Prologue World: Artemis Classification: Civilized world Location: Segmentum Ultima Techpriest Oglesby studied the night sky his mind was clicking and whirring as it processed information as he observed the stars for any signs of his requisition order from Mars, he was expecting additional specialist equipment to help him study the strange phenomena that were occurring on the planet's moon. Surrounding him a strange assortment of artifacts were arranged in orderly fashion upon various work surfaces, and surrounding them a plethora of Esoteric monitoring equipment recorded every single little change that may occur to any of the techpriest's specimens. Eerie green chunks of metal, rock samples from the moons surface, pictures of Xenos heiroglyphs laid side by side and in a glass case a single tuft of red colored flora held in statis that was native to the moon and covered its surface in its entirety. The Techpriest huffed a note of annoyance as he resigned himself from observing the stars, the delivery was running behind schedule and he needed the new equipment to continue his study of the moon Artemis minor he buzzed as he calculated the possibility of his order being waylaid in the Mechanicus networks. After brief moment he mused to himself that he may have to refresh his order, with the demand for specialist equipment from mars being so high he could not afford special consideration yet he needed new supplies. 'Calculations indicate arrival of delivery from Mars at current juncture rate at a possibility of 1,000,000/1 ratio probability, option to refresh order strongly recommended' A brief green flash from the surface of Artemis minor suddenly caught the remaining organic eye of Techpriest Oglesby, moving back towards his view of the night sky he watched as the flash erupted from the moons surface and started speeding towards Artemis major. His mind processing and recording the phenomena frame by frame he considered calling the planetary governor but he pushed the thought to the back of his conscious. Current trajectory indicated imminent collision with the planet surface not far from his Observatory, moving away once again from the view Techpriest Oglesby clicked with statisfaction as he began to prepare himself to travel to the crash site once the foreign object had landed. ~ Elsewhere on Artemis major Imperial guard were engaging Eldar forces that had suddenly descended upon the world, forces from the 535th Mordian line infantry, 233rd New Byzantine Mechanized infantry and the 122nd Varagnian artillery regiment had responded and are presently engaging. In thanks to the swift efforts of the Imperial guard and in particular the engagement of the Mordian line infantry the Xenos have been caught off guard and are now presently on the back foot. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS @Uriel1339 @TechCaptain @EvicusDasan1 @Kalle @Maleth @Illfetus @UnluckyFellow @High_Adept_Zeth Night had fallen over the trenches of the 19th Valerian, across the forest edge a series of hurriedly dug fortifications was arranged along the border of the tree line which led out into the open field beyond, it was the only piece of land separating the guardsmen from the remnants of the Eldar Warhost beyond which lay in wait. The trenches had been dug to allow the bulk of the regiment time to form up ready to attack en masse and repulse any Eldar preemptive assaults, the guardsmen responsible for the digging of the dugouts had already suffered heinous losses to ranger sniper fire even as the vanguard of the regiment returned fire upon the aggressors whenever they appeared. The Eldar were surrounded cut off from any route of escape by elements of the 233rd New Byzantine and 122nd Varagnian artillery whom had also fortified their positions and were ready to repel any enemy attack, the artillery even now were shelling the Eldar force preventing them from moving freely and thus keeping their forces in place. This didn't stop the Xenos from occasionally raiding Imperial guard lines however and every now and again brutal skirmishes between the agile Eldar and desperate Imperial guardsman raged in the trenches, it was a fierce war of attrition and the Imperial guard currently were hemorrhaging more soldiers than the Eldar. Up in the night sky the green flash from the moon Artemis minor looked little more than a shooting star, of no more concern to the Imperial guard than the amount of shots left in their lasguns and just as obscured from view by the smoke and dust clouds sent up into the cold air by the Basilisk artillery. The stars where they appeared shone as clearly as they should on a non industrial world and even though the war all around continued to rage it was an almost pleasant night with fine weather and barely any natural clouds. You and the rest of the platoon were stationed in one particular dugout close to the heart of the fighting, over in the next set of trenches you could hear yet another skirmish between raiding Eldar and Imperial guard yet under explicit orders from the platoon commander no one was permitted to aid the stricken guardsmen. Everyone was lined up against the front end of the trench awaiting the officer to blow