NationStates Jolt Archive

**Unknown System:100 LYs from Sol**
"By the Emperor! Just look at it! It's....Glorious!" The Colonel of Battlegroup 20 said as he stared at the Earth like planet. It was a beautiful world covered with sparkling oceans and lush green continents, all of it unspoiled by the greedy hands of Men.

Oh Great Emperor, bless us! Look what we have found for you! This is... His ponderings were cut short as an aide entered the room bearing several official looking papers.

"Colonel, sir...I apoligize for the interruption, but the Geological scans of the planet are complete. I thought you would want to see them first..." The Colonel motioned for the aide to hand over the papers. He scanned over the papers, obviously not very interested in them, but that all changed when he read the report on the Mineral deposits.

"Oh my Emperor...It seems we have a viable treasure trove here Jenkins." The Colonel said with gleaming eyes. "Thank you Jenkins, that will be all...dismissed." The aide made a quick bow while heading for the door.

The Colonel paced around his quarters pondering what to do. He served the Imperium faithfully for 40 years. He had taken lives for the Imperium, both alien and human. The Colonel knew what he had to do, he pledged his life to Emperor of Man, he was determined to honor that pledge once again. He walked over to the Com panel and switched it on.

"Attention! Attention I say! This is your Colonel speaking! " He waited a couple minutes before speaking into the com panel again. "I would like all crewmembers to drop whatever you're doing and head to the nearest viewing port....I would like to direct your attention to a blue glimmering world just outside the ship." The Colonel said with pride.

"Behold! The Emperor has blessed us with this world! I have no doubts that his majesty has led us here with his guiding light! His Highness has led us here to claim this planet for Mankind and Mankind ONLY! We shall not disappoint him. that I swear! What shall we call this world you may ask? Well I've decided; in honor of the Greatest Lord Commander the Imperial Guard has ever known, this planet from this day forth shall be known as Macharius One! Bless the Emperor!" Cries of Bless the Emperor could heard throughout the ship, satisfied he switched off the panel and proceeded to the bridge to began commencing landing operations.

The Surface of this world was not unihabited, before the Fall they had left the Empire and came here, small bands of Eldar who left behind them the corruption that would soon destroy their homes. They had came to a Maiden World, a planet seeded a Thousend years before their arrival to be a paradise, and now the Mon-Keigh had came.

'It is the Mon-Keigh of that Corpse, I can sense them even here, too many far too many of them.'
The Eldar in this place where far different from the Kionash of Tor Yvresse, or the fallen of Ream these where Exodites, having gave up some of the comforts the Kionash where used too, they lived a harder harsher life, for their species anyway. Now it seemed the humans where coming, and it seemed unlikely that a few scattered tribes of warriors would deter them, but this planet was more than their home, like the Kionash and their Craftworlds this world contained the souls of their Ancestors they would not abandon it, nor would they let the filth of the Mon-Keigh taint their world.

A Day later a lone Wrarior on the back of a gigantic Lizard like creature emerged from the Web within Tor yvresse, the closest CRaftworld to the Maiden world... and the place to which they had came, on the Planet below meanwhile the Tribes had scattered gone to the mountains and the dark places, for they would fight only when it was time.

((HEHe I wanted Exodites present as it leaves me options for expanding TY and the Eldar I can call upon. I figured this would be the perfect time to do so. Hope you dinna mind))

The Dropships landed on the surface with a thunderous boom. Clouds of dust were thrown in all directions as two fully loaded dozen droppods touched down on the soft dirt. Out of droppod 23 came out the man only known as "The Colonel." Thousands of men from the famous "Praetorian Guard" regiment came pouring out the ships.

With them, tons of mining and construction equipment were towed out. The Colonel surveyed the landscape, he had rumors of paradise worlds such as this, but he had never been able to journey to one. His thoughts were interrupted as someone gently tapped his shoulder. He turned around to see it was Jenkins bearing more confusing reports full of scientific musings and technical stuff, none of which the Colonel understood.

"Jenkins...Show those damn things to someone who can actually comprehend them. I'm a warrior Jenkins...that scientific mubo jumbo has no meaning to me." The Colonel spoke almost sarcastically. "But...Colonel, Inquisitor Caldufis insisted that you read at least the report on the native...lifeforms...sir."
Caldufis?! Damn that rat faced bastard! What does he want now? A mining operation such as this should not warrant the attention of an Inquisitor. If he thinks he can just waltz in here and... The Colonel ponderings were interrupted once again by a confused Jenkins. "Colonel...I know it is not my place, but you should really read this, defying an Inquisitor has...consequences...Sir." He handed the papers over to the stoned faced Colonel and immediatly walked away.

The Colonel scanned over the reports like he usually did until a sentence on the tenth page of the Xeno report caught his eye. Sentinent lifeforms present on the planet, surveys from orbit shows Xenos of unknown type residing on Continent 03. He read. All around tents were popping up as trees were being mowed down to make room for the troops. In the middle of it, stood the Colonel, silent and expresionless.

Damn it! So that's why that fool of an Inquisitor wanted me to read this....These Xenos are unknown right now, but if they are hostile.... "Commander!" He called out to a gray uniformed man. The aged man came running to him from the other side of the camp.

"Yes Colonel! I am at your service!" Commander Tyco Almasy, whom most considered to be the Colonel's right hand, said almost breathless.
"Commander, assemble a scout team and send them to these coordinates, have them contact me when they arrive." The Colonel handed the Xeno report to Tyco and left to surpervise the construction of the base camp without even glancing back.

The Council nodded as it heard from the Exodite, they would not Allow this Taint to corrupt such a gem, and from all Scryings these Mon-Keigh ment to Rape the heart of the world from her, to rip her buried treasures and wonders all to fuel some distent nation. No this would not be allowed to occur.

'Inform your people we come, we shall drive the Mon-Keigh from your world.' Iyaana's voice was low but held a dark malice deep within it. 'It may take a while to send our full might to you, but we shall mobilse an expeditionary force by the end of this week. We are stretched here in a way few of the Kionash are, for near to us, lie the Yngir, and it is our duty to watch them, we cannot therefore by our actions reveal your need to them' A Shudder went own the spine of the Exodite, indeed the very thought of the Yngir was enough.

