The Empire of Humans had long prospered throughout the galaxy. Millions of worlds were colonized and then grew and prospered. All under the watchful eye of the Emperor. Any alien system that resisted was crushed. Its occupants were vanquished or enslaved.

But then the forces of chaos grew and the armies of the orcs attacked. Now, there was constant war. Many worlds were lost to the Empire. Into this maelstrom came the most awful of foes from intra-galactic space. It took them thousands of years to reach Humanity and they came in waves, which had been repulsed. Then, there had been no contact for thousands of years.

At first, the Emperor merely sensed that among the trillions of humans, a few were missing. It was of little concern. But then the reports finally reached the capital planet. Whole worlds that were one thriving human settlement containing millions of souls had been stripped of all life. They had returned.

His best armies were positioned to stop incursions from Chaos. It was time to raise new armies from worlds that he had been left to concentrate on their own development till now. Uisneach was to be one of those worlds.

It had never crossed Timothy’s mind that one day he would be transcending the warp on the way to a different world. It was not something that he had particularly wanted. He had grown up to horrid tales of ships being lost to the forces of chaos as it was traversed. But it was the will of the Emperor.

He was to lead a battalion in the defence of Oros. Having never heard of the world previously, he was unsure of what to expect. He had heard about the enemy though, an evil alien species that wipes life from the face of the planet. It would begin with an orbital bombardment, followed by an invasion from the skies. We are to defend it till the last. To die for a world I had never known. It seems preposterous, yet it is his will.

At least I know my father and Audrey will be fine. They have been tasked with rebuilding the Omega. Uisneach is not under any threat from the latest alien incursion, at least for now but Omega is to play a key role as a bulwark against Chaos. To seek and kill any who spread heresy to the people.

My robot Ceres now looks after my care needs. It is in the form of a standard human. White limbs with a black torso and eyes. It does as it’s requested, elegantly and quickly but I long for the touch of a human.

“Why does the Emperor let some of his people live in poverty? He is so wealthy after all.”

“Does the Emperor really love his people? What has really done for them?”

“Why do so many have to be sacrificed at his altar?”

Timothy opens his eyes. He could feel the sweat on his brow. He had heard that even space marines could fall into the arms of chaos if too long was spent in the warp. He tried to push out the terrible thoughts crossing his mind. The Emperor was never to be questioned, only worshipped.

What would his Omega compatriots think of him? Would they have given their lives so freely? Fortunately, they would never know.

At least his time in the warp was coming to an end. He would be on Oros in a few hours. The large space hulk his army was traveling had not been to his taste. The rooms were cramped, even his own and the smell of unwashed human bodies was everywhere. None of the foot soldiers were good conversationalists, they were almost certainly terrified of saying the wrong thing. He longed to be back on Uisneach in his luxurious bed. Hopefully, Oros would have something similar.

Oros turned out to be beyond his imagination. It was a warm, moist world teeming with life of all types and sizes on both land and sea. Its continents are covered in a thick lush rainforest. There are few mountains with an ocean covering almost half the planet’s surface.

The sky is almost constantly covered in thick clouds, with a heavy mist covering the treetops. The planet has the feeling of being in a constant twilight

Timothy and his troops have been assigned to a fortification carved into one of the few mountains in the southern hemisphere. The Empire has provided them with heavy weaponry. Large lasers that can obliterate rocks across large distances and conventional artillery could disperse deadly cluster bombs over vast areas. The aliens, whom he now knows as Tyranids don’t stand a chance.

Timothy couldn’t help but smile surveying his troops as he trundled up and down the ramparts. His troops are all kitted out in their light green uniforms with matching helmets and standard machine guns. Thankfully. there are few insects at his current altitude also. Other battalions had not been so fortunate and there were already reports of some deaths. He would have hated that.

Days pass and there is no sign of any invasion. Timothy is even beginning to enjoy his new world especially round dusk when it is temperate and there is still enough light that you can survey the valleys beneath. Large reptilians live out their lives below devouring the tough vegetation and each other. It never ceases to amuse.

He has even begun to get to know his foot soldiers that bit better. He had never realized how much he was loved by the rank and file for his previous exploits. They regaled him with stories of the different battles they had watched and how he was the name on everybody’s lips. It lifted his spirits.

It was during one such conversation with a group of his soldiers, that yells roared out in the distance –

“General, General he was interfering with our weapon battery.”

Four soldiers were approaching. three of them holding on to one in the middle.

