Lydia and sigrid walked through the slums. It had grown dark. They could see from the torch upon is grids helmet. There was no one around, everyone had slunk into the darkness, away from sight. But Lydia felt something. Something wasn't right, something was disturbing the peace. She stopped walking, she turned to see if anyone was following. She could see no one. "Sister, keep on your guard. Something doesn't feel right..." They pressed on, Both more cautious than before. They were both ready for combat. Suddenly a crashing noise came from behind, the sound of a metal bin crashing to the ground. They both turned. They still couldn't see anything. Lydia's hand fell to the plasma pistol at her side...
OOC: Imperium, Inquisition, Eldar and Tau can post (in other words: all except Space Marines; Mechaius and / or AluMordicus HAVE to call for help from the Astartes / Readied Sororitas which were supposed to arrive anyway in several days / 1 week upon a plan from the Lord Inquisitor)
((Should I go ahead and post now or just wait, since I was interacting with mecahaius, if only a little.))
OOC: Just wait till he interacts with you, he most likely just forgot about you during the space war post ^^
Steelfang smiled a crooked grin behind his helmet as he shook Mallar's hand deal sitting back down the sorcerer was still motionless Steelfang tried to test his luck further by kicking him decidedly harder but to avail only a large dent in the sorcerer's greave and a rather intregead Steelfang were the results
Fabricator-Marshal’s Palace - Strategium Lorias City They had gathered around the massive Tactical Hololith that dominated the center of the chamber, in mute silence, as they watched the desperate drama unfolding in high orbit. Each maneuver and counter move was carefully observed. None were so absorbed by the action then Commodore Van Vorst. He commented on every action in short, clipped bursts, praising and criticizing the actions of both sides. More than once he tried to raise the Magnificent on the Vox, to pass orders to his subordinate, but no answer was ever heard. Was the Tau force jamming vox signals? It was plausible, yet unlikely, as the Imperium could simply use their Astropaths instead of conventional communications systems. It was a reliable system, for the most part. One, thankfully, that the Tau had no means to counter. When the Magnificent was finally overwhelmed, Commodore Van Vorst appeared on the verge of tears. Understandable, as he had just witnessed his men, and ship, sacrifice themselves so that Lorias might live a while longer. A moment of silence was observed for the fallen of Battlegroup Sternguard. The names of those ships would pass down into the Imperial histories alongside the other glorious naval forces, such as Battlefleet Gothic. Alas, with the Navy crippled and the Tau landing ships swarming over his world with nigh impunity, the obvious decisions had to be made. Alexis cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the assembled officers and planetary officials. “Gentlemen, the Xeno menace is upon us. In this, our darkest hour, with the underlining threat of Chaos on our doorstep, we are set upon on many fronts. We must shore up our defences. The cities must be protected at all costs. Seal the gates and activate the shields. Draw our brave soldiers upon our curtain walls and into their bastions. Ready our armour and remaining air assets. Let the skies darken once more, but not with the heavy rains! Nay, let it be the shells of our artillery that make the Xenos look to the heavens in fear. Let the thunder of our guns echo across the skies and give the enemy pause” “This is our world. The Emperor’s world. We shall give our all in its defense or die trying. We shall not let the Xeno filth bring their poisonous ideals and blasphemous technologies to our people” “Their fleet is crippled and hides far from the reach of our remaining Star Fort. Our defense batteries have raked a tally amongst the enemy’s drops ships, but too many have reached the surface. Every step the enemy takes upon the soil of Lorias, shall cost them in blood” “More so, I shall call upon the mighty Astartes. The heroes of Ultramar and bane of the Tyranid scum. The Ultramarines! They will heed our call now, just as they have in times past. We will hold the line. We shall endure.” “Lord Inquisitor Keralix shall smoke out the taint of Chaos that has taken root, no matter how deep it hides. We must all do our duties and buy time for the Emperor’s agents to cleanse our ranks from within. While they carry out their own work, we shall hold back the tide of the Tau onslaught” “Colonel Galven, lead the men and women of the PDF with valour and pride. Have faith in them, for they will protect their world with their lives. Just as we all shall! For Lorias and the God-Emperor!” A great cheer rose all around. The dark cloud of doubt cast off by the Fabricator-Marshall’s words. Colonel Galven then took charge, setting our orders to secure the cities of Lorias and to activate the protective void shields of the major cities. Alexis motioned for Confessor Zeb to follow him aside. Away from the others, they spoke quietly in hushed tones. “Confessor, return to Koroa with haste. The Tau musters a large force to assail the city, if the reports bear any accuracy. Do whatever you must to ensure the city does not fall. I and the people of Lorias are counting on you. Most of all, you must aid the Inquisitor as best you can. If it is within your power, ensure it is done. We can suffer no treachery from within, not with the enemy before our gates” Looking the man straight in the eye, he asked finally: “Can I trust you to bear my intentions to Cardinal Servantes, and assure him of my sincerity?”