***The Maiden World*** (Good name to come, I need to check out Eldar online shortly for some details. This will be edited then)

The first raids where planned, the Exodites where a people who lived on the move, and so it was not long before they where ready for the first Raids on the Mon-Keigh for now, until aid could come they would make no demands for the Mon-Keigh would not listen.

Mel'varik Telshar, Dragon Rider, King of his Tribe smiled as he looked over his assembled warriors, the people from off world would think the tactics they used outdated, Caverly charges after all had been made outdated with the advent of the Tank, of course that thought such had never seen their mounts. Huge Creatures, resembling Lizards the name in the tongue of some Mon-Keigh he was given to understand was Dragon, this was inaccurate. His Mount did not breathe fire, nor dd it fly, but that fact did not remove from it's power, it's Jaws could rip metal apart. The lances where not mere Metal but showed the truth of these people, they where not savages.

Now Two Hundred strong would strike at the Interlopers using the ancient Webway that was strung across this world they would emerge on the continent that the Humans had landed upon and slay the scouts, the fingers of this invasion.

Tor Yvresse

The Forces of the Kionash gathered swiftly, Falcon Grav Tanks stood beside the larger and more powerful weapons of Eldar war... and the Khaines fleet readied itself to strike.

OOC: Ooh...40K RP. *Tag*

In the darkness, a wasp lurked. It watched, patient as time itself.

Deep below the surface of Venus, they waited. Seven great shapes, colossal pyramids, greater even than an Imperator Titan, both in weapons power and even more so in size.

They wouldn’t be needed in any great numbers though. Two would suffice. So thought the yngir overseeing their preparations, as they moved toward the singularly – almost – large portal at the end of their vast chamber. At the side of the chamber, there lurked a hundred destroyers, hovering platforms carrying terrible armament, a single immortal embedded in each.

And so. The ship was dispatched, bearing to its underside the parts needed for a gateway. The shroud class, with any luck it could land, for land they could, covertly, and deploy its gateway. A mere shadow on most sensors, the shroud could, hopefully, arrive undetected by the humans.

If it were, it would only benefit them.

---------

Near to another of the so-called ‘Maiden Worlds’ of the Eldar, a large flotilla appeared in orbit. Ten ships - three cruisers, and a smattering of escorts were there. Harvest ships. About to do what they were made, no, born, to do. They woke their slumbering occupants, and began to scan for settlements…

(TAG from an elven space nation)

**Scout Team Landing Site**(Ok bear with me, I know jack about the Exodites, so I'm going to guess they're a primitive version of Craftworld Eldar)
The Scout Team commanded by Lt. Sheppard Morrisson had arrived in the middle of the Night. Their armored Ornithopter landed in what looked a village settlement with dwellings eerily similar to the Amercan Woodsman cabins of Ancient Terra. except with more grace. The 12 man scout team dispersed to check the individual "cabins" while Morrisson examined a campfire that was still burning.

"So this place was recently abandoned....quite hastily too..." He muttered to himself. "Sir! Take a look at this!" One of the Guardsman called out from the dwelling nearest to him. Morrisson went over to the Guardsman, he saw the young soldier holding what looked like a metal lance.
"Lieutenant...I found this while searching this Xenos dwelling." He handed the alien lance to Morrisson. From top to bottom the lance was perfectly cut, not even a single blemish was visible, yet in Morrsson mind it was not possible for a Xenos as primitive as the inhabitants of the settlement obviously were to construct such a weapon, unless...
"Trooper! Recall that Thopter now! I have a message to relay!" The guardsman giving the mandatory salute ran off to find the Com Trooper. Morrisson went back to inspecting the staff, obviously not liking what he had found.

The first of the Exodite hunting parties had found a Target, many of the Mon-Keigh had ranged far, and while some had undoubtly landed at their more permanment settlements it was not to there that they hunted, for it would be too obvious a place to strike.

For now they would strike at other survey groups, and so in a case of severe Overkill the One Hundred raiders emerged from the safty of the Trees in a charge. Of course unlike caverly charges of old the Exodites where not fools, and from the Lances of the Knights spat forth bursts of pure energy, and from the trees snipers took shot with Shurikan Rifles.

((I am assuming here that 12 men is the standard scouting force, and that you have scattered many across the world. If I am wrong I apologise.))

Tor Yvresse.

'How many Legions can be spared?'
'Three High Farseer I suspect could be sent to the aid of our Kin, I'd recommend Khaines Fist and two Scout groups'
'Agreed, then make it so, and Galdern I place you in command of this operation, when all is readied it shall be you who deliver's our ultamatium to the Mon-Keigh. Darvins shall support your operations from Orbit, but remember the presence of our fleet is to remain secret until we are ready to strike, they know when they are to enter the War, only change that order if the need is overwhelming. I don't want a Single Mon-Keigh to leave the planet alive do I make myself clear?'

Nods around the Council indeed most of the Council felt the same, these Humans had tainted the planet with their presence, the message must be sent, to come to a Maiden world was to die.

*Aboard Tor Yvresse*

Things where moving ahead quite speedily the forces of the Kionash where almost ready to strike proudly arranged across the Craftworld in every Shrine stood the warriors of the Eldar. Striking Scorpions, Howling Banshees, Warp Spiders and more. All in all the Kionash had prepared a first strike force of mammoth proportions, and apart from a few support personal all would be from the Elite Aspect Warriors.

A Few regiments had been puuled from Mars hidden behind the excuse that since the Martian Militia had advanced so well in recent Months the presence of so many Eldar forces was not required, besides things where for Mars quiet at the moment.

As Iyaana looked over the images of her people ready for war she smiled and began to speak, the words spoken throughout the Craftworld, and heard by all the Kionash.

