Redemption Of The Fists, A Sgt Wenzel story

This is a Space Marine story.

If this isn't allowed here then I do apologize.


Command Sergent Vincent Wenzel entered the bridge of the Justice. The old Firestorm frigate had seen it's share of battle with the orks, however this time would be different. Wenzel's mission was one of stealth not brute force, and hopefully this ship would see him through.

Brother Techmarine Jacob Klaus was in the Command Chair seeing to the servitor navigators and generally enjoying the feel of the ship.

"Emperor's peace unto you Brother Wenzel" the Techmarine captain motioned to the Sergent. "We will be translating into real space in several hours, I hope you and your recruits will be able to find them."

"As do I Brother Klaus," Wenzel stared at the view screen " Inquisitorial Intellegence seems to think they are on that planet and the Chapter Master believes them." "They were taken by Warlord Grimtuf Ironhide after the monestary's destruction." Both marines bowed their heads at the mention of the greatest assault to the Chapter it had ever received.

Wenzel continued, "Grimtufs fortress is on the Death world Malor VII in the Loki sector. When we translate into space we will need to rig for silent running. We will infiltrate the planet by Thunderhawk, walk through the catachan devil infested jungle, find the fortress, sneak past all of his body guards and steal Grimtuf's most valued possesion, and get back to you without breaking a sweat."

Klaus allowed a grin to form on his lips, "This sounds too easy for you Command Sergent, maybe I could suggest a more difficult mission for you to the Chapter Master." Both marines started to chuckle at this. The decades had not diminished the bond between the two warriors since their inception into the scout company. Wenzel punched the techmarine in the shoulder and headed to the barracks. "Emperor's peace unto you Klaus." Wenzel said with a grin as he reached the door. Klaus' face turned stone like, "Emperor protect you Brother" he mutered to the door.

As Wenzel reached the barracks door he saw recruit Adalbert and Rodolf in a wrestling contest, Rodolf the heavy weapon specialist and bigger than Adalbert by 75 pounds couldn't quite catch the smaller and quicker Adalbert. Recruits Walther, Erwen, and Dolf were meditating in their cells. Franz and Jurgen were dueling with practice sabers, and by the welts on Jurgen it looked like Franz was winning. And finally Nestor and Karl seemed to be seeing who could endure longer in the pain glove. They were still recruits and the glove was set to a maximum of two minutes.

Franz aborted his lunge with his saber and shouted, "Command Sgt on deck!" All of the recruits stoped what they were doing and stood to attention.

"Brother Recruits," Wenzel started "this mission is the most important thing you will ever do for this Chapter." "If we are successful and you are still alive, all of you will be full Battle Brothers." The recruits stood a little taller after this. Wenzel continued "We are enroute to the planet Malor VII," the barracks vid screen snapped to life showing the planet. "Malor VII is the base of operations for the ork Warlord Grimtuf Ironhide. This is one of the Warboss' that along with Snagrod attacked Rynn's world. The Crimson Fists have seen these Xeno's bested and pushed off of our worlds, however before Grimtuf left he is believed to have taken something very precious from us and we want them back." Wenzel allowed the recruits time to digest what he was saying.

"That's right men...we are going to take back the Armor of Faith and the Black Sword."

This post has been edited by Desert Rat on Aug 24 2009, 02:06 PM

Sergent Wenzel settled into his grav couch onboard the Phoenix. This Thunderhawk had seen it's share of battle damage but it had always gotten it's crew and passengers home safe. Wenzel prayed to the Emperor that her streak would continue.

The recruits were adjusting their straps and stowing their gear. Wenzel looked down at his data slate to review the mission parameters.

