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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 25, 2009 16:19:07 GMT -5
Well, as a way to combat the summer doldrums, Requiem, Envoy, and I have cooked up a Campaign, called the Battle for Fi'rios. Aeon and Angels of Blood will be taking part, and Col.Brigham and Sister G might join in as well. Fi'rios is a Tau world taken from the Orks during the Third Sphere Expansion. Chaos forces, allying themselves with the remaining Orks on the planet, have invaded, and succeeded in pushing the Tau back to the very tip of one of the two continents, Su'Shi. An Imperial Crusade has answered the distress call of the Tau, under the guise of fighting for the Greater Good. In reality, they're using this as a chance to take the planet for themselves, and create a buffer against further Tau and Chaos infringements in the sector. A combined force of Tau, IG, SoB, and Marines will be facing off against Renegade IG and SM, Orks, and CSM. Eldar may make an appearance latter on Each player will be fighting 3-5 battles, sometimes by themselves, sometimes beside (and occasionally against) other members of the Campaign. We'll be posting battle reports here, as well as giving commanders their next assignments. Battle Reports will either be in the form of a story, or an Official Imperial After Action Report. We've chosen to put them here because this IS a story driven campaign, and all of the discussion about it will be in the form of Fluff. Here's an Intro gif Requeim made for it.  Wish us luck! Reds |
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 25, 2009 16:19:24 GMT -5
Imperial Order of BattleTarrian 5th Assault Corps (RedsandRoyals) 2 Infantry Regiments (Tarrian 81st and 45th Infantry) 1 Armoured Regiment (Tarrian 55th Armoured) 2 Artillery Battalions (Tarrian 12th Artillery) 1 Storm Trooper Company (9 Coy) Order of the Emperor Ascendant (attached) "Martel's Blade" Task Force (Requiem) Scarlet Edge Task Force (3rd Company) Tellius PDF (3rd Division, Errant) Task Force Anvil (Col. Brigham) 1 Regiment (442nd Maccrage) Tau-Imperium Joint Task Force (Envoy) 1 Regiment (Adorean 35th) Tau Military Remnants (1st Manta Strike Cadre) Blood Angles (AoB) Blood Angles Task Force (2nd Company) Voltian Task Force (Aeon) 1 Regiment (Voltian 99th) Warblades Task Force (Elements of 3rd Company) The initial assault on the Continent of Su'shi will be launched from Port Vengeance, a captured Naval Base on Redemption Isle. Three landing beaches have been designated, and Astartes elements, supported by Airborne forces will seize several key locations behind the beaches, allowing the landing forces to move inland. Here's a map of the Continent.  Reds
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 25, 2009 16:20:59 GMT -5
Chapter 1 – Standing on the Threshold of a Dream
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all
I didn’t know where I was at first. Then I recognized the granite walls and the marble floor. This was the Emperor’s Temple of the Saints on Tellius. Strange – I was sure we were en route to some Tau world. Fi’rios, or something. It didn’t matter how I got here, it was a dream, and in dreams such things seldom made sense. As I entered the narthex of the temple, I saw the familiar seven gates with seven doors. They led to seven shrines honoring the seven saints of Tellius. Each shrine had three candles that were always lit: one celebrating their birth, one celebrating their deeds in life, and one mourning their passing. I didn’t go into any of those; I went into the side passage where the names of fallen heroes of the Tellius Planetary Defense Forces were written, as if impelled by an unseen force. It was a long hallway. The walls were a relief mosaic of names – more names than could be read in one lifetime. Even so, I recognized a few of them. Good men and women I had served alongside. I got to the end of the hallway and saw, to my surprise, my name was carved into the granite wall. Then I awoke.
“Damn the Eldar.”
That was how I had greeted every day for the past 32 years. Every Tellian man, woman, and child learned from birth to hate the Eldar above all other forms of galactic pollution. My hatred for them was more personal – they had taken from me. They had taken a brother, my wife, and two of my children. That made the loss of my own left arm seem insignificant.
“Damn the Eldar to the depths of the Warp,” I spat with as much venom as my sleep-addled mouth could produce. All I had left was my son, who had been inducted into the Space Marines of the Scarlet Edge. I was so proud of him. There had been men from my family in that Chapter ever since they had adopted our planet as their new homeworld. I had no idea where they had been before, as the subject seemed taboo.
Thinking about my son, Lloyd was his name, had brought a smile to my lips. It was required of every officer in the Tellius PDF to have at least two children. It was encouraged for high ranking officers like myself to sire more. I wondered if he was yet a full-fledged marine, or still a scout. I missed him terribly, as I hadn’t seen him since he was seven years old. Then he had been selected as a candidate for induction. I had immediately been offered a promotion, which I had declined – I would rather earn my station based upon my own merits, not those of my son. That was 28 years ago. I accepted the fact that I could never be anything but the man who was, biologically, his father. It didn’t matter. He was upholding a tradition in my family that few on the entire world of Tellius could claim: we were related to Space Marines.
With the pride only a father could feel, I was given the strength to rise from my shipboard cot, and pour some caf. I sipped the hot, bracing fluid and thought about my dream. It was the goal of every soldier to die in such a way as to be counted a hero worthy of memorial on the Wall of Remeberance. I wondered if this dream wasn’t an omen of my time being at hand. I paused, and shivered. I welcomed death. She and I had always been close friends, but I still hoped to accomplish more in this life, before I went to be with Him.
Reports of this planet said it was held by the Tau, and it was under attack by renegade Imperial forces – both Guardsmen and Space Marines who were on the path to Chaos. It was, it seemed, a third sphere expansion world the fish-heads had taken from the Orks, so I expected there might be some feral Orks in the mountains. At least the arid dirtball had some snow on it in the mountains. How other people in the Imperium could live without the Emperor’s loving embrace that was a gentle snowfall had always perplexed me. How anyone could live in a hive city was even further beyond my ken. How the filthy aliens could live at all was something I had never bothered to even try to understand. I shook my head, “Crazy fish bastards. Now, for some reason, we’re coming to your aid? I’d sooner shoot you, and take your world for the Emperor.”
I downed the rest of the steaming, and quite bitter beverage in a single mouthful. After taking a shower and getting into my uniform, I took the lift to the bridge. I was greeted by Colonel Sheldon, my adjutant.
