Fabricator-Marshal’s Palace – Strategium Lorias City – Central District – 22:05Hrs Local Time “Gentlemen” Colonel Galven stated in a firm tone, and he began his briefing. “Our situation stands as follows” He moved his baton to rest above the three dimensional representation of Dretia. “A Tau battle force moves on Dretia to the north. The garrison is under the command of Major Cassius. He has ordered the southern mountain pass rigged with charges and plans to detonate them once the bulk of the Tau ground forces march through, trapping them. Lorias will then provide artillery support and annihilate them. “Are we to just abandon Dretia to its own devices, then?” Inquired High Administrator Ryant, his face ashen at the prospect of abounding the world most precious resources. “For now, Sir, we have no choice. We lack sufficient air power to send a force by airlift, and the Tau have far more aircraft then we do. We reinforced the city with an additional 20,000 troops and another five tank squads. It will be enough for the city to hold out. The Tau battle force is estimated to be no more than two to three hundred troops and a few dozen vehicles. Combined with a few squadrons of aircraft, it is a relatively small force, all things considered. “Now, as for Ora” Galven gestured, as the map view shifted to the west. “The Eldar have initiated a terror campaign against the local populace. Thus far, thanks to the Imperial propaganda machine, we have mitigated this threat. However, the manner in which they have been able to execute leading members of the local government is disconcerting. None the less, the PDF has managed to hold the enemy back.” “Forgemaster Bohrmann has even released some of his Skitarii to assist with the cities defense. At last report, the south-western section of the city became the target of sabotage, as the shield generator for that potion of the city was destroyed. The PDF have reinforced that section of the city and are expecting a heavy assault shortly” “Gentlemen, as you also may have heard, our communications network was compromised by the Tau. Though Forgemaster Bohrmann managed to purge the Tau infiltration, they destroyed the comm towers in defiance. This has forced us to reply on emergency hard-line connections and our astropaths. The adepts of the Mechanicum are working on a temporary solution as we speak, but for now our communications remain our gravest concern.” “However, there is good news. The Astartes Chapters of both the Ultramarines and the Imperial Fists have answered our call for aid. The Ultramarines dispatched a strike forces two days ago from Maccrage, while the Imperial Fists were on patrol in a nearby sector. They both should arrive in twenty four to forty eight hours. Emperor willing.” This brought a mild cheer from all those assembled, but Galven waved for silence. "Gentlemen, now is not the time for celebration. We must ensure that there is still a world to protect by the time the Astartes arrive!"
Planet Lorias - Tau Forces - Shas'Vre Ja'Ra - ~Battle at Dretia - 22:10 Hrs Local Time "Damn it!" Is all Ja'Ra could say when he saw his marching force getting trapped, it all happened fast, while the sniper shots found their victims his army behind him was endangered. "Retreat and re-group, Send 5 Orcas down here, we will fly around if we cannot march around!" He ordered the Transport group that got them out short ago. But there was no time to wait for reply as he saw his XV-88 Squad, along with their protecting Firewarrior squad getting obliterated by the rockets of those Valkyrie Gunships. He knew it would be not enough to destroy the XV-88, but the Fire Warrior Squad was doomed. "XV-88, reply! Get out of the rocks already and ready your stance, keep firing through the hole, your firepower is required!" "Manta Pilot, for the Greater Good in this fight I request your air support, unleash your weapons upon the enemy, perform raid attacks and focus Heavy Weapons on enemy vehicles and bigger troop concentrations!" Shas'Vre went for a second deep into his own mind, analyzing the whole situation and thinking on his given orders. *Marching Fire Warriors - retreat and pick-up for relocating. Pathfinders eliminate leaders. XV-88 further Heavy Support once they are free from their supposed burial. Manta fire support.... Crisis Team!* He had the idea to swing this battle around into his favor, no matter what the Imperium was prepared for, this was risky and he had to do it. "Follow me XV-8 Crisis Team, time to surprise the Imperium!" is all he ordered, before activating his jetpack again and heading straight for the biggest military like building he could see in the center of Dretia, it was a wild guess but he assumed that would be one of the key positions of the Imperium. Assuming is wrong in warfare, which leads often to destruction. But if he would not distract the enemy and risk to break their morale for once, they would kill even more of his Fire Warriors. He guessed that including the XV-88 protecting squad at least 50 Fire Warriors must have died. It was more than expected but the Imperium used all their surprises already, it was time to end this.... Quick.
