NationStates Jolt Archive

Several Lightyears Out From Aquaria
Onboard the Glorious Standard
Flagship of Gaius Julius Germanicus

"Enter."

The door of the room slid open, revealing the officer that had rang. The man moved forwards confidently and came to a halt before the desk that Julius was working at. Saluting, the officer fell silent and waited for Gaius to finish reading the dispatches and reports that were strewn about his table.

"I trust the entire fleet is keeping up with us, so that we all arrive at the same time? I would very much hate showing up with but a single vessel, Admiral Lucianus."

(OOC: Drath, I'd appreciate if you let Roma and me do a little bit of chatting before you join in. Y'know, just for some background.)

The Neo-Roman admiral nodded once shortly. "All craft are with us, Imperator," Lucianus replied. "I checked the fleet positions myself on my way over. No stragglers." Like most of his people, Titus Lucianus was terse in his speech and impassive in his manner; one of his old subordinate officers had once said that you couldn't break through his poker face with a battering ram.

"Our forward scout groups have picked up large amounts of chatter about a 'Holy Crusade' the Dratherians and some of their allies are apparently gearing up for," Lucianus continued. "In summary, they wish to reclaim old worlds of their former empire to usher in a new golden age of their civilization. The entirety of our information on this is here." He placed a small datadisc on Germanicus' desk and slid it a few inches toward his commander. "We will not catch them as unprepared as we might otherwise have, unfortunately, but the majority of their forces are still in the process of mobilizing. If we plan our initial strikes well, we will still throw their efforts into disarray."

"I do not wish to appear a cowardly ambusher who melts away when the enemy starts defending itself," Germanicus stated while picking up the datapad and scanning over the contents. "We will do this first strike simply. Let us wow them with our might. When we arrive you are to broadcast a message with terms of surrender for the planet, and then when they refuse you are to use any strategy you desire to destroy whatever forces they have in the area that could dispute aeiral control. Speak with your officers, and plan out your strategy, but make sure these heathens know that they are dealing with a much superior force."

Lucianus saluted and stepped back. "One of our scout groups is already stealthed and in long orbit around Aquaria, which gives us some unique options. I will confer with my senior officers aboard my flagship immediately. I will notify you of the plan and when it will commence." He turned and left Germanicus' office.

~

An hour later, Lucianus swept onto the bridge of his flagship Impunitas and strode up to the immense command console, a twenty foot semicircular spread of light and power. The equally imposing holoscreen rose ten feet above the console, displaying star charts, tactical maps, and data feeds on anything pertaining to the fleet. Lucianus rested his fingers on the console like a piano maestro caressing his instrument's keys; its surface was warm with electronics and holobuttons.

At Lucianus' nod, the commtech opened a general channel that addressed every ship in the seven fleets under Germanicus' command. Every fleet commander hailed their admiral and reported their fleets ready.

<Socii, we are commencing our assault on the Dratherian system of Aquaria. 1st and 2nd Imperial Fleets, lock jump coordinates and go. All other fleets hold position and wait for my go ahead. Bona fortuna, Marte beati*>

On Lucianus' order, the 1st and 2nd Imperial Fleets jumped to coordinates provided by the three Pallas stealth cruisers skulking invisible on the outskirts of Aquaria's gravitational field. The slim kilometer-long Neo-Roman pattern cruisers fired a single burst of their fusion drives and began to coast silently and invisibly towards the planet in anticipation of their part in Lucianus' orchestra of combat, leaving no trace but three solitary bursts of heat and neutrinos. There was no hiding the scores of massive Taledonian-made battleships and swarm of smaller vessels as they closed on the system and began firing on any and all Dratherian craft they encountered, many of their targets pre-identified and designated by the Pallades before jumping. No broadcasts were made, and no quarter was given.

((OOC: So I guess this is where you come in, Drath. Would you mind posting what defending forces you have in the system? Let the games begin!))



*Good fortune, blessed of Mars

(OOC: Yes, please give us some numbers. And in response to what you left me on MSN[Which I say here so Roman can hear too]: Our stealth craft have been charting your system and everything around it for some time now. They know of all the FTLi networks, blackholes, et cetera, and after much time and effort have navigated through the corridor of defences into the system itself. From that, we can broadcast co-ordinates for direct wormholes, basically by-passing your FTLi as you have never encountered our systems thus far.)

Aquaria a planet of water with a single massive continent reminiscent of ancient Pangea. The world was ancient with alien systems that were studied constantly by the Mechanicum. This was also the primary tech world It's dangerous planet based network of Ion Cannons were cloaked from sensors by ancient stealth technology each cannon itself capable of destroying a single Emperor-class Battleship with only a few shots.

The enemy had a made a foolish miscalculation. The fleets surrounding the planet were massive. Berthing roughly seven hundred starships of the Mechanicum and Iron Hands Space Marine Fleets as well as four Star Forts. And their wormhole had appeared right in front of their guns. Although a few Mechanicum ships were caught off guard in the initial assault The Space Marine Fleets were ready. They had been preparing for war and a possible strike by Chaos or Xenos forces. Aquaria was a hive of heavy firepower and they would be ready. Massive Battle Barges and vessels seen rarely elsewhere in the Imperium moved toward the enemy vessels. Lance strikes illuminated the surrounding space and Nova Cannons unleashed hellish fury against the Republican ship. Their mistake had been in underestimating a nation prepared for Crusade. They lusted and hungered for battle and this was exactly what they had been hoping for.

A distress call sounded across the Universe directed at allies and potential allies. No, not a distress call but rather a call to war. The Hungering Hordes of the Dark Wolves were their first call followed by their friendly allies in the GFFA, The Imperium of Man, The Federal Union, and many others. The bandwidth was undetectable to anyone who they did not wish to hear it. And with the call to war massive fleets began to depart from the nearby Shuvian System to aid their brothers in War.

Now it had begun the true battle the Republic would meet. They had no wish to kill fellow humans but they had brought it upon themselves.

Ahiezar sat in the command chair of his flagship the Barokcailler and watched the beginning of the battle unfold. The Dragonship sat an observable distance from the battle on request of the King himself. Ahiezar had simply come with his flagship and a sizable escort nothing more, but should more be needed for any reason Ahiezar had but to request it. “Kaiser the Republican forces have engaged shall we join our fellows in combat?” Alozar, Ahiezar’s lieutenant asked. Ahiezar turned to regard Alozar and replied.
“No, I was nominated to command and I was not chosen and no request has been sent to Dracious for additional aid so I have been asked not to get involved unless needed. We are not here to fight Alozar but to observe.” Confused Alozar left Ahiezar to continue watching the unfolding battle. As Ahiezar saw the forces Dratheria mustered he informed Kharneth on the activity.

Elsewhere Liadon finished mustering his sinister forces. He watched ranks of massive figures clad in thick spiked black armor board transport ships of insidious design. Behind Liadon stood Gorgoth, 10 feet tall and over muscled clad in spiked black armor similer to that of the rest boarding but his head was bare. He towered over Liadon and was much more physically intimidated, his large fangs and clawed hands aside, but Liadon radiated confidence and power that bordered on arrogance. Without even looking at the augmented man behind him he asked with an arrogant sneer “Is the Black Legion ready to move?” the behemoth behind him shifted slightly surveying the prepared ships once more and answered
“Yes as soon as that last ship is loaded.” He spoke with utter calm in contrast to Liadon’s manner. Still without looking in his direction Liadon spoke
“Good then lets get ready to move, we have a battle to join.”

(OOC: My Computer is down, I'm at school right now and I only have like five mins left, I don't know when ill be able to get on again to reply.)

Elsewhere the mighty form of a Emperor-class Battleship (http://zappa.brainiac.com/spaceship/GamesWork/gw-1542a-2.jpeg) bearing the name of Dragon's Pride appeared at the edge of a system that bore the name of Asfaltum. The massive vessel looked to be an Imperial Naval vessel but in fact it was a Rogue vessel. Her crew wore the uniforms of the Navy and their captain was a master of arcane things Currently he appeared as Inquisitor Goroth High Inquisitor of the Ordo Malleus. His guise was flawless undetectable to any being such was the way he hid himself from even the best assassins the Imperium had. Not that they should even be looking for him. He looked at the comms officer closest to him and said, "Open communications with the lead Ta’Nar ship."

Greetings I am Inquisitor Goroth I believe our two peoples met at Resca IV. You helped us in our fight against the Heretic Cult which threatened the world. He looked at the screen closely now the Imperium has come under attack by an oppressive force calling themselves the Republic and we need your assistance.

Ripping from the warp the Blade of Shadows matearlizes behind a ship known as the Dragon's Pride. They had been following it to learn of the plans of the dratherian goverment and its ordo Malleus. Signaling his coms officer they send reactive jammers set to all freqrencies they are not using. Tusanco Stands from his command chair, touching a control pad on the arm he speaks into the now open vox to the ship laying before them.

' I am Tusanco of the legions of Reken. You will state your purpose here or i will give you purpose you dratherian scum.'

'Inquisitor Goroth' looked at the Blade of Shadows and smiled, "Tactical activate psionic shield I don't want our Ta'Nar friends to discover our ruse." Then stepping forward fully so Tusanco could see him he shed the guise he was using. He smiled and said, "I am afraid I'm here to request the assistance of our friends in the Ta'Nar. They have the trust of the Royal House years in the future and in the past both. A Temporal Problem but it works to the advantage of the Imperium." With a warm smile on his face he said, "Tusanco my old friend......" Filling the screen was the form of General Johnathon Mercer Hero of Baal and the Last Dratherian.

OOC: Is this open?

Freezing the screen Tusanco turns to his coms officer,

' Contact Aloura and tell her Mercer is here and request instruction.'

Tusanco stares at the frozen image of the man before him. bowing his head he removes his mask to show his eldrich face. Reavtivating the link he continues.
'Mercer you do not fool me, what is it that you are truly doing here? what leverage does this give you? what militairy advantage does this give you and the IOM? Much has happened since we last met and if you do not reveal your plans i will take them from you.'

Plebecite Adolf Bush, walking aboard the Marionetonian flagship, Pulverizing Piledriver, watched the battle unfold with some dismay. The Republican forces had vastly underestimated the enemy's strength. The battle was not going well.

"Gentlemen," he said to the commanders, "we must aid our brothers in the Republic."

"But, sir," said Captain Krik, "that would be suicide."

"Devise a strategy to win the day," Bush commanded.

"That's simple," Krik replied, "don't get involved."

The Senator turned to the chubby, balding man on his left. "Dick," he said, "replace that man with someone who knows how to fight a war."

Dick pulled a rifle out from behind his chair and shot Krik in the face. Somehow, he survived. Then, Dick went over to the intercom. Looking straight into the device, he said, "Get me The Exterminator."

Mercer looked at Tusanco and smiled, "Come on old friend in all the wars we fought in together you and I both know me and you will come to a stalemate if we fight. But I did not come to fight you. And I do not represent the Imperium truly. The Ta'Nar are a powerful race of beings that evolved from warp-spawned creatures. A few centuries into the future the Imperium will construct a way to travel through time without changing the timestream. The distant grandson of Ryan Nova, Kane Nova, will become the first chrononaut of this design. When the Dratherian Empire went to a Mana rich planet millenia ago we did not come across the Ta'Nar. So when young Kane went back into the timestream he helped the Ta'Nar get off the planet in time for it not to change the timestream. He has done things to keep the timeline safe in other places as well including Dratheria. Back when the GE destroyed my ship I escaped through a Temporal anomaly. Well escaped wouldn't be the right word I was dragged into one."

Mercer stopped momentarily to clutch the amulet hanging from his armor then continued "There I met Kane he told me of the impending attack of the Republic and gave me this amulet so I could hide my presence from the Imperium. He revealed to me the power this force would possess and how we must be ready. So I came here to request the aid of the Ta'Nar. This helps me in my dream of bringing a true and glorious Golden Age to humanity. If I am not mistaken the Imperium even sent Reken a distress call." Mercer stepped forward drawing the sword Kusanagi and rested it's tip on the ground, "Remember this blade? I swore with this blade as you once did with your own to stand by you as an ally even into the pits of Hell. I have things to accomplish before I return to the Imperium. But I will always be your ally Tusanco......so will you turn your back on those who still would stand with you and with those who fight the Four."

He smiled and continued, "I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart to see your face again old friend." He looked back down at the sword and sheathed it saying, "In short the Imperium is in danger of being destroyed. So I have come to rally people to support the Imperium." He looked down at a viewscreen monitoring the Blade of Shadows weapons status before continuing, "I am surprised you followed me thinking I was Malleus. And it's good to see I haven't lost my touch for deception. If you remember correctly not even the servants of Tzeentch could see through my deceptions." He smiled, "Of course this amulet probably helped a lot. You should know old friend that anything I know I would gladly share with you. You saved my neck just as many times as I saved yours." Looking Tusanco straight in the eyes, "So what do you say old friend?"

Almost quiest enough to be wispered in his ear mercer hears,

'Deception? do you know what i am? do you know that i am a harelquin? and we speak to me of deception? dont make me laugh.'
Tusanco shimmers as the illusion completes to reveal The commander of the Blade, Haoldrin. His face is cvered by a evil grin as he points to the right portion of the screen as he transmits video of 3 boarding pods aproaching the Dragon's Pride not even moments from passing through it's shield. The pods, the standard flat of the reken fleet,black is almost invisible to the naked eye.

'Did he teach you nothing?' ,questions the ship commander, 'The hand is quicker than the eye... ' Haoldrin touches a control on the command chair, as the view changes to a single pod passing through the shield on the other side of the ship. ' but you should have been watching the foot."


(ooc: I made the shield passage call due to our history and shared tek )

Mercer smiled, "So what you send your lackey Marines to fight me and my men? You forget I led a nation with some of the most advanced genetic engineering programs. I have Ferans and Imaginary Numbers aboard my vessel plus a highly modified system of blast doors. And do you think I would be fooled that easily." He smiled and behind Haoldrin appeared a Imaginary Number Assassin who easily matched a Marine in strength and a Callidus in speed. With a swift move an arm was moved around his throat and a blade drawn to his throat. Mercer smiled, "He will not kill you without my permission. I will not kill my allies needlessly. Now where is Tusanco?"

Ahiezar had received the commands from the King and a sizable force was on the way but Ahiezar was still adamant about only joining if their aid was requested after that he would have no qualm soaring into the fray. He could not ignore the insult of honor the senate had given to him and his nation. Still Ahiezar could not shake off an ominous feeling that this conflict would erupt into something much more sinister and much more devastating than what it currently appeared to be.

Liadon now stood at the front of his flagship the Myakeliocomname and watched the wicked ships of the Black Legion move through space on the many vid displays. Liadon grinned at the sight of the cruel fearsome ships that stood in sharp contrast to the sleek graceful design of his own ship. This force of murderous super soldiers would avenge his wounded pride and show those that he was right. He was always right. Then Liadon’s visions of grandeur where interrupted when Gorgoth’s fanged visage appeared in front of the rest of the vids.
“What is it!” Liadon impatiently blurted before Gorgoth had any chance to speak.
“Lord-“
“Grand High Lord to you!” Liadon interrupted Gorgoth with a angrey glare.
“… Grand High Lord we make good progress but it will still take some time to arrive until then shall we speak to the forces already present to get an idea of the situation and plan our offensive?”
Liadon gave Gorgoth the look a parent gives a child with no idea what he’s doing.
“No, no one knows what we are doing here and no one shall, if the fool Ahiezar or any one else discovered my actions they would try to stop me and we can’t have that not until we’re their then they shall all see the wisdom of my actions and I will be praised a hero!” Gorgoth starts to reply but Liadon ignores the altered soldier and begins to cackle insanely, eventually Gorgoth gives up and the vid disappears to once again show the multiple views of the fleet moving.

The boarding pods find their marks as they penetrate the hull of the ship and jenison their loads.

'Commander Haoldrin, we have entered the ship.' Reports three of reken's Figs 'we shall meet up with the other pod shortly.'

Sprinting down the corridor, as not even a blur to the space marine eye, they nimbly dodge bystandards that fill the hallway. Five minuets pass as they come up to the other pod on the far side of the ship. as they arrive they notice the hole is already patched and the pod as been released into space.

'Sir? are you here?' wispers the lead fig as a hand grabs his throat.

'Yes i am here and you need more practice' states Tusanco as only his mask glimers into focous for only a second. 'follow me' he states as the men disapear toward the bridge.

"Jah, I am heerrre at your service," said The Exterminator. He was a large, muscular man who wore sunglasses over a spiked military haircut, but otherwise stuck to the military dress code. When he spoke, it was with a thick german accent.

"What are you doing in the brig?" Dick asked.

"Well, it was this female yoeman," the Exterminator said. "She mistook some comments I made for sexual harassment, when all I was really doing was working on mein family values."

"Never mind all that," Dick said. "We'll make it--and her--go away! Right now, we need someone who can take control of the fleet and fight off those stinking aliens!"

"Oh. A WAR! Now you're talking! Wars make great movies, you know?"

"Never mind that, either! Get your sorry butt up here! We need a moro--er--skipper to run this fleet!"

"SIR! Yes, SIR!"

OOC:
@Mario:"Vastly underestimated"?? "Not going well"?? Wait until I have a chance to reply next time! And give our scout forces some credit where credit is due! XD


IC:

The space around Aquaria exploded with blinding light as Dratherian weapons met Republican shields. Lucianus had chosen his vanguard specifically for the prevalence of heavy capital ships, to withstand the Dratherian onslaught his spy cruisers had warned of in great detail. The 1st and 2nd Imperial Fleets each consisted of 100 4-kilometer-long Protectorate-class battlecruisers, the most powerful capital ships in the Republican fleet, 200 3-kilometer-long Imperial-class battlecruisers, 100 of the kilometer-long Neo-Roman Pallas-class stealth cruisers, and 100 assorted escort destroyers and carriers; 1000 Republican ships total closed with the enemy and spat forth hell.

Lucianus, although waiting outside the system with his remaining five fleets, watched the entire orchestra unfold on the grand holoscreen. The Dratherians had an overwhelming focus on size and heavy firepower, which left several tactical gaps to exploited. They were fighting back a bit harder than he had expected, and the element of surprise had counted for less than he would have wished; but these were minor things. With only two fleets he still had them outnumbered by almost half, and the standardized Republican heavy battlecruisers manufactured by the Taledonians carried a hideous amount of firepower. But that was only one element of his great composition.

At the Admiral's command, the 200 Pallas cruisers went into stealth mode and fired their main drives once, coasting forward like ghosts towards the Dratherian forces. They divided into four groups of 50, each going for one of the four Ramilies Star Forts that lurked behind the bulk of the Dratherian fleet. These massive structures had been of great interest to Lucianus and the high command, and had been covertly scanned and studied extensively by his scout cruisers in the past weeks. "Target the Basilica and the Command Tower," Lucianus reminded the Pallas navarchs. "Do not attempt to punch through to the main reactors until those outside structures have been eliminated."

As soon as the first group of Pallades were within a kilometer of their target, their railcannon batteries opened up on the Basilica and Command Tower like ancient ships-of-the-line unleashing a broadside. White light flared as 10-ton inert slugs blasted into the mighty Ramilies at near-relativistic velocities. The other three recieved similar treatment almost simultaneously.

Elsewhere, the shields of the massive Protectorate and Imperial battlecruisers crackled and flared their discontent as Dratherian fire smashed and battered against them. Even the mighty Protectorates could take no more than a few direct Nova hits before their shields buckled and collapsed; a score of heavy cruisers died and poured flames into cold space, but the rest more than compensated by pouring out massive amounts of turbolaser and energy cannon fire. Thousands of energy torpedoes poured into the Dratherian ranks with deadly accuracy; the mighty vessels' heavy ion and plasma cannons lit the battlespace with their hellish glow as they hosed fire at the enemy. The Dratherians' unencrypted comm channels were full of bombastic speech about the foolishness and miscalculations of the foe, but Lucianus had done his calculations just fine.

(OOC: I am extremely sorry to Dratheria, his allies, and The Republic for my lack-of-up-to-date tech page. It’s mostly done (hopefully within the week...), and if anyone cares, I’ll tell them where to find it. And yes, I was invited.)

IC:
Three ships slip seamlessly through a warp rift, just out of range of the Imperial ships’ weaponry. Two were large grey and black capital class war cruisers, the Vector and Killjoy, and the third was a monstrous white flag ship, simply named Avalon VIII.

“So, it seems our former allies are in need of some assistance”, murmured Grand Admiral Johnner. Johnner stared at the main holo-screen in the main bridge, planning and plotting. The men he commanded sat around him in a circular room, with large vid-screens circling the room. There, technicians and other admirals waited in anticipation for an order.

Johnner looked up after only a moment of pondering, and shouted, “All ships full deflection shields! Warm up weapons, and follow my lead! And someone send for a Gate!”
“Where to, Sir?”
“Join us up with the Taledonians. Let them see our might.”

"Domine, three vessels have just exited a warp gate on the outskirts of the Aquaria system," one of the techs on the lower level of the bridge called up to Lucianus.

"I see them," the old Admiral replied, already watching the three figures on the holoscreen. Data on the unidentified newcomers cascaded down the sides of the holoscreen in strings of binary segments and energy readings and calculated vectors, but Lucianus did not have the time or the patience to sift through it all. "Hail them," he commanded. "Determine their nation of origin and whether they be friend or foe."

"Their weapons and shields are charged, domine, and they are on course towards 2nd Imperial," another tech reported.

"Then get that channel open immediately!" Lucianus barked. "It is on your head if I am forced to divert forces to meet another foe!"

"Many of their core components are matching with entries in our military database, domine," a third tech said, not looking up from the sensor data spilling across her console. "The nation of Great Computers, a former Republican client state. There are many differences, vere, but all within the parameters of expected technological evolution."

Lucianus raised an eyebrow. "Then they could still be either friend or foe," he growled.

