60Death Korps of Justice: Salvation
Disclaimer: I do not in any way shape or form own the characters here. The character and the idea comes from Lord-of-Change's fanfic Death Korps of Krieg. The character of Krieg belongs to him, and what you see here is most likely not in any way canon to his story. Nor am I associated with Games Workshop in any way. This is a non-profit fanwork written solely for the purpose of entertainment. This is no way canon whether to Warhammer lore of Lord-of-change's work.
All the credit goes to Lord-of-Change for the idea and the inspiration. Once again, the character of Keled and the initial premise of the story belongs to him.
Chapter 1
It is the 42nd millennium, the Imperium of Mankind is under siege from all sides.
On one side, they had the never ending horde that were the Tyranids, the living disease that were the warmongering Orks, the ancient Necrons, the degenerate Elder, the growing empire of the Tau, and finally Chaos. Humanity's most ancient enemy that caused the Horus Heresy and brought the Emperor's dream to ruin when they corrupted his most favorite son, "Horus Lupercal", the first of the Primarchs recovered after they were scattered across the galaxy and the Warmaster of the Imperium.
And yet, despite all of us, hope remains. Lion El'Jonson, otherwise simply known as the "the Lion", has managed to bring back hope to the cut off region that was Imperium Nihlus. Helping bring order, peace, and stability back into the besieged region of imperial space. Additionally, Roboute Guilliman, the Lord Commander of the Imperium and the Avenging Son of the Emperor, having awakened from his stasis and after despairing over the current state of humanity, has recently launched the Indomitus Crusade to retake many sections of the Imperium that have been cut off after the fall of Cadia. The two brothers having met recently at the conclusion of phase two of the Indomitus Crusade. Much to Guilliman's delight and relief at the sight of one of his brother's alive, with Lion similarity glad to once again meet his brother. With Lion El'Jonson leading the armies of the Imperium in the defense of humanity while Guilliman worked on fixing the logistical and administrative issues the plagued the Imperium. The two demigods working with Belisarius Cawl of the Adeptus Mechanicus to develop innovative technology to battle the enemies of man and strengthened the already existing bonds between the Imperium and the Mechanicus.
Above all, He who sits on the Golden throne: the God-Emperor of Mankind, is growing in power thanks to the Great Rift. As such, he was able to devote some of his psychic energy to heal himself while he powered the Astronomican: the powerful psychic beacon that allowed Mankind to traverse the stars. Without it, humanity would be launched into a new dark age akin to the Age of Strife.
All of this allowed to happen because of his failures of being a parent. Which had costed him nearly everything, including the life of his closest friend: Malcador the sigillite.
"Oh, Horus, Lorgar, Angron. I'm sorry. For failing all of you. If you hear me, please forgive me for my failures and sins."
It was a suitable punishment. Enduring millennium of agony and torment for failing to see and address the plights of his son's. Too focused he was on the conquering of the galaxy and the webway project that he failed to heed the concerns of his sons. But if there was one instance that he regretted the most, was when he harshly chastised Lorgar and the entire Word Bearers legion for simply obeying the will of their Primarch. At the time, he thought it was a necessary evil. He didn't like having to forcing them to kneel in the ashes of what remained of Monarchia, but he genuinely believed that it was necessary to get the Great Crusade back on track whatever it took. Figuring he could sort out and fix Lorgar's feeling of anguish and anger once the Great Crusade was complete and Mankind could rest easily knowing that it was the dominant force on the galaxy.
Oh, how wrong he had been. Even if he wasn't, if he was a better father he would have an alternate method of chastising Lorgar instead of burning down what he considered to be his greatest accomplishment. If he was a better father, he would spent more time with his sons and helped them to deal with their doubts, issues, and problems more. He should have spent more time being a dad instead of a leader, no matter what his duties demanded of him, he still at the very least should have opened himself up more and trusted them more than he did. A mistake he wished desperately he could fix, but could not. And now he would have to live with that.
He could not dwell on the past. Not when humanity was under siege from all sides. Even with the return of two of his sons, Mankind was still under threat of extinction. With the great rift opening had allowed him to power the Astronomican to greater heights, it also allowed the denizens of the warp to interact with the material plane more. As could be seen with the increase in demon incursions, particular in Imperium Nihlus.
Humanity needed him. And he was not going to let them down.
As he was focusing on healing himself, he felt something strange. A prayer to him, not unlike the ones he received every day for the last ten-thousand years from the countless humans in the galaxy that worshipped him as a God. No. What was different about this one was where it was coming from. Coming from Terra. Praying for strength in the face of a... Chaos invasion? His Custodes have encountered no such thing in recent times.
