Medathron was arranging his forces on the ridge in front of Word Bearer Outpost when they were visited by strange guests. The Eldar came to visit Eldritch, who obviously had some connections with the aliens at some point of time in his past. At least that's what the intelligence reports said and the blade hanged at his belt. If a Wolf Lord has some dealings with the Eldar, than that is his own damned problem, thought Medathron as he moved away once the talking began, to stop himself from falling asleep listening to the Eldar proposals, which will ultimately serve only themselves, no matter how good they cloak it in good intentions. It is the way the universe worked, and Dreadnought was at ease with that. Therefore, he wasn't surprised when Eldritch relayed their willing to make a truce and attack Word Bearer position together. Medathron simply answered "Only if they can keep up" and continued coordinating his warriors who were now completely deployed, knowing for sure that the Traitors saw them coming and prepared the defenses. The Fist that struck the Outpost had been consisted of Medathron and his Dreadnought brothers, number of Tactical Squads and Baal Pattern Predator Tanks and a Chaplain who led a number of Death Company brothers . Both flanks were covered by Assault Squads for close range maneuvers behind enemy lines or as a response to Traitor attempts to attack the armor units, and Devastator Squads who were supposed to stay in the back when the enemy fortifications were broken and provide covering support. Rear was held by 2 Predator tanks with twin linked lascannons and Venerable Dreadnought Galeo, who refused to be in the same attack group as Medathron. Therefore, he took the rear, supported by a Vanguard Veteran Squad, serving as his retinue. When Wolf Lord and his Eldar friends announced they are ready, the Whirlwind barrage stopped and Medathron led the charge of his Blood Angel brothers. Soon, they were neck deep in traitor forces, meeting bolter and sorcery with zeal and fury...
~~ Among all Forces ~~ With the first artifact having faced the surface, suddenly six others were revealed globally. three of them on continent Brias, untouched by any force so far. Rich of Ice as it was close to the southern pole of the planet which was well known for deadly conditions. Only the gigantic beasts there lived and ate whatever dared to enter their territory. Two others were in the depth of the ocean, one right between the Ork Space Hulk and the Eldar Fortress-Island. The other between where a huge tendril of Kraken reached into the ocean and the Chaos Forces. The sixth artifact seemed to be in the exact center of the continent Gaia, the third and biggest continent of all. It consisted of two completely different Biodomes. One was a lively jungle, filled with creatures, ranging from harmless flowers to wasp-like creatures that could kill even an astartes with a single sting, causing the blood pressure to increase that high, so the head, heart or at least an artery would explode. The other bio-dome being flat, rich of green grass and barely any creature running at all. And the artifact seemed to be right at the border where both biodomes collided as if it was the reason to cause this difference. ~~ Astartes HQ ~~ The Ultramarine Librarian eventually snapped out after he completed his search. "It indeed feels like the Astronomicon... But there is more than this, since the second company has fallen I suggest withdrawal and prioritize on the new objective. The Codex Astartes states that the mission comes first, and in this case it is not the extermination of every alien and heretic." The Librarian said to the Force Commanders and Eldritchs' representative of the Space Wolves. "Astaroth Belias, Master Mobius and Captain Kalaidos I trust into the best student Tigurius ever produced and since the loss of the entire second company I am willing to do anything to win this war. With support of you or not, but the Codex Astartes states the mission comes first. And so the 4th, 7th and 9th are moving out. Full deployment on Continent Brias to retrieve another artifact." He turned his back on the other force commanders, putting his helmet on and moves out. "And I will lead that operation." As he walked out he turned his Vox on Ultramarine wide channel. "Captains Verne, Theos and Xassius. instant deployment, schemata Xiphos Psi on Continent Brias. We shall avenge our brothers soon enough, but the Mission comes first, so the Codex states and so we shall follow." Antiochius did not even care what the other force commanders would do, though Captain Agemman of the first company would rule in his place, similar as Kalaidos did for Eldritch. The only thing he hoped is that Agemman would hold his feelings in grip like he did so far, but it's never easy. Especially not the promises he made to Cato back then on Macragge before they left for this forsaken place. Master Mobius of the Dark Angels voxxed then with Force Commander Astaroth Belias Eldritch and Medathron. "Blood Angel Medathron, Force Commander Eldritch! Force Commander Antiochius has left with three companies to continent Brias to get a new artifact. We have only limited resources and decide to support the Ultramarines. The Dark Angels will deploy 2nd and 3rd company to aid on Brias while 1st, 6th, 7th and 9th will capture the ruins of the Imperial City. The Ultramarine Outpost is to be abandoned and retreated to the Imperial City as the outpost has no use anymoer. The Blood Angels 1st company will be deployed with Medathron and Galeo to Brias to aid the Ultramarines in the artifact retrievals." "In the meanwhile we suggest the Space Wolves to deploy with full force on continent Gaia to retrieve the artifact. All other companies are to be held back either at the HQ or the Imperial City as soon as captured to aid anywhere where needed." The two Force Commanders finish their message, having it rallied over the Ultramarine Outpost to make sure it would arrive one way or another to Eldritch.
