Only War: Almorra Crusade (Open/IC)

[Revlona]

OOC

It is the 41st Millennium. For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor of Mankind has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of His inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the vast Imperium of Man for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day so that He may never truly die.

Yet even in His deathless state, the Emperor continues His eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested miasma of the Warp, the only route between distant stars, their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will. Vast armies give battle in His name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst His soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines, bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the Tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few. But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold off the ever-present threat to humanity from aliens, heretics, mutants -- and far, far worse.

To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruelest and most bloody regime imaginable. These are the tales of those times. Forget the power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be relearned. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods.

Cadia Has Fallen

The date is 002.M42, barely two years have passed since Abbadon, Champion of the foul warp gods of chaos, finished his 13th black crusade and broke the fortress world of Cadia. With its fall, the Eye of Terror expanded across the galaxy, splitting the Emperors realm in half. Hordes of of unholy creatures of chaos have sense flooded the realm of men, putting nearly the entire Imperium under siege. But the Imperium has not sat idle during this time of great strife, deep in the Segmentum Pacificus lies the Almoran Sector, a sector long in the hands of the Imperium. This is no longer the case.

In the lead up to the fall of Cadia, a sector wide revolt occurred. Cultists and followers of all four foul gods of the warp rose up in unison to overthrow the Emperors righteous rule. In hindsight the growth of such a foul tumor in the Sector was most likely overlooked by corrupted officials in the sector. At nearly the same time, in a move that no man can rightfully call a coincidence, brutish Ork vessels fell out of the warp and assaulted much of the Sector that had not fallen to the heretics. They are lead by a massive Warboss called Igor Ribbrekka who has lead his foul species against undermanned and ill equipped PDF forces who still managed to valiantly hold of the Xenos attack long enough for distress signals to be sent.

In a show of true piety and fealty to the Imperium, much of the local forces near the Sector immediately pledged their full support in retaking the sector. Already a crusade has been called for Almora, and in good time the Emperors light shall shine fully upon the sector again.

Welcome one and all to Only War: Almora Crusade. In this RP you, the players, shall take charge of a regiment (and if you are fast, a chapter) of the Emperors Military, most likely the Astra Militarum. The setting of this RP is the Almora sector, a sector of my own creation, in the Segmentum Pacificus. Much of the sector has fallen into Heretic and Ork hands and it is your job and duty to ensure the Sector returns to imperial hands.

Chapter 1: Preskida III

RULES:
1. I am the OP basically the God-Emperor, my word is Law
2. I may or may not appoint COOPS who shall act as my Primarchs, their word is law
3. Keep things civil in the OOC, you are members of the Imperial Guard so act like it, if we must the OP or COOPs will step in and the conversation ends there
4. Any real arguments are to be kept out of the OOC and in TGs
5. There is currently 1 available slot for an Astartes Chapter or Sisters of Battle, it is first come first serve and a completed app must be posted within 24 hours of your reservation or you lose your chance
6. For Astartes and SoB, you will not have carte blanche to do whatever in this RP, it is story driven so the fact that you are Astartes/SoB does not make you better
7. Please stay as active as reasonably possible
8. 1/1 Astartes 1/1 SoB 0/2 Imperial Knight Free Blade

[Revlona]

002.M42
Aboard the Apocalypse Class Battleship Hardened Heart
One Day Ago

The stars of the galaxy were innumerable in the night sky above Preskida III. They sparkled above the great Imperial Armory world, almost seeming to smile at the last Loyalist remnants fighting in the great Storage-City of Ultero Prima while at the same time they seemed to glare down upon those heretics below. The Loyalist could smile back at the stars knowing that their salvation had arrived, the Heretics could only duck their heads in fear and shame, for the Emperor's vengeance had arrived in the form of the Almoran Crusade. The Hardened Heart was an apt name for the flagship of the Crusade fleet for the Crusaders of the Fleet had long Hardened their hearts against their fallen human brethren.

“The Situation is as follows,” Leora Kurel, Warmaster of the Almora Crusade, said to the several dozen figures sitting around the table. All those around the table were significant leaders of the Crusade, from a Princeps to a Magos, all were Important. However the two most immediately valuable sat to Leoras left and right. Marshal Theodric of the Black Templars and Cannoness Preceptor Asilia Helanz.

“A large portion of the Capital City of the planet below lies in Heretic hands, this cannot and will not stand for much longer.” She said, motioning towards the map spread on the table before them, red lines engulfed a good half of the entire city. “Intelligence suggests that about two hundred thousand heretics make up the force attacking the city, three quarters of which are actively engaged inside the city with the rest attempting to force entrance to the city other than just from the south. Luckily for us, the equipment within the storage-city is more valuable to the Heretics than it is to us, therefore their push into the city has been extremely clean or they risk destroying the spoils of war,”

She motioned to the map again and it highlighted a section of it that lead directly in and out of the city, “Ultero Prima and the other Storage-Cities on the planet are all walled and have only two main entrances, the southern entrance to the city was breached several months ago and is currently in heretic hands, we will seize this entrance and use it as the anvil to the hammer of a sister lead counterattack,” She said. “The 17th Harkoni and 32nd Medrad will drop behind enemy lines and seize the gate, they will knock out any nearby Anti-Air emplacements and await reinforcements. The Cadian 88th, 211th, and 841st will then land and bolster the defenses of the gate,” The Warmaster then turned her gaze upon the Black Templar that towered beside her. “Marshal Theodric, I will request that if available, you deploy a number of Astartes to support this endeavor,” She said, making sure to keep her voice polite and frame the words as a request and not an order.

The Warmaster then turned to the Cannoness Preceptor beside her, “Cannoness, I would then like your sisters to land in force among the Loyalist sectors of the City, from there I intend them to be the armored fist of a Valhallan, Mechanicus, “ she said nodding towards the mangos, “Freeblade, Ostwelt, Catachan, PDF, amd Garrack counterattack,” She said, looking around the room to see if their were any questions.

Seeing none she began to speak again, looking at Lord General Militant Viktoria von Helsturm as she does so, “At the same time as this counterattack, the First Mordian Army Group shall land upon the western half of the planets main continent and make a push to cut off the Storage-City of Turvin. You will most likely encounter massed Heretical forces, but we expect them to be thrown off by the suddenness of the attack on both continents at once. The first Mordian will be facing the main threat of the enemy so will be prioritised by Aeronautica and Fleet forces. That is all, disperse these orders among your commands and make ready for the beginning of our crusade, this sector will be in Heretical and Xeno hands for no longer!” she said.

Ulero Prime
Present Day

Colonel Henrik Verryn, Commanding officer of the 1st Red Legion Armored regiment, with his upper torso outside of his command Leman Russ as he yelled at the tank in front of his, “Move it you Bastard! There is Blood to spill for the Blood God in that city and you’re wasting our time!” He knew it to be a typical saying of the Red Legions, Blood for the Blood God, but today it rang true. Word had come down that the defenders of the city, pathetic worshipers of the Terran corpse god were about finished. He and his Regiment of 40 Leman Russ type tanks had just arrived from the mainland and he didn’t intend to miss the final battle of the planet, and the most important.

Taking the city had been a pain, just like taking the others had been. Whoever had planned the cities layout was a near genius he had to admit. Other than the sky port, every building was exactly the same, 10 stories in height. Half were used for storage and half for housing, this meant that because the Red Legion wanted the equipment in storage, and because they didn’t know exactly which buildings contained equipment until they took them, they were forced to cleanly take the city in block to block, house to house fighting. It had been extremely bloody.

He knew that an Imperial fleet had arrived above with reinforcements for the defenders but he paid them no mind. They would never reach the ground in time to save the city. He smirked for a half second before looking straight up, some sixth sense screaming of danger. His head snapped up just in time to catch a flash of light before he, his tank, and the tanks behind and in front of him were obliterated in trio of well aimed Lances from the fleet above.

The trio of Imperial Scion spotters a mile off barely blinked an eye as they began to relay new coordinates to the fleet above. This occurred all around the city as both predesignated targets like the heretic southern gate and camp were hit along side the moving targets that Imperial spotters managed to relay. High above in orbit, transports were already beginning to launch, those of Cadians, Valhallans, and many more Imperial Guardsmen who were ready and willing to strike back at the accursed heresy below them. “Remember Cadia” some shouted, “Calmora Triumphant” from others, but from all came “For the Emperor!”

The Starport is the center circle of round section of buildings, it is rather massive.
The City sits next to a small lake that it uses for freshwater, it has proven extremely useful during the siege.

[Morrdh]

5th Garrack Rock Rats

Klaxtons sounded and personnel scurried about with shouts as the ship prepared to launch an armada of dropships and shuttles, thousands amongst a fleet of small craft that was easily a million strong. Lt.Colonel Ferrick did one last round of the Arvus Lighters that were waiting to ferry down him and the men of the 5th Garrack Rock Rats to the planet below. Though experts in void based warfare, the Rock Rats for this campaign were to be used as Light Infantry and effectively light support with their small numbers compared to other regiments. They were still badly understrength from previous campaigns and thus far promised reinforcements had failed to materialized, something that soured Ferrick's mood along with the prospect of yet another deployment that his men were poorly suited for.

Alas, the Emperor commands and we obey.

The last of his men, wearing mustard drab fatigues, boarded their assigned craft and Ferrick did likewise with his command squad. After buckling himself into the crash seat of the Arvus' cargo compartment, Ferrick pulled out his dataslate for one last read through. He was checking to see whether there were any last minute intel updates or revisions to orders, there usually where but these were on the whole relatively minor changes based on the overall situation once hostilities commenced. A quick glanced saw that positions of enemy forces were re-confirmed, though notably some units had been marked as destroyed following the fleet's opening salvo. By the look of things his men were still on track to support an assault on an objective alongside another unit, the Rock Rats lacking the strength to do it by themselves.

A thump reverberated throughout the craft signalling that the Lighter had been launched from it's parent ship, briefly followed by a sensation of weightlessness before the craft's own gravity re-adjusted itself and kicked in. This was it and all Ferrick could do was tune into the command net to listen as the landings unfolded, he wanted as much situational awareness as he could get before his boots hit the ground. That way there would hopefully less nasty surprises to deal with once dirtside.

[Wasi State]

55th Ostwelt Hell Walkers

Graff hated flying, whether it was the turbulence, the Gs being forced onto his body as they made a descent, or the fact that roughly 4 out of 5 times their landings involved dropping into active combat zones where enemy fire was actively attempting to spray flak in the air to shoot their Valkyrie crafts down. Preskida III proved to be of little difference to the Penal Legion's previous drop experiences.

His nerves were already starting to get to him again as they were about to hit the ground running in just a few short moments, having taken out a Lho-stick from his second or third pack that day (he loses count easily) with the indent to light it. Another turbulence jolt then sent his engraved lighter flying across the passenger compartment of the Valkyrie, and onto the lap of his Inquisitor watchdog, Flavia O'Neill, much to Graff's annoyance.

O'Neill noticed the foreign object right away, and instead of handing it over to the Colonel, instead took the time to examined the engravings on it with a sense of curiosity and possible scrutiny. "My, my, Colonel what do we have here?" She said almost condescendingly to Graff, who was already balling up his fists and clearly holding back from using several token and crass insults that could've been found in the more 'guttural' parts of the Low-Gothic Dictionary.

"It's not yours, give it back, Inquisitor." Graff then tried to say in as 'polite' of a tone he could have mustered. Though part of him was debating on if he was just more annoyed at the fact that he now doesn't have anything to light his Iho-stick with anymore, or the fact that the witch of a woman was overanalyzing a personal item of his once again, as though somehow maybe this would be the time she finally unearths some indisputable proof of heresy on him, and gets to torch him as an excuse.

"Y'know you're amusing when you try to hold your anger back at me, it's like a misbehaving puppy pouting after being denied a teat from its bitch of a mother. Have some humor, Colonel, your life doesn't get anymore entertaining from here, you should considered yourself lucky you have me keeping a leash on you." She then smirked at him, and tossed the lighter back into his lap, having landing on the side that revealed an engraved image of a young beautiful women on the back of it with a quote on it.

"May this be the light of our life together."

Graff stared at the image of the woman for a solid second on his lap, before picking her up and resuming to use her to light his Iho. He took a long drag on his first puff, inhaling a nerve-relaxing substance with an unfamiliar hint of a fruit flavor he's never heard of.

"Who was she? Your wife, lover, some prostitute you met on an Under-Hive, of some bumpkin from a Agri-World?" O'Neill then tried to lighten the mood, which was seemingly unheard of from the lady, was he not looking so hot?

"It doesn't matter who she was... She's uh, deceased." He then took another puff before the Valkyrie then jolted once more and finally came to an abrupt landing.

---

Ulero Prime

The Valkyrie's doors then opened to have revealed their LZ in the hands of a token garrison of the planet's PDF, with the assumption already being that the majority were already off fighting in the main combat zones in the middle of the city. Colonel Graff then got out of the craft with the Inquisitor and their respective command squads in tow. Other landing crafts holding Penal Legionaries then landed in the LZ as well, with men assembling and taking out boxes and crates of equipment as they did so. The crafts belonging to the Imperial Navy then left as soon as everything was unloaded from this first run, before returning into low-orbit to ferry in more troops and supplies.

"Very impressive, Colonel, your men didn't immediately try to leave and go AWOL as soon as they touched solid ground." The Inquisitor then said jokingly, though probably only she found it in anyway humorous.

Graff only took another puff from his Iho in response to O'Neill's 'humor' as he glared at her, before burning the stick out entirely and preceding to light a new one, the price of having a cheap Munitorum field ration. The damn things burned out quick like they're paper. Fuck it, he thought to himself, he might just break into a shop or storage unit that had the fresher stuff in the middle of a firefight, ain't like anyone's going to really notice.

