NationStates Jolt Archive

Tetran Prime was a bright orb of green and blue, a beautiful sight from afar; until one was on the planet itself. Captain Fladerzen sighed and sipped his recaf while sitting in his command throne and reading the newest report from the Administratum concerning which Guard units were to be put down on the planet. Fladerzen was mostly happy to get most of them off his space hulk; they’d about destroyed his mess hall when a fight broke out between the Tallarn 8th and the Thrashian 7th regiments. The three Guardsmen responsible had been put on trial for infractions by the commissars of each regiment. Though more might have insued since the Tallarns lost the fight and were itching for vengence.

Then the communications adept stood up in his cubby.

“Captain, we’ve received a short ranged vox report from the planet surface. The local PDF commander is shouting for us to set off and begin landings immediately,” said the vox operator in his small cubby further toward the front of the bridge. A few tech priests looked up at him and began chanting small prayers to the Machine God when they noticed that he’d spilled a cup of recaf on an operating board.

“Hmpf, who does he think he is? Ordering around a Fleet officer like he was the Lord General himself, he seems to have forgotten himself,” said Fladerzen, and huffed once more.

“But sir, he’s saying that Chaos cultists have begun attacking the capitol in a large attack. He even says that Traitor Marines have been spotted in their ranks!” Fladerzen’s eyes enlarged dramatically at the words Traitor Marines.

“Send the Drop Order! Begin sending the Thrashian 1st Division. And inform the Lord General Xerxes that he will be leaving on the next transport down as he had asked earlier.”

“Yes captain. “


The gigantic space hulk came into orbit around the planet and it spat out some forty landing craft, each the size of a large building.

One of them swept through the air, its pilot making evasive maneuvers as several krak missiles spat out from tall buildings of the capitol city; heretics hoping to make a pot-shot of the drop ships. Finally it set down in the Space Port. Its rear doors opened up and four Chimeras streamed out followed by a mass of grey-brown clad men with armored flak jackets and toting Imperial Guard standard issue las-guns. Officers and sergeants yelled out orders as the men poured out of the drop ship.

“Form into platoons! 1st Platoon! On Me!” yelled one rough looking Lieutenant. His bionic eye flashing as the light from the local sun reflected off it. The Guard regiments formed up into squares of platoons until all 50 platoons were formed up, as well as the 20 Chimera transports waiting outside. Then a man with steel colored hair and clothed in a brown uniform decorated with different medals and wearing a pair of General chevrons on his sleeves stepped down from the drop ship and was met by Colonel Arlioun.

The colonel saluted. “Lord General, I have received news from the local PDF commander and have been updated on the situation.”

“Good, patch it through to my command Chimera, and contact Captain Fladerzen and make sure he sends my Baneblade down with the next drop,” Lord General Xerxes said. He walked past the Colonel and the colonels adjutants and took a look at the city.

The crack of las fire and explosions could be heard in the distance. “Colonel, you are to deploy your men as you see fit for the time being. I will be going to the command center of the PDF to get a clear picture of the situation.”

Before the Colonel could object to the Lord General going off on his own through a city in the middle of a battle, Xerxes had gotten into his Chimera and had it rumbling down the road and out of the Space Port.


The Thrashian 1st deployed all around the southern and western parts of the capitol city of Ankara. The first 30 regiments of the division making landfall before the engagement between the local PDF and Chaos cultists was half-way through.


Xerxes stepped through the doorway into the command room of the Tetran PDF headquarters. Men and women were running in different directions holding papers and equipment and vox headsets. In the center of the room a large data table was displaying the city in a holographic grid. A man, looking close to Xerxes’s own age, in a spiffed up PDF uniform stood over it looking haggard and tired. An aide stood next to him furtively trying to shove a cup of recaf in his hands.

Xerxes stepped further into the room and up to the table display, the aides and other PDF personal stopped what they were doing when he entered. The man standing over the display looked up from it and when he saw Xerxes the relief on his face was obvious.

“I am Lord General Xerxes, commander of the Thrashian 1st Imperial Guard Division. What is the situation…?” he asked.

The man saluted. “I am General Mandera, commander of the Tetran Planetary Defense Force. I can barely express how serious the situation has become.”