+++Loki Sector+++
+++Malor System+++
+++Malor System consists of nine planets orbiting a class beta star. The system was under Imperial control until 989.M41 when Waagh Snagrod entered the system and conquered all of the habitable planets. Malor System is still under Ork control and deemed lost.
Malor VIIII was a training base for the Imperial Fists. Data shows the I.F. hadn't used this base for decades before the orks had invaded.
Malor VIII is a methane/hydrogen giant. Mining operations were inplace until the invasion. Status of the mines is unknown at this time.
Malor VII is a jungle Death World. The capitol and only city on the planet is Malorstag. Malor VII was colonized in 756.m38 as a hunting and pleasure getaway for wealthy nobles from many of the systems in this sector. Deadly fauna was introduced to this world to enhance the hunting. The Catachan Devil has risen to the top of the food chain on the world. PDF forces held out long enough for several noble families to escape before the orks claimed the planet.
Malor VI is a lifeless planet with no atmosphere. Data indicates the planet lost the atmosphere in m37-m38. No minerals of any value or use were found on the planet during several investigations by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Malor V was a hive world. PDF forces on this planet held out the longest against Snagrod, however with no aid the defences finally fell and the populous is now in slavery.
Malor IV was an agri-world and still continues in some fasion as one. Slaves from Malor V now grow fungi and squigs for all of Snagrods armies.
Malor II, and III are lifeless balls of rock. No minerals worth mining have been found on these two planets.
Malor I has been quarentined by the Ordo Hereticus, no other data available on this planet.

The Justice will enter realspace underneath the system close to Malor VIII. The moons and rings of Malor VIII will mask the entrance of the ship. The Phoenix will launch as soon as the Captain gives the command.

As Wenzel was reading the report the Nav sirens began to blare.

+++Translation into realspace in 5...4...3...2...1...+++

"Here we go."

may i suggest you ditch this?

it breaks up the momentum, let readers find out about the promotion when it happens, (if you get that far)

I put that piece in to as a quick way to explain Wenzels and Klaus' bond (for lack of a better word). I can see getting rid of the "When the chapter gets another company to strength Wenzel is slated to become it's Captain, if he survives this little outing" portion of it though, however I wanted to show his favorable status in the chapter.

Maybe that is already a given with him leading such a force far away from a Captain or other high ranking officer.

Thanks for the input, I'll have to think about that one.

A queezy feeling, a wrongness, and being caught guilty of something. These feelings all rolled into a little ball exploded in Sgt. Wenzel's stomach as the Justice translated into realspace.

Huge "BOOMS" shook the ship as it entered realspace. Nav vox's screeming collision warnings drowned out any other sound. The launch bay doors opened quickly and the Phoenix jumped out into space. The Command channel hissed and popped in Wenzel's ear. Collision warnings, clipped orders and prayers to the Emperor were the only things he could hear.

The Phoenix jumped around like it was in a hurricane. Loud "BANGS" and smaller dings were pinging off of her armor. The scouts in the hold looked relaxed but Wenzel saw that they were murmering the canticles of faith.

++Sgt. we have disembarked from the Justice. It looks like she got too close to the rings when we translated in and she is taking a hell of a beating Sir.++ Wenzel opened up his mike. "How long until our drop pilot?" ++Preliminary readings show this system crawling with Ork ships. We are going to have to hide in the rings for a while until we get a clearer idea of the situation.++ "I haven't been able to raise the Justice, how is she dealing with the rings." ++Captain Klaus just reported major fires in the mast section. We lost contact with the Justice right after that.++

Wenzel breathed a small prayer under his breath for Klaus and the Justice. "I'm on my way to the bridge. Find a large rock for cover and hold there."

Turning to his men Wenzel stood up. "Brothers contact with the Justice has been cut. It looks like we translated to close to the rings and she is dealing with them now. We may be on our own for quite a while." A grim determination gripped each of the scouts and was visible on their faces. "Adalbert, inventory everything on the Phoenix and have it ready for me in 5." Wenzel turned and made his way up to the bridge. As he left he could hear Adalbert taking charge and divying out duties to the scouts. "If he lives through this he is going to be a decent sgt."