Deciding to investigate further, he focused his psychic energy in tracing the origin. What he saw had left him speechless for several seconds. Which was quite telling as he was tens of thousands of years old and was hardly phased by anything anymore. The prayer was coming from a lone guardsmen on an alternate Earth whose time period was still in the 21st century. Which did leave slightly curious as to why and how this alternate Earth was thousands of years behind his one in time.
But what he saw was that the forces of the four were laying siege to the planet. Slaughtering millions to fuel the power of the chaos gods and nearly caused the complete downfall of almost every government on the planet. The local defenders and planetary defense forces were fighting valiantly, but it was clear they were losing ground to the four chaos gods.
What was puzzling was when he looked into the mind of the teen faithful to him, he found that some of the defenders known as "superheroes" were not killing the cultists and instead using non-lethal force on them. Which was the dumbest thing he had ever hear in the thousands of years he had been alive.
Maybe it was in his desire to be a better man to atone for his sins and crimes against his son or maybe it was simply his love for mankind, but he felt the desire to help. His conscience not allowing him to ignore the millions on that planet that were fighting for survival. Still, he admittedly he was not much aware on the situation and was unsure where to send assistance.
Perhaps it would be best to send aid to the guardsmen first. Good thing he had a force available after they had completed their most recent task of reinforcing the Imperial planet of Yavick IV from an Ork warband.
And it also appear that a certain saint of his also wished to lend her services to the task.
(Earth)
(21st century)
The siege of Los Angeles was a meatgrinder. It was an obvious fact to anyone that was there since the siege began, both the defenders and attackers knew this. For days, the two sides battled it out with one another with neither one making any significant gains. Though the defenders did make the chaos followers bleed heavily in caused mass casulties every time they launched an attack. That all changed in the last couple of days, when the cultists launched a massive offensive with the beasts of hell their masters have chosen to unleash. Finally causing the frontline to collapse as the defenders began to break and run for their lives. Though some managed to hold on, it matter naught as many gaps in the defenses were formed. Causing defenders and attackers to be mixed in all over the place with no clear line of battle. Even the presence of a team of teenage heroes did little to steam the tide of the onslaught.
With the return of the hero the citizens of the cities only knew as Krieg, who was recovering in the hospital after fighting a mutant named "Metamorpho" who had snuck into the city and made his way to the docks, they launched a counter-attack that managed to push the worshippers of Chaos back and reclaim many positions and fortifications. Unfortunately, they had no time to recuperate as Chaos continued their assault.
Such as the case with Specialist Holland of the 40th Infantry Division, holding back the lunatics on the hollywood boulevard. The piece of street his unit was charged with defending since the start of the siege alongside the a ragtag group of other National Guard and Air National Guard units, regular Army personnel, United States Marines, Los Angeles policemen, and hastily trained civilian militias.
They had recently retook the barricade during the latest counter-attack. Unfortunately, they barely had time to settle into their newly regained ground when the lunatics began charging at them in their typical zerg rush tactics.
"Get down!" An Airmen belonging to the 61st Wing known as Kinson yelled as they took cover. A cloud of smoke from a rocket impacting the ground several meters away from the makeshift barricade they were using as cover. Causing debris and dust to fly in all directions and land on the defenders, including Holland as he coughed and wiped away the dust.
"Come on, Holland! Get back in the fight!" Sergeant First Class Powel yelled as he continued firing his M4A1 at the mob of chaos followers running straight at their lines.
Holland coughed as he loaded a 40mm HEDP grenade into his M203 grenade launched mounted on his M16A4. "Right back at ya." He snarked as he fired the grenade from where the rocket had come from. Causing a plume of smoke when it landed and killing several cultists with it.
"Where the hell is my ammo!" The machine gunner for the M240B, Stevens, yelled as he fired his M16A4 at the attackers. Having run out of belts of 7.62x51mm rounds and was now resorting to his backup rifle.
"Shut up and keep fighting!" Holland yelled as he dropped a cultist that poked his head out of cover for too long than he should've. Things were looking grim. They were running low on ammo and the crazies kept charging across the open piece of street that separated the two groups. Still, if they were going to go down, they were going down swinging and taking as many as them as possible with them.
Suddenly, his back began feeling...warm. As it there was a fire burning right behind him.
Holland ignored it, brushing it off as a trick of the mind after a week of brutal fighting or an explosion or fire having formed some distance behind him, as he continued firing at the horde of crazies that charged the barricade. As he aimed through his ACOG optic and placed the reticle on a madman firing wildly into their lines with an Uzi nine-millimeter, he exploded in a cloud of red mist with there being barely enough left to fill a glass jar as he heard a loud boom as he pulled the trigger on his rifle. Holland stared at his rifle in shock, wondering if he had just did that. Suddenly, he more more rapid explosions akin to rounds fired from an autocannon that landed on several (un)fortunate cultists, exploding into similar puddles of blood and bones. He doubted they felt any pain as they were alive one second but well and truly dead in the next.