Basilica of the Emperor Ascendant – Papal Chambers Koroa City Cardinal Gergorious Servantes reclined thoughtfully in his extravagant throne of gold and red satin cushions. His head adorned with a modest crimson skullcap, while his body was swathed in his usual black and crimson robes of office. A golden Aquila hung around his neck, polished to a brilliant shine. A crimson sash, wrapped firmly about his waist, completed his ensemble. His strong chin rested in his right hand, which he stroked thoughtfully, as his listened to the report by one of his Arch-Deacons. “So, our mighty fleet lies in ruin. The Tau land their forces with impunity, and the PDF scrambles to mount some semblance of a defense. This is the situation as it stands?” “Yes, your Holiness. We have had no word from the either the Capital or Confessor Zeb for some time.” “Yes, that is indeed troubling. However, I have the greatest faith in my Confessor. He is resourceful and boundless in faith. The same cannot be said of our intrepid Fabricator-Marshall” Gergorius barely managed to hold back the venom in his words. “Fabricator-Marshall” what sort of title was that for a Lord Governor? It reeked of the heretical Machine Cult. This world held too many of the crimson robed, cog worshipers as it was and they were as thick as thieves with the loathsome Administratum. Two organizations so closely banded together in defiance of the Ecclesiarchy, that they may as well have been a single entity. Rather than siding with his fellow men, High Administrator Benedict Ryant preferred the company of the Forgemaster Bohrmann and his lackey Saul Haxx. Disgusting! Such abject heresey! It came as no surprise, though, as Lord Ryant was about as imaginative and cultured as a Tech Priest as it was. He was only concerned with quotas and trade tariffs. He cared not at all, about the slowly degenerating masses of citizens that inhabited the planets cities. So long as they paid their taxes on time, the Administratum cared not how they lived or what they believed. And the Mechanicus was no better! How the peoples of Loras tolerated the presence of the Mechanicus was beyond him. Their soled robes and cold machine logic was depressing and mindless. There was no light in their souls! That was why the people flocked in droves to the Holy Synod each day. The faithful masses looking to the Ministorum for guidance, and it was provided. “Now Arch-Deacon, how goes the preparations of our defense?” he asked. “Quite well my Lord. The Sororitas have sealed the Synod, and only let the faithful take shelter within our sacred walls. The PDF have secured the city and patrol the streets. The energy shields are active and the Imperial Navy patrol the skies with their remaining interceptors. Also, we have called upon the Cardinals of our neighboring dioceses, and they will dispatch what forces can be spared to aid us” “Good, this is heartening news. Let the Xenos and Heretics try and stand against our indomitable faith! The rest of this world may rot with secular taint, but Koroa gleams like a beacon in the darkness. The Emperor smiles upon us. We shall weather this storm of unbelief and from the wreckage, we shall rebuild Lorias into a Shrine World that will be the envy of every sector In the Segmentum!”
OOC: Regards the void shields I am not sure how common they are for city Defenses. As much as I know only for real bigger cities, therefore I assume only Koroa and Lorias' City really have those? And even then I am not quite sure how they work. Do they hold enemies actually off like you can't pass them? Or are they actually only working against weapons? (Kinda like Star Wars shields, you can walk through them, but if you fire against them it goes against shields, also you can shoot out of them but not into them) PS: ANYBODY'S turn now (including Space Marines!) PPS: Eldar are really highly-inactive so if there is no new update on them then I take that in hand for now. (~7-9pm EST so in around 9-11 hours on from this post) The Tau leader needs to put his deployment post up. The Chaos also has to finally move on with their operation. Time limit for this I give to tomorrow afternoon EST (2-5pm) Mechaius does a good job with the Imperium intervals, the next thing he should do is the official ask for help post to the Astartes ; Alu Mordicus still needs to contact his Sororitas which are waiting in a nearby system via the Deimos (roughly same time until arrival as Ultramarines) Space Marines can put already the "have been contacted and we are on our way" posts up (Imperial Fists & Ultramarines) if they like to.
The massive man put his hands on the metal bin to support himself, pushing him up to stand again. He looked into the alley and saw two armored soldiers, he walked slowly towards them, almost tripping over his own feet and falling again but he managed somehow to keep moving without falling that could had been almost identified as an elegant dance, but in fact it was just clumsy steps, even an infant could have been more efficient in walking than this individual. As he came closer to the two figures he blinked, trying to fix his blurry sight and it indeed improved after seconds of constant blinking. He saw long hair on both figures and the armors were unusual for PDF, what and who were these good-looking women? "H-h-hey!" he said as he stumbled, but he held himself up by grabbing the shoulder of the closer woman, his legs hanging towards the ground, barely standing just because he presses his own weight against the armor of the female. "Y-y-you look pretty g-g-g-good!" he said before he burped, right in the woman's face.
"I am no .... Ughh" *picks man up by neck and pins him to the wall* "do you know who I am? I am celestian superior Lydia, order of our martyred lady, Adepta sorroritas! You shall do well to remember that! Got it?!"