'My kin, we go now in defence of our past, and our present, the Mon-Keigh would Rape a World placed aside for us in thedistent past, they would rip from her heart her jewels and her beuty. They would turn her into a waste land. We know this foe of old, and we know what they will do when they discover our Kindred our brothers already there. Therefore I am not speaking to steady your hearts, we know the role we must fill, we go to cut a cancer from the heart of the universe. I speak therefore only to tell you of my pride, my Pride in the simple fact that soon the filth of the Imperium will relearn a lesson they should never have forgotten, do NOT Make War upon your betters.'

As she finished to speak the Warriors entered the Web, hunger in the hearts, war in their souls, Death in their dreams.

((Basically the Kionash are moving out))

**Scout Team Landing Site**
"Damn it! Return Fire! God Damn Return...." Before Morrisson could finsish, a Shuriken struck him the chest. He fell to the ground clutching his bloodied chest. Lasgun fire from his men flared over him, but that quickly dissipated as his men fell one by one to the Xenos weapons. He cursed himself for not being prepared. With his last ounce of strength, he painfully dragged inside one of the Xenos dwellings.

He took a peek outside the structure, his once proud squad had been reduce to lifeless bodies motionless on the dirt. Morrisson manage to sit himself up in a corner, he pulled out his grenades. He would make the Xenos pay, in the little shadowy corner, he waited for the Xenos to come.

**Imperial Base Camp**
I don't like it, the Scout team should have reported in by now... The Colonel stood motionless watching his men digging defense trenches. The Camp was bustling with activity, already the nearby forest was being cleared to make for the future mining facility. The Colonel had ordered trenches be dugged around the camp, he was a cautious man. Auto-Laser emplacements were being assembled and placed in key entry points, in a few days, this small clearing would be a full fledge military base.
"Tyco! Get over here!" He called out to his right hand man. "Reporting sir!" Tyco said breathless after running from the Mess Hall. "Commander...Any word from the Scout team? Any at all" The Colonel turned to face Tyco who had just regained his composure. "No sir, they're five hours overdued to report in....I was just about to send another team to..." "Cancel that order!" The Colonel said sharply. "Get the battlegroup on the Com and tell them to dispatch more troops, I also want a regiment of Leman Russ battletanks brought down here." The Colonel obviously disturbed.
"Sir? More troops?" Tyco said with a confused expression. "Don't question me, damn it! Just do what you're told!" The Colonel clearly showing signs of anger. Tyco realizing his mistake gave a short salute and ran to the Com tent.
The Colonel didn't like it, the Scout team Tyco chose was the best amongst his troops. He served with them for years. Their disappearance only confirmed his suspicions about the Xenos on the planet, they were hostile and he wouldn't be caught off guard. No, not on his watch....

They could still sense that one of he Monkeigh still lived, and so a small team of Five entered the strructure kicking open the door and bursting in, blood pumping a few of their comrades had been injured in the fighting but against such a small force the fight had never been in doubt, or at least so they had thought, these five where dead men, although at the moment they id not know it...

They exited the Web rapidly forming into sections and reading themselves to begin the clearance of this world. Thousends of Aspect Warriors, Tanks, Weapons platforms and WraithLords had formed up. Above them all loamed the forms of the Phantomn and Warlock Titans, and beneath them the Wraithknights. The Three Titans that made up the Khaines Fist strode forwards once more into the Web to emerge far closer to the Imperium forces, they unflurled above themselves the banner of a Truce, it was time for Galdern to deliver his ultamatium.

"Colonel!! Look!" A group of his men were staring at the awesome sight of the Xenos Titan that appeared literally out of nowhere. The Colonel recognize the designs immediatly, it was the Titans of the Vile Eldar. He quickly regained his composure as he saw the banner of truce from the pointy eared Xenos, he would go out meet them himself, but first...

He switched on his com that connected to every panel in the camp. "This is your Colonel speaking, I want every available guardsman to head for the trenches now! Repeat: Get into the trenches and man your stations!" He switched his off his com device and signaled for to come to him. Tyco fought his way through the masses of Guardsman, he gave the Colonel the mandatory salute. "Tyco have you delivered my message to the Battlegroup?" The Colonel asked not taking his eyes off the Titans towering over the Camp.
"No sir....I was just about.." "Good!" The Colonel gave a sigh of relief. "I have some things to add to my message....Tell them we are under siege, have them pinpoint our location and from there they should be able to pick out the Xenos Titans, but don't start bombardment unless things go south. Understand?" The Colonel said still staring at the Xenos Warmachines.
"Bombardment!" Tyco said with a look of horror. "Sir! Those things are positioned pretty close tot he camp, the chances of us getting hit along with them are..." "Damn it Commander!" The Colonel loosing his patience. "We won't last long against those things alone anyways!" The Colonel continued. "Not only that, but our weapons are useless against those behemoths...If things turn ugly, our only hope of survival are our ships in orbit. If we get hit along with the Xenos.....I'll take full responsibilty. Now move!" Tyco saluted and ran to the Com tent.
The Colonel pulled out a white handkercheif from his pocket and raised it over his head, he then calmly made his way past the trenches now filled with guardsman and out the camp to meet with the Xenos whores who dared to attack a planet of the Emperor.

"You damn dirty Xenos! May the Emperor purify your corrupt souls! Die!!" Morrisson delirious from his injuries pulled the pins on his grenades, within seconds, the dwelling he occupied exploded sending pieces of wood flying all over the settlement.

Somewhere in very low orbit, almost skimming the atmosphere of the Maiden World space seemed to twist and distort. The ship that emerged, exceptionally low on emissions, and resistant to sensors, integrating shadowfields, carefully extracted from the Dark Eldar of Raem and a rather impressive hull design to minimise detectablility, looked rather strange, sporting three crescent moon shaped surfaces, covered in softly 'anti-glowing,' light-absorbing in fact, blacker-than-black runes and sigils, serving some mysterious purpouse. With luck, neither side would pay it much heed. Decellerating from hyperspeed this close to the surface was dangerous, and only the nearby wasp had allowed it to be done at all. It scanned the surface of the world below in as much clarity as its passive sensors would allow.

