<herdstone clash>
Gorzkha was the first to break the silence, his intire being was itching to contenue the violence, he had finally broken through the arrogant wolfs guard and drawn blood, to rival even that done to him, though instead he looked to Viator "The herd is allways ready lord Viator" he said through his clenged fang filled mouth, before turning his head back to Corbulus and snarling at him, "you lucky, for now" he said lifting up his evicerator slowly backing away from the fight, fighting his bestial and khornate urges with every step, the blood farther would not be sated with this kind of ending, a lacking one. "GUARYU RUORH" he roared as the herd also fought their instint to further couse violence and avenge their dead, in their minds Gorzkha had peoven himself again as warcheif, unafraid of chosen and even capable of fighting them on par, each beastman also grapped the dead close to them as they started backing away, both human and beastman, though the dead manfilth was what got grapped first and firmest as they backed away to let the tresspassers go, atleast for now, though some still got over eager and started tearing into and eating the flesh of the dead at barely a safe distance, atleast the living would be fed well.

<briefing>
"We will rip down their shrine and deface it for dark farthers" was all Gorzkha answered, it would be good to get the herd in true battle again, weed out weakness and gain glory in the eyes of the dark farthers. Slaves, loot and manflesh and the sheer satisfaction od tearing down the Imperiums holy sites. Even if Gorzkha took slight offence to not being part of the heavy hitters, he truly rather wanted to lead his herd in open field and slaughter the manfilth on *honest* basis, and staying far from The arrogant wolf was a bonus, for some reason the lords still saw need for him as other than ornements on Gorzkhas throne.

Corbulus fought on, unaware of the red haze coming upon him through Khorne's blessing. At this point of the battle, all manners of discipline had been abandoned. Fighters from both sides threw themselves into the fray, fighting from auto rifles in hands to bare teeth, horns, claws, and hands. Had he been of more of a sound mind, he would've noticed the hand of Khrone upon this entire place. Yet the Alpha Wolf himself had been under the same berserker frenzy, and even as the massive chainsword sliced through his armor and flesh, taking a good bit out of him, he continued to fight, power axe swinging over and over onto his opponent. Blood ran down the floors like rivers, and corpses from both sides stacked upon one another, even as Nero caved in a beastman's skull with the side of his bolter and Captain Robb decapitated another.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the madness, and a certain Slaaneshi worshipper arrived, looking around as a parent would at his children's messy room. Viator arrived, and with a roar silenced all of the fightings. Whether the blood god had been satisfied with the bloodshed or simply grew bored of the carnage, none could tell. Nevertheless, the red haze lifted and Corbulus could feel the fatigue wear on him. The feeling magnified tenfold for the mortals, with the exception of the plague troopers. Listening to the words of Curze's chosen lieutenant, the Alpha Wolf merely gave him a nod before signaling for a withdraw, ignoring both Gorzkha's taunt and turning his back to the chieftain. The situation made itself clear now why Khorne had sent him here, and he had no more business with the beastmen, likely for the rest of his time on this ship, and so he turned and headed towards the exit.

Before Corbulus got there though, a quick scuffled caught his eye. Apparently, the beastmen wished to claim all dead on the field of battle to do whatever they wish to do with them, and the camaraderie of the Lupercal Army had been such that the surviving soldiers would not allow that to happen. The soldiers quickly snatched up each of their fallen comrade's bodies (in some cases body parts) and made after their leader as well, with their more able body members covering the rear. Nero, visibly tired from the mutual slaughter on both sides, fell in behind the Alpha Wolf, not even keeping his usual wariness away from Captain Robb, who looked as though he had been enjoying a casual weekend afternoon walk rather than fighting for his life moments before, chainsword over one shoulder and humming some unidentifiable tone to himself.

Though the exit in front had a few beastmen gathered there during the battle, where they had hoped to cut off any possible retreat by the Wolves of Horus and its auxiliary force, they quickly parted. Corbulus didn't give any indication of noticing them, yet he had been prepared to resume the bloodshed had they not done so. Nero gave another look at the predator tank behind them, before all three walked through the doorway, followed by their force, many limping or assisting others as they retired from the field, with many more carrying or dragging their dead behind them, unwilling to relinquished the bodies or the equipment attached to them to the beastmen they had left behind. A few moments later, Corbulus dismissed them with a few words, and he himself head to see his First Archimandrite for repairs before stopping due to unexpected news. Apparently one of the squads had the cunning to recover the lost artifacts on their way out, and after giving the order to return them to their proper place and promoting its members (nearly each member would lead their own squad in the future), he headed to see the mystic.