<Vessels of Great Computers, state your reasons for appearing on this battlefield, and your intentions. We seek no conflict with you, but be warned that the Republic is not always inclined to welcome secessionists back with open arms>

OOC: So let's see Future-Rome judging your size and age you probably have all of or almost all of your Starships here. So hmmmm. Also let's see Dracious and Great Computers I have found little on your tech at all and almost no IC development of your tech trees or nations. Where have you guys been hiding for two years? I'm not ragging just wondering. Trust me in the Army I've had far worse odds.

IC
Ships were torn asunder in the mighty fire unleashed by the combined forces present. The fleet moved into position as ships began deploying from nearby docking ports. Their forms taking position in front of the Star Forts who focused their main power on the Future Roman ships. The ships were merely massive shield generators attached to engines and remote controlled by ships in the fleet. The highly modified and barely recognizable form of a massive Battle Barge known as the Iron Fist was at the center running tactical control. Aboard it stood the mighty figure of Lord Palthem Braze Master of the VI Legion the Iron Hands. He smiled and said, "Let's show them the power of Aquaria. We will show them the might of the Omnissiah. Get me tactical command on Aquaria." A comms officer quickly replied in a metallic voice, "We have a link." Braze stepped forward and said, "Activate planetary defenses. Target the Taledonian ships and activate the surface shielding. Let's show them true superiority." At once the heavy Ion Cannons on the surface lit up opening fire on the Taledonian ships.

The five ships that formed the strike group for the VII Legion's Flagship Litany of Courage cut through the Warp. Aboard the flagship was Lord Resor Helios the Legion Master of the Ultramarines. He opened comms, "I am taking command off the local forces Lord Braze. It appears the higher ups want us to show them that 2:1 are great odds for any Space Marine. Let's show them force and power isn't what wins battles." He smiled and chuckled softly. The shieldships gave them a tactical advantage layering them like scales they created stronger barriers. But that isn't what would win the battle for them. He smiled and opened comms, "All forces pull back to Hunter distance. Lord Kivpa now would be the time to show them the meaning of tactical advantage."

In a mass of superheated energy four 8 KM asteroids flew at extraordinary speeds from the nearby asteroid belts and were targeted to slam into the enemy fleets. Lurking cloaked in the shadows was the Hunter's Lair and her massive mass drivers. The electromagnetic distortions of the belt made them impossible to detect when combined with their cloaking devices. The enemy had truly chosen the wrong attack point and they would pay for it dearly.

*****

Mercer smiled. His whispers came to Tusanco's ears, "Hi old friend I thought I 'd meet you here." Mercer appeared right behind the Harlequin with his own retinue of Imaginary Numbers, Callidus Assassins, and one Culexus Assassin. He looked at Tusanco and said, "So what now you have to put holes in my ship? You could've just teleported or I don't know came through a docking hatch or something I wouldn't have stopped you." He looked at Tusanco and just laughed, "Remember I too am a Psyker." He offered his hand to Tusanco and said, "You gonna shake my hand old friend?"

OOC: They're not my ships, they're the Republic's. So you're gonna want to factor in the size, age etc. of every Republican province together, not mine. ;) The admiral of this Republican force happens to be a Neo-Roman, so that's why I'm controlling them.

Actual reply in a bit, I'm in the middle of class right now.

Also, would you mind RPing some damage for those Star Forts, since they each have 50 capital ships firing full broadsides on them? Thank yas.

(O.O.C: I'll work on bringing my tech page up)

IC
Ahiezar turned to a vid display of the Great Computers ships. He found their presence here strange but it did not come as a surprise.
He then sent a message to the large flagship “Warships hailing from Great Computers, I am Ahiezar Kaiser of Dracious and I would request your purpose and the name of your commander, we’ve always collaborated in the past and I see no need for conflict here.”
As Ahiezar completed his message a force of three more Dragonships, five Dopplor ships and an escort of smaller ships arrived adding to his own force. It wasn’t much but it was all Ahiezar would have for a while as the rest of the coming fleet would take some time to arrive. He turned once more to the conflict seeing the odds that stood against the Republic but still admiring Lucianus work, knowing he was very poor at commanding space battles. Yet the Dratheria defense also demanded his respect. Ahiezar then heard his communications officer say “Sire you are being called.” Merely seconds after he completed his sentence the alien face of Roy Maverick appeared popped up on a vid display.
“Roy, I’m glad to see you where able to make it in such good time.” Roy Maverick was a former commander of Reformed Earth and was of original human build in contrast to the tall Dracioans who dwarfed him, but now he was Surprme Neer’vok (Space Commander).
“Kaiser I need to get up to date with the situation now, we need to come up with a plan of action, and we need to get in their.” Roy blunt response to Ahiezar’s greeting.
“Always quick to the point aren’t you Terran, well I will see to your first two needs but we stand until our assistance is requested.” He turns off the vid and quickly orders “I want him here now.” And returns to watching the conflict.

OOC:
@Mario:"Vastly underestimated"?? "Not going well"?? Wait until I have a chance to reply next time! And give our scout forces some credit where credit is due! XD


OOC:

Dude, look at these characters! Look at whom, and what, I'm parodying here!

LOL! You think these guys really care whether what they say has any resemblance to reality? HELL NO!!! THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO SHOOT THEIR GUNS OFF!!!

:) :) :)

"The battle isn't going well," Bush said. "They need our glorious assistance!"

"But, sir," the technician replied, "they're doing just fine! Look at these sensor logs! Look at--."

Dick shot him in the face. "Damn," Dick said, "another hunting accident."

Elsewhere on Pulverizing Piledriver, The Exterminator was checking out his new seat on the bridge. As he sat down, he farted--loudly. "I claim this land for Marionetonia," he said. He farted again.

"OK, boys," he said at last, "it seems that they're shooting asteroids at our brothers' fleets. We're going to divide our main fleet in two. Half will bombard the asteroids until they're broken up so small that the pieces won't make it through Republic shields, and half will go to the asteroid belt and take on whatever's sending them at us."

------------------

OOC: I know that this is stupid. I know that half of Marionetonia's fleet doesn't have the firepower to break up ONE large asteroid, never mind SEVERAL. I also know that moving into an asteroid field with something inside it that can throw the asteroids at you is MAJOR LEAGUE STUPID.

But these are fascists I'm writing about here! They'll do ANYTHING to get into a war!

-----------------

IC: Pulverizing Piledriver and 24 other Protectorates brought Marionetonian capital ship missiles to bear on the asteroids, along with various support craft. 25 other Protectorates, led by Piledriver's sister ship, Propeller Punch, and her support craft, began streaming toward the asteroid belt.

OOC:

OOC: So let's see Future-Rome judging your size and age you probably have all of or almost all of your Starships here. So hmmmm. Also let's see Dracious and Great Computers I have found little on your tech at all and almost no IC development of your tech trees or nations. Where have you guys been hiding for two years? I'm not ragging just wondering. Trust me in the Army I've had far worse odds.

Since when did we have to have tech threads? I am pretty sure there wasn't a memo; I don't miss those. Tech threads are personally a simple waste of time. Story is the important thing, not tech.

(OOC: This is just to say I'm still following the story, but yeah. The Republic has lotsa ships and guns and soldiers, most of its offensive forces being launched towards you, half of those being under my control, meaning half the fleets being sent against you under the control of Roma, because I'm a ground assualt man. Keep up the good work, Roma, and get me to the ground!)

OOC Work was busy today I'll try to reply tomorrow night otherwise you may have to wait till sunday because I have an event I'm going to this week. But Mar just let me say this for humors sake, Chasing after cloaked ships and mass drivers into an asteroid belt is like the special Olympics even if you win you're still retarded

OOC Work was busy today I'll try to reply tomorrow night otherwise you may have to wait till sunday because I have an event I'm going to this week. But Mar just let me say this for humors sake, Chasing after cloaked ships and mass drivers into an asteroid belt is like the special Olympics even if you win you're still retarded

OOC:

Well, I always did think of Adolf Bush as a bit of a retard.

Mwahhahahaha!!!! (Thank you for walking him right into that line.)

:) :) :)

The attack on the asteroids went relatively well. Pulverizing Piledriver and her convoy managed to hit them with enough Capital Ship Missiles to make them relatively harmless. The other half of the fleet, however, didn't do so well. The moment they got in range, the asteroids started flying towards them. "In range" for an asteroid bombardment was not "in range" for them to retaliate with area-affect weapons. So they launched their own Capital Ship Missiles at the asteroids. It worked for a while. Then, the Propeller Punch and her convoy started running out of missiles before the cloaked ships started running out of asteroids.

"They're going to take a beating!" the technician exclaimed on the birdge of Pulverizing Piledriver.

Dick shot him in the face.

"Well, what are we going to do?" Adolf Bush asked. "This isn't much of a photo op."

Dick reached over and whispered in his ear.

"Yes, of course!" Adolf replied. "What we need is a SURGE!!!" He got on the radio and spoke to The Exterminator.

"You're doing a heck of a job, Exie," he said, "but we need a surge now to help our troops in the asteroid belt! What do you think about a surge, Exie?"

The Exterminator was looking at a female yeoman, who was facing away from him. His eyes settled on her backside.

"A surge?" he said. "Ja! I LIKE it!"

"Good! Now get the rest of the fleet over there and help out those ships!"

Roy Maverick stormed through the Barokcailler in barely contained rage, why hadn’t Ahiezar and his formidable (though small) unit here engaged. The Republicians where taking casualties and all Ahiezar did was watch! Through his personal wrist displayer he watched the “heroic” (stupid probably the better word) charge of the Marionetonia ships and wanted to scream at Ahiezar.
Finally Roy arrived in the command room of the massive Dracious Warship. Without a word to any of the crew Roy stomped up to where Ahiezar was sitting and without hesitating started to scream “Ahiezar! What are we doing floating here like morons!? We should be out their helping! What advantage do you have to gain by just sitting here like a duck!? I may be a prisoner of war but I have the right to know!” throughout Roy’s ranting Ahiezar watched him with a calm controlled gaze giving the whole confrontation the appearance of an outraged child arguing with a knowledge adult due to their difference in size.
Calmly then Ahiezar stood up to his full 7’10 height compared to Roy’s 6’2 and calmly said “First Roy I regret to inform you I have no idea what a duck is. Second we have our reason for standing by idly and watching. The Republic has caused a deal of hurt to Dracious, and I am told not to engage until our presence here is recognized and an apology of a sort is given. That is why we do not engage.”
At this Roy’s outrage increased “Forget about your stupid honor! Where is the honor in defeat!? Where is the honor in watching your comrades die!? Where is the honor in watching when you could be fighting!? Screw your honor!”
At this anger creped into Ahiezar’s voice as he replied “This is about more than personal honor! This as to do with keeping face to the rest of our divided people so that they see that we are equals with the others of the Republic, not their lapdogs! Besides it never dawned on me that a former rebel leader would understand the least bit about honor! It appears to me Terran that you still have much to learn about Dracious! Now leave me!” with that Roy was politly lead out of the room by Alozar who gave him a “why did you have to” look and said “I know your ignorant to most of our ways but a calmer approach would have sidestepped this whole situation.” And returned to the command room.

And then, Propeller Punch took a hit from a big rock. In a flash, she blew up. Quickly, she was replaced in the line by Proactive Self-Defense.

"What are we going to do?" Adolf Bush asked. He paced the room. "Wait a minute! I know! We'll send my Secretary, Kahndasleaza, out to talk some sense into them. SHE'LL convince 'em to get civilized!"

In a few minutes, they had her loaded into a diplomatic shuttle.

ZOOM! went the shuttle.

BOOM! went the missile.

"Well," Dick said, "I guess that shoots HER down. I bet it was a hunting accident.

"She should apologise to them for getting in the way of their ordinance."

Feeling a pang in his head as the Dratherian ships are destroyed he grabs Mercer's forearm and looks him in the eyes.

'Our brothers are dying we have little time to loose! I will return to my ship and we shall leave at once and we will finish this later, i am not done with you but we can not stand idly by while our brothers die!' Releasing his grip Tusanco darts past mercer with his figs and heads for the closest bay. ' We shall follow your lead' Tusanco calls back as he and his men disapear form view.

Lucianus could do nothing but close his eyes as the asteroids hurtled towards his fleet. The republican forces were sufficiently spaced that the asteroids had very little value as area effect weapons, and they seemed to be firing more of them towards the comparatively tiny Marionetonian force anyway. Even so, a dozen Imperials and a Protectorate failed to maneuver out of the way fast enough, and were pulverized. A trifling loss considering the 900+ ships still remaining, and the prodigious amount of energy expended to launch such huge objects; furthermore, the Dratherians had just launched several million tons of rock straight at their own planet at decently relativistic speeds. The Republicans couldn't have done a better job if they had come with planet-wrecking battleships themselves. Fire blossomed in Aquaria's skies as the asteroids smacked into the atmosphere, breaking into innumerable white-hot chunks that rained down upon the planet's surface like a doomsday shotgun blast a hundred miles wide.

As soon as the asteroids had gone past, their ballistic trajectories were calculated and backtracked straight to their source: the supposedly "undetectable" Hunter's Lair. The Protectorates could not read it on their scanners, it was true, but there was no need; it had already given away its presence, and continued to do so with every asteroid it flung at the Pulverizing Piledriver and her comrades. By the time 50 Protectorates swung around and brought their every battery to bear, enough asteroid trajectories had been mapped and triangulated to pinpoint the Hunter's Lair's location precisely.

"Don't leave it to chance," Lucianus barked over the comm. "Plaster every inch of that asteroid field within five kilometers of the reading."

The Protectorates fired every weapon system they carried into the target zone. Asteroids were either incinerated instantly by the almost solid barrage of torpedoes and plasma bolts or blown apart into flaming chunks that ricocheted and smashed into any solid objects around them; electric incandescence flared where the Hunter's Lair caught the brunt of the constant heavy torpedo and plasma fire, and wherever Republican ordinance missed, there were still the thousands of white-hot asteroid chunks flying every whichway. Which for a stationary craft were pretty impossible to dodge.

The Republican fleet stepped up the offensive now. Groups of Protectorates and Imperials ganged up on Dratherian heavy craft and plastered them with their heavy torpedoes and plasma cannons, systematically reducing the Dratherians' heavy firepower. The fight was brutal and casualties were sustained, but the Dratherians were being ground down a lot faster. And Lucianus still had another five fleets to commit...

Ahiezar saw the destruction caused by the flung asteroids especially to the Marionetonia ships and felt a pang of regret. But his decision for indecision was for the better. Still all this waiting for an apology was really starting to wear down on him.
“Bring all weapons online and prepare my gamma canon for firing. And bring that accursed Terran back in here so we can discuss a battle plan, special combat is not my mastery but his is.”
Roy was let back in the room and the two started to discuss action.

((OOC: What's the story behind the whole apology thing again? Is Ahiezar waiting on Lucianus or Germanicus to make a formal apology/invitation?))

(OOC: the apology is simply waiting for any figure of authority from any Republic nation to give something that can be accepted as recognition of their presence or a formal apology, ether works for Ahiezar. The whole point behind this is that during the senate meeting both Liadon (though Ahiezar really doesn’t like him) and Ahiezar where both insulted and credit taken for Ahiezar’s idea, also even when Ahiezar was nominated and Draciaon aid offered it was not even acknowledged to exist. This can’t stand because Dracious is a warrior society that is still divided and King Kharneth is trying to unite them under his banner without the use of violence, and one of the things he must prove is that in the Republic they are all equals and the insults given do not display that to a society that highly values honor.)

"Move the Sixth Imperial Fleet to the agreed upon meeting area. Get us there as fast as we can travel, as our friends should already be waiting."

Germanicus watched as the naval officer saluted smartly, then turned on his heels and marched down the catwalk of the bridge to the short stairway that led to the control stations, more specifically the communications center. There the man began discussing things with one of the crewman, and then moved ont to navigations control.

"Open a channel to all Republican forces in the area as well. Ensure a heavy encryption." he continued, and then fell silent to wait for his orders to be carried out.

A crewman turned from his consol to look at Julius, "Channel open, General."

Germanicus nodded, then began his address:

"Good Senator Ahiezar, I'm rather surprised to see you joined us. I do not recollect the Senate assigning you to send your forces to aid us, so it appears you have taken an executive liberty. It seems much has been disorganised by the recent changes to our good and noble government, including the limits of ancient sovereigns who should no longer hold sway over their province. Still, it is good to see you, welcome to the fight.

Admiral Lucianus, please relay whatever orders you see fit to the Dracians that will aid us win this battle. Personally I'd suggest having them form up within our ranks, increasing our frontal firepower. Even though your assualt is progressing well, I must press the fact that every second allows the enemy to prepare even more. To gather a relieving force. To bring in allies. I want their orbital defences destroyed, and once those are taken care of proceed to bombardments of their surface artillery and batteries so that we truly have air superiority. You still have my entire armada at your disposal, with the exception of the Sixth Imperial Fleet, which I am taking for the moment. When I return I expect a good progression in events.

Oh, and as for the marionetonians who have also decided to appear, please make them fall into line and use common sense. A waste of ships, even though they can afford them easily, is stupid. If they insist on being cannon fodder as they charge weapon emplacements, have them charge the orbital stations guarding the planet instead of an asteroid field. What they are currently doing is a stain on the Republican military; correct this fault, immeadiatly.

That is all."

As the line closed, the vessels of the selected fleet began to diverge from the rest of the armada that laid in wait. Once at a significant distance from their comrades, they dissappeared into the dazzling flashes of light that symbolised Taledonian FTL travel.

OOC I have been away and reading some of this poor RP I am growing sicker and sicker!

1. Calling Damage to my forces is a big RP NO
2. Read a post don't skim it I said the detachable guns mass drivers were hurling the rocks not the Hunter's Lair. It is merely relaying commands.
3. Do not call damage to my world from my own attacks. While yes it was a reasonable conclusion it was still not your place to do so.

As such an OOC thread will be started here. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13121459)

While I am tempted to pull the Ignore Cannon I have decided it would not be fair to those who are respectfully RPing here and as such it will be selectively done if it continues.

IC
Mercer's smile caught his face and he sent his final transmission to the Ta'Nar for one last time,

Great leaders of Ta'Nar please aid us in our time of need. The situation at Aquaria grows ever more dire. Please come quickly.

Mercer stepped forward onto the bridge and said, "Ok call up the Imperial Navy on the main frequency. Vox only."

Imperial Naval fleet stationed at Aquaria. This is the Dragon's Pride we have made contact with a Rekenian force and they are en route to aid us.

Mercer stood on the bridge of his massive ship and watched as Tusanco's own pulled up alongside his own. He smiled and said, "Prepare for a Warp breach in 5.......4....3...2..1...Mark!" In a flurry of color the ship disappeared unto the Warp.

***

A section of the asteroid belt ignited in flames as the mass drivers which had been resting there exploded in a flurry of destruction. The enemy had thought the Hunter's Lair to be close to the guns but that was not the case. Kivpa had done war for countless millenia and was no fool. He received the call from the Trade vessel known as Dragon's Pride and was pleased to hear the news. He smiled a feral smile and looked at the asteroid belt. It was taking all of the Lair's resources to hide it from the view of the enemy. But it was working. Kivpa laughed and spoke, "Prepare for war my sons for soon our forces will strike."

As a Star Fort exploded in a brilliant explosion of fire and wreckage Warp spilled into normal space as spired battlefleets entered the system to engage the Republican forces. A war fleet over 3000 ships strong flooded into the system burgeoning the Dratherian force there. It was the reserve force called upon form the nearby Shuvian system. Lord Helios smiled as th battlefleets converged on the enemy force. He called a call to his Brothers,

Hail and glory to the Emperor and for all mankind! Let us smite these heretics! Soon our brother from Reken will join us! Their ravening hordes and the great Warrior Tusanco come to our aid! Soon we will show the the combined power of the Dark Wolves and the Imperium! Now give them no ground and take all that can be taken!

As this went out a shrill psychic cry echoed in the minds of all those who opposed the Imperium. It's cry would tear at the minds of those who heard it and it sounded the true coming of the Imperium's might......for now the war began and the Imperium mobilized for all out bloody war.

SECRET IC

A cloaked fleet of 400 ships bearing the sigil of the Hunters of Darkness closed in orbit around the planet of Aquaria there on the far side the waited to flank the enemy.

The President’s office New Sol, the ornately decorated office was filled with voices of several people, older men in olive and black uniforms stood before the large oak like desk of president miller, they were leaning down looking over a large holographic map, they hands pointing at several objects and fleets in Dratheriain space, the president sat back in his chair, his black suit crisp and fresh his tie strait as an arrow, his white under shirt fitted perfectly with his attire. He moved his hands to his face sighing as he folded them in to each other.
“But sir” Exclaimed a general who had his hands placed at the edge of the oak table, he had a disagreeing tone in his voice, obviously directed to the admiral in the black uniform beside him, the admiral had a tough serious and stressed look on his face. The president quickly raised his palm to quiet the disagreeing general. He said with a deep yet quiet voice, “After reviewing the history of Dratheria, it’s not in our best interest to support such a country, The Terran Federation is a free country and we do not condone violence and genocide against civilians, He suddenly pressed a blinking glass like panel with his hand and he leaned back, the generals looking down at him. The admiral smiled and sighed gently.


Miller Started to speak over the intercom he pressed saying in a deep voice. “Delores, I need you to send a message to the senate, tell them we need to convene a meeting. “ The comn shut off the President leaned back on to his chair swiveling around to look out of the crystal clear window, the window over looked New Washington, a massive city seemingly endless spires of metal glass, and marble like ornate metal. The sky glimmered as the sun began to set, he sat there thinking his head filled with thoughts of the decision he had just made, Dratheria had asked the Federation for assistance, but with its nations past that was impossible, killing, genocide, imperialistic virtues, the president thought, it was a clash of ideals the country wouldn’t stand for it a recent poll put the nation 65% against helping Dratheria due to its past 25% for and 10 % undecided. With that Poll and an election year looming, the choice was clear. The Public was also polled and they’re dead even, 45% for war against Dratheria because of its past, and 45% wanting to remain neutral, with 10% undecided.


