=====================================================

ABSOLUTE JUSTICE

by Steve Bonsey (AKA Doghouse)



THE CROWD COWERED together in the courtyard of the great palace, its once majestic pearl white spires now stood pitted and scarred, blackened by the swift brutal orbital assault of the Astarte invasion forces. The great towers that once looked out proudly across the lush and plentiful untouched landscape now lay broken and shattered into rubble, cast down upon the scorched earth that now surrounded the palace for miles in every direction.
This world, a shining example to all that looked upon this precious orb, a true paragon that had captured the essence of the nobility of human truth and all that the Great Crusade strived to reclaim had been torn asunder in a single night of utter and complete destruction the likes of which had seemed impossible by the citizens of Myontis. But this was not a simple act of retribution or a display of Imperial might.
This was justice.

Nobility and servants alike huddled together. All division of class, creed or wealth had been eradicated by the overwhelming aura of impending death that now surrounded them and bound them together as one. All former rivalries had been forgotten, all past sins forgiven, all debts settled, all were made equal as they were united in fear.
Captain Lucius Artibian stood impassive on the second tier of the courtyard looking down over them. The faint glow from the red lenses of his visor gave the skull terror markings on the visor of his midnight blue plate armour a horrifying life of its own. For all intent and purposes he and his men resembled death itself.
‘People of Myontis,’ he bellowed over his helmet's external vox-caster, ‘You have been found guilty of violating Imperial law!’
‘Murderers!’ a woman clearly of noble birth screamed as she defiantly stood to her feet with tears of anger streaming down her face.

No, Artibian thought to himself. Not murderers, killers.

Murder was an act of extreme emotion, uncontrolled and indiscriminate. It was an unfocused and distastefully blunt weapon fuelled by passion and rage and ignorant of its consequences. A killer acted with a cold sense of efficiency and logic, unquestioning in his purpose and resolute in the outcome of his actions.

=====================================================

That is superb! I can't wait to read the rest of the story.

Isn't it! You can see now why Dan Abnett is so stuck in deciding a winner... :D

Your telling me! :D

It must be so difficult if the standard of Doghouse's story is anything to go by. My story clearly has alot of very tough competition to go up against.

Thanks guys! :)

Having read Titus's excellent story preview the standard of this comp is going to be seriously high.
The anthology should be excellent when compiled together as a single book.

Very nice Doghouse!

Shroud: You couldn't have included the bit where he shoots the noblewoman's head off could you? I suppose that's what teasers are for though...

Wow Weiss,...you should come with your own personal SPOILER warning... :P :lol:

i have read that story before...... :blink:
o well
well done

Something like: ++WARNING: INCOMING EXTRAPOLATION!++? :D

That would be perfect Weiss! :lol:

this anthology is going to be awesome! love this story, cant wait to read the rest of it.

Wow, what a way to suck you into the tale! :o :D

Can't believe I have to wait until the end of the week! <_<

Yeah, it's just an extended version of an intro that I wrote for my Night Lords army.

I enjoyed writing it as it gave me the chance to do something completely brutal for a change but felt it lacked something so the comp was an excuse to go back and flesh it out properly.

that ws it!
ok i thought it was stolen (no offence) or soemthing and it was bothering me
but now i remeber ;)