"Where's your Chainsword?" Asked Michael as Severus returned along with his scouting party plus their new Imperial Guard allies.

"Destroyed, by an Inquisitor that's here on Kronos." Severus replied matter-of-factly. As expected, the mere mention of the Inquisition got Michael's attention immediately.

"The Inquisition is here on Kronos?"

"Unfortunately yes, sir." Said Mira as she stepped forwards and saluted. "Second Lieutenant Mira of the Tempestus Scions and formerly the Cadian Horus Imperial Guard, sir. Lieutenant Severus Regulus here saved my life and the lives of my men."

"At ease." Michael said, before introducing himself: "I am Captain Michael Mordecai Maeglos. My men sometimes call me 'Captain M'. I am the leader of the Space Marine portion of this particular GGC company."

"A pleasure to meet you, 'Captain M'." Mira returned with a bemused smile. "My men and myself are yours to command as you see fit."

"Well, first I'd like to introduce you to the Eldar and Tau leaders of this regiment as well. If you'll follow me..."

Michael led Mira and her men off in the direction of Endewan and the other Eldar, and Severus watched them go.

"They seem to be getting on rather nicely already." Decimus noted behind Severus, who nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Always good to have more people on our side as well. Especially now that we know we've got both Dark Eldar and the Inquisition to worry about..."

"I'll be eager for another shot at the latter in particular." Decimus said with a frown behind his helmet. "I've seen an Exterminatus up close, you know. They're not pretty. If anyone deserves a bolter round to the face, it's the Inquisition."

"I know." Severus said with a nod. "I too have seen one. Personally, I've always regarded the Inquisition as bigger monsters than even the Orks and Tyranids. The latter are more animals than a genuinely malevolent force, being the predators and us their prey. And the Orks are just plain stupid in all things not warfare. They're also impartial; they hate everyone that aren't Orks. But the Inquisition...they're a more intelligent kind of evil in this galaxy. And one that kills people just for disagreeing with them." Severus shook his head.

"Pity they, the Orks, the Tyranids, and the Necrons can't just all wipe each-other out." Decimus said.

"Horus willing, it could one day happen." Severus pointed out.

"Perhaps, but I wouldn't hold my breath." Decimus replied sadly.

Elsewhere, Captain Michael was busy introducing Mira and her men to Endewan and Shak O' Ryos, while Daniel decided to seek out Jenna for some..."alone time".

"I see you have returned, my love." Jenna greeted with a smile. Daniel was always struck by the echoing quality to Eldar's voices, even when they had no helmets on. He always found Jenna's especially melodic, but that might have just been because he felt about her the way he did.

"I have, Jenna." Daniel said with a nod. He dared to come closer to her, and she permitted it. As a Space Marine he stood a few heads taller than her and with his armor on was much, much wider too. Looking at the two together they might have seemed comical as a couple, but as Daniel taking her small hand in his massive crimson gauntlet showed, their feelings for one another were genuine.

"There is something on your mind." Daniel noted. He wasn't a Psyker, but he didn't need to be to tell. He suspected spending so much time around them though had rubbed off on him, giving him his intuitions and gut feelings that usually proved quite accurate in the end...including this time.

"There is." Jenna said with a nod. "I...I sense something here on Kronos that does not sit right with me at all."

"Well, we did just learn that the Inquisition is here." Daniel pointed out.

Jenna nodded. "Yes, those genocidal filth could be it, but...I'm not positive. I still feel like there's something else."

"Chaos?" Daniel suggested. "Chaplin Matthias and the Librarians haven't sensed anything."

"Yes, but that could just mean that the source of the power is so great that it can mask it's presence. I myself am not sure if it's even there or not. But I still can't shake the bad feeling."

"Well, I believe you at least." Daniel said with a smile. Jenna looked up at him and returned the smile. She raised her hands, and telekinetically lifted the helmet off Daniel's head, revealing a handsome face with hair that was somewhere between dirty blonde and light brown, and kind-looking blue eyes.