"Alright men form up!" He then barked to some of his surrounding men, before then grabbing the vox from his slow to arrive major and assembling his men through their channel, after realization that it was probably more efficient that way. "Units present on the ground, we are a go with our current plans to link up with the PDF's main force a few clicks away from our LZ. Load up on the trucks men! Emperor Protects!" The Colonel then barked over the vox channel, and then preceded to confirm with their Command on the Hardened Heart that they had indeed landed a portion of their forces, and were now preceding to move towards their designated location without any further delay.

[Endem]

Magos Dominus Aro-089
Ark Mechanicus Omnissiah's Blessing

"Logis Omega/v64e3: Message: Cohort Command 1/Cohort Command 2"

Aro-089 commanded his Logis, who would then command a cohort worth of Transmechanics to do the assigned task in his steed

"Yes, Magos, awaiting your order"

The Logis transmitted back through the noosphere, to those who were not connected to this mystical web, it would look like a pantomime of actual communication.

"Deploy Cohort 1/Cohort 2: Outskirts of: Loyalists Territory"

"Understood Magos, any future orders?"

"Monitor Situation/Predict Results/Report New Findings"

They did not speak further, each devoted to his particular duty. The Bridge of the Omnissiah's blessing shook ever so slightly when the transports detached from the underbelly of the Ark Mechanicus, Aro-089's emotional cores reported excitement coming through inhibitors, Aro choose not to feel it, he could not be distracted by illogical excitement when he needed to forge tactics now.

Pteraxii Sterylizor Princeps Delta-Θ
Transport
Midflight

The giant door of the transport leading to the outside world could be swung open any second now, though, as always their moves were restricted by the commands of the cohort. They must have entered the atmosphere by now, why have they not sent the order yet. Suddenly the vox cracked to life

"Cruise altitude achieved, Pteraxii cleared for takeoff"

The Omnissiah was willing! Delta-Θ thought to himself before turning to the fellow Princeps Phi-77

"Ready!"

Phi-77 responded with excitement much to Delta-Θ's approval

"More than ever!"

Delta-Θ moved towards the door, they were in a sealed compartment thankfully and by opening it, they would not endanger the rest of Skitarii Maniple onboard the transport. The metallic claw scraped the steel floor of the transport just as Delta-Θ was to open the door, one of the new Pteraxii interrupted him.

"Princeps"

The Pteraxii began carefully

"Is it safe?"

Delta-Θ laughed heartedly at the question, not a cold sneer, more like a fatherly chuckle at a question of his son.

"Not only safe, but you will also find it natural for us"

The Princeps opened the door, and, even though knowing it will be drowned out by the noise of everything else, intonted the begging of one of the many canticles of the Omnissiah in native to him Binharic. Delta-Θ jumped out, seconds before his attention was devoted elsewhere he could see the Skystalkers of his cohort and the 2nd one doing the same. The mechanical archeopteric wings of reactive life surface swung open as jet engines of his flight pack, previously on hold, fully came to life, the razor sharp reflexes of the Princeps had the scalpuli superior direct the flight pack towards the city, as the Pteraxii and Flight Pack became one. Their mission was to escort the transports as Archeopters proper could not be deployed yet.

Skirarii Ranger Alpha: Jodh/v3
Transport
Landing

Jodh/v3 felt the transport lower, then come to a stop before a mighty ramp lowered, and the air filled with lighting fast rhythms of binharic canticles, they landed on a street, crushing whatever civilian craft was blocking their path. A moment passed as the various transports carrying the maniples of both cohorts communicated, from what Jodh/v3 understood of the noospheric chatter, they landed perhaps some 6 blocks away from heretical lines on basically the shore of the lake Ultero Prima was on. Jodh/v3 felt the whole transport trembling as the ever moving Ironstrider engines and Serberys cavalry made their way out first, those would act as scouts and vanguard to their forces proper, after that the Skorpius Duneriders the Skitarii and their Sicarian brethren were on, began to move, most likely along with the Disintegrator variant, and the 3 Onager Dunecrawlers artached to the Vanguard clade, began to move. Jodh/v3's Arc Pistol and Arc Maul began to sparkle with electricity, he called to the 10 Skitarii under his command.

"Get Ready!"

Soon their Galvanic Rifles would see more use then ever.

Archeopter Stratoraptor Pilot
Transport
Starport

Most of the transports made the hot landing at the beach of the lake, however, their transport needed to take alternate route, along with the Pteraxii clades, the starport, from there, the Stratoraptors and could be deployed proper, to establish air superiority and provide air support while the Fusilave's would need to make bombing runs onto the enemy forces, along with the Pteraxii of course, the only thing stopping this now were the need for fuel in the Pteraxii flight packs.

[United Islands of Polis]

83rd Valhallan "Ubiytsa" Heavy Artillery Regiment
Secured Imperial Beach Head
Hive City Ultero Prima

The flights down were the worst. It was always a quagmire of fear and stress. If it wasn't the fear of being swatted out of the sky by a lance battery or heretic Hydras, it was that by the time they deployed, and artillery piece was damaged or needed the blessings of the Omnisiah again. Colonel Chasovoy always made sure that before every deployment the necessities of the Mechanicum were done already as to streamline and ensure that setting up would be immediate and as soon as they were ready, they could bring the Emperor's message to those who opposed him.

The Valkyrie he rode in alongside half of his command staff began to shake as flak had surrounded them, he was not sure how nothing had caught fire yet, but then again, Imperial Guard equipment is sturdy. Looking out from a viewport he could see the other Valkyrie carrying the other half of his command staff, and the much larger transports carrying the artillery guns. It was only a few seconds before they hit the ground and deployed as the internal lights went red. For now Colonel Chasovoy and his troops dawned the signature greatcoats of Valhalla, the initial engagement would determine whether or not they were to keep wearing these coats. It is a fools gambit to try and keep a pristine uniform instead of adapting to the circumstances, one thing he never liked about the Mordians was exactly that, but it was never personal, it was merely just a nitpick.

"Calm down, Colonel, We won't even see the city from the inside, not yet anyway." Spoke Senior Commissar Mors, who began a weapons check as he pulled out his bolt pistol and loaded it.

"As long as you don't kill all my men." Colonel Chasovoy joked. Years ago him and Commissar Mors had almost shot each other over an order to retreat, but after having survived Agripinaa they had become rather close friends, one being ready to sacrifice their lives for each other.

The Valkyrie shook as its gear hit the ground, the door opened and everyone got out. Around him, Colonel Chasovoy could see the rest of his regiment getting out, some rushing towards the larger transports, others rushing out from it, Basilisks, Hydras, Manticores, and Trojans pulling out the crown jewel of the regiment, the Earthshaker cannons.

The landing site was very crowded per se, with dropships coming in and out as they began the full invasion. The plan earlier was to reach the furthest end of the beach head and set up a perimeter there, that was the plan. As a Taurox, a command variant, pulled up, Colonel Chasovoy got in and followed a convoy of the artillery guns to their predestined position. Upon arriving to the very edge, the sappers of the regiment began to dig ditches for the the guns and assets attached to Chimera chassis, while the Torjans began to release the bolts attached to them to allow for the Earthshaker cannons to set up.

"Captains, Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, Commissars, gather around. We are to support the invasion from here for awhile. Our priority is to give fire support to units especially deep behind enemy lines, or are bogged down. We are here to reclaim this system in the name of the God Emperor. I am ordering you to have units in need of assistance call out what kind of targets they are fighting to use appropriate shells. No Promethium rounds unless authorized by me. Comrades, I cannot stress this enough, we cannot fail."

"FOR THE EMPEROR! URA!"

Subsequent cheers from the command staff, resonating to the surrounding sentry units clad in the Carapace armor that was requested from their Departamento contact, and the rest of the regiment yelled in fervor.

"OTAREI, OTKRITY OGON!" the deafening sound of an opening barrage flew forth to identified targets of importance to the taking of the hive city.

[Revlona]

In Orbit
Cadian 88th

Colonel Argo Levell sat buckled into his seat aboard the Devourer class dropship that was to take him and his regiment planetside. The regiments transports, and those of the other two Cadian regiments assigned to the same target, had already left the fleet and were now waiting for word to come of the Jumpers hitting their targets. As he sat, he prayed. His heart still hurt for his homeworld, the 88th had been to late in arriving home to Cadia and he and every trueborn Cadian felt the pain of knowing that they survived their planets death without firing a single shot.

He prayed to the Emperor, his eyelids tight over the violet eyes below, the golden aquila clutched firmly in his hands. Across from him sat his oldest friend in the Regiment, Commissar Alexander Trem. They had grown close through the ordels they had shared while in the 723rd, surviving wave after wave of Xeno attacks with men dying all around had formed a sort of bond between the two men. The Commissar himself was not one of the uptight types that sometimes gave the Commissairit a bad name. He preferred to lead through example and inspire his men through courage rather than leading by fear. He would still do his duty when it came to cowardice, but summary executions of entire squads just wasn't his style as it was with some.

The Commissar smiled at his friend and stood up from his seat, the entire deck going silent as they saw this. It was the be the 88ths first action, not just since Cadia, but ever. They knew the Colonel was not the type to give speeches and respected him for it, the Commissar however was. The Commissar patched himself into the Vox unit of the Regiment, and with the permission from the Commissars and Colonels of the other two regiments, he spoke to all three regiments. "Soldiers of Cadia, Guardsmen, defenders of humanity, the Hammer of the Emperor. We were once looked upon not with pity but with respect, once, when planets learned that Cadians were coming to their defense, the cheers could be heard in the warp for their salvation was coming. But no more it seems, now they pity us, they pat us on the back and tell us we did a good job at best or they look at us with scorn and ask us why we did not hold on longer at worst. The 88th was not present to defend her in her darkest hour, neither were the 211th or 841st, so what can we say in response? That is simple, Watch us, we shall tell them to watch us. For we will teach them a certain saying, a knowledge now engraved into the heart and soul of every Cadian, the knowledge that even as the planet broke into pieces, the Guard fought on! That even as magma consumed her cities, Cadian guardsmen stood proud and defiant against the heretics to the last! They shall learn, that until the last Cadian draws their final breath, Cadia will stand! Cadia has not fallen, for her guard stands!!!"

As the Commissar finished his speech the dropship, which had been dead silent, erupted into cheers. Alexander was forced to turn down his ear piece as shouts, cheers, and hurrahs echoed through the vox. he then grinned fiercely at the cheering men and women before him, unsheathing his power sword and brandishing it above his head. The cheers grew louder and almost seemed to erupt again as the Colonel did the same, having finished his prayers just in time to hear the Commissars speech.

[Acharybdis]

17th Harakoni Warhawks


Valentinian looks around the room to analyze the emotions of the room. He met with his platoon leaders, regiment pilots, and 1st Light Armor Detachment members to discuss the battle plans for their insertion. Samara was standing off to the side to help Valentinian explain the air support for this mission. She wore a white and black imperial guard formal attire, which complimented her gunmetal hair. The group huddled around a table that displays a virtual map of Ultero Prima, and the other members left plenty of room space for the two regiment officials. The commissar was with the rest of the troops, preparing them for their mission. Valentinian and Samara already debriefed him to ensure their regiment's cohesiveness.

Valentinian ends his examination of the men by making eye contact with Samara, who was beside him. The only thing that was on his mind was this might be the last time he ever sees them alive. The mission assigned to them was a hefty one, but nothing new to the regiment. Their enemy was numerous and countered one of their critical regiment supports and characteristic. Since he entered the meeting, he calculated how many of his men he would lose in this engagement. If they were lucky, then after seizing the objective, they would be immediately reinforced by the other imperial forces. If they weren't, they had to hold the gate against the heretic forces that outnumber them ten to one until they arrive. All Valentinian could hope for was that the relief force wouldn't be too slow in coming. The only remedy to this situation that he could think of was that they weren't the only regiment going in. However, his regiment tactics clash with most imperial guard regiment doctrine. He wonders how well his regiment will synergize with 32nd Medrad.

"I am going to lose some of the veterans on this mission, which will make it difficult to keep my regiment's efficiency and combat potential." He mumbled aloud. "But I can't afford to lose my regiment's special weapons and heavy squads either." After working with Valentinian for so long, his men got used to Valentinian's mumbling. His tactics and doctrine allowed the regiment to succeed in the operations they saw as impossible or costly. So no one dared called him for his mumbling; even the newcomers in the regiment didn't dare to disturb him while he was thinking. The men glance toward Samara, whose pale skin seems to reflect the light coming from the virtual map. As she was a critical reason why Valentinian's tactics succeed in missions, their synergy allowed things like taking back control of a city from a stronger and numerous enemy to happen. The duo was why the regiment was able to take control of a genestealer controlled city in their previous campaign.

"Our regiment and the 32nd Medrad will be dropping directly under anti-air fire. Until we knock out the anti-air emplacements, it will not be wise to keep our flyers and valkyries in a prolonged firefight." Samara responds to Valentinian. Even though they had a plan already, Samara and Valentinian looked for new ways to improve their strategy.

"If we hold back our flyers and the 32nd Medrad throws everything they have, then it will look like we are disloyal to the emperor by not sending everything. It is a very impractical idea to send waves of men and hope for the best. Then again, we are only one of the many regiments sent on this Crusade." Valentinian replies.

"Should we send enough to disguise our plan until the anti-air emplacements are down? After all, this operation is hugely disadvantageous to our regiment. Our heavy weapons teams will have a limited view due to the city's structure, and their support can be considered minimal due to this. We can only rely on our air and armor support. Air support can be assumed as negligible till the anti-air emplacements are down, which leaves us with the armor support."

"We can use the armor to guess where the weapons storages are if the heretics haven't removed all the weapons yet. The heretics will most likely flee to the buildings once they see our valkyries coming to avoid fighting us in the open. They are more likely to take cover in the buildings for housing than storage if they haven't removed the weapons yet. If our squads can find these buildings and access the weapons, we can make our units a real menace." Valentinian proposes.