Though Corbulus would only find out later due to the briefing ahead, many of those within the Lupercal Army had developed a long lasting hatred for beastmen after the battle. While strict orders had been given that none shall harass any worshippers of the shrines, the increased security in their territories resulted with a lot of brawls between soldiers and beastmen alike, usually over demands to hand over weapons. As a result, most of the more militant and hot-headed of beastmen began avoiding the area alike, while a change in order and patrols confined all of the Wolves of Horus forces within their own territory. With that, a tense and uneasy peace settled upon the conflict that started over some trinkets stolen from the shrines of the dark gods.


@Grall_Stonefist
____________________________

Corbulus appeared on the bridge not long after, answering to the summons by Viator with Nero and Captain Robb. In the past, he would've scoffed at the Phoenician's orders. Now, the Alpha Wolf understood the simple truth that it all mattered little outside of pleasing the dark gods, this Slaaneshi 'lieutenant' and his own pride included. He gave nods to each of the astartes in the room, even the raptor. On the other hand, Corbulus ignored everyone else, the Admiral included. The more observant would notice that his armor changed slightly once more, the pieces damaged by Gorzkha repaired by Sobek or replaced entirely by new armor painted in the warband's colors. All three individuals had their weapons on them, though all were sheathed. Captain Robb looked to be in a much of a jovial mood as ever, while Nero looked more wary at nearly all the non-mortal individuals in the room.

Corbulus' helmed form remained silent as the briefing occurred, even as the beastman chieftain and one of the mortals answered. He had briefly given a look over to Quor Gallek when Viator announced the team, but the Word Bearer focused upon the tactical map in front of them, and thus he turned his attention back to the briefing. At the time when questions could be fielded, the Alpha Wolf turned around and spoke to both of the individuals behind him. "Nero, you have operational command over all of our forces on the surface. Captain, you shall head a strikeforce composed of your plague troopers with however many men you also need. Give all opponents one chance to surrender and join us, then kill all who resist." Nero's eyes widen at the responsibility being placed on him, and he nodded before saluting.

"What shall we do with those that surrender during and after the fighting?"

Corbulus considered for a moment, before responding. "If there remains only one survivor, offer them a chance to take up arms against the Imperium for the rest of the mission. If there are more than one, paired them up and have each pair fight to the death. To the victor, offer them a chance to join us as a reward for their strength. Kill anyone who refuses to follow our banner and the dark gods."

Another salute, this time from both the mortal officer and the astartes. "Yes m'lord. We'll keep you updated on the progress in the battle."

"Don't expect a response. I'll likely have to maintain radio silence at some point of the mission, should my helmet's seal be compromised."

"Yes, Lord Corbulus." With that, Corbulus turned back to listen to the rest of the briefing, waiting on when they'll be dismissed and be allowed to prepare their forces for the invasion ahead.


@Vlayden
@Jorimel
@Taec
@DeranVendar

<Mission #2 Briefing - Darkness falls upon the world of men> @Colapse | @Vlayden | @WanderingJester | @Jorimel | @BuriasDempsey

Valu listened intently in his new pitch black armor, adorned with the eight pointed star on his chest above where a human heart would be. Blue snake on his left shoulder pad and blue wings ending in purple tips on his mask above each eye of his new ballistic mask leaving only slits for his eyes.

He stood right next to Satharn, after all he was his de-facto servant considering the double life debt owed. But he looked from time to time over to Kombuse and gave him a slight nod. During this deployment they were the only mortals within their squad. To serve along with Phocron would be interesting. If there was a secret task at hand again, this time it could be performed much less suspicious - considering he was the actual squad leader, and luckily not Ausarius.

There was nothing for the shapeshifting mortal to add and he just stood ready. Chainsword on his left hip, las-rifle slung over his back and combat knife on his right hip. "Ready to deploy, milord." He merely acknowledged towards Viator.

