As the thick blanket of fog that hung over the high walls of the city began to dissipate, a lone figure set off from one of the outlying homesteads. The fact that she set out from an intact home at all was remarkable, for the fortress city walls did not extend this far. Many of the surrounding structures had been reduced to ruins from the extensive fighting. Stretching her long, shapely frame, the long lady set off towards the massive gates that stood silent sentinel to the hostile world. Looking up into the sky, she shivered slightly at the sight of the Eye of Terror, a breach of another dimension where horrible creatures of nightmare found purchase. Turning her gaze to earthward once more, she picked up a little more speed, muttering to herself.

"Well the worlds still in one piece, Guess I should thank the guardsmen for that."

She rounded a corner and quietly let herself in the back of the tavern where she worked. Finding her uniform, she quickly changed and set about preparing for the expected morning rush. She was startled to hear a rumble in the distance. "What in the world could that be?" she pondered aloud. Even as she did, the thunder became an earth-shaking roar and a shadow fell upon the tavern. The rumbling died down a little and forth from the street burst a giant in red power armour, his entry nearly tearing the door from its hinges.

"The Blood Raven 147th company requires food stuffs and a source of water, you will provide these things for us.” His voice sounded like a small mountain of boulders grating against one another, and his statement came forth with a steel undertone to it. Here was a man used to being obeyed.

"Yes, Yes I… we, can...how many of you are there?"

"There are 150 marines under my command. We will be requisitioning this building. I must request you leave the premises, citizen. Move along.” He turned away and began belting out orders to the troops milling around in the street.

Wondering what the Space Marines would be doing on her world, Kaleigh could not help but fear the worst. The local garrison of Cadian troops, loyal Imperial Guardsmen, had always been more then enough to keep the hordes of Chaos at bay. Feeling a little underdressed in her more "revealing" work uniform; she was promptly shoved out the door by the marine. She was still at a loss when the regular Imperial Guardsmen had a moment to drop a jaw at her. Blushing slightly she turned to return home

"Hold!" another voice, this one’s deep baritone lacked the smoothness of the marine’s.

Kaeligh stopped short and spun around on the spot. Facing a machine more then a man, she gulped hard. This figure was more then just guardsmen, but lacked the size and stature of a marine. His arms were more of a bionic then real flesh; His left arm was a twin-linked bolter cannon. His right arm was a power claw streaked with blood and dirt. The eyes of this mechanical man were a steely gray, however he had only one real eye, the other was some form of optical computer that glowed a deep crimson.

"Yes Guardsmen, what can I do for you?"

"To begin with, you can quit distracting my men, young lady. And I am no Guardsman, I am a Colonel-Commissar"

Kaeligh gasped and quickly bowed and apologized "I must apologize Commissar, I am not familiar with the ranks of the emperor’s servants.”

Spinning on heel, Kaeligh started to run for home, only to find the large steel claw holding her in place.

"Hold Citizen. The emperor has commanded my unit to stay here. I have been informed that the forces of Chaos intend to wrest this world from our grasp." Unable to comprehend what was being said to her Kaeligh merely nodded her head and smiled, unknowing that she just signed up for active duty in the Imperial Guard.

The 666th "Steel Gauntlet" was nothing like she expected, she was pushed to her limits everyday of her training under the watchful eye of her drill sergeant. Under their guidance she learned to fire a lasgun, handle a bolter, and operate most of the vehicles under the service of the Guard. She was also instructed in hand-to-hand and melee combat, but soon far surpassed the other troopers. Her style was as unique as it was devastating, and earned her the respect of many of her peers. It also earned her the attention of the Space Marine force commander. Upon his learning that one of the Guard’s fragile humans had defeated a marine in a scuffle over some harsh words about the worthiness of the Guard (he turned a blind eye to the fight itself, as neither party was unfit to serve after all was said and done) and had her slated for genetic therapy, so that she might enter the ranks of his marines. When at last she donned her power armor and hefted her chain sword, the icon of her new rank as a lieutenant, she was indeed a terrifying force with which to reckon.