"Wouldn't this violate the Warmaster's orders?" One of the veteran Valkryie pilots said. This outburst caused the group to turn in the voice's direction to see who would disturb the duo's conversation.

"He brings up an excellent point, Valentinian. Our orders are to seize the gate and destroy nearby anti-air emplacements, not loot the city clean of its weapons." Samara says as she turns to face Valentinian again.

"Of course, we will complete our orders. If we can use the gear stored in the city, it will improve our chances of surviving until the relief force arrives. Also, I think the Warmaster prefers that we use the weapons over the heretics getting their hands on the gear. We are seizing the weapons back, not looting." Valentinian answers as Samara nods her head over this conclusion, and the men share their agreement. After all, the heretics outnumbered them; why wouldn't they want to seize every opportunity they can get.

"Here is the plan. A small elite taskforce of our veteran and shocktrooper squads will be dropping with the 32nd Medrad. Their objective is to proceed quickly to the anti-air emplacements and take them out before the rest of the regiment arrives. The 1st Light Armor Detachment will escort the regimental command and two veteran squads to any storehouses that might contain gear. If we can not find any equipment, our next objective is to find and seize any heretic equipment that might help us. The taskforce can request aid from the 1st Light Armor Detachment if they need it. Once the anti-air emplacements are down, the rest of the regiment will come in and head towards the gate. I want my heavy weapons team to find optimal positions to use their weapons the best. If you can't find one, then make one. This moment is when the forces dispatched to the anti-air emplacements will link back up with the main forces. Once the gate is secured, the weapons teams will readjust their positions for defense. We will have air support for this part of the operation, which will be easier than taking down anti-air emplacements. " Valentinian announces to the group. "Any questions?"

"No, sir!" The group shouts back to him in a unified voice.

"Good! Remember, men, our regiment uses small unit tactics, not mass infantry assault. If I see one you breaking our regiment doctrine, I will suggest your name with the commissar. Other than that, you are dismissed. Prepare your men for the upcoming battle and check in with the commissar. If you are apart of the task force or the units with me, then stay behind so we discuss our strategy further. We are dropping within the hour." Valentinian continues.

"Yes, sir!" The group shout shouts back to him again in a unified voice. As the group starts to disperse, Valentinian leans toward the table and starts interacting with the map to plan their units' path. He paid close attention to what buildings might contain equipment and the likelihood that the heretics cleaned it out. Simultaneously, Samara looked for positions that likely held the anti-air emplacements and potential blindspots they can use for their valkyries. If she could find the blind spots, they could safely drop off their troops, and the valkyries could provide support from these blind spots. The remaining group members didn't feel the oppressing duo's presence anymore and discussed freely yet carefully with Valentinian and Samara about the battleplans.

[Acharybdis]

Freeblade Nighthowler

Aboard an Imperial Heavy Transport

The sound of pressurized air breaks the silence of the room as Zephyr stares silently out the window. From here, she could see the planet of Preskida III and the numerous imperial vessels descending to the planet. She imagined the bloodbath below and the PDF's agony as they fought against the heretic forces. She looked toward the meeting place where she met the Warmaster and thought about their encounter.

"Can this Warmaster handle a crusade of this scale," She thought to herself. During her 75 years as a freeblade knight, she has participated in countless successful and failed crusades. The only reason she survived those failed crusades was because of her skills and, more importantly, the fact she piloted a knight. She can't remember the number of times she nearly died as she glances down at her blade and unsheaths the sword. Zephyr swings the sword around as she remembers her last fights against her lance members. Both times, Zephyr left her Knight to end their lives with her blade. Her swordsmanship was another reason why the Imperium prized her as she slew numerous renegade knight pilots with her sword after incapacitating them with the Nighthowler. She wasn't stupid enough to leave her Knight while they were still enemies present. She would usually attempt to clear the battlefield before she disembarks. However, after a few close calls, she is reconsidering dismounting to get up close and personal with the enemy pilot. She held her blade up and examined the blade before hizzing as the sword reflected the nearby star's light at her face. She quickly lowers the blade as she attempts to regain her vision. Zephyr sheathes the blade as a message comes in telling her that her Knight was ready.

She quickly turns 180 degrees and walks out the galleria toward her assigned room. As she exits, she passes by a fellow who looks like he was listening to the room she was in previously. She doesn't spare him a glance as she walks to her room. Even though she couldn't express it aloud, she was a little disappointed with the Imperium. Many people would think 75 years of service would win their trust, but no matter where she goes, they always look for the moment she would slip out. Like she was a spy playing the long game. Her room wasn't that far from the galleria, so by the time she finished this line of thoughts, she arrived.

She was a freeblade for 70 years, so she didn't have many personal belongings. As a result, her room looks almost identical to a regular officer's quarters. The exception is that on a desk, she had individual and group pictures of her lance members. Faye's and Darrien's pictures had been x out to show that Zephyr killed them. She cast a casual glance toward the photos of her brother and Aradon. She wasn't hopeful that they were in this sector but hoped she finds a high-ranking heretic that will direct her towards them. She picks up the group picture as she tries to remember her lance before they all betrayed her. She can still hear the echoes of their laughs and their conservations that they had before their betrayal. She briefly smiles under her helmet before a frown came over her face. She was their lance leader. They were her responsibility, and she failed them.

"If only..." She whispered before she shut her mouth quickly. She got so caught up in her memories that she momentarily forgot that she was being watched. She put down the picture as she examines her room. Unless you encountered this situation before and had a precise eye for it, one wouldn't be able to tell that the Inquisition ransacked her room again. They would even install new bugs with every routine search. She kneeled in front of this makeshift shrine and took out her blade as she repeated her pre-battle procedure. She offered her sword to the shrine, and she begins to chant her life- long promise.

"My former lance members... no matter who you were in the past, I will make you pay for your actions against the Imperium. I will ensure that you and your heretic allies will never succeed against the emperor. I will seek out the root of your evil, and I will destroy it. No matter how long it will take me, I swear my life in pursuit of this promise: the complete annihilation of the ruinous powers. Once I bring my remaining lance members to justice, I will return to the House of Orlacc to continue my fight. I will ensure that the House of Orlacc will never produce any more traitors, and I will find a way to solve our mental instability. If I can't succeed, then I will sow the seeds for the next generation to solve it. This is my promise and my retribution for your sins." She announces to the empty room and her invisible overseers. She stays in their position for five minutes before she gets up and sheathes her blade. Then she takes one last glance towards her room before heading toward her Knight.

The walk was fast as crew members hastily fled out of Zephyr's way and made room for her. Zephyr entered the bay that was holding her Knight, and she looks around the room as the crew finishes polishing her Knight. Upon her arrival, they stop to gawk at Zephyr as she made her way up to the Throne Mechanicum. On the platform to the Throne Mechanicum, an inquisitor was waiting for her as she approached.

"Oh! It is so good to see you, Zephyr. The speech that you gave in your room was rousing as always." He congratulated. "I wonder if this crusade will be the time when you slip up." This person was Godwinne, Zephyr's assigned inquisitor to watch over her. Unlike other inquisitors, Godwinne didn't try to hide that he had agents watching her every move. Zephyr only respond with a "hmph," while she closed the distance between them.

"What is the mission?" Zephyr asked, ignoring his latter statement. Godwinne would often use this kind of talk to try to rile her. Even though she knew her mission, she used this as a chance to change the conversation.

"Hmm... Your mission is to kill the heretics. Aren't we the same in this regard? Both of us can't tolerate the ruinous powers tainting the emperor's holy light." He replies while thumping a staff against the ground. "If you are asking for specifics, then you are dropping in the Loyalist sectors of the city to lend support to a counterattack. It should be easy enough for you, Queen of Slaughter." Their relationship might be tense, but the two work together in numerous encounters to weed out heretics. One might even say that Zephyr was Godwinne's unofficial agent as she helped serve as the blade to some of his tasks. Her nickname as the Queen of Slaughter was due to her brutality in the operations Godwinne employed her in.

"Any particular heretics on this planet that I need to be aware of?" Zephyr asks.

"Not that I know of. If there are any I need you to deal with, I will contact you." Godwinne says before patting her on the back and departing.

Zephyr walked forward to the Throne Mechanicum and prepared herself for the link to the machine. She takes her blade and lay it next to her as she is brought into the Nighthowler. She relaxes her mind as she let herself connect with the Nighthowler and the Throne Mechanicum. She closes her eyes as the connection finishes, and the three become united as one. She calms herself as a voice over the Nighthowler tells her that they will be on Preskida III within the hour.

[Segmentia]

The Order of the Pious Crusader

Canoness Preceptor Asilia Helanz watched on silently as her sisters finalized their preparations. The main hanger bay of The Noble Martyr, a Dictator-class cruiser in service to the Order of the Pious Crusader, was busy. The Third Preceptory was nearly ready to go forth and engage in their holy duty. Weapons and armor were checked over and then blessed, the last of the armored vehicles were being loaded to the underside of the Thunderhawk transporters, with the Preceptory's Baneblade needing it's own heavy lander and being prepared in another hanger bay. Once each squad of Sisters was prepared and blessed, they assembled before their Canoness Preceptor and the honored commanders of the Preceptory.

Asilia watched them assemble in silence, she could sense their eagerness to get into the war below, to bring the Emperors terrible wrath upon the foul sinners below. She felt the same way. The Warmaster of the crusade had requested that she and her sisters be an armored fist to spur on their Imperial Guard allies to drive the vile heretics from the capital of Ulero Prime. Whatever else Asilia thought of this wretched, traitorous world, she would admit that the loyalist forces still fighting tooth and nail were true servants of the God-Emperor, and she and her sisters would do everything they could to turn their struggle of survival into a momentous victory for Emperor and Imperium, and the fires of purity would cleanse this world, and all the others in the Almora Sector.

Once all the Sisters were assembled, armor gleaming, weapons held firm, Asilia addressed her Sisters.

“The warmaster wishes us to be an armored fist, sisters, to lead our allies in the Guard and this worlds remaining loyal PDF forces in a counterattack to break this siege! We will shatter the lines of these vile heretics, and lead our brothers and sisters of faith in the righteous annihilation of the scum that assaults this world!” A chorus of roaring approval filled the hanger bay. “Wherever the vile heretic takes shelter, we shall cleanse with holy promethium, like the vermin they are! If this city must burn to ash to rid itself from the taint of heresy, we shall be the ones to put it to the torch!” Asilia said, thrusting her power-sword into the air above her, with every Sister in the hanger joining her with fist or melee weapon.

In short order the drop ships and Thunderhawks left the hanger bays of the Noble Martyr, joining in the mass of others going down to the planet below. Two frigate sized ships, belonging to the non-militant wings of the Order of the Pious Crusader, descended with them into the worlds atmosphere. They were only lightly armed for personal defense against aircraft, and for the time being as the stream of landers continued downwards, these two ships took up a holding pattern and soon after the sky was filled with the booming of Imperial hymns and litanies, being recited live by a ministorum priest and choir aboard those same ships. In the city below it would be booming, but not overly loud or deafening, a background noise of reassurance of the Emperors love for the weary defenders, and a litany of hatred and a promise of hellfire for the vile heretics who dared assail the Emperors faithful.

The Preceptory landed at the space-port and quickly disembarked, forming into their Commandery's. Asilia was already making notes. She would need to send word back for more Rhinos to make her Preceptory fully mobile, but for now they would rely on commandeered local transport and their own feet to get them to where they needed. The power armor made it an easier task then the Guard would have. The mobile elements of the Preceptory prepared to move down the wide avenue heading south.
The massive form of Crusaders Might rumbled to the front of the convoy, commanded by Celestian Superior Anora Silvea, who would lead the convoy south to where Asilia intended to hit the heretics hard. The fifth commandery was already there, having landed at the rendezvous in their Thunderhawks to do some quick reconnaissance and preparation work, such as getting into contact with the commanders of the local forces there.

The travel south didn't take long, the avenue cleared of traffic and any traffic still on it getting clear out of the way of Crusaders Might. The convoy was quite the spectacle to the locals, and Asilia could see faith and hope renewed at the sight of the gleaming armor of the Sororitas, with the greatest effect being on the local PDF forces around the rendezvous point. The Preceptory formed up as they disembarked, the sounds of battle muffled but just a block over. Last minute blessings were made and prayers offered.

Dirty, fatigued PDF soldiers watched on, gathering in smaller numbers. These were the walking wounded, those who could not fight but could still do other tasks. Asilia stood before the bulk of her Preceptory, her elite command section arrayed before her as well. She lifted her power sword and activated it.

“Sisters! Comrades!” She gestured to the PDF soldiers gathered around. “Let us purge this filth from the city!” Asilia roared, her Sisters are the PDF soldiers joining her. She turned on her heel and began advancing as the Commanderys began to advance down their own lines of advance. Crusaders Might rumbled behind Asilia and her command section, the roar of its battle-cannon echoing down the avenue as the sounds of battle picked up once again. The heretics would not halt them.

[Imperialisium]

Doubt is the greatest weakness, it can shatter the strongest of walls without a single shot being fired, fell the mightiest of champions before even a sword is drawn.-Rogal Dorn

And The Skies Shall Bleed Fire

Thunderous booms shook the planetary capital of Preskida III. Ultero Prima. From the landing of Imperial Guard forces to the carnage left in the wake of the deployed Sisters of Battle. Too the tracer fire and missiles lighting up the heavens as Imperial Navy Wings strafed and fought their heretical opponents. The forces of the Archenemy, believing they were about to snuff out the final bastion of the Emperor's Dominion on this world, suddenly found themselves beset by a mass deployment of Astra Militarum and Adepta Sororitas forces. But even as the heretical forces reeled from this initial counter-assault the sword of the Golden Throne was yet to fall. For the Adeptus Astartes, the greatest warriors of Mankind, had arrived despite substantial warp turbulence over the skies the Preskida III. Their fleet elements forming up near their Imperial Navy counterparts in short order. But no guns fired, no lance strikes to scorch the earth of this world, no attack wings sallied forth either. Only a moments silence before their dozens of projectiles were launched from their drop bays. Swiftly turning red hot from the heat of re-entry as these devices, Drop Pods, reached speeds in excess of Mach 20. Their thunderous booms shaking the air around them as the whine of their guidance stabilizers kept them on course. Turbine engine beginning to spin as the advanced Machine-Spirits of the Astartes Drop pods followed their programmed and sanctified flight paths. Ignoring all flak fire as they blazed down like the wrath of a vengeful God.