Turning around along with several of his compatriots, what he saw left him stunned with his mouth wide open in shock at the sight.
What he saw giant twice the size of a normal man, wearing armor that was straight out of something from a sci-fi movie but the helmet not dissimilar from a medieval knight from the middle ages with two scythes. But what was most striking was that it was on fire, as flames fickle from its head and shoulder pads yet no smoke was being emitted. Furthermore, despite being only a few feet away from the giant, he did not feel hot at all. Admittedly, a bit warm, but not hot as logic should dictate. Moving to stand beside Holland as it manned the barricade alongside him.
Suddenly, many more similarly armored knights, some wearing suits more advanced than others, appeared as they reinforced the defenders, firing their huge weapons at the horde of cultists, who looked just as surprised as the defenders were at the sudden arrival of the flaming juggernauts. None of them missing a shot as they were eviscerated with one hit With several shimmering into existence on the rooftops as they began engaging the heretics at long range. With several holding what looked to be some kind of sniper version of massive gun they were carrying.
Without warning, one of the giants leapt over their makeshift barricade with what Holland could only describe as some anarchistic combination of a sword and a chainsaw towards a firetruck the cultist have apparently repurposed as a makeshift tank with a bunch of guns on it. Booking it across the warzone with the flames trailing behind him as if he were a comet with the cultists firing their weapons at him with their rounds bouncing off his armor. Any cultist that was too slow to get out of the way was knocked unceremoniously to the side like they were pins and the giant was the bowling ball. A jeep driven by a deranged and screaming maniac drove as fast as it could as it attempted to ram the giant, only for the flaming behemoth to smash straight through as if it wasn't even there.
The armored figure than leapt in an arch and landed right on top of the firetruck. Whose commander screamed incoherently as she emptied her the mag of her M16A2 right into the titan to no avail, only to be cut in half by the chainsword it carried. It then nonchalantly dropped what looked to be a frag grenade into the makeshift armored vehicle before stepping off and battling the cultists in hand to hand. Not even turning around to look as it blew up behind him as it picked up a chaos follower by the neck and slammed her into paste into the ground.
Several more flaming giants carrying melee weapons like a chain axe, power sword, and more chain swords glimmered into existence as they charged ahead, while the ones with weapons provided cover from where they were positioned. The horde of madman began retreating for their lives as they began getting slaughtered in droves, only to be driven down like cattle by their rear guard units and their not so benevolent masters. Who the snipers have begun targeting with precision shots. Creating chaos in the ranks of the heretics as they struggled to organize and retaliate without their leaders, the sycophants they had serving under them more useful at following orders and being obedient rather than giving orders and commanding.
Holland and the rest of the mortal defenders only had one thought in regards to the whole ideal. Seeing the sick lunatics commit unspeakable horrors that would forever haunt them for the rest of their lives being slaughtered by not just their own side but by the flaming superhumans in power armor.
"Woah..."
"Now you are speaking my language." Krieg said as crouched low, aiming his M1911 with his right hand at the metahuman before him and his his combat knife held with his left.
The metahuman grinned as he tilted his hat and moved into a fighting stance as did the Kriegsman. With the two circling each other, daring the other to make the first move. It seems that shade had enough of waiting and prepared to attack. However, just before that happened, he was shot out of nowhere as he was set on fire. A look of surprise, pain, and anguished on his face for the brief second he was alive before he was turned into ash.
The sight of his enemy now dead before him caused Keled to pause with his eyes slightly widening in surprise. As he turned around, he saw a flaming giant pointing his weapon right at where the chaos commander was. The slight smoking from the barrel an indicator of where the round that killed him originated.
The sudden presence of the armored giant sent several of the city's of militiaman that had came to reinforce him into a state of panic and alarm, as they took aim at the flaming being and prepared to fire their weapons. 'Causing Krieg to jump in front of him and desperately tried to stop them before they made a grave mistake.
"Stop! Stop!" The Kriegsman waved his arms frantically as he ordered them to hold fire. "Do not engage! Do not engage!"
Keled knew instantly who they were, for he had been told legends about them since the moment he could comprehend what was happened around him.
They were Space Marines.
The Emperor's very own angels of death. Though, admittedly he did not know what chapter they had belonged to. Then again, he was hardly an expert in the lore of the various types of chapters that operated within the Imperium. Still...he did not remember reading about one that looked like they were on fire.
