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New Sedna, Magellan Prime
Imperial Guard Command HQ
1st New Sedna Heavy Fusiliers
Brigadier General Hanna Gormann
The central spire of the Hive of Magellan Prime was a rather simple affair. If it weren't for the fact that it was slightly taller and slightly better looking then the rest of the spires in the hive one wouldn't even assume it was the home of the planet's government, and now the headquarters for all Imperial forces on New Sedna, and the Lividivus Crusade as a whole. It had always had a decent number of defenses on it, but now it practically brimmed with weaponry. Anti-aircraft weapons, artillery, pre-fab bunkers and other structures taking up the once open terraces and parks. Valkyries and other aircraft, military and civilian, flew into and out of the spire, shuttling troops, supplies, and ordnance. It had all the bustle of a war but was simply lacking the sounds. Though on a good day one might be able to hear a distant rumble of artillery far off.
Brigadier General Hanna Gormann walked down one of the many halls of the spire near the upper levels, one of the many command centers that had been established, her heeled boots clicking slightly, though the thudding of her escorts boots, and those of everyone else around her, drowned out the noise. Guardsman in crisp uniforms rushed back and forth, grim-faced Stormtroopers stood guard at the doors. There was even a gathering of Commissars half-way down the corridor, everyone giving them a respectful distance. She walked to one of the open doors, submitted to a quick security scan, and walked into the command post for General Arktheleon Lividivus. She gave the room her usual glance and smiled. As spartan as always. A few rows of tables with equipment stacked on them, bright officers sitting behind the terminals with head pieces pressed to their ears, some scribbling notes on paper and others reciting it for confirmation. Regimental banners were tastefully hung on a few walls, as well as a large Imperial Aquila. Guards were stationed around the room, both ones she could and could not see. Tall windows, some open, lead out to a terrace where a flight of Valkyries were being rearmed before going out to support the front again. And there at the center of the room huddled around a holo-table was the General himself, along with most of his senior commanders and advisers.
Gormann smiled as she all but sauntered up. “Ladies. Gentlemen.” She said, leaning on the table as well. She received a few nods and grunts in reply, and a disapproving look from good old Lord Commissar Hannibal Thrax Albor as he checked his pocket-watch made of skull-bone. She knew she wasn't late because there had been no meeting called. The Lord-Commissar simply disagreed with the way she dressed, though that was mostly where their disagreements ended. Lividivus looked tired, no doubt another night of little to no sleep. Gormann pitied the man who had taken her under his wing. Forced into undertaking a Crusade and having done a decent of it too, and now it was all in peril thanks to bloody Orks. They had to break the Waaaagh's back on New Sedna or it was over. Sure there were other planets to fall back to, hell there were three other planets also under attack from the Orks, though it was all minor compared to New Sedna, but New Sedna was a key-stone for the Crusade.
“I feel confident in confirming an Eldar presence on New Sedna after last nights reports from Curro, Emperor knows what they're doing here though. But we don't have the time or forces trying to figure out what they are up to, so orders to all units is to not provoke a fight with them. Defensive footing to any Eldar units spotted.” Lividivus said, giving Albor a glance. The men both nodded slightly. As far as Hanna was able to pry the two had history with the Eldar in some fashion. It wasn't her concern though.
“Curro only has about five thousand PDF and assorted militia defending it. If the Eldar were to attack it there isn't much we could do to defend it.” A middle aged man in the fatigues of the PDF said, the rank markings of a general on his collar. Hanna couldn't remember his name at the moment, but he was a new chap anyway, the last commander of the PDF having been taken out by Traitor Guardsmen in a failed assault against the Dratos Peninsula, north of Curro. Most PDF forces were up at the various fronts trying to maintain the line against the Orks. The Traitors were simply another problem on a long list of them, but seemed to be sitting on their asses for the time being. Hanna couldn't decide if she liked that or not.
“Then the citizens of Curro will have to fend for themselves. I have no intention of trying to root out the bloody Eldar in urban combat for the time being. We haven't the forces to even try it.” Lividivus said with finality. Everyone seemed to agree.
The meeting continued with minor updates and changes to the general defensive plan for another hour before the other officers and advisers dismissed themselves, leaving Lividivus and Gormann. They were quite for several minutes before Lividivus sighed, allowing himself a slight slouching of his shoulders.