~~ Hive Fleet Kraken ~~ "New. Artifacts. Deny. To. Rogue." Kraken told Alpha, feeding him with information about the global status, but in fact ordering him to regroup the troops on the ground to lead an attack against the Chaos Forces. The Hive Mind knew there would be big battles over the artifacts in the ocean against the rogue queen which decided to call herself 'A new Hive Mind'. She would never get the power of the true hive mind as her numbers were only a fraction of what the Hive Mind truly had.... And even in this weakened state, the Hive Fleet Kraken would defeat the rogues and re-absorb them for future use. The tentacles of the Hive Ship let go of the Northern Continent (where celestial stairs are) as it was as good as drained out and reached out for the largest and richest bio-dome. Continent Gaia with it's rich Jungles and the Oceans surrounding it! It would feed Kraken well to provide a force to deny any artifact to the rogue mind and overcome it eventually. It might have the mental strength, but there is not even a norn queen yet as they need quite a while to breed.... Kraken would act swift and destroy their leaders in the first engagement, but the Chaos forces would get in the way.... Alpha got thousands of new subjects under his command to attack the Fortress of theirs and deny the deployed forces to return alive. He would be deployed right between, making it look like he fell in a trap.... But then he would turn against both targets at the same time, with raining Tyranids from the skies in spores, Hundreds of Thousands would fall upon them and slaughter them all..... The Kraken was released upon Arkhona and it shall not stop until all is devoured.
Imperial City Ruins: Atrius was grinning now as he gunned down two more traitor marines with precise burst of bolter fire, each bullet detonating just inside their necks sending their heads spinning into the air trailed by streams of gore. It was liberating fighting on a front line again, his duties attending the scouts of the Tenth company made such occurrences rare. Yet even the thrill of a stand up fight wasn't enough to get a grin out of the old bastard, no it was the most recent communications from HQ. Multiple companies of Dark Angels were enroute to the city along with even more of their brothers. The Angels already being ready for redeployment at a moments notice, as was befitting their combat doctrine, would be there shortly and Matthew had already set up the locator beacon to guide in the Thunderhawks of the Sixth Company. Down below the first floor had fallen into enemy hands as World Eater warriors had blown through the destroyed Razorback blocking the entrance and were engaged with the Blood Angel's Tactical marines, chain axe to chainsword. Deris rammed his weapon through the chest of a renegade with a cry of righteous fury, tearing the roaring chain blade from his foes corpse before falling upon another. The Red Thirst flowed strong in each of them and allowing it some reign in their actions was causing a heavy toll amongst their foes. Poorly armed heretics darted about between the larger super human combatants engaging bayonet armed PDF troopers or trying to sneak up the stair ways only to meet volleys of las and stubber fire. The sharp tang of ozone stung the nostrils of Atrius and his squad, a flash behind them for half a second. Twisting about half expecting a warp breech by some unholy monstrosity Atrius instead let out a cry and turned his bolter back to the streets. "Strike my brothers! For the Emperor! Let none stay your wrath!" The heavy foot falls of five Dark Angel's terminators from the First Companies Deathwing thumped behind him as they waded down stairs to join the fight, storm bolters unleashing devastation in the tight confines of the building.
