I held the bridge of my nose as I took a look at the map of Equestria, there were too many positions that were showing to be held by enemy forces. Even with how much faster my battle-brothers were able to train the Neophytes we couldn't get enough reinforcements... We were on the losing side of a War of Attrition. I took a seat in one of the chairs at the table as I brushed my hand through my mane. I let out a breath as the entire situation took form; without any allies, even if we had the superior firepower, the enemy had superior numbers.

Because of the ogres we already had a couple dreadnaughts. My visage twisted into a scowl as I remembered the day that battle-brother Sven of the third legion fell... That day... oh yes that day we fought with a fury that scared even our empresses.

It was nothing short of an embarassment, we were overwhelmed in minutes and lost a good portion of our new recruits.

I slammed my fist on the table, making it crack just a little more from the repeated abuse. “This isn't how it was supposed to be...” I growl as I walk over to the single window of the entire room, its magnificent view marred only by the dark clouds that signaled the approach of our enemies. Their progress was slow, yes, but it never stopped, any of our positions we thought we held were kept for... oh... what was the current record? A week, that's it.

Pathetic...

I turned as the door to the war room was opened, giving me a view of our recently-titled Reclusiarch... Battle-brother Alhardir. We exchanged nods as he silently closed the door.

Alhardir let out a small sigh, “Astelan... You cannot continue this spiral of hate... it clouds your judgement... Please, come to prayer so that you may clear your mind and bring the battle back in our favor.” He all but pleaded.

I hung my head with a bit of shame, letting my hand brush through my short mane again. “I suppose you are right Alhardir... All this war has my fire for battle stoked, but my mind is short on strategy... perhaps some prayer to the Empresses is what I need.”

Despite the power armour and skull-shaped helmet that he wore, I had a feeling he was smiling. “Good, I shall prepare a spot for you, Chapter Master.”

With a small wave I send him away as I look out the window again with a frown, the appearance of the dark clouds causing nothing but fires of hate to stir once more...

Hate... At its core is what a space marine is meant to be, a weapon forged to slay the enemies of their Emperor, to be fine-tuned in the hate-fueled fires of war. But this? This hate was different. It was, in some way, on a more primal level. It was the kind of hate that would make someone sit idly by and laugh while they watched the world burn. I hated whatever was causing this chaos on such an instinctual level...

I let out a small shiver before turning to the door and heading to the dining hall. It was going to be a long night, I could just tell.

-{DW}- Three Days Later

Much of the primary construction was complete for the monastery at the top of the mountain behind the original castle of the Empresses, we had even gotten enough tech out that we had stopped the advance of the forces of Chaos.

Everything seemed to be looking up, even the Adeptus Astartes gene-therapy was working on more and more subjects, we still had less than a thirty percent retention rate, but we weren't deterred. Everything was moving along at an excellent pace and we had managed to fortify a few of the closer towns. We still didn't have a lot of air support aside from griffons with weapons but it wasn't anything new.

Still... The front lines had been too calm for too long... And I could feel the familiar itch of my trigger finger, I wanted release from the monotony of commanding troops, I wanted back into the excitement and constant change of battle... The adrenaline spike it gave was so addictive, and yet, I couldn't help but desire more combat, more war.

...What was wrong with me? A month ago I would've been afraid to punch a mugger because I wouldn't want to explain to the cops why I accidentally put a man in the hospital... Now? Now I'm fidgeting just because I haven't been in a good scrap!

I sat down in a nearby chair as I tried to collect my thoughts, a process that had been getting extremely difficult as of late. Unfortunately my quick meditation was interrupted when Alhardir burst into the war room.

“Brother Astelan! Trottingham is under attack!” He exlaims as my gaze snaps up to him.

“...Get my gun...” I growl.

-{DW}-

Less than thirty minutes later we were on one of the faster airships of the griffon armada, more like a small squadron, it barely numbered more than fifty ships. I draw my bolt pistol and sword as I spot the town of Trottingham. My face twists into a scowl as the sight of smoke and the sound of gunfire meet my ears. Once we were almost above the city I gave the command to leap from the aircraft...

The wind doesn't whistle...

After five new craters were made in the ground my squad and I quickly began sprinting to the town, the adrenaline once more began to pulse and I could feel myself become lost to my baser instincts... To find the enemy... To kill the enemy...

Everything was a blur. I had regained a sense of the battlefield sporadically throughout my journey, from slicing the throat of an ogre and watching as the blood splattered itself over my armor to shooting a changeling out of the sky and crushing its head beneath my boot as it begged for mercy. I will never forget that specific crunch...

I smiled a little as I had seen Blueblood in the battle. He looked a tad worse for wear, like usual, but after holding down the main street of a town for three hours I was willing to give him a little slack and not comment on how he looked like he got into a fight with a flamer and nearly lost.

Back to the battlefield I found the slaying of monsters and Heretics all too easy, even the Ogres seemed to no longer be posing a challenge. I mentally smirk as a thought forms itself at my new results. “I FOUND MY NEW WEAPON COMBO BITCHES!!!”

Oh the only thing that would've made the battle more glorious was a librarian screaming praise to Empress Luna as we liberated the enemy of what little brains they had left. Alas, It was just my fellow brothers shouting praises to Empress Luna... And Celestia... as we purged the world of the filth that dared marr our world.

A harpy let out a satisfying spray of blood as I ripped my sword out of her chest, painting more of the road crimson.

“They bleed as mortals! They can die as mortals!” I shout into the vox, spurring the troops, “We march for the Empresses!”

A resounding “AND WE SHALL KNOW NO FEAR!” answered me back and made it so I couldn't help but be proud of my war.

...Another changeling bites the dust!

-{DW}-

The splatter of another fleeing changeling was only second in my favorite sounds next to the heavenly roar of my boltgun. I had a smile on my face as wide as a mile as I watched the forces of chaos retreat in fear, cowering before the might of a Lunar Templar Chapter Master!

It felt good to fight, I had a way to take out my anger... anger at a war that should never have begun... which then gave me the adrenaline to continue the war, therefore providing me with a constant supply of hate and enjoyment.

Cadmus already was planning for the future, I hadn't seen him in weeks actually now that I think about it. I should really get over to his forge and see what he is doing.

I shake my head again, focusing on the here and now as I look around. The looks of fear on the faces of the ponies seem as satisfying as they are out of place, they should be overjoyed, we had slain the Empresses' enemies while sending their praises skyward. Yet they continued to look at me with the same fear that I had come to love seeing on the faces of the Heretics...

I am loathe to admit that it got my adrenaline going for more... What could these mere mortals do against me? I am steel and doom, the might of the Empresses incarnate... What are mortals to such deity-like strength?

Once more I shake my head, those kinds of thoughts are nought but heresy, to strike down the populus that I fight to protect, madness... And yet... I feel it deep within, the urge to continue slaying.

Author's Notes:

Hey All! Sorry for taking so long, you have no idea how much I couldn't think of how to proceed, so I just decided with this...

...Please don't kill me for such a late update...