Her first assignment with her new unit was deep within the eye of terror on the surface of a hive world; there she confronted a terrible race known as the Tyranids, an insectoid race with tough carapaces and various lethal claws and talons. Functioning with the terrifying efficiency only a hive mind could induce, the Tyranid warriors responded in a raging frenzy to the intrusion. Her bolter fire rang true in the opening battles on this desolate rock she had been ordered to. The other marines in the command structure expected her to perish within moments of entering combat, handing her near suicidal missions deep in enemy territory. Little by little the 132nd gained ground on the Tyrinids, but the worst had yet to come. The warrior brood’s defenses slowly breaking under the immense pressure of the marine onslaught, the Tyranid let loose a new nightmare, a Hive Tyrant, the great destroyer. It ripped into the 132nd like they were paper dolls. Kaeligh, now the ranking officer on the field began shouting orders to the 132, begging them to hold the line till re-enforcements arrived. The proud marines ignored her frantic orders, taking to their landing craft and blasting off of the surface without her. Furious by this, she charged the Tyrant without fear, flinging her bolter to the ground and drawing her chain sword from its scabbard. Squaring off against the Tyrant, one would almost have felt sorry for the great beast.

The colossal thing collapsed to the ground before her, it’s head rolling almost comically from its’ now ruined neck. Composing herself and scanning the battlefield, her eyes fell upon the piles of marine corpses. Again the fire in her eyes was kindled at the sight of so many slain.

"What was the meaning of this folly? Why would the emperor send his own children into a hellish pit as this, have them throw themselves at such a creature and die without reason? Why would he spend our lives if he truly cared?”

"Simple my child. He does not."

Whirling around bringing her sword to bear, she looked into the eyes of the Emperor’s greatest foe, a Chaos marine. Her blade came up as she looked upon the face of her enemy saying to herself “I will kill this foul creature, betrayer of the light of the emperor’s throne!”

"Child, Please. Were you not just questioning your emperor’s decisions? His light is not infallible you know. He is, after all, just a human like you and me. He bleeds, He cries, He is certainly able to die like all mortal creatures. In fact, He nears death even as we speak. Wouldn't you prefer a god? One that transcends time and will reward you for your victories here today?"

Kaeligh's resolve toward this being began to waver. It’s true she had been questioning her current leader; she was ripped from her friends back in the IG academy to serve marines that though of her as nothing more then cannon fodder. To be ordered to give her life for a cause that had no point.

"Very well. I submit to the powers of Chaos. Surely they can see past this madness. Perhaps we shall even march upon terra itself and make the fool, the blind pathetic fool, see the light.”

"A wise choice young soldier. My name is Frank Marlone. I've been in service of the gods long enough to know they have taken quite and interest in you, and your talents on the field of battle. The reason the filth took this world was to consume it to destruction, as they do to all worlds they conquer. I, however, know of a deeper reason that brought the Tyrinids here. Deep within the core of this planet is a Shrine to the Chaos gods, where an Artifact of great power resides there. Prove your worth to the gods by retrieving this, and they will give you a sample of the power you will need to fuel your quest."

"Very well, what is it I seek?"

"A sword with an Obsidian edge, black like the night sky. Powerful enough to rend through power armour as if it was not even there."

"A sword? What makes this sword better then say this chain sword here?" Kaeligh inquired motioning to the weapon in her hand revving the engine driving the blade.

"Oh, you'll see when you find it, and wield it" Turning away from Kaeligh Marlone disappeared.

"A sword eh? Well, I guess I'll need it to get the power I require to turn the Imperium to see the light" She chuckled darkly as she turned to her task.

Kaeligh traveled for nearly 2 weeks before finding a cave that led down into the core of the dead world. Sulfur vents produced toxic gases in vicious clouds, almost more then her amour’s air filters could handle. Still deeper into the world she traveled on stairs of black marble until she came across the shrine Marlone had spoke of.

Too long had she gone without water and food, however. As she pried the blade from it’s stone prison, her strength at last failed. She began to fall to the chamber floor, but strong, sure hands caught her and lowered her slowly to the ground.

"Rest Champion, your quest is nearly complete, however your story is far from over." The world dimmed from Kaeligh's eyes as she was taken by sleep. Some time later, light began to seep through her eyelids. She awoke with a start, looking about her. She was on the planets surface again!