All along the heretic front and even in rear sectors these drop pods plummeted to earth. Their retro-thrusters blazing to life seemingly at the last minute to slow down just enough to only smash into asphalt, through rockrete floors, and in spectacular case plow through a glass dome and through thirty seven cheap stamp press metal hab floors into a main hab-stack galleria. For any Imperial Intelligence listeners privy to Heretical communications their would be a sudden uptick. Followed seconds after by the sounds of impressive levels of ordinance being redirected to the heretics rear. Indeed, Guard forward observers would make note of entire heretical detachments being sent back to their rear sectors in a frantic showing of desperately moving somewhere.

City Block 261
Four Blocks West from Sororitas Engagement Zone

A black drab pod slammed to pavement. Doors blasting off their hinges. Clunking to ground with the rattle of metal on stone. Heavy armored feet thundered down the ramp as black armored warriors unleashed a torrent of fire. Their helmet auto-senses continually scanning for all threats around them. Every shot a head shot as no less then sixty heretics were brought low in under a minute flat. Ramming fresh magazines home into their bolters the marines were on the move. Making their way East to an identified heretic communications outpost.

<<This is Sergeant Gottfried. All battle brothers converge on my bio-sign. We're making for enemy communication post flagged HCP-19>>

A confirmation of clicks as the eleven other members of Gottfried's squad maneuvered to fall in formation around him. Their bolters snapping up to deliver fatal shots without breaking pace. The ceramite clad warriors moving at a brisk pace of thirty miles per hour. The rattle of a heavy stub gun sounded as Gottfried rounded a corner. The rounds, which would have cored a normal man's torso, simply glanced off his armor as he leveled his bolter and opened fire with three brisk shots. Each one blasting apart the skull and upper torso of the three man gun crew.

<<Sergeant Gottfried. This is Marshal Theodoric. I have overrun a heretic supply depot six miles North-West of your position. The Blood Angels are maneuvering to take positions to your Southern flank. Take out that communication post and then regroup with the rest of Captain Alberecht's company pressing West.>>

<<Affirmative Marshall>>

Gottfried resumed his advance with his squad of Templars. Blasting their way into the communication point mere minutes later. Leaving seventeen dead heretic soldiers as smattered red stains and severed limbs on floor and walls. One of the Templars knelt down and kicked a corpse over. Revealing the symbol of the Red Legion. <<I was expecting more of a fight Sergeant.>>

<<Heretics are no match for the righteous, Brother Maximilian.>>

Moving over to an Easterly window Gottfried could make out the detonations and even tracer fire coming from the advancing Sororitas units. With speed of thought thanks to his neural connection to his suit the Astartes Sergeant was able to pick a communication frequency that the Sororitas were using. Once established he began speaking in clear and precise High Gothic. The Sisters of course would understand thanks to their countless liturgical hours using the language of the Terran Priesthood. <<This is Sergeant Gottfried of the Black Templars. We have taken a heretic communication post due West of your advance, only a few clicks away.>>

Marshal Theodoric

Theodoric pulled his blade from the eviscerated corpse of a Red Legionnaire with a wet squelch. His Sword Brethren about him, several Neophytes accompanying them and donned in Scout gear. The strategic situation updated before his eyes as he blink clicked a map of the city into view. Data being fed directly into his neural pathways by his suit armor, while scrolling information in text form moved up as individual Astartes elements updated their positions and reported their progress. The Blood Angels had overrun a defensive line being hastily assembled by heretical forces sent to bottle up the Astartes. The Space Wolves had captured a vehicle depot and massacred an entire battalion of heretics stationed there. His own Black Templars were engaging heretical forces in thirteen separate running battles. The Atlantian Spears and Legion of Night had ambushed enemy vehicle columns on some streets to the North. reporting twenty-six vehicles kills and at least one hundred plus change dead enemy combatants. The Raven Guard were slicing through a battalion to the far West with the Solar Hawks moving in perpendicular as if in some elaborate pincer move. While the Exorcists just North-East near the PDF and Guard lines had formed an impromptu pocket around a heretic unit that had presumably been moving up to reinforce their brethren. Wiping out more of the regiment they'd briskly surrounded with every passing second.

Opening up a wide band message to the Imperial forces on Preskida III, Theodoric spoke into his comms, <<This is Marshal Theodoric of the Black Templars. Astartes are planet side. Enemy forces are in disarray.>>

[Beutarch]

1st Ravennan Dragoons
Utero Prima Central Spaceport

A gentle rain of heavy armor settled around the Colonel.

Ferried from the flotilla above, the dozens of personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles that served as the mounts for the Dragoons were laid out in the spaceport by a variety of transport craft. In an assembly-line like fashion, the vehicles rolled off the landing pads, forming into loose ranks for inspection, before another would touch down on the pad after it. Enginseers, the venerable mechanics of the Adeptus Mechanicus, scurried between the columns to perform last minute checks and scans, dictating notes on the status of each individual machine to following servo-skulls. From his perch atop the command-pattern Salamander that was his own stead, Colonel Gracchus reveled in the last few moments before battle. At length, the rain slowed to a drip, and then to nothing. The majority of the Enginseers, having finished their check-ups, rotated back into the spaceport to prepare for the inevitable machine casualties of the coming engagement. As the stragglers hurried away, chased by whizzing mechanical skulls, the Colonel took a deep breath. He stood up from where he had been sitting on the scout tank, readjusting the beret atop his head.

"UTERO WILL BE OURS ONCE AGAIN! MOVE OUT!" he trumpeted, pumping his fist once in excitement, and then waving toward the city in Ravennan battle-sign. At once, crew commanders saluted and slide into their rides, the sound of top hatches slamming shut echoed through the First's designated spaceport terminal. The Colonel's address was largely for show, as the rest of the rank and file troops struggled to process what was said through armored windows or by lip-reading from external cameras. The deployment was already in motion, however, as the vanguard of Russ tanks and Chimeras bearing Guardsman began to issue forth through the gates of the spaceport complex. Gracchus observed the first few ranks leave, before jumping through his own top-hatch and turning his attention to the bank of cogitators and communications equipment inside the Salamander.

Intending to preserve as much of the advantages of his armored units as he could, the Colonel confined the First's route into the battle to one of the main avenues that crisscrossed the storage-city. Able to travel several units abreast and then some, Gracchus felt confident of his men's chances in warding off an unexpected attack. As the armored column passed through a the friendly parts of the city, cool faces watched them from the uniform ten-story buildings. The eagerness the civilians had shown the Sororitas and other elements of the spearhead had dulled after watching the column of Imperial soldiers for so long, viewing more and more troops enter the fray, turning their city even more upside-down than it already was. The farther the Dragoons traveled, the faces peaking out from windows gave way to bullet holes and glass melted from lasfire. Eventually, the unit happened upon a detachment of PDF soldiers. The unit's officer, a young lieutenant with eyes hardened from hours of unforgiving urban combat, shouted at his vox-operator from the sidewalk. After a short exchange, it was established that the two units were heading in the same direction. Gracchus ordered the vanguard to slow, allowing the infantry to clamber atop the Chimeras as ad-hoc transportation. Laden with additional troops, the column continued toward the front lines.

---

In time, the unit wound its way to the site were the Dragoons were to support the Sororitas-led counterattack. Several blocks to the north of the Sororitas spearhead, the Dragoons would plunge westward in parallel, with an array of infantry regiments and PDF remnants filling the gap between them. Instead of another confining city street at the location, the unit found themselves on the edge of a No Man's Land nearly a full city block deep, and 3 wide. As the tip of the column approached the entrance to the desolate clearing, a series of shots rang out. Long range, high-caliber autogun rounds ricocheted off armor of a Russ. The first three glanced off, scraping paint, while the fourth violently scraped one of the exposed PDF troopers off of the tank's side. The Lieutenant screamed at his men, prompting them to dismount and take cover behind the vehicles. After the shooting stopped, he hailed the Colonel on the vox-caster once more.

"Heretic infiltrators ran through this part of the city about a week ago, they caught wind of a heavy munitions depot that was in the process of being relocated. There were three storage-buildings containing shells here, each was turned into a ball of light after the infiltrators started a firefight. My men won't be much use until we reach the other side, but we'll try to keep up the pace. May the Emperor smile on us, Guardsman." he crackled over the Salamander's vox output.

While waiting the signal from the Sororitas to attack, the Colonel took note of two frigates reduce their altitude significantly, entering the atmosphere. Expecting a salvo of Lances to precipitate the assault, the Colonel was instead met with the ritualistic chanting of Imperial hymns. He could think of nothing more appropriate for the Sisters of Battle to do.

Broadcasting to his entire regiment, Gracchus gave the order to advance. The self propelled guns in the rear issued their agreement with the order in the form of a preliminary barrage, as the tanks at the front revved and moved into the rubble-strewn ground ahead.

[Segmentia]

Mordian First Army

Lord General Militant Viktoria von Helsturm raised her glass of aged amasec. The crystal of the glass caught the light of the large ward room, where dozens of Mordian officers were assembled. Every regimental colonel and their seconds, a few subordinate generals, and her own staff of course. One final meal with her senior officers before deployment the next day. All the Mordians of the First Army were having good meals, well in advance of the landings of course, so they wouldn't be sluggish and could avoid any unnecessary sickness from the drop that would hinder units abilities to function.

“Ladies, gentlemen, my fellow officers!” Viktoria began, all eyes turned to her. “A toast to the Almora Crusade, our campaign to liberate Preskida III, and the God-Emperor!” The assembled officers stood from their seats and raised their glasses and drank to the toast before sitting again. With the formalities of the toast done, the din of conversation filled the room as officers broke into conversation with their fellows. Seated closest to Viktoria were the subordinate generals, Mueller, Graf, and Karsk.

General Mueller was in command of the Mordians' mobile elements, the armor and mechanized regiments. A seasoned veteran of decades with the Mordian 107th Tank Regiment, he was a traditional no nonsense Mordian officer.

General Graf was an artillery officer by career, but was also a siege warfare specialist, having participated in dozens of sieges in his career and commanded several overall as well. Until the siege of Turvin was underway, his duties would be to oversee the rear-line duties, establishing bases, supply depots, landing zones and airbases, and the myriad of other duties that would shore up the rear echelons and provide the front lines with everything they needed.

Lastly was General Karsk, a fairly young general, Karsk was in overall command of the infantry elements of the First. She was a firebrand of an officer, favoring aggression. She had a temper at times, but she was a very solid officer and would go far in her career. Viktoria saw much of herself in Karsk, to be honest.

All in all, they were decent company to spend an evening speaking too. The hours passed quickly, with food, drink, and expensive cigars, with things becoming more boisterous as the night went on, but always respectful. Officers recounted stories, humorous and tragic, for those assembled. Old songs from home were sung. It was a pleasant evening all around, and Viktoria shook the hands of ever single officer as they began filtering out. In a few hours more they would be landing, the mask of staunch professionalism back in place. Once she was alone, except for her always present guards, Viktoria retired to her personal chambers, did some last minute paperwork, and then slept soundly.

The next day

Vast swaths of field and grassland had been transformed into dirt strewn messes, churned up by the tracks of thousands of armored vehicles. The landings had barely been opposed, the overwhelming presence of Imperial aircraft had seen off any heretic air assault, and there had been no enemy anti-aircraft platforms anywhere near the landing zones. General Mueller and his armor and mechanized forces had landed and quickly formed up to start moving on their objectives, chiefly striking east and cutting Turvin off from the south. Some elements from the regiments under his command would strike out to secure towns and villages.

Viktoria had come down with the second wave of landings, the massive Capitol Imperialis not having been a priority to land with the fist wave. The behemoth of a vehicle slowly rolled across the country side beside a road that was packed with infantry in trucks. Viktoria observed all this from one of the several viewing decks aboard the 'Mordian Will', which would serve as the mobile HQ for the First.

Viktoria was taking in all the reports being sent in. Brief contacts with poorly armed and barely organized heretic militia. Orders were already out to wipe out any settlement who didn't surrender, and those that did would have their populations rounded up and placed into secure camps until their loyalty and faith could be proven one way or another. Thankfully there were no real major settlements between the deployment area and Turvin, so this wouldn't cause a massive delay.

Deploying with the Mordian First were a few other regiments. The Valhallen 33rd Line, 431st Alaran Siege, and 94th Vostroyan Firstborn, totaling roughly one hundred and forty five thousand additional Guardsmen. There was also the 4th Yóuzi Regiment, a light infantry formation that specialized in reconnaissance and other duties that could take them behind enemy lines. Von Helsturm could find a use for them, certainly.

She had invited the officers of those regiments to meet with her, to discuss in further detail the plans for the campaign. There had only been a few brief introductions at the warmasters meeting, but at least the information she had on those other regiments painted a decent picture. They weren't Mordian, but they would do.

[Acerbez]

The 4th Youzi Regiment
"4 is death"
Lt. Colonel Jing, Commisar Zuomin, Captains Mengde, Zhikai, and Xilai

Aboard the capital ships of the navy, it was the new home for the 4th Youzi. Having lost the fertile ground and soil of their home planet, they had been consigned to call the metal tiles and humming corridors of fleet ships their humble abode. Taciturn and uniform, almost ghostly in their new found habitats, the 4th Youzi appeared to take no delight nor make a single complaint in regards to their living conditions at any juncture. The all female regiment adorned in their greenish brown fatigues followed transit protocols and procedure flawlessly, making it almost unnoticeable that theyvwere present save for the snide jeers or lude comments made by guardsmen or navy men that had not seen such an abundance of women in concentration. More often than not however, word would travel that making such derogative comments known aloud would most definitely end in a swift and unbecoming result- a glare of ire that stifled any man's prejudice thought followed by the abrupt breath felt on the neck by the another Youzi regiment service woman's presence indicating that the foolish remark could easily have its sender touched... Or worse, the appearance of the 4th Youzi's very own Commisar, who's aura demanded compliance and cut short any locker room stupidity from breeding further.

