One of Watch Fortress Asgard's customised "Bifrost" Pattern Land Speeders descended through the toxic clouds of the decaying Hindsk Hive World. Vanguard Veteran Sergeant Brynhildr of the Valkyrie checked that her Xenophase blade, Dragonfang, hadn't moved from its scabbard since she last checked, moments before and shifted her feet to prevent cramping. Beside her, her sister Valkyrie, Sygnet and Gruenhilde, similarly checked their weapons to battle nerves before their descent. The Imperial Space Marines, especially the elite warriors of the Deathwatch, were beyond fear, both physically and spiritually, but the foe they were potentially facing was both insidious and deadly, the Xenos-worshipping mutants known as Genestealer Cultists. The Auspex at Brynhildr's belt pinged and without needing to issue the command, the three Vanguard Veteran Valkyrie jumped into the cloudy abyss.
Accustomed to a life of high adventure and extreme hedonism, Drako, a descendant of one of the mighty Sensei and thereby the Emperor himself, did not cope well with boredom. He had come to the Hindsk Hive World because of the whispers of dark secrets and foul creatures lurking in the depths of the underhive, but so far, he had only seen a handful of giant rats and endless ruined passages. How was Drako meant to live up to his glorious ancestry if he didn't have something epic to overcome? His musings were broken by the sound of engines whining above, and Drako saw a trio of Deathwatch descending into the ruins nearby; surely they would be doing something interesting...
Gruenhilde lands in the ruins.
Almost as soon as they step out of cover, Barahor (Eldar Ranger) and Kurami (Xenos Psycher) are ambushed by a huge mutant lying dormant in the ruins.
Gruenhilde moves to intercept the monster, but not so quick that at least one of the Xenos scum doesn't fall victim.
The other Valkyrie land nearby and rush to help their Battle Sister.
Attracted by the sound of fighting, Genestealer Cultists crawl from the ruins.
Drako charges into the fight with the big mutant, allowing Barahor to withdraw. The plan is fraught, however and the Sensei Descendant is quickly defeated by the monster.
Sygnet charges in, swinging her massive Heavy Thunder Hammer, but the brutal creature strikes back, taking down the Deathwatch Veteran with one blow.
Barahor takes aim with his Ranger Longrifle, but the beast seems able to heal itself.
Genestealer Cultists leap upon Brynhildr, but the mighty Valkyrie cuts them down with her flashing Xenophase Blade.
Seeing the wave of Genestealer Cultists closing in, Barahor starts to lay down covering fire.
Seemingly bursting forth from the ground itself, the Genestealer Cultists overwhelm the Sensei Warband.
After a gruesome struggle, Gruenhilde lands repeated blows of her Thunder Hammer on the mutant, crushing its warped form.
With the monster dead, both the Deathwatch and Sensei realise that they are about to be overrun by the rampaging Genestealer Cultists and beat a hasty retreat. This is not the last Hindsk will see of both forces however, the decaying world must be purged of evil.