OOC: still waiting for Chaos to unleash terror on Koroa, Tau-Eldar Meeting [which I doubt will ever happen.... I fear the Eldar kinda jumped out of the RP, despite having most players and the now Tau leader didn't want to be leader and thinks his skills are too low for RP ; if you guys quit or changed your mind about participation or just do not have time please PM me! Also I would be glad if anyone wants to take over Eldar and / or Tau and / or Ultramarines)
[OOC: Sorry about the wait guys. Seeing as one of the Chaos leaders seems to have vanished into the Warp I wanted to make sure I had a good idea of what was going on before I posted anything. And now, after a long delay, I bring you the Chaos assault] Outskirts Koroa City – Hab-Spire 4 – 20:00Hrs Local First Acolyte Krisas The trip up from the lower levels of the Hab-Spire had fortunately without incident. That alone make Krisas uncomfortable. While it was late at night it wasn't nearly so late that the streets should be as empty as they were. Besides the Word Bearers and their entourage of Cultists there was not a single living being to be seen moving about the Hab-Spire, the lights of all the windows shut off and only a few street lamps providing illumination. Usually such blackout measures were only taken in the case of an invasion but the Loyalists shouldn't have had any warning of their coming. Was something else happening on the world? Something that had not been foreseen? Pushing such thoughts from his mind for now, Krisas turned his attention to the attack to come. They were leaving the Hab-Spire now and the complex that was the Spaceport was clearly visible. From here his enhanced senses could make out the figures of human soldiers protecting the entrance from behind shoddily built defenses, clear proof that they had only been erected recently. More worrisome, however, was the vehicles they had with them, the First Acolyte quickly identifying the boxy forms of three Chimera APCs and a Leman Russ battle tank. As the Word Bearers crouched low and began to draw closer to their unsuspecting enemies, Krisas was suddenly distracted by the monumental structure to his right. Stopping, his head craned up as he beheld the golden pyramid, its edifice festooned with the a variety of icons venerating the False-Emperor. Almost immediately the Word Bearer felt his his pulse began to quicken, excitement coursing through his veins as stared up at the structure and slowly pointed towards it. Walking a short distance behind the Traitor Marine, Foreman Brenk followed the direction that his master was pointing. Easily understanding what had caught the Word Bearer's attention, he swallowed hard before saying, "M-master...That is the...the uh Basilica of the Emperor Ascendent...part...part of the Synod of the Emperor's Light...It is a heathen place of worship to the false-god..." "I want it," hissed Krisas. "Master?" "That...I want that. After we're done. After we finish with the Spaceport we will claim that. My master will want to use it as his headquarters and I want to throw one of the priests from its tallest point." Not waiting to hear the human's response, Krisas forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He hoped that his "allies", the Iron Warriors and members of the so called "Blood Legion", were in position to strike from within the spaceport. While his men had brought a rocket launcher that could deal with the tanks and his 18 Warrior-Brothers and the 300 cultists that were accompanying them from Hab-Spire 4 would be able to deal with the PDF troopers, the launcher did not have infinite ammo and the cultists were little more than civilians armed with autoguns, lasrifles, pistols and a variety of melee weapons. If the other Warbands didn't pull through then Loyalist reinforcements would slowly tear them apart. Gerberal was not with them, the Arch-Heretek hurriedly interfacing with a control console somewhere within the Hab-Spire, guided there by a group of cultists. Krisas had chosen not to provide him with an escort of Warrior-Brothers but he knew that the machine-man would not need it. Equipped with a variety of ancient and daemonic-infused weaponry, the Arch-Heretek was more than capable of handling himself in a fight. Even Krisas would not want to pick a fight with him and that was saying something. In position just beyond the visual range of the spaceport's defenders, Krisas waited for the signal that would begin the attack. Bolt pistol gripped in one hand and power sword unsheathed in the other, he flicked the blades activation switch and causing its power-field to crackle with lethal weaponry. The ancient blade was as black as the starless void, its surface seeming to absorb all light around it, as were those of every other Word Bearer with him. Such was the identifying marker of the 22nd Company-Host known among the XVII Legion as the "Obsidian Blades". Within him he suddenly felt a stirring within his soul, a roaring voice crying out for blood. He felt his limbs slowly began to grow numb, a throbbing pain in his back and head causing him to grit his teeth to fight off the pain. Around him he could see that some of his brothers were likewise fighting off the same urges, some starting to let out animalistic growls while others began to drip black, acidic bile from their mouth