"The Gellar Field is collapsing!"
Sergeant Volkanic of the Salamanders Chapter's 6th Company Aggressor Squad shouted loudly.
"Brother Ignis, steady your will, check your weapons. The enemy will board the ship soon."
Ignis sighed and activated the power pack of his Mark X Gravis Power Armor via the neural link.
Chapter serfs were busy fueling the Flamestorm Gauntlets of the three Aggressor warriors with promethium and loading ammunition into the Fragstorm grenade launchers on their shoulders.
"Worry not, Brother Ignis. You are no longer a neophyte. After this battle, you will be eligible to receive your brand."
Another squad member, Sindefist, patted his shoulder. The veteran gave him a wink, displaying the scars branded onto his face by the Chapter Chaplain.
Ignis nodded and slammed his helmet on heavily. The HUD showed his weapon's fuel tank was full and the high-explosive grenades were loaded.
"May the Old Man on the Golden Throne bless me," Ignis muttered under his breath.
It wasn't that this battle-brother was disrespectful to the Golden Sun of the Immaterium. It was just that, as a transmigrator, a 'W40K enthusiast' who only knew the lore from afar, and as a civil safety officer from Earth who died in an industrial accident, he still hadn't quite adapted to this world.
The only consolation was that he had soul-transmigrated into a Primaris Space Marine, and from a renowned Chapter like the Salamanders at that. Instead of becoming trench-fodder for the Astra Militarum or some unlucky underhiver.
"Move out, Brother Ignis." The Sergeant pushed open the armory door and gestured for him to follow. "Sergeant Eberfal's Intercessor squad will rendezvous with us in the corridor."
Ignis had somewhat forgotten his human name. He had fought with the company for decades, battling Necrons, Tyranids, and those stinking 'canned' Heretic Astartes. Everyone called him Brother Ignis. As for his earlier name, he had long since forgotten it.
Sometimes he felt this was fine. When in Rome, be a Roman. In this war-torn galaxy, he was Ignis, Ignis of the Salamanders.
The interior corridors of the Battle Barge were not particularly spacious. Walking three Aggressor warriors abreast was slightly cramped. Veteran Sindefist took the lead, his arms held level, advancing while maintaining vigilance. The Sergeant held a data-slate in his left hand, displaying intelligence provided by the ship's cogitator.
Some Nurgle daemons had invaded the ship. They were heading towards the ship's power room and the Gellar Field generator. Simultaneously, large numbers of crew had been infected by Nurgle's Pox, turning into Nurgle Zombies.
These terrifying monsters were pouring out from every crevice of the ship. The battle-brothers of the 6th Company were engaged in combat all over. The Company Captain was directing the various squads to converge and form more effective combat units.
An indescribable stench wafted from ahead. The veteran immediately halted, confirming through his helmet's lenses a large horde of Nurgle Zombies ahead. Judging by the scant remnants of clothing on them, they were the ship's mortal defense forces.
"By the Emperor above, they're all infected..." The Sergeant stowed the data-slate at his waist and turned to issue orders to his two comrades. "Load grenades. Purge them with fire."
"May their souls find peace..." the veteran said, as his flamer spat out a few preliminary flickers.
With several dull thunks, three grenades launched into the midst of the zombie horde. After a series of explosions, green poison gas and blood mist erupted. The high-explosives and shrapnel eliminated most of the zombies. Before the remaining ones could react, the three giants unleashed six streams of white-hot promethium fire upon them.
"May the flame shall cleanse your souls," Brother Volkanic said quietly. " May you return to the Golden Throne."
The zombies' flesh was naturally incapable of withstanding these searing streams of fire, quickly turning into piles of charred remains on the deck.
Only after the last zombie fell did Ignis shut off his flamer. He felt an unspeakable heaviness. Just one Terran hour ago, these people had been living alongside them on this warship. Now, he had to destroy them with his own hands.
