The Undaunted Citadel - Iron Teeth Mountains Central Command Hub Warning klaxons blared, as angry red light flashed across the main citadel. The enemy had commenced their assault. Standing before the primary holo-desk, the Dread-Marshall Isamaul Von Drassak and the Arch-Heretek Judarius Kraven observed the enemy forces assaulting the outskirts of the forward picket line. Eldar and Imperial troops fought in tandem. Most interesting. 'So, the loyalists must defy their own creed in order to defeat us? Ha!' Isamaul laughed, enjoying the delicious heresy taking place. He increased the magnification of the auspex images, centering on the forward line of the enemy's advance [Observations indicate that this is in fact the case, Dread-Marshall. I have informed Lord Magnarax of this development] Judarius intoned, flatly, as he inserted a mechadendrite into the terminal. 'Good. He will no doubt withdraw and crush the foe between our walls and his own troops' Isamaul replied. "Though, I doubt there will be much left of the enemy after they have broken themselves trying to penetrate the Citadel' [Most certainly. Regardless, we must focus our attentions on this immediate threat. I am dispatching additional forces to reinforce the first curtain wall. At their current rate of advance, they will likely overrun the forward picket in roughly thirty minutes. Our forces will be in position long before that. Furthermore, I have ordered reserve platoons forward to launch a counter attack and break the momentum of the enemy advance] Judarius insisted, as additional icons representing the forces now making their way to reinforce the first defensive curtain wall. 'Of course' Isamaul retorted, his mind racing to keep up with Judarius' input. He admired his efficiency. It would have served him well in previous campaigns. 'Where are the closest units of the Iron Warriors?' Isamaul asked, as he scanned the holo-map for their position markers. [There are five squads advancing from the first line as we speak. They are maneuvering to outflank Astartes. Two Predators are advancing in support] 'Good. What of the Eldar?' Isamaul asked, already knowing that Judarius had an answer. [My Skitarii will deal with them. The fleshly Xenos will not escape the wrath of my machines] Judarius replied, his mechadendrites snapping like angry vipers, as they coiled and writhed around him. 'Excellent. Though, I hope your warriors live up to their reputation. The Eldar are not so easily trifled with, Judarius' Isamaul warned, knowing full well how tenacious the Eldar could be. [They shall, Dread-Marshall. The Eldar are capable, to be sure, but they are only concerned with their own motives. If we press the Imperials, they will abandon them. That will shatter their fledgling alliance in it's infancy. If there is one constant in the Imperium, it is the deep seated hatred of the Xeno] ---------------------------------------------- The Undaunted Citadel - Iron Teeth Mountains Forward Picket Line As the dual assault of the Blood Angels and Space Wolves crashed against their trenches, the soldiers of the Dread Korps held firm. The warriors of the Imperium were mighty, but even their fearsome strength could not deter the Warsmith's troops. They had been born, raised, and molded in the fires of slavery and pain. There was nothing that the enemy could do to them, that they had not been subjected to already. Even death was not a prospect they feared, so long that their deaths served the Warsmith's design. They would defend his citadel until the last drop of blood left their veins. As bolter rounds, grenades and the screech of revving chain swords rushed to meet them, they leveled their weapons and fired controlled volleys of las into the encroaching Astartes. The bunkers that rose at even intervals from the trench lines opened fire, stitching the enemy lines with heavy bolter rounds and lasbeams. Here and there a Leman Russ battle tank rose up from a sand bag dugout, adding their own fire to suppress the attackers. All across the line, the Dread Korpsmen died. For every one of them that fell, two more rushed to take his place on the firing step. They only needed to delay the enemy. Reinforcements were already on route. Their Lords, the Iron Warriors, were on their way. As they fought on, they heard that ever present sound which brought a cruel smile to the lips of every Korpsman. The wail of heavy artillery. The scream of shells filled the sky, as violent explosions cascaded across the enemy advance. Their dying screams were nearly audible over the shells. From behind, the clanking and revving of tanks and transports reminded them of their pending aid. They fought harder, not willing to allow the enemy even a foothold on the Warsmith's mountain.
Iron Warrior's Thunderhawk - Over the ruins of the Celestial Stair [Affirmative, Malkar] Uragesh replied, his tone flat and emotionless. [Lord Maganrax commanded that your orders be followed, so it shall be so] [However, Lord Magnarax, desires that we return to the Citadel. The Word Bearers have abandoned their positions. The Undaunted Citadel is under siege] Uragesh voxed, wondering how Malkar would respond.