As Wenzel entered the bridge he saw the chaos that they were sheltering from, "Status report." The Command Pilot turned to Wenzel. "We are hidden and relatively safe for the moment, but..one of those rocks has damaged the port engine. We should be able to make it to the drop point safely as long as we don't have to make any erratic manuvers." Wenzel gave him a look, "How likely is that?" "Not very," the pilot started "there is a mining rig close by in the rings that we may be able to affect repairs in. We may have to go in hot. The augers can't tell if any life, be it ork or human is on board." Wenzel turned towards the door, "Attack pattern Beta, land in the main bay and hold the ship. We'll clear the rig and you can affect the repairs as soon as it's secure." A couple of "Aye Sirs" followed Wenzel out of the bridge.

maybe something like this

Klaus allowed a grin to form on his lips, "This sounds too easy for you Command Sergent, maybe I could suggest a more difficult mission for you to the Chapter Master." Both marines started to chuckle at this.The years had not dimished the bond created when they both been scouts in the same squad.

wasnt going to say it but i fell imust
Grav-couch

couch is a very casual un-military-like word, a grav couch makes me think of oppulance, a navigator or rogue trader heirloom, a tau item even

the rest i will give some thought and try to find a bigger keyboard

So marine stories are allowed here?

why not? i'd read 'em the fiction section is the most unloved part of the forum anyways

Sure it is

As long as someone bothers to write a piece of fiction here, I'm all for it.
This is an IG forum, so most stories will be about the Guard, naturally, but that doesn't mean SM, Eldar or whatever else isn't allowed in the fiction section.
Unless it's furry-porn or something.

Lt Santos: Yah "couch" doesn't have the right feel, seat or bench something like that would sound better. How about this.

"The decades had not diminished the bond between the two warriors since their inception into the scout company. They had been recruited at the same time and trained in the same scout squad. Klaus had shown more technical aptitude and Wenzel was a born leader." I still like this last part.

Panzergraf: Sorry I don't have the imagination for furry-porn so I guess your stuck with a spacemarine story

Gree: Nice to see you on the board. Give it to me with both barrels, other points of view will help greatly.

i think just the first line

The decades had not diminished the bond between the two warriors since their inception into the scout company

the rest is just stuffing, keep it meaty, how klaus handles things will show in his technical applitude, wenzel leadership is evident, dont force the reader to know his complete bios

(oh and wenzel makes me think the words denzel washington everytime)

+++MINING RIG 103 ALPHA GAMMA+++
+++MALOR SYSTEM+++
+++MALOR VIII+++

Malor VIII is a methane/hydrogen gas giant with varying rings of ice, dust, rocks circling the planet. Gas rigs owned by the various mining guilds ply the upper atmosphere collecting the methane and hydrogen for use in the hive and machine shops of Malor V and fuel supplies for agricultural harvesters on Malor IV.

Mining Rig 103 Alpha Gamma was put into production in 857M41. Built and operated by House Van Myler its primary purpose is the mining of metals for Malor IV's harvesters and PDF regiments of Malor IV and V. Secondary functions include a small Adeptus Mechanicus laboratory and bio facility (Agricultural). Tertiary functions include penal workforce and religous enlightenment.

Mine Population: 752
Tithe Grade: Exactis Tertiary
Chief Exports: Iron,Nickel,Copper
Garrison Strength: 60 House Guard


As the rest of the information scrolled down the pict slate Sgt Wenzel already had his plan in mind. The scouts were all combat loaded at the front of the Phoenix waiting for his signal. Wenzel opened his com channel, "Pilot start our run." He could feel the ship excellerating as he sunk into his grav-seat. Telemetry and other data was scrolling on the sergeants pict slate. No life signs were being picked up by the ship. No damage was visable from the exterior of the rig.

"Two minutes!" Wenzel barked. The scouts were tense and alert. Weapons were unslung and charged. Adalbert had his bolt pistol ready along with his power saber on his hip. Rodolf carried a flamer and lit the pilot light. The heavy weapon specialist was also showing progress with assault weapons. The rest of the scouts charged their bolt guns and said their prayers of protection and reverence for their war spirit. Wenzel double checked his plasma pistol and chain sword. Both weapons were treasured items from his many years with the Fists.

++Sgt. The activation codes for the launch bay are working. No incoming fire. No sign of hostiles. Touch down in 15 sir.++

"Touchdown in 10..disembark in squads..Adalbert take the left, my squad take the right."

++4...3...2...1...Mark++

The assault ramp groaned and pressure seals hissed as it opened. "GO..GO..GO!" Wenzel shouted as the scouts raced out of the Phoenix scanning for any enemy movement. The marines fanned out around the ship. All weapons were up and scanning the empty launch bay.

