The smell of cordite hung heavy in the air, the deep bass howling of storm bolters, bolters and plasma weapons filled the air. echoed around the hall. At the main doorway were piles of dead dark eldar with a few Dead or injured dark angels. An apothecary ran to the dead marines to retrieve their progenoid glands or to administer to wounds. The sons of el'Jonson in their typical tenacity fought tooth and nail to hold the doorway. Even the wounded marines were prizing bolters from severed arms to fire again and the dead aliens were piling high into an obscene organic wall. A dark eldar talos was rampaging through the imperial guardsmen, butchering them wholesale. A squad of ogryns intercepted it and begun to hold it off when the dreadnought Karradiel strode forwards and raked the melee with lascannon fire, striking ogyns and the obscene machine. The talos exploded killing two ogryns from the squad and more eldar. The huge explosion caught the attention of the dark angels com mander. Brother lucien had warned the guardsmen to keep well away because the presence of the mutants will not be tolerated nor will his men be responsible for any abhuman casualties, he should have paid attention the chaplain thought. The dark angels fought without making a sound. Even as they died they did so without fear. Chaplain camales stood with his squad his power armour rent in a dozen places from enemy fire and close assault weapons. His squad had fought long and hard to hold the right flank from the vile hoard. In the centre of the line stood interrogator chaplain Lucien in his terminator armour with his deathwing bodyguard around him. They were like an immovable wall, each assault the aliens attempted broke off their weapons like waves on a beach, the chaplain shouting the catechisms of hate and the rites of firing. Each marine could hear it through his helmet commlink and it made them stronger, more resolute to do their duty. From amongst the dark eldar strode a n incubi master, pointing his halberd at the chaplain to issue a challenge, the chaplain met his opponent head on. The two combatants laid blow for blow on each other until the eldar sank his punisher blade into the chaplain's chest just as Lucien brought his crozius down on the eldar's head crushing his skull. Before the eldar could exploit the breach camales ran into the fray to bolster the defences again as the dark eldar fled to regroup. The dark angel reinforcements arrived a few hours after the battle had ended landraiders and predators performed sweeps of the city with assault squads clearing out the hiding places of the aliens. Apothecary Malachi approached camales with a look of despair on his face.

"Brother, I fear we were unable to save Brother Lucien, the alien's blade punctured both his hearts and death was instantaneous. The honoured ranks of the deathwing are without a chaplain", camales couldn't believe what he was hearing,

"this is grave news indeed brother Malachi, what action has been taken by the inner circle? To heal this rift within the honoured ranks?", Malachi couldn't answer the chaplain at all,

"I cannot say brother camales, as always our inner ranks have been very reluctant to release any details to the rest of the chapter in regards to this matter. I must attend again our wounded comrades, here are the names of those who need commended to the emperor". As camales read the slab he saw names he had never wanted to see on a casualty list and felt his hatred for the eldar grew.

"Your hatred of the alien filth makes you strong brother". Camales turned to see chief librarian Ezekiel standing next to him also surveying the devastation their forces had caused.

"What will happen with regards to the deathwing chaplain brother Ezekiel?",

"the inner circle have conviened to select a successor to Lucien. My vote has been cast that is why I am here. My presence will not be needed until the appointment ceremony in the chapter hall. Lucien was a dear friend to others and myself in the inner circle. He will be sorely missed" and with that Ezekiel marched off to supervise the defences the dark angels were preparing.

Back on the rock the forces were assembled for the coming ceremony. The chants of the serfs mingled in with the prayers of the space marines in the chapter hall. Cherubs and servo skulls flew over the marines with incense burners. The entire chapter was assembled in the huge chamber, the entire fighting strength of the angels of death to mark the succession of the dead chaplain Lucien. The ancient hall was a wealth of gothic architecture, the oldest hall on the rock and the scene of the battle between luthor and el'Jonson. Company banners and the personal banners of past heroes adorned the wall s. At the top of the hall the chapter standard hung majestically above the dais from which the supreme grandmaster would make his announcement. At the head of the hall was the deathwing. All 100 marines in their white armour and after them the ravenwing who looked decidedly uncomfortable due to the extended time away from their vehicles. After that the third company all the way down to the Scout Company. The inner circle filed into the hall one at a time, from chapter commander azrael to the senior command staff to the chapter's company commanders. With a gesture azrael ceased all activity and began the ceremony. He read out Lucien's combat record to the chapter and finally the method of his death. The inner circle all stepped forwards and the announcement.

"Due to his outstanding bravery during the action at the paladias gate the successor to our honoured brother Lucien will be brother camales!". The entire hall roared it's approval as camales stepped up onto the dais to be fitted with the black armour of his new office, Still stunned at the decision.

Camales walked along the defences as the dark angels and the imperial guard readied themselves for the new attack from the eldar. His first command and he had been given half the deathwing to break the eldar pirates on this world. The whoops and shouts of the pirates could be heard as the scum rushed the defenders, cutting a swathe through the guardsmen they were soon in range of camales and the marines. The chaplain roared an order to his men,

"DON'T FIRE UNTIL YOU CAN SMELL THEIR BREATH! MAKE EVERY ROUND COUNT! Five seconds later another order

"FIRE!".

The sudden hail of fire from the dark angels tore through the ranks of the eldar tearing bodies apart and pushing them back again and again. Seeing the success of the astartes the guardsmen lent their weight to the fusillade of fire. The battle was a massacre, the eldar had gambled all on this last assault and had lost heavily it had been a complete folly. The guardsmen had suffered too but that was deliberate. Camales had deliberately placed them to minimise dark angel casualties. Enough lion blood had been spilled on this backwater hellhole. The marines moved through the mounds of the eldar and summarily executed each survivor in turn. Commissar Brent approached camales but held off speaking after seeing the look in the giants' eyes. Sergeant akaad spoke to his leader,

" we have done well my brother and you have done your pedessessor proud I will enjoy serving under you",

"thankyou for your praise brother, we did each other proud". And with that he walked to the awaiting thunderhawk.