“Good morning, General. Sleep well?”
“Mostly. How long until we arrive?”
“Two more days, sir, until we’re on station in orbit; a day to prepare our forces and coordinate with the Scarlet Edge for the assault. Perhaps we can be ready sometime late that third day from now.”
“Good. Carry on.”
I was the in command of the Tellius PDF 3rd Division. We were on an errantry tour alongside the Scarlet Edge 3rd company, our sister force in the Marine chapter. My name was Lord-General Kratos Bishop, and I served the Emperor with all my heart.
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Post by nicholasakira on Jul 25, 2009 16:26:03 GMT -5
Standing on the threshold of a dream? Sounds like it belongs on the back of a nightwish album.
I was reading this and came upon "Damn the eldar" and wondered 'did I anger ElegaicRequiem?'
So this will be Imperials verus tau, eldar, and orks?
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 25, 2009 16:54:40 GMT -5
Lol. No. Long before I knew you existed (or whatever laptops with artificial intelligence do...) my fluff has been all about how my forces hate the Eldar. Because you don't have legs, you may go pantsless. But only so long as there are no legs. You're the coolest laptop on the forum!  |
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 25, 2009 17:10:59 GMT -5
File Code: 34X7-QR/Ref
AAR For 4th Platoon, F Coy, 2nd Battalion, 81st Infantry
Submitted by: Lt. Adrian Chalke
At 0630, as planned, 4th Platoon, supported by three Shock Teams from the 42nd Pioneers, two Hellhounds and two Leman Russ Battle Tanks from the 55th Armoured, and elements The Order of the Emperor Ascendant, approached Echo Red Beach. Resistance to our approach was light at first, but as we neared the shore, enemy small arms fire and artillery began to fall among our landing craft. A direct hit claimed our Autocannon sections, and several men in the line squads took shrapnel or stray rounds.
Once we disembarked, we still had several yards of water to wade through before we reached dry land. We incurred minor casualties from enemy fire, and in turn our heavy weapons and armour punished their defenses. My only guess can be that the enemy command was confused by the suddenness of the assault, and was in no position to issue orders. 4th and 5th Squads, supported by two Leman Russes and a Missile Section, set up a base of fire, giving support to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Squads as they moved up the center. The three Pioneer sections moved up the left, supported by a Hellhound, while the Sororitas, in their Rhinos, move up the right, our other Hellhound with them. I personally led the advance up the center, while Lt. Ramillies, the Pioneer platoon commander, moved with his men, his Standard visible even through the smoke.
As we pushed forward, 1st Squad was caught in a punishing crossfire, and was slaughtered. One of the Hellhounds was knocked out by a Lascannon emplacement, and 3rd and 5th Squads took heavy casualties. Lt. Ramillies and his Pioneers took punishing amounts of Small arms fire from the enemy infantry, but their use of beach obstacles and their Carapace armour ensured that most survived. My own squad came under fire as well, but only one man was wounded. The Combat Engineer team in front of us was not so lucky, as they were wiped out by small arms fire and Grenade Launchers. My men took their revenge by destroying a Basilisk and claiming several infantrymen defending the central bunker. The Hellhound supporting the Sororitas washed down the left bunker as they Battle Sisters disembarked, surprising the firing ports of the bunker with flamers and bolter fire.
By this time, almost all of our remaining forces were at the bunkers. The Battle Sisters lost several of their number and both Rhinos to HW fire, but eliminated the threat and secured the bunker. A Pioneer demolition team was reduced to only one man, Cpl. Chass, I’m told, by fire from the left bunker. He retaliated with a Demolition charge, blasting apart the squad inside the bunker and dazing the enemy troopers around it. The remaining Pioneers then assault the bunker in a vicious melee, Lt. Ramillies leading them. I myself ordered the remainders of 2nd and 3rd to suppress the enemy around the central bunker with lasfire and flamers. My squad then stormed it, cutting down the squad manning it as they tried to flee. Both of the remaining enemy artillery pieces were damaged, one being destroyed and the other losing its main gun to a rocket.
At this point, the enemy new the fate of the beach was in the balance, and threw every unit he had into the fighting around the central and left bunkers. All of 3rd Squad was wiped out, as was most of 2nd. I doubt we would have been able to fend them off if not for the assistance of the remaining Hellhound. The Sororitas defending the right hand bunker, unopposed now, pored fire into the vulnerable flank of the enemy Basilisk, immobilizing it and killing several crew. The assault around bunker three was vicious, and I was unable to tell for some time who was in control until I saw Lt. Ramillies’ standard bearer atop the bunker, waving his banner in victory.
We routed the remaining enemy forces, and secured the area as 1st Battalion came ashore. I learned then that Cpt. Hastur, my commanding officer, had been killed in action, so I assumed command of F Company. I will submit a Company AAR after I receive the reports of the other platoon commanders.
Casualty list is attached.
Signed,
A. R. Chalke, Lieutenant
Chalke put down his pen. As he read the report over, he sighed. How could so much death and destruction be condensed into so few words?
Smoke wafted gently out of the fire ports of the bunker Chalke was sitting on top of. Off to his left, the smoldering wreckage of one of the heretic Basilisks emitted pops and crackles as it burned. A thick pall of smoke covered the beach, and Chalke could see men, Tarrians as well as rear service personnel, recovering the dead and wounded.
Chalke sighed again, and wiped a speckle of blood off his cheek.
This was going to be a long war.
Reds
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Post by Aeon on Jul 26, 2009 0:04:14 GMT -5
The bridge connected two sides of a river bed. On the other end, a chaos warlord, dressed in blood red power armour, and accompanied by fearsome looking warriors, inspected a garrison of a hundred or more chaos troopers. They all stood, unaware of the Imperial’s presence, rank and file. An Executioner gun tank stood parked several meters away, guns facing the wrong way. This would be a slaughter, Arkus thought.
Arkus was a marine, a Space Marine, part of the Warblade’s chapter based on Voltia. Accompanying them in this critical mission to seize the crossing known as “Sword Bridge”, were ten Recon Troopers of the Voltian 99th Shock Battalion, and twenty heavy shock troopers. A Chimera gun wagon sat quietly set up near the recon team’s entrenched position.