The President stood up he noticed a message on his holophone he wandered over to it placing his hand on the glassy panel activating the strange device, suddenly he was enamored in several screens that circled him. It looked like he was really were the message was coming from. He saw His wife, Karen She sat in leather like sofa chair overlooking the holophone, her hair was wavy and black, her eyes blue and skin pale and silky smooth. Her figure was thin but not too thin she was tall and wore jean like pants with brown shoes and a pink tank top, he started to speak in a sweet, voice, and she chuckled a bit. She started to say in her soft sweet voice.
“Honey, I hope everything is doing well in the office, I’m ok here, me and the boys are just about to go out to the beach, don’t worry we’ll take the agents with us to, we never leave the white house without them, I know it’s been a tough few days for you with this request for help and all, but ill have dinner ready for you when you get home. Bye I love you! “ Miller cracked a smile his hands to his side , he looked around and saw his two boys twelve and eight running around with futuristic toys , just before the message cut off he could hear laughing the sweet sounds of innocence… He sighed as the message cut off his own greenish eyes peered around the room He saw his secretary come in.

Miller looked over to her , he smiled and said “That was Karen, her and the kids are down by the beach, Delores just smiled and said “that’s wonderful sir, I’m glad they’re ok, Especially after Your wife’s sister passed away under those peculiar circumstances, it seems so sad.”
Miller nodded in agreement with his secretary putting his hands on the table nearby with a sigh responding. “I know she finally came to terms with it, well are we ready with the meeting?” Delores nodded with a smile saying “Yes sir we are, the senate hall is almost full.” …” Good” Responded miller as he stepped out passed his somewhat older looking secretary.
He sighed as he started wandering the halls of the Capitol building; they were white with ornate decorations, blue carpeting, and statues and pictures of previous leaders, He wandered down towards two large stone doors, Two gryphon statues guarded the hall entrance, as the doors opened a massive assembly hall decorated with white, blue and gold as well as marble like metal walls with paintings dragon and gryphon sculptures could be seen. Miller smiled as he walked up the stone steps towards the large holographic podium, many Senators sat back in there chairs looking up at him, thousands of them, they sat quiet peering over miller. Miller smiled then his face went grim, he started to speak as he put his hands on the holographic switch.


Today I have asked you to come here to make a decision; the country of Dratheria has asked us to assist them in their war, I as a moral person and the leader of a moral country, cannot possibly in my right mind ask us to assist this country, for very clear and decisive facts, genocide on a grand scale has been committed by Dratheria, death and destruction against “xenos” have been pushed by them, as a nation and as a people we cannot help them, and as such I am here to say we must move against them, It is the decision of you the representatives of the people. You must say whether it is time to liberate the poor brainwashed and oppressed souls of Dratheria, it is time to put an end to the ruling regimes Genocidal and megalomaniacal xenophobia. I will leave you with those words to consider, please consider them wisely. Miller stepped down the holographic podium disengaging, he smiled and turned away walking down the marble like stone steps, a statue of a large gryphon holding the seal of the Federation and a statue of a dragon holding the flag of the Federation. They were decorated with gold and made from white ivory like stone. He smiled as he walked down a different corridor lined with red and blue stones and gold ornate lanterns, the doors behind him closed with a loud whoosh boom, two ornately decorated gold and black marble dragon statues stood guarding the door.

He wandered in to the results room, it was lined with ornate gold decorations blue carpet, tiles of ivory white stone, as well as several holographic monitors and consoles , President miller sat down on a leather like sofa overlooking the main screen as he saw the senators deliberating his proposal, It was in essence a declaration of war against Dratheria. The Senate Deliberated for a few hours , Miller was on the holophone with Karen who had just come back from the beach , it looks like it would be a late day seeing as the deliberation was taking hours. He sighed as he wandered off the holo pad images of his wife disappearing in thin air.

Just then the Monitor blinked with a loud beep Miller rushed over to the panel Pressing his hand against it tightly , suddenly a screen came up with speaker of the house Richardson, the older man with thinning grey hair and a grey suit started to speak. “Mr President, we have come to a decision, the Senate has voted 62% in favor of your proposal, sir our nation is now at war” he said quickly and with a deep voice. The screen shut off suddenly as he sat back in the room with a slight grin on his face, but this wasn’t the hard part, the hard part was taking them down. He stood up again turned on the holographic phone and started to Dial Naval and army strategic command. He started to speak as soon as he got both department heads on. “All right generals, the Senate has approved a declaration of war, this means we need to move. What fleets do we have available in terms of fast deployment? “ The admiral started to speak with a hardened toned of voice “Sir the 8th and 7th fleets are available right now, they are current on patrol duty along our border , they’ll have to go over to Sohjin and pick up troops the general already has Enroute there . Miller smiled with a nod saying in response” good all right keep me informed.

Sohjin , Two massive fleets roared over head of the small desert world, they’re massive bodies shimmering gently with in the light of the blue sun of the system shimmering along they’re grayish hulls , the ships monstrously moved through the dark lifeless void of space piercing it with they’re ominous bodies , on the bridge of the UTS New York, it was quiet, early quiet, the newly completed class of battle ship had not been tested in battle before, the crew was nervous , admiral Alexi was sitting back on his black leather like chair as he looked outside of the massive holoview port , he sighed again as he saw both massive fleets flanking him, the entire armada was 400 ships in strength, cruisers battle ships destroyers, frigates and corvettes all floating in a massive formation .
Alexi, Looked over to his con officer as he saw the final transports board his ships, a slight grin went over his toned rough face, it was almost a devilish smile as he sat back on his chair raising his black gloved hand over to the helm officer and the floating AI above shimmering all different colors. Port Hedland… that was the target, lightly defended easily taken, the entire fleet had prepared already to departure as the massive ships floated in to position. Alexi smiled his hand waved down as he said “Engage FTL!” He said in a thunderous voice that reverberated through the large bridge, suddenly the ship jerked, its massive FTL drives roaring to life as the large ship moved from normal space in to a crackling energetic void of sub space, the entirety of space was willed up with white and blue crackling light as they entered, they crackled in to existence inside sub space, the second stage of Ftl activating and a massive fold rift opened inside of sub space. The ships were propelled in to it rushing at enormously quick speeds towards they’re destination.

Several Hours later, masses of crackling energetic rifts open, and Ominously dark grey ships flew out of them , they floated over most things in the system, they’re massive guns and bodies shimmering in the sunlight as they moved in unison like spawns from hell against the enemy advancing Like demons hellish looking demons. Alexi sat back in his chair and smiled he chuckled a bit and stood up waving his black gloved hand to the AI who opened a channel to the Planet. He started to speak.
“This is Admiral Alexi Stukov of the Terran Federation 7th and 8th fleet, we have come to liberate your system and sector, All military forces in the system are to surrender and contact the main ship for new orders, that is all” The fleet floated there waiting they’re massive guns and shields activated and ready for a fight, Fighters prepped for launch. Alexi sat back down and waited folding his hands on to his lap as he peered out towards the planet.


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/Newyork.jpg)

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/UTSLexington.jpg)
( http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/TiconderogaclassMissilecruiser.jpg)

Roy turned to Ahiezar and asked “Is that good enough for you?”
Ahiezar turned to Roy and answered “Yes Terran, yes it is.”

Then form behind came the promised Draciaon reinforcements. A fleet of 10 Dragonships and other assortments of ships entered the system. Ahiezar received this latest addition with satisfaction speaking to the commanding officer and setting up command he then opened up a link with all his ships and simply yelled one word. “Krovall!”

This cry was taken up by the rest of the fleet has the Barokcailler moved towards the fray, firing its gamma canon into the Dratherian ships and the rest of the fleet followed suit.

Ahiezar punched his fist up into the air “For Dracious! For the King! For honor! For glory! For combat! Krovall!” the war chant was quickly taken up by the other crewmembers in the command room Roy just left unenthusiastically reapeting ‘Krovall’ but only one thing was going through his mind.

It’s about time

The technicians brought the escape pod aboard. Somehow, Kahndasleeza had survived the missile attack!

Adolf Bush was quick to congratulate her. "You're doin' a heckuva job, Sleezy," he said. But something was gnawing at his mind--something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

The Exterminator was also there. "We must now Ja go into de conference room, just her and I," he said, although it was difficult for him to speak with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. "I need to debrief her."

They were both smiling broadly when they left.

Tusanco Sits as he activates the comms, 'Master we have sent the location of the dratherian fleet and are preparing to make the jump we request a strike force be dispached to that location and put under my command.'

-It will be done. Out here- is all he hears before the comm is terminated.

Make the Jump. Orders Tusanco as a passageway to the warp rips into natural space and his ship becomes enveloped in it.

Adolf was not happy. "A stain on the military? Who's this guy trying to kid? Marionetonians don't make mistakes!"

Dick was not happy, either. Germanicus was one of the few men alive whom he could not shoot in the face.

From: Supreme Admiral Johnner of the Imperial Navy
To: All ships in the area

Make no mistake of it; we are here to help the Republican Legions in their battle.


Johnner quickly turned away from the comms device and once again focused his attention to the battle at hand. His forces had finally swung all the way around the battle and joined the Republican side of the conflict.

“Sir, the gate should be arriving soon, along with some reinforcements.”

“Good”, mumbled the admiral under his breath. He turned again to the comms device, and sent a short and simple message to the Killjoy and Vector:

You may fire at will gentlemen.

Roy watched the Techan ships open fire upon the enemy. “I think that’s as good of a ‘we are on your side’ as where going to get.”

He then turned to the battle ahead of him, the Barokcailler’s gamma canon had already recharged from its low power blast. Roy then spoke on a comm Link with the other ships “Now all Dragonships fire your gamma canons at full blast and continue to head into the fray.” All the dragonships fired their devastating gamma canons and their massive multicolored beams fly across the field of battle with devastating effect.

As they moved closer Roy sent out another order “ Prepare all separate ships for launch, be sure all Interceptors and ready for launch at a moments notice and all Warhelms as well. Once we get close enough all Dopple ships and Baneships are to make planet fall with the Dopple ships dropping their load first.”

Then Roy got a report from the communications officer “Fleet Master more reinforcements are inbound but will not arrive for a little.”

Roy looked at the battle for a little and then said “ Good let me know when they arrive.”

As the Republic and Dratherian forces clashed in the space around Aquaria, another ally of the Republic began to appear. As the Sixth Imperial fleet began to leave the battleground and head for their location, their "friends" had already begun to arrive. Several portals of energy opened, a center of blackness surrounded by a constantly swirling vortex of orange energy. Flashes of light appeared in the voids of the vortexes and a strike force of eighteen ships. They all shot forward and slowed down to match the speed of normal space around them. As they appeared, who they were became apparent. Emblazoned on the sides of these ships was the symbol (http://abyss.hubbe.net/gfx/covers/jtv/lg/misc/ea-pin-lg.jpg) of the Earth Alliance.

A large strike force, it consisted of eight Olympus Class Corvettes (http://www.b5tech.com/earthalliance/earthallianceshipsandvessels/earthcapships/olympus/olympus.jpg), four Hyperion Class Heavy Cruisers (http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/assets/images/cruise01.jpg), two Nova Class Dreadnoughts (http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/assets/images/dread01.jpg), three Omega Class Destroyers (http://www.ultradrive.com/images/b5_omega.jpg), and one Warlock Class Destroyer (http://www.b5tech.com/earthalliance/earthallianceshipsandvessels/earthcapships/warlock/warlockglory.jpg), the flagship of the fleet.

They drifted in space as the portals to Hyperspace closed behind them and then, as orders from the Warlock Destroyer had them form into a defensive formation, with the Omega Destroyers huddling near the Warlock, and the other ships dispersed around them, the Corvettes and Heavy Cruisers patrolling around in an outer ring to bring early warning of enemy ships. The Warlock, the EAS Yorktown, was commanded by General Williamson, who led the rest of the strike force. The Republic had approached the Alliance with offers of trade, alliance and other such things that the Earth Alliance desperately needed. All they asked in return was that they aid them against fighting an evil and corrupt foe. They were dubious at first, especially as they were very reluctant to give up their hard-earned freedom. However, information on the Dratherian Imperium and their actions was sufficient to convince them that a reckoning was required. So it was, that with President Karmathis's blessing, Earthforce had organized a Star Navy strike force to go aid them. The Republic, however, had asked that they come to a staging area, instead of giving the coordinates to the battle.

So it was that they were here, in a large section of empty space, awaiting the arrival of the Republic forces. Williamson was suspicious and was rather annoyed by this delay. But he obediently set his forces to patrolling and protecting themselves, while he waited. The Starfuries were ready but not deployed. Recalling them for a hyperspace jump would be annoying and take time he did not feel like losing.

Greetings good and noble allies,

I am most pleased to see you followed through with the agreement, though don't get me wrong I had no doubt on your honor. I'll transmit the co-ordinates I wish for you to jump to, but please be patient, for when I arrive I shall have to prepare a bit. These quick jumps do overheat our engines terribly. So then, let us just sit for a few pleasant hours...

The message hit the vessels of man even before the blinding flash of pure white illuminated the void, bringing with it the Sixth Fleet in all its glory. The massive boats coming to an abrupt stop as the stabalisers kicked in, engaging an opposing force upon the vessels they were attached to. The laws of physics were rather simple in some things...

As Mercer's vessel ripped free of the Warp his face immediately turned sour as he saw the amount of bloodshed and wreckage. Vessels splitting asunder as enemy fire ripped onto them. He smiled and said, "Open a comm to the Imperium." He looked around and said, "Raise shields and charge weapons. But do not open fire. Prepare cloak so we can escape to a safe distance if necessary. Remember we do not have a fleet at our command this time. But soon we will." Mercer looked out over the prow of his massive vessel that bore the sigil of Dratheria and he called out in a commanding voice across all channels of communication,

This is President Johnathon Mercer of the Imperial Republic of Dratheria. Contrary to popular belief I was not killed by the GE in that war however now is the time to unite again. New standing orders are being issued out. Render aid to anyone on the battlefield regardless whether enemy, civilian, or ally. I am reinstating Unified Squadron all former members ready for flight in five minutes. Rendezvous at the Dragon's Pride. Everyone else start fighting like Hell we can't let the Dark Wolves see us in such a sorry state!

He looked out across at the Republican ships as he suited up in his jet black flight suit and turned to walk to the hanger bay. He smiled the Dratherians had built and improved the Dragon-class Fighters after obtaining the plans from a Terran vessel left adrift in space. A small quick heavy assault interceptor designed to deal with capital ships. It's ability to cloak and sneak in undetected made it a valuable tool to the Dratherian Empire. Now they were used only by the Unified Squadron and by Mercer's decree only which had lead to some minor accusations of techno-heresy by the Adeptus Mechanicus. He stepped forward and looked at the sleek black form of his Dragon-class (http://www.wcnews.com/ships/images/wc4dragon.jpg) fighter which glistened with a polished sheen. It was hyperdrive capable instead of the standard Warp drives use by the Imperium yet another design by the Terrans. He climbed up the ladder and smiled as he saw his old comrades climb up into the cockpits of the ancient fighters that rested in the berthes of the Dragon's Pride. The bay doors of the Dragon's Pride opened and decompressed in a whoosh of air. As every pilot readied to launch from the ancient hanger bays Mercer came over the comm and said, "Unified Squadron launch in 5....4...3...2...1 fire!" As one the some three hundred fighters left the hanger bays going to cloak as they left the ship. Mercer smiled and said, "Now the Republic shall see the blades of ancient Dratheria for she lies around us and as such is still our home and protecter so now we will defend her space!"


***

Elsewhere Kivpa had heard the announcement and ordered a stay on his two hundred ship fleet. He smiled, "Well our great hero returns again. Let us see what he can do before we render him our aid."

***

Port Hedland

The Arbites and few Imperial Ship vessels stationed in the system had been thirsting for battle after hearing War declared upon the Imperium. High Judge Johnas stood on the bridge of his strike cruiser. At first he smiled when he saw the sight of the Federal Union vessels till their message came across his speakers. As his face turned pale he knew what he must do in sacrifice for the Emperor he sent orders to the nearby Imperial Naval Battleships and his fellow Arbites vessels to raise shields and ready weapons. They were no more than ten ships but they would not allow such a trespass. As they fanned out in expert tactical battle formations he opened the comm,

I am sorry for this Federal Forces but we cannot allow you to take control of any system without official consent. I will ask you to stand down your weapons and explain yourself now. For I am High Judge Johnas of the Adeptus Arbites and we are the Law in the Imperium. Justice will be served in the name of the Emperor. The foul xenos who would threaten Mankind shall be purged. The evil forces of Chaos will be obliterated. And the enemies of Mankind will not stand before His light. We fight for what is right and good and we will not fall to those who would perpetrate such evils.

"Did you ja see dat, Adolf?" asked the Exterminator.

"No," Adolf replied, "I didn't see anything."

"Dat's ja de problem," the Exterminator said. "De motion detectors are saying we got incoming--and dat can only mean cloaked ships, tons of 'em. I think we should keep it quiet and open fire when dey get too close."

"NO!" exclaimed the red-shirted security officer. "If you did that, the cloaked ships would attack the rest of our fleet. Their sensors aren't as good as ours! They'd be helpless! Send word to our republican allies before they--."

Dick shot him in the face. "Therrre," Dick said. "I feel much better now."

The massive Fleets floated over the 10 ships projecting they’re ominous forms over them, they gently rumbled towards them slowly. On the bridge of the massive battle ship UTS New York Admiral Alexi stood his eyes peered out in to the holographic port his black gloved hand stroked his chin gently as he stood there hearing the message they sent, he grinned almost mischievously , his country had plans for this nation. He quickly turned over to the Ai and tactical officer moving his hand from his chin and placing it on his side; He started to speak in a commanding tone of voice.


“If they want a fight, give them a fight, activate general quarters.”
Suddenly the entire bridge was lit red, klaxons blared with alert signals as the voice of the AI came over the comns saying with a tough urgent voice “General quarters, General quarters, all hands general quarters” The Ai repeated that several times in a row as Alexi just stood there his stiff commanding look filling the room with strength and discipline, Alexi quickly turned over to the AI smiling a little he started barking orders.


“I want the 7th fleet to surround those ships the 8th fleet is to remain outside the zone of engagement incase our enemy has re enforcements, all turrets target those battle ships, missiles at the ready on my mark!”


As the entire fleet moved surrounding those ten ships, the rumbled ominously towards them slowly shimmering with their massive bodies around the small group of ships, they’re shields already at full power turrets and missile tubes at the ready. Alexi barked out “now!” Suddenly the entire 7th fleet opened up from all sides, frigates rushed in with corvettes following behind, the larger capital ships lit the space between them and they enemy ships with greenish beams of energy and blue beams of crackling death, thousands upon thousands of them intersected each other as the continuous beams slashed and crackled through the ominous darkness of space. Following the volley of energy fire Missiles fired thousands upon thousands of teraton level Polaris cruise missiles filled the air, they moved at fractions of the speed of light barreling towards various enemy ships.

Alexi smiled as he wandered over to his chair sitting down hearing his own ships powerful energy weapons lance out at its foes, the inside of the ship crackled and rumbled with noises of weapons fire, we watched in glee as his weapons made its way towards his enemies. He moved his hands and folded them on his lap he chuckled a little looking over to the Ai sighing he started to speak in a commanding voice.
“Target main guns and neutron pulse cannons I want you to lay waste to these fleets, fire!”


Suddenly the massive guns of the fleet opened up, ominously huge shells crackled and lunged from the large cannons on the ships, triple and double barreled main guns fired again and again eight ton shells moving at .94 c, moving in streams of fire towards their targets, they looked like hellish demons barreling towards their prey. As the massive guns fired the New York reverberated with rumbling and crackling energy sounds as the humongous shells left the barrel. Followed by the torrent of deadly projectiles were a stream of rapid fire Pulses, thousands upon thousands of neutron pulse cannons, fired in rapid streams filling the sky with yellowish pulses adding to the cornucopia of colors.

The ships were lit by the masses of fire streaming out of them fighter craft we’re at a moment’s notice ready to launch and engage enemy space superiority fighters, Alexi just sat back his hands moved back to his chin stroking it as he thought, all of his ships now streaming masses of fire towards his countries enemies. Hopefully this space battle would end simply and quickly.

Due to no orders yet received from Lucianus the Dracian ships moved into the fray on Roy’s orders. As the Dracian ships reached combat Roy commanded “Now deploy all Interceptors!” At Roy’s order every Dragonship and Baneship unleashed their horde of Interceptors. The small remote controlled craft filled the space around the Dracian ships, the sea of ships would only part to allow one of the larger ships to fire a weapon and the gap would only exist long enough to fire.

The Dracian ships unleashed their own brand of death.

Johnas gave the order to fire as the Federal Ships opened their weapons to them. His nimble Strike Cruiser weaved out of as much fire as possible as the other ships in the task force were ripped asunder in gouts of flame and plasma. As he felt his ship ripped apart he gave the order to the Mechanicum adepts to release the governors on the Warp drives and charge them to full capacity he would not let them walk away without a wound not from the servants of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind. As the ship continued to take heavy damage he called the release of the Warp Drive. Drawing his power sword he cried out in sheer defiance as the massive Warp Drives detonated.

A vortex of the pure stuff of the immaterium roared out at the surrounding ships calling for their destruction. Horrible things tried to push themselves into realspace clawing and writhing and reaching out trying to attack anything and anyone near them. Gouts of energy spewed out and touched and licked at anything they could. As suddenly as the massive explosion had brought it forth it had closed and now only the wreckage of the Arbites Strike Cruiser was left.

In the midst of the wreckage a form lay helpless gripping the hilt of a power sword. The Imperial Aquilla that was engraved on the hilt of the sword was glowing furiously and as it did so the Judge took a breath....

***

The Nemesis-class Fleet Carriers in the system had released their surplus of Starhawk Bombers and Fury Interceptors to engage the Dracian ships and their fighters. Unified Squadron swept into the line of enemy ships decloaking and cloaking again to run attacks on the enemy forces that they could reach in an effort to support the Imperial Navy.