The 0 grav deployment from these static and stagnant conditions of transit were welcomed by the regiment. All too tired of the idleness of space. The Valkyrie's required to ferry the regiment were menial and barely noticed missing from the hangars in comparison to the larger regiments. "Shuai Jing" as she was referred to by her own, meaning commander or superior in short amongst the home tongue of the Youzi had sat straight in the Valkyrie's bay with her hands at rest atop her knee's. Staring blankly ahead at the panel just above Captain Zhikai. A zen moment of clear consciousness had overtaken her and many others of the regiment. The emperor's mandate to earn their keep, their lives, their reward hung heavy in the regiment's minds. Even the Commisar Zuomin, a seasoned veteran much older than Jing had lived and experienced the massacre of Youzige. The planet's name meaning "To deserve or merit", like a polished gem or chiseled diamond. The comissar was just as much a citizen of the now dead planet as them and yearned to exstinguish those that forsake such pearls defended by the God-Emperor.

After making landfall and contemplating the war plans produced by the warmaster, Jing was content to participate in the retaking of the city of Turvin, despite having no experience with these Mordian subjects.

In her mother tongue, Colonel Jing ordered the disembarkment of the Valkyrie's and followed up by her approaching captains who commanded the companies and were expected to take operational control down to their Sargents. "Ensure supply and acquisition of our Orbat is procured and intact, requisition supplementary materials from the quarter masters and establish contact with our Mordian counterparts so they are familiar and well versed in what we will be requesting. Quanitity is important, we will not be a burden to our comrades nor will we make debate with their limitations or expectations. Give face and understand our differences. It will do us well." Admittingly, Jing was discouraged that initial phases of interaction could be sullied and it was paramount that positive relations among the staff be cultivated to ensure the odd requests of the 4th Youzi not be mismanaged or ignored only because the regiments could not see eye to eye.

"Commisar Zuomin, if you would follow me to the sanctioned headquarters where we are to congregate with the honorable Viktoria Von Helstrum?". Jing was given a nod by the comissar and returned the nod in kind. Before she departed her regiment, using Youzi sign language, she gesture a slew of movements that ordained she wanted the regiment to be ready to depart at a moment's notice, gear and all. This meant all equipments, whether it was simple camp kits, carbines, Long Las', or special weapons like the famous "Jiansudai" launcher. The captains nodded and gave eachother a hand gesture from ear over eye that meant one thing- The Emperor protects all he sees.

The command of the 4th Youzi dispersed in various directions, only the comissar and Lt. Colonel walking in eachothers company. After converging on Lord General Viktoria's position, Lt. Colonel Jing along with Comissar Zuomin approached the guardsmen stationed out front and sternly divulged their credentials. Jing was studying their uniform and its differences to the camo cape shrouded uniforms worn by the 4th Youzi. After a brief moment, the soldier walked in and then back out and motioned for the 2 officers to enter. The climate of the room was as expected and it was quite evident who was in charge here.

"Lt. Colonel Jing Huli, Comissar Zuomin Gan, reporting. It is my understanding that the 4th Youzi will have the honor of serving as a supplemental detachment in coordination with your objectives. How shall we proceed?" Jing's confidence would not come from a place of hubris and sound more along the lines of procedure or protocol. Her neutral stance however was calculated and executed to end with such a nuetral response to discern the Lord General's disposition.

Was the Lord general Militant an autocrat or fancied herself as amicable?

[Acharybdis]

17th Harakoni Warhawks

Southern Entrance


Valentinian tsks while he taps his plasma gun against the vendetta gunship's hull. He recalls the intel that he received from headquarters while he was putting on his carapace armor. Due to his commissar's suggestion, he sent one of his men to check their intel with the crusade's intelligence department. What he learned from the soldier was that most of the intelligence department's intel contradicts his information. He and Samara planned so carefully, but for what. He was a little disappointed in the heretics when he learned that they would be attacking an underequipped and smaller heretic force. As if the ruinous powers acted against him, his original looting plan was thrown to shreds after discovering the area been under aerial and orbital bombardment.

"Nothing is going my way," he thought to himself as the pilot warns the Valentinian that they were near their destination. He was slightly upset as this new intel forced him to change his plans. Valentinian had brought two veteran and two Militarum Tempestus scion squads to support the regimental command's insertion. He wished he brought his flyers with him so they could bomb the anti-air emplacements to oblivion, but it is a little too late for that now. They would be arriving with the rest of the regiment. This thought didn't last long as he remembers the firepower potential of a hydra. Valentinian had deployed the 1st Light Armor Detachment to lead a frontal assault on the gate. Due to this, Valentinian was able to learn of the three Hydras that the enemies possess.

"When the 1st Light Detachment reaches the gate, open the door. After we cleared out the Hydras, come back to support us." Valentinian says while doing the last weapon check on his plasma gun. Not even a second had passed before the 1st Light Detachment announced that they were engaging the hydra outside the city. Valentinian stepped back from the opening loading bay's door as he saw the city's current situation. He smiled under his helmet as he could see Astartes' drop pods dropped in the city and the Sister of Battle's frigates.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for? The counterattack has begun; we can't be late for the party," Valentinian says as he jumps out of the gunship and heads toward the gate. He already informed Samara to take care of the air support; therefore, she would be staying with the gunship. Valentinian was joined by his personal force and the additional forces that he brought along with him. Simultaneously, reports came to Samara that the 1st Light Armor Detachment dealt with the first hydra outside the city. It wasn't surprising, considering it was 25 armor units against one hydra with a measly infantry company. The hard part was targeting the hydras on the walls, which were surrounded by the heretics.

Valentinian organized the assault so that the hydras would focus on the 1st Light Armor Detachment. Their transports, two sniper squads, and three heavy weapons squads would support the 1st Light Armor Detachment. He organized the three-front assault on the hydras, which would allow the guardsmen dropping in with their grav-chutes to land safely behind enemy lines. The guardsmen with grav-chutes and their valkyries would complete the pincer formation to sweep both the hydras and the gate in one fell swoop. This strategy relied on Valentinian's group to quickly close the heretics if they wanted to escape this battle relatively unscathed. He split his group into three to take advantage of their surprise attack on the unsuspecting heretics.

As Valentinian descended toward the ground, he saw two heretics running out on the street and pointing at him. He quickly took them out with his plasma gun as the rest of his team dealt with the oncoming heretics. Valentinian kept firing until the heretics' scream died out. He quickly scanned the battlefield for more opponents before realizing that his bodyguards had already taken care of everyone else. He reloads his gun before checking the nearby sky to see if the other teams or his vox-operator landed. By the time Valentinian found him, the vox-operator was already running up to him to relay his orders.

"This Omega One. Alpha One, what is the situation? Valentinian asked. There wasn't a response for a full minute. Valentinian begins to worry about the frontal assault and worry if he was too slow.

"Omega One. This is Alpha One. Are you sure we are fighting the right enemies? Did we catch them on a lunch break or something? We might even finish off the heretics before you arrive. The valkyries already disabled the hydra on the east wall by destroying the wall underneath it." Alpha One operator responded.

"Don't get too cocky, Alpha One. Remember, these are the same heretics who took over most of the system. Good work on the second hydra. We will meet up with you soon." Valentinian reprimanded.

"Omega, you heard that. Alpha One is mopping up these heretics and doing our job. Now we don't want them to have all the fun. Do we? Omega Two continue to head toward the hydra on the east. Omega Three go assist Omega Two. Omega One on me. We are going after those heretics at the gate. I heard they have some armor units present there." Valentinian continues. As he says that the group of 60 guardsmen break up as 40 head towards the east gate, while the rest stay with Valentinian. He signals Omega One as he turns on his grav-chutes and heads towards the gate. He offers a silent thanks to Samara as he sees a bombing run on top of the heretics' positions.

The rest of the battle concludes quickly as the rest of the regiment reinforce Alpha One, and Omega completed the pincer on the red legion soldiers. It wasn't much of a contest due to their overwhelming air superiority. They destroyed two of Hydras and left the last alone so they could salvage the unit. Valentinian almost suffered a casualty when his men tried to vacate occupants of the vehicle. Lucky for that soldier, his carapace armour saved him from a potential mortal wound. The guardsmen quickly killed the rest of the crew and claimed the hydra for their own. The only problem was that it fell vertically; thus, the hydra was stuck in a vertical position. Valentinian observed as he watched his men trying to figure out a way to get the hydra down without damaging it. Other soldiers stood watching before they realized that the commissar was staring at them. They went back to work in assembling the regiment's defenses against a heretic counterattack. Valentinian turned toward the commissar as he saw him approaching from the corner of his eye.

"You aren't happy with the results, Fortunus?" The commissar asked as soon as he was in arm's length of Valentinian. Ossian dressed in a tan formal military attire and complimented the look with his glasses. His pitch-black spiky hair added to his dominating aura that made almost everyone but Samara and Valentinian scared of him.

"It isn't that," Valentinian responded nonchalantly. "It just felt too easy. I came up with a grand plan, and this all the heretics had to show." He pointed at his regiment, which was mostly unscathed. The 1st Light Armor Detachment received minimal damage from the assault. The power of 25 armor units and their supporting Valkyries was too overwhelming for the hydras to dish out substantial damage. The heretics were too shocked by the Astartes' drop pods and couldn't fully utilize their light armor units. After those factors were taken out, the 1st Light Detachment and the supporting troops could easily handle the other heretic forces. It was too shameful to call that a fight.

"Don't worry, Fortunus. You might get your wish. After all, we have to hold this gate until our relief force arrives." Ossian comforted. Valentinian nods his head as he and Ossian watch Samara coordinate their pilots, the regiment's captains guide the defenses' setup, and the men still attempting to get hydra down.

[Endem]

Magos Dominus Aro-089
Ark Mechanicus Omnissiah's Blessing

"Adepta Sororitas engagement zone identified"

Omega/v64e3 reported

"Leave be, while the renegades are distracted break through and encircle"

Suggested Magos Explorator Theta 8

"Theta 8 suggestion = disobedience of Warmaster. Disobedience of Warmaster = turning traitor. Turning traitor = 2nd fall of Gryphonne. Suggestion discarded. Order: reroute forces to Sororita engagement zone"

Issued Aro-089, Logis Omega/v64e3 soon had Transmechanics send the message.

"It would allow us to gain glory and appreciation, through which we could be given a new world"

"Outcome = uncertain. Risk of loss = too great"

Reasoned Aro-089, Theta 8 seemingly gave up on this cause, though the Magos Dominus knew that the Magos had not abandoned that ideal, Theta 8 was a glory hound, thankfully for it, it was a useful glory hound as Its tactics proved invaluable on many occasions.

Serberys Raiders Princeps Sade-138
In the streets

He received the orders, and before his eyes, a brightly lit path opened itself, a projection only for his cogitator, but it helped determine the way. Sade-138 signaled with his cavalry saber the change of course to his clade of Serberys Raiders, he managed to catch sight of Res/31 and Sulphurhounds brethren from the 1st cohort doing the same, along with the pilots of the Ironstrider engines. They gained sight of the enemy soon, and the raging battle, and began to charge, their hounds trying to outpace the Skorpiuses, Ironstriders and the Dunecrawlers, mag locked in and the hound set on its course Sade-138 turned briefly to his Raiders, some were already firing from their Galvanic Carbines, others brandishing their pistols.

The heretics spotted them, he managed to witness a Sydonian falling of its mount, struck by one of the bullets of the heretics, the Ironstrider mount would keep moving and crash into the heretical lines anyway if for nothing else causing chaos among their lines. Sade-138 began to feel the heat of battle, he shouted to his Raiders.

"For the Omnissiah!"

After that he turned back, the heretics were close, if he only focused his eyes for a couple of microseconds, he could swear he would be able to discern their facial structure. 18 Raiders crashed head-on into the side of the enemy lines, and soon enough so did the Sulphurhounds, as judging from the smell of burnt flesh and stench of sulfur, presumably the Ironstrider engines along with their pilots did the same. Sade-138 swung the blade of his saber wildly, feeling as heretics blood splattered onto his steed and himself.

The charge was continued by Sulphurhounds and Sydonian Dragoons, meanwhile, the Ironstrider Ballistarius and Raiders broke off from the melee and began to fulfill their role as ranged cavalry.

Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps Lambda-90
Carnage

The Ruststalkers disembarked as soon as possible, before the ramps of the Skorpius Dunerider even fully lowered. Her underlings clawed for murder, their hatred and pain accumulated, and was ready to be channeled in a flurry of gore and viscera. Their transonic blades hummed a somber song as they maneuvered between their Skitarii and Infiltrator brethren and their vehicles, passing by an ever oblivious Kataphron Breacher they go to witness the Ironstriders trampling the enemies underneath and the Serberys crashing into the thick of battle. As their Infiltrators began to hum their psalms that for everyone not attuned like a member of their forces would seem a constant neurastatic barrage of white noise, Lambda-90 could barely calm down her own killclade while also barely containing her own anger, then they were let free.

