As the Raptors cutted into the artillery units, they noticed something was not quite right. Instead of blood, blubber poured out. Instead of groans of pain, the screams of the giant creatures were quite different. Out of the various cuts and lacerations didn't even seem to phase the massive beasts, and when they collected together they became a giant hole. The materials became more stickly, catching and grabbing at the limbs and weapons of the chaos shocks troops, making their movements slower if not down right exhausting. Suddenly dozens of termaguants jumped out of the artillery beasts themselves upon the raptors! Alpha had infected them earlier with the lesser melee units, incubating them until they were ready at the moments notice. The smaller artillery spud out rippers, which teared at the reapers and leaping on them, attempting to swarm them down with sheer numbers to make them venerable to the larger units. Alpha didn't even turn his head with this new development. Why the fools think he would leave the artillery beast so unguarded without a plan is beyond the Hive Tyrant Prime's mind. Instead he focused upon the battle ahead. The units below ground are slowing, but progress is steady. It was no matter, Alpha did not need them at the moment anyways. By now the battle is causing half of his forces to be incapable of continuing the fight, yet the sea of Tyranids seems endless still. Even with the suicidal troops in the trenches, they would do nothing to stop the advance, should they continue. However seeing the retreat, Alpha gave the command and the charge stopped. When the artilleries came down, the Hierodules charged in front, blocking most of the shots and reducing the heavy fire support to a flashing, noisy light show. Moving out of the way, the Exocrines moved forward, and begun picking apart the enemy armor that exposed themselves in the retreat. Tanks after armored transports blew into bits, taking any and all nearby infantry with them. From the ground, holes began opening in the ground, where biovores fired out above the Tyranid lines into the enemy ranks. The spore minds came out of the ground, and into the enemy anti air. With several explosions the firing zones covered by the chaos troops became much more scattered. Harpies swooped down, firing striving runs, and thousands of gargolyes rushed the enemy, engaging in hand to hand, less effective in killing and more of drowning the enemy in the sheer amount of bodies. They targeted the artilleries of the enemies the most, aiming to destroy the equipment firing or the people utilizing it. When the biovores stopped firing, a hierodule would cover the hole to prevent counterattacks. Together, holding this line, Alpha intended to pick the enemy off one by one. He would wait until enemy unleashes his greatest weapon, then show them how useless it is. He stood and roared a challenge at the enemy, daring any notable warriors to face him one on one.
With the artefact safely stowed away in his shop, the Mek went to see how his order was coming along. Wandering down to a large shed on the shore and peered inside. It was nearly finished, with a huge buzzsaw blade being mounted on the prow and several propellers mounted on the back. Because they thought it would make it go faster I.E. faster it must go. "Beautiful, isn't it?" The mek said to him, slowly walking up while wiping his greasy green hands on a rag "Already got a name for 'er?" "O' course ya little runt, I'll call it "Das Boot" The smaller mek looked slightly surprised "Why?" "Cus we're gonna kick everybody's arse wiff it!" The two orks laughed as the final parts were welded on to submarine.
~~~ Outpost north of New Alexandria ~~~ Wolfe stepped out of his chimera to observe the thousands of soldier before him. They stood at attention, albeit loosely. Wolfe had his retinue at attention in front, facing them. He began to walk down the ranks, staring down every soldier he walked by, observing them. One soldier became very nervous as he walked by and his las gun slipped. He fumbled for it but it fell into the dirt. Wolfe turned around on his heel and faced him. With a crook of the neck his retinue walked over and pulled the man out from his ranks. They dragged him beside the commissar. After kicking the knees out from behind him he stayed on is knees. Wolfe picked up the las gun and observed the grime that now covered it. "Hm. Whats your name soldier?" "Please no ill do any-" His sentence was interrupted as the bolt shell penetrated his cranium and exploded inside his skull. Blood and bits of brain washed around him as the carcass fell down. "There seems to be a lack of understanding on what your overall worth it as a member of the imperium. You are dirt. The very clothes you claim to be yours is of greater value. You are dirt and ill be treated as such. I am Commissar Wolfe and i am the new leader of the PDF on this rock. You are untrained vermin that wouldnt suffice for a worthy asset to the emperor if it were not for me and the training that is going to follow today and continue until i decide that each and everyone one of you is either dead or to standard." He looked over the masses. They seemed to already be ever so slightly more in line. "Is this clear?" "Yes Commissar Wolfe!" They stated in a loose unison. " you wills learn how to make a trench of imperial standard, you will learn how to fire a las gun with the closest thing to aCcuracy you can muster, you will know your las gun in and out better than you know yourself. Certain ones of you lucky enough will be given heavier weapons, or the luckiest with the corresponding skill will even be lucky enough to pilot one of the greatest machines to grace the imperium of man, the Leman Russ, The basilisk, and the chimera. Your training starts in five, i am eager to begin our training." Wolfe turns around and returns to his retinue. "Relay the message of this to all outposts. I want people to pick the most capable leaders and begin training and manufacturing in every outpost." "Yes commissar" "How goes the armor production?" "We have several basilisk columns ready, and are looking for suitable pilots and gunners. Leman Russ production has begun and his meeting some issues resource wise but is still going." "Work the men harder. I need more mines running, more workers mining them. We will meet my demand" "Yes sir" the vox caster left and relayed the messages. Wolfe himself met with his fellow commissars of the PDF and made sure they're aware of how to act towards the soldiers and how to train them properly. He dismissed them and the training began.