A fine tactical set up, Arkus supposed, though he was no expert on Imperial Guard strategy. He only hopped that their numbers would be enough.
At last the order was given to advance by Captain Drakus. Fire ignited across the Imperial size of the river, multi-lasers, heavy bolters, Lasguns and auto rifles all lighting up whatever target they had been ordered to target.
Heretics died in a score in mere moments. A heavy bolter team was cut to shreds before it could fire more than a few shots. Frantic, the chaos warlord ordered his mass of men to charge, bounding across the bridge to engage the heavily armed guardsmen in hand to hand. The tank turrets swiveled to open up on them, claiming the lives of several shock troopers within moments of activating.
Arkus and his brothers fired their weapons at targets across the river, steadily claiming the lives of heavy bolter gunners. They only had one gun, though, and their solid slug shots simply bounced off the warrior’s power armour as if nothing had struck them.
The heretics had reached the guardsmen on the bridge in less than a minute, and were engaged in a fierce hand to hand battle. Sergeant Xantis noticed the guardsmen were faltering and ordered the marines to move up.
“Follow me, my brothers, to battle!” he cried, drawing his power sword. Arkus was right behind him, sweat beading on his forehead in the hot sun that was just beginning to rise over the horizon.
For over a century, Arkus had fought side by side with Xantis, and for a century, both had proved exceptional warriors. Neither had lost a battle in nearly four decades, and none of their squad had ever perished. They were exemplary marines.
But now, this fateful day, as they ran, a heavy bolter round clipped a brother marine, Brother Tanner, and he fell, too wounded to move on. “Go on, go on!” he howled, clutching his wound, but still firing from the ground with a single hand.
Arkus did not look back, focusing instead on the task at hand. A wave of human bodies had come crashing over the tank trap deployed in the center of the bridge. The guardsmen there had begun to fall back, terrified of the encroaching enemy.
But Arkus had no fear. No fear of death, no fear of pain. He was a space marine. He unholstered his bolt pistol and unsheathed his astartes warknife. The time for killing at close quarters had arrived.
With defiance, he fired his bolt pistol, shredding a pair of traitors before laying into them with his blade and fist. It all seemed to occur in slow motion. He felt his knife slip through the rib cage of a renegade, and the ecstatic moisture of blood hit his face as the wound was ripped even wider when the blade was yanked free.
Within moments, the nine marines had fought off nearly thirty blood thirsty heretics. And that was when the warlord came over the barricade, accompanied by what seemed like yet another endless tide of soldiers. They charged the marines, and two of Arkus’s brethren fell victim to power fists.
Arkus struggled to reach the warlord, and dove at him. He was massive, and powerful. Not only that, but he was quick, and no sooner had Arkus dived at him, was a power blade stuck deep in his gut.
The mighty warrior fell to his knees. Xantis howled, but Arkus couldn’t hear him. He slashed out at the warlord, but his blow did not land, parried by a bodyguard. The last thing Arkus saw before Xantis and his other brothers fell wounded or dead was Captain Drakus’s Relic Blade swinging a direct blow into the skull of the warlord. The morale of the arch-enemy had been reduced to nothing. Then he blacked out, even for a space marine, the pain of a tainted blade to the vital areas was too much.
When finally he awoke, four members of Arkus’s squad had perished, and dead, mangled bodies lay scattered everywhere. The Imperials had buried their dead, including four of the recovered bodies of the Grenadier infiltration team. The other bodies had been either cast into the river or so poorly mutilated and disturbed that finding them would be impossible.
Arkus looked up at Captain Drakus, who towered above him. At first the wounded marine did not want to speak, shameful of what his superior might say to him. Careless, he had been, though ultimately the responsibility laid with Xantis for charging.
“A…a victory, then, Captain?” he asked finally.
“Yes, my son…a victory indeed. But for how long…” he paused, “Only the Emperor can know. They will be back for Sword Bridge…and in great numbers, that is for sure…rest now, my child, for you are too grievously wounded to speak.”
The day had drawn to and end, and Arkus decided it was time to enter prayer. He knelt to his knees, and prayed to the Emperor to guide the souls of his four lost brothers, to guard them on their journey to the Golden Throne.
And with those thoughts, a single, miniscule tear welled in his eyes, though it was not a tear of sorrow – it was a tear of hatred.
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 27, 2009 11:03:54 GMT -5
My Dearest Collette, I’m not much of a writer, but you know that. Hey, at least I’m making an effort, right? I shudder to think what the poor astropaths think when they have to deal with me – even you sometimes seem upset, haha. Today, I get to see my first groundside action on our errantry tour! I’m so excited. Col. Sheldon says that we’re going to take a world from the Archenemy. I spent at least an extra hour polishing the aquilas on my uniform and lasgun. I’ll show those heretics what it means to be blessed by the light of the Emperor. It’s almost too much to think about, you know? Only a year ago we were in basic together. I can’t believe we didn’t get to be in the same division. Sgt. Brom’s a real Grox-lover that way: he knew we were dating. He’s probably jealous because he’ll never have a beauty like you. Remember the time when we snuck out of the barracks, and went to the lookout ridge? And we could see the lights of Melior shining in the darkness like a sea of stars? That was the night I decided I loved you. By the Emperor, Collette, I do love you. You know that right? Always, and only you. This tour will be over in another eight months, and the 3rd will be rotated back to normal PDF duty. I can’t wait to be back home, in your arms. And then I can request a transfer. Or you could… the Lord-General is a great man – when he looks in your eyes, you can feel that he’s taking your measure. Not only that, but it feels like he genuinely cares for each and every one of us – that is, the men and women of the 3rd. Old ‘Bootface Brom’ could learn a thing or two about inspiring loyalty from General Bishop… The stars out here are very different from the ones back on Tellius. There are so many more of them than I ever thought possible. The true scope of the galaxy is beyond my wildest imaginings, even after serving out here for two years. I guess that’s why they have us do these errantry tours, huh? Give us some real experience to toughen us up. Hell, it’s been two years, and I’m just now getting to go planetside. Being cooped up on this ship is almost unbearable; I don’t care if the very ground itself blasphemes the Emperor, I’ll just have to shoot it, and then be grateful for a sky to look at. Thinking about you makes the waiting both easier and harder, Collette. I just can’t wait to be home with you. Every night I dream of spending time with you, laughing about when I hit that tree skiing, shopping in the market district of Melior, even just to sit and quietly spend time next to you. Those dreams – that’s what I live for until my return. Well, I have to go, we’re preparing to drop the 5th right into the mountains. With love overflowing,
Soren |
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 28, 2009 20:42:36 GMT -5
Space Marines didn’t need sleep the same way normal humans did. The Catalepsean Node allows them to rest parts of their brains will still conscious. However, sleep they could if they so desired. Lloyd enjoyed sleep. It allowed him to get up feeling better than if he had used his Catalepsean Node. He often dreamed while he slept, and his Space Marine enhanced memory maintained the crystal clarity of his perceptions within the dreams. His dreams were of training, and of battle. It was all he had known since he was four years old. Even so, there was a man occasionally in his dreams which he did not recognize. He felt he should, and this frustrated him. The man was tall and lean. He had a stern voice and demeanor, but he somehow seemed kind and gentle. His face was a map of scars, his left arm was bionic – a raw metal construction that replaced flesh and bone long gone. Always in the dreams, the man was smiling. Always in the dreams, he told Lloyd that he loved him. Who was this man? And why did he love him? Lloyd had asked Chaplain Gray about the dreams once. The six-hundred year old spiritual leader of 3rd company had paused for a moment. Then the chaplain had smiled. It was the same smile as the man in his dreams. “You will remember when you’re ready,” the pastor had said in his fatherly tenor.