"My brother, you need not blame yourself." The veteran came over and patted Ignis's shoulder. "Leaving them to fester would have caused them greater suffering. This holy fire ensures their souls return to the Throne."
"I know..." Ignis turned and followed the Sergeant, who had already moved ahead.
Clearing Nurgle Zombies they encountered along the way, and incidentally eliminating a group of Nurglings fiddling with the helmet of a fallen battle-brother's corpse, Ignis finally rounded a corner and met up with Sergeant Eberfal and his squad.
Only, his squad was one man short. Presumably, that fallen battle-brother was one of their own.
"Thank the Emperor, we could use some heavy firepower right now."
Seeing the arrival of the three heavily armored warriors, Eberfal visibly relaxed.
"It's blocked ahead. A bunch of damned Plaguebearers are there." The Sergeant immediately began exchanging situation reports with Volkanic.
"That's precisely what we're here for, Brother Eberfal." The Sergeant nodded. "Cover us with your bolters."
The three heavy warriors charged around the corner and immediately encountered a group of Nurgle Plaguebearers.
These warp daemons resembled a horned head attached to a gourd, bodies covered in festering sores and pustules. Their spindly hands held swords dripping with virulent plagues.
Before they could react, the Aggressor Squad launched their attack. Purifying sacred fire spewed forth, annihilating all viruses and plagues.
"The Fire of Vulkan burns in my breast!"
"For the Imperium!"
The two older warriors shouted, spraying holy fire upon these loathsome green warp entities. The air filled with the smell of scorched flesh and daemonic matter.
These daemons did not fall so easily. Even while ablaze, they leered and surged towards the Salamanders.
The trio's flamers did not cease for a moment. Promethium fuel, carrying the Salamanders' wrath, traced fiery dragons in the air, reminiscent of the lava rivers of Nocturne.
Even so, the daemons step by step closed in, their plague-ridden blades drawing ever nearer.
"Grenades!"
A shout accompanied two grenades flying into the midst of the enemy, exploding into a mist of blood and ichor, followed by the roar of bolters.
Sergeant Eberfal and his squad advanced, their bolters providing precise semi-automatic fire, dropping any Plaguebearers attempting to breach the line.
Bolter shells and fire streams – the two squads cooperated seamlessly. The mass of Nurgle Plaguebearers blocking the corridor was finally banished back to the warp.
"Good. We must continue pushing towards the Gellar Field generator and establish a defensive line there." Sergeant Volkanic confirmed the new objective from his data-slate.
Just as the Sergeant was about to lead the advance, the Space Marines' enhanced Lyman's Ears detected a sound like thick, viscous fluid slithering.
"The Emperor preserve us, something's coming." Sindefist went on alert, staring into the darkened ship corridor ahead.
The Salamanders possessed the Fire-Sight, a beneficial mutation from their gene-seed allowing them to see thermal radiation. Thus, they detected a mass of flesh crawling and slithering towards them.
It was a lump of flesh taller than a Space Marine, almost filling the entire corridor. Beneath it seeped a sickly green slime. On its front was something that could barely be called a face, and on its abdomen was a huge maw. A pair of bloated arms stretched forward, as if asking for a hug.
"It's a Beast of Nurgle!" Volkanic shouted a warning.
"Open fire! Open fire!" Sergeant Eberfal yelled the order and was the first to pull the trigger.
Four Space Marines unleashed a volley. Bolter shells rained out. The Beast of Nurgle's massive size left it no room to evade. The bolts penetrated the warp creature's body and detonated, spraying vast amounts of flesh and blood. Terrible, corrupted blood dripped onto the ship's corridors, the metal sizzling and corroding on contact.
This seemingly fierce volley did little actual damage. The bolter fire ultimately caused only superficial wounds. The Beast of Nurgle's powerful regenerative abilities quickly regrew the lost flesh. The enormous monstrosity of flesh drew ever closer.