“Show me.” Xerxes stepped over next to Mandera and looked down at the display. Icons in blue, marking them as PDF units, were moving in and around the eastern and northern spaces of town fighting red icons, representing the cultist heretics. “So far my men have been able to hold them off in the industrial district, but in this rural area here,” he pointed to a spot where the red icons had broken through a section of blues, “a small force of Chaos Marines appeared from the northern plains and broke through our lines. My men can’t stop them,” said Mandera.

“Very well General Mandera, the Imperial Guard will pick up the slack and help free you of the situation.” Xerxes motioned over his vox operator. The man moved over to a side panel and with the help of a PDF tech priest hooked a cable into the table. A large number of green icons suddenly appeared on the table, representing the Thrashian 1st units. So far the 7th and 8th regiments had come into contact with the heretics in the far western districts of the industrial area. Three other regiments were near enough, I a U-shape, to form a circle of where the Chaos Marines had broken through.

Xerxes pressed the vox headpiece in his ear and turned to the channel of the 12th regiment nearest the marines. “Colonel O’Brien, this is Lord General Xerxes. A formation of Traitor Marines has broken through the PDF lines to the north of you. Move forward with the 17th and 23rd regiments on your right flank and engage them, I want them destroyed.”

The vox crackled a little. “Yes sir Lord General. Colonel Kiath and I will get on it sir.”

“Good man. The Emperor Protects,” Xerxes intoned the old mantra line. O’Brien echoed him. “The Emperor Protects.”


1st squad ran up the left side of the street, large apartment buildings on either side. They moved one fire team at a time, going forward slowly. Other squads were doing like-wise on the right side of the street. Three Guardsmen ran forward and jumped to the ground, las-guns aimed forward looking for signs of the enemy. “Some job we get, goin’ after a bunch’cha Chaos filled psychopaths!” one said.

“Oh just shut up Dennis, we’re just the closest blokes around them; that’s all. Nothing more to it, and besides the Lord General himself asked us,” said another. The third nodded, causing his helmet coming down over his eyes.

“That’s right Dennis, listen to what Markus said, we’re jus’ the closes Guard unit to the bloody heretics.” Another few guardsmen ran past them, after they fell to the ground and looked around the three leapt up and ran forward themselves and hit the pavement again.

“That’s all fine for you to have faith in what the Lord General says Mc’lagger,” Dennis said to the third Guardsman, “but I still think its bad luck to be chosen to go after these blokes.” The platoon sergeant ran up and dropped to the ground next to them.

“Cut the chatter ladies. Scouts say we are close.” The other three nodded and looked down their las-gun sights down the street. The crack-hiss of las-gun fire and the pounding of bolter fire came from further on, and the sound was growing closer. All across the street way the three platoons set up what defenses they could from bricks and side walk benches. In the center they set up the heavy bolter. Dennis, Markus, and Mc’lagger were ordered to man it.

“Why the ‘ell we have to do the duty where the most bullets will come?” Dennis half whined. The other two ignored him as they dumped out bolter ammunition strips and fed the first belt of them into the bolter. Dennis sat down behind it and smoothed his fingers gently over the firing pins. The sounds of battle came closer, as did the sound of screaming. The Guardsmen got ready for what was coming.

Suddenly, running out from around the next street and at them, came a Guardsman who was not holding a las-gun and had lost his helmet somewhere. He was running and screaming bloody murder. “AHHH! RUN! THEY”RE COMING! NO WAY TO STOP THEM! WE CAN’T DO IT! WE’RE ALL GOING TO DI-.” The last word was drowned out as a large 8ft black armored form ripped out of a nearby apartment wall and with a quick swipe with a bloody chain sword cut the running Guardsman in half. Three other giant and armored forms followed him out of the apartment.

For a few moments both parties simply looked at one another as if they were surprised that they should be there. Then Dennis’s fingers pressed on the firing pins of the heavy bolter.

The Guardsmen fired with everything they had, yelling at the same time. Las fire punched out and the bolter roared a yellow flame. The closest armored figure was mauled by the mass of bolter and las-gun fire, but the other three raised their chain swords, roared, and charged toward the Guardsmen yelling. “Blood! Blood for the Blood God!” Dennis himself was screaming. “Frak you mother frakkers! Frak!” A second armored figure went down under the combined efforts of the las-gun fire and bolter fire. But the other two succeeded in reaching the lines.

