[center][h2]Blades in war[/h2]

[h3]Boetia[/h3]
[/center]
Elis observed the hill where a claimant of this land made a stand. He managed to raise a host of soldiers to his doomed revolt, but from what she could tell, he was a fake claimant. They had picked high ground and had a wise idea of fortifying the hill instead of charging downwards towards them. The mountain had a strange monument. It seemed old, surrounded by metal, yet its internal bowls were of stone, nothing uncommon for terra. There are many ruins of different eras dotted around its surface. She did not knew but in ancient days it would be called the Parthenon.

A marine saluted her, saying. “Commander, artillery in position.” 

“Begin.” She replied in a cold tone as the marine left, giving her a nod. 

The sound of thunder was soon heard the echo of artillery the hill so began to be shelled the explosions causing screams in the distance raising his hand Elis gave a light gesture as the legion began to assemble for a march towards the hill the organisation is slow but well made in discipline as Elis stared at the top of the mountain the legion assembled reaching by Vox comms she asked. “Mapalo, are you in position?” The sound of gunfire was heard, with Elis turning her head lightly when hearing it. 

The vox soon replied as her voice said. “No, we faced some small opposition, and we are still not in the designated position.” Elis closed her eyes and began to think, replying to her as she opened her eyes. “Even with enemy contact, you would be able to block their retreat with ease.” 

“Don’t worry, I have this under control. The operation can continue as normal, there is just a bigger obstacle than expected…” The sound of gunfire drowned the vox until she shouted. “Continue the operation!” She closed his eyes for a moment, giving a light nod with a gesture of her hand. The legion soon began the approach towards the hill, a march of power and unison through the sands of the mountain. The bombardment stopped as they were at the foot of the hill, and soon began the rush forward with Elis in the middle of the soldiers.

The advance was quicker than the defenders expected, with the initial defences being overwhelmed without problems. Elis continued in vox; She could hear the comms of the higher officers reporting the situation. On the left flank, the situation described was fine; the soldiers had burned the traitors out of their holes, and some were surrendering as well. On the right flank, the commanders stated that explosions were happening as they advanced, probably set up traps, but it was a defence that failed to do damage; many were surrendering as well. She thought for a moment of the fact that the flanks were surrendering, yet… 

Pulling a pistol, she shot a man in a pillar as the advance continued. She could tell that by the lack of surrendering forces in the central front, it meant the most loyal to the cause were here. That or their leader was close; if he tried to run away from the war he started, he would be caught by Mapalo if she arrived in her position as planned by then. Or better himself, since she mostly seemed adamant on taking the frontal charge during the debate of who commands. She took the position to go around the hill after some convincing, and things could get better between them. With a quick reflex, she shot another rebel as she marched on with the legion, arriving at the central command on top of the hill, the artillery destroyed what remained of the ruins. The forces of the rebellion seemed to be in total retreat now, with the legion in pursuit a bit earlier than she expected. But looking around, the commander and claimant seemed not to be around, having been gone in flight as some soldiers investigated. 

Contacting Mapalo Elis quickly, said. “Mapalo, I have reason to believe the man we are searching has set flight with full retreat”

The sound returning was of a firefight by the sounds, and a big one, yet it made no sense that she would face little opposition, she then heard Mapalo say. “I know we are on it!” 

Holding on to the question of what was going on and focusing on the mission was clear, she soon asked. “You found him?”

“No! I mean, we are doing what we can right now, trying to make sure she does not escape.” She replied quickly with the sound of an explosion, swiftly moving from her position and past the smoke blocking her view and looking down the hill she could see the firefight, she soon realised what was happening she fully encircled the hill meaning the retreating force was trying to pressure through her to escape she let out a very soft groan as she soon said through vox. “Mapalo, you encircled the whole back hill?” 

“Yes, that was the plan, was it not?” She replied with her voice sounding confident amongst the firefight, with him saying a bit more annoyed.

“It was for you to let an exit exist for them.” “You wanted the traitors to escape?” She shouted, confused by what she said. 

Elis shook her head, replying. “It wasn't that they would flee, but thanks to the damage, they would not get too far. Allowing us to catch up and capture them all.” 

“That still allows some to escape.” She said, with her stating. “In theory, yes, in practice, the entire army would be destroyed. The idea was to give them a false sense of security and then destroy them. Now that you blocked what they thought was their only way out, they will now fight to the death to get through you to escape.” 

“Don’t worry, things are under… HOLD ON THERE!” She shouted in vox until a large explosion could be seen in the distance, cutting the vox com. 

