Ch.7: Aid Unlooked For

The world had turned black.

Salbatore fought his eyes to open, his helm lost, blown off his head.

Slowly he picked himself up, sitting at first has he breathed and took in his surrounding. Where was he? And what had happened?

All he could recall to memory was his last defiant stand against the monsterous machine of the Pandemica's Warlord. He'd smashed the Fist of Vengeance into the renegade construct and let the Emperor decide his fate.

He unsteadily rose to his feet and analysed the air with a deep breath. The air had an ionised tang to it, and sand...igneous in origin.

He could see in the far distance the mighty plumes of smoke ascending the sky, Mt Shatterer. This gave him his first bearing. He turned to face the opposite direction where Hive Quentif lay, all Salbatore witnessed was ruin and destruction. Fire and ashes. It had appeared he had been flung by some force, south westernly.

He considered what he should do and made to take a step forward. Returning to the Chapter was his priority, however the Primaris Captain stumbled, overbalancing catching his weight on out stretched arms. He looked up and saw only an ashen fog with fires still burning.

He rose again, this time however he stood watching as forms swirled and began to take shape stepping out of the fog.

Astartes! Salbatore identified. The power armoured form could not be mistaken...and yet, the armour was dark, fire burning upon it and within it. Bones protruded from pauldrons and where the Imperial Aquila should be.

The Crimson Fist, prepared himself for a fight. But the dark Astartes  never advanced closer. He could make out five of them... four of which were slowly surveying the ruins around them. One was still, staring, watching the Captain. Then it raised it's fiery gauntlet and pointed.

Salbatore recognised the indication was not at him but behind him, he spun around to see...more Astartes! They were in a theta-pattern advance and travelling quickly towards him. These Space Marines wore red armour with a horned- skull heraldry...Primaris Astartes! Salbatore was taken back with surprise. He turned to face the marines of bone and fire, but they had vanished. Only smoke and fog remained.

"Identity yourself Brother!" Came a call from a red Marine.

"I am...I am Stefano Salbatore of the Crimson Fists, Primaris Company. To whom am I addressing?"