The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Due to their mastery of underground combat, the Tunnel Rats were frequently dispatched to quell heretical uprisings in high-density areas like hive cities and mining worlds. During this grand expedition, they were among the last units to arrive and were immediately deployed to the brutal Badab sector.

The combat psyker was a member of the 12th Siege Regiment. During a mission to breach a crucial underground node, they were ambushed by Iron Warriors. In the fierce fighting to break through the enemy's death trap, a terrifying Greater Daemon of Slaanesh was summoned. Most of the regiment's command staff, including the commander, were killed in action. At this critical moment, the combat psyker took an extremely risky approach. He first had the regiment's other three psykers open their minds, linking their souls together. Then, he removed his own psychic limiter collar. With his brain nearly boiling, he unleashed power close to that of a Gamma-level psyker, annihilating the daemon along with the coven of sorcerers who summoned it. Afterward, the other three psykers all perished, and only he survived by sheer luck, but his brain suffered permanent damage, losing control of his limbs and requiring mechanical assistance to move.

The Stormtrooper of the Emperor's Finest was a veteran nearing fifty years of age. His accomplishments included, but were not limited to, single-handedly infiltrating important enemy strongholds to assassinate enemy commanders, single-handedly penetrating deep behind enemy lines to destroy enemy armories, and disrupting enemy's vile witchcraft rituals.

His most notable characteristic was that all his missions were completed alone. His infiltration skills were evaluated by the Departmento Munitorum as 'far surpassing any assassin from the Assassin Temples.' It was said that his favorite infiltration tool was a seemingly ordinary cardboard box. Sorshyan wasn't sure if this was true or just some wild rumor.

As for the company's chaplain, Sorshyan personally felt that he was far less legendary than the others. He was a chaplain from a Cadian conscript regiment native to the Maelstrom, who had participated in battles in Endymion, Lamptan, and many other areas. His most glorious deed was during an operation in the Bald-beak Rookery, where his regiment was surrounded by the enemy due to communication and command issues. As the soldiers wavered and nearly collapsed, the chaplain, holding the regimental banner in one hand and waving a chainsword in the other, charged alone towards the enemy. According to the testimonies of the soldiers at the time, the scene was roughly as follows:

"We were surrounded, enemies everywhere. The regimental commander and company commanders were almost all killed in action. We were done for. Then the chaplain raised his chainsword and prayed loudly to the heavens. As these words echoed across the silent battlefield, lightning struck, illuminating the sky. Then he grabbed the regimental banner and charged at the enemy. I swear to the Throne, we were all filled with courage. Everyone followed the chaplain's charge. The enemy was terrified, pissing their pants. Then the reinforcements arrived, and we were saved. It was a miracle of the Throne."

In fact, Sorshyan suspected that the Departmento Munitorum's inclusion of a chaplain might have been due to interference from the Ecclesiarchy, but this chaplain was indeed full of courage, leading the team out of desperate situations several times. The fact that he was still alive was a miracle in itself.

The last veteran was also a legend, a Kasrkin Sergeant Major from the Cadian 88th Mechanized Infantry Regiment named Ban Yevrian.

Sorshyan had seen some of Sergeant Major Ban Yevrian's past combat records in the regimental newsletter printed internally by the Departmento Munitorum. The Kulur Assault Team he led had completed many tasks that would be considered difficult even by Space Marine standards, and he himself was a tough guy among tough guys, having not only eliminated many terrifying aliens but also faced Chaos Space Marines alone.

The Cadian 88th Mechanized Infantry Regiment also participated in the Badab War. Ban Yevrian and his assault team used heavy weapons to destroy thirteen Daemon Engines in combat, and he personally used a melta weapon to kill an enemy Chaos Terminator at close range.

"You are models for all soldiers, the embodiment of the Emperor's holy wrath, and walking legends. Aliens tremble at the mention of your names, and heretics lose their courage at the sound of your titles. You have lived up to expectations, giving the heretics the most severe blows and punishments. Therefore, on behalf of the expeditionary force's high command, I hereby award you the most distinguished Star of Terra medal to commend your superhuman will and spirit, as well as your eternally immortal feats."

As Sorshyan spoke, he picked up a gold-cast box from the red velvet cushion held by the attendant. Inside lay a glittering medal, golden overall, with a miniature of Holy Terra carved from crystal embedded in the center, surrounded by a laurel wreath and tiny relief sculptures. Engraved on it were the first words on the first page of the Departmento Munitorum handbook: 'Human courage and perseverance will be eternally engraved under the stars.'

The first to receive the medal was Colonel Stark, who gave Sorshyan a solemn salute, but with his new mechanical arm - his previous arm was bitten off by a Slaaneshi beast, and he beat the demon to death with his fists at the same time.

Looking at this tough guy among the Catachans, Sorshyan smiled and joked:

"Colonel Stark, is the new arm working smoothly?"

Stark grinned and replied:

"It still needs some getting used to, just like my ninth wife, always making a little trouble."

Sorshyan was also amused by this humorous answer, and then came to Hark. The other party also straightened his chest and raised his head to salute him. This strong man seemed to have only a few more scars. It was hard to imagine that he had "smashed" a Chaos Dreadnought to death with heavy bolter.

"Sergeant Hark, I heard that your arm strength is the best in the entire army. Many warriors in the chapter want to arm wrestle with you."

Sorshyan also smiled as he handed the medal to the other party.

Hark replied easily:

"Sir, I have time anytime."

When he came to Lias Mabbon, this "legendary" soldier just gave a casual salute, and his attitude could even be called "disrespectful," but Sorshyan didn't care much. It was just that no matter how he looked at it, this person didn't seem very "special," at least not as strong as Hark. However, his deeds were too "magical." For example, many soldiers testified that during the defense of the Moon of Destruction, he more than once knocked down enemy Space Marines with his bare hands, beat them to death with his fists, and "dismantled" a Hellbrute and a Maulerfiend with a combat knife.

But from the outside, he was just a cold, even somewhat gloomy Catachan soldier. The only "highlight" was the red bandage on his forehead.

"Sergeant Mabbon, congratulations on receiving another Star of Terra medal. Having a legend like you is the expedition's good fortune."

Mabbon just nodded, took the medal with one hand without saying a word, and stuffed it directly into his pocket, as if it was just a worthless trinket. Even Hark and Stark frowned, especially Stark, who had repeatedly told the other party not to put on that stinky face this time, at least not to cause trouble for the regiment.