“Mapalo, come in, are you there?” Elis asked in comms without an answer. 

“Second Commander Mapalo, come in, can you listen?” Elis said as some of the marines looked at him, the helmets masked emotions, but they could feel concern in her removing her hand from the comms. She soon took a deep breath and shouted for the first time to all present and in comms. “All forces charge immediately. Defeat the remainder of the enemy forces!” 
The legion soon began to charge more vigorously towards the retreating forces, blocked by the marines commanded by Mapalo. Elis charged ahead of his soldiers for the first time the gunfire flew past her as the legion crashed down the hill against the rebels her reflexes and hand gun made quick work of the first few she saw before she crushed through what she could count to be five people at least who died in her charge branding a knife she then sliced through several people like butter with the legion behind her in the charge she kept on fighting onwards.

She saw people being sliced sometimes in half due to her strength, her bolter pistol tearing chunks out of people who aimed at her as she fought forward. She saw a grenade being thrown at herself. With quick reflexes, she grabbed it mid-air and threw it back at the rebels, the explosion throwing back a few and killing others with body parts flying around. Stopping her advance, she came face to face with a bloodied marine, seeing her, the marine said. “Miss…” with a light head bow, Elis raised her hand, the battle still raged as she said. 

“Where is Mapalo, and report the status of your force.” She saluted the command given by Elis stating. “The commander is on the central front, a few leagues east, sir.” 

“Of course she is.” Elis thought heading there as the battle began to die down ever so slowly her movement was slow studying the battlefield as it died down the sound of gunfire and struggle diminishing as she arrived at the section the marines saluted her. She continued walking until she could see Mapalo. She looked bloodied; it was hard to tell if she had suffered any issues approaching her. She holstered her chain axe, turning to her saying. “Elis! Looks like we achieved a great victory!” “I wouldn’t call it great after you encircled the hill; it made things more difficult.” She replied with the sound of gunfire in the distance, the battle beginning to finally end, she then said. “What happened to you? Your comms were cut, and I saw an explosion.” 

She let out a chuckle, beginning to recount. “I saw the man we were seeking. He was close to us, and one of my girls had a bomb. We had limited time since some were breaching the perimeter, so I made a quick decision.” 

“That was dangerously close to an explosion; you could have died.” Eris stated to her while she gave a dismissive hand wave, saying. “It was fine…” Eris mentally rolled her eyes at her simply issuing orders to a nearby group of marines. “Round up any survivors as prisoners, you know what to do with them.” The marines gave a salute as the battle ended, with Eris letting herself have a small smile at the success, even if it was messy.

An hour later, Eris stood at the top of the hill overlooking it all, some craters still smoking as she read reports. Mapalo, meanwhile, had removed her helmet, standing beside Eris, her braided hair flowed in the air, her dark skin emphasised her amber eyes that sparkled like the sunset, and she then said. “You need to remove your helmet more often after a battle.” 

“I do not see a reason why to.” She answered her idea with Mapalo rolling her eyes, saying. “The regular air helps to think for me, and also I feel like the man would feel more at will seeing one of their leaders.” 

“I feel like it's unnecessary.” She replied with Mapalo looking unimpressed as she turned to say. “You lost three men on your manoeuvre.” 

She looked less than happy, simply saying. “It was a calculated risk. I knew the dangers.” Eris gave a nod, saying. “At least you know not to pull a stunt like this again.” 

“We grow wiser with every battle. I will redeem myself for this.” She said after a moment of silence, Eris soon said. “Time to go, we have new orders.” 

“Duty never ends.” She replied with a smile to him as both went to work again. 

The legion soon began to assemble into formation, ready for march. Eris stood at the head beside her was Mapalo, still with her helmet in her hand, looking around, Eris felt comfortable saying. “Women, we are ready to march when our orders are sent. We have to uphold it as it is what we were made for. Do you understand, man?” 

“Yes, ma'am!” They shouted in unison, and she gave a nod. Hearing a very light cough, she turned her head to her co-leader, Mapalo, who smiled. She stepped forward, saying. “Men, we achieved victory today! We succeed in destroying the traitors to the emperor's will.” 

The sound of a beat to the chest was heard, the metal echoing as she continued. “We will keep on fighting, let this be our first glory on our path to immortality! For mankind! For the emperor!” “FOR THE EMPEROR!” They shouted in unity, chanting in unison as she turned her head to Eris, and she soon said. “Nice job… Alright, Lads in formation!” Getting ready, they soon set off in March towards their new orders on terra. The unification was coming close to an end.