the trench whistle and announce the full frontal assault against the Eldar warhost of which every guardsman would clamber over the defensive line and charge headlong at the Xenos force. Many of the other soldiers looked decidedly nervous a few were even muttering the litanies of protection in a desperate attempt to keep their nerve yet none broke and ran as right behind the guardsman line stood the regimental commissar and the platoon command squad. The Commissar stared intently at the backs of every trooper lined up against the front of the trench and beyond at the carnage that lay before them, his bolt pistol was unholstered, loaded and ready to fire at any man that may attempt to flee or refrain from climbing out of the trench when the time came. The platoon commander looked calm, checking his watch he quietly counted down the time remaining until the time of the planned attack mouthing each second as he did so, he was smoking an iho stick and his laspistol was currently holstered, he and the rest of his command squad would follow the guardsmen after they went over the top. After a brief moment of watching the time he put away the timepiece and reached for his trench whistle he had hanging from his officers jacket before raising it to his mouth he shouted at the platoon in front of him. 'Fix bayonets! On my mark platoon shall advance! May the God Emperor watch over us!' The whistle still almost raised to his mouth he watched as the guardsmen in front of him started adjusting the blades on the ends of their lasguns, it was almost time to begin. Character list @@TechCaptain Sergeant Alton - Commander Former Skitarii Windrider Carapace Scale Armor w/ Camo Cloak Perinetus Pattern Solo Mark II Boltgun W/ Duplus Ammo Clips, 'Vulkan' Pattern Combi-Flamer Mark V 'Wraithfire' Plasma Pistol Skitarii Alpha Pattern Power Sword Throwing Knife x2 Frag Grenade x1 Krak Grenade x6 Medicare Satchel x1 Inferno Bolt Magazine x2 Metal Strom Frag Bolt Magazine x2 Kraken Penetrator Bolt Magazine x2 Tempest Bolt Magazine x2 Standard Bolt Magazine x2 Envenomed Bolt Magazine x2 Promethium Canister x6 @@Illfetus Veteran 'Colonel' Pfiffer - Weapon Specialist Former Armeggdon Scout Division/ Penal Colony Guard Assault Flak Armor Cadian Pattern Hellgun Storm Sabre Kantrael MG 'Defender' Pattern Laspistol Frag Grenades x1 Krak Grenade x2 @@High_Adept_Zeth Veteran Felix Servili - Rifleman Valerian Veteran Flak Armor Merovech Pattern Assault Lasgun Kantrael MG 'Defender' Pattern Laspistol Lasgun Magazine x2 Combat Knife Frag Grenade x5 Medicare Satchel x1 Demolition Charge x1 @@Maleth Trooper Saven Firleath - Armored Weapon Specialist Former Therion Heavy Infantry Therion 'Skirmisher' Carapace Armour Therion Mk III Pattern Shotgun Therion Mk V Boltgun Therion 'Keris' Meltagun Hecuter 9/5 Heavy Combat Auto-pistol Therion 'Serkis' Power Sword Frag Grenades x2 Blind Grenades x2 Medicare Satchel x1 @@Uriel1339 Trooper Vermont 'Monty' Rice - Weapon Specialist Former Elysian Light Infantry Flak Armor W/ Type 5 Pessurized Helmet Accatran Pattern Mk. IVc Lasgun Accataran Pattern MkVIII Meltagun Accatran pattern Mk II Laspistol Krak Grenade x3 Medicare Satchel x1 Empty Bottles x2 Bayonet @@EvicusDasan1 Trooper Graf Sebastev - Grenadier Former Vostryan PDF/ Vostryan Light Infantry Flak Armor Sebastev Gilded M36 Kantrael Pattern Lasgun Vostroyan Pattern Laspistol Cadian Pattern Grenade Launcher Vostroyan Pattern Chainsword Frag Grenades x24 Krak Grenades x20 @@Vanestus Ogyrn Rex - Abhuman Gun Lugger Former Catachan Oygrn Flak Armor Ripper Gun w/ Ripper Saw Six/Twelve" Mauler Cannon Slab Shield Frag Grenades x5 Krak Grenades x5 @@Vulpas Medicae Trooper Zita - Medic Former Tallarn Light Infantry Flak Armor Ripper Pistol 'Furies's Rage' Pattern Plasma Gun 'Quillis' Pattern Boltgun w/ bayonet 'Cerberus maw' Pattern Chainsword Utican Curved Dagger Frag Grenade x1 Krak Grenade x2 Medical Supplies and Combat Drugs Medicare Satchel x2 Alcohol Bottles x4 Kraken Penetrator Bolt Magazines x3 @@Grall_Stonefist Addec of Redemtion - Priest Redemptionist Cult Fire Retardant Flak Robes 'Guide of the Pure' Burning Crown 'Bloody Redemption' Eviscerator 'Purging Light' Hand Flamer Book of Punishment Former Members of Squad @@UnluckyFellow@@Kalle Troopers Simon and Andreas Machiadyn - Sniper/Spotter Team Former Redeemer Infantry Flak Armor x2 Silenced Mk XVI "Longshot" Sniper Rifle Agripinaa Pattern Type II Autogun x2 Hecuter 9/5 Heavy Combat Auto-pistol x2 Frag Grenades x4 Smoke Grenades x4
Almighty Emperor, I thank you for my brother Simmy, Who fights beside me. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for my brother guardsmen, Who fight beside me. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for this autogun, That fights beside me. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for these bullets, That fight beside me. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for these Eldar, Whose blood looks really pretty, sprayed out across the ground. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for protecting me, From staining my uniform, It's really hard to wash. Amen. Suffice to say, Andreas attracted looks from the other guardsmen in the trenches.
