OOC: I think from my Lorias watch that it's time for the Ultramarines to arrive, with my IF's being second to arrive.
Bastion Decimas Dretia City What little moonlight illuminated the besieged city of Dretia, was slowly eclipsed by a massive black shadow. The Tau Manta loomed over the defenders like a vengeful god. It spat brilliant blue beams from its Ion Cannons, leaving gaping wounds in the building s below and making craters of the anti-aircraft batteries that dotted the curtain wall. What few aircraft remained fought desperately to make a dent in the Tau air support. A small dent was made, but at terrible cost. The Barracudas were just too maneuverable. The Imperial pilots weren’t experienced with fighting Xeno aircraft, as they only could train against their own. The damn Tau flyers could move in ways that no aircraft should be able to. Techno-sorcery of the highest order! Captain Brackston looked at the small scale tactical hololith inside his cramped command bunker. It was hard to focus on directing the battle, between the rumble of explosions and the moans of the wounded in the nearby infirmary. Half of his line officers were dead, the Tau snipers breaking his chain of command one man at a time. As a last minute effort to stem the tide of casualties amongst the leadership, he had ordered his officers and sergeants to abandon any badges or helmet markings that set them apart from their troops. Too little too late, but it was making a small difference. Unfortunately, the Snipers clearly were able to tell who was in charge, simply by body language. Bastards. What hope did they have? The eastern part of the city was being rapidly over run. Those damn battlesuits were stronger then the Imperial tanks. For every one of them they took down, at least three Leman Russ’s were lost. Their only advantage was the damn things needed to brace themselves before firing, and that their firing arcs were narrow. A hard advantage to press, when the damn suits had frakking jet packs and could redeploy in the densely packed city far quicker than the lumbering Leman Russ’. His thoughts were interrupted by a shout from one of his sergeants. “Sir!” the man yelled, “A large group of Tau battlesuits are pressing up the southern defile. They are using the Ore Silos as cover. If the reports are right, one of them is the leader, by the markings on the suit.” He gestured on the hololith. “Dammit!” Brackston shouted, slamming his fists on the console. “Get every man portable heavy weapon up on the walls. We already pulled our aces. We need to make this round count. If the Tau leader can be taken out, it might demoralize the Tau, and put them on the back foot. Order Leiutenant Daxxis to deploy his armour along the culvert that runs parallel to the road on the edge of the ore silos. Move Kappa, Helix, and Tetris companies in support.” “Yes Sir!” The sergeant replied. “I’ll lead the defense myself” ~~ “Acknowledged, Command” Leiutenant Daxxis quipped into his vox bead. “I am redeploying my tanks at the designated coordinates. Open the gates!” The southern gate to the western portion Dretia opened, lowering into the ground, allowing twenty five Leman Russ battle tanks to rumble into position just south of Bastion Decimas. Using the deep culvert that ran along the road, the tanks spread out and took defensive positions. Three thousand PDF Troopers rushed out on foot to support them, using the culvert as a makeshift trench. Their faces covered with rebreathers against the thick dust cloud that permeated the air. Dispersing themselves in front of the tanks, heavy bolters and a few missile launchers spread amongst them. They waited, fingers tight on trigger guards and hearts pounding. On the battlement of Bastion Decimas behind them, Captain Brackston took shelter behind the parapet, his Vox operator next to him. The remaining heavy bolters, auto cannons and las cannons were stationed along the walls around him. The last remaining Thunderbolt and Lightning fighters were distracting the Tau Manta with all their effort. Brackston pulled out his mag-scope and surveyed the approaching Tau. The lumbering battle suites moved with a grace that such bulky things should not be able to manage. Several were in the air, the flare of their jetpacks leaving streaming trails of blue light in their wake. In the middle of the pack, one suite stood out from the others, as its jetpack shone light over its command markings. Brackston didn’t pretend to understand Tau command structure, but he placed his bet on that being the Tau strike force leader. Brackston grabbed the vox-handset the operator held out for him. “Hit them with everything you’ve got. Take out the fancy one first, he looks important!” Brackston ordered to his gunners. They opened immediately afterwards. The Leman Russ battle cannons roared, blasting craters amongst the approaching Tau battlesuits. The Troopers letting loose controlled volleys of las fire, filling the air and no man’s land between the two forces with a crimson hail of death.