"I'm not supposed to take my helmet off in a hostile environment." Daniel pointed out. "It's in the Codex Astartes."

Jenna sighed. "Oh, very well." She said, telekinetically lowering the helmet back in place over his head. "But I grow restless when I don't get to see your face for so long. When I don't get to...do other things with you as well."

"I know, Jenna." Daniel said, sympathetic to her every word. "But there are rules that come with being a Space Marine. Those of us in the GGC are not as draconian as the False Imperium's Gold Legion granted, but even so. We were still both born from the same set of rules. The same book."

"I find that hard to believe." Jenna said, smiling. "You, my love, are as far from the Gold Legion as a human can get."

"I appreciate the compliment, Jenna. But the reality of it is that we're still all Space Marines. Just ones with different loyalties, and..." He lifted her chin with a single finger. "...very different attitudes on aliens."

Jenna smiled at him before saying: "Perhaps...you might request a leave after this? If we all make it off of this planet, I mean."

Daniel shook his head. "Impossible. A Space Marine's vows and duties are not so easily suspended. We are expected to be wherever there are battles that require our presence. Our opportunities for...'downtime', if you will, are few and far-between. I'm sorry, Jenna."

"I do understand." She said. "The vows an Eldar Warlock takes on are similarly demanding. It would seem neither of us is equipped to lead a quiet, romantic life."

"No, I am afraid not." Daniel said. "Even now in this nobler and brighter era, there is still war."

-X-

Captain Nero Tyrus surveyed the area in front of him, his golden Space Marine armor and helmet glistening in the sunlight. Of course, not much sunlight was actually shining through on this day; the sky was primarily overcast gray, the rapidly approaching Warp Storm making it's presence known.

"If we do not leave soon, we will be trapped here with the Heretics and Xeno filth." Noted Captain Tyrus' second, a Terminator armored brute named Surtr.

"I am aware." Captain Tyrus said coldly. "I am also aware that Inquisitor Xemnar cares more about revenging himself on any who humiliate him than on actually doing the Emperor's bidding. But, the man still has his uses to the Emperor and to the Imperium. So we'll go along with his desires for now." He turned to Surtr: "Tell the entire Gold Legion to move into position. We'll be charging the heretics and Xenos very soon."

Surtr nodded and ran off to give these orders. As he left, Captain Tyrus realized that he sensed someone else, watching him. He knew who it was.

"Reveal yourself, Inquisitor." Captain Tyrus said sternly.

Inquisitor Xemnar did so, even though he was under no obligation to as far as he was concerned. But he did have words with the Captain of the Gold Legion that had accompanied him and his forces to Kronos.

"I wish to talk, Captain." Xemnar began.

"About what?" Asked Captain Tyrus.

"About the battles to come. Know that I will be accompanying your men. I have my own stake in this, and wish to dispense the Emperor's justice on our foes personally. Also, I would ask that you not commit all of your men to a full-frontal assault. We shall need some later for when we locate where the heretics and the remainder of the traitor-guardsmen are hiding."

"Your concerns are noted, Inquisitor." Captain Tyrus said, though it was clear from his tone that he didn't care what the Inquisitor wanted or didn't want. He cared only about what all members of the Gold Legion cared about; killing heretics, xenos, traitors, and most especially, the Daemons of Chaos. All in glory to the late God Emperor who even in death still had an ironclad hold over them all.

Inquisitor Xemnar for his part pretended not to hear the apathy in the Space Marine Captain's tone and continued: "This will be a glorious day for the Imperium of Man; an entire GGC platoon plus a planet full of heretics all wiped out by our hands. A fine catch indeed."

"If we can succeed at it." Tyrus pointed out. He hated the enemies of the Imperium as passionately as any other Imperial Space Marine, but he was no fool; their heretical brothers were as dangerous as they were, and the Eldar and Tau, even being the filthy xenos that they were, were never to be underestimated. Few Gold Legion companies ever triumphed over an entire GGC platoon single-handed. Tyrus just counted himself fortunate that he had the Inquisitor and his accompanying Psykers and guardsmen to help even the playing field.