Still, he was not well versed on the many chapters of the Imperium. Only being taught about certain chapters at a young age like the Hounds of Death, Silver Skulls, etc. He had heard that some of the Emperor's angels had possessed certain body deformities and traits. As such, he wasn't really surprised that there was one that was on fire but not burning.
What did have him surprised was that they were here. He had thought he was along to fight against the forces of chaos in this war. Only aided by the ragtag and misfit group he had managed to assemble into an army and the heroes of the world (much help they have been). Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would get the honor of not only meeting an Astartes in person, but actually having the honor of fighting alongside one as well.
"Does that mean...? Oh, oh God-Emperor, have you...heard me?" The Kriegsman thought to himself as he felt a renewed sense of vigor and determination as he knelt down to one knee before the Astartes, much to the confusion of the militiamen surrounding him.
"My Lord, I am humbled and honored by your presence." He said as he stared up at the burning angel. "Are you alone?"
The Space Marine didn't answered, only giving a small gesture for Keled to stand up, which he did. As if on cue, a militiaman walked up to him while nervously glancing between him and the giant.
"Sir, these things have appeared all over the city and are helping us in the defense. These things must have killed hundreds of enemy combatants already."
With that, the colossus motioned for Keled to follow him, which he did before ordering the group to see to the defenses and to fortify the checkpoint. Along the way, they encountered Ravage, who drew her weapon and aimed it at the Marine. Which immediately prompted Krieg to stand in front of the barrel of the gun.
"Stand down. Now." The Kriegsman growled.
"You know what this thing is?" The mercenary questioned as she kept her weapon leveled. "These things have appeared all over the city and are already causing a ruckus. One of them even stole one of my kills! Tried to fight him on that before he vanished."
"Yes I do, now stand down." He ordered. Ravage kept her weapon aimed at the giant before she relented and holstered her sidearm. The Space Marine then continued to lead the two to a nearby intersection guarded by two more flaming Astarte's. With their guide stopping, they halted as well as well before a rift flickered into existense right behind the two Marines. Once the gate was formed, a figure strolled on through. Resembling a human female with wings outfitted in a golden helmet and armor. Before any of them could speak up, she lifted her hands on her helmet and unlocked it with a hiss. Removing it and placing it underneath her arm, revealing a pale faced woman with raven-black hair that reached down to her chin. Keled knew who she was immediately, learning about her from a cardinal from a planet his regiment had been sent to reinforce from a ork attack in one of his earlier campaigns back home. Krieg fell to one knee as he bowed his head as he was in the presence of one of the Emperor's saints.
"Saint Celestine." He said, doing his best to keep his voice from trembling. Doing his best to keep himself composed in the presence of a living saint of the Imperium.
"You know who this chick is?" Ravager asked from behind him. Before Krieg could snap at her and demand that she show the proper respect, the living saint spoke.
"Rise, son of Krieg," the winged woman gave out her hand for him to reach. Which he took as he got up, seat dripping down his back as he struggled to keep his composure.
"You have done well. The Emperor is pleased with you." She said as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"T-Thank you," Keled stammered. Whatever Ravage was saying didn't reach his ears as his gazed remained fixed on the saint. Who too ignored the mercenary yapping her mouth off behind him at being ignored as she smiled warmly down of him, her wings slightly fluttering as she gave him a look a parent might give their child when they have done something the parent was proud of.
"Come," she pointed to the portal behind them that was guarded by two of the flaming angels. Their gazes keeping a watchful eye out for any potential threats. Whether they be Chaos or otherwise.
What she said next shook him to the very core as he felt the closest thing a Kriegsman could feel to a heart attack. His eyes widened behind his gas mask as sweat immediately began forming on his back with his heart beating at six times the speed.
"The Emperor wishes to speak to you."
Author's note: As, always, hope you all enjoyed this chapter and thanks again to all of you for checking this story out. The recent Astartes 2 teaser trailer and the 40k Secret Level episode has got me into a Warhammer mood. So, I decided to make this while I still had the inspiration and motivation to do so. Gained this idea while reading the story and thought to myself "What if the Legion of the Damned showed up".
Also, side note, if I continue this, I'm going to be going by rule-of-cool for the majority of it. Like, why would the Emperor hear the prayers and pleas from a load Guardsmen on an alternate Earth with a different Mankind. Why would he bother when his back is already broken a thousand times over for keeping the Imperium up. And to that I retort, it's because he's the God-Emperor of Mankind, quit your heresy. Praise the God-Emperor and the Imperium of Mankind.
Lord-of-Change, if by any chance you check this out, please know that I love your story and hope that you one day come back. I do not mean or intend to steal anything from you and hope you are alright with me making an AU of your work. Once again, I hope you're okay but if by any chance you're not, please feel free to let me know and I'll stop.
Have a good day, guys, and take care. And always remember... stay frosty, gents.