The New Alexandria Planetary Capital, Main building Wolfe walked into the room full of the remaining forms of leadership and nobility of the colony. Spoiled in decadence and this being the first time in nearly all of their lives where they have not been bloated with indulgences. Many loose grip on reality, the shift for them too sudden. None of them are fit to lead an army. Commissar Octus Wolfe stand sin the middle of the makeshift council that has been appointed. A basic contest of popularity and standing, nothing based on merit. Being the highest ranking military left Wolfe was quickly voted into command of the PDF, all of the nobles all too eager to remove the pressure off of them. The weakness in these men is something that should be dealt with, but now is not fruitful, Wolfe would be forced to wait for his moment to destroy them. Wolfe steps outside of the building and looks over the city below him. He begins to make orders for manufacturing. He demands that some form of artillery is created, a necessity for any working army if they are to have a chance at victory. The orders are sent out and the men begin to get to work. OOC I'm going to be gone for a few hours
Reaching the egg, Alpha gave it a quick slice and cleaved it in half. Whatever would have been born would die before it gets the chance. The rippers swarmed around it, but Alpha scowled them off. At his command, a shot of bio-plasma incinerated the remains of the egg at once. Nothing was left but ash. The Hive Tyrant allowed the rippers to devour the dead Hive Tyrant though, the traitor will feed and serve the Hive Mind, even in his worthless death. Alpha then made his way to the last of the biopool and dissolved himself, with the rest of his army to orbit. Several of the Hive Ships disengaged from their assault on the traitor queen in orbit and begun firing spores towards the planet. Alpha landed along with thousands of his troops. He looks around. The army that he had used as a back were already there, and the biopools and spawn pits of the foundation were already set up. They were positioned exactly where the Hive Tyrant Prime wanted them to: exactly between the chaos forces at the Celestial Staircase and their foul fortress. What patrols in between were quickly picked off and devoured. A massive line of Tyranids begun to form, defending their flanks from any attacks from the fortress. Spore mindfields stood in front of tunneled raveners in front of termaguants, warriors and range carnifexes. Behind them the Biovores were firing non stop at the fortress, beating it like a drum. Alpha didn't think it would do any significant damage, but it might discourage the prey from venturing out into the open. Heck it might even take out a few of them too stupid to understand the lesson being taught. Alpha himself led the opposite line towards the forces of the stairway. Columns of heavy armored units, as well as assault troops marched forward. Guarding the air above were storms of gargoyles and shrikes, their numbers able to bury any enemy aircraft from their bodies alone. Alpha walked beside this storm of troops, his guards neared. They would separate as soon as they encounter the enemy. The Hive Mind would feast, soon.
Night Lord Thunderhawk "Affirmative Uragesh, l will order my raptors to withdraw. There is no longer anything to be gained here." Cutting the transmission short. Malkar orders the pilot to return to the Citadel, before voxing his raptors and Epidemius to inform them of the change in plans.
OOC: Was supposed to be for Nate to post but he wanted to post when Nids began dropping so, I'll go ahead and post it. This is AS the Nids are dropping in. Sel was plying his datapad, looking for other weaknesses...anti-air...anti-air...when Lithinian notified him the ploy had worked. We did it! Sel thought as he enthused at the prospect. The tyranids were called on top of the Citadel by the prey they had made of Chaos's bastion. With the anti-air systems removed, there was no hope of stopping the mycetic spores. Though originally Saim-Hann would have easily have pulled out on its own, now Selhiat felt a sense of grief leaving the otherwise helpful Space Wolves to fend off the attack. "Atharys?" he summoned on his comm beacon. "Yes?!" the response was short and hurried, still in combat. "The tyranids are approaching." "Yes!" "Prepare to pull out towards the Space Wolf lines, we'll use their armor for cover and will cover them, weaving between the armored column." "Sounds better than staying!" he concluded. "Force Commander," Sel called to Eldritch, "as your aircraft may be indicating, the tyranids are coming. We need to pull out." "Affirmative!" Eldritch stated, firing his bolter at incoming Heretics. "The attack is a success either way," Sel informed, "as the tyranids will remove Chaos from the region and thus we have no good reason to stay for the slaughter. I advise your troops begin to load up in an armoured column and begin to fall back. Saim-Hann will cover your retreat." "Agreed, I'll order the retreat as soon as your troops are ready." Eldritch simply nods in reply then turns and waves his hand to signal a retreat. "Fall back! Back to the transports." He then breaks off into a full sprint back and exits the citadel the way the marines had came. Some Wolves had made it ahead of him as they had only just entered the fray. "Blood Angels, fall back, the Tyranids are coming!" Eldritch shouted over vox.
~~ Ultramarine Forces - Towards Brias ~~ "Time until arrival?" Antiochius asked and the pilot answered swift. "an hour on max speed, Force Commander." The Ultramarine sighed on those news and leaned back. The only thing left on that darn continent of Imperial Forces having been a smaller PDF outpost which was even more analysis of the planet than military. Having somewhat 100 Men stationed there, sixty of them civilians and Mechanicus researchers.
