Quick Note: I know some of the spelling is off or the right words where not used, that does not matter just read the story for what it is. Second this is NOT a part of the main story it simply tells of how Rashall meets Yurtz and Arar and how they become friends. Oh and one more thing, I hope you enjoy it!!! "I am the hammer. I am the point of his spear. I am the gauntlet about his hoof. I am the bane of his foes and the woes of the treacherous. I am the end." said Justicar Arar ending the litany of the grey paladins. His squad started to prepare their war gear by speaking litanies of hate and honor in preparation of the battle to come. A jolt hit their drop pod and Arar knew that the enemy had sighted the drop pods and had started firing at them. He looked at the tack screen in front of him, captain Silvermane and his command squad where at least a good twenty seconds ahead of Arar's drop pod. Sharpedge and his terminator squad where directly to Arar's left, the veteran grey paladin had personally recruited Arar and saw great potential in the young Justicar. To Arar's right was Justicar Veron, who like Arar had been personally recruited by Sharpedge, but that was where the similarities ended. Both of the Justicars had been hated enemies since day one, but on the battlefield they threw their hatred for each other aside knowing that it would not be excepted on the battlefield. Down below the rapidly descending drop pods was the once beautiful city of Wolfinstine, but the recent rebellions had turned it into a city of heretics and the Empire had no other choice but to send in the armored hoof of the Emperor's own armies to stop them. This however was a ruse, the true intention of the main army element was to distract the defenders so that the grey paladins could go in and secure an experimental unit of some kind. All the grey paladins truly knew was that reinforcements would meet them on the ground, but what the device was and who the reinforcements were they did not know which made all of them skeptical. "Captain Silvermane here recovery group is down and awaiting orders." said the captain into the vox bead. "Captain reinforcements are imminent stand by and wait for them before moving onto the primary objective. Once you meet up with them you will all have thirty minutes until we level the city." said Rear Admiral Chokia. The others looked astonished at the fact that the city would be leveled by a Nova Cannon strike, which meant that an unprecedented development had occurred. After what seemed like hours of waiting there was movement at the edge of the depression where the captain had said that they would wait for the reinforcements to arrive. Out of the shadows stepped a group of Eldar warriors, Arar had seen there like before and knew instantly what craft city they were from. "If the Eldar of Sar-Neith are our reinforcements then this relic must be of the utmost importance." said Arar as greeting and followed it up with a short bow to the one he believed to be the Autarch of the group. "An imperial pony that knows how to truly great an Eldar this is very surprising, but also very welcome. My name is Swiftpaw autarch of the Eldar you see about you, and as the young Justicar pointed out we are from the Sar-Neith Craft City." replied Swiftpaw in way of greeting. The two leaders knew that the clock had started ticking and they moved out at once, but Arar noticed that one of the Striking Scorpion ponies had taken an interest in him. After a few miles they stopped just short of the building where the device was the leaders began to plan, by that meaning Silvermane, Sharpedge, and Swiftpaw began to plan the others were told to prepare their squads. The exarch of the Striking Scorpions walked over to where Arar was standing, he was looking out over the open field in front of the building. "I do not think the leaders will ever come up with a plan in time." said the exarch, Arar jumped a little having not heard the Scorpion walked over to him. "Then we both share a common thought, names Arar whats yours?" asked Arar to the exarch. "Rashall Firemane, sorry if I startled you, you have any idea of how to get into that building without loosing half of our force?" asked Rashall, Arar thought for a moment and then nodded his head yes and quickly signaled for the others to gather around. Arar noticed with a hint of shame that their leaders had also come along with their squads. "Okay as I see it we have a large open field and not much time until the strike commences. The plan involves the swooping hawks drawing a portion of their fire towards the heavens, after which the dark reapers will target their heavy gun emplacements. Meanwhile the striking scorpions will divide into two groups one will go along the right hand wall of the courtyard while the other goes to the left sticking to the shadows all along the way. The warp spiders will continually jump in and out of the enemies emplacements causing a distraction for the scorpions, after which the dark reapers and dire avengers will concentrate all fire on the entry way until the scorpions have eliminated the enemy on the upper floors. Once that is done the terminators will create a shield wall and the rest of us will close and engage. When we get inside the dark reapers, dire avengers, and swooping hawks will remain here to ensure no enemy reinforcements enter the facility." said Arar outlining his plan with the others. A deep laughing came from Sharpedge, "I told you the boy would be a great asset to the chapter, I say we go with