A slick clank of metal on metal broke the stifling silence of the Necron Ship. Deep within the darkened corridors, a group of Flayed Ones crept along, leaving a trail of crimson along the black metal floor. Behind this grisly group, Scarabs chittered out from the walls and restored the floors to their prior sterility.

Under the glistening hides wrapped about them, a single command burned in the dulled minds of the Flayed Ones. "Deposit an obliteration sigil at location 23.465.712.889 and withdraw in stealth. Eviscerate all resistance," their Necron Lord had transmitted to their living-metal skulls. The Flayed Ones did not consider for a microsecond whether or not they would return from the mission. They simply obeyed.

Harsh green light flared into existence before the hideous Kill-team, their grotesque camouflage made even more so by the sickly glow. A transportation field shimmered, rippled before them, and crackled with raw, soul-wrenching power. Using the unholy technology of the Necrons, the field cut a hole through space and time to the surface of the planet below. The human Guardsmen protecting the target location had no idea...

Silent except for the cling of their razor-sharp flaying blades, the Flayed Ones stepped through the surging portal.

"What the hell?!" A guard Sargent cried out. Regaining his composure he began inspecting the portal that literally appeared in front of him. His men had gathered around him leaving their posts at the rear of the camp to view the strange portal.

"Um..Sarge, shouldn't we like tell someone? Maybe an officer or something?" One of his men asked. "What? .....Oh yes yes, someone go over to the trenches and bring...anyone..." Howver no had heard as they were all still standing in front of the portal staring at the surging energy.

**Overlord Class Battlecruiser ISS Oblivion**
Inquisitor Caldufis was outraged. Xenos on a planet of the Emperor! Blasphemy! This world has been tainted...it must be cleansed... He made his to bridge with any crewmebers immediatly making way for he is an Inquisitor and he could have everyone on board executed with the snap of his fingers. After what seem like an hours, he finally reached the bridge of the Oblivion. The crew stared in silence.
"I am now in Command of this mission..." None the bridge dared to object, he began again. "I want all Laser batteries online, have them target the coordinates that were given to us....also have two Cyclone torpedos ready for launch." he smiled at the mention of the torpedos. He would rather reduce the glimmering planet below or at least a good portion of it to ash before he would let the Xenos Scum have it.
The crew immediately went to work on their new tasks, none daring to object for that meant death.

The flayed ones were fast. Lethal. Effective.

The first four jogged out on either side of the portal, blades gleaming, slashing at anyone who stepped too close. The other six came out in the centre, one bearing an... object in its chest cavity. They were soundless, thinking only of their mission. And aquiring new skins...

((Exterminatus... A bit heavy, no?))

By the Emp..." Before the Sargent could finish, his throat had been slashed from side to side, blood spewing from the opening. Soon, his men met similar fates, it happened so fast that not one man manage to fire off a shot. The squad had been decimated, it was one the few still guarding the so called "back" of the campsite. The rest were in the trenches waiting for the Xenos to make their move.

The portal snapped shut and the figures stooped to start their grizzly work, disgarding the hides garnered from their last mission, they began to strip the skin and muscle of the corpses. The one carrying the obliteration sigil dealt with the sergent, pulling the dead man's face over its own leering skull with the skill that came of long practice. Distorted by the unnatural shape of the necron skull under the surface his face now seemed alien and malevolent, green eyes peering out from under his own half opened lids.

They advanced carefully toward the trench line, staying out of sight as much as possible, crouched low and using cover, their aim to get into the trenches and deliver their cargo.

((Tag... I want to discuss something with Ctan before coming into this thread, but I'm keeping my eye on it))

In the Web the Fleets of the Yvresse sat watching waiting, Darvins watched nd read the fates, and something stired something worrying. His attention diverted he watched closer read deeper and he began to snarl...

On the ground meanwhile a opening appeared on the central Titan, a Warlock class as Galdern appeared and floated down to the surface. It might appear to a few of the more supostitious troopers that it was the use of Alien magics, in actuality it was simply the application of Gravitec Technolgy to lower him gently to the ground, now appeared a Farseer in full Rune Armour, Helmet enclosing his face and his intentions, still he approached the Mon-Keigh and looked over their assembled forces with a simple turn of his head, his whole body language one of complete contempt. Turning to look at the approaching General he simply spoke.

'Am I to assume that you lead this rabble?'

The 'lead' Flayed One activated the sigil, a counter appearing on all their vision and they proceeded, still under as much cover as possible, toward the area where the Yvressi leader had landed...

(IRC?)

Tosthuichash

The necron fleet moved into a lower orbit, and began the operation. Firstly, arcane systems much like large scale EMP but far more powerful and sophisticated bombarded the surface, and almost every purely mechanical device lost power, barring weapons, and cruder devices such as lights. The fleet moved in, scanning the surface for any signs of sentient life. The smaller ships descended into the atmosphere and dropped a prefabricated base of a sort, for processing the material. Hundreds of thousands of scarab drones filled the skies, clamouring out in all directions to search for the wandering nomads, and the webway portals of the world, following the former at high altitude, and clinging onto the latter only to explode in brilliant flashes of light.

The Red Harvest had begun.

Arrogant SOB... The Colonel muttered as he examined the armored alien in front if him.
"Yes...Xenos, I am in charge of the Emperor's forces here. Now would mind telling me what you are doing here? I thought your kind being so superior," The Colonel said sarcastically "were above such things as wars of Conquest."

**The Trench line**
The men watched with fascination at their Colonel facing off against the aliens alone. "Damn Colonel or no Colonel, that fool' insane!" muttered a guardsman. "Oh man, just look at those things!" A guardsman said pointing at the Titans. "How the hell are we suppose to fight them?" "We'll fight them using faith in the Emperor, trooper." Tyco intervened. "Even if we fall, the Emperor will guide our souls into eternal paradise." The area around Tyco became quiet as the men pondered why they ever decided to join the Guard.
"Commander! Commander! We've got a problem" A trooper called to him, this time from behind the trenches. Tyco turned to face the panick stricken guards man. "Calm down son, take a deep breath what happened." The Guardsman after a seconds manange to get his story out. "Our Communications are down, all of it...We don't now what happened, it was just fine and dandy one minute and everything just decided to go to hell the next!" Tyco pulled out his radio, nothing could be heard from it, not even static.
"Damn it! What's next?! Orks?!" He angrily threw the radio to the ground. He then went back to watching the standoff, for now it was their only hope.