The landing bay was as quiet as a tomb. Empty ore haulers littered the bay. Tools and trash were scattered through out the giant room. Emergency lighting was on in the bay casting eerie shadows along the walls and floor. The only sound was the thunderhawk powering down. The heavy bolter sponsons whirring and clicking as they hunted for the enemy were the noisiest things in the bay.

"Fire team Aldalbert secure your side of the bay and report, fire team Wenzel with me." Both teams split up and began clearing the bay, shadow by shadow, turn by turn. Wenzel could hear the covering sponsons track as they moved. His team was moving by twos and covering each other as they made their way down the room. He motioned the stop/cover signal to his team. Dropping behind a set of barrels he activated his auspex. "Only life signs are ours" he murmured. "Adalbert report" he wispered on the squad channel. "Adalbert here...no hostiles...no civilians. We did find some scoring from small arms fire but that's it." Wenzel grunted "Continue to clear the bay. Secure any door or opening you find leading to this bay and then meet up with us in the control room...out." Adalbert clicked his comm in responce.

"Franz, Karl you have the lead, Nestor you have our backs...let's move."

With swift precision fire team Wenzel cleared their side of the launch bay and made their way to the control room. Several of the windows in the control room were broken and dark stains could be seen on the glass. An emergency light flickered in one of the corners of the room. Wenzel signaled stop/cover to his fire team and activated the auspex again. No movement or heat signatures were being registered. Wenzel looked up and motioned to the two lead scouts.

Franz began slicing the "pie" as he neared the door. Doing this maneuver allowed him to see most of the room while keeping himself out of the line of any return fire. Karl followed Franz towards the control shack while the others covered the windows and the bay. Nothing was moving in the bay. An almost unnatural stillness enveloped the launch bay. The quiet was deafening. The scouts augmented hearing was straining to catch any sound, but the only thing to be heard were their own footfalls.

Franz glided up to the door. The blast doors had been blocked open allowing him to look into the room. Scanning the room with his bolter Franz then Karl cleared the shack. Wenzel's com bead hissed, "All clear Sir." The sergent clicked his bead and motioned to the rest of his team. As he double timed it to the door the remaing scouts took up covering spots to either side of the blast doors. As he strode into the shack it was like he had stepped into a butchers den. Blood and gore stained most of the walls and floor. Control screens and equipment looked like they had been mindlessly attacked. The blood stains were old and whatever happened here must have occured several months ago. "No bodies." Karl quietly said. Wenzel looked around the room and saw that the scout was right. Even with the amount of gore strewn about the room, none of it amounted to a body.

"Fire team Adalbert reporting," Wenzel clicked his bead "launch bay cleared. All doors leading from the bay are secured and we are heading to the control shack. over." "Understood Adalbert, report to the Pheonix and help with the repairs. We'll be along in 10. out. Karl, Franz find a pict slate or cogitator that's still working. I want to know what happened here."

Franz and Karl began rooting through the refuse that was laying about. It looked as if every piece of equipment in the room had been smashed. Vid-screens stared blankly at the scouts with their cracked and broken faces. Wiring and cables were strewn about the room and looked like the machines entrails. The only thing in the room that was working were the emergency lights, and those weren't working very well.

Wenzel could hear one of the pilots start up a lifter in the launch bay. Noise itself seemed out of place here he thought to himself as he rummaged around for answers to this mystery. "Over here sir." Karl said as he was thumbing through some cogitator logs. "It looks like these are copies of the last logs of this flight deck."

Karl handed the logs to his sgt.. Wenzel began to read the logs and then couldn't help but read them aloud.

Mining Rig 103 Alpha Gamma
House Van Myler
Deck Officer Hans Van Myler
Log 10-11-5

Ork ships have entered the system and the entire system is in a panic. Draden has put a halt on all mining production and put the rig on lock down. The Mechanicus don't seem very happy about this but they will do as they are told. There is a house meeting in 10 minutes and Draden will let the rest of us know what Count Van Myler wishes us to do. I hope the fleet above Malor V will take care of this and we can go back to business as usual.