Fera walked into the briefing room she listened attentively and smiled as she heard that she was going with Orghast and the beast men for a assault, and they would be drawing the attenton, "Seems were gonna hae a fun time wrecking some stuff and starting a war down there." Fera said before turning to Valu, Satharn, and Combuse, @Uriel1339 @Jorimel @BuriasDempsey "Try not to get into to much trouble down there, and make sure you all make it back with tails of your victory and survival." Fera said to Satharn, Valu and Combuse, wishing them luck on there mission.

before looking to her two squads she had, already setting up a somewhat a command with some off the former guards that followed her out several of them accepting worship of her own patron, of war, The sergeants name a former guard was named Hildr, a odd name though that mattered little what did was her own skill and willpower to not easily just run into battle but to lay back and keep command of her troops, Effective and smart something that was usable, She held a simple chainsword and shotgun with her.

The other sergeant she looked to came from the dark apostle wearing a uniform similar to that of a night lords serfs, coming from the prison he and his crew made up was foremr prisoners many of them former guardsmen and gangers, all worshiping the undived, with no far leanings like hildr or herself, named Gunther he was at a recommendation from the apostle to be in command of his squad, Deciding to see the apostles recommendations Fera left there own squad together to see what the apostle viewed as a effective. "Right Hildr, Gunther your both with me your squads follow at my back when we enter to combat down there." Fera said to her troops them both noding before she looked to those accompanying them, Fera knew she could expect the ferocity of the beastsmen and the durability of orghast and his troops to help keep the momemtum it would though then be a test when they reach there objective how they did holding objectives.

Bridge - Briefing

Upon entering the Bridge for the briefing, Xaviera had turned her purple eyes skyward to see the Navigator by her sphere up above. She had favored the woman with a smile, before she moved to take her place. After the briefing, she placed her skull-faced helm over her head again, sealing her carapace, and turned her eyes on Quor Gallek. "Lord Gallek," she rasped through the hellish Vox-filter of her armor. "I am ready to serve you!"

For the mission, she selected a couple of smoke grenades.

Satharn accepted the pendants with thanks and took them aback to his newly-acquired serfs. They did seem to be working well, and accepting the obedience that came with the role. He hadn't instilled in them a proper sense of terror, but - and it was strange for the Nostraman to admit - perhaps he wouldn't need to yet. After all, as he had reaffirmed in his own epiphany, terror was a weapon. It needed to be applied to the fight, not thrown at random. Senseless slaughter was the way of the weak. In any case should they be favoured with a glimpse of his Lord, they would know their place. As for the rest of the crew -

"I have had these made. Wear them and the crew should know you are my serfs," he explained tersely, but not unkindly. "It also means that you represent my reputation. Guard it well." The reputation, and the sigil. Satharn was new to this and making it up as he went along, but he did have some inkling of the traditions of the VIIIth and the long-forgotten, dusty concept: Legion pride.

With a visit to his Father the concept was further solidified. He listened as Lord Curze spoke. He did not know to what his liege referred - some ancient battle? But he guessed that the blood and strange, distant lucidity might mean that the Primarch had witnessed another of his personal revelations, or perhaps was lost in a reverie. He couldn't see any entrails; that was good. He wasn't foolish enough to think that his leader could be spruced up like a transport with a new coat and a wash, but the robes of office he hoped to get made would be an improvement over rags and if he accepted them - well, he just felt it would be a sign of a clearer mind. He hadn't attended a local scholam, but he had distant memories of his parents talking of plays. They loved the theatre. One was of a King who lost his mind and fell to running through the wilds like a beast. The boy he had been hadn't really understood very much, but clearly it meant something wasn't right. Maybe, in reverse, it would mean that things could be right again.

He bowed his head, accepting that he had missed that fight - perhaps wasn't even born.

"Sire, I follow you. We go where your Will leads," he averred, raising his head again and thumping a closed fist salute against his chest. He waited a respectful time and then left Lord Curze to his musings. The smell of blood was agitating his transhuman senses.

With timely luck Viator was planning something again, at his Lord's command or so he said. Satharn wasn't sure if he regarded the Dark Prince or the Dark King as his Stepfather, but at the moment he needed to put his battle-skills to use. Sewing and making house made his fists itch. He wasn't sure why. But if he was born to be a rich man's heir, he was trained to be a warrior. The Night Lord wanted to run and kill and skin and flay and tear. He needed war. He was at war.