“When I’m ready? But when will that be?”
“Only you can answer that, Lloyd Bishop.”
The chaplain had left the scout standing there, perplexed. Lloyd stood there a moment longer, then went to continue his training for the insertion onto Fi’rios. In one more day, the battle for the world’s soul would commence.
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 28, 2009 20:47:41 GMT -5
Chapter 2 – Soaring on Eagles’ Wings
Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
You’re a natural, Lloyd, don’t worry about it. Those had been the words Sergeant Shaye used to give him confidence. Connor Shaye was Lloyd’s scout sergeant, and Shaye had nominated him for the honor of being the forward observer in the battle for taking Perdition Fortress. His was the first action of any of the forces of Martel’s Blade. Before any armed forces had assaulted the fortress, a scout marine of the Scarlet Edge was set up in the rugged terrain a mere 600 meters from the five bastions guarding the mouth of the Hal’but River – Alo’raa’s water supply. Before any of his brothers were on the planet, Lloyd Bishop was. It was a lot of responsibility, but just being a Space Marine was a grave duty in and of itself.
A faint light appeared in the goggle display he was wearing – the bombers were here to deliver a deadly payload of firestorm bombs. A glance at his ranging equipment and auspex told him everything he needed to know about the enemy’s fortifications. He relayed the targeting data from his position to the bombers, that way they could triangulate the coordinates of the Interceptor autocannons that embraced the stronghold. If the assault was to succeed, those guns needed to be destroyed before his brothers arrived. He paused a moment to look for potential drop-zones for the drop pods. After a brief quandary, he decided that the area in between all five bunkers was large enough. He relayed that to the Reaper, the strike cruiser in orbit.
The first of the bombers flew overhead so quickly that Lloyd was half-surprised to see them already here. He watched as sixteen too-small looking spheres slammed against the fortresses defenses. Several of the gigantic explosions were off-target, so he adjusted the information and sent that to the pilots of the bombers. They obliged him by making another pass. All the Interceptors had been obliterated in a wash of concussive force and incandescent heat. His auspex informed him that the void shield the heretical Guardsmen had installed in the main bastion had collapsed in on itself. One griffon heavy mortar had been destroyed, pinning its sister tank in place and ruining its mortar, and a colossus siege mortar had also felt the Emperor’s wrath. From where he was, he could see that a chimera had had its right track blown completely off by one of the firestorm bombs. This job was going to be much easier that he had thought.
With a screeching wail that sent a shiver down Lloyd’s spine, two Scarlet Edge drop pods struck the ground with all the subtlety and grace of a shotgun blast fired into a frost melon. The dreadnought Cain Azriel came out with a warcry that was almost as terrible as the drop pods’ descent. Out of the other pod came ten power armored figures: Tactical Squad Aleph. They went to either side towards two of the five bastions. After Alpeh had taken positions, five terminators teleported onto the field of battle in position to assault both a bastion, and the disabled chimera. With a rumbling behind him, Lloyd turned to see Captain Layton’s razorback arrive with four scout bikers rushing past.
The elation Lloyd felt at seeing his comrades appear quickly turned to horror as a storm eagle barrage utterly destroyed those bikers in a rain of fiery malice. The sense of dread deepened when a traitorous counter-insurgent appeared behind the terminators and fired his pistol into them. Fortunately, the round failed to penetrate their substantial armor. However one of them did fall to a threat that Lloyd couldn’t see – the passengers of the immobilized chimera most likely. He checked his auspex; there were eight life signs on the screen, and two dissipating heat signatures with no living bodies next to them – over-heated plasma guns. At least, he mused bitterly, it takes two of them to die just to kill one of us. When he looked back up, he saw that three members of Alpeh One were down, and the members of Aleph Two were under assault by cultists. The keen of psyker lightning was dancing playfully along one of the drop pods, which meant that not only were these men dirty heretics, but they were harboring psyker scum! Llyod’s hands ached for the heft of a bolter to weigh them down.
His frustration with being unable to assist became almost unbearable as he watched four of his brothers fall to the rapacious abilities of these former guardsmen and their psyker leader. The last marine fell back to give his grief voice through his bolter, but the cultists were too fast, and swarmed over him. An automated heavy bolter on the left bastion finally managed to hit a marine of Aleph One, punching the soldier’s leg off at the hip. In less than half a minute, ten of his battle-brothers had fallen. Lloyd felt a hard lump form in his gut. He would never forgive these wretches for what they had done.