grills. Catching the uncomfortable looks on the cultists faces, the humans disturbed by behaviour of their "divine" masters, Krisas knew that if the Arch-Heretek didn't hurry up then he and his brothers might just descend on those who supposed to help them. It was then it happened. The street lights that illuminated the city and the spaceport all began to flicker before shutting down one by one until the entire city was shrouded in darkness, the only exception being the Holy Synod. A feral grin appeared on Krisas' face as he realized that Gerberal's scrapcode had worked and for the next few hours the city would be shrouded in darkness and the comm relays would be out of action. Koroa was blind and cut off from the outside world. Without needing to be told the Warrior-Brother with the rocket launcher rose from his hiding place and fired off a krak missile at the stationary Leman Russ. The rocket shrieked through the air and struck the battle tank where the turret met the main chassis, the anti-armor warhead penetrating the weak-point before detonating inside. Before any of the PDF troopers had a chance to realize what was happening the ammunition inside the tank cooked off and detonated, causing the vehicle to explode and throwing burning shrapnel scything through those unfortunate enough to have been standing close to it. With a deafening roar the Word Bearers rose from cover as one and began to charge the stunned human soldiers. Bolters and Bolt Pistols unleashing a hail of explosive projectiles towards the defenders, the super-human warriors quickly closed the distance even as a few PDF troopers attempted to return fire. While the thick ceramite armor of the Traitor Marines was resistant to the lasbolts that licked out at them, the beams causing little more than dents in the power armor, the cultists were not so lucky. Several were cut down from stray fire, blood spraying as their bodies were pierced by incoming projectiles. Such casualties were inconsequential, however. Their lives meant little to the Word Bearers. Pounding his way across the short distance, Krisas lept into the air as he neared the barricades, using his momentum to carry him forward. His colossal form smashed through the shoddy defenses as if it were nothing, his power armored frame landing on a frightened trooper and crushing him under his weight. As another krak missile struck one of the Chimeras the rest of the Word Bearers set upon the troopers. Screaming out prayers to the Dark Gods, they struck out with fists, feet and chainblades, slaughtering all before them. Slicing indiscriminately with his power sword, the deadly weapon carving through flesh and blood like rice paper, Krisas felt his senses come alive with the joy of the slaughter. Hot blood splashed over the crimson ceramite of his armor, the thick liquid marring the lines of scripture inscribed on the plates. Krisas cared little for who fell before his blade, several cultists also losing life and limb as the black blade reaped its deadly tally. Watching as several krak grenades dispatched the last Chimera after one of the Warrior-Brothers tore off the top hatch and tossed them inside, Krisas let out a feral roar as the remaining defenders retreated into what they thought to be the safety of the spaceport. The First Acolyte knew that many more were no doubt mobilizing inside to repel the attackers, the sounds of gunfire likewise drawing reinforcements from around the city. It mattered little however. Krisas' blood and that of his brothers was up and it was only a matter of time before they revealed their true selves. Once that happened no one would be safe.
With a crackle and a blinding flash, a mass teleport of 3 squads of Warp spiders came in on the Tau position. A Monstrous Wraithknight dropped out of the skies, it's heavy Wraithcannons ripping into a Leman Russ, sending chunks of it directly into the Warp. The Eldar counter attack had to come at the moment where the Imperium believed it was winning. It was imperative that they over stretched themselves, coming into kill zones, picked by the Farseer. From the Shadows, the Eldar host struck, the cloak of deception thrown off in one grandiose gesture. Warlock Eluthrien led the counter-attack. "With me, Brothers and Sisters!!" The Harlequins of the Laughing God led the leading blade, slicing and pirouetting and ducking and weaving, sending the Advancing Imperials reeling from their fierce onslaught. A crackling blast hit a small bunch of Veterans, electrocuting them where the stood. Another group of them and some of the surrounding rubble ceased to exist as a temporary portal to the warp appeared in their midst, sucking them inexorably in, to their doom. "Even their Elite are no match for the skills of the Eldar Warhost!" The onslaught began anew, Guardians and Dire Avengers, coordinating their volleys so that none could survive the onslaught. Several Dark Reapers added their firepower to the attack, until the familiar roar of the Valkyries coming in sounded. They turned their Reaper Launchers to the sky, filling it with fire, making it deadly for the flyers to pass. One had a hit to it's wing and it careened off into a nearby building. Some Wave Serpents came to the fore and added it's heavier weaponry to the fight. The Xenos had reclaimed the advantage. "Forward, to Victory!"