Lambda-90 felt her limb-stumps itch, she still remembered the moment when she was burned to a crisp by some lowly chaos cultist with a flamer. At this moment, she couldn't care what her Ruststalker would do as her squad and the squad of Rho-0001 were all filled with a murderous rage of past dishonor that left them broken and limbless. They charged first, she could hear the footsteps of Infiltrators behind her, but she couldn't care about them, the only thing in her mind was the chaos cultist, and where to strike them.
The
The distance closed quickly, the Ruststalker ran into the Chaos forces and after them Infiltrators, switching off their emitters as to not harm their allies, their transonic weaponry, after merely a couple of strikes would begin to vibrate with the exact molecular frequency of their enemy armor, passing through it like thin air. Lambda-90 slashed viciously at the nearest enemy with her chordclaw, separating the cultist's las rifle in two before piercing through the helmet, and with the crack of bone, the poor bastard's body turned into little more than thick sludge. She heard a crack behind her, and the body of another cultist soon collapsed to the ground when her prehensile data spike retreated, having just pierced one of the man's eyes.

Pteraxii Skystalker Princeps Delta Omicron
The skies above battle

It loved the smell of battle in the morning. The Skystalkers lowered their flight, the Scapuli Superior snapping their flight packs into place as they performed micro corrections to their flight patterns, they were approaching the range at which their Flechette Carbines would be most effective. Delta Omicron could hear his soldiers chant binharic canticles.

Through meticulous calculations, Delta Omicron performed mid-flight in cogitators that replaced most of its brains, he started to pick out targets. The Skystalkers began to swoop in, their jet-powered flight packs carrying them meters above the carnage, they lacked the talons of their Sterylizor brethren, but they more than made up for it with accuracy.

They fired a continuous stream of small needles that the Flechettes used as ammunition, as soon as one would impact, the rest would be attracted to it through bioelectric pulse emitted from a dormant cerebral cell in them, the needles would impact the same spot continuously, woe to those hit as such barrage could easily result in a separated limb.

The Skytstalkers shifted their flight upwards, before doing a swift and quick turn upwards, rotating 180°, with grace they began to circle the small portion of the battlefield in which their Macroclade fought, firing volleys down below.

Skitarii Ranger Alpha Chi-Primaris
Wrecks

Their Skorpius Dunerider was the last to arrive, and they were just dismounting while also trying to ignore the twin stubber fire a servitor mounted onto the frame of the vehicle provided, Chi-Primaris oversaw his troops dismounting, directing them to the nearest cover from which their galvanic rifles would soon be proved useful. Just as the last member of the squad, the bearer of a Transuranic Arquebus dismounted, what seemed like a ball of light engulfed the Dunerider.

Their Dunerider was obviously just blown up by an enemy weapon, even if the tireless servitor kept up his fire. Both the gunners were dead, but the commander appeared to be struggling to get out. Chi-Primaris shouted to his soldier to get to the rest of the squad, he'll join them soon.

Chi-Primaris dropped his weapon and jumped into the inferno, his rebreather protected him from the noxious smoke of the burning down vehicle, he grabbed the struggling Skitarius and dragged him out of the wreck. There he discovered that the poor soldier lost both of his legs, with only stumps remaining, the rebreather of the commander was melted along with the hand implants. Chi-Primaris tore them off releasing much blood and holy oil in the process, he quickly grabbed a still red hot part of the dunerider, cauterizing the wounds of the Skitarius, Chi-Primaris cried out for an Engineseer, this soldier would hopefully go on to be a Sicarian if he could make it through the pain.

[United Islands of Polis]

83rd Valhallan "Ubiytsa" Heavy Artillery Regiment
Secured Imperial Beach Head
Hive City Ultero Prima

Operations thus far were going very well for Colonel Chasovoy's regiment. He looked over the table with a display of their targets from orbit, synchronized to the optical cogitators of the fleet above, those he had access to anyway. Roughly 72% of their targets were destroyed, with adding more available batteries for re-tasking. They have been destroying heretic ammunition dumps, strongpoints, and fuel depos deep in the city, but they could not support the infantry still fighting within the near vicinity of the border between loyalist and heretic held parts of the city, even if the missiles from the Manticores could provide close artillery support, there were only so many of them, which in the original plan was to be used to cover the drop troops once they were available for re-tasking.

Colonel Chasovoy sighed internally, he thinks it is time to call for more reinforcements in the form of Griffons and Heavy Mortar Cannons. He calls over for a Captain Norviskaya who quickly puts down a data slate and rushes over to his commanding officer.

"Kapitan, relay to the fleet to send down a portion of our mortar units, tell them to make it fast." Colonel Chasovoy said as he looked at his data slate then to the outside through an armored port in the Taurox.

"Including the siege mortars, Polkovnik?" Captain Norviskaya asked to ensure clear requests.

"No, just the Griffons and towed Heavy Mortars, thank you." Colonel Chasovoy clarifies as the Captain moves to a vox caster to contact the fleet.

Colonel Chasovoy was about to use another vox caster until the shots rang off the up-armored taurox. Beams of red and what looked to be tracers from a stubber began to assault the command vehicle and whatever batteries were in range of the sporadic attack. Using a periscope, he was able to identify where it was coming from. A nearby building complex directly in front of them. Colonel Chasovoy saw the crew of the Basilisks and Earthshaker cannons taking cover behind either the Chimera chassis or the gun shields while the sentries, blatantly as obvious due to their carapace armor, returned fire with their Lasguns and Plasma guns, a squad of sentries even having set up a heavy bolter. It was still not enough to stop them.

The armor of the Taurox held, but they were still pinned down. The only reason the artillery crews were not firing was because of his orders to minimize collateral damage. But with most guardsmen out of range or too far away to help now, there was only one way to solve the situation. Blowing up the entire building complex where the heretics were. Grabbing his vox caster, he went on the regiment wide channel and began giving orders.

"All available batteries, target the building complex and bring it down, I will be marking it, all occupants of those buildings are hostile."

In a moment, the artillery crews who were hiding behind whatever cover suddenly sprang to life and manned the guns again. Some were hit but most were able to hide behind the gun shields. Those that were loaded had simply pulled the firing pin from cover before reloading. The first rounds slammed right into the building walls, exposing some of the heretic locations, right before the three batteries in front of the 83rd's command vehicle kicked up dirt as they fired. In only three salvos most of the building complex was destroyed and the enemy fire ceased.

After some time a convoy of Griffons and Trojans towing the Heavy Mortar Cannons finally arrived, the crews getting out and setting up the guns. Now they could provide cover for close, moderate, and long range.

"This is Colonel Chasovoy of the 83rd Valhallan Heavy Artillery Regiment to all Imperial forces, we are ready to accept fire missions and re-tasking of ordinance. Call them in and specify rounds, out."

[Revlona]

Cadian 88th

The transports awaiting in orbit jerked into sudden movement as their thrusters flared with heat and shot them towards the planet below. They were moving before word had even reached the Regiments being transported that the drop troops had successfully fulfilled their objectives. Colonel Levell and Commissar Trem looked across at each other and nodded, the time had come, Cadians would show once more their dedication to the Imperium and the Emperor. They would show that the death of their planet was not the death of Cadia.

Several minutes later, the transports had flown at breakneck speeds, the entire force of Imperial transports carrying the 88th, 211th, and 841st descended through the clouds. Tracer fire from within and without the city could be seen and several flew past the small fleet of transports as they descended. Several Hydras, those not yet taken out of commission by the Astartes, opened up now against the transports. Though still a danger to the transports, they were out of effective range and streams of tracers swiftly parted the air below the vessels.

It took scarcely a minute more from there for the ramps to drop and for the men to start moving, the Chimeras and Leman Russ tanks exited along with the infantry, Sergeants and Commissars yelling over the noise, encouraging the Guardsmen onwards. 15,000 extra guardsmen dropped in minutes, it was a logistical miracle Argo thought to himself as the final transports lifted off and shot upwards towards space, all thanks to the Emperor Argo knew.

He walked away from his men who were now streaming into the breached gat area and towards the stairs that would lead them atop the walls. The other two regiments would not take up positions in the breach itself or atop the walls, instead they would fortify themselves on either side of the gate. The 211th within the city and the 412th outside.

"Colonel Valentinian I assume? Good job on taking the position, I'm Colonel Levell of the Cadian 88th. While we were coming down we saw a host of the traitors making their way towards the gate, Armored and Infantry about 4 kilometers out. They must have escaped the Astartes and are now trying to flee the city. We'll be outnumbered but thanks to the terrain will have the advantage over the Heretics," Argo said as he approached a group of the Harkoni command.

A little ways off the 88ths Vox operator was relaying a set of orders towards the direction of the Star Port, "83rd Valhallan Heavy Artillery this is the 88th Cadian, fire mission incoming. We require immediate ordnance on grid square 1-4-1-2, no known friendlies in the area, over"

Grid Square 1-4-1-2

They had been extremely lucky so far, the dark gods must be smiling on them now. Even with the overwhelming forces of the Corpse Gods armies being brought to bear against them they had managed to escape. 3 Entire regiments of Legionnaires with 10 thousand of their cultist auxiliary had managed to, just barely, escape the falling Angels of the False Emperor and the sledgehammer that was his guard.

They could see the main gate, or what was left of it, ahead. Curiously enough smoke wafted from several spots within and around the gate, this didn't immediately worry the heretics, what came next did however. A roar of sound and light met them as the guardsmen on the wall, mistakenly thought to be Red Legion from afar by the heretics, opened fire.

Elsewhere in the City

The Sisters of Battle were almost upon him and his position, Major Levi knew. He had heard reports of a massive tank that was leading the Imperial Coutnerattack and he was, very mistakenly, wishing to encounter it here at his dug in position. I a flash of good luck the Heretics had uncovered a trio of Vanquisher pattern Leman Russ tanks. Levi had requisitioned them and a dozen more regular Leman Russ tanks. They were now dug in on the far western side of a large park, one of two in the city he knew.

They had been extremely luck that no Astartes drop pods had landed upon them from the sky. Because of that luck Levi smiled, the Dark Gods were giving him a chance to prove himself, if he blunted the Imperial defense here he would surely be awarded by the gods, or so he thought. And so he and his dug in posistion waited, waited for the Imperials to show their faces so he, Levi Amrellian, could bloody their noses for them.

1st Mordian Landing Grounds

"Lord General," An officer on the Lord Generals staff said, approaching her and crisply saluting her before saying, "Word from the fleet, enemy contact spotted on imagers" He then offered her a set of documents, images taken from a high altitude. "High Command believes the enemy strength to be closing in on a million with a large number of armored in support. The Warmaster has sent a directive to engage and break this enemy army at the quickest possible speed.

Imperial intelligence was almost spot on this time, a massive number of Legionnaires from the city of Turvin had sallied forth to meet them in the field. Almost 400,000 Legionnaires followed by nearly a million irregular auxiliaries in support. Nearly 10,000 tanks were with them along with thousands more looted light armored vehicles and weapons platforms. The enemy had separated into three talons of equal strength intent on hitting the Mordians from three sides. One now swung north near the coast, it would soon turn southwards again to try and threaten the northern flank of the army group. Another did the same from the east while the third charged headlong towards the Mordians.

The Heretic air forces, while vastly outnumbered, were augmented by the vast number of Air Defenses the Legionnaires brought with them. So while they couldn't strike out at Imperial forces they could protect their own from the Imperiums Aeronautica. The two large forces were steadily inching closer, the Mordians and the Legion, the fate of the main continent rested upon this battle for now.

[Acharybdis]

Freeblade Nighthowler

Zephyr taps her boot against the Throne Mechanicum as she waits for her transport to touch down in the starport. She sighs as she realizes how late she was to land as the counterattack began without her. She looks down at the controls in disappointment. The Imperium forces would have killed all the formidable heretics by the time she arrived. If that happens, then she wouldn't get a chance to use the Nighthowler. She feels a wave of sorrow swept over her as this realization saddened the machine spirits.

"I know. Hopefully, there is still some action by the time we arrive." Zephyr says. After what felt like an eternity, the transport finally arrived at the starport, and the loading door opens. She closes her eyes as her helmet adjusts its settings to the new environment. She heard a sharp chirp in her ear that signals the process was done. The Nighthowler immediately takes a step forward as the view of the city filled its vision. Zephyr cast a glance around her to see the condition of the city. She sighs as she saw rising smokestacks in the distance.

"These heretics uprooted the lives of everyone in the system. For what? Power. Don't they know that the ruinous powers see them as expendable? There is no future for them. Why did they have to drag all these innocent people into this conflict." Zephyr murmurs to herself as she commands the Nighthowler to step forward. The people around the Nighthowler quickly clear a path as they didn't want to end up as a casualty. Zephyr ends her observation and checks each of her armament.

"Alright, Nighthowler. There is no time like the present. If I recall properly, then the front is in that direction." She announces while looking in the direction of the southwest of the starport, "Hopefully, I'm not too late." After checking her connection with the Throne Mechanicum and the Nighthowler, Zephyr set off toward the combat area.

The Nighthowler marched past the gawking survivors near the starport as the machine spirits kept a watch out for any heretics. Zephyr knew that it was useless in the loyalist territory, but she didn't dissuade them from continuing. As a Dominus-class imperial knight, she didn't move that quickly, and it took her a while to arrive at the rear forces of the loyalist forces. At least what she thought was the rear with the ever-growing presence of PDF soldiers and wounded Imperium forces. The machine spirits became more active as they wait for the anticipated conflict. Zephyr hoped that some of these PDF soldiers would tell the Canoness Preceptor of her arrival so that Zephyr could find some action. Even if Canoness Preceptor didn't notice her, Zephyr was sure she could find combat as long as she heads to the frontline. With this in mind, the Nighthowler continued its path toward what Zephyr assumed to be the frontline.

[Acharybdis]

Freeblade Nighthowler

Zephyr moved the Nighthowler slowly forward as it seems the battle was progressing slower than she thought. It didn't take her that long for her to see the signs of a firefight. She stopped the Nighthowler as she observed the situation. She could see imperial guard members running around the Nighthowler toward the combat. Zephyr was ready to move into combat when her communicator ringed. She stopped the Nighthowler as she looks to where her communicator was.

"Is this Zephyr?" A voice rang out as soon as she turns on the communicator.

