Hi it’s me again. Most recent draft update to this story. It’s slow going due to schedule stuff but I’m still working at it. I’m too much of an Iron Warriors simp not too.

Black smoke choked the sky and the smell of burning oil filled the air. Part of the fortified city was burning after a crash-landing that only left a single survivor. A lone human protected by a masterfully crafted suit of power armor whose vision swam as he came around from unconsciousness. Enki pushed his way out of the wreckage that had landed on him, the visual processes in his helmet display already alerting him to no other survivors. What was supposed to be a sabotage operation by he and other combat engineers had gone pear-shaped thanks to the unpredictable nature of war.

He was alone in a hostile city. A small laugh left him imagining how worried Petra must be for her “Precious Trinket.” But he could not just sit and wait so he hefted the power-ax he had been gifted and began making his way from the wreck just as the sound of approaching feet rose above the din of the burning ship. Staying in the area was the first thing that ran through his mind and rose above the other chemical responses screaming to get somewhere safe. Safety was staying close to the burning beacon any sort of recovery team would check first. If they were hostile… well this was not the perpetual’s first urban war zone.

“The strategic value of The Trinket is Absolute.” Sergeant Dosan reiterated to his small force of Iron Warriors. Having been tasked with locating and retrieving the human that so ingratiated himself to Petra, there was no room for failure. The human, Enki, had tempered their Primarch’s unbending iron which had brought clearer vision to the IVth.

A silent nod came in unison from his raiders and the Sergeant flexed the fingers of his beloved power fist. The transport getting shot down had been an unforeseen event despite the meticulous planning of that attempted insertion and now the time for subtle action was truly passed. Petra’s fury had boiled over just enough and the siege had begun in earnest. Dosan’s raiders would breach the city soon…

Petra poured over the incoming battlefield data with her practiced precision. She needed to keep her mind occupied, keep the turbulent sea of her emotions in check. One hand unconsciously touched the front of her battle plate, right over where Enki’s first gift to her hung around her neck. It brought to mind his competence and his admittedly clumsy way of working under pressure. Along with those came the one reminder that kept her fury from overtaking her mind like it would a few of her sisters: Enki would not, could not, die out there.

Everything was on schedule despite her Trinket’s plan being interrupted. Then again the plan was intended as a distraction so in a darkly humorous way it had worked. The raiders were on their way under the cover of artillery and would breach the city soon. They refused compliance and so they would feel the strike of Iron. She would break these people and rebuild them stronger. There was no alternative, no room to negotiate. They will fall in line as so many others have before them.

Back in the walled city, Enki had taken cover in an abandoned store near the crash site of his transport. At least the government had gotten people evacuated to safehouses and bunkers after recognizing the very real threat the IVth Legion presented. He raised his head slightly and peeked out at the squad of heavily armed soldiers investigating the wreckage. Well investigating was a little strong they were more just poking around and doing the bare minimum to check for life signs. Which meant they were ignorant of the couple of shape-charges Enki had set before hiding himself. Enki was not a coward (Petra would never suffer his presence if he were) he just had enough experience to pick his battles even when encased in a suit of power armor. After all he only had a power ax and a bag of explosives. Not the best loadout for fighting his way to any rendezvous point.

But that did not stop him setting off the charges. Fire and shrapnel consumed most of the enemy squad amidst cries of surprise and agony. Then, Enki swung out from his hiding spot. Which had been behind the small wall of the outside seating of a cafe. How did they not notice him?

These defenders were doomed.

Enki barreled through the smoke and brought his power ax down, effortlessly cleaving through a helmet and skull. His wrist turned and redirected the power-servo enhanced blow toward the next disoriented soldier. The body fell in two pieces. The last had started firing his weapon, the laser bolts pinging off Enki’s armor like harmless pebbles.

The Trinket did not get a chance to deal with the last of the enemy. The wall the armored soldier’s back was facing suddenly exploded and Enki watched in slow motion as the crackling fingers of a power fist closed around the poor bastard’s head. The body gave one last spasm before falling into a useless heap only to be crushed under the boot of the Iron Warrior shouldering his way through the wall.

Pick up is here, Enki supposed as the rest of the squad appeared.

“We are meeting up with the rest of the offensive near the geographical center of the city,” Sergeant Dosan explained as Enki walked alongside the posthuman. “And it was impressed upon that you have absolute value as a strategic asset.”

“Strategic asset?” Enki questioned. “Huh, guess I’m moving up a bit.”

“I would not let it go to your head,” Dosan said in reply to the little joke. He then transmitted the exact wording of the order given.

‘Strategic Asset: The Trinket. Value: Absolute. Retrieve and bring to the staging area of the main assault. Failure is not optional.’

“Oh.” Enki sounded deflated despite his best efforts, earning small grunts of amusement from the squad. “I really shouldn’t be that surprised.”

“If it is any consolation,” Dosan began, “this is a worthwhile undertaking.”

“Babysitting the Primarch’s Trinket?”

“More like returning the favor.”

“You lost me, Sergeant.”

“Primarch Petra has lessened the severity of the punishments visited upon the Fourth,” Dosan explained. “It was not difficult to piece together the cause. Whether recognized or not, we owe you a debt.”

Enki could not muster up a reply as they continued through the empty streets. He wanted to deny any part in what Dosan claimed but could not find the words. After all, he had spoken to Petra rather harshly about her consistent choice to use decimation as a collective punishment when the legion did not measure up to her…demanding standards. Enki still recalled the imperceptible change in Petra’s expression when he had nearly shouted that her soldiers were not mindless automatons to be moved across a tactical table. His heartbeat quickened a bit knowing for certain she had taken that to heart.