Editing Grimdark Tarzan (section)

== Chapter One ==
Tublat stank

An Explorator fleet of the venerable Adeptus Mechanicus had noted the world on one of their galaxy spanning journeys on the hunt for archeotech from the Dark Age of Man, and first thought to pass it by, the entire planet seemingly overwhelmed by a thick, undisturbed jungle that would delay them beyond acceptable parameters.
However, that was before the first scans had shown trace elements of rare metals that the planet quite simply shouldn't have. Loathe to let such a mystery go unresolved, the magi had elected to dispatch one of the lesser ships to perform deeper investigations.

This task had fallen to the ''Illuminator'' , a glorified frigate, and at first the magi aboard cursed their ill luck. The only magi that seemed pleased by this turn of events was a Magos Biologist, known to his fellows as Archimede, that had a particular fascination at studying new lifeforms. His contentment (glee was too strong a word for the adherents of the Omnimessiah) was alone until investigations had shown that Tublat was the most likely resting place for The ''Greystoke'', a Colony Ship from before the Great Crusade. The Magi were enlivened by this discovery: this was not a prize that they could afford to ignore. The Explorator Fleet was too far away to recall, so astropaths had sent messages along the Warp to forge worlds, demanding the supply of skitarii and additional servitors that would be required to properly survey and investigate the planet.

Eventually, the patience of the Magi aboard the ''Illuminator'' ran out, and they elected to send a small team to establish a base camp. Among those selected for this perilous first trip were Magos Archimede and several of his fellows. One who had not been selected yet came anyway was Inquistor Callen of the Ordos Hereticus, who brought along a contingent of Adepta Sororitas from the Order of the Sacred Rose.
Sister Janna had been one of those sisters, and she had looked forward to bringing the Emperor's wrath on those vile and decrepit creatures who called the planet their home.

That, perhaps more than anything else, was what had led to her current predicament. Soon after landing, the Imperials had been assaulted by creatures from the forest, long prowling things with fangs and claws that looked at the newcomers as predators looked at prey. They soon learnt that, if anything, the situation was the other way around. Her sisters had cautioned her against letting her passions overwhelm her, but her desire to burn the enemies of Man had caused her to pursue a fleeing band of creatures beyond the rest of her Mission. Holy wrath had filled her, and led her into an ambush.

As one of the creatures before her was reduced to ash by her heavy flamer, a body flung itself at her, unbalancing her and knocking her to the side. At this interruption, she became aware of her surroundings. Before her was not the small band of three creatures that she had pursued, but a plethora of the snarling cat-like creatures that circled around her position. The auspex in her helm registered at least fifteen of the creatures, too many for her to destroy. While another, lesser, human might have balked at the odds, beneath her emotionless helmet, Janna smiled. She would send as many of the foul xenos screaming into the warp before she was sent to the Emperor's side.
The fight began in earnest. One of the creatures leapt from the trees, intending to overwhelm her with its bulk, but a scorching jet from her flamer set it alight. Turned to her side, she left the yowling beast to scream its death cry. Enraged by the death of their brother, several others of the band had abandoned their circling to strike at her. This time they had thought more about their foe's capabilities and came at different angles, reasoning that the flamer could not move fast enough to catch them all.

Sister Janna reacted as only one such as she could. With a flick of the trigger, a gout of flame served to delay two of the beasts while she drew a combat blade from her side and sunk it into the chest of a third. Unfortunately, this allowed a fourth to strike at her back, sending her careening to the ground.

It was on her in an instant, claws and fangs desperately seeking purchase upon her armor. She struck where she could, but the beast seemed impervious to her blows. A claw caught a weak spot near her throat and tore the helmet off of her head. The beast's joy was short lived, however, for as it gave voice to a victorious screech, she reached into its mouth and ripped out its tongue. Panting, she raised herself off the the ground.

Several of the creatures lay dead around her, but more still lived. Janna prepared to herself to take at least one more down, when out of the jungle a crude metallic spear plunged through one of the beasts' heads. It was long and cruel looking, with various pieces of ornamentation hanging off the sides.

Momentarily taken aback, Janna was not prepared for what happened next. The beasts stared at their impaled comrade and a flicker of recognition crossed their faces. Giving one last final cry, they immediately broke off and fled deeper into the jungle. Alarmed, but not frightened, Janna looked around to see if she could spot her erstwhile ally. She did not have to wait long; a wild-haired man soon came loping out of the trees. 

Well, perhaps "man" had been an understatement, as she looked closer, she realized that he was closer in size to an Astartes than a baseline human. The spear obviously belonged to him, seeing as he walked over to it and ripped it out of the creatures skull with practiced ease. Following this, he turned and looked towards the one whose life he had just saved.

"Halt! I am Sister Janna of the Emperor's Adeptas Sororitas seconded to Inquisitor Callen of the Ordos Hereticus. Identify yourself!"

The man drew himself to his full height. ''God Emperor, he's large'', Janna thought to herself. Unarmored as he may have been, in her present state, she was unlikely to be able to do more than wound him.
Gesturing to himself, the man said one word: "Tarzan".