Mercer smiled as this happened and reached out with psychic force to determine the moves of his adversaries that surrounded him. The Squadron moved in such a fluid and powerful way that it was near impossible to understand how they did it. If you had heard the legends or battled them before you would know that everyone of them had trained psyker abilities. These were enhanced by interior psychic enhancing devices. using their abilities they communicated to each other and controlled their movements in was as to pass each other with barely a centimeter's difference between their fighters. This would be an incredible battle as more and more ships swarmed the space in between.

Battle had been joined, the Dratheria ships attacking with their own onslaught to counter the might of the Dracian ships. Roy and the others of the bridge noticed the ships flashing into existence and out again. “Cloaked ships.” Roy stated simply, a mixed reaction came from the rest of the crew, Ahiezar nodded his head in understanding (… or was it respect for the enemy no one could really read Ahiezar at times) while another officer blurted out “The cowards…”. The seemingly endless number of Interceptors would see to these ships, while they couldn't track them while cloaked they would fire at their current location whenever they dared revel themselves.

But the Interceptors alone could not defend the fleet forever. “Now deploy the Warhelms, we need their might out there.” At his order many Warhelms left their ships, dangerous single pilot spacecraft they where extremely effective fighters and may be just what the ships need to accomplish Roy’s goal. “Fire all gamma canons towards the enemy planet and all blazer canons that can be spared also, we need to push forward.” was Roy’s next order.

While Roy watched their work a figure entered the command room Roy was not familiar with. The man spoke “Kaiser, I have detected arcane presence on the battlefield.” Ahiezar took this statement with utter calm while many of the other crew members showed open shock. Ahiezar now spoke to this newcomer “Elect Sorcerer Nevzogten, what exactly have you determined about their presence.” With Ahiezar’s question he answered Roy’s own; this was a sorcerer one of those gifted with what the Dracians refer to as arcane might. “Unfortunately Kaiser their minds are alien to me and they put up defenses against intrusions so I have determined nothing, if they attack with arcane might I’m not sure how capable or incapable I will be against them.” Nevzogten answered. Ahiezar and Nevzogten spoke in whispers for a moment and afterwards Nevzogten stayed. Roy did not like this, he may be very familiar with space warfare but this possible new threat was totally alien to him.

A few Dragon-class were blown out of space when they decloaked but this only focused the remainder using strafing runs and the incredible agility of the fighters to spiral around attacks. Meanwhile as Unified Squadron used their expert flying to skate around enemy fighter attacks the Fury Interceptors and Starhawk Bombers clashed with the Dracian fighters with trained and diligent flying. Trying to tear through their defenses to attack the capital ships that lay behind.

Meanwhile the Imperial Navy turned mighty Lance turrets and Nova Cannons on the Dracian and Marionetonian vessels letting loose the holy fury of the Imperium. Ships burned as blasts ruptured through their hulls but still the gothic behemoths would not give up until their last death throw. Weapons batteries lit up the area around the vessels as enemy fighters tried to slip in. This was a battle the Imperial Navy would not give up. Lord Helios stood tall on the bridge of the venerable Battle Barge Litany of Courage calling out fire on the enemy vessels. They matched the Republic in force at the moment and he was not about to let that change. He freed his power sword and called a rallying cry to his men, "For the Emperor!" They would not let Aquaria fall this day. He sent a message across all channels,

Let us show these foolish cowards and more importantly dishonorable bastards what it means to have courage, honor, and decency! Not only would they dare attack us on our own home territories they would also do so with no messages from diplomats, no declaration of war, and no respect to common decency. So let us show them what it means to have decency.

On the surface mighty armies prepared for battle. The Ordinautus hummed to life in their mighty underground bunkers ad the Titans began to stretch their timeless limbs. Plasma reactors hummed to life as the tech-priests called their litanies to them. Skitarii armies stood side by side with warriors from the VI Legion, the Iron Hands, while the mighty horns of battle sounded. As the Dracian fire reached Aquaria it spilled off of void shields while elsewhere some complexes were destroyed in a blinding flash of light and fire. This spurred on the Mechanicum warriors who had such religious devotion and love to technology. As one the mighty Ion Cannons which protected the planet turned on the Dracian ships to try and take them out of the sky. Their thunderous report echoing across the surface of Aquaria. This would be a hard earned victory for the forces of the Republic.

Ripping back into normal space Tusanco stands as he takes the battlefield in.
'Prepare the trigun! and contact Aloura with the current situation and get a time on the reinforcements. Deploy the fighters and release a full broadside at the republic's lead ships.' Tusanco startes as he thinks for a second. 'Have my captians meet me in the war room ready for battle now!' he finishes as he leaves the bridge.

As he walks toward the war room Each of his Captians join him. 'Belay the order to the war room and follow me.' Tusanco anounces as he turns for the embarcation decks. 'We have a war to win.'

Roy was very pleased with their progress, yes they where sustaining casulties, but they where close to the planet and their fire had driven off most of the defenders as it had intended to. He now looked to Ahiezar and asked “Is everything ready?”
Ahiezar turned from his conversation with the sorcerer and answered “Almost let one more thing be done… Nevzogten please finish explaining.”
The sorcerer then joined the conversation stating “Yes Kaiser, as I was saying this force I’ve encountered is very strange… it is hard to explain… whatever power those pilots posses it is similar to my own… but yet it is not… I-”

Before the sorcerer could finish his sentence a explosion erupted from the side of one of the Dragonships, the Beldurgaator. The three immediately set up a link to the wounded ship and Ahiezar spoke as soon as he had someone listening. “Beldurgaator, this is Kaiser Ahiezar what is going on over there?”
and short pause then a calm voice answered “We’ve taken too many hits Kaiser, all our shields are depleted and our hulls been penetrated… I don’t think we are long for this world Kaiser.”
Roy’s felt remorse for the lives of those on the ship… many of which would not survive. Then Ahiezar replied “Well then launch all your ships and get all others to the escape pods… pray it is they land safe.”
The man on the other side gave an affirmative nod then the connection ceased. Immediately after every docked ship left the belly of the Beldurgaator; leftover Warhelms held in reserve and the Baneship and Dopple Ships left while many escape pods jettisoned from the side and the drones around the ship moved to protect the others. Not long after under the hail of enemy fire the Beldurgaator exploded, some of the pods and stray drones where engulfed in the blast.

Ahiezar bowed his head for a moment in respect for the fallen crew and their ship then turned to Nevzogten “Please… continue.”
Nevzogten jumped a little in surprise and continued “Yes yes… I think that our two separate powers will not be able to combat each other very well… at least until we have learned more about so I believe that we are both at least semi vulnerable to each other.”
Ahiezar looked at the sorcerer and simply asked “Well then go through with your experiment. Roy after he is done go through with the rest.”
Then Nevzogten seemed to focus for a moment then with his eyes closed began mumbling so incantation and slowly moved his arms in a strange movement his hand seeming to focus on a invisible ball in front of his chest. Then Roy noticed amidst all the chaos of battle around the ships five purple spheres of glimmering energy formed in front of the ship spinning to the motion of Nevzogten hands. Slowly the balls of energy grew slowly but faster and Nevzogten incantation sped up to match. Then his voice took a strange tone that seemed to echo like the room was much larger than it actually was then with a final shout Nevzogten pointed and all the spheres darted forward, massive now, almost all of them aiming towards the canons fireing at the Dracian and Marionetonian ships. Taking the cue Roy spoke to the remains of the fleet ordering “Launch the Dopple Ships now!”


Elsewhere Liadon stood on a throne like command chair tapping his finger against the chair impatiently when the deep gruff voice of Gorgoth broke the silence “The battle draws close, soon we shall be engaged.”
Quickly after Liadon jumped out of his seat “Finally! We shall prove the senate wrong and crush our foes like the pathetic mush they are!

Outside of all weaponry range, a gigantic ring, carried by auxiliary ships, rips out of hyperspace and into realspace. The moment the ring slowed to normal velocity, the large hole in the middle of the ring lit with an ominous green glow and several techan vessels poured through.

Admiral Johnner watched his holo-screen, and took notice as to what ships had arrived. He saw two Capital Class Assault Vessels, five Cruiser Class Assault Vessels, ten Destroyer Class Assault Vessels, and dozens of Frigate Class Assault Vessels. The Admiral knew instantly that there would be fighting on land for his fellow techans, and that this was only to help phase out the older models of ships, as the new Vortian designs were implemented.

“Tell our men to form up and take the fight to them. Board, take, and cripple, do not destroy enemy vessels. We need something left to study.” Johhner then waited impatiently, watching as the deflection shields were slowly losing strength.
------

Meanwhile, the admirals onboard the Vector and Killjoy let lose waves of Enigma missiles, designed to detect and temporarily disable AI and other programming. The also Launched their main Microwave Cannons at the nearest ships, hoping that the super-intensified microwaves would vaporize all life aboard the vessel…
------

The former Emperor Avalon watched in disgust from his jail cell on Techopia. He had heard about this war from some fellow inmates, but did not know what to think of it. “They actually are fighting the ship that bears my name?! How dare they!!” he finally managed to spit out after a couple more seconds of thinking. “All those Peacers. All they preached for months was ‘all for peace!’ and then head to war. Those bloody hypocrites, who needs them.” He paused for a second, then stood on up on his bed and shouted, “Put me back in power you fools! Clearly these Peacers don’t know anything about peace! Just put me bac….” He fell over, unconscious, after a quick zap from his discipline collar.

Lord Helios saw the attacks. Only five but enough to endanger some of his ships. We watched as two were ripped apart while the last three took damage. He called to a servitor, "Status report on those vessels!" The servitor replied in a mechanical voice, "They have sustained heavy damage to their Nova Cannons the extent is heavy. They do report they are still combat capable though." He yelled out in anger and said, "Intensify fire! And have the medical ships begin helping all wounded on the battlefield! And Emperor dammit get Peras and his Psi-Lords here!" He looked out across the space and saw as their own medical ships bearing massive red crosses went to retrieve both allied and enemy survivors regardless of what happened they were still human and it was their standing order to render aid to these enemies.

Elsewhere a powerful psychic force easily one of the most powerful ever encountered reached out to the Dracian ships. Peras was striking in his own respect, if one stared into the Primarch's awesome eyes they would see that they were purple speckled with gold. He was tall and well muscled with a dark complexion and long white hair. His purple and gold armor shone brightly even in the dim shadows of the bridge of his flagship Emperor's Wrath. followed by a fleet of two hundred vessels. His Legion was unique, 74% of the XIX Legion was made up of psykers and as such they brought with them weapons of equal value. Peras was one of the most potent psykers in all of existence able to have fought and held the mighty Inquisitor Graham at bay when he carried the glyph which was forged by the Old Ones. His psychic power was rarely ever matched.

He looked out at the sorcerer seeing him through the Warp. He saw the man's very soul rest and reached it gripping it tight in psychic force and then he spoke as if an echoing whisper in the sorcerer's ear, You dare try to match the Imperium's might with sorcery? I will crush you with my power. The Emperor's Wrath and her fleet moved in close behind the Dracian ships so that they met a fleet on three sides and a planet full of powerful planetary defense weaponry to their fore. Peras then smiled softly speaking through the Warp into the sorcerer's ear, I challenge you.


Info on:
Lances
Nova Cannons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Navy_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29#Offensive_Weaponry)

Nevzogten stepped back surprised by the new presence in his mind, time seemed to slow for him as he sent back his response to the strange prescene By the Great Ones what are you?

Unnoticed by Roy he countined with his operation “Now Dopple ships rain your might upon our foes!” Roy punched his fist up into the air while he said this feeling very much like a Dracian.

On his command all the Dopple ships unleashed their load. Many pods dropped from their hulls flying down onto the planet at lighting speed unable to be targeted in any way by weapons. Also along with the pods massive tanks where also dropped, tough enough to survive the drop without a scratch. Now the Dracian forces had made planet fall and they would prepare the way for others “Now Baneships prepare for action. Let battle be joined!”

Lucianus felt a momentary rush of exhilaration run down his spine as he felt and saw his allies gather and close around the enemy, but true to his Neo-Roman upbringing he quelled the strong emotion quickly.

<Now is the time!> he barked over the broad channel. <All fleets jump to coordinates!

<All of our allies who have rallied to our side> he added, <Dracians, Techans, Marionetonians, Federals, all: we welcome you as brothers in battle! Let us achieve feats of arms this day to be sung for centuries to come!>

2000 Republican ships materialized in a cascade of wormhole flashes to slam into the flank of the Dratherian fleet cornering the Dracians like a tidal wave of plasma fire.

Peras smiled and whispered yet again, I am Peras. The Psyker Primarch of the XIX Legion who bear the name, Psi-Lords. Where a Space Marine is far more powerful than any regular human, I am far greater than any Space Marine. He reached out and touched the mind of the sorcerer with a searing tendril of Warp energy to ensure he kept the sorcerer's attention. Your people have blatantly attacked my own. And then you dare use such sorceries on my brothers. You have unyielding my wrath. I came to your people’s assistance and battled one of the most dangerous enemies in existence to help you and your brethren. I watched my sons die in battle against those evil creatures. And you repay us with war! Now I will crush as many of you as I can before my dying breath! As his voice continued to rise to a horrific crescendo he said, So you and your men shall see horrors that no human could ever imagine. With every death my men and I will torture their souls till their souls are swept away from our control! Peras turned his mighty war fleet on the enemy forces and began to pound them with not only Nova Cannons and Lances from their ships but also the specialized psychic cannons used by his ships. Unleashing two separate kinds of hellish attacks on the enemy forces.

On the surface the Dracian troops would find terror grip their hearts as massive war machines aptly named Titans crossed the battlefield followed by thousands of warriors. Three of these war machines were the Emperor-class Titans (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Imperator_Battle_Titan) who were followed by five Reaver (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Reaver_Battle_Titan) and ten Warlord (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Warlord_Battle_Titan) Titans each massive in their own respect. The enemy would fight but one Titan Legion here. The Reavers, a medium-class of Titan, which stood at distance launching salvos of missiles on the newly landed enemy forces stood easily fifty Meters high. As the Warlords closed in they stood at sixty meters releasing Volcano and Mega cannon blasts into the enemy positions. And as the mighty Imperator-class and Warmonger-class Emperor Titans closed in they easily towered over any one of the other titans on the battlefield. Easily twice as tall the Warlord Titans they unleashed large amounts of ordinance and rained it on their enemies. As this was done the Basilisks (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Basilisk) let loose ground shaking fire on the enemy lobbing large rounds from far rear positions.

The enemy already met such formidable odds that most would have retreated from the sheer firepower but the Titans were just the beginning of the troubles they would face as they met the superhuman might of the Space Marines warriors that were twice the size of normal men and released salvos of explosive fire from their .75 caliber bolters. Still others wielded the 1.00 caliber heavy bolters, plasma rifles, plasma cannons, rocket launchers, and many other weapons. They charged the enemy line mixed in with Land Raiders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Raider_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29), Predators (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicles_of_the_Space_Marines_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29#Predator), Landspeeders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicles_of_the_Space_Marines_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29#Land_Speeder), Dreadnoughts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29), Hydra Flak Tanks (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Hydra_Flak_Tank), Thunderhawks (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Thunderhawk#Thunderhawk_Crusader_.28Gunship.29), and Whirlwinds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicles_of_the_Space_Marines_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29#Whirlwind) providing rocket fire from the rear. With Thunderbolt fighters (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Thunderbolt) and Marauder bombers (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Marauder_Bomber) soaring the skies making attack runs on rearward enemy forces. And as all of these forces descended on the enemy a more devastating threat moved in slowly closing in on the battlefield. The two massive tracked forms of Armageddeon pattern Ordinatus (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Ordinatus) rumbled shaking the very earth they travelled across. This was the might of the Imperium…..


Necessary Info on:
Weapons of the Imperium: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_the_Imperium_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29) Here is a list of all weapons the Imperium uses and as such a good source of information on the effects of land weaponry.
Emperor Titans Weapons (http://www.specialist-games.com/assets/Fo52EpicGiants.pdf)
Starhawk Bombers (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Starhawk)
Fury Interceptors (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Fury_interceptor)

Ahiezar emerged from the pod on the enemy planet to see the grim sight of battle. His men where already fighting for their lives. They clashed with the space marines who where a little taller then his men but this was not his most pressing concern. The Angel of Pain tanks dueled with the massive Titans firing their destroyer canons at the walking mechanical behemoths and placing minefields at their feet, but where not exactly defeated their foes but this was not his most pressing concern. His most pressing concern was the artillery fire which his men where so ill prepared to face and the other vehicles their where not prepared to fight as not much could be taken down and they lacked the machinery to conquer their foe. So Ahiezar was determined to hold out. And wait.

Back up off the planet Roy already knew of Ahiezar’s plight and planned to fix it. His next order came “Now all Baneships drop down and give Ahiezar the support he needs! And we need to take care of those Titians!” Before Roy finished the order all the Baneships which had anxiously awaited that order headed for the planet’s surface in order to help their brothers. As the large ships moved away Roy looked back to the battle thankful for the arrival of the Republican ships, they where holding but most of the Dracian Interceptors where gone, a good number of warhelms where also no longer existing, and about half of the Dragonships have sustained damage the worse being the Dorsak her gamma gun no longer oberational and her power levels where done. Then while most of the ships continued to fight four Drgonships turned their attention to the fight below and fired on the amassed enemy forces.

Off in the distance almost as if in his own little world Nevzogten continued his conversation Saved us? From what? My people have lived isolated from the rest of mankind. He felt the pained crept into his mind and gain strength but he ignored it You have intruded upon the territory of the allies of my people and for that repercussion are needed besides your history only yields bloodshed and violence. The Great Ones protect you for while I may not be the strongest but my people are the chosen of the Great Ones! He retched from the pain unable to keep the conversation going. He feared for his brothers. It was because of this pain he did not feel the arriveing presence of the Black Company.

Aboard the Marionetonian ships, things were going fairly well.

You have to have a mind for mind-sorcery to be effective on you. That got Adolf Bush, Dick and the Exterminator off the hook right there and then.

"Attack!" yelled Adolf.

Dick discharged his shotgun into the ceiling just for good measure. (Fortunately, it was well-padded.)

The Dratherians had been prepared for this attack for sometime. The Mechanicus and more importantly the Iron Hands had known that the enemy would pull this stunt. Massive shield generators in orbit had activated when the fighters had dropped into the atmosphere. The honeycomb network had engaged to prevent further assistance reaching the enemy. The Dratherians excelled at tactics and they prided themselves on it. While one shot had gotten through the shielding system it had landed striking near the front lines killing hundreds of soldiers in a blast of fire. The shields on the massive Titans flared a bright blue as weapons fire bounced off of them and mines detonated below such war machines rare because of their strength and endurance. A Warlord Titan closed on an Angel of Pain firing full salvoes with all of it's weapons focusing on the tank monstrosity. It knew full well how dangerous the Tank was but the Princeps drove the mighty machine onwards. Soon the rumbling halted and a new humming sound could be heard as the two Ordinati opened fire on the Angel of Pain tanks from great distances using the Nova Cannons.

While the enemy flew through the sky in an attempt to assault the Basilisk emplacements and the Titans Hydra Flak Tanks and Thunderbolt Air Superiority Fighters clashed with them in overwhelming numbers. As the mighty Thunderhawk Gunships protected their charges. In addition to these things the Titans unleashed salvo after salvo of anti-aircraft fire.

At once the fleet reengaged with full force on the Dracian ships ripping into their lines with still more Nova Cannons and Lance batteries. This was their battle while the great Space Marines battled below they would aid them from above.

Peras smiled for the briefest moment before he figured out that they were not being told the whole truth he then continued, We received a distress call and at first thought nothing of it. Then the deep space sensors detected the power signature of a series of Monoliths. The Necron who control these vessels are a dangerous and powerful species which your republic has never encountered before. Now while I admit when we came in to assist we went about it wrong however this was only done because of the need to eliminate the threat before it became too great. They are a great threat to all life in the universe intent to destroy everyone and everything for their malevolent 'gods'. We made no attack on your people but then we left. We aided you as best as possible but were met with hostility. Now do you understand?

Johnas gave the order to fire as the Federal Ships opened their weapons to them. His nimble Strike Cruiser weaved out of as much fire as possible as the other ships in the task force were ripped asunder in gouts of flame and plasma. As he felt his ship ripped apart he gave the order to the Mechanicum adepts to release the governors on the Warp drives and charge them to full capacity he would not let them walk away without a wound not from the servants of the Immortal Emperor of Mankind. As the ship continued to take heavy damage he called the release of the Warp Drive. Drawing his power sword he cried out in sheer defiance as the massive Warp Drives detonated.

A vortex of the pure stuff of the immaterium roared out at the surrounding ships calling for their destruction. Horrible things tried to push themselves into realspace clawing and writhing and reaching out trying to attack anything and anyone near them. Gouts of energy spewed out and touched and licked at anything they could. As suddenly as the massive explosion had brought it forth it had closed and now only the wreckage of the Arbites Strike Cruiser was left.

In the midst of the wreckage a form lay helpless gripping the hilt of a power sword. The Imperial Aquilla that was engraved on the hilt of the sword was glowing furiously and as it did so the Judge took a breath....



The warp storm caused by the explosion of the FTL ripped through some smaller ships several swift strike class frigates and ordos destroyers blue crackling electric tentacles of death obliterated the smaller craft, cutting through them like a hot knife through butter, their mangled and destroyed flaming bodies flew through the dark void of space . The New York’s shields took the brunt of the explosion; it took minor damage thanks to its sturdy multi layered shield construction and design, the fleet was still a ways away from the enemy my as their drives exploded, with the destruction of the fleet the New York moved ahead of the massive federation expeditionary force behind it, escorted by several Lexington class cruisers ordos destroyers and swift strike frigates.
Alexi sat back in his chair his leather like glove taping upon his armrest as the holographic console flickered in front of him making a 3D map of the system he chuckled with a little a sly grin coming over his face he looked over to the AI and tactical officer quickly starting to speak in a commanding voice.

“All Thunderbolts launch, move the fleet in to the system and target any orbital defense turrets with neutron beams ion cannons and missiles, make sure the fighters hit any orbital sensors!”