The terminators turned to face the counter-insurgent, and let loose with a withering hail of fire from the three remaining storm bolters, and an assault cannon. The fool never had a prayer. A third drop pod came crashing into the open ground beside the other two pods, thanks to the locator beacon in the first pod. Out of it came five Vanguard veterans who immediately poured fire from their bolt pistols into the heretic squad that had killed half of squad Aleph. The fury of the drop pods’ storm bolters quickly followed. Some of the eight men simply fell where they stood; some of them exploded form the inside. A lascannon blast from the razorback evaporated one of the three survivors; Captain Layton was trying to vent some of the fury he shared with Lloyd. They were so crazed, however, that they appeared to not notice their fallen comrades. The auspex showed that the terminators had completely annihilated the traitors who had emerged from the chimera. Vengeance was sweet indeed.
Another light on his HUD: the assault marines of Squad Beth were due to arrive in 30 seconds. Lloyd looked to the sky to see them, but as he did so, he noticed what had killed three of Aleph One – the most ridiculous torrent of las fire he had ever seen in his life poured out of the rear-left bunker. This time, they aimed for the vanguard that had just landed. Lloyd could barely contain a cry of grief, as all five of them were cut down like wheat in a field. He forwarded the coordinates of that bastion to Squad Beth. That building needed to come down. As he sent the information, a chimera appeared from behind a rock formation, and drove up next to the razorback. In a coordinated assault, a vendetta flew towards him, and also fired its guns at Layton’s transport. Only two of the twin-linked lascannons were working. They missed the transport completely, but a precision shot from the manticore blew the turret clean off at the joint. The passengers disembarked. The captain was wearing his helmet, but Lloyd could tell from the way he moved that Layton was very unhappy right now. The razorback shot forward while Layton and his command squad charged the chimera. With mighty blows from his two thunder hammers he destroyed the engine of the chimera, ruining it. Guardsmen with meltas poured out of it, and fired at the marines standing before them. One brother fell to a headshot by a melta blast. There was nothing the apothecary could do.
The assault marines of Squad Beth fell from the sky, slowing their descent with their jump packs. It appeared to Lloyd as though they rode on wings of fire. The sergeant tossed a meltabomb at the bastion with the gun slinging traitors after landing. The befouled edifice exploded with such vehemence that the sky brightened. As he watched, the drop pods killed the remaining cultists from before. May their souls burn for all eternity, thought Lloyd. The guardsmen in combat with Layton and his squad were quickly dispatched, but the vendetta fired its guns once more at the razorback, destroying the drive mechanism. Seeing this, the command squad turned on the advancing vendetta which was now too close for Lloyd’s comfort. If the pilot noticed him, he would surely die as he was unarmed and unarmored to maximize his infiltration abilities. His apprehension was put to rest as the captain threw one of his thunder hammers up into the underside of the low-flying craft. It exploded magnificently. However, a piece of shrapnel flew at Lloyd so fast he couldn’t dodge – it cut him on the face. The Larraman’s cells in his blood closed the wound before it had time to bleed. He was a bit rattled none the less.
Another spine tingling howl from Cain made him look up. The ancient dreadnought’s multi-melta arm hung limp and in the massive claw on his other arm, he held a man in carapace. With a wet cracking noise, Azriel pulped the last heretic in his bronze fist. The Scarlet Edge was victorious. Lloyd checked his auspex and other equipment. Four of the bastions had been taken already, and one destroyed. Two enemy griffons, two chimeras, and a colossus, would all be repaired and re-consecrated in the Emperor’s service. They would be left for the Tellius 3rd.
All was not as Lloyd had hoped, however. Of his 41 brothers who took to the field today, only ten were uninjured. Eighteen of his brothers were heavily wounded, and thirteen were dead. Lloyd swore an oath to the Emperor - his Lord, and to Sanguinius -his primarch: he would make sure that these heretics were completely purged from this world.
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Post by colonelbrigham on Aug 1, 2009 8:47:48 GMT -5
Colonel Brigham focus his attention on the are of beach he had been assigned to. His cyber-monocle had brought the shoreline in towards him and he could see the details of the sand and rocks and the low grasslands ahead. Beyond that lay trees and hill lands before forests. He sighed, knowing that many men would die today attempting to cross the open ground from the beach. Even worse was knowing that if they were ambushed and couldn't hold back the ambush that they would be swept into the sea.
He wouldn't be so worried if he had artillery support, but the Basilisks were loaded in transports and if they fired the force of the gun would probably tip the boat over. So, lacking that kind of support he had made contingency plans. Instead of staggered waves he planned on two quick waves that would secure a beachhead while the rest of the regiment caught up. At the front of the wave of boats were a sizable number of the regiments armored battle tanks along with engineering and sapper crews to help get the vehicles ashore.
Beside them chugged a mechanized force of Chimeras loaded with some of the regiments finest veterans and boats contained a force of Hellhounds for rapid penetration alongside the Chimeras. He hoped it would be enough. Scanning the coastline again he frowned. He expected traps, gun posts, even banners, but he saw nothing and that worried him. Glancing around him to reassure himself by checking the disposition of his forces he spotted first platoon, first company in the boat closest to him.
First platoon, first company was the most experienced platoon in the regiment and was led into battle by the regimental commissar, Lord Commissar Jeff, who had been with the regiment since its founding and could rouse it's men to acts of heroism that could even put a marine to shame on occasion. Jeff caught his gaze and nodded, raising his fist in a salute, which Brigham returned. Feeling slightly better Brigham turned to face his own boat.
Traveling with him were his trusty retainers; Corporal Jones, his medic, Private First Class Smithson, his standard bearer, Corporal Helix, his vox operator, and Private Donelson, a recent addition to his command squad. He was good with a chainsword though which made him perfectly suited to accompany Brigham into battle. Not that he would charge into the nearest combat he could find, of course, but the enemy often took every opportunity to charge him in hopes of killing him, so more close combat skill was always prudent.
In addition were Sergeants Smitty and Jackson, both of whom had pledged to protect his life ahead of all else. Past them rested another 30 men, all veterans, whom would set up their lascannons as fire support should enemy armor attempt to box them in against the beach. They looked up at him to see if he needed anything so he gave them a smile, told them a joke about a Khorne berserker who forgot what he wanted blood for and gave them a quick speech about how important their job was. They nodded, looking as ready as ever and he felt a small amount of pride. He had faith in his men and they always justified it.