OOC: We were still waiting for the Eldar-Tau meeting but just continue with the war, I will write a flashback post about that later since Eldar & Tau Leader are not very certain how to write it and since I know both their goals, etc. I think I can write something up that makes us all happy. For your convenience: Tau & Imperium's turn on the Ora attack Imperium's & Inquisition turn on the Koroa attack Imperium's turn on Dretia attack ; perhaps a small update what is going on in Limar? Chaos - Hidden troops in freighters part on Koroa attack (except they act a bit later of course)
Koroa Space Port Mallar As the sounds of combat filled the freighter's interior Mallar formed a sly grin under his helmet, he stepped to the rear of the freighter where his strike team stood ready and eager for combat. "BROTHERS! We have finally been signaled and can be released from the bonds of this cage! Your weapons are ready! Your eyes are eager to see blood! Your minds are clear on your goals! Your hate ready to feed on the fear of the weak! Steel yourselves for the Dark Gods watch over you this day! TO WAR!" Mallar yelled with a ferocious fury. The freighter's cargo ramp dropped slowly revealing to the panicking Imperials that they were not safe in their hold. With a loud and furious howl Mallar roared "DEATH TO THE FALSE EMPEROR!" Mallar moved as fast as his Terminator Armor would carry him down the ramp, he roared as he charged the nearest Imperial Guard and swung his Power Maul with unholy strength splitting the Imperial Guard's weak armor right open sending blood flying through the air, Mallar looked to a smaller group and started to open fire with his Combi-Flamer, filling the air with high explosive rounds as the a few of the Chaos Space Marines open fired on the same target. "Thousand Sons, concentrate on the Imperial forces on the elevated positions!" the Rubric Marines silently obeyed as their two Sorcerer Masters directed their fire, the two Aspiring Sorcerers stayed well out of the line of fire while providing Psyker support, ensuring of their own safety. Two of the Chaos Space Marines who both had Heavy Bolters were providing suppresive fire on the Imperial Guardsmen that were at elevated positions hoping to prevent any combat advantages that were at the PDF's disposal, another with a missile launcher was on the watch for any Vehicle support with Krak Missles ready and loaded. Steelfang with his Combi-Melta and the other five Chaos Space Marines were shooting anything in sight. Mallar figured that taking the spaceport would be simple however the PDF could have surprises, he could not be sure, one thing he was sure of that he would show them his might and their weakness, he would show them their weakness. (OOC: I'm not sure if this was a good post or not, I didn't want to seem like I was too controlling of the PDF in the space port, if need be I can re post or fix anything that seems incorrect, let me know . )
Koroa City, The Holy Synod of the Emperor's Light Lord Inquisitor Keralix The explosion could be heard all over the city and it was only matched by the cries of pain that followed as one of the city's many checkpoints was destroyed. The black cloaked entourage bearing symbols of the Inquisition paused and took cover behind the gates of the Synod, as they inspected the plumes of smoke in the distance. As quickly as the flood lights around the mega-church's walls came to life, the Lord Inquisitor immediately recognized the battle roars of the warriors of chaos. Keralix immediately began shouting orders amongst the stampeding groups of guardsmen that were entrenching behind buildings and in gutters that faced the conflict. "Everyone down! The enemies of the Emperor have made their move!" Immediately the Sororitas that had been accompanying him began entrenching themselves along-side the guardsmen in the streets, their backs close to the gates of the Synod in case there was need for a tactical retreat. In the burst of movement from the Inquisitor's group, Castus ,along with Victoria, began searching for a means to scale the Synod's walls in-preparation for the assault that may come. With their departure, Keralix turned towards his second in command, the Celestian Superior Lydia and braced his hands on her armored shoulders. "Lydia, we have little time to prepare. The smell of brinestone...this stench of heresy..I am all to familiar with it. The forces of chaos are here." He looked once more towards the plumes of smoke. The sirens of Koroa had yet to begin, which mean't his forces had to act fast if they were to be prepared for what would come. He turned back towards Lydia and threw off the calm voice he had been maintaining, replacing it with the true cold voice that his kind was known for. "I am going to retrieve the wargear from the thunderhawk I had land here. In my absence, you will not let these gates fall." He did not wait for an answer. Immediately he began making his way too a panicked group of cardinals that were clamoring to the guards around them, begging for an explanation as to what was happening. Upon witnessing the Lord Inquisitor (whom had only a few days before been confirmed to have arrived) approaching them, the Cardinals quickly dusted off their robes and seemingly dismissed the guardsmen they had been bothering. Greeting the Inquisitor with gasps of awe and blessings of the emperor, they notified him that his thunderhawk had landed in a makeshift landing pad on the opposite side of the compound where the city's guardsmen had created a command center. Keralix's mind was rushing as the plans he had set in motion for Lorias had become strained once more. His impatience granted him haste as he made his way to the opposite side of the compound.
The din of combat filled the air around Steelfang he fired off controled bursts of bolts into the hapless PDF claiming their worthless lives their lasguns leaving only scorch marks on his errant pattern power armor one either very brave or very stupid soul tried to charge Steelfang only to be rewarded with a heavy hook to the head crushing the poor man's skull sending shards of skull and brain matter flying everywhere. The blood was begining to make the floor slick so much so that some of the PDF managed to slip in it as they tried to find cover their mistake cost each one their life *Master this is hardly a challenge and I still do not trust these chaos mongrels* a flat mechanical voice intoned in Steelfang's mind it was his power armor's machine spirit it is said that the first owner of a suit of power armor and the suit's machine spirit share a deep bond to the point they can comunicate*niether do I but they just a means to an end * Steelfang retorted slamming a fresh magazine into his combi-melta Serenity he was back in the fight a fight that for seemed to be on his side