They swung their chain swords like they were swatting aside flies, crushing and cutting guardsmen in each stroke. The platoon sergeant ran forward with his combat long sword in hand, yelling at the top of his lungs. Dennis watched as one of the Chaos Marines batted aside the strike and cut the sergeant in half. Dennis swung the heavy bolter around on its axel and fired full auto into the chest of the Marine that was stepping towards him.

The Marine slashed down and cut through Mc’lagger’s chest, and punched Markus in the face, his head disappearing in a cloud of red mist. Dennis kept holding down the firing pins of the bolter even when the belt of ammunition ran out, and he kept on screaming.

The Marine stopped for a moment and chuckled. It raised its sword and began to swing down to cut Dennis, when a beam from a las-cannon hit it full in the chest. A large gaping hole appeared in it’s chest. Dennis was shocked and looked over to see a Leman Russ tank rolling down the street firing off its las-cannons and heavy bolters. The last Chaos Marine went down under the tanks power.

Dennis stood up and took off his helmet. He looked down at the dead bodies of his friends. “I knew it was bad luck…frakkers.”


“Lord General, Colonel O’Brien has just voxed in saying that all the Traitor Marines have been destroyed or fallen back. All Chaos forces have fallen back to the North of the city,” said Xerxes’s vox operator. Xerxes smiled. All along the blue-green line the red icons were either disappearing or retreating.

“Very good. Tell all units to push the heretics beyond the city but not to pursue them into the plains beyond.”

“Yes sir.” The vox operator turned back to his equipment. Xerxes sighed and looked over at Mandera who was sitting in a seat with a cup of what looked like wine in his hand. Xerxes realized that the man must feel defeated in the sense that his PDF couldn’t handle the situation on their own. Xerxes decided to lighten his mood.

“General Mandera, I must say your men fought well. Most PDFs are not of the caliber to stand up to such attacks by heretics.” Mandera’s chest puffed up a little with what pride was left.

“I trained my men well sir. And thank you for your timely arrival. If not for that then I fear this city would now be in Chaos hands.”

“Indeed General. And I must discuss with you, orders from the Administratum, on why such a large and heavy infestation of heretics came to be on Tetra Prime.” Mandera nodded.

“Perhaps we can retire to my personal office were we can rest and I will tell you the history of our conflict.” The two men left the command center and into a side building where Mandera kept his office.


Unknown to anyone in the Tetran capitol, even to the Space Hulk Arcturious a Chaos vessel sliped into the system and launched a drop ship to the planet. The ship set down in the open plains to the north of the city.

Bump

[BUMP] with a big hammer

[BUMP] with a big hammer


OOC: I would post, but you've left me with nothing to work with.

OOC: You mean you can't use your imagination? Like...the fact that I didn't pursue the Chaos forces into the plains leaves them to come again later. I mean...comon. Come in with some Inquisition thing or some new force of Chaos. Think creatively.

OOC: You mean you can't use your imagination? Like...the fact that I didn't pursue the Chaos forces into the plains leaves them to come again later. I mean...comon. Come in with some Inquisition thing or some new force of Chaos. Think creatively.

OOC: I'm not Chaos for one thing... I dislike the Inquisition, even if I do use them, I'm usually Nec's or IoM Marinbes in this type of situation, but without more developments I have nothing to work with.

OOC: Well all I've done is one side of the story, but I added in a few marines so as they could enter later in larger numbers. So think creatively. Or like some Necron artifact buried under the city that the chaos forces want to use. I dunno. I'm just a foot-sloggin Guard general.

OOC: Well all I've done is one side of the story, but I added in a few marines so as they could enter later in larger numbers. So think creatively. Or like some Necron artifact buried under the city that the chaos forces want to use. I dunno. I'm just a foot-sloggin Guard general.

OOC: Hmm, if the presence of Chaos activated it, it could call my Tomb lords down on your head... I like it.

IC:

Far away from Tetran Prime, lightyears from any inhabited system in fact, a single Tombship recieved a bizarre signal, an ancient artifact had been activated beneath a city on a tiny panet, whose inhabitants were barely worthy of Harvesting, this bore invstigating.

Three standard Solar cycvles after recieving the signal the fleet was ready, three Tombships, three times as many harvesters, twenty Shroud Cruisers, and dozens of Dirges and Jackals were on their way to acquire whatever it was that lay beneath the surface of that pathetic world.