For the next hour such thoughts and actions ran through his head as the beach grew nearer. Finally, the first boats dropped their ramps and the crews ran ashore, putting down planks and other assorted apparatuses to help the tanks, which were now trundling down the ramps keep traction on the soft sand. Almost at the same time the Chimeras and Hellhounds were now ashore and rapidly heading off the sand and over the grassland. Brigham, his squads and the first boatloads of infantry had just offloaded when a sudden flash followed by a burst of heat, and the explosions of two Leman Russ tanks, caught his attention.
As his men hit the ground to minimize their profiles, Brigham quickly scanned the terrain ahead of them. In all the noise of their landing two Chaos Predators had snuck up to the crest of a hill and fired their lascannons. Even as his took this in several Defilers scuttled up to the hill and fired their battlecannons, killing dozens of troops in a volley of shots. Before they could fire again the remaining Leman Russes bracketed them with battlecannon and lascannon fire, obliterating them utterly. As the Predators fired again the sounds of screams drifted over him but he shut it out and began rapidly firing orders.
They were too exposed so he began shouting for everyone to run as fast as they could for the hills. Two more Russes were hit by lascannon fire, though they didn't explode. One lost its tracks and the other was smoking from hits on its hull, but it was alive. The tanks trundled forward, firing as they went, eliminating the Chaos tanks as they went. However, more trundled up to the hill and began firing at the approaching Guard forces, including several Predators with autocannons and heavy bolter side sponsoons, which began chewing up infantry with a vengeance.
Brigham cursed and desperately yelled at the veterans who had come ashore with him to bring down the tanks. Their lascannons strobed and Brigham muttered a prayer of thanks as one of the tanks was destroyed. His problems were not over, however, as a sudden roar heralded the arrival of the monsters of nightmare; the traitor marines leaped over the hill, extolling their god and promising doom for the forces of man. As his luck would have it the majority of the enemy infantry were in fact Khorne Berserkers. Almost half of them died as the Russes blasted them with battlecannon and lascannon fire.
Those that were left were, if anything, even more enthusiastic. A squad that had been reduced to five of the traitorous marines rushed Brigham and his squad. Brigham killed one with a snap shot from his plasma pistol before parrying a chainaxe with his powersword. He ducked the next swing and shoved the sword directly into the torso of the marine, who roared in pain, staggered then fell back in death. Brigham turned to help his men, watched as Donelson was hacked apart by a chainaxe he failed to see. Helix was bitterly fighting a marine off, trying to ignore the pain in his side were he was nicked by the chainaxe.
Jones was doing his best to help fix the wound while trying to avoid being beheaded by the melee. Another roar, slightly less intimidating this time, preceded the arrival of two of the veteran squads Brigham had brought ashore with him. That many men kept the marines busy while their sergeants, who carried powerfists, used them to bring down the traitors. Nodding his thanks Brigham took in the carnage that had occurred during his brief battle with the traitors. Almost a hundred men had died in the close combat that had ensued though their sacrifices were not in vain as the bodied of traitors also carpeted the ground around them.
Jeff's platoon had been cut in half as they had been unfortunate enough to end up in combat with a full ten man unit of the Berserkers, but Jeff's skill and the grim determination of the Guardsmen beside him, won through and the traitors were dead. The Chaos tanks had also been neutralized and the reinforcements that had arrived from the boats quickly set up gun emplacements, dug fire pits and tank bunkers while keeping an eye out for the return of the traitors.
None came and Brigham was able to set about securing the beachhead. Valkyrie Assault Carriers flew in supplies and even more troops and at last the artillery could be offloaded. Brigham turned to Helix and said, "Contact High Command. Tell them the beach is secure, with compliments from the 442nd Imperial Guard Regiment."
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Aug 1, 2009 22:25:46 GMT -5
"Take a seat, gentlemen. I'd like to get started while it's still light out."
The sun was beginning to creep below the horizon. D-Day was coming to an end. The Beaches were covered with men and material, moving ashore. PoWs, under the careful watch of Guardsmen, were shifting bodies and ruined equipment out of the way of the Imperial Warmachine as it moved inland. Already, the lead elements of the Assault Corps were pushing further inland, attempting to link up with the Airborne forces.
Outside one of the ruined bunkers, Lt. General Vadis stood in front of a large easel, which displayed an enlarged map of the portion of Su'Shi that the Tarrians were responsible for. Assembled around him, standing, crouching, sitting on crates and helmets, where the commanders of the Tarrian regiments, as well as their subordinates and several of the company commanders. The men ceased chatting as the General called them to order.
"Good." said Vadis. He gestured at an area around the beach heads marked on the map. "This is our current area of control, although given the rate we're pushing inland, it's almost certainly out of date by now. From the sound of it, the Archenemy wasn't expecting us to come kick the door in so damn hard..." a murmur of approval ran through the assembled officers. "...so resistance is light and scattered."
"Now, we've got in touch with the Voltians, and they've managed to take the bridges and crossing points along the E'El River. They took heavy casualties, though, so they need to be relieved. The Astartes elements with them have left the Airborne to guard the bridges..." Another murmur, this one decidedly more dour, ran through the officers "...and are pushing out to try and screen the crossing points from enemy counter attacks."
Vadir indicated several circled areas along the E'El River. "These are the bridges the Airborne are holding. We need to get to them double quick. Armour will spearhead the push, supported by Mechanized elements from the 81st and 45th. The rest of our units will follow in behind the vanguard, and sweep up anything they missed."
Vadir tapped a city on the map, labeled "Kav'ui". "Once we're across the river, our main objective is to take this city. Intel shows it's pretty mashed up, and the Navy will be hitting it as we get closer, so pack for urban combat. I know I don't need to say this, but the faster we take the bridge and push on to Kav'ui, the less time the enemy has to dig in. Once we take Kav'ui, we've got open country all the way to Alo'Rra, and we'll be putting the Cans of the 55th to good use."
He turned to the assembled officers. "Any questions?" There were none. "Good, dismissed."
Reds
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Post by colonelbrigham on Aug 3, 2009 19:54:29 GMT -5
Brigham studied the map on the hololith. He had received his orders from High Command and was preparing his forces to carry them out. His regiment was to head north, cross the river and flank the city of Kav'ui, causing the defenders to have to spread their forces out to try and hold the city. He turned as Jeff entered the temporary prefab HQ.
