Ex Nihilo - Abyssal Prophecy

Chapter 10

The two abominations howled in pain on seeing their limbs severed and fall to the deck.

Commander Verdas swept his sword through the first creature’s torso. Blood flowed in a torrent from the gaping wound, and the abomination began to wobble. Spinning around, Verdas turned to face the other abomination, using a backwards kick to topple his target. The deck plate shook with a violent thud when the creature crashed down.

            With a furious cry, Verdas slashed the fingers from the massive hand trying to grab him. He ducked and rolled under another sweeping arm. Using the momentum of the roll, he leaped up, slamming his sword and entire mass into the creature’s chest. Twisting the energy blade, he screamed in the creature's face with all of the rage and fury pounding in his heart. The massive creature crashed back into its own troops.

            Swarming around Commander Verdas, the smaller humanoids opened fire at him, but instinct caused him to close his helmet. Shots ricocheted off his power armour. He glanced around to see his troops were being flanked from behind. Some of the Army of the Faithful had turned to deal with the incoming threat. Seeing the troops in danger, Commander Verdas leaped into the air, landing in the middle of the monstrous humanoids firing at his squad. With a great sweep of his energy blade, he cleared all those around him.

            “We’re being flanked,” Verdas called out. “Circle up and form phalanx!”

The shield line separated for a second, allowing their commander in. Following the order, the Army of the Faithful’s elite soldiers formed a wall. Commander Verdas pulled his rifle and opened fire to slow the enemy’s advance from behind.

            From high up in the cathedral, the great golden bell of the Faithful rang out across the ward. The tolling of the bell filled Commander Verdas and his troops with hope, reinvigorating them. With renewed strength, they slaughtered the waves of enemies racing towards them. Verdas knew he had to hold the ground here, and that reinforcements were on the way. Their friends’ corpses lay before them, and the ground was slick with black and crimson blood.

            Still firing, Lord Whelsey knew he had to get out of here before his clip ran empty. Reaching into his belt, he produced a grenade and primed it. Dropping it at his feet, he turned and darted towards the hatch. Dropping down, he grabbed the hatch and allowed gravity to the do the rest. The explosion of his incendiary grenade and screech and hiss of his enemies' death was a symphony of divine vengeance.

“Burn in whatever hell you came from, foul creatures.” Whelsey raced down the stairs, worried about Commander Verdas. He knew he needed to get the troops organized and reinforce his people. Breaking through the door, he entered the great cathedral hall. Its high ceilings and frescos glowed in the soft light of the illuminates in the hall. Troops were already pouring into the great hall from the Tower of the Faithful.

“Hold the line, troops!” Verdas cried out. “We have the glories of Heaven awaiting us, should we fall. Give no ground to the enemy. Show no mercy, and give them no quarter!” Verdas continued to fire his rifle in a steady burst, but he could see the advancing abominations from both sides about to wipe him and his unit out. He prayed to the Almighty for salvation.

A great ball of fire erupted from the cathedral bell tower, lighting up the ward in an orange and red burst.

            Lord Whelsey could sense his men’ fear and apprehension. He could see many of the young recruits' nerves were causing their guns to shake. With a motion of his hand, he gave the order for the troops to take formation.

The troops formed into lines for their lord. From the center of the line, a single soldier stepped towards Lord Whelsey.

            “Lord, what is happening?”   

“Hell has come for our souls, and our brothers and sisters need us on the battlefield.” Lord Whelsey knew he needed to give his troops something to die for. Standing in the center, he raised his hand high in the air to quiet the cacophony of fear. “You are warriors of God, and now our people need you. I can sense your fear, and I understand it. These foul creatures may come from hell, but they can do nothing to your souls. If you should fall in battle today, know you shall awaken saved from death by the glory of God. The Kingdom of Heaven is yours, and its light shall shine upon your souls for eternity.”

            A moment of silence fell in the great hall. Soldiers looked to one another. Stepping forward, one of the priests in armour started a chant. The soft words grew louder with the addition of each new soldier joining in.

Lord Whelsey motioned for his army to follow him and headed towards the man gates. Behind him, the sounds of thudding boots echoed through the hall amidst the chant.

            ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil...”

            The great chant drove Lord Whelsey forward, filling him with the fervour of his God’s hatred of evil. Marching out of the cathedral, he led his troops to the edge of the raised platform to look down below. He could see Commander Verdas and his troops surrounded. The abominations were growing closer, and the humanoid creatures had surrounded them, preventing retreat. In the darkness of the ward, all he could see from above were the steady bursts of light from weapons fire. Lord Whelsey pointed to various positions along the upper ridge of the raised platform.

“Break down into smaller units and take up firing positions along the edge. We’ll rain death down upon our foes and save our brothers and sisters.  We need a detachment to hold the main stairs to provide a safe retreat. I need one volunteer.”

The same soldier who had approached Lord Whelsey earlier now approached again.

            “How can I serve you, my Lord?”

            “What is your name, soldier?” he asked.

            “Fiona,” she replied.

            “Ahh, Fiona, I’ve heard many good things from your instructors. What I ask of you now is of the utmost importance. I need you to run as fast as your feet can carry you to the other side of the Wards to alert Lord Drumpf.  Tell him we need all of the reinforcements he can send.”

            “Yes, my Lord.” Fiona saluted and raced off.