The AI blipped for a few moments the tactical officer nodded starting to place a photonic wire jack in to his head being merged with the AI sending the message out and targeting the weapons. Several Ion cannons and neutron particle cannons moved in conjunction charging up and then firing streams of blue and yellowish crackling energy fire, streams of death from the massive ominous fleet, crackling beams of blue and yellow energy sliced and diced space as they headed to their targets.

The Bowles of the New York’s fighter bays were filled with noise, as flight techs and androids rushed around preparing the Thunderbolts for launch, their plasmatic engines started to power up as they moved towards the magnetic launch tubs, their sleek grayish bodies glimmering gently as pilots tied directly in to the computers looked around giving the thumbs up to several flight techs, several moments passed, the lead fighter known as Eagle five, carrying Captain Tom Talon Odessa who was related to the diplomat Maxwell Odessa was taxing In to the magnetic launching system. Tom sat back on his chair looking out of the thick crystalline glass like cockpit, a single wire traveling from his head to the large main computer system, he looked around his cockpit seeing several dials and digital panels, the main D band sensors already scanning as he moved this 75 million F$ piece of equipment slowly in to the long tube. He moved his hand towards a few of the navigation buttons just under the main sensor screen he started pressing them and several types of scan options were presented, he pressed the first one on the main screen and then moved his hand to the throttle .

Suddenly The Medium sized craft was accelerated at high speeds towards the darkness of space, its body streaming through the large tube , crashing through the force field and pushing out in to space, Tom looked around quickly and signed a bit as he saw the other fighters move out of their tubes. The plasmatic turbofans engaged with a quick push of the throttle, the reverberating jet engine like noise moved through the fighter, as it started to rush forward, towards the planet ahead the fleet ominously floating behind slowly moving forward.
Tom started to speak in a commanding voice through the intercoms. “This is eagle five New York dragons squadron, all fighters form up at alpha bravo grid mark three one seven five, dragon squadron from up on me, engage javelin and silver strikes , he started to think his mind was directly tied in to the AI of the plane, he did not have to move the controls much as his quick fighter sped up and banked to the left dragon squadron doing it in unison , Each Thunderbolt In dragon squad had various types of dragons painted on to the top fins of each fighter. As they moved towards their intended targets the planes slowed slightly. Tomas looked at the sensors; he peered at them as they scanned all around them using interlinked information from the ships and the other fighters to compile a clear picture of the area. Thunderbolts slowed down as was common procedure when nearing a planet. It was always better to be safe than sorry.

Alexi sighed as he peered at the sensor scans, his hands resting gently on his lap as he did so, he looked over to the con officer and nodded saying “ open a message to the fighters” the con officer did so right away her hands tapping upon the holographic console, Alexi started to speak. “All thunderbolts squad slow down and form a defensive pattern, the main fleet will move to engage any remaining forces, recant the past orders” Alexi had realized if the Vipers were ambushed from behind the planet and moon they would be sitting ducks until the fleet got there.

The lead Thunderbolt Viper heeded the orders tom quickly opened a channel to his fellow wing men from other ships and dragon squad. “All right people you heard the man slow it down and form in to formation omega wedge “ the Fighters slowed down to a gentle glide and used their split second plasma thrusters to quickly move in to wedge formation they could strife at an instants notice with little or no effort .

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/ThunderboltViper.jpg )

Things where not looking so bright for Ahiezar. The Baneships which he needed to reach the planet where being held off he spook to Roy via a communication device “Roy I need those Baneships down here now!” as Ahiezar finished a explosion shook the ground but he didn’t know what had just given in. He looked back across the battle field, his men where surviving they would be able to hold but the Angels of Pain where a different matter. Under better circumstances they could have held out against the massive construct but they where outnumbered and slowly they each lost their shielding and started taking the blows with their thick hull.

Roy received the message and spoke to the rest of the Dracian fleet. “Alright Ahiezar needs his support down their and he’s not getting it. We need more of our ships helping him and someone find a way to bring I those Baneships!”

Curious Nevzogten thought I’ve never heard of these necrons. But more importantly the Republic did not see your actions that way weather it was because of secrecy or the need for action that this happened you have left the Republic with the wrong impression.

----------------------------

Then from the side a massive number of new ships arrived. These ships where all painted black with spikes protruding from their hulls and other grisly decorations. Inside one of the ships sitting in a massive throne like chair was Liadon. He surveyed the battlefield and in a few sweeps he already had gathered much about the battles current state. When he saw the Techan ships he was surprised, yes he had told them where the battle was but after he found out of their revolution he doubted they would show up but he they are fighting just like the rest of the Republic. Acting on the plan he had set in place before their arrival and the new ships screamed towards the planet of their enemy. Now for the real carnage.

The Dratherian call for allies did not go unanswered; nor did it get lost on its path through the stars. Even in the mighty Covenant Empire, somewhat semi-isolationist due to the lingering effects of the Human-Covenant War, was drawn into the mighty conflict encircling the Dratherian planet of Aquaria. The sensor stations in the outer rim of the Empire picked up the message even before it had physically arrived in their system, due to the delicate strength of their systems. The message was clear: the Republic was assaulting The Dratherian Imperium with nearly everything it had and the Dratherians were calling for help. Undoubtedly, they would be answered but it was not enough. Having traced the transmission back to the system it had originated from, the Covenant High Command had a front row seat to the conflict. And once the situation became obvious, alarm rang through them. They had watched as the beings known as Necrons had resurfaced on a planet within the Republic; the Covenant did not particularly trust the Republic, and the reemergence of the Necrons emitted an energy signature the Covenant recognized. Even with their reforms, they were still much an Empire and they didn't trust democracies like the Republic and their imperialistic tendencies made the Covenant nervous.

So, they had watched the planet, and the conflict that arose as the Republic sent a force to investigate the signal, which the Covenant had received almost immediately, as well as other nations such as the GDI and the Dratherians. They watched as they began to investigate and fight amongst each other, as the Necrons awoke and began to slaughter. The Dratherians responded accordingly, the Covenant knew how dangerous they were from the records in the ESUS archives written by the Chronosians, whom had fought the Necrons in innumerable engagements. The Dratherian response, as well as a lack of respect, which the Covenant did agree with the Republic on the part that they shouldn't have done that, caused the Republic to declare was on this nation. It was rather obvious; the Dratherians leave the planet with Republican insults at their heels; the next contact between the two is a war fleet smashing into one of their planets. Not the subtlest way, but it got the point across.

The Covenant understood the Republic's viewpoint, but it did not agree with it. To them, this war was a thinly excused attempt at imperialism, to grasp even more territory for their gluttonous and corrupt Republic. The Covenant Empire could not risk the Republic getting any closer to their territory, which had this battle being too close to the Covenant sphere of influence than they cared for. High Command quickly acted and then informed the Emperor. Upon being briefed, he agreed with their assessment. Unlike the previous Emperor's, he took a personal interest in the affairs and foreign relations of other nations, so he could perceive who might be a threat to them.

The Republic such a threat.

Which is why the High Command immediately began assembling a large war fleet to send to the aid of Dratheria and to fight back the Republic, even as the Emperor called an emergency meeting of the Council to inform the Empire of the situation. They would, for the most part, agree with him and go to war. The Unggoy and the Kig-Yar were both exhausted from political infighting and could use something like a war to distract themselves from their mutual hatred.

A message was sent to the Dratherians, highly encrypted and sent through various stations and sub-ports to hide where it came from and its contents.

We have received your call to arms, to war, and we will answer. We may not be able to join your current fight but we will fight beside you until the Republic is defeated and brought to the peace table, or we are destroyed. Their imperialistic and corrupt ways are a plague on the galaxy and we must cut out this sickness on the skin of the galaxy. You can count on the Covenant Empire to aid you.

“Sir, we have an incoming message, unknown source.” Williamson sighed; it was probably those Republic folks.

“Let it through, Ensign.”


Greetings good and noble allies,

I am most pleased to see you followed through with the agreement, though don't get me wrong I had no doubt on your honor. I'll transmit the co-ordinates I wish for you to jump to, but please be patient, for when I arrive I shall have to prepare a bit. These quick jumps do overheat our engines terribly. So then, let us just sit for a few pleasant hours...


The General grunted. Damn straight they didn't question their honor; when they made a promise, they kept it, no matter what. Soon after, the Republic ships appeared with the distinct flashes of their jump drives, the entire Sixth Fleet is all its size and immensity. Several of the younger crew members whistled and stared in awe, others grunted and shook their head.

"Show offs."

Turning to the main screen, he waved a hand at the communications station, who quickly opened up their side of the channel. “Understood, we will wait here until you are ready to jump.” He then turned to the rest of the bridge. “Have the rest of the ships form up around us, we don't need them patrolling anymore.”

“Yes sir.” The Heavy Cruisers and Corvettes pulled back, forming up back with the rest of the strike force. Now, all they had to do was simply wait for the moment to go forth and unleash hell on the enemies of the Republic.

Licking his lips, Julius took another sip from his goblet, letting the warm red wine was down the taste of pear that was still in his mouth. It was a modest lunch, a roast beef sandwhich, garden salad with ranch dressing, and the afformentioned pear and wine. He had debated against having the soup as well, and it was a good choice as he was feeling rather full from the sandwhich.

"Consul Germanicus," the comm link sounded throughout the room, taking the commanders attention away from his exquisite wine, "Hyperdrive generators are back online. We are ready to depart."

He looked up at the roof as if it mattered where he spoke for the comm to transmit his voice to the officer, "Are our allies assembled and ready?"

"For the last hour, sir."

His face flushed, and he stood and took a final sip. "Well, enough sitting around. Signal the fleet to jump, I'll be on the bridge momentarily."

Just as they had come, the Republican vessels were shrouded by blinding white light, and after a final flash that illuminated that empty sector of space they were gone. It took only about an hour before they re-emerged back at Aquaria. The scanners showed the battle progressing, it seemed the rest of the fleet had been summoned and was engaging. But that was all rather far away, for the sixth fleet was now situated on the other side of the planet.

"Channel open, Consul. Everyone in the system, including all those on the planet, is receiving."

"This is Consul Gaius Julius Germanicus of the Republic. I have come in the name of the Senate and People to claim this land, and indeed all of the Dratherian Imperium, for our nation. By order of your Emperor, Dratherian forces trespassed upon Republican territory and attempted to excert authority over the rightful rulers of the planet. You shall now know the penalty for insulting the Republic.

"I offer you one chance. A chance to spare the lives of thousands from death and slavery. Throw off the chains of oppression from your current masters, and welcome my glorious legions with open arms, and your planet shall be made a sterling example of Republican civilisation, and all your people made citizens immeadiatly. Refuse, and there will be much hardship. These are the words of the Senate, and all shall be done to ensure they are made so. The power of our military, plus the strength of our allies shall ensure this."

-Begin to mix with the Dratherian fleet we will become almost apart of their battery until our reinforcements arrive. transmit this to the fleet-Tusanco Voxes to the bridge as his captians begin to board their respective drop pods.
-Also contact the Dratherian force and get the location of their front lines along with the location of the main force on the surface- He pauses as he switches the comms to the gun decks. -on my order you will avert your fire from the enemy vessels to the surface at the supplied location. prepare for battle plan Bravo Heilo Delta. out- Tusanco cuts coms as he also boards a very similar drop pod.

As the Reken ships enter the Dratherian attack spread they open fire on the Republician ships adding to the barrage already supplied by the Dratherian vessels. Almost as a wall infront of the severly dammages ships they fill the space between the Dratherians and the republic with large caliber bolt rounds and laser fire. Commander Haoldrin Que's the vox to project to the Republic fleet and announces.

'I am Commander Haoldrin of the mighty legions of Reken and what you have done to the men of the Imperium is unforgivable. For that your ships shall burn. For what you have done to their Fleets your planets shall burn! Prepare to meet the Wrath of the final legions! fire!' Haoldrin cuts the connection as the ship rocks back regardless of the stabilizers as the trigun discharges the three charges of plasma, torpedo and laser directly at the center ship in the enemy fleet. Almost as if on cue a whole is town in normal space behind the Dratherian fleet as the Wolfen fleet of Reken translates into existence. The components of the gun begin to combine shortly after their ejection making it practically invulnerable to any defense.

An hour. A bloody, long, immensely irritating hour. Williamson thought irrationally to himself what kind of nation uses a jump drive that takes an hour between jumps to recharge. Then his reason returned and he struggled to retain his patience as he waited for the order to move out. It was pre-battle jitters, he knew that, and he could see it affecting the entire crew. Everyone was twitchy and several heated comments were passed.

So, when the sensor officer informed them that the Sixth Fleet was jumping, he let out a breath. It has finally begun. Over the last hour, he had prepared his forces for everything they could possibly face. Land forces readied and armed, stationed at their boarding points near the hangars so they could board the landing shuttles and get down to the planet with ease, vehicles prepped and ready for transport for the land battle as well. Starfuries were prepared and supplies of food, water, ammo and spare parts were readied. Now, all they needed to do was fight the battle.

The Republic had told them, quite specifically, when they would be able to arrive, they had provided them a countdown which had begun when the Sixth Fleet jumped. They watched the timer countdown, as tensions all across the fleet rose to their highest points. Finally, the timer buzzed and the alarm blared. Williamson barked out orders and, as one, the eighteen ship strong strike force opened their Hyperspace gates, blue rifts of chaos that tore apart the fabric of space and within moments, they disappeared into these gates, which remained for several seconds before vanishing.


Only for them to arrive just after the Consul's speech, unbeknownst to them. All around the Sixth Fleet, the blue gates opened and spat out the large and powerful ships of the Earth Alliance, which punctuated the message of the Republic.

Surrender or die.

It seemed a battle was now raging above this world. Of course this did not suit Johannes well. He had still not completed his "mission" to cleanse the evil that dwelt in this world. Nor had he accomplished his real objective, to obtain a psychic relic of great power. This item would greatly enhance Johannes natural abilities, and be of great aid to him in his "divine mission". Which of course, was to rid the galaxy of all he considered to be evil. This in turn was a rather large variety of actions, some of which might not even be constrained as evil.

With the imminent invasion of this planet, things changed. From what he could glean from listening in on broadcasts across the planet there had been some form of international incident concerning borders. However the Dratherians had been answering a distress call, for whatever reason. This invasion, was not just. Retribution was the only answer. It was unlikely that even his X-VMF 4 Sturmanrufer would be able to swing the tide of battle in space. Even the modifications he liberally applied from the hel station research station memory core would not allow such a feat of arms to be performed.

With the battle so quickly moving to the ground, he had a real chance to make a decisive difference in the battles going on around him. His skill as a VMF pilot, his status as an ex Divine Celestial Cavalier and his formidable machine, made him a serious threat to anything short of a battleship. He had fought in every majour war of Tannelorn in the last three hundred years. The second, third and final hellesponto's wars, the first war of secession and the Prefect's coup. He had heaped glory as well as the bodies of his enemies in great piles behind him, and had thrown it all away in an act of vengeance.

His father, Chancellor Schneider of the Divine Celestial Federation of Tannelorn, had allowed Proconsul Yanislev to live after his failed coup attempt against Praetor Ibram Yannef. Johannes wished to avenge the murder of his wife and unborn child, his father stayed his hand. Within months Yanislev had been publicly murdered by Johannes, drowned in a fountain on live broadcast. Before he fled the scene, he had made a vow to use his formidable skills to defeat villainy, corruption and tyranny wherever he found it.

As his blue and white mecha lifted off from the space port he once again looked inside the holopic pendant he carried around his neck. He smiled and the face of his dead wife smiled back at him. A sound he had heard a thousand times, but would never hear in the flesh again filled his ears. I love you, Johannes.

With a growl he accelerated using gravitics, disappearing in to the distant skies, preparing to destroy the Republic fighter craft he encountered before engaging in the battles now raging across the continent. His craft accelerated sharply, Plasma shock-expansion engines flaring. His sensors had detected enemies, he slipped in to the clouds, hiding himself from their visuals.
With so many targets filling the sky, Dratherian and Republic alike, he knew he could obscure himself, for a time.

As he neared the air battle he streaked out of the clouds, switching his IFF transponder to Dratherian signals, roaring his bloody challenge to the flower of the Republic air wings.


OOC: Johannes was on this planet from an earlier RP, as the RP is still going on Johannes would still be on the planet. Considering the situation Johannes would most definetly face off against the Republic forces. He is a Tannelornian, but an outlaw as well as one of the nations fiercest fighters. As the Republic is allied to the Galactic empire they would know him..and the large bounty on his capture or death offered by the Prefecture.


Johannes X-VMF-4 with DEM engine [Divine Energy Manipulation] Limiter's removed.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o133/Conan2525/Johannes1.jpg?t=1192959127

Beamed to the homeland by subspace communication, Adolf Bush made another of his famous (or is that infamous?) speeches to the people of Marionetonia. Of course, the seven tycoons who ran the so-called free press in Marionetonia were in his back pocket (or was it he who was in theirs?), so any dissent to be offered would be token at best. Real arguments against Adolf were simply not broadcasted. So he spoke.

"The war has entered a new and deadlier phase," he told his spellbound (or else) audience. "The planet of Tannelorn, a people ruled by hateful ideology, jealous of our freedom and opportunity, have resorted to the use of weapons of mass destruction. For example," he said, holding up a picture of Johannes' war machine, "this is a X-VMF 4 Sturmanrufer with heavy custom modifications. As you can see, these perforations here, though cleverly disguized to look like holes from enemy fire, are actually dispensing points for an aerosol metal virus. This vile weapon would eat through the hull of any ship within several miles of one of these babies except for the one that this fella is...in the...driver's seat of. And these here are mounting points for neutron bombs--a form of nucular," Adolf loved to say "nucular" instead of "nuclear"--he thought it made him sound more folksy, "weapon that leads people to slow, agonizing deaths while leaving their property intact so that, later on, the driver and his state-sponsored terrorist friends can come along and walk off with it.

"We're going to need help to combat this...growing terrorist planet's threat." Adolf also liked to mix up his adjectives and leave dumb-sounding pauses in the middle of his speeches. He thought it was more like the common man, even though over three quarters of Marionetonia thought it was just plain stupid. "So we'll be asking for certain contributions from every household. Your kids aren't enough now. We need some CAPITAL. We'll be pushing the legislation through tomorrow. The legislature won't even have to waste time reading it."

Within hours, the Marionetonian mercenary contractors, firms like Slimewater and Incendiary Contractors, Inc. received no-bid contracts and made big campaign contributions to Adolf's government party. An unaccountable army, with no government oversight and no way to be controlled, began to form.

Liadon laughed maniacally from his throne like chair of the ship. He ordered his massive force onto the planet. One soldier was watching the tangled combat over the planet and snarled at the destruction his lust for blood and battle rising. The fleet swarmed around the planet. Death had come.

This can’t be good Roy thought watching the nightmarish black ships enter the battle, he’d heard about this somewhere before. He sent a video feed to Ahiezar and was stunned by his response.

“What is this! The Black Company is here! How!? How!? It is not possible that they got here without help from any-… LIADON!!!!!!!” Ahiezar’s response could be heard above the din of battle and his final word still range in Roy’s ear. Ahiezar continued “It had to be Liadon! Who else besides that pompous wastrel would bring them here!” then a nearby explosion brought Ahiezar back to the reality at hand “Roy you must inform the King immediately and wait on his orders of what to do, I’ve got my hands full down here.” The Dracians had found what they thought the be the generators keeping their ships aid from them so they sent the coordinates up to the fleets off the planet and they hoped they had found the right target or else the almost pure infantry force on the planet would not last.

(OOC: K, mar, it was all good and fun at first, but quit it. The joke is old, dude. We get that you hate Bush and Cheney and the Republican party, but don't be a complete n00b and put stupid posts and moves into our thread. On our forums, go ahead and do that, politicians can ignore you quite easily there, so it has no real effect. Here, on the other hand, you tarnish our reputation. Not only that, you've just made a declaration of hate against one of our allies.)

(OOC: I know I haven’t posted that much, but I exist. But, circumstances are disallowing me to post for the next 4 days. Just to let you all know. And sorry for the dinky post, it’s all I can manage in a short time.)

The Killjoy and Vector now had a new mission, to aid the Dracians cornered against the planet. They head towards them, shields at full at guns blazing.

The newly arrived ships proceeded to that area as well, hoping to aid the Dracians.

The Avalon pulled into the mass of incoming ships.

(OOC: K, mar, it was all good and fun at first, but quit it. The joke is old, dude. We get that you hate Bush and Cheney and the Republican party, but don't be a complete n00b and put stupid posts and moves into our thread. On our forums, go ahead and do that, politicians can ignore you quite easily there, so it has no real effect. Here, on the other hand, you tarnish our reputation. Not only that, you've just made a declaration of hate against one of our allies.)

OOC: My hatred is not limited to Bush and the Republicans :) :) :); however, since you want me to stop, I will.

For the record, I don't see why I'm required to do the macho thing. If I don't want to butter up my charcters, why should I be forced to? They ARE, after all, only figments of my imagination. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with great, big macho posts where a million missiles go sailing into the air and whole asteroids get tossed around like children's toys. It's just that there should be room for other objectives. :) :) :)

::sigh::

Such a shame. I didn't even get to introduce Bonny and Clyde Clinton.
:) :) :)

Oh well.

OOC Remember there is an OOC thread for that stuff IE check it and use it so we dont have too many OOC posts boring those who read this thread.

IC
This was where the Imperium would always excel. When met on the ground the forces of the Imperium were almost unmatched adapted to every form of fighting possible such was the preparations of more than thirty millenia at war. The Dratherians until recently had enjoyed a minor time of peace in which international aid was sent out. It was one such aid mission where the Ordo Xenos had met the Republican forces. They had come to aid the Republic forces that were beseiged by the Necrontyr. An age old timeless enemy of the Imperium which was fought and destroyed whenever they were encountered for if allowed time they would become too powerful to stop. Such events had required more.....'rude'......actions to be made. Calling on the forces of the Imperium to try and wipe the Necron and their merciless gods from the universe. They had failed but would not allow a bastion for humanity and peace to fall now.