"Yes, who is this? How did you gain access to this communication channel." Zephyr replied after a moment.

"I am a vox-operator aboard the Hardened Heart. There is front south to the sisters that you can push from. A battalion from the Elalian 66th Assault Armored Regiment will assist you. The sisters can handle their front. I am sending you the coordinates now. Good hunting."

"Copy that; I am moving to the coordinates now," Zephyr said as she turned her knight toward the coordinates. Zephyr had to turn the knight around entirely as she couldn't find a clear path to the coordinates unless she wants to try walking through the buildings and cause mayhem on the friendly Imperium forces. She made her way back through the city until she reached the rear of the Imperium forces. The Nighthowler then maneuvers itself down a road toward the southern front. She kept looking to her right to see if she could see the heretic forces through occasional avenues and streets. Zephyr thought back to the briefing when the Warmaster said that almost 200,000 heretics were inside the city. She thought this city battle would be a cakewalk because the sisters and the Astartes already landed. These heretics had prepared for an Imperium counterattack. However, this didn't matter as she doubts that the red legion could hold on for long. After all, the Imperium forces had the Astartes, sisters, Zephyr, and numerous imperial guard regiments.

Zephyr looked around as she realized that she arrived at the southern front, which looks a bit pitiful compared to the sisters' front. She tosses this thought from her mind as she turns her attention to the heretics in front of her. An excited emotion swept Zephyr over as she felt the Nighthowler was happy to see the heretics' presence in front of them. She shakes her head as she remembers that the Warmaster wasn't quite concerned with the storehouses' safety. She readied her thundercoil harpoon and conflagration cannon as she walked the Nighthowler to the front.

As soon she approached, the red legion traitors gradually turn their fire from the other Imperium forces to her Nighthowler. Zephyr blocked their weapon fire with her ion shield as she raises her conflagration cannon to point down the avenue. The Nighthowler lit the whole avenue on fire, annihilating all heretic soldiers fighting on the avenue. She cut her firestorm short as she felt tinks against the Nighthowler. Her left siege breaker cannon fired toward where the gunfire came from. Zephyr turns to see that the red legion had some anti-armor units in the nearby building. She raised her thundercoil harpoon before firing it into a building holding one of the anti-armor units. The harpoon crashes into the building, and to make sure they were dead. Zephyr sends an electrical charge through it. During this whole assault, Zephyr moves the Nighthowler forward until it was leading the Imperium forces. The right siegebreaker cannon helped eliminate some of the units hiding in the buildings to her right.

Despite her success, Zephyr ensured that the Nighthowler didn't outpace the other Imperium forces, so she didn't get surrounded. She casts a glance at the PDF soldiers advancing with her to see if they were having any issues. If they were, then Zephyr targeted the pockets of resistance with her siegebreaker cannons. A battle rush came over as the machine spirits were pleased with the current situation. Zephyr took deep breathes through her rebreather to ensure that she didn't let her emotions guide her actions. She reels back the harpoon as she lights the nearby buildings aflame with her conflagration cannon. She smiles as she knows that taking cover in these buildings won't protect the heretics. Sure, they might survive longer than the ones in the open, but eventually, her conflagration cannon will get them. It always does. Zephyr kept her missiles in reserves in case a dangerous situation develops.
The heretics who couldn't react in time to the Nighthowler's presence died instantly or shortly after. The remaining red legion soldiers fled down the block into the next block over. Zephyr frowned as she had to put more attention into guiding her ion shield.

"Ugh. The heretics are actually organizing themselves now. This fight is going to be a tad annoying to do." Zephyr murmurs as the amount of anti-armor units focused on the Nighthowler went up. After seeing the devastation of the conflagration cannon, the majority of red legion soldiers fled into the buildings. This situation made it hard for the Nighthowler to stack up kills as it did in the beginning. She couldn't even enjoy the success of pushing a block as she had to fall back from the consistent fire. A company of anti-armor units wasn't bad. It was when there were several regiments firing at you when the situation gets dicey. On the positive side, the red legion wasn't reclaiming the no men's land that the Nighthowler created. She looks to the nearby Imperium forces hoping that one of them will relieve her from the red legion's consistent firing. If that happens, Zephyr can then marched to the red legion's position and sieged them with her armaments. After all, her imperial knight was meant for close-combat encounters. Zephyr sighs as she waits for the other imperium forces to join her before she launches another assault.

[Herador]

Elalian 66th
Late morning, clear skies

Webbe stood in the commander's hatch first Battalion behind him in ordered Columns. He checked his map again, looking at road signs as he passed them. The sound of gunfire was a constant drum in the background, it's beat causing him to shimmy down in his tank a little more until only his head poked out.

He swapped over to Regimental comms, but let go of the stud before he said anything. He didn't want to sound nervous over the whole net and Cassy wouldn't know what was going on up there any more than he did. Webbe looked at the reports again, and took in the words carefully, allowing himself to feel a fresh wave of calm. Sororitas, Brides of the Emperor, and a Knight too. A Knight. The plan they had come up with was simple, link up with forces already fighting and advance on the southern bridges, cut the heretics escape route off and end this all real quick. In theory anyway. There had been a lot of war-winning ideas on Maldroon as he recalled and none had ever really panned out.

"Sororitas though." He mumbled to himself, his voice lost in the roar of engines and clacking of tank tracks, his thinking only broken when his driver took a turn west.

The column continued for ten minutes more before a call came over Regimental Comms. "Hammer, Eagle, how copy?"

Webbe pressed down his comm stud. "Hammer copies Eagle, send traffic."

"Eagle peeling south to 55th's position."

"Solid copy Eagle, good luck. Out." Webbe took a deep breath. "They'll be fine." He mumbled to himself. Why wouldn't they? Shelstein knows what he's doing, he's the most experienced out of the Battalion commanders, if anyone could handle splitting from the pack it was him. Webbe still couldn't stop wringing his hands.

Fifteen minutes later

The Battalion rolled up to the staging area chosen from the latest orbital scans of the area, and began to split into tasked elements. Webbe climbed off his Russ and made his way over to Major Petroshkavich's Russ. Climbing up, he tapped on the hatch, when she came out he offered her a smoke and they both lit up.

"I'm going to roll to the front with a team of Russ' and link up with Helanz." he took a long pull off his Lho stick, "Set up Regimental HQ here and try to get the Sororitas comm idents for me while I'm gone, if I get them I'll send them to you. Have SIC set up ASAP and get them to start treating wounded as they come back if they can, I want Intel up too."

She nodded but did say anything, instead looking at the buildings around them.

"We should be fine here Cassy, we're far enough back from the fighting, but have Commissar Harn set up a patrol with his boys and make sure everyone has their rifles handy." He slid off the turret and onto the ground, "I'll be back in thirty." He shouted back before trotting off to his own Russ, only hearing Cassy call back "Don't die!"

With business mostly taken care of, he clambered back onto his own tank, patting the barrel next to its name Aggravated Assault for good luck, as they rolled out his guard for four tanks: Daddy's Belt, Dropped As A Baby, Dirty Deeds,and Damn Kids fell in behind him, all headed straight for the Sororitas front lines.

[Wasi State]

55th Ostwelt Hell Walkers
Streets of Ulero Prime

Graff's convoy made their way through torn and decimated streets while they were in route to where the Adepta Sororitas' main advance was being made at that very moment in time, essentially following a rather obvious breadcrumb trail of bolter casings, scorched marks, and the hardly recognizable and mangled remains of Heretics. The Colonel, having gotten out of his transport to speak with one of his Commissars on the ground, had to avert his eyes from the street before witnessing a whole line of their half-tracks rolling over a pile of corpses that were left out in the open. The bodies made rather awful squishy sounds as wheels and treads pressed their broken bodies against asphalt and ruptured them like butcher's refuse through the pressure of several tons worth of sheer weight. Needless to say, this was only among one of many reasons why Graff had loathed urban combat.

Another reason then presented itself blatantly to the Ostwelts as the lead half-track up ahead the street from them then took a missile from one of the rooftops, likely from Heretic stragglers that hid long enough to ambush a more susceptible target. The half-track exploded in a blaze, and the remains of a infantry squad shambled out of the burning wreck in either multiple pieces, or charing bodies that fell onto the street pavement after managing a gait of a few paces before collapsing as they screamed in pain before the fires immolated them. The Heretics were quickly met with a return counter fire of las-fire that peppered away at what wasn't already shot to hell on the offending building that housed the insurgents. Rather quickly, multilasers and heavy stubbers were then turned on the building from the transports, and in a rapid succession had tore chunks from the storage house and humans alike, as chunks of flesh and limbs exploded in a red mist from within the building.

"Throne dammit! They're on the roofs and in the damn buildings, Sir!" His Commissar, Garret, then cursed and got his service bolt pistol out before pushing the Colonel behind cover against a wall so they weren't both out on the street, making him spat out a lit Iho-stick from his mouth as Graff was shoved out of danger. More return fire from the Heretics hit their positions on the ground, downing two of their own men in the process. In very short order a full on firefight had been ensued between the Penal Legionaries and the stragglers on this one street.

The Colonel was already beginning to regret this whole campagin, not that he had any choice in the matter at all however. "They got us pinned down for fucks sake! send some men around and through the buildings, tighten the noose on these bastards!" Graff then turned to Garret, who agreed with him with a simple nod, before he left his side to start barking orders at the Legionaries who weren't actively pinned to the street.

After a few minutes after Graff had gave his order, a Chimera with Inquisitorial markings on it pulled beside him on a secured side street. "Oh Emperor, not her now..." Was all Graff could mutter as the Inquisitor and some of her acolytes then briefly got out of the transport.

"Having a bit of a delay are we?" Inquisitor O'Neill with several steps circled around Graff like a vulture trying to sense any sign of weakness on him.

Graff only stood there, more annoyed than actually intimidated by the Inquisitor's constant probing. "What you expect? This city is still crawling with Heretics by the number, bastards are hiding in any nook and cranny they can find." Graff then said, not at all satisfied with the situation they are in either.

"My, my, Avery. Are you suggesting you're having trouble dislodging some pitiful rats from their nests? You know your forces are meant to be jointly attacking with the Sororitas right about now, would be disrespectful for them to hear the reason for the Ostwelt's setback in aiding them." O'Neill then mentioned (more like threaten) to Graff, who knew all too well what could potentially be the cost for their 'tardiness.'

"We'll be rid of them shortly, Inquisitor. I can promise you that." The Colonel then quickly said in response, hoping his Commissar would in fact get done with that order in due time, if more so to get Flavia off his back for the time being.

"The clock is ticking, Colonel, you and me have more to do on this planet, and in actuality this whole sector than to waste time killing every single Heretic we come across, there are far more important things in motion we must see to together in the near future." She then told him, and was about to reenter her transport with her entourage before the Colonel then stopped her in the briefest moment.

"Wait! What do you mean, O'Neill?" He then questioned her, taking a step towards her.

"You'll figure it out one way or another I promise, do what you're told to do for now, and I'll explain later, kapish?" In the most cryptic way possible, she reassured him, not that it helped matters any. She then got back in her Chimera and smirked back at him before the door closed and the Chimera drove off.

The hell we got ourselves into? Was all that ran through his head as he heard the once constant suppressing fire on the street finally come to an eerie end, and as one of his officers then arrived at his side to inform him that the Heretics have been dislodged from their cover and the survivors captured and awaiting questioning. Survivors? He walked back onto the street with several of his men in tow, arriving to where his troops had captured several of the Heretics, and civilians amongst them.

"Please for the love of the Emperor let us go in peace! We're not affiliated with the rebels!" One of the adult men then cried out as the Colonel approached where they were gathered on the street at gunpoint, amongst several of the militants were civilian men, women and a few children. At a first glance seeming like people who were just hiding in their homes while all the fighting was occurring, they looked scared to death as they looked towards Graff's arrival, though some looked more than happy to just spit in his general direction. Something seem off.

Before Graff could utter a word, his Commissar with his arm now in a bloodied sling then approached him from the surrounding guardsmen. "Garret, what the hell happened?" Graff said upon noticing his injury.

"Bastards shot me, what you think, Sir?" He then growled at the Colonel while very much still in immense pain, pointing his bolt pistol at a captured militant and blowing the man's head clean off to the neck with the pull of the trigger, spraying blood and cranium matter within a few meters and frightening the captured Heretics and civilians even more to the point of crying and wailing. "What the fuck?" Was all Graff could say from his Commissar's abrupt style of execution.

"It's necessary, Sir, you fucking know this! The sons of bitches were being given quarters by these civies, they were aiding the enemy! " His Commissar then cursed back at him, "We're expected else where too y'know, do I have your permission, Sir?" Garret then 'requested' from Graff, who could only look in both shock and utter discontent at the completely messed up scenario in front of him that was glaring at him straight in the eyes.

He noticed right away of one of the adult men wearing a uniform that looked rather similar to that of the planet's PDF personnel, only it was tattered and soiled. "You there, stand the fuck up!" He then ordered the rather disheveled looking man who managed to stand up (barely) on his own rather weakly, clearly indicating that he was pretty battered rather recently. "What's your damage, soldier? You a fucking deserter, or did you just steal that outfit off some poor sap?" He then demanded from the man.

"We... I mean I... Was jumped and held by these Heretics and they-" One the Heretics then interrupted him.

"Oh piss off! You willingly joined us when we caught you, now man up and die for the True Gods like the rest of us!" The Heretic then got up and tackled the deserter to the ground and started pummeling him with a loose brick, smashing the side his temple with the improvised blunt instrument that ended up caving in part of the ex-PDF trooper's skull.

"Fuckin' hell!" Graff quickly got out his hot-shot laspistol and shot the Heretic in the head at point blank range, before the whole group of them amongst the civilians then got up to try and rush the Ostwelts surrounding them. "You're gonna die now corpse-fucker!" One of them shouted before getting cut down to be pieces by lasgun shots firing rapidly. In a very quick escalation of the situation, the militants were all shot to death, however not before several of the civilians in the gathered crowd were also shot in the cross-fire. Graff partially couldn't believe what had just happened, but he would be lying to himself if this didn't already happened before on a previous campagin, by the Emperor, he hated urban combat for all his mettle.