Layairda --- Gaia Temple They'd found it. The artifact looked like some sort of orb, with handles on the side, as if it was designed to be moved. "Quickly Sisters, the humans may arrive at any moment." The Banshees did as they were told and gathered around the orb lifting it off the ground. Alurria then activated the warpgate, but the artifact was causing it to malfunction and it was only able to get them outside the temple. "To the Nightwing Banshees." The Exarch ordered pointing towards the Nightwing awaiting to transport the artifact. The Graceful Blades shrine moved the artifact to the Nightwing and loaded it, and in a few moments the vehicle was gone, speeding away from Gaia. A few minutes later the artifacts influence on the Wraithgate dissipated, and the Eldar vanished as quick as they had arrived, they had returned to Hell's Gate.
The raptors do not panic when the artillery creatures begin spawning lesser creatures, they had prepared to fight Tyranids. Firing hand flamers the raptors make short work of the rippers, but the termaguants and larger beasts manage to kill several before succumbing to the flames. Returning to the task at hand, several of the raptors take advantage of the exits the smaller creatures created to fly inside the artillery beasts and tear them apart from the inside. Seeing Alpha, Malkar decides that killing the Tyrant is the best way to slow the Tyranids. Signaling Kahros to gather a squad, they activate their jump packs and fly at the xenos creature. Letting the other raptors take the lead, Malkar starts to circle to the Tyrants back.
Lord Yuri, Armored Column New Alexandria "Our spies inform us the Imperials maintain industrial capacity in the southern sector, this cannot be allowed. We are moving on the city known as Alexandria to commit it to ashes." Above the Command Spartan the furies raged, their inhuman howls beckoning for the fresh blood as they scurried across the sky. Outside the Forsaken Guardsmen gathered into their Chimera transports, Defilers roared to life, and the Anointed gathered to evoke the favor of the Dark Gods. Metal lines spread across the plains, the Forsaken Guard would strike first, the unblooded in front with veterans in close support of the Word Bearers proper. Battles raged across the continent, the way forward laid clear of adversaries, soon enough the city walls loomed in the distance. First to advance were the daemon furies, diving into the battlements, dragging PDF troopers over the walls, screaming as they fell to their doom. Fire from the walls was considerably lighter as the defenders were forced to scan the skies for the winged beasts stalked overhead. When Yuri gave the order to fire the plain erupted with the thunder of high velocity fire, the screech of daemon engines and the excited shouts of the converts. The defensive perimeter collapsed to the punishing onslaught, the sight of the walls crumbling into ruble giving the signal to advance. Ahead of the tank charge, thousands of screaming cultists and renegade Forsaken Guard troopers rushed rockcrete piles, their orders simple, to kill or be killed. Inside the city, dozens of sleeper cults set to the grim business of revealing their hand, detonating bombs across the city, crumbling factories and supply depots. As the Word Bearer Armor crested the shattered walls, each vehicle at first fired indiscriminately into New Alexandria, spreading their destruction as far as could be. The PDF Defenders themselves were a mixed batch, many fled before the crimson tide washing over the city, but many more held fast, firing into the Word Bearer onslaught even when such an act proved utterly futile . Over the vox, Yuri addressed his forces as they spread into the city streets, "Hear me My Forsaken, no longer shall the boot of the Imperium rest upon your necks, crush the weak bastion of corruption you once called your masters. Brothers of the Host, this city dies tonight. Raze this place, leave them nothing but despair."