With the looted thunderhawks packed and ready to go Wurrtek packed up both his personal tellyporta and shokk attack gun. He had paid all the teef he could muster to buy the services of the best flyboyz around. To avoid the flak fire and more numerous flyers of the other factions, they flew just above the mountain braving the storm's lightning. Thought the tempest was dying down one of the flyas was struck, but through clever, orky logic, supercharge the fuselage mounted Zzap gun and fire off the excess energy. Rapidly approaching the capillary tower, the orkish flyas climbed into the stratosphere. Wurrtek's gitfinda could see the artefact quickly rising up the tower. "Roit boyz, do exactly as I told yuz an' dis 'll be eazy.", With no tyranids on the ground anymore any threat would come from orbit. Noticing the threat, the hive ships sent down a horde of gargoyles and shrikes. As planned one flya curved off from the rest and engaged this horde, leading them on a wild goose chase. Getting closer to the artefact, the back ramp opened and spat out 3 deffcoptas one of them armed with a huge buzzsaw, the other two carrying bundles of explosives. Carving it's way into the tower with the buzzsaw, the other two placed their explosives in the breach made by the first deffcopta and all three zoomed off to a safe distance. Waiting for the right moment, Wurrtek detonated the bombs just as the artefact was above the incision. The titanic explosion rocked the tower as a huge chunk of flesh was blasted away, letting the artefact fall out of the biological elevator. The deffcoptas caught it mid flight and carried it back to their carrier. However by now the tyranids had finally caught up with the flya they had been chasing and murdered all the occupants, turning their attentions to the fleeing thieves. "Aktivate da boostas!" he prayed he would be able to get away with this, his small force jetting back towards their incampment on a mix of jet fuel and red paint.
~~ Rogue Hive Mind ~~ "Just as Predicted." The Human-Zoanthrope said and the Hive Mind approved. Out of the skies a single-huge creature flew at first.... quickly followed by one... two... three.... four and more Gargoyles. A flying Tyrant with attached Venom Cannon, followed by hundreds of Gargoyles. It easily could keep up with the Orks and started to shoot with it's enormous cannon upon engines. 'You would not get away so easy....' The Zoanthrope thought as it kept the Relic tracked, feeding it's information in real-time to all forces. Millions of Gargoyles were hunting the Orks, the Hive Tyrant being the head of the spearhead.
"Everyone regroup at the thunderhawkzz, we are redeploying to the Word Bearer outpost, loyalist dogz have moved against them and we are en route to support" "What about the bio-pools, has the Warsmith deemed them... irrelevant ?" Putrefaction was clearly somewhat perturbed by watching the Tyranids full scale retreat, it wasn't in their nature. "Unknown, but it seemzz for now that we have other prioritiezzz" As the strike force of plague marines boarded up and lifted off, pulling into formation with the Night Lords and Iron Warriors, a flash of blinding white light erupted... 'Unholy, blood curdling howls emanated from inside the dormitories, met by even fiercer screams of agony and disbelief. The plague zombie orphans had engulfed the first group of guardsmen to enter and were pushing into the other ranks and would have caused serious casualties had they not sacrificed their own men with explosives, killing loyal guard and mindless zombie alike. For a moment there was silence, both sides waiting for the smoke to clear or a target to present itself. Just as the smoke began to dissipate, waves of lasfire cut towards the terrace, each of the three remaining plagues marines took hits in the first few initial volleys but they had little effect. Heavy bolter fire began to answer back from my left, sweeping back and forth, left to right across the room, audio confirmations as the high velocity rounds ripped through flesh and bone on each confirmed hit. Ten minutes... twenty minutes, the floor of the dormitory was full of the dead and yet it seemed there was an inexhaustible amount of replacements. The heavy bolter had run dry and it's owner had taken multiple hits to the chest and had finally been put down. Still unable to push through to the terrace, the guard had set charges and tried to bring us down around them to no avail. Another group of guardsmen, another plague marine down, I was on my own and I was running out of ammunition, throwing my remaining blight grenades into the hall as I reloaded to buy time. Then the sound of engines made Epidemius turn, an Imperial Valkyrie had dropped down behind him and began to dump it's payload of missiles. The hallway in front of him erupted, chewing huge chunks of out the outside wall where the missiles had gone wide or where the pilot steadied to keep the bird in the air while still firing. There was a large crack and a large piece of the exterior wall came down and sealed the exit and everything fell silent again as a rush of dust and debris settled. The Valkyrie touched down and it's transport doors opened, while Epidemius had opted to stay and fight in the orphanage, Putrefactian and his squad had broken free and pushed out into the Imperial motor pool and 'recommissioned' this bird from one of the landing