Xerxes and Mandera sat in small paper-filled office that was the PDF generals work-day location. A small recaf machine was located in the corner on top of a file cabinent and papers. The largest space was taken up by a desk in the center, a chair behind it facing the door, and a chair in front facing the desk.

Mandera entered the room and sat down behind the desk and motioned for the Lord General to take a seat opposite him. Xerxes nodded and sat.

"Would you like some recaf?" asked Mandera, he seemed slightly uneasy. "No thankyou General, just some details right now," answered Xerxes. Mandera nodded, stood up, and walked over to recaf machine with an emtpy cup.

"Well theres not much that I know about the condition of things here, a represenative of the Inquisition came to Tentran about three years ago searching for something, but the poor fellow never returned from his investigations. He had a sanctioned Psyker with him who kept on blabbing about a jewel of some sort, I thought she was rather too much in 'touch' with the warp if you get my meaning." Mandera was sturing some sugar into his recaf and added some pills from a small capsul into it as well. "It was around then that the first signs of chaos appeared."

"You mean that the Inquisitor you met and the appearance of the Chaos forces are connected?" asked Xerxes, he leaned forward slightly in his chair.

"I leave such speculation to whoever was the authority in the Inquisition's interest on Tetran Prime. I just keep the peace." Mandera sat back down ina heap. Xerxes realized that the man must not have slept for some days.

"Hmm, well I am no Inquisitor but it seems imparative to me that we find the connection between whatever this Inquisitor was looking for and why the forces of Chaos are here. My guess is that they are looking for it," said Xerxes softly. Mandera had twitched a little when he had said the word Inquisitor and Chaos, and for good reason.

"Well that is your perogative Lord General, all reasources that I have are at your disposal. Not much, but it will hopefully suffice to reinforce your Guard," said Mandera, he took a long swig of his recaf and leaned back and looked down at his desk which was a maze of stacks of data slates and paper.

"Even so I will be sending an astropath messege to my home planet, I will be bringing some reinforcements, and I will send a messege strait to Terra for the Inquisition. It seems they are unaware of the loss of one of their members," Xerxes said. He stood up and walked over to the office door and opened it. He glanced back once more before leaving; General Mandera was laning forward and holding his head in his hands, looking like an ancient broken statue.


The Thrashian Guard units moved to the outskirts of the city setting up a defensice peremitter, expecting a counter attack from the northern plains, the Chaos forces still out there. Xerxes kept some 10 regiments spread around the center of the city protecting key areas of the city. Xerxes himself set up his HQ in a tall 15 story hotel that overlooked much of the city, his private command Baneblade blocking the street outside anc causing many native Tetrans to be inconvienanced yet awed by its massive size.

Captain Fladerzen had the General's 2 astropath messeges sent with the day. The Administratum on Thrashia acknowledged the Generals request and launched three more space hulks to the Tetran System, and sent an astropath message back in return.

The messege to Terra for the Holy Inquisition was never answer, except for a strike cruiser to be launched from Terra heading for Tetra Prime.

"So; this is the world..." The Sorceror's voice echoed about them, the plains empty, as Marines and twisted tech-priest things lunk from the Dropship. Behind him, a large and brodding figure stepped forth from the shadows of the ship.

"Indeed; here is where we shall leave our mark upon this wretched world, loyal to that long ago God-Emperor" Raksha, a Lord Commander of the Nel Angelus, spun his intricately carved Daemonblade, and patted the bolter strapped to his side, as he glanced around; already supplies were on their way, slowly, subtley from the Hulk; already these twisted little worms were preparing a initial base camp; meager defences.

"The Tetrans shall not be a problem; my lord..." The Sorceror's seductive voice dripped with poison. "They shall become worthy sacrifices for the Gods."

"Careful with your words, Tzeentchian...The Lord Slaanesh dictates our actions here; the Nelo Angelus respect and follow but one god."

"Of course; forgive me my...presumption, Lord Commander..."

OOC: This just so happens to be a cast of characters from my own army, enjoy gentlemen...