Edit DOH

Galdern paused a moment as he listened in his mind to something from Darvins and then nodded

'General I must correct you your mistake, I can understand how easy it is for inferior life forms to get so confused.' His tone carried the right mix of confidence and arrogance, with a tint of cruelness. 'Let me explain my People where here long before you set foot on this world, therefore we come not as Conquorers but as defenders of our kin. You sir are the Invader as such you sir shall leave this world within the hour I expect to see the beginings of a Withdrawal, within a Day I do not want to see a single sign of your pathetic species ever having been on this world, otherwise I promise you and your men that not a one of you shall leave this world alive.'

Looking away a moment he smiled again... 'Oh and inform the Inquistor that should he even hope of seeing the next hour that he step away from the Exterminatus controls and not even THINK about using it again... if my threat is not enough, tell him, that to use the weapon on this world will result in retalitation. We have at our dispossal weapons capable of killing stars, I am sure we could find two heavily populated Imperial systems... and kill their Stars General, and I am sure the Imepriam will thank him for that. That is all I have come to say, one hour General, I hope for your sake that I am the last Xenos, face you see... for if it is not then it shall mean your death has came.'

His message delivered Galdern turned back to his Transport and began to reassecnd the device...

{{Just for reference, I'm not jamming your communications. I'm doing that to another exodite world while Tor is distracted here. All I have here is a Shroud and a squad of Flayed Ones.}}

(Oh my bad, ignore that part then)
"Exterminatus? Here?" The Colonel shook his head dismissiong it as deceit, after all the Eldar were know for their deceitful ways. He turned around to head back to the camp.
If those Xenos think they can intimidate... He suddenly stopped and spun around. "Eldar! The Emperor has claimed this world for Mankind! As long as we are here, we shall uphold that Decree! If you wish war, then you have one!" The Colonel said proudly, then turned and continued walking back.

**ISS Oblivion**
"Have you located the Xenos Titans yet?" Caldufis asked. "My Lord, we have manage to pinpoint the location of all the Xenos Titans. However they are positioned rather to our forces on the ground, we could risk.." Caldufis raised his hand motioning to for the Weapons officer to be silent. "Good, give those coordinates to all Laser Batteries, tell them to fire on my command." Caldufis said with a calm tone, not even sounding the least bit concern for the men below. The Weapons Chief gave a quick bow and the left the bridge, Caldufis then went to staring at the planet below.

Rath stares out into the swirling madness of the Warp outside the thick viewport of the bridge. His ship, the Blade's Kiss, flits through the Chaos, riding its eddies and tides. He ignores the chatter of his crewmen as they prepare to pierce the boundaries between this realm and the other. Something moves in the Empyrean, something the Archon can sense; something that is very, very hungry.

Colors explode in front of the bow of the gleaming black ship. Slowly the winds of Chaos pull back from the gateway, revealing the ordered blackness glimmering with stars beyond. Jets of corrupt energy accompany the Kiss and its two escorts as they emerge from the breaches between the physical and spirit universes.

Slowly Rath turns and leaves the bridge, alone in the bustle of preparations to deploy landing craft. The shuttles aren't far from the bridge, but he stops to retrieve his ancient weapon on the way.

Blood. This world would bleed for the sake of his oldest enemies.

The message delivered the Totans turned once more and began to leave the area, under full speed it would be only short while before they reached the Webgate they had used to arrive at the Imperiam lines, then they would wait, Galdern had every Confidence that the Humans would stay, and so he could deliever on Iyaana's orders...

As such his own orders to his forces went ahead, Forst order of busisness was for the Kionash to make contact with the Exodites, whose local plantary knowledge would be invaluable in the coming campaign, his plan was to chip away at the Imperial forces draw them into his forces and then strike before using the supperior speed that was his greatest weapon to withdraw. He suspected that if the two forces met in open Battle he could win, but this way was surer and would hopefully result in far less casualties. Of course it all hinged on the Inquistor showing common sense up in orbit but if the did not... the Inquistor would die as the fury of the Eldar would follow him till the end of the Galaxy should it prove neccarsary of this Galdern was certain.

"The Xenos Titans are leaving the area. It appears they are heading to their point of entry, my lord." The Scanning Officer said. Xenos Cowards! How dare they refuse to recieve the Emperor's Justice! Caldufis did not take his eyes off the planet. "However, Xenos ground forces remain." The Scanning officer said with an emotionless look.

"Hmph...No matter, if things do not go in the Emperor's favor down there, then the Xenos will receive his justice, but for now, I will deploy more troops to the surface, it'll be a shame to have to lay waste to this shining jewel..." He said still not taking his eyes off the planet. "But, we must do what The Emperor wishes us to do..." He suddenly spunned around and made his way out of the bridge.

The Colonel finally made it back to the trenchline. His troops cheered him on as made his into the trenches. He took up position at the nearby Auto-Las emplacement. Demolisher cannons and Mortars were being set up at various points, in a few moments they would be ready for ANY onslaught.

The hour had passed... and it appeared the humans had been bringing more not less forces to bare on the planet so be it...

'High King, are you people ready?'
'Indeed Farseer, let us bring Khaines Wrath on these miserable Mon-Keigh.'

The first of the strike teams would depart shortly, of course the Humans would expect them to strike openly and their defenses would see off any assult, or they would if the Eldar had any intention of breaking those lines. Yet in digging in the General had made a mistake, he had lost the initiive and so where and when the attacks came would be up to the Eldar and they where going to use that advantage.

'The first team shall assult the Alpha site at Oh-Two-Hundred, remember this is not an attempt to break the enemy lines, be noticed hurt them then fall back to the rendevous point. The attack is to last no more than 45 Minutes.' Nods went round the gather Exodites and Kionash.