The Emperor had warned that there may be traitors among the ranks. Timothy pressed the button on his chair to activate the machine guns his chair was armed with.

“Stop! Don’t come any closer!” Timothy roared.

The traitor’s eyes had turned black and now his whole body began to metaphorize. His face became a dark green and his arms and legs grew thicker. The other soldiers lost their grip and he quickly snapped the neck of one.

Timothy opened fire killing the other two but the monster would not fall until the other soldiers also fired moments later.

“Burn the bodies. Make sure bio-suits are worn,” he ordered.

Reports of sabotage were now coming in across the planet.

It was the beginning.

There were multiple suicide bomb attacks in the main cities. Key military installations had been targeted along with places where there had been large congregations of people . Timothy approved of the tactics. It’s what he would have done, a mixture of weakening and terrorizing your opponent.

For hours he waited on the defensive fortification in a heavy downpour and looked out at the lush horizon below. But the assault didn’t come despite the reports that the alien ship had been spotted in orbit. He retreated to his quarters inside the mountain and rested, languishing wistfully about what was to come There would be much death. He rose a few hours later, once more rejuvenated.

He went back on the rampart and waited. Minutes, then hours passed. His soldiers were fidgeting and making small talk. Then there was the sound of an explosion.

“Over there!” came the roar of a soldier pointing to a point of light in the distance.

Then there were multiple explosions. Timothy looked up at a sky that was filled with fireballs hurtling towards the surface. Reports were coming into his communications array that the same was happening all over the planet.

Then the shower of fireballs came to an abrupt halt. It made no sense to Timothy and for the first time that day, he felt fear.

For the next few minutes everybody was still. Just waiting and wondering what was to happen next. All except Timothy, who was driving up and down the battlement. The bombardment had been impressive but he had expected much more.

Then screams of terror started coming over the communication devices. There were reports of ghouls and strange arachnid-type creatures tearing people to shreds. Timothy stopped his wheelchair. Everything now made sense. It was not a bombardment but a landing.

He immediately roared out –

“Laser canons, fire on the locations where the fireballs hit the surface.”

The large cannons fired setting large amounts of the jungle ablaze.

“Stop firing.”

A few moments later, a disgusting rabid smell hit them. It was worse than the decay of bodies.

He looked through the binoculars that a soldier held up for him.

In the distance, trees were being felled or rather consumed and turned into an alien horde.

“Fire, and do not stop.”

But the cannons were having little effect. The alien swarms grew larger and larger and then began to merge.

Then the reports of mass casualties and cities being lost came and for the first time Timothy contemplated failing to repel the invasion.

He roared for the binoculars to be held up for him once again.

The large indigenous creatures were proving no match for the invader. He did see one carnivore put up a good fight but it too was quickly killed in the end by the sheer weight of numbers against it.

After it fell it was quickly consumed and its mass transformed into more of the enemy.

The arachnid-type monsters were mostly twice the height of a man in the main though some were far larger. They foamed some sort of acid from their mouth. Their behavior appeared coordinated, even intelligent.

Timothy gasped as he realized a wave of the critters was heading straight to the fortification under the tree canopy.

“Prepare to fire. They will attempt to climb the walls!”

It seemed absurd, they were so far removed from the surface and yet he knew that was what they were about to attempt.

He ordered for his laser canons to point downwards. The terrified soldiers quickly obeyed knowing there was little time to spare.

And then they appeared. The vertical climb only made them slightly slow.

“Fire, everything we have. Do not stop!”

The laser batteries and small arms fire were cutting through them but there was always more coming.

A pungent rotten smell went up Timothy’s nose. It was almost overbearing. Some of his soldiers turned their guns on themselves rather than breathe it in.

The arachnid monsters were gradually making their way up to the steep cliff face. The intense battery fire could not cut them down fast enough.

Then he noticed some of his troops looking in the opposite direction. Just standing there as if frozen in time. The monsters had scaled the other side of the mountain. A second later they were leaping down onto his troops. Their incisors made short work of cutting through the flesh of his screaming soldiers.

“Fall back,” Timothy roared, “fall back all units.” Their ships were inside the tunnels of the mountains. He could plot an escape. But flight would not be countenanced. The Emperor’s will was there was to be no step backward. But the tunnels would stop his troops from being outflanked. That way, they could take more of the enemy down.

Just as he reached the tunnel, he felt a large explosion tearing through his armor and propelling him through the air. Then there was a thud as he hanged his head on the ground. And then nothing.