            “Take positions.” Lord Whelsey watched his people line up along the upper ridge of the platform. The troops formed a shield wall along the stairs. He raised his hand. “God allow your faithful supplicants' aims be true.  Commander Verdas, take cover.” He turned to his troops, dropping his arm. “Fire!”

            “Testudo formation!” Commander Verdas cried out.

The Army of the Faithful moved with precision. In seconds, they pulled back and created a full dome of overlapping energy shields. From small gaps, they fired their weapons at the enemy. From above, a torrent of magnetically accelerated rounds tore through the air, raining down on the advancing enemy. Even the mighty abominations struggled to advance through the deluge of metal rounds.

            The Army of the Faithful focused their fire to create a pathway back to the cathedral. Commander Verdas gave the order to push towards the gap.

One of the abominations moved to block the moving unit. Creating a small gap, the unit allowed their commander to race from the safety of the shield formation. With a bestial cry, he slashed and hacked at the abomination. Grabbing one of the smaller humanoids charginghim, he lifted the creature by its head and crushed it. Blackened blood sprayed across his armour.

            “Break formation and fall back to the cathedral.” Commander Verdas stood his ground, holding the swarm of humanoids at bay with bursts of gunfire and swipes of his energy blade. In his peripheral vision, he watched his troops make their way to the staircase. Not all of the troops were lucky and their bodies dropped to the concentrated weapons fire of the enemy. One of the wounded troops tried to crawl his way to the stairs.

            A grenade popped from Verdas’s utility slot on his armour, and he threw it towards the largest concentration of the enemy. Turning, he raced to grab the wounded trooper and hoisted the fallen comrade up to his feet. Together, they opened fire on the enemy, trying to fight their way back to the stairwell. Lord Whelsey saw this and ordered his troopers to provide covering fire.            Above the great commotion, the snaps and cracks of Chitterer’s wings echoed in a circling swarm. Descending from above, their razor-sharp talons slashed at Lord Whelsey’s team, and the soldiers divided their fire. Screeches of pain and blackened blood rained from the sky. Medics raced from the cathedral to pull their comrades to safety to be treated.

            “What’s your name, trooper?” Commander Verdas asked, still firing his gun and pulling the soldier along with him up the stairs.

            “Tyrandiel,” he answered.

            “Your bravery shall be remembered,” Verdas said. “Keep firing.”

 Together, the two trudged their way up the staircase holding onto one another. Glancing back, Commander Verdas could see the creatures making their way towards the lift terminal. He knew where they were heading. His combat instincts told him they intended to attack the bridge.

            Soldiers dragged comrades to safety. Commander Verdas assisted Tyrandiel up towards the medics waiting near the cathedral entrance. A pair of them raced over to grab the wounded soldier, but he resisted.

            “Sir, I can still fight.”

            “I know you can, brother, but you’d fight better after being treated,” Commander Verdas replied. “Do me this one favour.” He could see it was hard for Tyrandiel to accept sitting out this fight. He admired that in this man. Passing him to the medics, he turned to Lord Whelsey to inform him.

            “Commander Verdas, it’s good to see you alive and still full of God’s favour!” Whelsey exclaimed.

            “My Lord, the enemy is moving towards the lift. There is only one reason to head there. They intend to attack the bridge of the ship, and if that falls, we’re all doomed.  What are your orders?”

            Through the flashes of weapon fire, Lord Whelsey could see the enemy spreading out. He knew he had to protect his people first and couldn’t spare any troops. The thought of this enemy reaching the bridge sent a shiver through his spine. There was only one option in his mind, and he turned back to his commander. He placed one hand on Commander Verdas's shoulder pauldron.

            “You have given so much, my child, and I hate to ask more of you,” he said.

            “I am yours to command, my Lord,” Verdas responded without hesitation.

            “You must take our best troops and try to stop the enemies' advance. I know the sacrifice I am asking you to make, my child. Know that I do not ask it lightly.”

            “You do not need to ask, my Lord.” Turning, Verdas marched into the middle of his tired troops and motioned for them to stand. They all looked at him, sensing what was coming. “You are the best of the best in this army. I would rather fight alongside you than any other, save God himself. We must get to the lift and prevent the enemy from using it to attack the bridge.”

            A great commotion erupted from the troops discussing the situation. Dissension in the ranks. Commander Verdas didn’t blame his troops, given what they had just endured. It was then he saw Tyrandiel marching towards the group. He took the center of the group and saluted his commander.

            “Private Tyrandiel reporting for duty.”

            “Are you sure, my brother?”Verdas insisted.

            “Medic’s cleared me. It was nothing but a flesh wound.” Tyrandiel turned to the troops. “Our commander, our brothers and sisters on this ship, and God demand we do this. Who will follow us?”

            For a second, there was only silence from the group . One after another, they stepped forward. Even several medics approached from the cathedral. Tyrandiel turned to face the commander with a salute. Behind him, the troops took formation.

            “You humble me, brothers and sisters and know that our God watches with a smile at our willing sacrifice. Our blood we give freely, our lives belong to this ship, and our glory will echo in Heaven for all eternity!” Verdas cried.

His troops rallied in a great cry with their commander. Together, they stormed through the parting guards at the staircase.

            “Cover our brothers and sisters!” Lord Whelsey cried.

His troops shifted and continued firing down into the enemy below. Lord Whelsey watched his troops cutting their way through the thick of the enemy. The zeal of his warriors filled him with pride. He prayed for the safety of Commander Verdas and his troops, and he’d provide them with all of the support he could.