"By the gods! How did I get here?"

Readying herself to rise, she felt a warmth and weight at her side. Looking down to examine the source of the feeling, she was alarmed to note that she was no longer in her power armour. The weight belonged to a sword, its black edge darker then the heart of the Eye of Terror itself. It's hilt was that pressed Gold and Thorium

"Strength and Beauty eh?" Kaeligh mused as she stroked the hilt.

"Much could be said of you Kaeligh."

Kaeligh turned fast and saw a young man, not unlike any other human approach her. He was tall, but not substantially so, with dark eyes and blonde hair.

"Who are you?"

"Oh yes, my mistake. You remember what I look like in armour. Frank Marlone is who I am. I see you have the sword young lady, excellent work! Now let's get on the drop ship and I'll escort you to the dreadnought Bezuful III, my ship."

Upon entering the talon class drop ship, the crew of marines on board immediately stood and saluted, and then embraced Kaeligh. They knew her name and shook her hand as she walked by, treating her with the utmost respect. Their enthusiasm did not wane when she reached the large battleship in orbit. Even a mighty Obliterator made a great show of stepping to the side to allow her to pass. Mildly bemused and taken aback by this behavior, Kaeligh was lead to the bridge. Over looking the planet she could see spots where life still dwelled and had the uncontrollable urge to end it. Scanning the command console, she found the fire control computer and targeted the weapons array, fired. Molten pockets of glass were all that remained of what used to be the only life left on the planet. Grinning with a frozen smile, Kaeligh laughed and the 421st Black Fist bridge crew laughed with her. Still smiling, she retired to her chambers. Kaeligh took a moment to reflect upon what had just transpired. I just ended countless creatures and people’s lives, yet I feel nothing except supreme happiness… or rather someone else’s happiness. Kaeligh glanced down at the blade strapped to her hip and with sudden realization she hugged it close. "I'm sorry my friend, I didn't know you were in there. Please tell me what I should do?"

After brief months of raiding the many worlds within the outer reaches and even within the Eye of Terror, Kaeligh had proven her worth time and time again, rising to the rank of Aspiring Champion. Leading her unit into the fray wielding the Dark Blade, she slew her enemies by the score, only to laugh at the death and carnage and charge into the next fight with a renewed sense of vigor. She was at last happy, could no longer even conceive handing people their meals and drinks in that slum of a tavern. This was her purpose in life now, her great calling. Servitude to the Chaos Gods was all she wished now. There was only one thing blocking her path to becoming a Chaos Lord, and calling these warriors her own.

Frank Marlone.

True, he had been the one to open her eyes, but now his usefulness was at an end. She required the resources at his disposal to begin this, her black crusade, and her ascendance to power in its most potent form. Slowly, ever so slowly, she began to draw men and women to her. Slowly the schemes and plots began to take root, and her dream moved ever closer to realization. It seemed to her an agonizingly slow march to her goals, the whispers of the gods and her Dark Blade spurring her to action. At last, after half a year in agony, longing to do as she had thought to the first day she met him. But at last it was time.

Marching on to the bridge with her typical swagger, she stalked quietly up behind Marlone, who was grossly consumed with watching his mighty ship pound a nearly helpless orbital installation to free floating atoms. Turning to her, he smiled.

“It is beautiful, is it not?”

“Truly, it is.” She matched his smile.

And then plunged her blade into his heart.

The bridge crew stood in shock, amazed with the swiftness with which the blow had fallen. Over the ship’s coms she shouted her call to arms, cried for blood, screamed for all those loyal to her to rise up. Their day had come!

Upon the hour, the ship was hers.

With the vessel under her command, she began to take inventory of what remained of Marlone's forces, or rather her forces now. She had scarcely enough marines to run the ship, only about 24 marines remained, they had 6 Bikes and 2 Rhino transport vehicles. Deep within the holds, barred and chained for the safety of the ship, a treasure. A lone Defiler roared and begged to be loosed, the demonically possessed machine’s blood lust enough to rival that of her dark blade. Not nearly enough to do what she had originally planned, but enough to get her started.

"Well done, Kaeligh. I believe your quest for power is deserving of even more rewards!" Whispered the black voice that had taunted her for months on end.