Xemnar though, seemed more confident. "Of course we'll succeed, Tyrus. The Emperor's most faithful subjects are always rewarded for their commitment to the cause of expunging heresy wherever it may be found."

-X-

How goes it on Kronos? Asked Farseer Urtha's master and the chief spiritual leader and advisor of all Craftworld Eldar everywhere; Eldrad Ulthran.

We are trying to find passage off the planet before a Warp Storm hits. Was the telepathic reply that Urtha sent to him as they continued to mentally communicate from across the galaxy. Such was the power of Eldar Farseer telepathy at it's mightiest.

Urtha continued: I confess, that we are racing against the clock. Based on the word of a Tzeentch Sorcerer we have allied with, we should have at least another full day to get to where we need to go, possibly more. And every battle we get engaged in from here on out will only slow us down further.

This is indeed troubling. Eldrad Ulthran noted. Alas, Kronos is so far away from where I am, that I will not be able to send reinforcements to you in time. Even faster-than-light travel has it's limits, I'm afraid.

Do not blame yourself, Great Farseer. Urtha replied. We will make it off on our own. That or die trying.

I would not desire that second one. Eldrad said, before adding: Least of all when you would be among the dead, Urtha.

We cannot forsee everything, Great Farseer. Urtha reminded him. We can only do our best with what knowledge we have.

True. Well, I wish you the best of luck in escaping Kronos before the Warp Storm. I do hope we can see each-other again, daughter.

We shall see, father. Urtha said, as the psychic link was broken, and Urtha got back up. As she exited her tent though, she heard the same eerily familiar oily voice as before: "Have a good talk with daddy, did we?"

Urtha whipped around to see that Sindri was standing there, having clearly been waiting for her. Her lovely eyes narrowed accusingly. "How..."

"Never mind how I know, dear Farseer." Sindri replied in that same incredibly refined, elegant, whisper-like voice. "But the fact is I know. But it's not common knowledge, is it? Most don't know the great Eldrad Ulthran fathered so many children, do they?" He chuckled. "Why is that, I wonder? Could it be that he is..." Sindri made a fake gasp of shock. "...ashamed?"

Urtha lowered her Farseer staff at him menacingly. "Watch what you say, Tzeentch Sorcerer." She snarled, her pretty face becoming ugly with barely contained rage. "I'll not let anyone insult the great Farseer in my presence." She paused, then added: "Not with their tongue still in their head anyway."

Sindri chuckled. "My, my, such a feisty spirit. It will serve you well in the conflicts to come."

Urtha raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'conflicts to come'?"

"Why, isn't it obvious?" Sindri asked with a raised eyebrow. "You've sensed it as I have; something is coming for the Greater Good Coalition, and the False Imperium too. Something that is too powerful for either faction to overcome on it's own. We shall need to find some additional ally in order to beat them back. But you already know this, because as I said, you have sensed it too; foreseen it."

"The future is not set in stone." Urtha pointed out.

Sindri chuckled and dared to walk closer to Urtha, gently pushing the spear-head of her Farseer staff out of the way. "Mmmm, true, but we can forsee what is most likely to happen. That's reason enough to be concerned, is it not?" He smiled behind his helmet. "This is why I sought you out. Because the two of us know things the others do not. We are the ones who must prepare for what is coming."

"You know much, Tzeentch Sorcerer." Urtha said with a frown. "Too much, for my liking."

"The Lord of Change knows all." Sindri pointed out smugly before adding as an afterthought: "Well, or nearly all at any rate. Close enough." He chuckled again, before adding: "Also, I sense that another enemy force is headed our way. The Gold Legion, if I'm not mistaken. Rather unpleasant bunch, I must say. Especially to those like you and me."

"You sense the Gold Legion? Then I must inform Endewan at once."