The first thing that Timothy notices is the soft texture of the sheets. Then he drifts off again. The next time he tries to open his eyes but he fails. His conscience understands that somehow, inexplicable he is still alive. But how?

After another period, he suddenly bursts back awake. It takes a few seconds for his eyes to focus. He is in what appears to be a very small metallic bedroom. Instinctively, he knows that it’s one of the Emperor’s ships.

“Anybody there?”

“Anybody there, I said.”

The door burst open and what he recognizes from their uniforms as two of his troops enter.

“You okay, commander?” they said in nervous unison.

“By the will of the Emperor, I am not. What happened in the battle?”

They both looked solemn now and one spoke up.

“The battle was lost. We are the only survivors.”

A great rage built up inside him and then he roared. He can feel his heart beating faster. All those lives were lost. They had placed their trust in him.

“Why was I not allowed to die with my men? I have disgraced the Emperor and will die a coward!”

“Edit 451 Commander”.

Edict 451 was a command from the Emperor. A commander who has shown bravery must not simply be allowed to perish if he becomes incapacitated.

Timothy grew tired now and found himself sleeping once more.

Timothy learned much more about his current predicament the next time he awoke. They were on one of the Emperor’s fastest ships – Neros. It was on reconnaissance trying to find out more about the enemy.

Timothy and his last two troops were on one of the very last ships to evacuate the doomed plane which was now already a dead world with all life now having been stripped from it. The Neros crew allowed them entry saving them from eventual starvation, not for any humanitarian reason but because testimony from people who had seen the enemy in action up close was lacking.

The enemy was called Tyranids. An alien species from outside the Galaxy. It was unknown how long they had been traveling to reach Humanity. They might one day pose a threat to the Empire. So far many worlds had been lost, yet they were mere pinpricks against the millions of worlds of the Emperor.

Only the occasional world defended by Space Marines has managed to resist. But they were currently aligned against the forces of chaos. The Tyranids cannot use the Warp so their ships or hives travel slowly at a sub-light speed. Still, they are gradually cutting a swathe through this sector.

Five time cycles later Timothy was judged well enough to be interviewed by the Emperor’s Representative on the Nero.

His battle chair in ruins, he had to be pushed into the room in an old, decrepit manual chair. It was demeaning but it was all he had for now.

Timothy could smell the Representative before he saw him. It was a smell of rot and decay. He had sunken eyes, pale skin, and a skeletal appearance.

In a deep, hissing voice the Representative began to speak in the small, dimly lit room.

“Why are you not dead with your battalion? Did you disgrace your emperor? Have you no honor”

“No, never. I was knocked unconscious and saved against my will. I would not allow myself to be disgraced.”

“Yes, yes. Maybe. Tell me about the invasion. Why was it not repelled? I had thought there were enough armies on the planet for the size of the attacking fleet.”

“There were too many of them. We were overrun.”

“But how commander? And it was over so quickly. An orc armada of that size couldn’t have done it.”

“You don’t understand, do you. They convert living matter to their kind. Every tree and every animal is consumed and manufactured into a Tyranid soldier. It’s like an infection that rapidly spreads over a huge area.”

“And you have seen this with your own eyes.”

“Yes, I have.”

The Representative’s eyes suddenly opened widely.

Then he briefly went silent.

“You understand commander that what is said in here must go no further.”

“As the Emperor commands.”

“Were there any harbingers of the attack? Anything, out of the ordinary before them falling from the sky?”

“Yes, one of my men, he seemed, to transform into some sort of monster. I’d never seen anything like it. And there were reports of terrorist attacks in different cities targeting military installations and population centers.”

The Emperor’s Representative began to slowly pace back and forth.

“This appears to be their modus operandi. They appear to have sleepers on every planet they attack. And yet, they are from outside this galaxy.”

Timothy wanted to speak blasphemous things but held back. Like how do their Emperor and God not already know this? Better not to speak.

Instead, he said.

“What now?”

“That is not of your concern. We will find a way to send you back to your home planet. Next time ensure your honor is not called into question again.”

Timothy’s troops were called to push him back to his quarters where he decided to rest.

His dreams were flooded though by nightmares of people transforming into ghouls and what were once lush paradises into barren rocks devoid of life. He woke up in a cold sweat unsure if perhaps they were premonitions.

Weeks passed and there was still no sign of Timothy being brought back to his home world. Instead, the ship had been tracking a Tyranid hive ship that had pared off from the rest of the fleet. At times, the ships were so close you could see the green reptilian skin for it was biological in nature and unlike anything in the Imperial fleet.