Log 10-12-45

Count Van Myler wants all of the houses holdings to lay low and do their best to hide. That's easy enough for that old fart. He's deep in the jungle at one of our safe houses, while I'm stuck on this ball of rock in the path of those psychotic xenos. Draden says we will be okay. We've reduced all emissions from the rig and turned all of the power down to emergency levels. I'm sure we'll be okay.

Log 11-22-15

A recon fighter from the fleet made an emergency landing. Draden wanted to fire on the ship so it wouldn't give us away. It was so pathetic I had to laugh. The pressure is getting to me. He'll get me as soon as the orks are gone, cousin or not. "You can't tweak someone's nose in public and not expect a dagger in the back in private." One of several of my fathers favorite sayings. I wonder how that bugger is doing. I hope the strangler weeds have gotten into the vent shafts. It looks like House Van Myler just acquired a new fighter. Tough luck on the pilot, he didn't make it through the landing.

Log 13-03-24

So much for expecting the navy to save our hides. Why do we pay them so much for protection when they can't destroy a ragged fleet of orks. Word has come down that some of the other Houses are loading up as much as they can and leaving the system. That just leaves more for us when another fleet comes in and cleans up these filthy scum. I've gotten the ok from Draden to use some of the convicts to salvage the battle. I'm going to be able to buy my way off this rock, duty or no.

Log 15-22-31

I don't understand why Draden's so pissed at me. So a couple of the convicts died and several more of them are in sick-bay. The tech that was on that monster is amazing. I've bribed several of the tin-boys to hide the best stuff in their lab. Draden got his cut and it was almost fair. We've lost contact with Malor VII. I hope the old man is ok. I can't wait to see what those mech heads think of my new toys.

Log 16-19-01

Emperor save me what have I done. They ripped through the convicts like razor sharks. House troops have them sealed in the lower cell bays. Draden is going to have my head for bringing them on the rig. It's not my fault. He okay'd the salvage. How was I supposed to know..how was I supposed to know.

End Log...........

Wenzel dropped the logs onto the floor and keyed his comm "Pilot Horst report". "Starting repairs to the engine now sir. By the looks of it we should be able to finish repairs in 90 minutes". Wenzel grunted as he took the news. "Acknowledged, be advised there may be an enemy force on board this rig still. Finish the repairs as quickly as possible and prep the ship for dust off, out."

"Adalbert," Wenzel began "there may be hostiles on board the rig still. Meet me at the main blast doors. If we are going to use this rig as a base we are going to have to clear it first." A click on the comm signaled Adalberts understanding.

Wenzel's fire team followed him out of the control room warily eyeing every shadow. Crossing the bay Vincent could see fireteam Adalbert making their way to him. Even though they had cleared the bay each of the scouts were still scanning every inch as they moved. The sgt signaled his team to take positions around the blast doors. Fireteam Adalbert fanned out when they made it to the doors. Vincent motioned for Adalbert. "Here are the schematics for the rig," he said as he sinced up his auspex with Adalbert's. "We will head to Operations using this route. Once there, we will check the rigs cogitators and see if we can get the main power running, and we will make our next move there. My team has point." Adalbert nodded his head in understanding and signaled to his team to check weapons.

Checking his plasma cell Wenzel's team opened the blast doors. Emergency lighting was flickering down the corridor. With the auspex in one hand and his plasma pistol in the other Wenzel began clearing the rig. Adalbert waited several seconds and then motioned his squad into the corridor and shut the blast doors behind him.

Both pilots looked over their shoulders as the blast doors closed. "Alright," Horst said as he grabbed a spanner "we better get her fixed quickly, I have a feeling they are going to be back in a hurry with trouble right behind them." Xavier grunted as he was trying to loosen one of the bolts on the vacuum housing. "You'd better set up the servitors while we work." Horst opened a panel on his vambrace and punched in the codes to activate the weapon servitors. A rumbling began inside the Pheonix as four heavy bolter servitors made their way down the assault ramp. A couple of more finger strokes on his vambrace and the servitors made a perimeter around the thunderhawk. Each of the servitors activated it's targeter and began passive scanning of the bay. With that done Horst got back to the promethium injector and gave a silent prayer that the emperor would watch over the scouts.