his plan as it makes the most sense." added Sharpedge. "Agreed we go with the Justicars plan, all units into your places quickly we have only fifteen minutes left before the Nova Strike initiates." said Silvermane. Twenty minutes later and they were inside the facility, as planned the swooping hawks, dark reapers, and dire avengers remained behind at the entrance in order to deter any enemy reinforcements. Meanwhile Arar along with the others had made it to their objective, an orb sat in the middle of the room and as they drew near the warp spiders surrounded the artefact. "We will take it from here, I would suggest that the rest of you get to the evac zone and get the heck out of here." said Blinkmoth a moment before he and his squad dissapeared. "This is Uldark, we have enemy reinforcements coming, now would be a very good time to leave. We will hold them off for as long as we can but the Rage of Kiev will not wait forever." said Uldark over the vox channel When Arar and the others got to where Uldrak was they saw the extent of the reinforcements, an entire company had come to ensure that they did not leave. "All of you get to the portal now!!! Swiftpaw you and I along with my squad will keep them at bay until all others are away, Sharpedge make sure they all get out of here." said captain Silvermane in a tone that suggested that no argument would follow. "I do have one ounce of bad news the beacon that was to guide the nova strike is broken one pony or wolf will have to stay behind" said Uldark with a dark tone in his voice. "I will do it, my time amongst the living has come to an end as it is." said autarch Swiftpaw. "No I will stay behind, Sar-Neith will need all of her autarchs and exarchs if the enemy is truly who we think they are." said the captain, a silence prevailed for what seemed like hours. "Very well then captain, may the pantheon guard your soul." said the autarch with a nod, he then stepped through the portal the other exarchs gave a nod of recognition before they too stepped through the portal. "Captain it has been an honor serving by your side." said Devos the captains champion and oldest friend, after that he stepped through the portal. "Sharpedge look after them when I'm gone especially Arar, he has much promise." said the captain to the terminator justicar, who briefly nodded and then vanished as he entered the portal. Veron gave the captain a salute and then stepped through the portal. The only ones that remained were the captain, Rashall, and Arar himself. "Arar come here a moment will you. This amulet has been in my family for generations and my son must receive it next, now he will not be easy to find for I made him promise me to go to a land that knows true peace. Whenever you feel like you have found him seek him out and give it to him and take him to the wall of heroes aboard the Rage of Kiev, and tell him how I died and why. Oh one more thing take this, but do not look at it, I have a feeling it will make all the difference for you in a few minutes. Now go you two, fate has yet to show you both your paths yet." and with that Rashall and Arar stepped into the portal. "What happens now?" asked Rashall to Sharpedge, he was standing near one of the windows looking out over the remains of the nova strike. "We vote for a new captain and I fear that the majority will go to Veron, he has blackmailed just about every other pony into voting for him. We all want Arar to take the captaincy though, but it looks like it will not be. Ah and here comes Arar now." said Sharpedge turning around. "Sharpedge the captain wanted you to read this in front of the others at the captaincy election." said Arar who gave Sharpedge a small piece of paper, the terminator justicar opened it and simply smiled. The others had gathered around to hear the results of the election for the new captain of the second company of the Grey Paladins. Veron awaited eagerly for the votes to be called and in the meantime stood absolutely still and silent, but he grinned at Arar who simply looked away disgusted. "As all here know the vote for our new captain has been in favor of Veron, but I have here on this podium a death wish from our late captain Silvermane that Veron not be named captain. Instead that honor is to go to Arar. A pony of service and distinction and an avid planner, he will now lead the second company into battle in the future. May you always be victorious and may our enemies fall before us under your command Captain Arar." said Sharpedge with a salute, this was mirrored by the rest of the company including autarch Swiftpaw and the Eldar that remained aboard the Vengeance of Kiev. From that moment on Arar and Rashall became the best of friends, before they left the exarchs other than Rashall called him over to a corner of the mess hall. Along with the exarchs was a shadow grey pegasus pony who was named Yurtez the captain of the Chataphracts that had been part of the main army unit. "Both of you are friends with Rashall along with the rest of us. A few years back when we all first met Rashall we gave our word to the exarchs of old that we would guard our lords son with our lives and that if we ever became separated from him or each other that those who found him again would continue to guard him. Now we ask both of you if you will give your word to do the same, for we are all friends here." asked Tyriath. "I give my word to do as you have asked." said Yurtez. " I too give my word, for he is more than a friend to me, he is kin." said Arar, the others agreed with him.