Since Sgt Alton didn't have a bayonet he spent his time checking his squad shaking his head at the mismash that had been assigned to him. "Troopers, you are the Hammers of the Omnissah do justice to that calling. If you all want to live to continue that calling make sure you end the Eldar here and now." He did a quick check of his boltgun locking in a fresh bolt and clip as the servos in his bionics whirled at the sudden movement at his checks. " Riflemen, up front lead the charge lay suppressive fire. When we get close let our Assualt specialists do their jobs. You two" He points at the Tarsis Duo. " Stick to the rear and pick off anyone that looks important to the Eldar."
'Colonel' Pfiffer felt his heart racing, his feet and hands go cold, his limbs go weak, as he always would do in all those pre-battle moments. 'The feeling aint different today from these ol' armageddon days' he thought! Spitting away the 'down jack' chewing chem-simulants, Pfiffer unclasped his Hellgun and pressed the activation stud and felt the 15 kg heavy power backpack wake to life, spinning on with the noise of a powering jet burner. Feverished whispers from Pfiffers comrades came and went 'May god emperor watch over me' 'may the holy watch over my comrades' 'may I survive this day to see another day' Looking around to his veteran squad members, they all looked tough and ready to die for the imperium... but that it all a mummers farce Pfiffer thought... Even Veterans piss and shit themselves on the battlefield. Putting his clad war boot on the trench side, Pfiffer hitched himself for what to come... OOC Spoiler
Saven Firlaeth would have loved to claim that she didn't get scared like the newbies were when the order came to charge into battle, all browned underclothes and flubbed prayers but well.... Then she'd be lying, but at least she could keep her nerves under control. But to calm her nerves just in case they were starting to show, she muttered a short prayer "Emperor, I thank you for watching over me, and I thank you for watching over my fellow Guardsmen. May your protection ensure our survival today." Still, the brewing battle wasn't going to wait for her to get going, so the Heavy Trooper put her carapace-encased foot on the trench side while waiting for the order to go over the top. Her lasgun was at the ready for firing off any opportunistic snap-shots while on the charge, and all her other weapons remained holstered until she had need of them. The only thing Saven could do now was hope that the fools she was lumped with would actually survive the charge.
Almighty Emperor, I thank you for my brother Andy, Who fights beside me. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for my eyes, That lets me guide my brother's shots. Almighty Emperor, I thank you for my hands, That let me cheat at poker. Simon looked over and gave a big goofy grin to Andy at his long and perhaps somewhere heretical prayer. A bayonet charge was, in the sniper's opinion, the dumbest tactical move that was possible for a commander to make. But if something is stupid and it works...well no it's still stupid but someone got seriously lucky. Thankfully the bayonet wasn't so much a knife as it was a sword. Hopefully the two of them could stay far enough back to not get shot but far enough forward to also not get shot. "Andy, fifty thrones says you can't steal one of the fancy necklaces these bastard's wear."
"Simon, Andreas, Enough of the jokes. You heard the L.T. fix Bayonets on your rifles and prepare for the charge. And which ever one of you is playing Sniper today get it ready. I want your on the move marksmanship taking out key targets as we close." Sgt. Alton sounded serious but he just wanted his troopers mind on the mission but wasnt serious upset by their joking at all.
