Saving 'The Emperor' (Part 1)

You didn't have time to curse—the Khorne Berserker, with a pair of 'rabbit ears' jutting from its blood-red helmet, had already locked onto you with its auspex.

You tried to pull your legs free from the knee-deep snow and fight back.

The roaring Khorne Berserker abandoned the corpse, raised its terrifying chainaxe, and charged at you.

You scrambled to pick up a fallen lasgun and frantically pulled the trigger.

The searing laser, enough to annihilate flesh and blood, only left a few small pits on the Khorne Berserker's power armor.

You were less than five meters from the Khorne Berserker.

The grinding roar of the chainaxe's teeth rattled your eardrums, and the stench of blood assaulted your nostrils.

You were consumed by despair.

You held down the trigger, trying to overload the lasgun's power pack, hoping to inflict some damage before you died.

You regretted not praying to the Emperor for protection before you arrived.

You were about to be torn apart; you were on the verge of death.

At the critical moment, a blast of orange-red melta fire melted a swath of snow and punched through the Khorne Berserker's power pack, triggering a violent detonation.

At this moment, the roaring chainaxe was only half a meter from your face.

You were flung back by the terrifying shockwave.

Blood sprayed from your mouth and nose; your head spun as you slipped toward unconsciousness.

Just before your eyes closed, you saw a blurry image: several elite soldiers in sealed helmets rose from the thick snow ten meters away.

Each wielded a terrifying inferno gun, executing the still-screaming Khorne Berserker with precise shots, each round hitting its 'rabbit ear' helmet, completely melting its head away.

You fell into darkness and lost consciousness.

You were badly wounded, but barely alive.

You slowly woke from unconsciousness, finding the pain in your organs had vanished.

You tried to sit up and survey your surroundings, but a hoarse male voice stopped you.

You turned your head. In a snow cave built from ice blocks, a bearded man in carapace armor was repairing and assembling an inferno gun, chewing on rations as crumbs spilled into his brown beard.

You thanked him for saving you, then expressed your loyalty to the Emperor.

The bearded man didn't look up. After swallowing his food, he said your courage saved yourself—facing a Chaos Astartes charge and pulling the trigger showed enough loyalty.

You wanted to get up and talk more, but before you could speak, a still-warm ration pack was tossed into your arms.

Your stomach was gnawing with hunger, and you ate without even thanking him.

The bearded man stopped his work, watching you gobble down the food, and gave you two choices.

Return to the Imperial Station—you, falling from the sky, would surely receive a warm welcome from the 412th Cadian Shock Troops, along with a 'friendly' reception from the Inquisition.

Or accept General Sturn's orders and follow them on a mission that might have no return.

Death was routine; the Khorne Berserker was just an appetizer. The Orks waiting to be thrashed would be your dance partners, and the pointy-eared ones lurking in the shadows would accompany you into your dreams... if you lived to see the next day.

You didn't hesitate. You chose the mission.

The bearded man frowned, asking why you chose that—the Inquisition's threat meant nothing to you, and the Cadian Shock Troops would protect your life safety.

You gave a vague account of your past battles.

When he heard you had once served in the Death Korps of Krieg and the Valhallan Ice Warriors, the doubt in his eyes slowly turned to shock.

The bearded man chose to believe you, and declared you an envoy of the Emperor.

You met his burning battle-fury without refuting.

On the first day, you followed the bearded man and met the rest of the team.

It was a six-man combat squad. The bearded man was a sergeant major and the squad's commander.

You received several sets of bloodstained Cadian standard camouflage uniforms, once belonging to Cadian soldiers who had given their loyalty.

You put them on without hesitation, shielding yourself from the pervasive cold.

From the Bearded Sergeant Major, you got a lasgun and three frag grenades.

You tried to ask for more weapons.

The other squad members let out low laughs, and the Bearded Sergeant Major had to explain.

Time on the mission was tight. If you joined the squad, you had to serve as a pack mule, carrying more equipment—that was your duty.

You didn't hesitate and gladly accepted the role.

You considered yourself just a coin of the Emperor, deserving no special treatment.

On the second day, your squad was cornered by a group of Orks.

They were from the infamous Goff Clan, a bunch of greenskins who loved melee combat and stickbombs—bigger and tougher than ordinary Orks.

The squad you joined faced the sudden attack with ruthless efficiency and disciplined coordination.

You lay in the snow, still loaded down with gear, and the fight was already over.

[While cleaning up the battlefield, curiosity got the better of you and you couldn't help asking about the squad's true origins.]

[The Bearded Sergeant Major smiled without a word, while a young soldier proudly declared.]

[They were the elite of the Cadian Shock Troops, the supreme glory of the Cadian people—they were the Kasrkin.]

[On the third day, heavy snow blanketed heaven and earth, and the squad remained safe and sound.]

[The journey was arduous, and you were exhausted, weighed down by heavy supplies.]

[The squad members offered to share your burden, but you firmly refused.]

[You believed they needed to preserve their combat strength to face more dangerous enemies.]

[And you also discovered that you could recover from fatigue and injuries through sleep—this must be the Emperor's blessing.]

[During a rest stop, the Bearded Sergeant Major entered your snow pit and informed you of the true mission.]

[Not long ago, an Emperor-class Titan, 'Dominatus,' had fallen on this planet.]

[It was one of the Empire's most powerful weapons and the Adeptus Mechanicus's most precious creation—no loss could be tolerated.]

[The Kasrkin squad you joined was merely one among many; more Imperial forces were en route to the rescue.]

[Through days of grueling action, you had once again proven your loyalty.]

[The Sergeant Major wanted you to mentally prepare yourself and be ready for battle at all times.]

[Your squad was about to face an incredibly brutal and terrifying war.]

[In the first week, thanks to your powerful recovery ability, you adapted to the freezing environment.]

[You began asking the Bearded Sergeant Major and other squad members about Kasrkin combat techniques and battlefield experience.]

[Everyone in the squad exchanged glances, envious of your remarkable stamina and energy.]

[You gradually learned how to counter the killing techniques of Chaos Space Marines and Orks.]

[For example, against Khorne Berserkers, use a Melta Head Wash; against hordes of Orks, kill the leader first.]

[In the second week, the squad arduously reached a vast forest covered in snow and ice.]

[Intelligence from the Imperial Station indicated that you were nearing the crash site of the Emperor-class Titan 'Dominatus.']

[The Bearded Sergeant Major ordered you to stay alert and replenish your strength and ammunition.]

[You unloaded the supplies and calculated the distribution for everyone.]

[Suddenly, a faint whistling sound reached your ears.]

[Crystal-clear, sharp projectiles embedded themselves in the supply crate before you, destroying most of the contents.]

[You instantly recognized them as ammunition from the Aeldari's standard weapon, the Star-dart Thrower.]

["Enemy attack—!" you roared at the top of your lungs.]

Thank you for the 500-point tip from War Fortress 9!

Thank you for the 500-point tip from Jiu Luo Xing Yu!

Thank you for your support!

I'm going to grab a bite to eat; the next chapter will be written right away.