Portal Ambush

The Return
By the time Nephros arrived, Sentry's searing glow had subsided. Small lines of white smoke still sizzled from his armor. His chest plate settled back into its tight fit. Nephros bowed deeply as he entered Sentry's presence.

“I've analyzed your transmission.” Sentry spoke quietly.

“The enemy has been silenced.” Nephros’ eyes remained fixed on the floor before him.

“I am fully aware. However, silent enemies cannot tell you their secrets. Silence is dangerous.” Wisps of remnant steam rippled through the air as he turned with lightning speed. In one fluid motion, Sentry bridged the gap between them as Nephros’ neck succumbed to his masters iron grip.

“Your victory was hastily obtained.” Sentry’s burning iron fingers clenched down on Nephros’ throat. “Tell me, how did you benefit from this encounter? What did you learn of your enemy by slaughtering them outright? How can you witness your opponents tactics when you cut them down before you open your eyes! To throw away such advantageous circumstance is shameful. Have I taught you nothing?” Sentry’s scowl dissolved into disappointment as his grasp released. “We do not kill for pleasure. If there is nothing to gain, we do not risk our resources.”

Hissing and wheezing through damaged vocal coils, Nephros regained his composure.

“My lord,” He paused, deep in thought, “I’ve shamefully endangered the lives of my brethren for a futile victory. I accept full responsibility for my actions. Deal with me as you see fit.”

“Nephros, it is statistically unfavorable for me to grant you another chance,” His words quivered with regret, “But I am not known to adhere to formulas and protocol. I will offer you one more chance, Nephros. If you fail me this time I cannot grant you the same liberty twice. Fortunately, you allotted enough time for one of them to signal back to their outpost. I've traced the coordinates and I want you to lead an offensive. Infiltrate the source and discover any and all information you can obtain. Do not let on that this is your intent. I do not yet know how the enemy would respond to such actions.”

“I do not wish to trouble you with trivial gratitude, but know that I will not forget your benevolence this day.” Nephros stood tall with a renewed sense of obedience. “I was foolish to forget my duties as a guardian. The acquisition of foreign knowledge is vital to our operation. I will see to it that we fully understand these alien beings such that we can eradicate every last intruder. The Chronos will be defended at all costs.”

“Remember,” Sentry’s eyes glared with furious intent. “Knowledge over victory.”


Ambush
They had found the Dark Eldar encampment. Just ahead of them, a patrol squad of heavily equipped scouts zoomed by. In the distance, an armored tower rose up from the dust. Snipers and other infantry lined the walls while some walked the perimeter of the wall below. Something seemed odd to Nephros as he looked out at the tower. The tower was not large enough to house all of the troops that flooded its walls. There were no storage buildings or hangars for ships. Then, on the vast field in front of the tower, a strange crackle of purple energy ripped through the air. From the tear, a body emerged, then another. In a matter of seconds, an entire platoon of Dark Eldar warriors had emerged from seemingly nowhere. It appeared that these mysterious beings had access to portal technology. This was no ordinary troop barracks, it was a relay hub. Nephros watched in awe at the foreign technology. This portal field was soon to be the grounds of a bloody battle. As the separated patrol party made its second round, Nephros and his warriors charged the field.

From across the field, the dark elder scouts spotted the advancing horde of automatons. Readying the splinter cannons and charging the dark lances, the Dark Eldar scouts took aim.

Suddenly aware of the impending attack, snipers took aim and warriors found their positions in the tower. Nephros knew they would not willingly surrender their secrets.

The first dark lance pierced through the air, shredding through the force field on the foremost Necron annihilation barge. Almost instantly, the vessel erupted in a cloud of dense smoke. The first blow had been struck.

Lashing out from behind an advancing ghost ark, a pack of bloodthirsty wraiths dashed up the field. The insectoid bodies slithered weightless of invisible currents, quickly closing the gap between them and the Dark Eldar scouts. Their writhing bodies phased through waves of enemy fire, each shot passing through them as they moved in on their prey. The scouts retreated to the tower, laying down covering fire as they backed away from the ravenous machine beasts.

All around them, the air cracked with chaotic energy. The field was alive with the warp. Small tears flashed and vanished in an instant. Nephros began to wonder if shots were piercing the void from another dimension. Perhaps the Dark Eldar had reinforcements miles or even light years away. Through the heated fog of battle, Nephros found his mind wandering at the possibilities. Sentry’s words echoed clearly through his synaptic coils, “Knowledge over victory.”

In a flash, Nephros and his retinue of immortal soldiers disappeared from the battlefield only to phase into battle a few yards downfield. They landed in the path of a cruising Venom and without thought, Nephros unleashed his staff of light upon it. A beam of brilliant white light radiated from his staff, halting the vehicle in its tracks.

Simultaneously down field, a beam of darkness pierced the sturdy hull of a friendly Ghost ark, shredding it at the molecular level, leaving nothing but a pool of liquid metal. The embarked warriors ducked low in the puddle, narrowly avoiding the same fate.

All across the field hell fire rained down as vehicles erupted and mangled bodies were thrown from the wreckage. Nephros and his soldiers were now covered in the thick warm blood of their enemies. Nephros marched forward, expressionless, as bullets gunned down his entire unit. He emerged alone, eyes transfixed on his target. Ahead of him, a Dark Eldar soldier fought off oncoming necron fire with his back to Nephros. Slowly but with conviction, Nephros approached the trooper, towering in silence behind him. Suddenly cast in shadow, the warrior turned in fear. With panicked rage, he swung at the iron giant. Before the blow could find its target, the machine’s cold eyes went dark and his mass collapsed on the field in a heap of clunking metal.

The battle had ended. In the wake of victory, the Dark Eldar rounded up their casualties and took the remaining Necron troops as prisoner. They approached Nephros’ body with caution. His body still emitted heat, despite no other sign of apparent life. Nephros listened from within as his body was bound and boarded on a passing slave ship. The Dark Eldar secrets would be revealed in due time. There was nothing left to do but wait.