Anyway the highly-polished bastard was making tactical sense, so that was good enough.

"Infiltration and demise, good choice," he said by way of confirmation. "They will know what hit them - as soon as the night air caresses bare nerves." He looked around the rest of his team, noting Valu exchanging nods with one of the others. Well, no business of his what company he kept in peacetime. Unless it was to his detriment, and then he'd get him some new bootleather. But the improvised Apothecary wasn't a worry at the moment. Well, not more than anyone else on his standard Nostraman paranoid setting.

"Try not to get into to much trouble down there, and make sure you all make it back with tails of your victory and survival," Fera said, wishing them luck it seemed. He nodded, respectful of her skills.

"You too. Spill some blood," he replied, grinning.

Ausarius, Corbulus, Valu, Kombuse, and Phocron. The witch was with them, but Satharn had seen what he could do with his mind and he had to admit, it was useful. He hadn't seen much of Phocron but the other two were sound warriors and the little one had some medical skills. All in all, a good solid team with few obvious liabilities. This was shaping up. Now, at least. No plan survives contact with the enemy, he thought. It didn't stop the grin.

"Looks like we strike from the inside," he offered to Corbulus, seeing as he was nearest to the Night Lord.

<Mission #2 Briefing - Darkness falls upon the world of men> @Jorimel | @Vulpas

"There shall be plenty of death amidst the enemy." Valu reassured Fera and nodded to her comment. He wasn't sure about the whole tales part, after all - he was intending to become an infiltrator. The less background, the better. Though he also was aware of his shortcomings against the rat-monsters at the space station during last deployment. He had to aim better. Considering this was a stealth mission first and foremost, his chainsword might not even see much action. Perhaps it could be used as a club however...? He mused on that thought but then shook his head. The machine spirit shouldn't be aggravated unnecessarily.

He rose his head when he heard Satharn speak to Corbulus. The alien could only wonder if this was the leader of the supposed 'Wolves of Horus' that he had heard about dominating the shrines. In fact he even met some of those militants from time to time during the messes that Quor gave. This should be a more than interesting deployment, for sure.

While Corbulus did find himself surprised by the Night Lord speaking at all, let alone addressing him, he didn't show it. Turning slightly to look at the fellow astartes, he spoke up, "and we shall carve out the rot that is within the bloated Imperium, and replace it with proper worship to the dark gods." Truth be told, the Alpha Wolf had been glad to have the VIII Legionnaire with them. With his expertise in stealth operation, it would highly increase their chance of success. Still, he kept his tone courteous and even, betraying neither his internal feelings about the mission or the company he found himself in, letting the other party take in his output on words alone.


@Jorimel

Once the preparations were over, every member of the team was sent to the armory to pick up extra ammo and explosives, after which they headed over to the main hangar into their designated transports. Most of the troops heading in the main assault boarded slightly modified Dreadclaws who's bloodthirsty machien spirit was reigned in by Bo'kar so they would allow for possible deployment of humans alongside Astartes. In most cases anyway, since most of them were filled with beastmen a squad of the cloven ones getting obliterated by high speed drop wasn't too big of a loss.

Others took a mix of repaired Thunderhawks and stolen cargo ships that carried what little they actually had of armored assets (or at least what the Warpsmith brought in this initial assault) - couple of Predator tanks and Rhino transports for Astartes use and bunch of Chimeras for the mortals. This also showed just how much was this attack important for the invaders because if the Dark Apostle succeeds in his plan they might raise their storage of such tech significantly. Those going with Phocron used one of the repaired Thunderhawks for insertion, while the Stormbird they had remained on board of "Nightfall" for who knows what reasons.

As for the members of the various vying factions, like Nero, Ukris and so on, all of them were also going with the first wave, Nero leading what he could from the Lupercal army via two cargo loaders that were given to them for the assault while Ukris and the daemonic entity within the Sentinel were placed in a Dreadclaw for immediate launch. All in all, pretty much the entirety of the Gloriana class battleship's crew will get to the surface of planet Ponas, one way or the other...

<Invasion>​

Planet was orbited by four orbital defensive stations, fitted with additional guns in the Mechanicus' attempt to somewhat fortify the world if the Despoiler's forces try to attack it. The attack never came as the Black Crusade went the other way, never reaching this part of the Segmentum, therefore most of the defenses that were planned to be built were never finished, the Priesthood of Ponas believing they were protected enough for the occasional Xenos raider that came their way. They also deducted that not even aliens were that stupid to attack a world with a Schola and a Castle belonging to a Knightly House on it.

