste Covered Hells did the Wolf Lord saddle him with a Deathwatch Kill Team? Especially one led by Gransfor Bruk. He’s not even a Space Wolf anymore. This was a routine patrol mission with no ground combat. Why is the Thunderwolf playing transport to these Xeno skull fucking assholes?
“Sir, you know that the comms nodes regulates volume?” Asked Bjorn.
Valgard gritted his teeth and said, “Yes, Bjorn, I know yelling into the comms node does little more than shaving my ass, but here I am sitting on razor burn, hoping this Squid eat me ass first before I have to deal with Grans fucking Bruk.”
——
Gransfor Bruk was having the best day. He reunited with his Space Wolf compatriots to hunt Nids across Imperial space. The only way this day could get better is if his boys got to strap up and show these Xenos who were boss.
As a former Space Wolf, Granz felt at home on the Thunderwolf. It wasn’t an elite Deathwater battle wagon, but it got him close to the action. Oddly enough, it was Tyranids. Not that Grans was complaining; he enjoyed smashing Xeno skulls more than most. That is actually the trait that got him into Deathwatch.
Not only was Nids out by Kanak odd, but something about this entire mission felt off. Deathwatch didn't jump aboard a Space Wolf vessel for a routine patrol. Deathwatch didn’t do “routine patrols.” Not that it dampened his spirits.
“Captain, visibility at 80%.”
Grans walked onto the bridge to find it alight with activity. Locked on their prey, the Space Wolves didn't notice his entrance. Which was saying something as his armor hid nothing as he walked on a grated floor.
On the main display, a Tyranid Kraken writhed through a foggy haze. Space dust. It looks like an entire storm had swept into the sector. It covered the entire display, meaning they were already in the cloud.
“Valgard, the fuck are you doing? Why haven’t you shot it down? We need to get out of this mess.” Granz said.
“Don’t you walk onto my bridge and start giving orders, Sergeant. You were nothing more than a pup when you were with the Wolves, and now you think you can command a Captain on his bridge?” Valgard spat.
Red flag after red flag rushed through Granz’s mind. He needed to act. Whether to take this old fool out or clean up the mess, his team needed to be ready.
“Boys, suit up. We’re hunting Nids.” Grans said into his comms.
“Ahhh. There it is.” Valgard said through a deranged look, “Walk onto my bridge, give me commands, and call up your boys. Don't think I don't see you. MUTINY! This is mutiny!”
Tension was thick on the bridge built as the silence stretched. Granz stared into the cold eyes of his former friend and mentor- a bridge burnt. He would have to be the bigger man.
“Vally, I’m not here for a fight or your ship. They saddled me you old dogs, so we're here to help.” Granz said.
“Visibility down to 50%.” Said Ulf.
The captain’s gaze was still locked on the kill team leader.
“Fine, but don’t go thinking I can’t still shove my boot up your ass if you get out of line. I may be an old wolf, but I still have plenty of tricks.” Valgard said as he turned back to the main display.
Granz stepped up next to the captain's chair.
“WHAT ARE YOU MONGRALS DOING? We’ve nearly lost them! Bjorn, fix my display. I can barely see a damn thing.”
“Captain, visibility is at 28%. Your display is accurate.”
“Valgard, something's wrong. We need to kill that Nid and regroup.” Granz said.
Valgard looked up at Granz as a spark of clarity broke through the lust in his eyes.
“Bjorn, fire! Alvi, once that squid is dead, turn us out of this mess.”
The ship rumbled as its ordinance rained on the Kraken.
“Captain, what heading?” Asked Ulf.
“BACK, where we came from.”
The Kraken’s defenses were no match for the Strike Cruiser. Leaving a mangled scattering of purple viscera on the display.
Granz watched as the expert crew of the Thunderwolf got the ship turning and moving out of the cloud.
“Visibility is returning. Back to 47%.”
“Ulf, this display is still shit. Why is it still dusty?” Asked Valgard.
“Captain, it’s—-“
Granz didn’t hear the rest as he noticed for the first time that the display wasn’t dusty. The bridge was dusty. He looked around frantic as a haze settled into the air. There were so many red flags, and he had missed them. How did dust get into an air-tight ship?
“HURRAAaaa!” Alvi yelled as he slumped into his control panel.
Granz stumbled, falling to his knees. He tried to close his visor, but he couldn't. It was too late. His vision dimmed to black as he heard the thump of his body hitting the grated floor. As his consciousness slipped, he had one final thought.
Every day can't be the best day.