IC: Captain Darien Cimbue observed the retreating chaos forces with an incompassionate, uncaring eye accustomed to 10000 years of genocide, death and slaughter. The company of Night Lord assembled before him were reflected upon his lightning claws, distorted reflections of the comrades he had fought alongside for 100 centuries. His intention upon this world was considerably less laudable than that of the imperial guard, indcotrinated into the servitude of a deluded and incompetant corpse, or even those of the brethren of slaanesh, so entranced in the pursuit of pleasure, so obsessed with the pacification of their master. He had ordained the presence of his warband upon this world to visit upon its inhabitants a terror that would consume their very souls, and further the slow decay and degeneration of the Imperium of man.

The pyre of aflame corpses and buildings was visible and tangible even from the spyre the night lords had made their home for the previous months, and the anger that coursed Darien's veins that his prey had been diminished would soon be visited upon the cultists whose failure threatened all his machinations. His reverie was broken as the metallic, baroque armoured hand of his sorcerer, Moraxes, rested upon his shoulder, and removing his helmet he gave audiance to the sorcers ruminations. "Darien lord" emanated the raspy, nauseating voice of Moraxes " we ought to move soon, the presence of the slaaneshi interlopers threatens to attract the accursed inquisition and our deluded brothers. We would be better served to enact our intentions presently, dispense with the humans, and flee before any real resistance materialises."

Darien understood the veracity of these sentiments, and decided to enact his plans within the coming month, and retreat to Tarraq Darkblood and his fleet at Tsalaguela within the year. His claws immediatly extended from their housings in anticipation of the slaughter that would follow...

Xerxes sighed heavily in his seat. He'd been cooped up all day long doing paper work in his HQ and had only stopped for a short time for a grox sandwich and a meager cup of recaf. But his toil had its pleasent fruits.

The Thrashian "Iron Guard" 3rd Brigade, along with the Valhallen 2nd Armored were set to land on Tetran Prime in three standard days. And behind them was coming the Thrashian 2nd Division under General Gauis Nero. Xerxes was simply glad and happy that he'd been given overall command. Nero had a habbit to charge into a spiked brick wall if he thought he might get through it. But it would take all of Xerxes 120 years of Guard service experiance to get them through this one.

According to his scouts the heretic army was plit into to main groups so far, some in the farthest north-western plains and some further east. So far neither force seemed to be doing anything other than regrouping.

Xerxes shook his head and sipped the last of his recaf. "Thats it for today, no more slate work," he said to himself. He stood up from his desk and walked from his new office to the breifing room next door, roughly 300 people could fit in its collaseum type set-up but in its center the Lord General had a table set, with a pict display of the city and its tactical situation showing.

He looked down at the table and saw several tech priests muttering small prayers to the Machine God and taping on the small meta box that controlled the display. Further away at the end of the table sat a small young man with thinning blond hair. He looked up with bright green eyes, whose pools were disturbed by bits of blue lighting that appeared there from time to time. Dionysus, Xerxes personal sanctioned psyker. He was clothed in a simple tan Guard uniform, he would have seemed like any other normal human except for the aura that one felt when you walked within a certain distance of him; as well as the fact that every so often he would spasm and his eyes go pure white.

Xerxes walked up to the table and sat down several fet away from Dionysus. The young man smiled. "Lord General, I had thought you-eer-buried in paper work," Dionysus said in a monotone mouse-like voice.

"No Dio, I am not," said Xerxes, using Dionysus's nick name. "Have you found out anything more about what the Chaos filth could want on this planet?" Xerxes asked, leaning forward. Dionysus's eye lids slid down half-way for a moment, then the blue lighting played accross them, then his eyes brust full open again.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. It would seem that the Emperor's enemies seek something buried below the city. From what I have felt it would seem to be a maliciouc artifact of some kind," he said in his monotone mouse voice. He spasmed slightly then relaxed again in his chair.

Xerxes made the sign of the Aquila instinctively and then leaned far back into his chair. The problem on Tetran Prime just got a little harder. Xerxes moved his hand up to his vox ear piece. "Karl? Good, inform all regimental commanders to assemble for a breifing here at HQ at 1300 hours tommorow. I have new orders for them."

The vox scrambled a little. "Yes Lord General."

OOC: Can I make the heretics freedom fighters instead of psycho-Chaos cultists. If so, I'll take control of them.

