Eldar Versus Witch Hunters pt 1

[rintinglen]

The merciless sun beat down on the oasis of Lowen. It was here that St. Sophia Godwin had fasted and had the first of her divine revelations. The only indication of Man’s presence was a small stone Chapel and a little blotch of green that was the garden.
Water, scarce and precious stood in several pools and a small stream flowed away from the spring that fed it to vanish into the desert beyond.
The stillness was broken by the sound of screaming engines as several Imperial Landers broke formation to land near the Oasis. Hydraulic whines filled the air as landing gear deployed, hatches opened and engines coasted down. From the open hatches black-clad, power-armored figures spilled out and assumed battle formations, while further engine noises heralded the arrival of several armored vehicles that trundled down the ramps of the Landers. The formations spread out and headed towards the chapel while the Landers engines re-ignited and thrust the huge aircraft back into the sky.
A look of wonderment and awe blanketed the features of the two intendents as they peered out at the advancing warriors.
“Emperor’s Love, look there Sister, Daughters of the Emperor, scores of ‘em.’” jabbered Esmeralda, Sister Superior of the small chapel.
“His Holiness, and you are right. Why would so many come to our little chapel,” wondered Sister Aileen.
With a burst of jets, 11 silver-blue armored warrior women jetted over to the Chapel. All of them, save only two, bore holstered pistols on either hip. The others, both ladies of rank by their ornate markings and superior armor, bore long, heavy bladed chain swords opposite their pistols. One of them, a tall, slender woman strolled forward, the Heavy Jump Pack on her back make her sway slightly, like a sailor freshly returned to land after a long voyage. Removing her helmet, she smiled at the elderly women and spoke.
“His will be done, I see we are in time and that you are safe.” Said the woman.
“And why would we not be,” smiled Esmarelda. “Many long years have we tended to the Chapel, and to those travelers who come to seek what the good Saint found here in solitude. There are no wild animals hereabouts of which we need fear, and those few who come are of a holy bent and would never harm us. Surely there must be some other reason you have come.”
“We come because we were forewarned that Eldar Raiders were going to target this chapel. Inquisitor Linus Strang, may the Emperor guide and protect him, bent his will hither and was granted a vision of what the vile ones intend, and he scrambles to thwart them. Our Commandery was closest, so we were ferried here with all possible dispatch.”
A look of consternation washed over the wrinkled countenance of the aged Sister Superior.
“The Emperor protects, and he has sent you to do his will. Welcome to the Chapel of St. Sophia, I am Sister Esmarelda and this is Sister Aileen. We are the only ones who reside here.”
“Pleased to meet you in His Grace, Sisters,” replied the woman “I am Sister Gabriella, Canoness of the 4th Commandery of The Order of Our Martyred Lady. This is Sister Superior Vanessa, she leads our Seraphim.”
“May it please him, Welcome to you and all your sisters,” replied Sister Aileen, echoed by Sister Esmarelda.
“There is not much time, we must leave you now and take up defensive missions against the coming onslaught.”
“Let us pray, Beloved Sister, surely there is time for that.”
Gabriella bowed, a faint smile nearly showing on her lined, but still beautiful face,
“I am justly reproved Sister, Surely there is always time for that. Let us say a litany of Battle, and implore him who we most admire to bless us this day.”
The surrounding, youthful-seeming, Seraphim, the two elderly Sisters and the Canoness who was neither, all clasped their hands into the Sign of the Aquila and began to intone a short prayer.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Commandery, some 53 Sisters of Battle, spread out to take pre-determined positions. Two Exorcist-class Battle Tanks swung into position behind a low, rocky hillock. A Retributor Squad dug in below the crest of the same hill. Four squads of infantry, armed with the wholly trinity of Bolter, Flamer and Meltagun spread out to take positions of mutual support, while a 5th squad of Celestians, resplendent in their highly polished armor, took the point of honor in the advance, carefully siting the Multi-melta to cover one of the blind spots out of line of sight of the tanks..
Their prayer completed, the Seraphim and the Canoness replaced their helmets and jetted over to the position. Running a careful eye over their dispositions, Gabriella made several minor adjustments to the deployment to better cover the ground to the east.
“Blessed Sister, How can you be sure that the enemy will come this way,” asked Vanessa as they completed the rounds and stood contemplating the horizon?
“Treacherous and evil as they are, the elder are no fools. Come the morning early, when we are at our most tired and the rising sun burns our eyes and blinds us, then you will see them coming.” Gabriella paused, and then resumed, “You have not fought them before, but I have, on Montius IV. They are evil to deal with.”
She stopped again, her eyes slowly panning the terrain eastward. Yet to one who knew her well, it was clear that she saw something else in her mind’s eye. And from the expression of her face, what she saw there did not please.
“The night comes, let half the Sisters watch at all times, but let all get what sleep they can,” She paused, smiled at Vanessa, and added, “You too, Sister Vanessa, You too.”