A great Warlord Titan swund it's massive powerfist into an Angel of Pain while taking a punishing blow from it's cannon but still the mighty ancient giant of steel and technology fought on. The Titans were aptly named and were also very durable powerful entities that seemed to have a life all their own. Elsewhere the ground forces were being lead by Iron-Master Palthem Braze the Legion Master of the Iron Hands Space Marine Legion and he was at the forefront of battle unleashing hell with his bolters. He was a heavily modified space marine being old in his ways and seeing the weaknesses in his flesh and seeing where other improvements could be made. He bore two bionic servo-arms that had bolters, plasma cutters, and various other tools built in. In his left hand he carried a power sword while he hefted a plasma cannon in his right arm which he had severed and made into a bionic limb on his own accord. Looking across the battlefield he yelled to his men and it echoed out across the battlefield over the din of battle, "For the Emperor! We shall protect this planet!" As he yelled it more of the mighty armor used by the Imperium pulled up to the front lines unleashing unforgiving fire into the enemy positions.

The two Ordinatus continued their punishing fire from their Nova Cannons now turning the powerful starship based weapons on the rear enemy lines. The massive shells were powerful enough to at least cripple most battleships in existence and detonated with a large blast radius. In the air the Imperium fighters met with the few ships that had managed to descend into the atmosphere to assault the entrenched positions of the Adeptus Astartes and Adeptus Mechanicus forces. As these airborne weapons platforms met each other in battle Hydra Flak Tanks continued to unleash anti-aircraft fire into the enemy formations.

In space Maercer's fighter wing continued to surpass even their own standards in space combat only having a 8% loss at current read. Looking out across the battlezone he sent a psychic message to Kivpa, Now unleash your forces!

At once the fleet which had been waiting in cloak for so long revealed themselves and unleashed holy fury. Amongst it was the massive form of the Fortress Monastary known simply as the Hunter's Lair. While Imperium ships were slower than most in the galaxy they did make up for this by boasting incredible amounts of armor and firepower. The fleet used by Kivpa and his Legion was heavily modified to meet the doctrine of the Legion's ground forces. Long range combat. They sat far out of enemy range firing the mighty Lance batteries and Nova Cannons that were signature heavy weapons of the Imperium forces. Meanwhile other ships exploded in gouts of flame and plasma as force after force met one another. But as the Dark Wolves appeared to aid them in their battle they rejoiced and gained strength from the presence of the force which had dedicated itself utterly to war and destruction. They had gained the nickname of the Final Legions because they had called upon the power of Malal to defeat the Chaos forces which had plagued the Imperium for so long. Malal the Outcast GOd was the destructive power of Chaos even upon itself. The fleet fought with new fury and Commander Helios sent a message to the Rekenian fleet,

Hail Lord Tusanco and Commander Haoldrin thank you for gracing us with your presence. We appreciate your aid greatly. I am now sending you the coordinates of the main ground battle make sure to use the shields on your drop pods and drop ships. We had to erect the planetary shield system to aid our brothers in battle. You will be fighting alongside Iron-Master Palthem Braze and the Iron hands Space Marine Legion along with the Skiitarri of course. Remember to try and coordinate some of your movements with them. I wish you luck brothers.

The enemy had suffered so many losses and been held at bay by the Dratherian forces alone now the allies of the Imperium were appearing this would be the Republic's greatest test so far....to face the Imperium and those of Justice.

Ahiezar’s ground forces where under heavy stress but held out. Ground combat was where Dracious full might was realized. The Dracian soldiers where experts of close quarter fighting and they engaged the Imperium forces without hesitation. Ahiezar also received word that the Baneships had finally broken through; this was comforting as the Angels of Pain where all but gone the few remaining where damaged. A soldier clad in juggernaut armor not far from Ahiezar crushed a marine beneath his fist with little effort while he swung his other arm sending marines flying like children and even under constant fire his personal shields where holding out. Still even if they won here the presence of the Black Company was disturbing, it was not hard for Ahiezar to imagine the hulking beast wiping them all out and he knew it was Liadon that brought them here… who else would endanger the lives of all simply to win.

'NOW!' Tusanco calls as the cannons turn to bear down upon the planet and unleash their furry just beyond the expanse of the dratherian shield. The Blade of Shadows and the newly arrived Wolfen fleet lower to a low orbit as the space under them is filled with deploying drop pods. The main hangars of the barge empty as stormbirds and thunderhawks make for their dessent to the surface.

Planetside

The Ground Shakes and the sky fills with what apears to be a meator shower as the bombardment commences. The enormous beams of energy capable of tearing many ships to threads, lands just beyond the edge of Dratherian lines. One after another the bombardments make their mark, laying waste to the ground around where they strike. As the bombardment came to a close all six of the port side cannons fired each landing in an almost circular shape not even a hundred paces from the front line, and as soon as it had began the bombardment stops.

-Twenty seconds to impact- anounces the automated voice in the drop pod as the retro burners ignite slowing the decent of the pods.
-Ten seconds to impact-
Adormange Crouches in his harness as he readies for the impact.
-three, tw. . .- The com cuts out as the pod impacts the ground. The freshly bombarded area is now shown its true purpose to the enemy, a landing zone, as the area starts to fill with landing drop pods. The First one to open suprisingly revals only large Banners that flutter in the breeze with only a single message inscribed upon them 'The Wolfen have arrived.'

(OOC: I'm a bit confused now, Drath. Are your planetary shields covering the entire planet, or just the one area? Your allies post made it seem as if it was but one area, and you haven't made much of a description saying anything either way. Please let me know, then I'll change this post accordingly. Until then, I'll assume it's all over the planet.)

IC:

"If they choose to disregard my offer," Germanicus said, more to himself than anyone else, "Then I shall simply continue my assualt. Captain, send word to our Human allies to began their assualt on the other end of the planet, linking up with Lucianus' forces. Order all vessels in the Sixth to fire upon the planetary shield. Under such firepower, the thing won't be standing for more than a few minutes."

OOC: If you're gonna unleash another fleet on me, it would be helpful if you included some basic details like how many, what types of ships, etc. Cuz otherwise I'm gonna be forced to make up something similarly vague for my replies, and it probably won't be as much in your favor as you'd like. ;)


IC:

"Command ship and fleet emerging from the asteroid ring," reported a tech, data symbols spilling across her terminal. "They're engaging us with heavy weapons." As she spoke, the bridge shuddered slightly from the shockwave of a detonating Nova round. An Imperial battlecruiser's icon on Lucianus' holoscreen flashed red and disappeared, shields and hull shattered by a direct Nova hit. A second later, a Protectorate met the same fate is it was hit by two rounds almost simultaneously. The lance beams were slower and easier to evade, but set off blinding fireworks whenever they swept across a Republican battlecruiser's shields.

"Pallas group Tertius, engage that fleet with your orbital bombardment railcannons," Lucianus ordered. "Fortress vessel is primary target."

The fifty Pallas cruisers that had destroyed the first Ramilies activated their stealth systems and slipped in the direction of the Hunter's Lair and her escorts, their hulls camouflaged and their energy signatures scrambled and scattered. The long barrels of the bombardment cannons mounted beneath the cruisers' understructures swung silently towards their target, as targeting AIs crunched the astronomical numbers and aimed the powerful weapons with precision.

As soon as the rails were charged, each cruiser's railcannon spat its warhead at near-relativistic speeds. The warheads, designed for heavy bombardment of planetary surface targets from long orbit, carried thermonukes ranging in yield from 10-20 megatons. The sheer kinetic energy of the projectiles coupled with the thermonuclear blast was sure to do a great deal of damage - the limited scans of Dratherian shield technology done by the scout forces prior to the invasion had shown that the shield generators could be overloaded relatively easily, when hit by sufficient force - and on top of that, the massive EMP blasts of the detonating nukes should wreak havoc with any electromagnetic systems in the blast radius. A crude and stopgap solution to the Hunter's Lair's sudden appearance, but one that would buy the Pallades a short amount of time to cross the gap of space and engage the enemy with their primary railcannon batteries. More importantly, it would buy Lucianus' fleets a little respite and allow them to focus on the Dratherian fleet in front of them.

"All fleets, maintain your spacing," he reminded his battlecruisers as they slugged away at their foes. "Whatever ordinance that fails to hit us is just as likely to hit their own forces on the other side.

"Germanicus," he continued, switching the comm channel to that of his commander, "can I count on you to take out the shield generators and assist the Dracians planetside? I will concentrate on taking out the enemy's space power with the main fleets and our allies, but the Dracians' assault will be for nothing if they are overrun. I'm passing responsibility for that situation to you for the time being." Not to mention, they would lose a key commander in Ahiezar if the kaizer lost his life; Lucianus was a little annoyed that the Kaizer had committed himself to a ground assault without any support from the Republican legions under Germanicus, but he waved the thought aside to focus on the task at hand.


((OOC: Hey Drath, can I get a status update on the other 3 Ramilies that I targeted with my Pallas groups? You posted about one being destroyed, and the others were attacked in the same way. I'd just like to know whether the Ramilies have been destroyed or disabled so that I can divert those forces elsewhere. Thanks.))

OOC Ok the Planetary Shield is just what it sounds like....a planetary shield. It encircles the whole planet. As for Reken being able to land it's yet again because we have each others shield frequencies allowing us to pass through each others defenses. Such is a bonus to being Imperium of Man. So till the shield sattelites in orbit are attacked meaning a hell of a beating done to the planetary shield to punch through into a sattelite reinforcements without the proper shield modulations is pretty much impossible. Which means Dracious needs to change his post because he shouldn't have been able to receive reinforcements. What Reken meant was past the shield itself. Also as for the fleet Future-Rome I gave fleet size and types of vessels in an earlier post. There should be a little over 200 ships with the Hunter's Lair leading them. They are heavy battleships that specialize in heavy weapons to replicate their sniping style. Oh and by the way Future ROme please do not make assumptions about my tech. While yes I use WH40K as my tech base there are improvements and slight differences. Additions and improvements have been made so take note to the fact that I have been at war frequently enough on NS to improve defensive systems as well as offensive systems.

IC
Braze smiled when he saw the Dark Wolves unleashed onto the battlefield taking a deep breath he yelled, "For the Emperor!" He seemed to move faster and cut swathes through the enemies in front of him. He turned swinging the glowing blade of his Power Sword and unleashing explosive rounds with his bolters. Soon he was surrounded by a ring of bodies as his Power Sword cut a soldier in twain leaving a glowing burning mess. Reaching out with his free arm he crushed the skull of another one. He yelled to his men, "Our allies have come now let us repel these bastards!"

Soon a loud rumble could be heard overhead as five massive dropships hovered into view advancing on the rear line of the enemy forces. Three massive Warlord Titans stepped forward as their bays opened while two more Imperators stepped forward unleashing gouts of fire into the rear of the enemy force. All around Aquaria the Dratherian forces were already dug in and entrenched having had the Imperial Fists themselves construct their entrenchments. But as these events transgressed the Warlord Titan which had previously been upon the enemy Angel of Pain suffered a catastrophic injury. One of the mighty arms separated from the body and the Titan groaned with what could only be pain. The mighty and ancient machine continued to fight on however even against the will of it's masters it wanted to fight and win.

Hanging in space the Hunter's Lair was not without a large amount of power. As it's shields took a beating Kivpa stood up and approached a personal turbolift. He said, "Honor Guard with me! Prepare the third and fourth company to go with me. Let us show them why we have excelled at warfare!" The enemies attacks wouldn't succed for much longer however. As the Hunter's Lair emitted it own jamming signal and shifted position faster than it's large size suggested was possible. And unfortunately for the enemy they had trained against cloaked enemies such as the Eldar many times before. A cloaked minefield drifted out from the fleet as they continued to open fire on the enemy fleet positions. A few of the heavy battleships turned their guns on the triangulated points of fire from the cloaked enemy ships. And following suite so did the Basilica's on the Hunter's Lair the area would be drenched in heavy fire. As these things happened a cloaked thunderhawk transport departed the Hunter's Lair it's weapons short of the nose mounted heavy bolter had been sacrificed to emplace a new type of armor on the transport making it near indestructible. Meant for covert drops rather than a battle heavy insertion this vessel bore the rare Quantum Crystalline Armor which could survive the blast of a supernova. Looking out across the way he smiled as his ship neared the planet soon they would meet a new threat they had never dreamed of.

As the Planetary shield took a pounding from the enemy the surface Ion Cannon blasts continued to reach out to touch the enemy hovering over their space them. This planet would not be lost easily and it would be costly for the enemy. And as starships of the Imperium closed in they let loose even more weapons fire becoming deadlier and deadlier with each passing meter they closed in. But elsewhere one of the Ramilies disappeared in a burning hulk of plasma and fire. Lord Helios yelled out in fury and commanded, "Cleanse these bastards from the stars!" In the heat of battle all civilian channels had been turned off to provide the military free use of communications. If the Republic had wanted to talk it would have to be to the enraged forces of the Space Marines and their Primarch lords.

OOC: Drath he was referring to me with the fleet. the fleet that fired upon you was more or less three ships. 2 imperial cruisers and a battle barge. the wolfen fleet that arrived contains 3 additional barges, 4 imperial cruisers and an imperial battleship. and Drath i was not aware the shield covered the whole planet but regardless considering we share many of the same techs and our allied history, yes, i would have the technology to send pritty much what every i want through the shield. and please do try to be more descriptive on your defenses so people know what their capabilities are.


IC: Many of the pods mysteriously remained closed,only those closet to the enemy opened to reveal automated heavy bolters as they mere moments after the panels fell free they opened fire. for many minuets the automated weapons unleashed their payload, firing randomly into the enemy force.

Hearing the automated weapon platforms die as they expended the last of their ammunition Adormange his them emergency release button. The automated release for the pod disabled before the drop, The wolfen storm out into the carnage. Quickly assessing the situation Adormange surges toward the front of the LZ frost blade in one hand plasma gun in the other.
-All units report!- Adormange checks.

-This is captain Grund, Right flank as been assembled- Replies a voice

-Left flank ready- calls another

-press on!-Replies Adormange as men assemble to each side of him making a solid wall as they charge headlong toward the enemy. Many thunderhawks Fly overhead as they open fire upon the enemy army. Others join the descending stormbirds as they land in the dratherian command zone.

Julius nodded, a crewmember taking that as a sign of agreement with Lucianus, so he promptly sent a reply. "Order one of our Patricians to lower shields and take a direct hit from one of the ion blasts. Once hit, have them retreat out of range to make the necessary repairs, as they will be damaged, and begin analyzing the shot. Perhaps we can make this shield drop even faster..."

He eyed the bubble surrounding the planet, as if a thicker version of its atmosphere. The sattelites that sat protected on the other side were obviously what held the shield in place. Turning his attention to the starship maneuvering to the front line, he saw the invisible bubble that was the shielding crackle and appear at the places it was sustaining fire, and then quickly the whole thing lit up and shut down. A devastating blow was taken by the craft, which proceeded to engage its thrusters and escape the conflict, shields being raised once again with the familiar bubble appearing then dissappearing.

"Inform me when they decode the thing..." Julius ordered before turning back to the bombardment of the shielding.

Roy slammed his fist against the railing in front of him “Darn it I thought for sure that would work! Dang it Ahiezar… you must hold out longer. Now get those Baneships back up here they aren’t doing us any good down there around that shield.” And as if just to add to Roy’s anger another one of the magnificent Dragonships groaned its last breath that and that useless sorcerer was just standing in the corner of the room with some odd look on his face. At this Roy growled through clenched teeth while his upraised fist quivered in the air. It wasn’t his situation that annoyed him so with all the support they had just received the Dracian ships where performing well but Roy couldn’t surpass a feeling that he could solve the problem of the shield, like it was just out of his grasp. And while he thought lives where lost.

“Curses!” Ahiezar yelled when he noticed that the Baneships moved away obviously they hadn’t found a way through. Just as he finished this though a space marine charged him screaming some battle cry. Ahiezar quickly side stepped the marine and clutched the helmet of the unfortunate marine giving it a quick twist and a loud snap signaled the end of the marine’s life then anther marine charged and this one connected with a round to the chest from Ahiezar’s custom handgun the shot blowing the space marine to bits after that a third marine met his demise at the end of Ahiezar’s spear as a slash cleanly decapitated the marine. Then Ahiezar lifted up his spear and cried “Krovall!” the rest of the units took up the warcry and fought valiantly on.

On the other side of the planet the Black Company ships slammed into the wall with unnatural vigor blasting at it with every nightmarish weapon available sight of the shield lost under the massive rate of fire and when the shield refused to give in they continued their assault on it the impacts from the grisly weapons heard throughout the battle. On the other hand a good number of ships broke off from the main group the want for death taking control as the moved into the rear of the newly arrived force bathing them with fire, lead, and any other imaginable projectile.

OOC:what is 'a good number of ships' ? just so i know what I'm up against.

'Open fire, I want as much of that hail gone before it hits us!' Tusanco calls out as the fleet attempts to pull out of their low orbit. Many of the incoming rounds were destroyed by the intercepting fire. The remaining fire began to pelt the defensive shielding of the barges.

'Aft shields are at 30% sir' announces a servitor at a console. The other ships did not fare so well the lead cruiser took a direct hit to their port side embarkation decks and another lost a gun deck on their starboard side. finally fulling from the low orbit the fleet returned fire as they took a standard attack spread.

planet side

The Marines clash with those of the Dracious army. many lose their lives on both sides as will a first encounters. Looking at his flank captain Grund notices one of the enemy holding his own against the unrelenting tide of wolfen. The man calls out something unfamiliar to his men as he Grund approaches. Drawing his sword he activates the rune on the hilt of the weapon bring the chain sword to life as he slices through a man smelling the stench of burning flesh as the teeth of his sword chew through the innards and bones of the man. Drawing his bolter with the other hand he shoots a controlled pair at the man before bringing his sword down upon the head of another. Blood covers his fur covered face, grinning Grund exposes his canines now dripping with fresh warm blood.

Adormange Punches the first man he comes to easily crushing the mans chest with it. Bringing his sword up behind it he slices the man behind him in twain. Throwing his head back he howls out at the first bloodshed of the day. Snapping his head back he brings his sword around decapitating the men who saw to take advantage of his howl.

'This is to easy!' Adormange says as he casts of his helm back handing a nearby man with it before throwing it at another. 'we should be home before the moons rise.'

((OOC: I think it would be a good idea if we all stepped back a moment and took stock of just how many ships and forces we all each have left. Its gotten pretty vague and confusing for me since Drath brought in his 3000-strong reinforcement fleet. Nothing against Drath, I just like knowing how many I'm up against and how many I've taken down, as I'm sure all of you do too. So what say we all take stock for a moment? Maybe in the OOC thread, so we don't disrupt the RP?))

OOC: I have only this strike force:

A large strike force, it consisted of eight Olympus Class Corvettes (http://www.b5tech.com/earthalliance/earthallianceshipsandvessels/earthcapships/olympus/olympus.jpg), four Hyperion Class Heavy Cruisers (http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/assets/images/cruise01.jpg), two Nova Class Dreadnoughts (http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/assets/images/dread01.jpg), three Omega Class Destroyers (http://www.ultradrive.com/images/b5_omega.jpg), and one Warlock Class Destroyer (http://www.b5tech.com/earthalliance/earthallianceshipsandvessels/earthcapships/warlock/warlockglory.jpg), the flagship of the fleet.

OOC I have somewhere around 3123 starships left out of the 3400 that have entered the engagement zone. By the way Dracious you are about to meet two elite entities. The first is a first company of Marines which bears the mighty Terminators. The second is Xavier the Ice God of Glaciare is a Primarch.

IC
The ships still clashed in the space over the planet igniting huge explosions that rained other vessels with shrapnel yet still the mighty crenelated starships of the Imperium stood strong. But as the battle progressed a silent and cold ship approached ripping free of the Warp and turning into a cloaked mass of starship. It's Ice Blue contours made it obvious that it was the Frost Blade. A silent drop pod trailing ice crashed to the surface but instead of a heated mass of molten area and debris as was indicative of most drop pods all that was left was a crater filled with ice. As the pod doors dropped free a man standing twelve foot tall stepped forward. His hair was black with what appeared to be frost clinging to the strands. In fact his armor was covered in frost. His skin seemed sickly and pale belying his well muscled and powerful form. Wearing a Norse-style Helm he smiled a cruel and cold smile. He was the Ice God of Glaciare and such a powerful psychic force would be felt by all beings in the area that were attuned to the supernatural.

Drawing the Frost Blade he continued to walk forward not relying on he bolter to his side. Looking at his armor the frost glittered like diamonds across it. His armor had been master crafted for him to withstand the chill touch which was the byproduct of his psychic legacy. He was an unforgiving commander and was deemed to be insane and unpredictable even amongst his own brothers. Not hesitating to flash freeze his own men. His name was Xavier Primarch of the Ice Phantoms and he needed no Honor Guard. Looking out across he field he sighted his target...a man crying in defiance against the Dratherian and Rekenian forces. Running forward faster than even any of the superhuman space marines he reached his target area with little resistance. He was 25 meters away from his enemy at most. Reaching out with his Frost Blade he cut out at his enemies. Looking forward he read the man's mind finding his name. As he discerned this he fired a flash freezing blast that barely missed the man named Ahiezar. But the miss was intentional......

The average Space Marine standing in power armor was roughly nine feet tall so those who stood in the mighty Terminator Armor were much heavier armed and armored standing at ten feet tall and much larger. Walking tanks in effect they were veteran space marines in heavy armor. The enemies attacks bouncing off their Tactical Dreadnought Armor where normal Power Armor would have been decimated. They returned fire with Lascannons and Heavy Bolters. Missiles streaking from launchers held on shoulders. Even moreso they were backed by Devastator squads sporting the same kind of weapons but in the much lighter Power Armor. Then advancing into the midst of the enemy force from the sky was the Assault Marines using their mighty jump packs to rain death on the enemy from above. Now they faced not only Tactical Marines and Armor but the specialized elite forces of the Imperium. The superhuman might of the Space Marines was beginning to show.