Iron Warrior Assault Force - 3KM from Celestial Stair 'Epidemius, I am glad to hear that the pathogen is effective. To that end I have a mission for you, one that will be risky, but must be done. You must take the pathogen and deploy it into the massed forces of the Tyranids, gathering to the south of the Celestial Stair. Depoly it from your Thunderhawk, do not get mired in their ranks, unless you deem it necessary. I must pull back to the Undaunted Citadel, for the Imperials assault it, with the Eldar in tow no less' Magnarax growled, angered that he had been so outmaneuvered. But all was not lost, for he had an ace yet to play. Ger'Helghast was even now sweeping through the ruins of the Capital. He would soon assault the Astartes fortress itself. Then, it would be the Imperial's turn to be on the back foot. However, with the emergence of the other artifacts, Magnarax would need to divert his forces. He would need Epidemius to lead another force to the North, to the icy wastelands of Brias. As for Malkar, if he proved loyal for now, then Magnarax would send him to the south, to the lush continent of Graia. There, another artifact lay, hidden in some ruin it seemed. In the mean time, Magnarax needed to secure his fortress, if he was to have any chance at victory.
Iron Warrior Assault Force - 3 KM from the Celestial Stair 'My Lord, the Tyranids have intercepted out patrols. They have inserted their forces behind us, some two kilometers away. They advance on our positions as we speak. It seems there is a massive Hive Tyrant leading them', reported the marine from his auspex terminal. 'So, at last the Xenos wil make battle?" Magnarax growled. "Then let them come! They will regret facing us! Redeploy our forces. Move the artillery around and have the troops move the static positions to the rear. Get the troops and support weapons turned around. Plant any mines we have at our disposal and string out the razor wire. Furthermore, disperse the tanks evenly along the trench line. Order half of the Dread Korpsmen to fall back and form a reserve. They will plug any gaps that the Xenos open in our ranks' "As you command, Warsmith' The vox operator replied, passing his Lords' orders to the troop commanders. They set to work. The troops in the trenches hastily shifted the sand bags from one side of the trench, to the other. A new firing step was built, and sandbags were piled around heavy weapon nests. At even points along the firing line, the Iron Warrior Marines were interspersed with the regular troops. Heavy and light tanks were divided up and placed in positions to provide maximum fire support, while what mines were on hand were deployed as quickly as possible. Magnarax stood less then two hundred yards from the front line, his elite Terminator guard and his land raider transport idled behind him. 'Flamers, Meltas and incendiary grenades are distributed to the troops?' Magnarax asked, as he drew his power axe from his back. 'Yes Lord. All preparations have been made to deny the Xenos usable biomass. Epidemius has also repositioned to deploy the pathogen on the Tyranids' Kaz'agad reported, as he stood next to his Lord. 'Good. I expect such an advantage will be the factor that tips this battle in our favour. The Xenos will not be able to stop the spread of the pathogen through their ranks. They will rot and spread the plague ever further. None of them will survive. All their precious bio-mass will be wasted!' Magnarax spat, as he raised his axe and thrust it in the direction of the approaching horde of Tyranids. The artillery let loose their terrible wrath. The massive shells howling down to the earth, detonating amongst the Xenos host, opening great craters in their massed ranks and leaving little behind to salvage. The holes quickly swelled shut, as more creatures moved forwards to replace those that had been lost. Their numbers would be whittled, before they engaged the forward line. His troops wouldn't even need to aim, just point their weapons in the enemy's direction, and pull the trigger. It would be bloody, but even the Xenos numbers were finite. More importantly, the Word Bearers were marching in support of Magnarax. They would be needed to turn the tide. Crushing the Tyranids here, would deal a significant blow to the Xenos. However, if his positions were to be overrun, Magnarax had contingency plans in place. Chaos would have victory here. One way or another.
In a chimera with the rest of retinue inbetween New Alexandria and the western most front line for the PDF. "Vox caster, inform the outpost of my coming. I need all soldiers ready and expect them to all be presentable." "Yes Commissar." He goes to the other end of the chimera where his vox is and relays the message. "The men are preparing." "Excellent, if I'm going to make an army capable of fighting this menace then we are going to need overhaul these men and turn them into soldiers worthy of the empire." He opens up the hatch and brings the upper half of his body up. He surveys the surrounding landscape and looks towards the great mountain that they drive towards. He returns to the inside of his chimera. "How go production on the basilisks back at New Alexandria?" The vox caster answers "going well, we will have an adequate amount for combat shortly" "Fantastic, full speed ahead driver; I am eager to meet my soldiers"