'The Beta site is to be struck at Oh-Four-Hundred and to once again last no more than 45 Minutes, we will then switch back to the Alpha Site which is to be Struck at Oh-Four-Fifty-five Ten Minutes In we are to strike at the Gamma site. Fall back from this attack is too observed by the enemy, let them see you fall back, let the ground troops think they can catch you... Draw them out gentlemen to this position.'

An area on the Map was highlighted 'This is where I will spring our little ambush on any of the mon-Keigh you can tempt here... and where the first pay off shall be made.'

Oh-Two-Hundred-Hours

Over their time fighting the forces of Melkor, and other wars the Eldar of Tor Yvresse had devolped several different takes on standard Aspects, today then would be the first time perhaps the Mon-Keigh of the Imperial guard would see these newer angles in action.

150 Wave Serpents had gathered for this assult, inside the first fifty where stored Warp Spiders, ready to launch their attacks, in the airs above them where the Swooping hawks, and in the other 70 Wave Serpents a mix of Aspects would be found. At the Beta site meanwhile the lines of Wraith Guard and Lords gathered, heavier weapons ready to open the attack... Oh-Two-Hundred hours arrived and the Eldar assult was opened with a wave of Grav Platforms firing into the Mon-Keigh Trenches Death-Spiners the Grav-Platform version of the Warp-Spiders mono-filament webs, as the graceful forms of the Wave Serpents raced towards the trenches at maximum speed turrets spiting death ahead of them, but really it was a simple attempt to keep heads further pinned down.

As the Wave Serpents neared the Human lines and the first few began to explode as the Imperial forces broke through the protection of the Shields Forty-Four slowed then came to halt for the briefest of moments before starting once more and swerving away. in the Imperial lines however Two and Sixty-Six Warp Spiders appeared inside Imperial trenches nearest to the heavy weapon turrets as they could get, as they spat death at the Humans from the Web-Spinner, every Forth man turned to face a Las Gun emplacement or other form of static weapon platform and simply threw a Granade as waves of Plasma spilled across the trenches from the multiple Plasma granades that had been thrown...

The three ships become little more than a ripple in the starfield as their night shields come on-line. The Kiss advances on the maiden world, disgorging a veritable swarm of landing craft filled to the gills with Dark Eldar soldiers and vehicles.

Rath watches the debarkment from the main hangar of the Kiss, whose open bay neatly frames the beautiful planet. N'wah Man hums softly and crackles with arcane energies, very much like the weapons of his Incubi guards, but it is dazzlingly ornate where the others are streamlined and practical. Reflected light glitters off the cold eye-slits of his tormentor helm. Like the others, his armor is painted a flat black that seems to draw light into itself, with an almost comically white face on the helm. Rath's armor, however, bears sweeping silver pauldrons, the mark of rank within the Kabal.

"Prepare the gateway. I will oversee the raids personally," he instructs one of his guards, who passes the order on via his comm gear.

"What of the others, my lord? A mon keigh fleet stands ready, and we have seen signs of interference from the Yngir and the Craftworlders. It appears the Craftworlders are fighting the mon keigh."

"I know about them. Proceed anyway. They aren't important, and the confusion will aid us. Capture as many of the exodites as you can."

"Yes, great lord."

"Blasted Xenos!" The Colonel shouted. All around him sounds of fighting and death could be heard. He walked past the smoldering ruins of Lasguns emplacement with several dead guardsman laying near it. The Colonel took out his bolt pistol, lasgun fire could heard nearby, his men were still resisting. In the distance he could see plumes of smoke rising out from several, obviously several more emplacements had by taken out by the damn Xenos.

Several guardsman ran past him, probably to their deaths. In the center trencline, where things were relatively quiet. Guard troopers could see running around the area, not quite sure what to do. Another explosion could heard from the West Trench, with plumes of black smoke rising shortly after. The damn had taken another Las Emplacement. This could not be allowed to continue. In the Command bunker he saw Tyco breifing several squads. More explosions this time the from Guard issued grenades could heard from the Eastern Trench. "I'll take it over from here Tyco." The Colonel said calmly doing his best to stay cool. The men immediatly came to attention, but he just motioned for them to be at ease.

"Tyco, I want you to head to the Demolisher emplacements and have them open fire on the Xenos, I'll take this group here into the western Trench and drive the bastards off!" More explosions and lasgun fire could be heard, this time from both trenches. "Come on, chop chop, we don't have all day! Follow me!" The Colonel charged out of the bunker with bolt pistol in hand with three full squads in perfect formation behind him. They would drive the xenos out yet.

Tyco still unsure what had happened left the bunker and headed around the corner. Several Medics and troopers rushed past him, not even noticing his rank. Another explosion thundered off in the distance. He finally reached the cannons, all ten of them were untouched. The crew of these cannons looked eager to fire their cannons, he would satisfy their eagerness. "Alright!" The men realizing who he was came to attention. "Load these puppies up with your standard Fragshells, target the areas out side the trenches! Cannons one through five aim towards the western section and cannons six through ten towards the east! Now send them to hell boys!" The eager crews immediately went to work, soon thunderous booms could be heard as they rained death with shells with explosive power comparable to four pounds of C4.

((Obviously I meant 246 not Two and Forty Six in the above Post Doh.))

As more Aspect Warriors raced to join their Comrades, Striking Scorpions in the center of the push, where ever the fighting was heaviest, Around them the smoke of warfare made it hard to determine who was doing what and the screams of the dying cut through the air...

Time was ticking down as Exarch's looked up, Forty Minutes into the attack and luckily they had stalled, FAR too many Mon-Keigh to break at the moment and so the Eldar where retreating back to their Wave serpents, although many of the transports had been destroyed, so had many Eldar been killed when the withdrawal order was given Two Wave Serpents would leave empty and only 130 would leave at all.

To cover the retreat of the Serpents the Swooping Hawks at last came into the fight guns blazing down onto the heads of the Mon-Keigh, Granades dropped at Random down into the mass.