Imagine their surprise when the alarms flared as a giant vessel entered the system at its Mandeville Point and proceeded to annihilate the orbital defenses in few precise lance strikes. Its firepower was unmatched and the confusion spread as, just before the destruction, the station's scanners returned the info and ship's designation mark. It was "Nightfall", Flagship of the Night Lords Traitor Legion, lorded by none other than the Night Haunter himself. Cold logic of the Priesthood of Mars allowed for no room for fear, especially when it concerned ghost stories. Both the ship and its dreaded master were destroyed long time ago, in this age they were nothing more than a reminder of Imperium's bloody past. That is why they couldn't understand why the combined command of PDF and Guard elements on the planet began preparing for the full scale Chaos Astartes invasion. Surely, that was impossible. Abaddon was defeated, his Crusade thwarted, and whoever this was they were probably just a splinter of the Chaos force that failed to return to the Eye. Even as the orbital stations fell and bombing of the capital city began they were still one hundred percent certain they would see no traitor daemonic overlords walking the surface of their planet. Before the invasion was over, they would see first-hand just how wrong were they.


<Dreadclaw rain> @Grall_Stonefist @Vulpas @Taec @Kalle @DeranVendar

Alarms blared as the drop pod broke through the upper atmosphere and intent on protecting lives of its inhabitants, slowed its decent despite the sporadic anti air fire from those mobile placements that survived the initial orbital bombardment the Admiral Augustine dished out on the planet in order to soften up the landing of the invasion force. Twenty seconds.

More alarms and everyone lurched in their seats as something glanced the Dreadclaw from outside, a shell of some kind that thankfully didn't score a direct hit. All of the systems were still operational according to the interface in the middle of the pod below which the weapons were stored but whether the machine spirit of the thing was lying to them or was telling the truth, nobody could really know. Ten seconds.

They were close now, they could almost feel the anticipation of the machine in the air around them. Its weapons systems, classic frag launchers were upgraded with two heavy bolters with limited ammo were activated, the Dreadclaw running through its final checks. Then there was a loud sound and the pod slammed on the ground, second later the light turned to green and ramp opened to allow the crew to exit the pod.

The moment they exited it they were under fire. They landed in some kind of a hab block, directly on top of a small building that their crash turned into rubble. Buildings were all around them and on the streets below, fighting was already under way. Couple of Dreadclaws as well as one of the cargo loaders were already on the scene, spilling beastmen (mostly Ungors and Centigors) from them that now tried to break through the defenders. It was mostly PDF present, however they weren't badly equipped nor were they suddenly retreating - they stood and held their ground, killing dozens of beastmen as they surged out of their transports.

"Rally to me and let us push towards the monument," Quor Gallek spoke in the vox as he exited the Dreadclaw, horned helmet on his head and mighty corrupted crozius in his hands, armed in black and blood red of his legion he was a sight to behold as he pointed in the distance where in the north, perhaps five or six blocks away, they could see the golden Imperial Aquilla shining even in the night due to the artificial lighting surrounding it. But before they could do that they had to smash through the nearby defenders that even now were turning their guns towards them. Dwon on the street they could see squads of PDF hurdled around the rubble and the chassis of a Hellhound tank that was busying itself incinerating incoming Centigors. Buildings around were also filled with PDF who fired from the windows and hindered movement, however the most immediate threat came in form of a squad of troopers hefting twin chainswords under the lead of what looked to be a member of the Imperial Creed, moving straight towards them in an attempt to kill them as they exited the pod. They could also spot heavy bolter and missile launcher emplacements on the ground next to the tank as well as couple of autocannons in the building in front of them that turned the streets into killing field.


OOC keep in mind that these guys I'm listing which you have to deal with are just a part of the PDF defenders, there are more of them around but I will add them to the list depending on how the tides of war turn out to be.