OOC: Well you see, they're heretics...meaning they no longer believe in the God-Emperor of the Imperium...and they worship Chaos...so...no freedom fighters...maybe if this was an rp about Iraq, but not here.

OOC: I was under the impression that the Imperium called all unbelievers heretics, not just the ones who follow Chaos.

OOC: That is true, except usually they are associated with the forces with Chaos or other xenos. BUt for this one, their pure chaos worshipers. Theres nothing to freedom fight about.

[Bump]

OOC: What power are they aligned to?

OOC: Well so far we've seen Slanneshi Cultists and Chaos Marines dedicated to Khorne....I will leave it up to the chaos rp'ers to decide what Chaos Power their follow.

The Tomb Lord and his fleet were near to Tetran indeed, just half a day away from the system outskirts, soon they would have the Artefact, and nothing would be able to stop them.

OOC: I'm going to determine the nature of the Artefact as the only Necron player in here, is that alright?

OOC: Well so far we've seen Slanneshi Cultists and Chaos Marines dedicated to Khorne....I will leave it up to the chaos rp'ers to decide what Chaos Power their follow.

OOC: Well, I know at least one guy who follows the Plague Lord, I may be able to get him in on this.

The breifing room was filled to the bursting point with colonels, majors, commissars, and aides. The Lord General had yet to arrive and several commanders were debating what it was that would cause the Lord General to pull all the regimental commanders off the line for a mass breafing. The murmor of arguement and discussion continued for a while until the great doors in the far wall opened. All the officers stood at attention.

Lord General Xerxes walked into the room in full uniform dress; he was followed by Dionysus who was wearing his usual non discript tan Guard uniform, and by General Mandera of the Tetran PDF.

He walked down the aisle to the center table, several tech priests were nearby saying prays to the Machine God for the display. He stopped at the head of the table and took of his cap. Dionysus took a seat several feet away, and General Mandera sat down as well.

Xerxes leaned forward and set his hands on the table. "At-Ease gentlemen." There was a double stomp of boots as 300 officer took their seats. Xerxes blinked once then began. "You are probably all wondering as to why I aked you here today?" A low murmer of laughter grew from the assembled officers at the old joke. "The reason gentlemen, is because we have new orders. I have been charged with the responsibility of holding this city from a Chaos army, thats size is as yet unknown." Another murmor went through the officers.

"As of 0700 hours tommorow the 3rd Thrashian "Iron brigade" and the Valhallen 2nd armored will be landing to reinforce us. And soon after them come within 4 days, the 2nd Thrashian Imperial Guard Divsion," Xerxes said with a smile. A cheer rose from the assembled officers. Reinforcements of any kind was welcome news. Xerxes cleared his throat loudly. The noise level fell then died.

"However, with the help of General Mandera, whose PDF men were able to halt the chaos forces until we arrived, has given new light to the situation." No low murmor came. "With investigations led by the Inquisition, and certain files that I have been given, has brought disturbing things into the scene. I am making it a standing order, that anything and everything discussed in this room is not discussed outside it." A few officers nodded, other simply remained silent. "The cause of the Chaos incursion is due to a source of malicious power buried beneath our very feat." Another murmor rose. Xerxes pushed a series of buttons causing the pict display to come on. A holographic display of the entire city appeared and hovered over the table.

"As you can see here gentlemen, the city was built and remains built on a platue of sorts. To the south, after the space port ends, is a sheer drop of of cliffs that give us a clear sight of an empty 400 klom wide canyon. To the East is the rockiest and most unusable terrain I have ever known. To our right flank is the Tetterack Mountains, while we are not at its direct base, the industrial sector of the city sites on its unwinding roots, affording us a good position for our artillery. The only real way to come at us in a direct attack is from the north gentlemen. An open, near indefensible, grassland plain; except for one small advantage on our part." He took in a long breathe. " Going East form west is a small 4m deep stream that is less than a klom outside of the city. It is at this time in the year nothing more than a dry creek bed, however it will now serve to be our first line of defense. Regiments 1-34 will be advancing at 1500 hours today to take and hold the creek bed, fortify it, and hold it against all opposition. You have your orders, you are dismissed." With that Xerxes turned and left with Dionysus and Mandera close behind. The assembled officers stood and saluted.


By 1600 hours that day all designated 34 regiments succeded in reaching the creek bed unaposed and began to fortify the 25 klom line of defense. The other regiments took up several other positions in and around the city.