"Of course you must." Sindri said with a nod. "Do your duty, dear Farseer." As Urtha went off to warn Endewan, Sindri smiled again and shook his head. He was looking forward to what could come next; he'd get to help wipe out a Gold Legion company, and further ingratiate himself into this GGC platoon and keep steadily gaining their trust. Two birds with one stone.

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen...

The next morning, everyone was moving again, and again doing so in a run. With it now being clear though that the Gold Legion was on to them, Lieutenant Mira had suggested that she lead her men and several of the Space Marines to the place where the rest of her men and the civilians were already hiding out. The Eldar, being the best at stealth, would accompany them, whilst meanwhile the Tau and the rest of the Space Marines would remain on their current path with Sindri to get the Gold Legion's attention. This way, roughly half the force could get to where they all wanted to go faster and hopefully without fear of running into anymore unwanted resistance. Otherwise if they all stayed together and kept moving forward, their enemies would always know exactly where to find them, and keep sending more troops their way, slowing down the whole GGC force indefinitely.

Impressed with the Imperial Guard Lieutenant's sense of strategy and prudence, Captain Michael and Endewan had agreed to the plan, the latter leading his Eldar to accompany her, her men, and some of the Space Marines, while Michael kept leading the rest along with Shak O' Ryos on the path Sindri had laid out. Before they'd split up, Jenna sent Daniel a very short, pointed telepathic message:

You had better come back to me alive, my love.

The plan seemed to work; no sooner had Michael and Shak's Space Marine and Tau forces emerged from another of Kronos' many jungles and into a more barren and wide-open field, did they see off in the distance the distinct golden armor of members of the Imperial Space Marine Gold Legion. Or, as they were so often called by their enemies, the Tyrant Space Marines.

"There they are." Michael observed grimly. He called out: "Space Marines, rally to me and perform a vox-test."

"Matthias, aye."

"Raphael, aye."

"Uriel, aye."

"Daniel, aye."

"Tiberius, aye."

"Kargis, aye."

"Decimus, aye."

"Phoebus, aye." Finished the Apothecary, Michael having made sure to keep him due to suspecting they might need him. Severus and the Assault Troopers meanwhile had accompanied the Eldar and Tempestus Scions.

For his part, Captain Tyrus had had his men do a similar vox-test before the battle. He eyed the Captain of the rival Space Marines with contempt before giving the order to charge. "Kill them all!" He shouted. His men heeded this order and charged, with Tyrus right in there with the rest of his men and his second Surtr bringing up the rear. For all his insisting that he wished to partake in the battle, Inquisitor Xemnar was curiously absent, but as far as Tyrus was concerned that was no skin off his nose.

As the Gold Legion Space Marines came closing in, the GGC Space Marines softly muttered some prayers, mostly to Horus of course, though Michael and Daniel instead gave Christian prayers, with Daniel again crossing himself.

"Horus protects." Chaplin Matthias said.

"A pair of good-old-fashioned Lasguns don't hurt either." Decimus remarked in a deadpan as he overheard the Chaplin. And, as if to prove his point, as the Imperial Space Marines finally got into position, Decimus opened fire with his Lasguns, the searing hot energy projectiles going through the Gold Legion men's helmets as though they weren't even there. This in turn kicked off the shoot-out, with many of the Imperial Space Marines dying before they could even reach their enemy. One that did manage to make it into melee range was swiftly decapitated by a swing from Michael's power-sword.

Hardly prepared to take their getting shot at repeatedly lying down, the Tyrant Space Marines returned fire, mostly with Bolter type weapons, though there were a few Lasguns thrown into the mix as well. The sounds of battle grew deafening as they so often did, pounding into the heads of everyone involved, but they all ignored it.