Yet even this would not help prevent some losses and as the Wave Serpents retreated Seven exploded as there vulnerable rears where struck

Galdern watched it all and was pleased... one Hour Fifteen minutes till his next assult, enough time for the Mon-Keigh to start work rebuilding the Trench lines... keeping them working throughout the night...As was his plan Non of the Humans would be allowed a full nights rest for the next few weeks... thats when they would start to make mistakes, and when he would be able to punish them, until then well the retreating troops from the first attack would be cycled into a day of rest now keeping them fresh.

((In my mind it's likely going to take erm Five minutes to get a grasp of the situation for the Colonel, Five minutes to make his way to the Demolishers at least, so a minimum of ten minutes into the attack before they started firing, does that seem fair? anyway if you think I have been inaccurate with my casualties TG me. I always get nervous in declearing casualties))

The Colonel finally reached the western trenches only to find devoid of enemy of forces. Several explosions near him, he could see the bodies of only the Emperor knows how many men flying into the air. "Fix up these trenches! Come on we don't have all day!" he said to every trooper he passed. "I want EVERY major enterance mined! Get going damn it!" he said to the men behind him. "And where the hell are my reinforcments?!" He shouted looking up at the night sky.

Caldufis watched his forces march into the dropships. Over Eleven hundred more would deployed to the surface. Eleven hundred Praetorian Guardsman and eighty Stormtroopers, the very best of the Imperial guard, would be dropped right on top of Xenos positions, once the bombers did their job of course. Fiftheen fully loaded Marauder fighter-bombers flew out of the hangar bays, they would pound the Xenos into oblivion.
((Nah that's fine, that's why I stopped posting casualties while IC))

The Kabal's landing craft make burning streaks across the sky of the maiden world as they enter the atmosphere; the wave of craft crosses the terminator line, burning brightly on the day sky, slowing and skimming down as they cross through twilight and into the night.

A few hundred meters above the planet's surface, the gravitic engines of the craft kick in, howling with protest against the strain. One engine can't handle the strain, explosively blowing out and sending its craft through a wild tumble that ends with a horrible crunch against the face of a low hill.

As soon as the ramps of the landing craft touch the dirt, Dark Eldar soldiers of every stripe stream out into the night. More gravitic whines fill the air as the force's raiders and ravagers are brought online and prepped for combat.

High above the jewel of a world, the Blade's Kiss stalks through the void with its escort. Chatter fills the comm-space used by the Dark Eldar, their twisted language more than enough encryption. "Lander 1138 fully deployed. On my way back to the Kiss." "Did anyone see where 241 went down? Someone get their webway portal." "Stand by for deployment of our Talos. In three, two, one..."

"Great Lord, the force is ready," the captain of the Kiss reports.

Rath nods, studying the deployment reports. "Spread out the reavers and begin searching for locals. Avoid encounters with the mon-keigh or the Craftworlders, for now. If you take any prisoners, bring them back via the Web. Don't risk them to landers."

"Aye, lord. As you command."

"I will be going down to the surface. Take the ships and see how many of the mon-keigh ships you can cripple."

Nearly as soon as Rath issues the command, the captain rounds on his crew, barking orders to bring them engines up and divert power to the weapon batteries. Slowly at first, but growing ever faster, the three ships turn towards the human battlegroup and begin closing range.

The twelve ships of battlegroup twenty floated silently in space. Inside these massive ships, Guardsman were still being loaded onto their dropships, the Xenos would soon feel the Emperor's wrath.

"My Lord, The Marauders have entered the atmosphere, ETA 15 minutes." A nervous crewman proclaimed. "Good, they have my permission to attack targets of their choosing." replied Caldufis.

Fiery patterns of orange lights erupted across the night sky as the Maruaders skimmed through the atmosphere. With every passing minute, the roaring of their engines could be heard more clearly.

It was time the second assult was to take place now, but plans had been altered, now the Third assult would take place half way through this one at the opposite side of the Imperium lines, hopefully by which time reinforcements would already be on route to one flank when they struck at the other flank, confusion was the key here.

And so Three Hundred Wraithguard and One Hundred and fofty Wraithlords advanced across the lines supported by Warlocks and a Rapid response force of Shining Spears the Elite of the Yvresse forces, at the same time a smaller force of Fifteen advanced behind the screen provided by the robotic forms of the Eldar. Harlequins who would attempt to slip into the enemy lnes and strike at commanding officers and other key personal.

"Open Fire!" The Colonel proclaimed as he watched the forms of hundreds of Eldar advancing towards him. The Demolisher Cannons thundered once again, the resulting booms could be heard for miles. This was followed by an intense lasgun barrage from the remaining guardsmen. Wave after wave of blue energy were sent against the eldar, with all of this going on, no one heard or noticed the approaching aircraft.

The Marauders went into formation, forming sort of a triangle. The Marauders activated their Battle Cannons which occupied most of the foward fuselage area. Crews inside manned thier Lascannons ready to pick off anyone that dared challenge them in the air.

((Hope you don't mind...))

Somewhere in a deserted dugout, near the back of the Imperial lines, ten shapes crouched. Two on either side of the doorway, which irritatingly, lacked a door, looked out for passers by, not that there were many, as this particular dugout was quite deeply buried and most of the Imperial Guard were far too busy elsewhere to be getting any sleep at the moment. The other Flayed Ones clustered around their 'leader,' removing, as carefully as their claws would allow, a boxy object from its ribcage. About the size and shape of a shoe-box, they laid it on one of the bunks, and activated it.

The leader meanwhile, with several expert turns to the left, removed the claws from its left hand, and opened a cupboard He took the object and placed it in the cupboard, next to a spare sergeant's uniform. It reattached its claws, and pondered their next move. They could call for immediate withdrawl, quite possible, or wait and ensure that no-one disturbed their little gift for the Eldar.

They waited, and lurked.

On the ground, the Dark Eldar force fractures into several smaller armies, each making its way towards nearby Exodite communities located thanks to the scouting Reavers and the sensors of landers still coming in and lifting off.