South-Western District Ora City Ajax-41 withdrew his power halberd from the torso of the defeated Striking Scorpion warrior at his feet. The Eldar warrior was formidable, but had underestimated the ability of Forgemaster Bohrmann’s Skitarii. Ajax-41 held the designation of Secutor, marking him as leader of the Forgemaster's Skitarii. He was a powerful Praetorian construct, the greatest of the Forgemaster’s warriors. His dual pair of arms made him a fierce some opponent. His upper arms allowed him to wield his power halberd with deft precision, while his lower arms mounted a flamer and plasma weapon respectively. His armoured bulk was as powerful as that of an Astarte, which he rivaled in size and strength. His frame was clothed in a sleeveless rust-red robe, while his head (a mass of ocular implants and sensors) was obscured by his deep hood. The apparent weakness of the PDF disgusted him. The meat bags scrambled about like ants, trying to overwhelm the Eldar and Tau invaders. They lacked sufficient co-ordination to successfully protect the city of Ora, and more importantly, the Holy Fabrication Conclave Ultimas. No harm must be allowed to come to the sacred forges of the Conclave. The Machine-God would be grievously displeased. That was why the Forgemaster had loosed he and his brethren. The Eldar, while formidable, were relatively few in number. Their abominable Xeno Tech was no match for their blessed weapons and armour. The dying screams of the meat bags and the rapidly-becoming-familiar sounds of Xeno weapons were drawing near. The Xenos must have breached the walls. He ordered his maniple forward. Behind him, the lesser Tech Guard and war machines of the Mechanium trundled forwards. Multi-legged weapons platforms moved side by side, with more conventional tanks and bi-pedal robots. His forces were diverse, but exceptionally deadly. As they marched implacably over the rubble strewn streets, the bodies of the PDF became readily visible. Scorched craters pock-marked the cityscape and strange residual warp signatures indicated the locations of the blasphemous deployment of sacrilegious Xeno weaponry. <Order: Advance!> Ajax commanded in binary. His exloaded order was acknowledged by all Skitarii combat units. <Primary Objective: Neutralization of Xeno Threat> <Secondary Objective: Recovery of Xeno Tech specimens by order of the Forgemaster> Through the smoke and dust, targets approached. The order to fire was withheld, however, as the shapes were those of the fleeing PDF troopers and their tanks. How such sacred weapons were entrusted to worthless flesh bags, was beyond Ajax’s understanding. Ajax reached out and grasped the nearest trooper. A Captain, based off of his rank pins. <Designation: PDF Officer – Captain Grade> Ajax growled over his vox-coder <Order: Halt your retreat. Regroup your forces in our wake. Support my advance, or I will execute you> The man gazed at Ajax in abject horror. However, he nodded in understanding. Ajax released him, letting him fall to the ground. The man picked himself up, and started to shout at the other fleeing men. They rallied around him, reforming some semblance of a defensive line. The tanks eventually followed suit, lumbering into position behind piles of rubble. Ajax would only call upon them if required. He doubted they would be of much use. They were prone to fear and cowardice. No such fear afflicted his Skitarii host. They were an unstoppable tide of adamantium and steel. They were servants of the Machine God. They would not be stopped. Slender figures reared out of the smoky ruins before them. The Eldar came like a tsunami of blades. Their green and purple armoured bodies like sleek phantoms of death. Strange, whimsical creatures flittered amongst their ranks. Their armour more costume, then protection. Such abominations. Ajax activated his Refractor Field. A hazy bubble of protective energy surrounded him. He brandished his power halberd in an aggressive pattern and picked up his pace. The rest of his Praetorian maniple followed suit. The rest of the Skitarii host marched in perfect lock step, shoulder to shoulder in an impregnable phalanx. They charged to meet the Xenos head on. Weapon mounts blazing, spraying solid munitions and bolts of white hot plasma through their ranks. They would cast the Xenos out from the Forgemaster’s city. The machine would triumph over the flesh
Koroa Spaceport Koroa City – North Eastern District “Were overrun!” screamed the PDF trooper, as he fled the traitor marine’s onslaught. He and several more troopers were gunned down mercilessly. They had never seen such terrible creatures before. They were the stuff of dark nightmares and terrible bed time stories. Beasts of fable, not reality. Yet despite these assumptions, there they were. In all of their terrible glory. Dark crimson armour festooned in script and runes too terrible to stare at for any length of time. Trophies adorned them, shrunken heads and talismans of foul purpose. A few men managed to reach the gate of the spaceport before the heavy gate sealed shut. Many more were left stranded outside. Their fists banged against the unyielding adamantium, demanding