"I thank you my masters, it is for you I do this."

"And we see this, we do. You gratify us with every sacrifice, every victory. But now shall we show you what loyalty earns. Be filled with the power of chaos, and rejoice. Your time is at hand! Your hand in our name shall fell entire worlds. Embrace the power, for it is yours now as well."

Kaeligh's outward appearance did not change, however inside she became stronger, faster, and tougher then any Biological enhancement could ever hope to achieve. She had been powerful before, but now she was truly a juggernaught.

The raid of Kaeligh's Home planet was something she had looked forward to for a long time. Her troop pods landed far beyond the city's skyline and safely outside the reach of the Blood Ravens listening posts and sensor networks. After exiting her craft, Kaeligh now stood in all her glory. She now stood before them, leader of this band of Chaos warriors. They stood at the ready, ready not to burn and pillage the planet, but rather to recruit and enlighten some fresh blood for her troops. Her campaign of enlightenment went smoothly, although far to slowly for her tastes. However, shortly after her arrival, a small group of a few Teznich Sorcerers confronted her. They informed her that the resistance on her home world had been steadily growing, in the light of the new space marine garrison’s dismissal of the Imperial Guardsmen’s lives as worthless, sacrificing them endlessly to suit their own purposes. As the sorc continued, he informed her that he had also gained the consul of one of the local commanders, who would like to meet her on the outskirts. “He is ready to join those who see the truth,” the sorcerer told her. “He has vast potential as a resource and as a soldier.”

Her troops marched into the no-man’s land between the ruins of what had once been a small ghetto, clearly visible to the many heavy emplacement guns stationed about the wall. Instead of facing the terrible power of the guns, they were instead met by a lone figure, which gave some flourishing hand signals to a trio of snipers that had accompanied him. He turned to face her.

"Kaeligh, is that you?"

"Yes, Commissar Steele, it's me!"

"But, you were reported KIA on M-908887, We grieved you for over a month!"

"Sorry, but getting stranded makes it hard to keep in touch"

"I see exile hasn't done anything to dull your whit"

"Actually Commissar, I have a favor to ask, you see in order to survive I needed strength, Strength only Chaos could provide, I needed the strength to point our race to a better future. Where no one dies needles-" A fire prism cut her sentence short as the Eldar lines advanced firing beams of deadly energy array toward the guardsmen. Men fell before the onslaught

"RETREAT TO THE WALLS!!! NOW!!!!" Cried Commissar Steele as his men went into a fighting retreat, lasguns blazing. "KNIGHTS! ADVANCE!" Kaeligh yelled to her unit as she drew her Plasma Pistol and drew forth the mental energy required to keep her Dark Blade from causing her damage by pledging her to kill more for it to drink their souls.

The Shadow Knights, as she renamed her unit, began to find cover and open fire with the bolters they carried. The heavy Rhino transports that had they had arrived in fired smoke charges into the line before the advancing Eldar anti grav tank. Commissar Steele couldn't help but be impressed with the way Kaeligh led her troops into battle to cover their retreat. She bounded in and out of the shadows and smoke, making no more noise then he did with his silenced Servomotor’s articulators. Finally she closed in to the fire prism just close enough "CHARGE!!!!!!!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs leading the knights of Chaos on her heels. Again holstering her pistol and drawing forth the terrible cursed blade she now controlled she slammed head on into the tank, Bringing the blade down in a sideways arch she cleaved into the engine and shut the great fire support unit to a stop. The soldiers that had followed her laughed as it crawled to a stop as they lept a top the boarding compartment letting lose with bolters to the crew inside. The IG retreat was complete, with Commissar Steele was more then likely conversing with forward command by now, She just hoped he didn't accidentally blow her cover.

"The Commander requests you advance on the Eldar line here." The space marine lieutenant stabbed a finger into the holographic terrain of the map, his large digit sitting squarely among a sea of red enemy icons, the highest concentration of them on the entire topographical display. Scrolling digits indicated the number of Eldar armoured and infantry units, reported in by the elite snipers of the Imperial Guard division posted there. The towering genetically enhanced warrior toggled the controls and moved the icon of the division he wished to move, the Imperial Guard's 666th division, into place among the sea of red icons.