The Apothecary Phoebus shot another Tyrant Space Marine in the head with his bolter pistol and blocked the power sword strike of a second with his chainsword. They traded blows for a short while before Decimus got him in the side of his helmeted head with another shot from a Lasgun. For his part, Kargis used a flamer, unloading searing hot plasma fire onto the Imperial Space Marines and cooking them alive inside their suits of armor. He ignored the screams of pain and pressed on. Shak and his Tau Fire Warriors were hardly passive during all of this, trading fire with the Tyrant Space Marines as well and each side giving as good as it got. Several Tau fell forwards dead from their wounds or else were blasted through the air, but still they took some of the golden tyrants with them.

"For Horus!" Uriel bellowed as he traded blows with Tyrant Space Marines without missing a beat, facing three at a time and blocking each of their power or chainsword strikes with his hammer. He jammed the butt end into one's chest with enough force to stagger him before swinging his hammer at another one's head. He blocked the strike, but it staggered him, leaving him open to a follow-up attack. As Uriel brought him down with a hammer blow to the chest, he devoted more energies to the other two.

Raphael, his leg healed earlier, savagely drove his chainsword into another Tyrant Space Marine without batting an eye, memories of what the Gold Legion had done on more than one world fueling his every attack. Mere moments later, he killed another one with his chainsword.

They're not as tough when their victims aren't civilians. Raphael thought with pure contempt as he killed yet a third before he finally had the misfortune of running into Nero Tyrus himself.

"Heretic filth!" Nero shouted, swinging with his Power Sword. Raphael blocked the strike, but the ensuing exchange of blows was pitifully short. Raphael howled in pain as his entire forearm was sliced off, and his Chainsword fell away into the dusty ground along with it. Raphael drew his Bolter with his remaining hand, firing wildly.

"A Space Marine never yields!" He shouted, but Nero Tyrus dodged the bolter rounds before sending the Bolter spiraling out of his armored hand with another Power Sword strike.

"I know." Nero said simply before driving the Power Sword into Raphael's chest. "...I feel the same way."

Raphael gasped in shock and blood gurgled in his throat. He fell backwards, still not quite dead. Nero stood over him, ready to finish him.

"One final stab into your head should do it..."

Nero was cut off when a large, armored form rammed into him as hard as it could. Nero went tumbling backwards, dropping his Powersword as he did. Staggering to his feet, he saw Shak O' Ryos there, standing over Raphael's form.

"Stand down in the name of the Greater Good."

"Hmph. A Xeno coming to the defense of a Space Marine." Nero noted with disgust. Drawing his two hitherto holstered Bolter Pistols, he aimed them right at Shak...before rapidly changing and shooting at two of his Fire Warriors.

"No!"

"Your concern for them makes you weak." Captain Nero said contemptuously. "All of my brothers and I will happily throw away our lives for the Emperor's vision. We do not let things like compassion or mercy drag us down."

"Then reap what you sow." Shak said simply before firing his mech suit's payload at Nero. Had they connected the Space Marine Captain most assuredly would have been slagged, but his ever-loyal second in command Surtr threw himself between Nero and the shots. His Terminator armor was durable enough to take most of it, but even he was badly damaged. Shak surged forwards again, and Nero took the opportunity to slip out of the way, moving on to other, more vulnerable targets as Shak busied himself fighting Surtr.

"Take that!" Uriel shouted, giving another hammer swing that connected. This one actually sent the Tyrant Space Marine it hit spinning through the air dramatically before landing with a thud. Daniel continued to gun down what Tyrant Space Marines he could, Bolter Rifle firing away. Each one killed gave him no satisfaction the way it did some of his brethren, but he continued regardless. He didn't ever like the violence but he knew his duty. Chaplin Matthias too disliked the bloodshed, frowning at the display before him behind his skull helmet and throughout the fight mostly busying himself by creating force-fields for his fellow Space Marines and also Tau Fire Warriors and other troops under Shak's command.

Finally though, as two more of those Tau died to Tyrant Space Marines and about seven of them charged forwards in a coordinated assault on his allies' position, Matthias knew that the time for him to go on the offensive was then.