"Prepare for close combat! Power up the power fists, activate the disruption fields!" The Sergeant gave the order and was the first to charge forward.
Aggressors were the heavy warriors among the Space Marines, but they still seemed small before a monster like a Beast of Nurgle. Sergeant Volkanic dodged the tongue lashing out from the warp daemon's belly-maw, evaded its loathsome embrace, and drove his power fist, shimmering with blue electric energy, straight into its mouth.
The disruption field obliterated half of the beast's maw, severing the long tongue. A torrent of foul blood gushed from the wound, nearly washing the heavy warrior off his feet.
Seeing his superior in danger, Ignis immediately charged forward. The Intercessor squad concentrated their bolter fire on the Beast of Nurgle's face, forcing it to protect itself with its arms.
Veteran Sindefist helped steady the Sergeant, and the three warriors stood together once more. They sprayed flames at the monster, charring its flesh and evaporating its poisonous blood, while swinging their fists, using the disruption fields to destroy its form.
But this living mountain of flesh was tenacious beyond reason. Or perhaps all Nurgle's creations were just so disgustingly resilient.
Just then, a buzzing sound filled the air.
"Plague Drones!" Eberfal shouted. "They're attacking from our rear! Shoot them down!"
The moment the Intercessors' fire slackened, the living mountain of flesh found a moment to recover. Its bloated arms swung, and the Sergeant, unable to dodge in time, was sent flying, crashing against the ship's bulkhead and falling silent.
"Damned monster!" Ignis's eyes widened with fury. Sergeant Volkanic had looked after him since he first awoke, saving his life multiple times in dangerous battles.
Now it was his turn to repay that debt.
He punched, shattering the remaining half of the beast's maw, revealing the monster's vulnerable internal structure. A crazy idea suddenly occurred to him.
"May that skeleton on the Golden Toilet remember to bless me."
Seeing Ignis trying to burrow into the Beast of Nurgle's belly, Sindefist wanted to stop him, but was ultimately a step too late. He could only continue to tie up the large monster, ensuring the Sergeant's safety.
Inside the beast's belly, Ignis saw a mass of indescribably twisted organs. Poisonous blood and bodily fluids dripped onto his power armor. Fortunately, the Purity Seals took effect, protecting the brave warrior.
He swung his fists, spewing searing promethium streams, punching and rampaging wildly inside the monster. The blue glow of the power fists and the burning flames were the only light he could see, but it didn't matter – the beast's tissues were everywhere. Any attack would cause damage.
The living mountain of flesh ultimately could not withstand such an attack from within, especially with its internal organs suffering immense damage. It thrashed in agony, its massive body slamming against the ship's bulkheads, making the metal structure groan in protest.
Seeing this, the veteran immediately dragged the still-unconscious Sergeant away, avoiding being crushed by the frenzied giant beast.
"Vulkan be praised, he is worthy of the name Sons of Vulkan."
Finally, after a series of terrible convulsions, the mountain of flesh ceased moving. Its internal organs were either shattered by disruption fields or charred by the intense flames.
Inside the giant beast, Ignis also felt it – the big guy was no longer moving. He let out a long sigh of relief. The Emperor on the Golden Throne had, after all, protected this outsider.
But soon, he realized something was wrong. Why was the corpse in front of him swelling?
Before he could even think, a blast wave accompanied by a horrific stench sent him flying.
The corpse exploded. The massive explosion tore a huge hole in the ship's structure.
Ignis was flung out through the blasted opening, straight into the Warp.
The veteran Sindefist only saw a humanoid form, enveloped in golden light, fly away through the hole.
He had no time to mourn. There were still many battle-brothers on this ship who needed their support. Only by restarting the Gellar Field generator as soon as possible could they minimize casualties.
"Into the Fires of Battle, unto the Anvil of War!" the veteran shouted the Salamanders' warcry, turning to aid the other battle-brothers.