"There will be no looting here, despite our dire situation these people are suffering worse than us," Marmaroth growled, putting to an end all that talk. "We will go and help them for this is the least what we can do. I already sent them a message that we are coming on behalf of Ordo Xenos, so they won't cause us problems and are willing to give their assets under our control. This 655th Penal Legion is mentioned in our records, being the one fighting in the Agripinaa Sector before it got destroyed. Like Amraphel mentioned, I also planned on striking on couple of primary positions, but the exact disposition will be decided shortly. As for being a Champion, there aren't any requirements that you should be concerned with. I expect everyone to do their best and I'll decide it after the battle. Also Brother Tempestus, our Salamanders Librarian is right. You are more suited to lead the Librarium, helping us in that way, making sure the ship functions and we are not beset by any kind of Daemonic force. Of course, when down on the ground I still count on you dealing with the biggest threats, however the role of the force's Champion will be placed on someone else. You can of course, count that warrior as being your backup," Marmaroth made a smile as the ship left the Warp end entered Realspace.

On screen, they saw five Ork Kroozas punching their way though two Imperial Guard cruisers and a number of escorts. Multitude of reports came through as Jannika was once again plugged in and renewed her communication with ship's Machine Spirit. "Angelfall" was being placed on intercept course as the Chaplain listened to reports and clicked the map at the same time, showing them the map of the planet Niona.



OOC gotta love the kids pics Green is to remind you this is a Forest World (which means everything is in one huge forest, tall trees and shit), brown are mountains and blue is a river and a lake Red are directions from which the Orks are coming.


"There you have it. We received call from help from every single one of those cities where I placed marks. The main part of the PDF force is currently located in Gea, while troops from the Penal Legion just lost a battle at the city of Lokan and are retreating towards the city of Bor, where they'll try to make a stand. There is also a smaller part of their force currently at the Lumber camps of Kordoba, where they received a confirmation that another force of Orks are coming through those mountains. Third and final Orkish force is presumed to be coming from East, however those are unconfirmed information as no one spotted them yet," Marmaroth said as he relayed the information that was given to him.

"Brother Feron, I trust you to make to strategic choices as you see fit. If you wouldn't mind, I would stay aboard our ship and mount a boarding operation or defend from one if needed. Leave me only a cadre of Stormtroopers and I'll manage. For the rest, it is your choice (OOC or theirs, if you guys want something special )."

OOC After it, you can go to armory where you can get 4 grenades of any type (Krak, Frag, Stun, Blind, Smoke, Incendiary, Plasma) and 2 clips of different ammunition (Kraken, Stalker, Hellfire, Dragonfire, Metal Storm, Witchbolts, Vengeance). For planetfall, you can use Drop pods, cargo freighters (if you wanna bring Land Raider and Chimeras (we don't have anything else)), Stormbird and 5 Valkyries. And yeah, 250 Stormtroopers).

<Feron>
"Now is the time for request or suggestions, I'm all ears. " Feron had spent a minute staring intensely at the tactical display running through half a millennia of combat experience, tempering his natural desire to conserve their allies lives with the fact that they had too much ground to cover with such a small force. Striking out an imaginary line through Bor and Kordoba the Salamander fell silent a moment before speaking again. "These two cities here are of paramount importance to this world, Bor hosting the center of the mining trade will make it vital to us as the Chaplain said fuel reserves were mined up as crystal. The lake presents us with a defensive benefit at the Capitol and means we've a means, even a long winded one, if it falls under siege and we require a way to fall in. These Hunting Lodges I'm afraid would be too much to hold, if they're as small as I imagine having their population pull out and shelter in either the Capitol or the fishing villages to maintain food supply would be feasible. " Running through rough population reports in each area he chewed on his tongue. His voice dropped several volumes as he began thinking aloud. "Send a small force to help clear out and cover the civilians, can split and reinforce where necessary once that is complete. Bor can be fortified with the Land Raider while Kordoba's landscape can help bottleneck the overspill from the other passage. "

Tapping at the large what if area he hums. "I'll need eyes or a pair out there as once this region is abandoned if another Ork force comes through we'll need to know. I foresee our foes will spill out from around the top most gap in the range and either circle up behind Bor, and/or close in on Gea. If another unknown force links with them then that will throw a gear in the works. Conversely if this same warband does exist it could strike from anywhere, perhaps it has already folded in for a good scrap elsewhere. I believe we should fortify Gor and make sure it presents a nice juicy target that our foe can't resist, see if we can't spare the basic supporting systems of the world attention so that even if their harvesting centers are wrecked they will still be in fine shape to rebuild with most of the governing heads and food supply intact. Of course this is all for naught if the battle in space is lost, should that happen anyone down on the ground is trapped here until it is either reclaimed or our pursuers arrive as the Angelfall can't hold up to direct combat. We'll need to launch a number of boarding actions to even the scales. Seek and Destroy or Demolitions, either way they'll need to be curt operations so our man power can be withdrawn to support our efforts below. Sirius your thoughts on this would be appreciated, as I recall the Sons are a fleet bound Chapter and your skills in the void are only surpassed by the Novamarines. " His eyes visibly ran over several that he intended to request handle these actions: Marmaroth, Amraphel, Draconion and Icelos to start. "Wait where lurks our Bloodclaw? "

"Just a couple of suggestions, Force Commander," says Draconion, "Firstly, I suggest we recruit as many locals familiar with the mountains and mines around Bor as possible to form irregular companies for scouting and harrying the Orks. I've had experience working with such guerrilla forces on Kaggeran against the Tau, and under the right conditions, they can bleed a superior foe white. The mountains and deep-bore mines can be turned into a meat-grinder for all the Orks attracted to the fighting there, and hopefully draw some pressure off from the city proper.