By 2300 hours Lord General Xerxes was somewhat satisfied with the thought that he could hold the city against anything.

OOC: Thats fine Mini, just make sure its not some infalliable thing k? And like I said, I leave it to the Chaos players to decide which Power they wish to be dedicated to, I'm just a foot sloggin infantryman.

The breifing room was filled to the bursting point with colonels, majors, commissars, and aides. The Lord General had yet to arrive and several commanders were debating what it was that would cause the Lord General to pull all the regimental commanders off the line for a mass breafing. The murmor of arguement and discussion continued for a while until the great doors in the far wall opened. All the officers stood at attention.

Lord General Xerxes walked into the room in full uniform dress; he was followed by Dionysus who was wearing his usual non discript tan Guard uniform, and by General Mandera of the Tetran PDF.

He walked down the aisle to the center table, several tech priests were nearby saying prays to the Machine God for the display. He stopped at the head of the table and took of his cap. Dionysus took a seat several feet away, and General Mandera sat down as well.

Xerxes leaned forward and set his hands on the table. "At-Ease gentlemen." There was a double stomp of boots as 300 officer took their seats. Xerxes blinked once then began. "You are probably all wondering as to why I aked you here today?" A low murmer of laughter grew from the assembled officers at the old joke. "The reason gentlemen, is because we have new orders. I have been charged with the responsibility of holding this city from a Chaos army, thats size is as yet unknown." Another murmor went through the officers.

"As of 0700 hours tommorow the 3rd Thrashian "Iron brigade" and the Valhallen 2nd armored will be landing to reinforce us. And soon after them come within 4 days, the 2nd Thrashian Imperial Guard Divsion," Xerxes said with a smile. A cheer rose from the assembled officers. Reinforcements of any kind was welcome news. Xerxes cleared his throat loudly. The noise level fell then died.

"However, with the help of General Mandera, whose PDF men were able to halt the chaos forces until we arrived, has given new light to the situation." No low murmor came. "With investigations led by the Inquisition, and certain files that I have been given, has brought disturbing things into the scene. I am making it a standing order, that anything and everything discussed in this room is not discussed outside it." A few officers nodded, other simply remained silent. "The cause of the Chaos incursion is due to a source of malicious power buried beneath our very feat." Another murmor rose. Xerxes pushed a series of buttons causing the pict display to come on. A holographic display of the entire city appeared and hovered over the table.

"As you can see here gentlemen, the city was built and remains built on a platue of sorts. To the south, after the space port ends, is a sheer drop of of cliffs that give us a clear sight of an empty 400 klom wide canyon. To the East is the rockiest and most unusable terrain I have ever known. To our right flank is the Tetterack Mountains, while we are not at its direct base, the industrial sector of the city sites on its unwinding roots, affording us a good position for our artillery. The only real way to come at us in a direct attack is from the north gentlemen. An open, near indefensible, grassland plain; except for one small advantage on our part." He took in a long breathe. " Going East form west is a small 4m deep stream that is less than a klom outside of the city. It is at this time in the year nothing more than a dry creek bed, however it will now serve to be our first line of defense. Regiments 1-34 will be advancing at 1500 hours today to take and hold the creek bed, fortify it, and hold it against all opposition. You have your orders, you are dismissed." With that Xerxes turned and left with Dionysus and Mandera close behind. The assembled officers stood and saluted.


By 1600 hours that day all designated 34 regiments succeded in reaching the creek bed unaposed and began to fortify the 25 klom line of defense. The other regiments took up several other positions in and around the city.

By 2300 hours Lord General Xerxes was somewhat satisfied with the thought that he could hold the city against anything.

OOC: Thats fine Mini, just make sure its not some infalliable thing k? And like I said, I leave it to the Chaos players to decide which Power they wish to be dedicated to, I'm just a foot sloggin infantryman.

OOC: It's a device that will amplify the strength of any Psyker who posesses it by an order of magnitude. It hurts those without Psyker powers that touch it.

IC:

As the Guard and Marine Commanders pl;anned their defense, the Tomb Lord entered their space, nearly one hundred various ships exited the warp, the Maqssive Tomb Ship and its Harvester escorts headed immediately fo the planet, sublety was out, brute force was called for.