Meanwhile, the Kiss and its two escorts, the Viper and the Assassin stalk through the void towards the apparently unsuspecting Imperium ships. The night shield of the Kiss is the first to ripple as the horrific power of its weapons batteries are brought to bear on the nearest ship of the Imperum battlegroup.

Moments later, the Viper and the Assassin add the weight of their long-range batteries, hoping to take advantage of the suprise.

Cobra Seventeen was ripped apart by the alien weapons, in an amazing flash of white, the once proud ship was reduced to floating debree. All five hundred hands were lost.

Fools From the Bridge, Caldufis discreetly smirked as he watched the Eldar ships pound another of his Corbra's into dust. Time to show these eldar Scum the Might of the Imperium.

Once the commanders of the ships realized what was going on, retaliation was immediate. The remaining ten ships of the Battlegroup opened up with every weapon it had on the nearest Eldar ship, launching countless shells and lasers against it.

The night shields render targeting and hitting the three ships difficult; the ships are only barely visible as a disturbance in the starfield, like a peice of glass passing in front of a black backdrop. In addition, they scatter, the Kiss dancing forward with a nimbleness usually reserved for much smaller ships to stab at the largest of the Imperial ships. The shields of the flagship tremble with onslaught delivered by the Imperium ships. Around and to either side the other two slip, attempting to flank the larger battlegroup.

((Sorry about the wait. My Flat mate got a new game... and has been playing it non-stop since. As the Net is his Comp I have been unable to get on the Net.))

The First of the Wraithguard began to fall as the Imperial forces opened fire, and the aircraft moved against them. Galdern was not however caught without a counter, 200 Vampires had been pulled from the Khaine's Fleets and amassed in support of the ground forces and now they struck in counter. Swwoping upon the Mon-Keigh Mauraders.

With a mighty crash the Lead Wraithlord tumbled and fell as firepower pored into it, still the machines advanced unflinchingly towards the defenders, and now they opened up in response, the smaller fire of the Guard mixed with the rapid shots of the Scatter cannons and other weapons of the Lords, and it would not be long till they reached the trenches and flamers could open up.

Another Lord fell alongside Dozens of Guard, before they had reached the trenches Twelve Lords would fall...

In Space.

Darvins was a little confused as he made out the signs of combat amongest the Mon-Keigh Fleet who had they engaged, then with a sudden realisation he understood.

Galdern the Fallen have come to us, They have engaged the human fleet...

A snarl crossed Galderns Face at the news...
Kill them my friend kill them both the time for subty has passed destroy the Mon-Keigh fleet and take vengence for Necropolis and for the war they tried to bring to us... reveal the majesty of Khaine to the unworthy.

The Web opened at that command and the four Khaines fleets entered the system, One Hundred and Twenty vessels of various sizes and types. At the sight of th battle the Flagship of the Kionash forces, Telgorthrinds Sacriface seemed to leap forwards no sign of hesitation as they entered the battle. Onboard the bridge however it was a slightly different scene, as crew members struggled to regain control.

'Admiral it's no use, the ships infinity circuit is over-riding or just plain ignoring us, We are on a direct course for the Fallen!.' Confusion and panic was evident in voices of the crew. 'The only system we seem to have access to is communications...'

The Marauders were being blown out the sky, already five had been shot down. They were not without defense, dozens of Lascannons opened fire on the Xenos flying machines, hurling pure blue energy into various directions. The remaining Marauders dove on the Xenos ground forces unleashing their battlecannons on them. They fired off dozens of Meltashells before they had to pull up. Two more had been shot down, but they did not waiver as the remaining bombers circled around to make another run.

"Stand Your Ground! Stand Your ground men!" The Colonel hallored. The vile Xenos Machines crashed into the trenches with a fury. He saw entire squads incinerated by the Machines flame weapons. His men were being worn down, and he knew, they were only human after all. They would be overunned sooner or later.

A grenade went off nearby followed shortly by sounds of alien weapons fire. Suddenly lasgun fire erupted, it came from the squad defending path to the command bunker. They're coming. The Colonel pulled out his Bolt pistol and retreated inside the bunker.

Amidst the fires and smoke of his ravaged trenches, he sat there in a soft leather chair waiting to make his last stand. He bowed his head, and began praying to the Emperor. Of the two thousand guardsman that went with him, only eleven hundred remained amongst the ruined trenches.

In Space
The Imperial ships continued thier merciless bombardment of the lone Xenos ship that dared challenge the might of The Imperium, oblivious to the fact that a massive fleet was approaching from behind.
"My Lord! Look!" A bridge officer nervously said. Caldufis got up and looked at the scanners. His reaction was surprising to everyone the bridge, he laughed at what he saw on the scanners. "Arm the Cyclones...and open all Communication channels, I have a message to relay..." He said with dark tone.

The Shroud paused, curious. It had still yet to be detected, and right now, all sides had something more important to do than bother about a sensor echo. That bought it time. A thousand times a thousand scenarios played out through its mind, it ran through prospects of using reinforcements and defeating all forces (minimal) defeating the survivors (possible) or aiding the humans (a curious possibility) in defeating the Yvressi.

With dazzling speed, it conceived of its plan, and it began to carry it out.

First, wait for the Wraithlords to enter the trenches. It could see through the eyes of its Flayed Ones, and watched them, several looking out of the doorway at the arial battle beyond, several still lurking. Meanwhile, a flurry of secret, safe, transmissions shot from it, meeting with its compatriots across the galaxy, merging and speaking together in what could be called hushed tones. Some were willing to carry out the plan, and it summoned them.

It looked over the data they had on Imperium transmissions...

Fascinating...

**Start Transmission**
Xenos Scum! This world has been claimed by the Emperor for Mankind. You have attacked us without reason, I do not know why you seem to have an...attachment to this world, but I am in a forgiving mood. I will give you TEN minutes to withdraw your vile fleet or by the Emperor, I will be forced to pass judgement upon this here world.
**End Transmission**
With that said, Caldufis swithched off the panel and waited.