PDF Defenders:

PDF troops: 30 (las-rifles), Hellhound:8 Priest with eviscerator:5 PDF fanatics:12 Special weapons teams: 7(ML)/7(HB)/7(AC)

Gorzkha:12 Orghast:15 Xaviera:12 Fera:12 Erelak:15 Dreadclaw pod:8 Quor Gallek:20

Conditions:

Tides of War (Beastmen vs PDF defenders): Balanced


<Generator insertion> @WanderingJester @Jorimel @BuriasDempsey @Uriel1339

While the main force landed on top of the defenders and began fighting, the team under the lead of Alpha Legionary landed couple of miles outside the city in the basin of a dried river where the entrance to the vast cave system was located. Thunderhawk which carried them had no markings on it and after they exited it, it flew off to join the attacking effort, thus leaving the infiltration team with no means to evacuate if their attack goes horribly wrong, meaning that the importance of their task was quite clear to them.

What worked in their favor, besides managing to safely land, was the fact this entire area was completely devoid of sentient life. Rocks were covered in some kind of a brown moss but other than that and an occasional lizard here and there, there was nothing here that could blow their cover. Phocron chose the location well, whatever contact he had on the inside did their homework. Cave was easy to find and the Alpha Legionary led the way, looking as if he knew what he was doing.

Twenty minutes later and too many corridors to count Phocron signaled them to stop. The corridor led into a wide chamber that was filled with all kinds of machinery and brimming with Mechanicum personnel. They were in the middle of some kind of excavation operation, drills and pumps creating loud noise that prevented them from hearing anything other than that, however it also worked in their favor as nobody spotted their entrance. At the moment, they were hurdled near the entrance which was located couple of meters above the ground and which gave them nice overview of the chamber below, more importantly they could see the forces arrayed inside with ease, which would work to their advantage.

Other than mindless servitors walking around they could see a mix of light and heavy combat units milling around, apparently with the attack on the planet everything was set on high alert. However besides the usual servitors and tech priests leading them present here was also a number of other enemies, those which might turn their life miserable here. Skitarii troops armed with las-rifles and led by an Alpha were standing on one of the exits from the pump station, the same direction where Phocron pointed at. "Generator chambers are located couple of corridors that way. I suggest we let our melee assets move in and wait before we engage from here and destroy them quickly so they can't raise an alarm."

However they were not the only ones they had to worry about as three walkers entered the cave and started patrolling around, designated as Sydonian Dragoons these things could prove to be troublesome even for the marines to overcome, but then again in such close confines of fighting amidst the machinery the superior armor and reflexes should win the day. It was easier said than done to creep on these Skitarii, but not impossible. Now it was only a matter of luck (or skill) on who gets to draw first blood first.


Forces of Adeptus Mechanicus:

Combat servitors:20 Heavy combat servitors (HB+PF):7/7 Tech Priests:6/6 Skitarii Troopers:15 Alpha:6 Sydonian Dragoons (taser lances):5/5/5

Corbulus:15 Satharn:15 Ausarius:15 Valu:10 Kombuse:12 Phocron:20

Conditions: Due to the nature of the enemies, you won't get the bonus for stealth attack. However since you are still hidden, if you want to try and silently approach the enemies you will have to pass the stealth roll. If you succeed you will get a bonus attack in the following turn, the enemy which spotted you will have a +3 on its attacks made against the character which failed the roll during its next turn.

Fera gritted her teeth as she was restrained in the drop pod she could feel her stomach threatening to eject most of its contents only thing holding it back was will power and her mouth at the moment being shut as they landed she felt her stomach jump and felt herself almost heave as they landed the sounds of war filled her ears causing her to get up and grab her heavy bolter her other weapons on her back as the ramps lowered. already spotting the battle was alight Fera spotted several targets that took her eye.

The Hellhound and the priest charging there position, Deciding to deal with the problem heading at them first and to attempt to dig into the PDFS morale Fera took aim and cover by the dread claws entrance and began letting loose for heavy bolter fire. "WATCH YOUR FORCES BE CUT DOWN BY THE SERVANTS OF WAR" Fera shouted rage partially taking her from the trip down and the nausea taking aim she spotted a target of morale a priest lauding a squad to a suicidal charge, and the hellhound that was causing quite trouble for em, going for shots at the helhounds fuel tanks Fera hoped to give em a fire ball and and a dead priest to top it off both devoted kills for the war god if they landed correctly.

OOC ALL OUT ATTACK one on Minstorum priest with eviserator other on hellhound both with hevay bolter.