entrance. Their pleas were ignored by the defenders. They were swiftly cut down by the chaos marines as they stormed through the poorly prepared barricades and past the charred remains of the PDF tanks. Behind the thick walls of the spaceport, men and tanks were hastily being prepared to repulse the invaders. On the curtain wall above their heads, the defenders turned the weapons emplacements on the approaching marines. Tearing up the street before the gate with overlapping sweeps of their heavy bolters and auto cannons. Here and there, a few brave souls even took pot shots with their lasguns at the terrible figures below. None daring to look were their shots had actually gone, for fear of being driven mad by the tainted power armour. But in their blindness, they had not expected an attack from within. The seemingly placid shape of a grounded freighter suddenly became alive with motion, as more traitors poured from the vessels cargo hold onto the tarmac. Weapons blazing and hurtling foul fireballs of warp magic. The defending PDF were woefully unprepared for such tactics. The troopers were cut down in bloody swathes, as they tried to make sense of the sudden two pronged assault. Officers shouted conflicting orders, trying to deal with both assaults at once and having little success. One PDF officer managed to get several dozen troopers to take shelter behind the large stacks of cargo crates that were haphazardly strewn about the tarmac. They took up firing positions and let loose sporadic volleys of las fire in the general direction of the traitor marines, as they poured from the freighter. ~ From his vantage point atop the Basilica of the Emperor Ascendant, Cardinal Gregorious Servantes observed the stirring chaos below. The arch enemy has shown their hand at last, it seemed. His fears were now all justified. This single act had steeled his resolve. All of his pleas to the Fabricator-Marshall had not been for nought. The proof of his suspicions lay before him. He would now have ample justification to have Alexis removed from office for his gross incompetence. Gregorious smiled. He would take great pleasure in restoring the Ecclesiachy to its place of power here on Lorias. This tribulation was but the catalyst for the sweeping changes that would follow. This show of force by the ruinous powers would be squashed swiftly, as would the pitiful invasion of the Tau. Lorias would be cleansed from the top down, and He would be left with absolute authority over this world. It was only a matter of time. With Lord Inquisitor Keralix here, he would see this taint expunged. It would prove the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the faith and loyalty of his faithful. Gregorious turned to his waiting servants, muttering amongst each other in fear. He raised his hand for silence. “Brothers, do not let fear take hold of your souls! We stand at the edge of a great threshold! Such grand opportunity lies before us. We have been presented with the burden of proof that we have so desperately sought for so long. This display of force by the dark powers has proven our fears correct. With this evidence, we will be able to unseat the Lord Governor, and reinstate Ministorum rule over this world.” Their excited praises brought a smile to Gregorious’s lips. “For now, we must seize this opportunity. Find Confessor Zeb, and have him assume command of the cities defence. The Holy Synod must be defended at all costs. Ready the Sororitas! Have them prepare themselves to defend the gates, for they must be opened to allow the faithful to take shelter within our sacred walls!” “We cannot abandon the people, not when the Fabricator Marshall has already done so. Let the flock return to its shepherds. Hold them close to our warm bosom. Shelter them from this storm, and they will do whatever we ask of them. Their support will be needed in the days ahead” “Now go, spread the word, and let the Emperor’s work be done!” They dispersed in earnest. Hurrying from the Cardinal’s chambers with purpose. Gergorious turned back to his view of the city. Soon . . . so very soon
Mallar grinned behind his helmet as he watched his team spew death upon the frightened space port defenders, Chaos Space Marines reveled in the bloodshed, some even laughing at the pathetic attempts of the Imperials to slay them, their Las Gun shots only scraping their Power Armor, nevertheless Mallar barked orders to his team "Get into cover, do not let these fools get the satisfaction of actually hurting any of you!" The small strike team quickly followed orders, knowing how delicate the task at hand really was, the two Aspiring Sorcerers even directing the Thousand Sons behind a few crates and behind some of the Freighter's landing gear. As the fight continued, and the Imperials obviously being overrun slowly but surely, Mallar barked more orders as he pointed to two of his Brothers "You two! Get into the control room and open that gate, let our allies join this fight and let us end these Imperial dog's pitiful resistance!" as much Mallar was enjoying himself he knew he had to end this fight quickly in order to signal the reinforcements.
