Editing Obstinate Marines (section)

===Ever Forward===

Brother Persistus regarded the heretic before him; his objective. A twisted lump of flesh and armour, seemingly held together by foul ichors alone, it was hard to believe that this creature was once a Brother. Every Obstinate Marine heard tales of the threats of idleness, of the dangers that waited for those that wavered in their devotion. Still, it was hard to believe that such a thing could happen to Indomitus. Stalwart Indomitus, who strode by Persistus’ side during the grueling recruitment marches. Indomitus, who had walked through death and damnation, only to come out victorious on the other side. That Indomitus was gone now. 

In its place was an ugly, diseased smile. “Pooor Persistus, unable to complete his objective.” The former marines laugh was a wet raspy gurgle, indicative of something congealing and writhing in his throat. Persistus knew the situation was grim, but he could not help but smile back. Even the blood leaking from the infected stumps where his legs had been could not curb his determination. The gaggle of nurglings and other unnamable growths quested over Persistus’ prone body, looking for a chink in his plated armour. There was not much time left. “You have forgotten what it is to be a Juggernaut of the Emperor Indomitus,” Persistus coughed. “We always complete our objective! EVER FORWARD!”

Triggering his neural synapse Persistus activated the jump-pack integrated into his armour. Enough force was produced from the thrusters to send the Juggernaut hurtling toward his objective. Plumes of fungal growth were kicked into the air, and Indomitus’ gaggle of nurglings and other, unnamable beasts, fled in terror. Persistus collided with the cursed marine with the force of a freight train. Normally, an Obstinate Marine’s enhanced armour would be able to resist the ministrations of a combat blade, but Indomitus’ armour was covered in the gaping wounds characteristic of his patron. It was into one of these ragged holes that Persistus dug his blade. 

Indomitus took hours to die, gurgling and spitting up offal as he did so. Persistus never once weakened his grip. When the deed was done he fell to the ground. Precious little blood remained in his body. Persistus had no doubts; knew he had accomplished his duty. The traitor, one of the damned brothers of The Still, had been slain. The chapters honour was preserved. Soon another Juggernaut would set out, with the objective to recover Persistus’ gene-seed and his body. Soon he would march again, ever forward.