Jeff glanced at the map then back to Brigham, "Preparing for the next stage of our assault, colonel?"
Brigham nodded, "Yes, commissar, I am. Please, join me." Jeff did and for the next hour they pounded out their plan. Scouting parties were sent out to reconnoiter the countryside for hostiles. The rest of the regiment, bar 6th and 7th company, who would remain behind to hold the beachhead, would follow up behind the scouts. Once at the river their enginseers and sappers would create pontoon bridges or other crossings so that they could continue past the river and onto their real objective.
If hostiles tried attacking them at the river, they would be in for a surprise. The arrived Basilisks from 12th Company would station themselves behind the main force and would bombard any foolish enough to attempt to slow their progress over the bridge. In the meantime, Navy Valkyries assigned to the 442nd would drop Stormtrooper teams near the city, who would then sneak into the city and begin harassing the defenders. Satisfied with their plan, Brigham called together his officers, briefed them, and sent them to ready their men. The war would soon continue.
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Aug 5, 2009 2:53:19 GMT -5
After studying the holo-graphic sent to me by General Vadis, I spoke with Captain Abner Layton of the Scarlet Edge. We decided to move along the Hal’but River towards Alo’raa, and join-up with the other Imperial forces in preparation to take the city. Since the drop pods were in the process of being refit for re-use, Layton suggested a fast detachment of marines complimented by veterans of the 3rd dropping in from low flying transports. The terrain auguries of the Reaper had detected a fortification being built along the road at the base of the Sa’mon mountains. We would crush the heretics there and use the fortification to defend Perdition Fortress, while damming the river to deny the traitors in Alo’raa a reliable water supply. The Space Marine captain left to prepare his forces, and I left to prepare mine; we would kill traitors, or die trying. * * * The preparation of hot beverages was somewhat of an art form on Tellius. The caf in my hands could be considered a masterpiece. I sipped it while riding the Valkyrie Golden Eagle towards the chaotic citadel. The faces on the men around me were grim. Sheldon had assigned two men to be my personal bodyguards on this mission – he knew there was no stopping me from going myself, so he comforted himself by surrounding me with the most loyal soldiers he could find. I had also taken Commander Shinon from the Blackbird, our vessel in orbit. His coordination with the Blackbird would be instrumental in keeping the foe off-balance. Beside us was another naval Valkyire, the Morrigan’s Kiss, delivering a payload of veteran warriors. A buzz in my earpiece informed me that it was time to do something that normal men would call us insane for doing. The ramp lowered, and we checked our grav-chute harnesses. Then we jumped. I’ll admit, perhaps after all these years fighting for the Emperor, I’ve become desensitized to much of the wonder of the universe around me. However, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the sensation of free fall from several hundred meters. We hit the ground just as Layton’s bikes arrived. A hail of bolter fire over and around us chewed into the heretic guardsmen not ten meters away from me. We added our righteous fury to that of the marines. As if on cue, Guardswoman Lethe displayed her infiltration skills, and appeared next to the basilisks that were tracking their earthshakers towards us. When I had informed her of her mission, she had just smiled, and left to prepare herself without being excused. I tolerated her lack of decorum because she was the best at what she did. She demonstrated it by lobbing a demo charge into the remainders of the craven men who had rejected the Emperor’s light. The blast shook the ground and when the light faded, nothing was left of them but a scorched crater. Then the enemy Basilisks fired. I heard, “Sir, get down!” Then someone tackled me to the ground. Then the world went white, and the only thing that existed was a high-pitched ringing in my ears. For a moment, I thought my time had finally come. “Ilyana? Have I come to join you? Rhys, Presea?” My only answer was that damned ringing. I had the sensation I was flying – like the grav-drop, only I could control it. I flew forward into the stygian mist for what seemed like hours with the damned ringing as my only companion. I felt, rather than heard, a second boom. A hand on my shoulder turned me around – my daughter, Presea, floated not a half meter before me so that her eyes were level with mine. We had been transported to the Wall of Remebrance in the Emperor’s Temple of the Saints. She stood on ground unseen, 12 years old and whole, her ice-blue eyes wide with fear. “Father, get up! Now!” I think it was the combination of seeing her again combined with the sensation of hearing something besides that thrice-damned ringing that made me sit up. Just in time for another earthshaker shell to explode off to my right. I realized I was sitting on Commander Shinon. “Get a hold of yourself, man! We have to move, now!” The naval man had an admirable resoluteness about himself. He looked like Hell, but he didn’t complain. I supposed I looked even worse. We ran toward the vile structure, but as we did so, a group of enemy marines appeared and opened fire on us. Shinon was shredded apart by bolter rounds. One of the rounds found my left arm, glanced off and exploded. I felt a white-hot needle enter my leg. As I looked up to meet my foes, I saw a smoldering wreck to the left. Lethe had made short work of a Basilisk with her meltabombs. I was about to smile a silent encouragement to her, when a dark sorcerer appeared next to her. A fallen librarian of whatever forsaken marine chapter this was, who radiated a palpable aura of malice. The sickly eddies of warp energy swirled off of him, and coalesced in a vortex around Lethe. A sphere of baleful black condensed to nothingness – a delicate ballet accompanied by the symphony of gunfire and screams. Lethe’s scream, however, will stay in my mind forever. I can’t even imagine the horror and despair at being so violently thrown directly into the warp. The fell conductor was immediately swarmed by the bikes of the Scarlet Edge who desired to bring their former brother to justice. I turned back to the building. The evil bastion had been fortified, and constructed to inspire fear in the Emperor’s followers – a mural of blasphemy covered every surface. I didn’t care. I had lived for too long fighting all manner of adversaries to be affected by such petty attempts at intimidation. I slammed the phase-field generator against the wall of the building, and activated it. It was a sacred relic of a forgotten age, allowing me to attack the heretical fools who believed themselves safe in their heavily fortified structure. I then un-slung the satchel of explosives from my back. “You are weapons of men, bright, short lights to blast the foe, when darkness descends. You are the bombs of men, to lift the foe from off their feet, so they no longer profane the Emperor’s soil.” With that blessing, I threw the satchel into the bastion, and retrieved the phase-shifter. After a muffled series of explosions, I entered the building. From the windows, I had a commanding view of the battlefield. My tanks and Captain Layton were punishing the enemy vehicles. The enemy signaled for a retreat, but not before the remaining Basilisk fired its cannon at the bastion in a last attempt to deny us the building. The blast shook the structure, but it held firm. We had won. |