"BURN, MURDERERS!" Chaplin Matthias roared, unleashing from his Chaplin scepter a wave of blue flaming energy that struck each and every one of the seven Tyrant Space Marines and stopped them dead in their tracks.

By this point, the battle had clearly turned against the Imperial Space Marines; despite having had the GGC Space Marines outnumbered, the Tau's presence had been enough of a numbers boost that, in conjunction with the level of fighting prowess of Michael and his men (something Nero hadn't quite counted on), they were taking the advantage in the battle. In fact, thus far, Nero had lost dozens of men while Michael had lost only one. And he wasn't even dead yet.

Time to change that. Nero resolved, aiming his Bolter pistols at Uriel and firing. Uriel deflected two of the shots and dodged some of the others, but finally one managed to nail him and throw him off balance. Seizing on that, Nero fired a second barrage, and this time he managed to hit Uriel several times. Closing the distance in full, Nero rammed into Uriel, knocking him down. Grabbing his Warhammer, Nero slammed it down onto Uriel's head. Lifting the hammer up, he did it again. And again. And again.

Satisfied with the messy death he'd dealt the Space Marine, Nero looked at the hammer that's head was now completely red. Nero's breastplate and helmet too were now spattered with blood and a few other things that need not be described.

"I think I'll keep this." Nero decided, before turning to his men: "Pull back! Pull back and regroup! We've done enough damage for now! We'll finish them off later!"

Nero's men heeded him and they fell back, but some were cut down trying to escape. Others were killed in the battles they'd been in before they could disengage. And among the dead, Nero could see Surtr's now headless body falling backwards, the end result of him taking a point-blank blast from Shak O' Ryos' fusion blaster.

Deciding he'd rather not go out the same way, Nero kept falling back, with his remaining Space Marines right alongside him.

"Victory! We have victory!" Tiberius roared, raising his now completely-soaked-in-blood chainsword into the air in triumph.

"No such luck, I'm afraid." Said Michael grimly, both his own chainsword and also his powersword dripping with blood as well. "You heard what their captain said: "They're only falling back to regroup. We shall have to be ready for another attack."

"Captain!" Called Phoebus, getting Michael's attention. He ran to his position to find him standing over Raphael.

"It's not good, Captain. His injuries are severe..."

"Do what you can for him, Apothecary." Michael ordered. Phoebus nodded and did so, but he hadn't been lying or exaggerating when he'd said it was bad; Nero's powersword had gone right through one of Raphael's vital organs, and the electrical current had ensured there was additional damage as well, to say nothing for his other injuries. Meanwhile, Michael could see Daniel and Matthias standing over Uriel's dead body, Daniel reciting the "Lord is my Shepherd" prayer while Matthias asked that Horus grant Uriel peace in death.

"No..."

"Killed by his own weapon from the looks of it." Matthias observed grimly. "Especially since we can't find his hammer anywhere. Someone took it."

"The Gold Legion shall pay for this." Michael vowed. "But I trust you two are alright?" They both nodded.

"Where did the Tzeentch Sorcerer get off to?" Decimus demanded. "We could have used him in this battle."

"Busy conducting a little sabotage." Came Sindri's all-too familiar voice as he materialized behind Decimus, causing him to whip around with both Lasguns drawn and aimed at him.

"Peace, my Space Marine friend." Sindri said with a raised hand. "I mean you no harm."

"I'm not your friend." Decimus said with a frown.

"As I was saying...while you were all dealing with the Gold Legion's main force, I made my way over to their main base and...dealt with the ones they left to stand guard there. Rest assured that when they return to their main base, the Gold Legion will be in for a little...'surprise'. They are even weaker and more depleted now than they realize."

"I'll believe that when I see it." Michael said, frowning. "Decimus is right, we could have used you here, sorcerer. Especially when this is the path you have led us on and continue to lead us on."

"My apologies, good captain." Sindri said. "But rest assured, I mean what I say. You'll see...the Gold Legion will, I promise, be a more surmountable foe when next we cross paths with them."