pads...' The thunderhawk dipped viciously and recovered, seemingly shaken out of his daze he could see they were making their final approach on the Word Bearers outpost. "Malkar, many of my host still have anti armor armamentzz from our initial objectivez, do you wish I deploy them to the rear of the loyalistzz along with a group of my devastatorzz as a base of fire ?" "That would be acceptable, we will wait until you are in position and when your forces engage them, we will engulf them completely." It sounded to Epidemius like the Night Lord was hungry for battle. "Putrefactian, we will be touching down just behind the Space Marinezz and you will lead a group of our devastatorzz along with any of our host with missile launcherz and hit the enemy hard from behind, Malkar and Uragesh will hit their flankz as soon as you engage them, destroy them." "As you command my lord, are you not coming with us ?" "Warsmith Magnarax has ordered me to chase down the orkz that had previously assaulted the outpost, reports indicate that they they are en route to their camp, where we first engaged the space marines when we arrived to Arkhona, we are to intercept and test the pathogen on them. When you have crushed the loyalistzz fortify the defensez at the outpost and hold until I arrive." "Thirty seconds to touchdown!" The sounds was pleasant and Putrefactian was eager to engage the enemy. Upon landing, Putrefactian began to assemble his base of fire team, all squad leaders that had previously carried the pathogen had replaced them inside the crate and the thunderhawks took off once more as they began to advance upon the space marines. They had moved up behind them and deployed within weapons range, the rear guard of the loyalists had spotted them before hand so casualties in the initial engagement were minimal, but this wasn't a sneak attack, they were simply meant to drawn their attention, and they had done so. As the rest of the strike force broke off and began to search for the orks, they came across a convoy retreating from the outpost shortly after. The thunderhawks began an attack run, destroying what armor or transports they could before landing. We had deployed ourselves in their path and held our ground in a defensive formation, lucky there was an outcrops of boulders and small craters and dunes that we were able to use as defilade. "Heavy weaponz bring down those vehicles, the rest of you hold your fire, on my command." The few vehicles that remained had been turned into scraps of metal, but there was still a mass of orks that seriously outnumbered us. As they began to close in on the plague marines, Epidemius began to approach them, ork weapons fire rang off his armor and he took a few rounds to exposed sections of flesh but it didn't phase him. The orks on the flanks began to swing in and they threatened to surround him. Right before the greenskins got within melee range, Epidemius raised his hand and crushed one of the small containers of the pathogen, there was a small cloud of toxins that surrounded him at first which then seemed to filter back into the container before violently erupting outwards. The first orks that had almost reached him had raised their weapons, but began to stumble and fall right before him, they writhed and spasmed, as the pathogen spread so did it's effects, bodies falling like a wave crashing and withdrawing from the shore. Almost immediately after they fell still and silent, carrion took them, at an exponential rate almost as soon as it came into contact with them, they had fallen dead and been devoured, leaving nothing more then a toxic slime and the stench of death. Nothing survived, the ground was tainted, the once lifeless vehicles that had been destroyed had now begun to rust and fall apart upon itself, from the dead, nightmarish and potent flora began to emerge, from death comes life. This pathogen in it's own way, represented everything the Plague Father stood for, and it was glorious. Plague marines that had been ordered to hold their fire and stay in cover held their weapons limply and wandered around dumb struck, admiring the sight before them. After the initial admiration for such a lethal and beautiful weapon had wore off, Epidemius contacted Magnarax and informed him of it's success. "100% effective, nothing is immune, I don't think even respiratory unitz could contain this, it is devouring everything it has come into contact with, I have no idea how our own forcezz or even that of the space marinez would deal with it but it seems clear to me that my men and I are the only exception, in fact I believe it haz strengthened us, I cannot explain it but this is unbelievably dangerouzzz... "
"AH Zog!" a mass of venomous goop flew past the engine as the flyboss dodged the shot, but he wouldn't be able to do it forever. Opening the rear hatch, a squadron of deff coptas flew straight into the horde of gargoyle, making sure they would get into the best, and last, fight of their lives. Out of the other thunderhawk jetted a mob of stormboyz directly at the hive tyrant, the next venom shot killed several but more smacked into him, latching on and hacking at whatever they could. In the mean time, Wurrtek got to work plugging the artefact into his tellyporta, using the knowlege he had gained building his shokk attack gun. He knew he could only make a few distractions, somebody would get to him eventually.