The man across from him was a True Human- the title worn by those in the Imperium that had an ordinary, unaltered genetic makeup. This by no means meant that the figure across from him was any less intimidating, nor that he was ordinary. In place of the genetic modifications, he had opted (or else been forced by the loss of multiple limbs) to augment himself with biotic replacements. It was easy to discern that the man was more or less half machine, his pale flesh ending in silver and black metals. Both arms were replaced with mechanical limbs; the left ending in a massive, twin barrelled storm bolter, and the right in a cruel looking battle claw. He readjusted his limbs, barely seeming to notice the immense weight. The servomotors functioned soundlessly, a fact that the space marine had noticed immediately. It was disconcerting to the large captain, because unless he remained speaking, which he did not, it was impossible to track him without maintaining visual contact with him at all times. Another one of the augmentations, far more prominent then the mechanical limbs was the ocular implant. The mechanical eye glowed an eerie, bloody crimson shade. The false eye contained a myriad of sensors that allowed him to see in almost any condition and allowed him to spot troops hidden in cover.

Another quirk of the officer's appearance was that he did not don the regalia of the imperial uniform, choosing in its place to wear a simple camouflage cloak atop his tough carapace armour. The odd polymer material whispered quietly about his frame as he paced the floor, looking from time to time up at the map. He turned slowly looked to where the marine pointed.

"You would have me lead my men into that death trap, Blood Raven? And what if I were to tell you that I refuse to lead my men to their death's for no reason other then your mighty commander has said that is where he wants an attack, but hides behind us instead of getting his hands dirty? What then?" he leaned over the table, his ocular implant glowering over its surface.

The space marine snapped his head up, rage clearly lighting his rocky features as he glared back. "What you speak of is heresy, Commissar. Beware the next words you speak, for they may be your last."

The Commissar slowly came around the edge of the table, until his was standing only a few paces away from the lieutenant. A slow smile was spreading across his face, though it could have turned hell into an icicle for all the warmth it contained. The smile did not fade as he spoke. "You are under the assumption that we are under the employ of the same master, Blood Raven... and I am afraid, you are wrong." like lightning, he surged forward and dragged his talon like claws across the stunned man's neck, ripping his throat out with a deft flick of the powerful mechanical limb. The towering marine collapsed to one knee, his large hands clamping across his throat in a vain attempt to delay the impending end of his servitude to the Emperor. His final words were lost, coming out only as feeble croaks, before he was silenced by the twin bolter rounds that erupted in his skull, ending his suffering permanently. The colonel still smiled, standing above the body, the twin barrelled gun on his left arm smoking, even as it returned to his side once more. He smiled as he turned to the imposing figure standing behind him, it’s cobra-fan like helmet and coloured armour greatly resembling the ancient terran Egyptians. The Thousand Suns sorcerer held a staff, it’s length covered in symbols and runes, all of which pulsed with an unearthly light. The commissar smiled as he bowed deeply to the sorcerer.

"I serve only Lord Kaleigh and the Chaos Gods now."

It took several hours for the space marine chaplain to realize that his lieutenant had not reported in, or even contacted him via vox link. But it didn’t matter, even when he did notice.

It was far too late.

“Brother Chaplain! The imperial guard troops advance on our position. Is this in compliance to your orders?”

“I had no such hand in the matter.” Replied the chaplain, clearly confused. What could the foolish guard be thinking?