Secondly, I recommend we concentrate our ground forces and destroy or cripple the westward Ork advance as soon as possible. Being a numerical disadvantaged force, doctrine calls for consolidation of forces and use of mobility to strike with as much local superiority as possible. A victory there would bolster allied morale and add to the provocations necessary for the Ork Warboss to show itself."

He glances over his shoulder.

"As for Brother Steinar, I haven't seen him since we returned from Knosos."

"If you believe that is right, brother Feron. I will serve as asked, but I fear the already lack of faith in the troops on the ground, may cause further problems..." Icelos said in a cold tone. He turned his back to the rest and began to leave the briefing, only to stop at the door. Fitting his helmet back in place, the caster informed the others "I will be retrieving the pup from his cage, I believe I saw him enter there and never return. Hopefully he is house trained".

Icelos eventually found himself to the Room of the BloodClaw. Forcefully entering the confines, he spoke up before seeing the Astarte. "You are late to the briefing. Come before the Chaplin makes me fetch the leash."
(@Uriel1339 . I left it up for you not to be in you room and/or time to react.)

<Feron>
"A sound plan, Fenix with your skill set I don't think heading up a few of these tracking groups would beyond your capabilities yes? " (@PorOborosCain ) Taking a moment to consider a secondary assault the Salamander hums. "Dorallius, Volorox would you two be willing to head an airborne assault contingent? All our Valkyrie, attached Storm Troopers and our Stormbird to strike the enemies flank and hard. Tempestus I would like you to head our defenses at Kordoba so that both of our key supply centers are reinforced by at least one heavy unit. Angelous I'd like you on hand to tend to any of his damages at well if it is agreeable, since our Ancient tends to take a fair degree of damage, I imagine our Land Raider can handle without your ministrations and only Sitri on hand for a time. " (@Grall_Stonefist @Vulpas @lord-watchman ) Tapping along through several slightly dated reports Feron rocks on his feet continuing to think. "I'd want Chimaeras aiding the withdrawal from the Hunting Lodges, on hand to reinforce Bor and serve as relief units for our skirmishers afield if they're within a feasible distance of the area. "

Then Icelos spoke and the veteran tipped his head. "Which is why we can't afford to compromise faith in each other, not in this hour, not ever. " Leaving him with that thought a frown touched his lips, his tone hadn't been condescending or scolding but with a greater weight than a mere informative quirk. "Draconion, Amraphel, Marmaroth, Sirius- I would you four at the head of any boarding action, with Icelos along or perhaps if Dorallius or Volorox were not enthralled with the idea of handling the aerial hammer perhaps switch out with him. For myself I believe I'll take over your role of organizing any boarding deterrent actions here aboard the Angelfall and use superior orbital communications to aid in overall defense of the world while seeing if I can dig up anything of note or use from the Capitol. " (@Colapse @Uriel1339 @Draconion @DeathKorpsOfKrieg )

Fenix had donned her armor, but with her helmet off and on the table before them. Since recovering from a particularly memorable hangover, Dart had been returned to her. This had drastically improved her mood.
Mamaroth's plan to help these Imperials was on the table and seemed to be a sure thing now.
"Excuse me, but what does this have to do with clearing our names or fighting the Unholy Alliance? If we don't even intend to collect a reward for our efforts, then why would we invest so much of our already low resources on this? But since we're coming up with ideas, clearing the skies should be our top priority. If we can do that, bombing the surface clean of the xeno infestation should be easy enough from there."
[I'm sure he has his reasons. Besides, there's nothing to misinterpret here! What would they say? We were working with the orks?]
'I'm more concerned what the Inquisition will do to these people if they think they help us. Might be for the best if they did blame the orks on us. At least then they might be spares being shipped off to labor camps.]

"I hear and obey, Force Commander," says Draconion, nodding and stepping forth, "On which note, three things.

Firstly, I feel boarding parties will be best served with the issue of additional arms and munitions, to whit - flamers, meltaguns, combat shotguns and boarding shields. If there is any possibility of authorising the release of said wargear, that would be an immense help.

Secondly, if Brother Steinar is indeed joining us, I recommend he come with us on the boarding detail.

Thirdly, I recommend performing a battle prognostication to determine the most vulnerable and most high-value targets, respectively, prior to further action. If the Ancient One is willing, I should like to request his assistance."

<Feron>
"It's a chance to restock and resupply while still doing our duty. Frankly it may not be the most pragmatic or perfectly intelligent call but if humanity always made such decisions we would either rule this galaxy by now or of killed ourselves off. To be entirely clear this as much a fight of spirit as it is one in the flesh, I don't think stepping into a renegade, xeno tolerant port somewhere in the Segmentum would do much for our moral or make us look any better for it. " Nodding to Fenix understanding her and Sirius' concerns on the situation but they were already committed.

Then it was on to Draconion. The release of the Armory and any assets within wasn't his call to make, that fell to Angelous and Marmaroth when all was said and done. "As for your second and third points Brother Draconion I'll pass the word along to Steinar whenever he arrives and would ask you and Venerable Tempestus to make it so. Now then, our Ratling and Ogryn. Rocky if you would be up for it I might ask you and Edd to handle evacuation the lodges and act as our early warning system against any Orks advancing from the other side of our defensive line. "

"I obey, Force Commander," says Draconion.

Turning to Tempestus, he says, "Ready when you are, Ancient One."

Amraphel sighed obviously not agreeing with Ferons plan. "War is cruelty, the sooner we oblirate the enemy, the sooner it will be over. Why waste time defending civilians, when we could take them out with a single precision strike. To be honest with you all the only thing worth defending are their fuel reserves.
Well but seeing that nobody here agrees I'll let you do whatever you want. Go ahead with your plan and feel the consequences. "