And yet neither ship fired on the other. The hive ship dwarfed the one they were in and it was the will of the Emperor not to antagonize it.

It soon became obvious what planet it was sent to attack or feed on, depending on your perspective – Iridion 5. A mining planet that was only just habitable with barely breathable air. The world’s population of fifty million was small and at first, it wouldn’t appear to be able to put up much resistance.

Nevertheless, Timothy knew he couldn’t just watch a human world being consumed from afar. He was a warrior who asked for a further meeting with the ambassador who had been largely ignoring him since the last one.

“What ddo you want commander? What is sso important?”

“Let me fight on Iridion 5.”

“You want to die, commander? Surely, a waste”

“I cannot just sit back in my wheelchair. Put me in the fight. I’ll either die or learn more for the Emperor. And more knowledge of this enemy is what you really want.”

“As you wish.”

The Emperor’s representative, a plump bald man of Iridion 5 was sweating profusely when Timothy informed him that he would be traveling to his planet and joining the fight against the imminent invasion on a video call.

He would be taking an advanced rapid shuttle that would arrive a few orbits before the hive ship. The Representative clearly had no military experience and was only too happy to hand over command of the planet’s defense forces as well as to start production on his battle wheelchair for his arrival. The chair would have all his requested modifications.

“Thank you Timothy on behalf of the Emperor and the people of this world.”

Just a few hours later, he prepared to board the advance shuttle and looked at those around him. They looked despondent, even the three soldiers who had been by his side at the previous battle. Their eyes looking at the ground, somewhat slouched. Timothy felt something in his gut.

“For the Emperor.”

There remained a stony silence.

“An alien species is devouring our world, slaughtering our people. But we will not go silently, we will not retreat one inch. We will not be food. We are the destroyers of worlds and it is our Emperor who is the God.”

Roars of defiance came as he was pushed into the shuttle.

Timothy could hear the noise of the people outside before he was even pushed out of the ship in his decrepit wheelchair. Then large roars of Timothy, Timothy were belted out by the ecstatic crowd. Some tried to push forward to touch him but were held back by tall, strong guardsmen who were dressed in imperial red uniforms.

The sky was hazy and the foul smell of the atmosphere was immediately apparent. It was uncomfortably warm.

Then Timothy saw it for the first time, his new battle chair. His eyes were transfixed by what he saw. It looked perfect with a red frame and armed with four machine guns. Two on each side of where would sit and two over where his head would rest. His men instinctively lifted him up and placed him and his old backrest into it. Everything had been done to his exact specifications.

Timothy was feeling something unknown to him for a very long time – happiness. It was his dream chair. Now he was ready for war. The crowd went into a hushed silence as he maneuvered the chair and its weaponry back and forth.

Then there was commotion within the crowd with some screaming. There was a surge of the crowd left and right leaving a man in rags on his knees. His eyes were bulging and his skin was turning rougher and scalier.

“Get away from him,” Timothy implored. He had seen this before.

Then he opened fire destroying the would-be monster.

“Bravo, bravo,” bellowed the bald Emperor’s Representative who appeared from the masses.

The crowd hushed in deference.

“The people thank you for coming to the defense of their home world. Your legend had already reached this small part of the Empire but never did we think we would need you so badly. Please follow me.” said the Emperor’s Representative.

Timothy surveyed his surroundings. He was on a hilltop fortification which was surrounded by large mountains on every side. Artillery and laser guns lined the battlements.

He was led to a large, stone whose large wooden doors quickly closed behind him. He and his three loyal men found themselves surrounded by naked women. Their skin was red and dry, at times leaving flakes on the floor. A result of the hostile environment.

It had indeed been some time since he had the pleasures of the flesh but rage flew through his veins. The Tyranids were just a short few days away. There was no time for this or other formalities. Maybe later, after victory.

“Get out, get out now,” he shouted.

The women looked at each other in astonishment.

Then his machine guns perked up and pointed at some of them.

They immediately fled.

“What’s wrong? Would you prefer some boys instead? Whatever you desire,” a perplexed-looking Representative said.

“Now is the time for war, not pleasure. I want to speak to your top commanders at once.,” said Timothy authoritatively.

“Yes of course,” came the reply.

It took some time for the Commanders to appear and the Representative had made his excuses about an urgent bureaucratic problem and left. There were six of them in total each responsible for the defending forces in their area. They were all middle-aged and immaculately dressed in the blue uniform of their rank.