OOC for your convenience: In Ora we are waiting for Tau input now, then Eldar, then Imperium again in Koroa we are waiting for White Angel's input (newest member ; leader of Iron Warriors) & DarkApostle222, after that Alu Mordicus / Inquisition players may join in (exception for the Confessor Zeb character as he was mentioned in the last post) In Dretia it is my turn now Time should be roughly 22:30-23:00 now in-game, Ultramarines arrive sometimes same time next day, Imperial Fists roughly +6-12h after Ultramarines arrived (yes takes a while but for that it will be an important event as it will keep the tides of battle arise, do not forget.... Climatic events are swings and not a line ; the final battles after all should be epic and that should not happen right away!) In Space, well there is nothing going on till the next force arrives personal opinion: I think Ultramarines will pretty much arrive after the battles in Dretia, Ora and Koroa and then I think we can expect Lorias' City to be the main goal and the main battles while it will be interesting to see what will happen to Limar... ^^ And yeah still have to make the flash-back post of the Tau-Eldar Meeting.... Sorry for that
*25 tanks, two, perhaps up to four thousand soldiers....* Ja'Ra quickly counted as looked upon the new forces going south from his superior position, right above them. "Crisis-Team, activate jet-packs, move over to the west-side of the city, they cannot keep up with our mobility. Utilize hit-and-run tactics, focus on the heavy tanks!" And as he finished his order, his 2 XV-8 Guards already disappeared to fulfill their order, they were as quick as a Drones AI. "Pathfinders, I think you have done enough damage upon their chain of command, excellent work! Focus on Heavy weapons and mark targets for the Mantas and XV-88 Broadsides!" Then Ja'Ra opened a channel to the Imperial local forces "We do not wish to harm you more than necessary! Our contacts have made out the seed of Chaos on your world and we deployed to get rid of them. But as we are unaware of the presence of warp we only want to kill those which oppose us or seem to belong to the Chaotic Forces! Stop opposing us if you wish to focus on the Chaos, you can hate us with your faith all you want, we wish to bring the Greater Good to this world by removing the taint of your world! We are also ready to lay our weapons down and negotiate with words, rather than fire!" After his short speech he backed up, jumping from the walls and towards north-east, re-grouping with the XV-88 Broadside Battlesuits which kept their heavy fire up. He stood among the leader of the squad, concentrating fire on the Infantry and keeping Aircrafts in check, his Rocket Launch-Pods on his shoulders ready to fire whenever a target would come anywhere close. As the Imperial Forces deployed in the South, there was no Tau any longer. The Shas'Vre's Squad split into the west and east of the city, the Fire Warriors which were supposed to invade the southisde fortified themselves at the rockslide caused by the Imperium themselves and the Pathfinders shoot from the mountains in the North.... Dretia was surrounded, and the officer was perhaps not even noticing it yet. "Ready Operation Erosion, get 6 Orcas close, but in distance, around 1 mile North-East from our Pathfinders, keep the Barracudas close as Anti-Air cover for the Orcas and our Manta!"
For your convenience again the turns: In Ora we are waiting for Tau input now, then Eldar, then Imperium again in Koroa we are waiting for White Angel's input (newest member ; leader of Iron Warriors) & DarkApostle222, after that Alu Mordicus / Inquisition players may join in (exception for the Confessor Zeb character as he was mentioned in the last post so he may be put to action already) In Dretia it is Mechaius' turn Time should be roughly 22:30-23:00 now in-game, Ultramarines arrive sometimes same time next day, Imperial Fists roughly +6-12h after Ultramarines arrived (yes takes a while but for that it will be an important event as it will keep the tides of battle arise, do not forget.... Climatic events are swings and not a line ; the final battles after all should be epic and that should not happen right away!) In Space, well there is nothing going on till the next force arrives And yeah still have to make the flash-back post of the Tau-Eldar Meeting.... Sorry for that (will come most likely tomorrow morning my time in ~10-14 hours)