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Aug 11, 2009 16:31:27 GMT -5
My Dearest Collette, This is the first thing I’ve had time to write since I’ve been promoted. That’s right: I’m now Sergeant Soren Irving! We were in a fight with some traitor marines trying to take ground along a river, and because I was able to survive when many of my comrades did not, Lord Commissar Greil promoted me to corporal. During that battle, our Executioner was destroyed. We had to hold that ground against another assault while the tech-adepts attempted to repair it. In that battle, my new sergeant suffered a breakdown, and under six-four I was obligated to shoot him and assume command. And so, after testimony from my squadmates, I have been placed in command of eighth squad, second company. Lord-General Bishop took the time to personally commend me for my “stalwart and unflinching devotion to the Emperor and his service.” Those men we lost, though – I don’t think I’ll ever forget their faces. Men and women I ate beside, slept beside, and fought beside. Some my friends, but none my enemies. I mourn their loss. Later, I heard that Greil also was lost in battle. He was an inspiring man. But enough sad thoughts! How are you? Your last letter was rather brief. I gather from what you did write, that the brass suspects the Eldar are soon going to make another raid into the Kharlan system. I hope that any fight leaves you well. In fact, I outrank you now, so I order you to be well. At least you have seven PDF divisions and a Scarlet Edge company behind you on Tellius. With every evening on this blighted landscape (there’s little snow, and that’s only on the mountain tops), I pray to the Emperor that I’ll survive to return to you. In your letter, you asked what I want to do about us. Collette, I think you already know. I’ll say this here, as an answer, but I want to do this formally upon my return: Collette, my darling – my everything – I want you to marry me. I love you with all my being, and even though we’re apart for now, a kilometer is the same as all these light-years to me. A source of comfort and distress: you’re so close, but still out of reach. But our love is as eternal as the stars, and burning just as brightly. Our love is as gentle as the freshly fallen snow, and is as constant. Our love is as true as the flight of birds, and we can soar just as high. Nothing can separate us – our souls were always just two halves of a single piece. But for the Emperor’s grace, I would be half a man – thankfully, in His providence, our paths crossed. Nothing in this life makes me happier than that. With love all-consuming,
Soren |
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Aug 19, 2009 22:43:02 GMT -5
Chapter 3 - The Plutonian Shore
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Name: Collette Harding
Serial Number: 90C3 – 448301 – 0074HAR
Rank: Corporal
Age: 22
Campaign: Defense of Tellius by Eldar pirates
Cause of death: Exsangiunation due to multiple puncture wounds, lacerations
Other notes / comments:
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Next of kin details
Name: Soren Irving
Relation: Fiancée
Located at: Errantry tour 0328, Tellius PDF 8th Squad, 2nd Company, 1st Regiment, 5th Brigade, 3rd Division
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Proposed route: N/A
CCO: Colonel Marcia Brunel
CMO: Major Raine Jericho
Sgt. Irving, I regret to inform you of the death of Cpl. Collette Harding. During an Eldar attack on our homeworld, she lost her life in the defense of the Wind Gate at Melior. Due in part to her efforts, the city remains inviolate.
She often spoke highly of you, Sgt. Irving, and she had just registered with the Ministry of Nuptials as your fiancée. I know it’s little comfort, but her name will be recorded as one of the honored defenders of Tellius.
I wish you success in your campaign,
Col. Marcia Brunel, Tellius PDF 8th Division
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Post by thecommissar on Aug 20, 2009 2:31:19 GMT -5
Wow thats great! Lots of effort has gone into that I see!
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Post by colonelbrigham on Aug 24, 2009 16:37:02 GMT -5
Brigham sat in the back of his Chimera, his command squad all around him, all silent as the tank trundled over grassy plains past the city of Kav'ui, which the Tarrian 5th Assault Corps was dealing with. Their own orders were to push on to the capital of Alo'raa, set up in position, then assault the city when the rest of the Imperial forces arrive.
Getting across the river had proven no problem as their only opposition was a small force or rather surprised (and drunk) cultists in a small village. They were so drunk that they didn't even notice the approaching Imperials until after the Hellhounds set them on fire. Since then only scattered patrols had been encountered and they were pushing fast to the city.
It had become so routine that Brigham didn't even start as the sharp shriek that sounded outside his Chimera. It wasn't until the second shriek, followed by the explosion and the fact that the Chimera lurched violently and sent everyone inside sprawling that he knew something was up. He grabbed at the horn from the vox set Helix carried and listened in for a moment.
The entire convoy had been ambushed in a well planned and executed move by at least a company of Traitor Guard. Even though the other convoys in the regiment weren't too far away, the ambush would slow them down and could still cause damage and the traitors knew this. Even so, Brigham was pleased to hear his men maintaining discipline and dealing with the threat effectively.
Most squads had piled out of their transports and were using them as cover, advancing behind the tank as the heavy bolters they carried spat fire at the enemy positions. A few units were even engaged in short range firefights. Stepping over to the auspexes and comm systems of the command Chimera Brigham began relaying orders, urging men into position faster, or getting them to lay down better firepower or more firepower.
The real breakthrough occured when Lord Commissar Jeff rallied his platoon, recently reorganized to fill in the gaps, as well as several squads from other units and under the cover of heavy suppressive fire, charged into the main part of the enemy line. Fierce hand to hand combat was prevalent, but the traitors were not quite as disciplined and determined as the men of the 442nd and were cut down or fled the area.
With the main section of the ambush broken the rest was mopped up or fled quickly and within half an hour the ambush was over. Wounded were looked at, dead buried and damaged vehicles tend to quickly and efficiently. Soon the convoy was underway but Brigham was no longer bored or lulled into a sense of security; instead he was alert and ready for enemy activity. Next time he would not be so easily ambushed.
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