Landing near the battle the Shadow Chaser remained cloaked in shadows while it's masters disembarked. Standing twelve foot six was Kivpa Hekis his short cropped black hair indicating his obvious military bearing. His well muscled form showing through in his molded armor. Across his back was his Exitus Bolter as specialized weapon he had crafted many years ago when he had trained with the Emperor. His legion carried similarly crafted weapons but nothing that met he 1.00 caliber and precision of his Exitus Bolter. He beckoned to the two Vindicare that had accompanied him and they disappeared as if they had never been there. Him and his men engaged their personal camouflage devices and began to set up into sniping positions. As Kivpa walked it was obvious that he was a man of command and fierce military discipline said to resemble many of the martial qualities found in Roboute Guilliman. His Legion had opted to long range assault tactics, urban combat, and most importantly flight. While other Legions had Assault Marines his Legion held no such thing. In fact his armor and that of his Legion's had been modified with flight packs. The Legion held very few Terminators as they were not generall necessary and their Dreadnoughts were much fewer and further in between. This Legion specialized in stealth assaults above all even having gone so far as to have demanded a contingent of Vindicare Assassins to escort the 1st Company and then their Primarch. And Kivpa was the best shot in all of the Imperium even outshooting the Vindicare Master.

((OOC the Dracians have 24 Dragonships, 12 Baneships, 15 Dopple Ships, and single fighter ships.
The Black Company ships attacking the shield number around 600 ships, the good number attacking are around 300 ships))

Ahiezar saw the frost covered giant he stood his ground and fired his mighty gun at his frozen foe and men moved in to engage him one wielding a flamethrower. The Terminators where mighty their armor and heavy weapons tipping the odds in their favor over the Dracian soldiers so they countered with their juggernauts, wearing their massive armor a large number of them attack the terminators. As for the assault marines a sorcerer uttered an incantation and a net of invisible force fell upon a majority of the marines pulling them down to the ground.

The grueling battle above continued above the ships of the Black Company continuing their relentless barrage upon the shield not letting up while the other ships fighting the enemy when forward with their assault more intent on destroying the enemy ships than protecting their own once closed enough many ramming recklessly into the other ships, armored and spiked it proved effective.

The Terminators clashed with the might of the Juggernauts using Storm Shields and chainarms. Assault Cannons ripping fully automatic fire into the enemy ranking. The Assault Cannon was a heavier calibre version of what the old terrans called a minigun. In their other hands under Storm Shields they wielded the might Chainfist (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chainfist) it's energy crackling as it ripped into armor it touch and the chainblade hacking away through enemies they found. As one Terminator fell it increased the battle lust and vigour of the other Terminators. While the Marine had been foolish in his actions he still bore the Crux Terminautus. These Terminators were far more powerful than anyone else could have expected.

Xavier smiled as he heard the whispering thoughts of the man named Ahiezar. A giant..... He laughed and said in a chill voice, "I am no giant...I AM A GOD AMONG MEN! A SON OF THE GOD-EMPEROR!!!!" With that cry the servants of the Imperium fought harder hearing the call of one of the Chosen Sons of the Emperor blessed with amazing gifts. Xavier smiled as the bullet froze and broke apart harmlessly on his armor he smiled, "I am not that easily beaten!" As the man with the flamethrower approached he laughed. Most flamethrowers were powered using a fuel of some type and liquids and gases of any kind were able to be frozen. He reached a chill touch with his mind to freeze the flamethrower. It flames that it spewed countered by the freezing temperatures surrounding him. As he laughed cruelly he punched the ground beneath him and a flash freezing blast spread out in a twenty meter circle. He smiled and diamond hard ice crystals exploded from the ground in great spires. He continued to walk forward and said in a psychic and normal voice, "I challenge you Aheizar!"

As the sorcerer tried to bring the Assault Marines to the ground they would find their sorcerous incantations interrupted by the mighty Librarians of the Space Marines. Their mastery of the Warp was used to grip at the souls of the sorcerers. They would find that the Imperium had yet to be defeated on ground warfare. As massive Titans closed in raining heavy fire on the enemy and the bombers continued to close in on the enemy positions.

In space the shield shuddered seeming to gain power with every hit it took. And the mighty fleets of the Imperium crossed the space in battle Lord Helios was aboard the Litany of Courage.

Lord Helios gripped his power sword tightly in his hand seeing his brothers from the VI Legion falling. He would not let them go unaided and issued out a command to the fleet, "Get me the I, II, III, V, and the XXI Legions I want them to get support down there immediately! Let's end this war! Send a transmission to Teric with a Dragon-level Encryption. ITell them to prepare the heavy assault reinforcements. Tell them they need to prepare contingencies!"

Roy sighed a little exhaustion creeping into his features for a second he faced out at the shield; he had a couple of ideas of how to break it. He was going to test the one he thought best. He had brought all the sorcerers in the ship to the deck, including getting Nevzogten out of his trace-like state. “Now I’m sure you are all wondering why I’ve summoned you here. Well it has to do with that” Roy said pointing at the shield “We need to get rid of it and I’m sure you’re our solution. Now what I want you all to do is destroy that satellite” he pointed at the closest satellite “I’m sure that powers the shield and seeing as how none of our weapons so far have succeeded in penetrating it I want you to destroy it from the other side, by that I mean create some kind of destructive energy on that side that will destroy the satellite.” All the sorcerers seemed to understand and after a quickly conversing with each other they agreed to do it. They quickly gathered up and began uttering a incantation.

Ahiezar was amazed at what he was witnessing. The mutated human actually believed what he was saying. God-Emperor? I will just have to show him his folly. Then Ahiezar pointed his spear at Xavier “I Kaiser Ahiezar Dritierar accept your challenge, and by the King may the Great Ones have mercy upon you.”

The Juggernauts countered with their own great strength pulverizing the Terminators with a punch and many carried weapons such as Estraven’s Bane the explosive weapon with a projectile of pure energy. The sorcerer’s began fighting back against the Liberians creating a battle of pure mystic might. While Alozar, Ahiezar’s lieutenant, launched a special EMP round right at one of the newly arrived Titians. Another Dragoon named Hewja lead another group of Juggernauts into battle with the terminators his own armor like that of the Juggernauts he swung a long bladed chain which cut through the terminators armor.

Aboard one of the ships of the Black Company Gorgoth had watched the exchange between Ahiezar and his frostbitten foe. He gathered a group of his most trusted soldiers and they all crammed into a circle barely able to fit all of their massive bulk inside. The circle was a powerful device which came to life humming and shedding a sickly red glow and seconds later the oversized men of the Black Company began to fade from existence.

'Bout damn time you showed up' Adormange yells as he decapitates another man . 'Xavier i almost thought you weren't going to show I've already killed twenty of these bastards. err twenty-one!' Cutting swaths through the enemy he makes his way toward his brother. 'Once again we shall show the heretic what it means to face the imperium's best!
-Everyone Down!- Adormange calls over the vox as a squadron of Thunderhawks fly overhead. as they cross the enemies' line they open fire and begin to hover as eight man squads follow a hail of grenades out of three ships.

'You damn primarchs didn't think i could let you have all the fun did you?' Tusanco calls out at the figments around him open up on the enemy with inferno cannons and bolter fire. As the three squads begin to merge Tusanco grabs two pouches from his belt and spins in a graceful ballet of death as he fills the air with micro grenades.

More terminators had been killed they were young comparatively but the veterans would not be defeated so easily. Blow after blow the Terminators clashed into the Dracian lines in a mad attempt to rip through the enemy forces. As the EMP round was fired the Warlord titan let out one last cry as it collapsed from the attack it’s mighty and ancient systems crying out in defiance. However eleven titans still remained and with the limited weaponry that the enemy carried they would not last long. Still the ranks of the Space Marines held strong but they needed reinforcements even the mighty angels of death would not endure forever.

Riding on attack bikes their furious roar sounding and alerting the enemy to their presence the White Scars had arrived. The approached quickly flanking the enemy forces it had been a little over five hundred fast attack troops that had arrived. The White Scars weaved in and out striking at the enemy and then disappearing before a shot could be taken. Then drop pods rained near the lines as the Space Wolves and the Dark Angels arrived having performed the honor duel they moved in to attack their Devastator squads and fast attack units closing in. Bolters roared as fresh troops flowed in. Then in a savage and daring attack a series of blood red drop pods landed amidst the enemies. The Death Company had arrived over two hundred bloodthirsty enraged warriors ready to die taking any and all with them that they can. Chainswords and bolters roared as they attacked.

Then as mighty drop pods landed on the front lines three hundred massive giants lumbered forth standing eleven to twelve feet tall. These were the Seismic Fists massive Space Marines from the world of Halsia. Their mighty strength allowed them to wield Storm Bolters against their enemies’ one handed. Although slower than most Marines they were incredibly powerful. As four punched the ground they caused a localized microquake the seismic amplifiers in their gauntlets adding to their strength. Now the reinforcements had arrived in the form of one thousand five hundred more Marines.

Xavier stood tall and smiled as he stepped forward ice forming in his trail. He looked at Adormange, “Ah you may be killing the little bastard troops but I have a much larger prize in mind…..and yes let us show them their folly.” Looking over he saw the Harlequin Eldar Tusanco and said, “Good to see you again Tusanco! Let’s get this finished with!” His chill voice would make anyone shiver in fear and now he stepped forward to the Kaiser, “You made a foolish attack on an entrenched force with little armor. You are in need of better military training I would say.” He was now toe to toe with the Kaiser towering over him he smiled, “Surrender now and I will spare you and your men. Refuse…… Well you can guess. Besides I can read your mind I hear what you are thinking face it you are hopelessly outclassed. I was made superior to any human or space marine.” He let a chill wind flow around them in a blanketing form.

Ahiezar grinned “But I’m no human, I’m a Dracian! And as such I refuse to surrender while surrendering is useless.” Ahiezar said resolutely standing his ground while troops rallied to them “I will admit I underestimated you. Your planetary shield put me in the wyvern’s maw had they not been there I wouldn’t be so… undermanned. You have earned my respect even if you are an altered human and if I die today I die with the knowledge that I’ve served my nation, my King, and I’ll have killed many of my foes particularly one human.” The men around Ahiezar cheered him on while the others didn’t fare so well. Hewja and his juggernauts fought against the terminators outnumbered but determined to fight to the last man. Alozar led a charge against the newest arrivals with Koi, her serrated blade claiming the lives of many marines. While Vexnain led a spearhead of Lancers to counter the bikers. But despite their heroic efforts they wouldn’t last against their numerous foes.

Roy watched grimly as the sorcerers finished their work and a explosion erupted exactly where a one of the satellites was. Roy could only hope his plan had worked.

With a brilliant flash of red Gorgoth and the soldiers with him appeared on the battlefield facing Xavier. Gorgoth roared menacingly in Xavier’s direction “Pick on somebody your own size human!” Then the members of the Black Company burst into action.

The White Scars were different than most forces as they had been raised from birth in the saddle able to handle their vehicles with such extreme expertise that few in the universe could match them. As such the Lancers were left with very little opportunity to attack the White Scars and their turbo-charged bikes The terminators stood fast and held strong many taking extensive damage to their ancient suits but intent on cleaving through their enemies.

Xavier laughed as he saw the giant monstrosity on the field and looked at Ahiezar saying, "Such little honor......" Laughing a cold and unnerving laugh he said, "Remember I am no human I am a son of the God-Emperor. I am a Primarch." He looked at the hulk of Gorgoth and smiled reading his every thought. He sent a comm to Lord Helios,

Lord Helios deploy the Tank Company of the XXI Legion.

The Tank Company which had taken on the curse of Xander Darkthrope Primarch of the Seismic Fists whose body was covered in armor-like bone. They had been held in reserve but now their ruthless heavy forms were being awoken from their cryogenic slumber. Soon they would be ready. But as the black company attacked so did the Seismic Fists their strength easily surpassing that of most beings. This would be a titanic conflict.

Xavier drew the Frost Blade and stood at distance holding it out in a gesture challenging Ahiezar to a duel. Soon the area around them began to freeze and a dome of ice started to rise around them this would be their battle arena. Calling them with his mind the mighty Ice Dragons of Aquaria flew overhead to protect their area of combat. He looked at Ahiezar and smiled, "Now will you follow the honor code and duel me?"

In space the explosion that should have ripped the satellite to bits bounced away reverberating off the Warp shield provided by the Psi-Lords and their Primarch. Then the voice of Peras struck into all their minds creating an indescribable horrible pain, How dare you attack my home!!! And then you attempt to use your sorcerous ways on our most holy of planets and our most holiest of relics we never waged war nor attacked your people or for that matter did any harm!!! Now if you continue to pursue this course of action we will cause you ten fold the pain you could ever cause us!!! The Imperium possesses the ability to wipe entire star systems away in the blink of an eye! And the only reason we have not is to attempt to find a peaceful conclusion to this war! Our medical ships currently attend to your wounded and your survivors! Ask yourselves would a genocidal and horrific nation do these things!?

After watching the Vector and Killjoy get disabled, and finally explode, the admiral looked in disgust. He watched as the other 50 ships threw themselves into combat. He knew that each of these ships was being controlled by AI’s and that no humans were onboard, but he still stung as each shot went through the lowered shields. He knew what their mission was, and so the Avalon finally moved forward, searching for a smaller enemy vessel to capture and bring home.

The older ships fired, although it was slowly, almost reluctantly.

(OOC: Could someone not on the Republican side let me know if there is a disabled ship I could take? I’m looking for something mid-sized, if possible. Thanks.

Also, sorry about the long period of inactivity, but I am back know.)

'Leave that one to me' Adsormange calls out as he cuts a swath toward gorgoth, 'I will show him what it means to face a true superior being lik the Wolfen!' Snapping off some shots into the crowd Adormange makes a great leap Torward Gorgoth and Swings his sword only moments before he lands clearing the area before the overgrown monstrosity. Rolling to his feet He looks at the beign before him. 'I am the Primarch of ther wolfen legios son of the muighty god-emperor, and you shall fall to my blade this day.'

Running through the mass of dead and injured he created by the grenades Tusanco pulls out his Combat knife ane plunges it into the earest foe watching him wither and scream as the blade is pulled out of him revealing a neurowhip that is contained inside. 'HAHAHA let these bastards burn in the fires of reken!'

'Leave that one to me' Adsormange calls out as he cuts a swath toward gorgoth, 'I will show him what it means to face a true superior being lik the Wolfen!' Snapping off some shots into the crowd Adormange makes a great leap Torward Gorgoth and Swings his sword only moments before he lands clearing the area before the overgrown monstrosity. Rolling to his feet He looks at the beign before him. 'I am the Primarch of ther wolfen legios son of the muighty god-emperor, and you shall fall to my blade this day.'

Running through the mass of dead and injured he created by the grenades Tusanco pulls out his Combat knife ane plunges it into the earest foe watching him wither and scream as the blade is pulled out of him revealing a neurowhip that is contained inside. 'HAHAHA let these bastards burn in the fires of reken!'



Johannes saw no challenge in the aerial duels before him, the Dratherian's shield had robbed the enemy of any hope of reinforcements. On the ground, the story was different. Dracious forces had landed, and were now attempting to cut a bloody swath through the Dratherian lines. Seeing through the senses of his VMF, he zoomed in on the scene below him. He rolled his craft in to a steep dive and reconfigured to high manuver mode. The mecha seemed to unfold in to a humanoid shape in seconds, picking up speed in its descent. As he dove on the enemy formations, he unleashed a cluster of missiles, standard 15kt Dogfight gras bombs. Still more then enough to clear a kilometer of room for him to make his entrance.

Johannes had decided the best way to make an example of these foes, was in personal combat. Here and now, if he could slay the best of them in single combat, it would likely break the morale of the entire force. If not it would give him a chance to test his skills against these tyrants.

His mecha slowed suddenly at thirty meters above the ground, coming to a stop directly in front of Adsormange, between him and Ghorgoth. His attempt to show off his skills to the Republic commander, had left an opening which Johannes took. The head of his mecha, sitting fourteen and a half meters from its feet stared down at the Savage Adsormange, a mere child compared to his VMF. He raised a mechanical arm and pointed at the Primarch. "Ghorgoth lead your men in defeating the rest of these scum." His vox caster boomed over the din of battle.

"This one, is mine." With that, a hatch under the torso of his mecha dropped, and he leapt from it to the ground. He stood staring at the Savage Wulfen, his long, wild hair framing his manically grinning features. He cast aside his long coat, showing the Green segmented and plated power armour of the Divine Celestial Cavaliers, glowing along the seams as the psychic energy pick up's worked to amplify his own prodigious mental might. He drew a long sword from a scabbard at his waist, pointing it at his foe and drawing it back in a wide arc.

The sword itself cast a glow, as Divine energy ran along circuits throughout the blade. Johannes smiled and bowed slightly towards him. "I have slain far worse then you in my life, Tyrant..I have seen millions die as they are thrust in to the fires of wars so great you could not even fathom the loss that they caused. It was men like you who started them, robbed mothers of children, fathers of wives, and mothers of husbands." he grinned at the savage warrior in front of him. "I shall slay you, for all the sorrow you have caused, and are yet to cause. En garde." With that Johannes
started to circle his foe waiting for his first move.

OOC Double post, Bump

OOC Tannelorn are you aiding the Republic now? Because Reken is part of the IoM and is helping me. If you are tell me so because this is getting wierd because at first your post said you were with us and now you aren't? Because there are only three Primarchs which are on the surface Kivpa and Xavier who are my Primarchs and then you have Adormange which is Reken's Wolfen Primarch. Ghorgoth is Dracious' Black Company Leader Monstrosity I guess.

Gorgoth passed the two combatants thankful for the newcomer’s intervention, he approached Xavier. “I’ve come here uninvited and truth be told unwanted. We are a lot alike human, both altered beings, mutations from our original species. So I see it fit that I shall be your opponent!” he charged Xavier swinging his massive flail which was attached to the wrist portion of his armor while he pointed a wrist mounted gun on his other arm.

The other 15 members of the Black Company engaged the enemy. One member draped in tattered black clothes conjured up a giant flame in the shape of a serpent that began attacking the space marines the presence of the sorcererous being was dominating his power immense. Soon the other members began slaying without thought as their blood lust took over attacking anyone nearby both friend and foe.

Roy watched the satellite survive but before he could show any form of frustration his attention was drawn to sorcerers who appeared to pain assaulted by the alien force. But Roy’s mind kept moving, they needed to find a way to break the shield.

OOC Space Marines move as a blur to normal humans. Imperial Assassins move as a blur to Space Marines. And Primarchs move as a blur to Imperial Assassins.

IC
Librarians countered the sorcerer attacks opening massive vortexes into the Warp. While Seismic Fists clashed with the Monstrosities of Black Company easily matching their strength. Before they became Space Marines they became mighty warriors on a planet of 8 Gs making their bone and muscular structures extremely dense. This intensified after the gene seed transformation.

Xavier turned and yelled, “Foolish imbecile I will not be denied my honor duel!!!” As he moved with speeds unseen to the fastest Imperial assassins. The rounds that exited the gun froze in mid air breaking apart as they touched Xavier’s icy aura. Similarly the flail that had flashed through his icy aura would at the very least be iced over. Bringing his blade sweeping up in an arc with god-like strength at Gorgoth’s side he yelled, “I am Xavier the Ice God of Glaciare!” Now the Republic faced the near god-like might of a Primarch.

Elsewhere Kivpa saw that Xavier had been distracted by the monstrosity and smiled training his Exitus Bolter Rifle on Ahiezar he smiled. He had never missed a shot before it was impossible for him to miss. With this he would take no chances for the rounds he had inserted were silenced psycannon rounds. These rounds would not only attack him psychically but track him breaking through any forcefield or barrier in the way. Rare rounds as they were outside the Ordo Malleus they would still be effective for this weapon. He trained the scope on the man’s chest. This was the training Kivpa had done all his life impossible to track or find and never missed a shot in his life. The 1.00 caliber round resting in the chamber was hit by the hammer as Kivpa pulled the trigger sending the mighty round to it’s target at incredible speeds.

Lumbering silently through space from the dark side of Aquaria came the mighty ships of the Ordo Malleus their improved armor and more powerful weapons came in handy in these situations. But they along with the warriors of the Ordo Hereticus had come to purge the sorcerers which the Dracians seemed to enjoy employing. But soon the Republic would meet their awesome might in battle.

SECRET IC
On the hidden world of Dragoria the new home to the government of the Imperium a small jet black craft a little larger than a fighter was being prepped for launch from it’s hidden asteroid base. The ship itself was armed with only a few defense lasers, quantum crystalline armor, and a resonance torpedo launcher. An ancient relic captured by the Dratherians millenia ago for it’s awesome power. It was known simply as the Sun Crusher and was being readied to stand sentinel over the world of Dragoria.

OOC Ok talked to drath and reworked it. Johannes is an angry, mentally unbalanced guy, so in the heat of the moment he chose the wrong person. We should fight it out a bit before i figure it out ;).

Gorgoth roared back at Xavier “I believe you have no choice! I shall be your opponent!” Gorgoth evaded the blow matching Xavier’s speed as the gun mounted on his left arm unleashed a cone of plasma fire on Xavier.

The sniper’s aim was true as the bullet connected with Ahiezar’s chest. The hit knocking Ahiezar off his feet with a loud crash he then rose back off the ground covering the wound with his one hand covering the wound. His vision started to blur when a officer grabbed him saying “Kaiser you must leave! You must get medical attention immediately!” Ahiezar struggled but he was too weak to resist as he lost consciousness he looked at Gorgoth, but he looked past the twelve foot tall over muscled appearance and whispered “Don’t do it… old friend…”

The Black Company sorcerer fought against the Liberians but eventually lost against the massive number of enemies. He roared in rage then proceeded to impale the unfortunate 4 marines that stood in front of him. Another member who stood fourteen feet tall smashed one of the Seismic Fists marines into a bloody pulp with a club-like arm, while another hand held a Dracian soldier by the head… or what used to be a head before he crushed it, at the same time a unfortunate marine meet his demise under his foot of the behemoth.