-Felix Servili, God Emperor`s 19th Valerian Regiment -Veteran Guardsman Looks: "Sir,yes sir!" responded Felix as he extinguished his hookah pipe,putting it safely (as safely as it can be) in his inside pocket beneath the layer of his Flak armor. As he was double-checking his Merovech Assault Lasgun,the green beauty serving him for the past ten years,Felix glanced at Sergeant Alton.A weird,stocky fellow,most of his body was under augmentation and hush-hush around the squad was,he was a former Tech-Guard.Considering his Omnissiah-blaber he seemed he had hard time,letting go. Whatever the case,because of he Sergeant,their squad stood out,and Felix loved standing out.As the ammo-counter flashed to life,pleased with the number,Felix smirked as he watched toward the forest,spitting in the trench. He grumbled quietly: "A lot of Guardsmen died today,digging these mudholes.I say we get to these Eldar,and make `em pay dearly!"an expression of utter anger was on his face,his brow furrowing,before he lowered the protective mask over his face. OOC:Sorry for the holdup.Even tho you tagged me,i didn't get the nortification you did so,Dony.
@TechCaptain @High_Adept_Zeth @Illfetus @Uriel1339 @EvicusDasan1 @UnluckyFellow @Kalle @Maleth An eerie silence suddenly fell over the battlefield as the sound of artillery fire halted and the relentless plumes of dirt erupting in the open field quickly abated leaving only the residual dust clouds hovering in its wake in the cool night air. Shadowy figures of the Eldar force could now be seen through the haze of the disturbed soil taking cover in the craters, they had spread out so as to minimize casualties but they had also managed to entrench their heavy weapons with 3 Shuriken cannons facing the platoon's angle of attack. The platoon also could count up to three partially depleted guardian squads numbering about five guardians in an concave formation to meet the coming attack. The platoon commander watching as the barrage subsided then raised the trench whistle to his mouth and started blowing emitting a shrill consistant sound that reverberated throughout the defensive line, as the officer did so the platoon could hear other more distant trench whistles in the neighboring dugouts and beyond. With the shouts from numerous different guardsmen filling the air the platoon started climbing out of the dugout and rushing headlong into the open field, on both their flanks other platoons of guardsmen also emerging from their dugouts were rushing out from the treeline to face the enemy. Within moments of the Imperial guards appearance the sounds of the shuriken heavy weapons firing could be heard through the dust clouds, razor sharp disks whistled towards the charging guardsmen that then cut and sliced through their ranks, the flak armor provided for the 19th Valerian's protection was not proof against the almost impossibly sharp blades. large holes started appearing in the assault as the shuriken catapults from the guardian squads joined in creating a bladestorm that almost suppressed the Imperial guard advance. One of the guardsmen lost one of his arms to the blades and fell over backwards screaming in agony, another took a salvo of razors to the chest and he coughed up blood before flopping forward into the dirt. A guardsman leading the charge suddenly recoiled as one of the projectiles impacted his shoulder knocking him off balance and turning him sideways in painful reaction, his stomach was then shredded by the fire of one of the shuriken cannons which then caught the soldiers following behind him. As the platoon advanced they left a trail of dead and wounded behind them many of them still screaming on the ground where they fell as they reached for lost body parts and the blades in their mortal wounds. To the platoons flanks their comrades were not faring much better against the Eldar overwatch with one platoon in the far distance being almost completely annihilated by a explosion of psychic energy that appeared to have come from deeper within the Eldar force. Each platoon had their own threat to fight and much of the advance had already paid dearly for the ground they had made up to reach the Xenos defenders. Behind the platoons advance half a company of chimeras were also emerging from the treeline trundling over the dugouts and into the open terrain where engines roaring they moved flat out towards the waiting aliens. In the night sky no one seemed to notice a second bright green flash erupting from Artemis minor, it was the second of the falling objects speeding towards Artemis, on the ground though all thoughts were on the advance and of staying alive. If the Eldar thought differently they were not showing it as they held relentlessly even as the guardsmen though diminished as they are drew close their position. The platoon finally closed the distance between themselves and the Eldar lines and the Xenos were in range of the platoons lasguns, although many troops continued the bayonet charge some of the guardsmen halted to spray the guardian forces with lasgun fire forcing the Eldar to take cover in order to avoid taking casualties of their own. The remainder of the platoon then charged the Guardian squads and heavy weapons teams falling upon them with the bayonets on the end of their lasguns screaming oaths in the Emperor's name.