Timothy could sense their fear. None of them looked at him directly, they were sweaty and fidgety.

He knew that they needed motivation and a belief that victory was at least possible. It was the time for him to speak.

“The great menace facing us overwhelmed the last planet that I was on. All humans, animals, plants, and microbial life were wiped from its surface, leaving a thriving world of billions just a dead rock floating through the void that is space.

I should have died then too but the Emperor still had plans for me. He brought me here to help defend your world, and together we will. I believe that this world will not be as amenable to our enemy. That, despite our low numbers, we can stop them right here and right now. For the Emperor.”

“For the Emperor,” came the half-hearted reply.

“Tell me your names. So that I can have them written for posterity.”

“For the Emperor!” Timothy roared.

“For the Emperor,” they roared back.

Timothy continued –

“Together, we can repulse this evil. I promise you that I will either defend this planet or I will die.

And if I die, my death will be glorious as will the deaths of all those who fighting this menace. They will forever be remembered.”

The atmosphere in the large, cavernous room was now solemn.

Timothy opened a 3D holographic display of the planet. Blue lights from each top corner coalesce to create the display.

Most of the planet was already devoid of life except for pockets here and there. Fortunately, there was a fortification in each due to the constant threat of a pirate attack.

A commander was put in charge of each one. Timothy would be taking command in his current location. This world was draining and he had no wish to see more of it. There was too little time for him to carry out inspections in any event.

So he warned them what was coming –

“First, some of your people will turn to monsters. They must be slaughtered for they are already dead. Then you will be bombarded from the sky. Make sure your shields are raised.

This is the arrival of your enemy. Then the battle begins. This is do or die. Any troops who leave their post including you are to be shot.

You are dismissed.”

Timothy then went to rest.

Days turned into nights and nights into days. And he waited along with every other human on the hellish planet for the enemy to attack. What were they waiting for? A certain bloodlust had overcome him. They had won in the first round, but that would not happen again. This sickly world wouldn’t die. Not on his watch.

He had spent the time learning all about the planet’s defenses, its troop numbers, and its location. There were extensive tunnels underneath the planet due to the mining. He had many of them booby-trapped. A major plus was that many of the commanders had fought previously for the emperor against a planet nearby where blasphemy had taken hold. The Emperor’s divinity had been questioned. They had all been slaughtered. A fitting end to treachery.

Lazarus, one of the loyal troopers who saved him previously rushed into his room panting in the noxious gasses that constituted the air on the planet.

“They are entering into orbit,” he sputtered.

“Finally,” Timothy replied turning his wheelchair and heading to the control center down the corridor.

“Tell the Emperor’s Representative that now is the time to address the planet.”

“He has left the planet,” Lazarus replied.

The wheelchair came to an abrupt halt.

“What?”

“He reportedly left a few hours ago. He said it was on urgent business of the Emperor.”

Timothy’s heart quickened, and his hands clenched, “I will do it myself so.”

He entered the room of the ambassador and ordered that the Planet-wide communication channel be activated. He briefly paused and then stated the following –

People of Iridion 5, the enemy is now in orbit and will shortly enter the atmosphere. Its goal is not only to extinguish all life including your own on this planet but all life throughout the galaxy. They are called Tyranids and feeling, love, and empathy are beyond them. Tyranids simply want to destroy and consume everything in their path. And if left, they will consume you and your loved ones. These are dark times but I feel that the heroism that will be displayed on this planet in its defence will be remembered forever in the heart of the Emperor. There is a time for peace and there is a time for war. You will fight them in the sky, in the deserts and cities, and in the mines. You will never surrender.

And I will be fighting with you. My body may be weak and that of a cripple but my wheelchair and its firepower are strong. My determination and resilience to defend this planet is absolute. Together, not only we can defend this planet but also hit a ferocious blow in defense of the Empire. Songs will be sung about Iridion 5 from now until the death of the very last star.

Now to your battle stations. For the glory of the Emperor, let us destroy this Tyranid menace.

Timothy suddenly felt elated, almost light-headed with excitement. He could almost smell the death that was coming. This is what he was born to do, to fight. The planet’s suffocating heat no longer bothered him.

He left the majestic building and drove up a long ramp onto the defensive walls in his battle wheelchair, with his most loyal troops following closely behind. Now it was time for all his planning to finally swing into action.

From this position, he can look out at the barren world in front of him. Reports start to filter through of individuals beginning to convulse, but they are quickly slaughtered before they can fully mutate and do any significant damage.