“If Warboss Hammer Hand focuses his forces in one push we may very well find the vanguard of the Orks outside this city.” He said, folding his arms over his chest as he observed the holo-map. “We need to retake Logan's Reach.” He said.
Logan's Reach was a vast munitions and storage facility about 70 miles outside Magellan Prime, and had been taken from the inside by a few Traitor Regiments. Now the front-line was deprived of the stores of weapons, vehicles, and munitions. Not to mention the benefit of a ready made rally point and transportation hub. Hanna had been expecting this mission for weeks now, and it seemed it might finally be a go.
“I'm sending you in to retake it, along with a few other regiments I can spare, but those will be decided shortly. You'd best go and prepare your unit. Don't fail, Gormann.” Lividivus said, nodding at her in dismissal. His last words sounded more like a hope or wish than a threat, but she knew how vital Logan's Reach was, so a failed attempt to take it may well end up with her facing some sort of consequence. So she didn't plan on failing.
“I'll see to it, sir.” She said, righting up and snapping a crisp salute which Lividivus returned before he walked off to find someone. She tuned with a grin on her lips as she made her way to her regiments set of barracks and facilities.
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New Sedna, Kadash Station
12th New Sedna PDF Regiment, in combat, Captain Johann Halvo commanding
The various space ship hangers were all but rubble now, after three weeks of brutal fighting between PDF and Imperial Guard against the Greenskins. But rubble suited the 12th just fine. Each pile of ruined masonry became a pillbox, each shattered building a fortress. It would have made any normal commander balk at the idea of clearing the space port street by street, building by building. Of course the Orks weren't normal and the big green bastards were happy enough to charge into the rubble. Thankfully the 12th had lots of heavy weapons. Captain Havlo looked over the streets where the remains of his regiment were scattered. There was a literal carpet of green bodies down several of them. They had charged against the imposing structure of the hanger and the heavy bolters, mortars, and troopers had mowed them down from the sides. It had been a rather spectacular thing to watch. This was the farthest Imeperial held area in Kadash Station and he had orders to hold it to the last drop of Imperial blood, and they had meant every last drop. Civilians as young as ten had been conscripted into the Imperial forces here, and even now he could see dozens of civilians of various ages rushing forward over the sea of dead Orks, a few troopers escorting them. They were the ammo runners, moving to resupply the heavy bolters and other positions. It wasn't exactly a safe task. Some of those orks were still alive, in fact his men were bayoneting any that even twitched. He would have to get some Hellhounds or something up here to burn the corpses.
“Lieutenant, see if we can't get any more support up here. Some Hellhounds would be nice.” He said, lowering his binoculars and looking over at his communications officer. She wasn't a bad looker, but Halvo had to make sure they got out of here alive before he would even entertain any romantic ideas about her.
“I can get us a few infantry platoons and a pair of Leman Russ tanks if we can clear the mag-lev line.” She said without even looking up, part of her headset pressed to her ear.
“Shit, that's better then I would have hoped for.” Halvo said, looking back down at the shattered city. A single Leman Russ would turn those streets into an even more effective killing ground. And be able to deal with any armor the Orks felt like bringing up, but so far it had been massed infantry and a few truks. He supposed the Ork tanks had better places to be, which was fine by him.
“Alright, lets blow Chambers Bridge and pull back B company, but send half of their heavy bolters over to C. Then we can have A and B along with any functioning militia we have try to clear the mag-lev. How far do they have to clear?” He asked, swinging to look at the unused mag-lev train lines. His regiment had arrived by them a month ago, but the main station had been taken and no trains had arrived since. If they could retake the station...well, that was a plan for later.
“Up until the river crossing. They're pinned down on the other side and can't withdraw across.” The lieutenant spoke after some conversation. Halvo nodded and chewed and imaginary piece of gum he sorely wished he actually had.
“Maybe things are looking up now. Lets get it done.” He said, allowing himself a small smile, the first since he had been thrust into command three days ago.
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As of this morning (Local time 0700, 23rd Day of Harvest), Crusade Command, at the recommendation or Lord-Commissar Hannibal Thrax Albor, had initiated a directive of Righteous Defense. All ground currently occupied by Imperial forces is to be held at all cost. No retreat will be accepted unless authorized by Crusade Command directly. Consequences for retreating in the face of the enemy will result in swift and brutal consequences. Look to you comrades, and to the Emperor for resolve and hold the vile Ork scum at bay. Not one step back, soldiers of the Imperium!
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