Alpha fires his heavy venom cannon at the raptors, catching one of them full. The screams that fills the air as the raptor melts along with his armor was only matched by the slicing of the bone sword, which bisects the other raptor as he landed. Turning to face Malkar with speeds that even impressed the Night Lord, the Hive Tyrant Prime charged the raptor, bringing the bone sword down with extreme force at the chaos space marine.
Malkar activates his jump-pack at the last second and shoots under the Tyrants swing. He slashes at the tendons in Alphas leg as he flys past. However that was just a ploy to cover his true attack. His daemon knife thrown at the same moment he attacked with the scythe. Stabbing into the creatures back, the knife extends thorny barbs and works its way deeper into the wound. Once it had a secure hold the Keeper of Secrets in the weapon began sending its essence into the Tyrant. Disrupting it's connection to the Hive Mind and revealing the possibilities of pleasure Alpha could experience if it turned to Chaos.
The slash was quicker than Alpha could react to, and tendons ripped out, bringing the Hive Tyrant Prime to one knee. As the knife impacted him, Alpha knew of the sorcery that was about to engulf his body and mind. The pain and pleasure would overwhelm any mortal being, but Alpha was not one. He is of the Hive Mind, the strongest embodiment of unity in existence. The thought of betrayal never even crossed his mind as he swings his laswip backwards at the raptor, grasping at the raptor in an attempt to strangle the foul being its grip, or to hold it down while Alpha finishes it off with either the bonesword or the scything talon. His movements becoming more heavy and limited with the lost of one of his legs, which, while regenerating, still needed time to recover.
((as previous, all discussions with Eldritch discussed previously with Shad.)) Lithinian stood on the back of a Rhino, protecting passing Saim-Hanni jetbikes as the tyranids dropped from the sky all around. Fluidly changing between views of the skein and the real world, he warned the jetbikes away from danger, while casting eldritch bolts of lightning on the falling tyranids. A flurry of psychic power emanated from the armored personnel carrier as he protected both his kin and the Astartes closest to him. Selhiat was having less of a good day. His wing pack carried him from place to place as he leapt to keep up with the convoy. He would move in on Saim-Hanni that were pinned down and support them. Tyranids landing around him would attempt to drag him down, and bolter fire from the Space Marines' vehicles were as harrowingly close as one could fear. Sel was aware that friendly-fire is never friendly. Scratches and marks were appearing on his armor, and his forceshield had experienced some unwanted testing as hormagaunts attempted to take down the flying Eldar. Once, a Carnifex had rushed the convoy's flank attempting to break the convoy in half and only with his kiting the beast, his fusion pistol flaring and several predator lascannons was the beast stopped in its charge. Immediately thereafter, he had leaped again and a gargoyle slammed into him, causing a tackled fall that resulted in a mandiblaster's firing and a pair of damaged wing pack feathers. "How's the convoy faring?" Sel huffed into his comm as he moved between engagements. "As well as we could hope," Lithinian answered. "That's...unexpected..." Lithinian considered, his eyes flaring white as he rushed through the skein, "I see the Imperial Navy allying with the forces of Chaos temporarily to slow the tyranids. It will slow the tyranids greatly but save the Citadel. That's certainly not what we want. They're hailing Chaos now on an Imperial channel, alpha...zero... one moment... zero, eight, omega, four, four." "No, it isn't...what we want," Selhiat grunted while dodging 'helpful' bolter fire. "Force Commander," Sel called on beacon, with fatigue in his voice. "Selhiat. Is something amiss?" Eldritch replied. "Lithinian sees that the Imperial Navy will be aiding the heretics soon. Their folly will stay the assault on the citadel. You can tap their wire on vox channel alpha-zero-zero-eight-omega-four-four." "Understood. Thank you Autarch, I'll look into it." Changing comms to Lithinian once more. "Huh, a lot more civil...*hrmph*...than I would expect for an Astartes, let alone a child of Russ," Sel commented to Lithinian, being careful of enemies in his airspace. "Well, there's a reason he has the witchblade after all." "True."