Then, an hour later the reddish sky is lit up as countless waves of fireballs begin to pound the planet. It lasts for thirty minutes and then there is a pause.

Timothy never stops surveying the landscape before him. As he had expected the attack is slower to build due to the more hostile nature of the planet and the lack of life.

Then, he sees a small, black form in the distance. Then another appears from a different direction. But they move towards each other rather than the base. The alien menace was building its strength before the attack.

Then finally, the enemy began to head straight towards the base. The same was occurring throughout the planet. Timothy ordered the long-range artillery to fire. It made little difference except for splitting the odd hideous monster in two. The attack carried on regardless.

As they grew closer, he gave the order for the rest of the guns to open up. A sizeable number of the six-legged beasts were being cut down. But when he looked up, all he could see was the black swarm as far as he could see.

This would be a glorious day to die.

He scanned the reports from the other bases. Some had defeated all the enemy in their vicinity, and others were still in the heat of battle. None were facing the enormous energy force that was in front of them. The Emperor was looking kindly at him.

The guns were firing at the maximum at the bodies were piling up. Soon they would be able to jump from them onto the defensive walls.

He shouted out the command for a tactical withdrawal to the underground mining tunnels. The heavy gunners would be the last to leave their posts and he would remain on the walls with them.

His most loyal troopers wanted to stay with him but he ordered them back. They had no battle wheelchair and would be a nuisance.

Then one of the six-legged beasts jumped and landed in front of him. He opened up with his machine guns and the beast was cut down swiftly. It’s green blood splattering over his face. But more were coming. He continued firing as he reversed saving at least some of his minions.

The fortress’s heavy cannons had fallen silent now. Timothy launched some grenades from the back of the battle chair killing several of the enemy but still they came.

It gave him the time though to finally get inside the mine entrance as a large metallic door closed from overhead behind him. Immediately, he could hear the enemy hurling their bodies against it. In the dim light, he turned to assess his forces. Despite minimal losses, only a third of them, or thereabouts, had been wiped out so far, they seemed cowed. Expressions of astonishment and fear were written on their faces. All except for his veterans who had known what to expect.

“It won’t take them long to get through that door. Follow me, if you wish to live!”

He was leading them deeper into the abyss. They descended into the heart of the network before what sounded like a large explosion echoed through the cave structure. It was the sound of their protective heavy metal entrance being breached.

They were going too slowly. Timothy ordered them to pick up the pace. Those that didn’t or were unable to were to be left behind. The only exception was wheelchair users who had soldiers assigned to carry them to safety. He ordered his troops to the rear to try and protect at least the swift-moving civilians. A few moments later the sweet sound of machine gun fire ran out through caves.

It was only a matter of time without the heavy cannons. He knew that from his first battle. But a bit more time was all that he needed. He could feel that he was driving upwards now and found himself bobbling up and down over the stone surface.

His troops were going frantic and he could hear the screams of death over the communicator. It was over though, the enemy just didn’t realize it yet. He set off the preliminary explosions. This sealed off the enemy menace killing many of his own men.

Then a few minutes later he set off the rest of them to bury the enemy.

The plan had worked to perfection. A few hours later they exited the vast underground chamber with the remaining survivors. By then, the Tyranid ship had already left its orbit and was sulking back to its hive.

Celebrations were held throughout the planet. Everybody was relieved to be alive and thought that it was a good way to honor the dead. The Emperor’s Ambassador quickly returned to take control once news of the alien defeat filtered out.

Timothy was awarded the Emperor Cross. At first, he felt proud but he barely made it through the lavish ceremony, which lasted for three days and three nights, and wanted to tell the Ambassador what he really thought of him. But he could not, he was still there on behalf of the Emperor, despite his cowardice.  In the official story, the one that would be sent throughout the quadrant he had been by Timothy’s side all of the time. The meals were extravagant, the alcohol flowed freely and there was much love-making.

Timothy found himself retreating to his room though, unable to fully partake. Each day, he felt worse and retreated for a little bit more. The first day had been mostly fine but then the problems really started. He knew that he should be rejoicing but found himself thinking of all the deaths under his command. He could see the faces of fear, panic, and bewilderment of the dead staring at him in his sleep, waking him in cold sweats.

This was not what was to be expected. For he was a wheelchair warrior, born to kill. Why was he so soft? Was it the force of chaos within him?

All he knew was that he must hide his frailties.