OOC: I'll let you decide how much damage your forces take Alldoom Alpha roared, furious not at the loss of the relic but at the appearance of the traitor tyranids forces. With a single command hundreds of anti-air guns, from things as small as anti-air deathspitters to massive flak like living cannons fired spore mines into the air. The sky erupted with tyranid living ammunitions as Alpha's armies shot at the flying Hive Tyrant and its retinue. While some of the shots were fired at the ork flyers, most were aimed at the enemy tyranids. The sudden attack took half of the flying Gargoyles out of the sky, but the others were alerted and quickly counterattacked. They moved at an effeciency not seen by Alpha, swooping between the fire and bringing the fight to close quarters with the anti-air range units. 2/3 of the gun organisms stopped firing at once, either destroyed or busy fighting off the claws and fangs of the Gargoyles. The tower itself was not significantly hurt, as the structural surface damaged quickly sealed up and the biomass had finishe flowing to orbit again for the newly constructing hive ships. Alpha raised his own heavy venom cannon and fired away, killing a dozen of the flying enemies approaching him. Those stupid enough to come closer were caught and strangled by the lashwip, or bisected and impaled by the bone sword and scything talons. A hatred built up within the Hive Tyrant Prime's consciousness, perhaps flowed from the Hive Mind itself. But Alpha momentarily lost himself in the slaughter, killing as many Gargoyles as he could physically reach with his weapons. Around the ground, Kraken rippers swarmed, eating the dead traitors and digesting themselves into the biopool, which was fully drained at this point. A dozen new crusier sized ship, now detached from the surface, moved to join the rest of Kraken's fleet against the traitor queen. Alpha finally stopped, running out of targets momentarily, then saw that only a quarter of his anti-air defenses remained operational. He looked up and sent a single signaled out, even as the Hive Tyrant flying above takes out another of Alpha's heavy guns. Instantly every remaining anti air aimed at the synapse creature and fired. The Flying Hive Tyrant was fast, but even it couldn't stop the random green lightning that hit it in the face from the ork flyer. Forced to the ground, the traitor queen's commander half landed in the mist of Alpha's forces, killing most of his troops around using the impact. Alpha made his way over to the crash site, weapons ready. This will be his first dedication to his loyality to the Hive Mind, with the head of one foolish enough to turn against it.
~~ Rogue Mind vs. Orks in Air ~~ As the Generator found a new Energy Conductor it's energies directly charged into the tellyporta, unleashing the same green-purple lightning bolts as from the Celestial Stairs. they crashing everywhere into the flying vehicle, shooting a hole from inside out, pulverizing the Stormboys and using the horn of the Hive Tyrant as a Receptor. The energies overwhelmed the Hive Tyrant, changing his being and mind, flying straight for the ground. The Tellyporta eventually could not contain the power anymore and exploded where it was, the whole craft hitting down. Though with the synapse gone and the Lightning Storm messing up with the warp, the Gargoyles became clueless and started to fight against each other until the Synapse would be reconnected. EDIT: Just saw Jesters post. ~~ Rogue Mind vs. Loyal Mind ~~ The Gargoyles headed more and more off, fighting the Hive Tyrant Alpha, but the Hive Tyrant of the rogue mind would never let go of his target, the artifact was too vital, and with the direct control of the Rogue Queen and the Human-Zoanthrope hybrid he was aware of everything. A true 360 degree vision, seeing, smelling, noticing everything. Nothing and nobody could surprise him, until the Lightning storm from inside the aircraft leashed out upon him and caused him to become unconscious.