As if answering his unvoiced question, a pair of Imperial Vultures screamed overhead, lascannons blazing crimson streams of furious energy. Executing a high g turn, the crews brought the flyers back around, this time bringing their rocket pods into the mix, unloading the pods into the camp proper and slashing across the buildings where the marines had set up their barracks with the lascannons. Just as suddenly as they had appeared, they vanished off in a roar and wash of exhaust. Within mere moments of their departure, a storm of earth shaker rounds slammed into the camp. The artillery finished off most of the cover that was left to the marines. The marines scrambled to their emplacements and trenches, moving with the coherency of the hardened veterans they were. Any shock they felt at the sudden betrayal by the Imperial Guardsmen was well hidden as they blazed away with their weapons. A few of their precious armoured units rumbled into action, Predator Annihilator pattern tanks and Whirlwind artillery tanks rumbling forward. The Whirlwinds fired a heavy salvo of rockets into the advancing guard line, temporarily stalling the advance. But if the marines had thought they had stalled the advance for long, they were proven wrong in as much time as it took for the Guard’s expert counter battery fire to smash apart the Whirlwinds. The tanks came apart as the ammunition storage compartments ruptured, hurling flaming metal shrapnel into the surrounding area like a super sized fragmentation grenade. The blasted hulks shuddered and jumped under the heavy footsteps of the Dreadnoughts of the blood ravens slowly marching to the front lines. The few predators that the Blood Raven’s had moved to hold the flanks, reaching out time and time again with their lascannons, blue death kissing troops and inflicting deep wounds on the armoured units that marched and rolled with them. And then the battle proper began.

Sprinting to the front of the charge, the autocannon-wielding Sentinels of the 666th led the way, weapons spitting long tongues of fire and hot metal and belching clouds of black smoke. While they posed a tempting target for the gunners on the tanks, the tankers could not track them. Much to the frustration of the weapons officers, the spindly looking walkers were outpacing the turret mounted lasers ability to track them from the stationary vantage points the tanks held. The problem they posed was quickly remedied as the Devastator squads in the trenches took aim and loosed their armor piercing warheads in a hail of fire and metal. In a testament to the marine’s skill with their weapons, many of the walkers toppled with limbs missing, or crew compartments ablaze. The remaining walkers sprinted from the front lines, their work done. In wake of their passing, three of the marine’s four twin linked heavy bolter emplacements lay in ruin. The Ravens were quick to remind the Traitors that they still possessed other heavy weapons, playing lascannon and assault cannon fire across the slowly advancing chaos line. Twin quartets of brilliant blue coherent light merged and shattered a Leman Russ MBT, halting it in its tracks. Again hammering out with their laser weaponry, the Predators slammed another glowing fist into the frontal armor of another tank. Before the offensive can gain momentum, the traitor legion’s twin gun ships roared back into sight, performing their final task with extreme prejudice. The twin weapons ports just under the wings spat ruby lances, peeling back armor and coring into the tanks critical systems. Their task now complete, the aircraft hurtled off over the lines of the 666th, where the troops were now dug in. With mechanical precision, the front ranks of men and machines parted, allowing the iron steeds of the legion through. Twin rhino armored transports raced into the no-man’s land trailing just behind a trio of chimera apc’s. Reaching their destination at the very core of the defender’s line, the carriers disgorged their cargo- Chaos space marines and kasrkins of the traitor legion. Out of the lead chimera pounced Kaleigh, landing cat-like on her feet with her chaos blade raised high overhead. Shouting a battle prayer and declaring that it would feast for her this day, she charged into the fray. Charging alongside her, although in a far less elegant manner, came the Colonel Commissar, electrical discharges playing between the metal talons on his mighty battle claw, and a fierce sneer on his face as he roared orders through the vox caster he carried with him, spurring the combined forces troops to fight with a fury they had never before had. Amidst this furious swirl of chaos marines and kasrkin traitors, fought Kaleigh and Steele. If it were to be said that the men around them were a storm, then the magnitude with which they hit could only be comparable to a hurricane. Claw and sword lashed out, punctured armor and slashed through flesh, until at last through the melee, they faced the force commander in charge of the marine force. Lashing out with a power sword of his own, the commander very nearly caught the commissar under a blow that no medic would ever have been able to repair. Again he swung, only to find his blade trapped in the massive claw that was the commissar’s right fist. Grinning and looking over the commander’s shoulder, the commissar nodded in the direction he was now staring intently. Fearing the worst, the space marine turned- right into the mighty stroke of Kaeligh’s obsidian great sword. Laughing as the marine fell and reveling in the blood that coated her blade she turned to the commissar and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You have done a great service here today, my friend. I will not lead you astray.”

“I had no such doubts, my lady.” The commissar bowed. “I am pleased to report that your marines have just contacted me and informed me that they have dealt with most of the Eldar command. It would seem that the day is yours. We may hunt down the remaining foes at your leisure.”