After a pause, and looking at his Commissar he then finally spoke again. "Get to your vehicles, all of you, and you Garret? Don't bring this fucking shit to me again, sort it out your damn self and avoid anymore unneeded casualties." Graff then said in return, glaring coldly at his Commissar, before walking away and back to his transport. Hearing the cries of the wounded civilian men, women, and children as they were being tended to by their loved ones as they began to depart.

"Fuckin' Emperor protect us..." He got out another Iho-stick.... And fuck it all, he couldn't be bothered to light it, as it sat in his mouth, his lips holding it as his teeth clenched and he then quickly banged the wall of the Chimera with a fist. "Fuck!" Was all he could mutter loudly before the transport soon got back into motion along with the others towards the South of the Sororitas' counteroffensive.

[Morrdh]

Garrack Rock Rats

Las-fire and hard rounds started smacking into the Arvus Lighters as they settled down onto the ground, some of the heavier hits rocking the crafts' bodies as their cargo ramps lowered and the Garrack troopers started disgorging from the shuttles. Almost soon as the last trooper was clear, the Lighters were beginning to lift off again as their pilots wrestled to get the sluggish landers into the air once more, though many were living up to their nicknames of "Hogs". Invariably, some of the Arvuses failed to return to the fleet waiting in orbit as they fell prey to enemy fire.

The Rock Rats didn't fare that much better, many troopers falling as they braved the hail of fire having left the left the protective metal cocoons of the shuttles. The noise was intense; the screeching roar of the shuttles, shouted cries and the exchange of gunfire both las and hard rounds. Ferrick grimaced as he dived for cover behind some rubble, they were too badly exposed and lacking much in the way of serious firepower. The Rock Rats were geared more towards close quarters in the bowels of a void station or the twisting tunnels of an asteroid base, so they tended to be armed with man portable and short ranged weapons. The 'heaviest' weapons in their arsenal was a handful of meltaguns and demolition charges, lasguns and shotguns formed the bulk of the Rock Rats' arms.

Out in the open they were getting butchered, they needed to get into the surroundings were their skill in close quarters could shine. Some of the troopers had already done this as part of Ferrick's pre-battle briefing, each company under his command was to advance building-by-building clearing each one of enemy forces. It would be slow and bloody work, but the Rock Rats lacked the strength of other units to cover a wider frontage. Though at present, they weren't really getting anywhere in the face of stiff enemy fire.

"This is Ferrick, 5th Garrack." Ferrick called out over on the Imperial vox-net, though it pained him deeply. "Under heavy enemy fire at LZ, requesting fire support my location. Over."

[Endem]

Magos Dominus Aro-089
Ark Mechanicus Omnissiah's Blessing

"First contact with the enemy has gone stellarly, minimal casualties reported while a breakthrough was made"

Reported Logis Omega/v64e3

"Order: Prediction"

Aro-089 issued an order for his Logis to present whatever prediction the mathematical equations revealed in Omega/64e3's brain

"Localised resistance cells will most likely hinder our assaults, hab-to-hab combat necessary, opposing heretics most likely hidden within buildings and on roofs, medium risk of vox lines being compromised"

The Logis reported his predictions, before Aro-089 could make use of this information, Magos Explorator Theta 8 spoke first

"Hab-to-hab combat is too bloody for regular units, demolish the buildings or send in the Sicarians, they should make quick work of them"

Theta 8 spoke logically, Sicarians were indeed well equipped for this, from the Infiltrators white noise and cold efficiency to the sheer ferociousness of the Ruststalkers.

"Suggestion processed, suggestion accepted. Orders: Divert Sicarian killclades to hab-to-hab combat, Divert Pteraxii clades to sweep the roofs."

Aro-089 issued his orders

"Any further orders Magos?"

The Logis asked

"Contact: Canonness Preceptor Asilia Helanz. Orders: join our strength to Sororita strength"

Serberys Sulphurhounds Princeps Iota Primary
Contact

"Kappa-10, I need 2 of your riders that have been cleansed from radiation!"

Iota Primary screamed to her fellow Princeps.

"I have them!"

She heard the Princeps scream through the thick of battle

"I'll take them, command the rest of our troops while I'm away!"

She screamed back as her mount breathed fire onto some unfortunate heretics, thankfully her nose has long since been replaced, and she didn't enjoy the smell of burnt flesh.

"Understood, have fun out there!"

She swung her arc maul at another heretic nearby, his body with a crushed skull collapsed onto the ground. The 2 riders soon joined with her, along with the 3rd one from her clade. With the help of a couple of Sicarian Infiltrators, they managed to open further breaches in the collapsing heretic lines, the steel-clawed mounts soon left behind the battle, their destination would be the nearest Sororitas force they come across.

She'd prefer to stay in combat and help her Macroclade, but alas, somebody must carry out the deed of contacting with the rest of their forces. Passing through the blasted hab-blocks, it nearly seemed peaceful if you would ignore all the auditory cues of battle. She and her 3 escorts followed safest routes among hab blocks, even if in this situation it meant there were tens instead of a hundred heretics holed up in them.

Through the thick of smoke and more than one ambush, they escaped from thanks only to their mounts sulphur breath and their swiftness, they came upon what must have been the bulk of Sororita forces, with a mighty tank leading them. Trying to outdo the sound of the machines she screamed

"May the Omnissiah be always with you Canoness Preceptor! Magos Dominus Aro-089 wishes to join his forces with yours!"

Sicarian Infiltrators Killclade Princeps Iamedh-63
In the habs

Main heretical forces retreating, killclades diverted, hab-to-hab combat needed. Iamedh-63 received and processed new orders, with the successful initial encounter was left to progress further, most likely to link up with the forces of the Adepta Sororita, meanwhile, the Sicarians would need to make sure the blocks they would be passing near were clear of danger.

He diverted his killclade to the nearest one, as soon as they stepped into the hab all of the Sicarians in his command activated their emitters, the white noise filled the rooms. Anyone not shielded properly would soon find their senses overwhelmed, as alien smells filled their nostrils and tastes filled their mouths, they would find their sight give way to what would be the brightest light they would ever see, and their ears would be filled with the loudest noise they ever heard, while their skin would feel as if something clawed at it in every way imaginable.

They found a couple of such unlucky heretics writhing in pain among the rubble and weapons they dropped, clearly, a prepared ambush prematurely destroyed by them. Sicarians were swift and brutal, Flechette Blasters and Taser Goads made quick work of their incapacitated enemies, there wasn't even much of a fight, perhaps if they found a stronger specimen, they would need to watch out for blinded attacks.

His servo skull watched patiently, as the Sicarians began to scour the hab block of whatever life was left.

Skitarii Vanguard Alpha Samech-Ψ
Moving

He lowered his Radium Pistol, after having just fried some heretical brain and leaving the ground which the now heavily irradiated head impacted similarly lifeless and contaminated. Samech-Ψ sighed, he knew the weapon would eventually kill him, even though he passed the Crux Mechanicum many years ago, there was a reason the rest of the Imperium condemned radium weapons.

"Marching formation, full alert, in three minutes"

He issued an order to his Vanguard, unfortunately, he lost two Skitarii in the fight against the heretics, their death pained him, but he knew, every Alpha knew, there would be many more deaths, both here on Preskida III, and the rest of the Almora sector, hopefully, local populations would join their ranks, their Ark Mechanicus would be able to produce the equipment they needed.

The Macroclade prepared for transport in a hostile environment, from this point onwards they could expect every street to be filled with mines and hab-blocks on both sides to be filled with heretics, and the fighting had only just begun... Samech-Ψ looked as his soldier assembled in marching formation with weapons drawn, while the Engineseers dragged the dead bodies to harvest their implants and burn the remains.

[United Islands of Polis]

83rd Valhallan "Ubiytsa" Heavy Artillery Regiment
Secured Imperial Beach Head
Hive City Ultero Prima

"Copy on that fire mission request. Three salvos, high explosive, on coordinates 1-6-1-5 keep your heads down, the Emperor protects!" a Lieutenant from the command unit spoke into the vox caster, quickly switching to the regimental wide channel.

"Battery 24, new fire mission, parameters, grid square 1-6-1-5, high explosive, three salvos, out."

Colonel Chasovoy was looking at the holo-table once again, going over logistics, and over-seeing some fire missions with whatever picter live feeds he had from the ships in orbit. So far the effects have been as accurate as possible, some rounds having crashed into buildings in due to wind deviations at the last minutes, or other reasons that may be known or unknown.

An ink stick had fallen off the table repeatedly from vibrations. Colonel Chasovoy was sure that it was due to the nature of the numerous booms happening around him, however, he was used to picking up things, but it fell off a lot more. He was going to let it go until he saw the outline of an Imperial knight running to the frontlines, with a crowd of sentries gathering to see the wonders of what made a machine so large be able to walk on a bipedal mechanism. On his first time seeing a titan, he was like that too, a captain seeing a titan for the first time in the abruptly cut Zeist Campaign. But as the knight entered the city, some of the sentries stayed and chatted while most of them had dispursed.

"Was that one of those titans the others were saying?" One Valhallan sentry asked.

"Nah, it's one of those Astartes box walker things for sure." another joked.

"A dreadnaught, its called a dreadnaught, smooth-brain. It's obviously a knight, its too fast to be a titan."

"There are some titans that go fast, serzhant."

Colonel Chasovoy saw them gawking for too long and decided to go out of the Taurox, an empty can in hand. Still not noticing the doors open, he tossed the can, hitting the sergeant on the top of his helmet, causing a clunking sound and the sergeant to turn around with a scowl, ready to unleash his fury on the perpetrator, until he saw who he was about to yell at. Dumbfounded they stood at attention, almost saluting but remembering not to as they were still on an active battlefield.

"Hey, gopniks, get back to watch. I expect better from you sergeant, I catch you like that again, you're losing your stripes and handing you over to Commissar Mors." Colonel Chasovoy threatened as he entered back inside.

But just as he was about to sit down to have a drink of water, his vox caster came to life.

"This is Ferrick, 5th Garrack."

"Under heavy enemy fire at LZ, requesting fire support my location. Over."

Grabbing the vox, he spoke into it. "Colonel Ferrick, this is the 83rd Valhallan, impromptu fire mission received, standby."

It was odd at first that the Space port, the main landing zone was under attack. Filled by worry, him and Captain Norviskaya scrolled through the holo-table, looking for their location. One thing however Chasovoy learned in artillery was to be observant of the smallest details. He followed the small dot of a Valkyrie from the orbital picters and followed it to a landing zone close to the frontlines. It was odd why they were so close to the front in their entry, perhaps they were a jump regiment. He wasn't sure, he'd only seen the Colonel Ferrick during the inital briefing with the Warmaster as a face in the crowd.

"Kapitan, I found them." Colonel Chasovoy focused in on the location of the 5th Garrack.

They were particularly close, and already inside the city. At this range the Earthshakers and Basilisks would only cause more damage by having to demolish buildings to simply shoot at their assailants, or worse, drop a building on the 5th Garrack. However they did have Heavy Mortar Cannons on standby, their top-down attack would do the trick, deduced Colonel Chasovoy.

"Colonel Ferrick, copy on fire mission, grid 3-5-6-3, three salvos, high explosive, the Emperor protects." Colonel Chasovoy said as he looked at a data slate with the available batteries for tasking.

"Mortar Battery 4, new fire mission, grid 3-5-6-3, three salvos, high explosive, firing for effect."

Mortar Battery 4 consisted only of towed Heavy Mortar Cannons and their Trojans, using their cranes to help in speeding up the loading process. A lieutenant dropped the headset back with a notepad in hand, yelling towards the crews of the battery.

"New orders! Fire mission, grid 3-5-6-3, three salvos, high explosive, fire for effect!"

Mortar shells were positioned in and then dropped, as fast as they dropped they flew out. The whistling sound of the rounds tore through the air, a heretic on that location looked up and only saw the vapor lines of the shells, right before he and his squad were blown apart, he would never know whether the rest of his abominable compatriots would survive.

"83rd Valhallan Heavy Artillery this is the 88th Cadian, fire mission incoming. We require immediate ordnance on grid square 1-4-1-2, no known friendlies in the area, over"

Colonel Chasovoy spoke. It was weird how late the Cadians had dropped in. Moving the holo-table to grid 1-4-1-2, he saw why. On normal occasions, Cadians were equipped to handle almost any threat. The absurdity of calling in an artillery strike was not completely lost however, but it was odd that even with the firepower of the Harakoni drop troopers that were there, they could handle any normal threat. What was at their doorstep however was not normal.

"There has to be thousands of them there. Whole regiments. Ron na Uerro. (Throne on Terra)" Colonel Chasovoy said.

Quickly overcoming his trance, he switched to the regiment wide line again. "Batteries 17, 25, 47, 26, and 24, new priority fire mission! Grid square 1-4-1-2, five salvos, high explosive, promethium rounds authorized, standby for order repeat!"

"88th Cadian, 83rd Valhallan copies, fire mission in-bound, the Emperor Protects."

"Cadian, if the armor is not knocked out, I need you to paint those targets for the Manticores to finish them off, how copy?"

the five batteries turned their attention towards the direction of the main gate. They were far away for Earthshaker cannons and Basilisks to fire right into the enemy. For a few moments it seemed like their fire was not going to stop, however it would have to in order to avoid collateral damage. The rounds ripped through the air, eventually finding their mark across the ruby red lit battlefield. yellow-orange blasts landed near armored vehicles in an attempt to take them out. If it had failed, the Medusas would deal with them using melta, or krak missiles. Promethium spilled and ignited all over pockets of infantry as they collided with the ground, some hitting buildings, scorching them and anything flammable, regardless still purifying the heretics through fire.