Xavier smiled and said, "You think you can match my speed!? You are wrong! And I guess you aren't as intelligent as you say because all kinetic things can be frozen…..” In a flash the plasma froze and flew past him smashing into the shield of a nearby Warlord Titan that stood sentinel over the honor duels. Xavier smiled as he saw the behemoth trying to catch him. He had fought the Tyranid a much more dangerous species than these fools. Their monstrosities bordering on the truly horrific. There was also another thing this Dracian behemoth had forgotten that he was a Psyker and a master of the Warp powers he possessed. Xavier would not be outdone and swung the master-crafted sword in a series of mighty and fast strikes aiming at any vulnerable or open spot on Gorgoth his experience and speed lending him greater power than many. The winds from the swinging blade were cutting and fierce lashing at the Dracian before him. He had sought out battle and excelled at close combat. Soon a blizzard began to whirl around them and the Veil of Time was opened to Xavier as he saw every possible future his psyker mind processing it faster than any normal mind could ever hope to for Xavier and Peras were the only two Gamma Level Psykers in the Imperium.

Kivpa was pleased with the shot it would be a fatal wound for sure. The massive 1.00 Caliber round was twice the size of the tank busting .50 caliber rounds of old Terra. The mighty round was not explosive tipped like normal bolter rounds but was still rocket propelled and released damaging psychic forces on the injured enemy. Standing up and moving out his stealth suit kept him camouflaged not that it mattered he was over two miles away when he fired that shot. He smiled to himself as he took aim on another target the massive behemoth that had been crushing so many of it’s own and the Marines of the Imperium he issued two quick whistles similar to native bird calls and he knew the Vindicare Assassins were ready with their Exitus Rifles. He took aim each one of them were expert shots and at once he released a series of three shots from his rifle rocketing out towards the fourteen foot monstrosity that had chosen to make itself known.

The nearby city of Greconum was the capital city of Aquaria. Here the mighty Space Marines of the Raven Guard prepared along with the warriors of the Imperial Fists. The city was a fortress her mighty bastions allowing her incredible power Nova Cannons and mighty Basilicas had been mounted in armored turrets while directional Lance batteries rested in the walls. Her mighty gates shut and barred made from the strongest materials available. The city was one of the most impregnable fortresses in existence. The massive city itself even housed it’s own form of the planetary shield. There the forces readied Sentinels (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sentinels) patrolling the streets as urban warfare was readied. If a troop surge arose then they would be ready. The Imperium trained in all facets of war and as such they were always ready. They were dealing with a nation that entrenched everything. Every world would be a fortress and easily just as costly to take but this world still held surprises that the Adeptus Mechanicus kept hidden for fear of being called heretics. This planet was a plethora of Imperial as well as Xenos technologies.

(OOC: Not sure if all of you know, but activity for me will be slim till at least tuesday, as we don't have internet set up at my dads yet, having just moved in. So then, this is probably my only post for a few days.)

The officer saluted promptly, his clenched fist making a satisfying thud against his chest. "We have it, Consul."

Germanicus smiled. "Excellent, sinc our weapon systems and target their sattellites, begin an advance as well. Send the code to all Republican and allied vessels, have them modify as well. Perhaps the Dratherians use the same frequency on all their vessels."

With re-newed vigor, the Sixth fleet unleashed an impossible display of sheer power, nearly doubling their rate of fire. It was obvious that, with the right frequency, the Dratherian allies could pass through un-harmed; therefore it was only logical that if decoded after a direct blast of a round leaving the shield, the cannons could be made to bypass it as well. Streaks of blue and green lunged forwards as the mighty war vessels lashed out against the satellites generating the planetary shield, the deadly blasts sure to rip through them easily.

All this and the fleet began to engage its thrusters once again, their own shields now adapted to the decoded frequency, bending the enemy's defence around them, allowing the starships to pass through with ease. With the new coding, the Dracians could send aid to their foolish forces that had pre-deployed, but it was not the intention of Germanicus to render much aid other than fighters to lead bombing runs. A more organised assualt would begin on the opposite side of the singular continent.

The Republic was wrong an Ion Cannon used by the Imperium was a weapon designed to pass through shield systems. That signature wouldn't get them far attacking the shields that were already oriented towards friendly weapons signatures. Enemies had done these techniques before the reactive field had been added to the shield systems. As the Imperium had shown it had been at war for millenia and they had encountered many types of attacks. Regardless though a weapon could exit the shields otherwise the attacks made by starships of the Imperium would impact on their own shielding. The Imperium redoubled their efforts due to this affront and began to close in unleashing hellish fury.

Liadon noticed that the other ships where attacking the shield with a renewed vigor he knew they must have found a way through. He waited eagerly for them to bring down those cursed shields so he could enter the fray. Then a flashed filled the room they where in, another group had been sent down.

Gorgoth roared seeing Ahiezar fall he began to lose control of himself to the blood thirst inside of him as he rushed Xavier. He swung his massive flail the chain wrapping around the blade and Gorgoth forced the blade out wide. Then he struck out at Xavier with his other hand the razor claws aiming for his chest.

Another group of about 15 Black Company men arrived on behind the wolfen and the began to fight the lupine marines. The 14 foot tall soldier took each hit and staggered backwards bleeding roaring in pain but regained his balanced and waved his arm as if to ward off another shot taking the life of two Dracian soldiers then it charged the marines again. Now he was mad!

(OOC:
Dratheria, what’s up with the Godmods? Yeah, you’ve got Space Marines and Primarchs, but they don’t move that fast. Plus, a Psyker only has so much power, before he treads into darker paths or is pretty much screwed over by the warp itself. A planetary shield that isn’t affected by much of anything? Dear god man, enough is enough.

If you keep playing that way, I’ll pull something out of my butt too.

Also, thanks to nobody for answering my request/question earlier…so I’ll repeat it:
Does anybody not on the Republic’s side have a disabled ship floating around?)

IC:
The Admiral watched the holo-screens carefully for any signs of a disabled enemy vessel. He was also monitoring the scanners, and realized that there were only 6 or 7 old techan vessels left, so he didn’t have much time to complete his mission…

OOC Xavier just took damage and you're dealing with a shield that gains power through kinetics. Think like Tal he was almost on the spot good idea but not quite there. If it goes on much longer I'll give you guys the answer. Also Gamma Level is one of the higher power levels in the rankings and the highest in the Imperium. And don't speak of godmods when Dracious kills off tons of my Space Marines with ease and without asking. A few is creativeness a bunch is calling damage. Besides both Xavier and Peras were made to match and surpass Magnus.

IC
Xavier laughed as he froze the chain on the weapon brittle his sword freeing easily. He jumped up in a high flip as Gorgoth's hand struck into his icy barrier and cut into his armor leaving a slight cut on his chest which quickly began to heal itself. The temperature inside the barrier near 60 Kelvin and capable of flash freezing anything it touched. This was because the more Xavier used his powers the colder his aura became. He smiled dodging every blow the monstrosity could deliver as he ducked and dodged. He swung the Frost Blade and as he did hundreds of diamond hard ice crystals flew forth to rip into the Dracian monstrosity. Xavier was more than ready for this fight barely unleashing his true might. Opening a warp gate Ahiezar's body found itself in the rear of the Dratherian battle entrenchments in a triage area. Doing so Xavier sent a psychic message to a rear apothecary tending to both friendly and enemy wounded, Save this man's life! It is imperative! The Iron Hands Marine understood immediately these beings were abhumans not xenos and as such if a Primarch commanded it then it was done. He bent over Ahiezar and immediately began tending to his wounds using equipment meant to heal mighty space marines. By this Apothecary he would live.

Kivpa smiled as he loaded a hellfire round clip and was glad he had gotten a chance to use these rounds. The Hellfire Rounds had devastating results on organic matter, as the rounds were developed to combat Tyranids they would work well on the Dracian beasts. The core and tip were replaced with a vial of mutagenic acid with thousands of needles that fire into target upon the shattering of the vial, pumping the acid into the target. He licked his lips as he sighted the target again and whistled. He pulled the trigger unloading five of the rounds into the beast as the two Vindicare Assassins pulled five rounds each from their Exitus Rifles. Kivpa however did not leave this to chance as the rest of his honor guard consisting of six Marines opened fire with their .75 Caliber Exitus Bolters on the newly arrived Black Company soldiers. They were using the standard bolter round with their explosive tips to rain deadly precise fire on the enemy. However after every few shots they changed positions being at a range of a mile and a half. This was their fighting style particularly suited for infiltration and precision strikes.

Elsewhere the Adeptus Mechanicum fighters flew overhead raining transport inhibitors developed by the Dratherians. As they buried into the ground preventing further transporters from deploying troops.

EDIT: OOC: Oh hell. Well, this post got ninja'd pretty thoroughly as I was writing it, but yeah. Let's move this discussion to the OOC thread, because I agree wholeheartedly with Great Computers. I'll tell ya why and how over there. I'll edit this post accordingly once we're done arguing.))

Lucianus permitted himself a tight smile of satisfaction as he was notified of Germanicus' breakthrough. "Trace the energy signatures related to that shield," he ordered his techs. "Pinpoint any related energy readings from generators on the surface. Germanicus and his fleet will take out the satellites, but I want that shield out permanently."

Lucianus opened up an encoded channel to one of his Pallas groups. <Pallas Group Secundus, charge your orbital-to-surface railcannons and prepare to recieve strike coordinates from the command vessel>

Upon recieving the Admiral's orders, the 50 Pallas stealth cruisers that had recently destroyed the second Ramilies peeled off and began charging their heavy railcannons for kinetic strikes against any generators on Aquaria's surface. Their targeting AI's swiftly processed the shield frequency data that Germanicus' techs had decoded as the kilometer-long vessels activated their stealth systems and spread themselves out into a formation that would enable a strike anywhere on about the quarter of Aquaria's surface that faced them at any given time. If the generators proved to be elsewhere - and Lucianus expected them to be spread out all over the planet - Aquaria's rotation would bring them into firing range eventually.

Meanwhile, the 50 Pallades harassing the Hunter's Lair and her fleet fired their impulse drives for a few short seconds to put some extra distance between them and their position when they had fired the nuclear projectiles. Triangulating ballistics trails worked wonderfully against stationary targets, but against targets that moved immediately after firing it did little more than tell the Dratherians the place from which they had been fired upon. Still, the Dratherians were covering a wide area with their retaliatory fire, and a few Pallades were hit by lucky shots - but the Doppelganger modules carried by each cruiser dispersed and randomized their energy signatures thoroughly enough to confuse the Dratherian gunners a good deal. Many shots blasted through thin space where targeting systems had shown a ghost of an energy presence, while their intended targets glided past towards untargeted space.

Lucianus turned his attention to the action on the holoscreen, and pursed his lips in disapproval as a Pallas was successfully tracked and riddled with lance beams, and another shattered by a Nova shot. <General Williamson> he sent to the Earth Alliance commander, <Move your vessels to support Pallas Group Tertius and help keep that fleet off our asses. Give us some more time and we will support you in turn>

((OOC:I haven’t directly said I’ve killed tons of space marines. The only times I directly said I’d killed space marines was with Ahiezar and the fourteen foot tall guy who has killed space marines and Dracians, in fact all the members of the Black Company are psychopaths that kill anyone around them once they start fighting. That’s why Ahiezar and the rest of my people don’t want them here.))

Gorgoth took the blow most of the spikes embedding themselves in his armor a few piercing the skin but if he felt any pain he didn’t show it. He countined his relentless assault attack with his flail, claws, teeth, and sometimes his hand mounted gun.

The huge behemoth took each blow with a roar but shortly after receiving the last one it feel down. Its body refused to rise its life flowing from its wounds but it still struggled its limbs flailing about trying to claim more lives before its time was up. The sorcerer was completely overcome by his rage attacking who ever he say and he happened to be slowly moving into the Dracian side

Marines fell to the thrashing limbs of the monstrosity but still the battle raged the Space Marines had come to admire the Dracians for their willingness to fight to the end. And their warrior's spirit so much so that it became hard to fight or kill these noble warriors. Braze looked at his Marines and heard the chatter. Calling over the comms he ordered a general retrograde. At once the Space Marines that had been so overwhelming only moments before moved backwards. Retreating to fortifications and entrenched positions. Lord Braze looked out across the battlefield to see the Primarch Xavier still battling the monstrosity. At once the vox from an Imperator Titan boomed out across the battlefield and the transmission spanned out across space,

"You are noble warriors! You have earned our respect and we are willing to speak with your leaders! We are now calling a cease fire! However should you turn down our request we will continue this pointless war!"

The voice was that of Emperor Nova tightbeamed in from the rear of the fleet where the mighty Nova Sword rested. He smiled he knew the fighting spirit of these warriors was strong however what they had hoped to gain he was hoping to find out.

Xavier did not represent the Imperium. He was a warrior of his own free will fighting where he could find the best battles. He winced as Gorgoth's claws once again found purchase in him this time ripping away part of his leg armor. As a round winged off a shoulder pad Xavier became furious cursing the warrior. The cold tempratures surrounding him began to die away for a moment as he called forth the wrath of his psychic powers he lashed out again and again with his sword putting the beast on the defensive crackling warp energy striking out to the left and right of his opponent the blade infused with warp fire. He pushed on driving the blade at the enemy as snow began to fall everywhere.

Elsewhere the Apothecary had completed his work and had laid Ahiezar on a makeshift bed. Braze walked in the door and yelled, "Apothecary give me the status on the enemy commander that Xavier sent to us!" The Apothecary bowed and said, "He will live Lord. But he will not be in fighting shape for some time I would bet however their physiology is new to me. The wound was caused by a psycannon round of 1.00 caliber. I believe it was Primarch Kivpa sire. Had Xavier left him there much longer he would have died." Braze walked closer towering over Ahiezar's wounded form and handed him a communication device. He said in a soft voice, "You will live. And you will return to your people. We are not the monsters your Republic makes us out to be. I also have a good number of your men in other medical bays nearby when your transportation is ready we will allow you to leave. Call your forces and arrange it. I give you the word of a Space Marine Lord that you and your men shall be allowed to leave and return to your nation. All I ask is that you do an introspection we may follow the Emperor's Light but we are steadily changing for better or for worse is yet to be seen. Ask yourselves if we are the enemy. We know mercy as well as war and apply it as necessary. You fought well so go home rest and live." Braze took off his gauntlets and dropped a Imperial Eagle amulet into Ahiezar's hand. It's glinting and ornate carvings a trreasure for sure. He looked at Ahiezar and said, "Farewell I hope we meet under better circumstances the next time."

Looking up at the mecanical monstrosity Adormange snarles and blares his teeth,
'If you wish to fight me you could atleast pronounce my name right you hunk of scrap! I will show you how. . ' ,Holding his hands in quotations, ' . . .savage i really am.' Leaping onto the mecha Adormange brings his blade down onto the left arm joint the teeth of his chainsword winning as it fights to cut through the joint. realizing it would take a power weapon to cur through, he reachs back with one hand he grabs a micro grenade and sets it into the joint and leaps behind the mechanical being.

The inferno cannons blaring tusanco quickly takes the battlefield in, Xavier in a ice dome, Adormange fighting a mech and him standing within a mass of charred bodies surrounded by figs. . .'Hey why doint i get an epic duel? am i not enough of a threat to you bastards?' Tusanco yells outraged. Leaping from the protective circle of figs he lands, to the suprise of the man, on an enemies' shoulders. Stabbing his sword down he sinks to the ground as the body beloy him is skewered. retrieving his blade he decapitates another and protests. 'is anyone brave enough to fight the mighty tusanco?

The Dracian forces backed off thankful for this momentary respite. Alozar acting as leader in Ahiezar’s absence established order to the nearly depleted force. But the members of the Black Company headed no orders and they continued to fight the original group that came down with Gorgoth engaged the Dracians, they being the closest, and the second group engaged the space marines seeking only to kill.

Gorgoth fought ferociously pressing his attack but one of Xavier’s attacks scored at hit on Gorgoth’s left arm the wound making that arm useless. Still he would not be deterred; he fought on with abandon the overwhelming urge to kill not weakening.

Ahiezar regained consciousness to see the space marine standing over him. He quickly looked around and took in the battlefield seeing what was happening and hearing the space marines words.

Lucianus listened to the Emperor's transmission, his face remaining impassive. After a minute he opened up a channel to the Consul.

<Germanicus> he tightbeamed directly to his superior, <What do you make of this? I am a little intrigued at the chance to talk to their leaders, although the chances of us agreeing to a ceasefire are next to none. Do you still see a point in opening a dialogue?>

Foreign politics were entirely in Germanicus' domain of authority and entirely outside Lucianus' military jurisdiction, so the Admiral did not call off any of the Republican forces until he received the Consul's reply.

"It is a pity. Lucianus is a fine general, and I would not have minded having him at my side. Yet this little inconvinience has long kept me from the war."

Callis sighed. Apparently, only half the force that had initially been requisitioned had been sent. It made sense, he knew. The remainder were under his command, to serve as reinforcements.

However, it appeared that the battle was drawing to a stalemate. Forces on the planet had been trapped, and, though Republic forces clearly had superior numbers, they were attacking a planet they had not bothered to collect intelligence on first.

Nevertheless, a victory here was crucial for the campaign to continue apace. He swore under his breath, and looked around the bridge.

"Gentlemen, though I was rather hoping to bring about a two-pronged attack, any fool can see that this planet must be overwhelmed quickly. The forces under Germanicus compromise seven fleets - a force more than capable of victory, but they are not winning quickly enough. Unless we take this world, set up a serviceable supply infrastructure, the Dratherians will be able to prepare for our campaign. Though they are a people generally ready for war, and, though I find this war to be folly having not been researched fully first, a quick victory is crucial all the same. As such, under my authority as Senator, I am ordering the Second Fleet Group into the breach. May the gods smile upon us this day."

One had to realise, there were three thousand five hundred ships in total under the command of Germanicus and Lucianus, as well as a few minor forces under the command of other Republic provinces and nations. Callis Yaltar held the second half of the invasion fleet, and, now, he prepared to use it.

I am throwing away a trump card, yet this would not be necessary if Germanicus..

He shook his head. Now was not the time to ascertain blame. Now was a time for war.

Encrypted Message
Recipient(s): Consul Germanicus, Commander In His Force
Subject: Second Invasion Fleet
Gentlemen, it appears the battle is not progressing precisely as well as we thought it would. Therefore, under my authority as commander of this force, I am authorising its incursion into the battle. As strategic-level commander of the campaign, I feel it is necessary to win an early victory.
END MESSAGE

It was then that the second wave of the Republic was unleashed, fleets of ships simply appearing where there had been none before, descending like a plague of locusts upon the Dratherian fleet.

The Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Imperial Fleets(1), as well as the First and Fourth Expeditionary Fleets(2). The Conquistadorial Fleets(3) remained in deep space - there was no point in using the transports and their escorts to invade the Dratherian world until such time as the enemy fleets had been decisively defeated. Callis sighed. He had fought wars before, but none quite as peculiar as this one.

OOC: Since Tal's away, and I'm here, Neo-Roma, I thought I'd drop by with the other half of the campaign forces. If you don't mind.

(1) Imperial Fleets consist of carriers and heavy capital ships, with fewer escorts than most ships. Though they can carry troops, and manufacture some of their own goods, they're designed for combat. An Imperial Fleet is there to participate in ship-to-ship battle.

(2) Expeditionary Fleets have a lot of supply and construction vessels. When on campaign, it can be crucial to be able to resupply the fleet, as well as construct probes and fighters, using only drifting asteroids and the like. Though still decent at combat, they're nowhere near as specialised as the Imperial Fleets.

(3) Conquistadorial Fleets have primarily smaller escorts and transport ships - a Conquistadorial Fleet carries the Legions that make up the Republic's ground forces, ready-made ground bases, useful supplies for pacifying a populace as well as a lot of heavy ground warfare equipment. When fighting in space, they're the weakest of all the fleets, as they're designed for something completely different.

If you want a brief rundown on the Republic's entire military (we've committed quite a large proportion of our forces here, let me tell you), you can find it here (http://z10.invisionfree.com/Republic_Forum/index.php?showtopic=1333).

General Willamson grunted at the order received and turned to his bridge crew. "Alright, get us over to those ships battling the Dratherians under this Lucianus. We got called here for a fight, and I damn well intend to fight one. Course four-zero-five. Go after those bastards, and tell the fleet to fire when they are range for weapons locks."

"Aye, aye sir." The fifteen ship strong attack force turned with surprisingly agility and blasted towards the fleet once commanded by Kivpa, which was caught in mortal combat with the Republic ships. With great speed and agility, the Alliance ships shot through space towards the Dratherian fleet, eager for blood and hungry for victory.....


OOC: I know it sucks, hence why I didnt do any combat yet. Merely showing where my forces are.

Noticng the new fleets comming to attack the wolfen fleets comes about making a defensive wall between them and the new enemy.
'I am Captian Haoldrin of the Final legions of reken and you have been found wanting. For you have sidedwith the enemies of the true imperium and for that you sall pay the ultimate price, Death. Those of us from the legions of reken take prisoners only for interrogation wich ends only one way, dismemberment. If you still wish to engage the fleet of the imperium you shall face an untimly doom at our hands. Thank you and have a nice day.'he finishes as he switches off the vox and launches a salvo toward the enemy fleet, just as a test. if they are able to evade the salvo he will be forced to take more "personal" methods to destroy them, he allways liked to take a more personal way.
'Contact Reken Secondus and find out the status of the fleets of Aloura and Sternhammer Get them here as fast as possiable!' He yells at the ships astropath. 'Bring the bombard cannons to bear and get us withing range of those suport vessels we must be quick to cut the throat of this new enemy before they take superority theough their supplies. Contact the Ground forces and notify them of our new arrivals and request immediate evac of the ground forces to the fleet. we will need every able bodied warrior to sink this one home.'

PlanetSide

Tusanco and Adormange make eye contact as the message ends. Nodding in agreement they begin to merge with eachother's forces and head to Xavier to notify him.
'Foward base, foward base this is Commander Adormange prepare the Thunderhawks and Stormbirds for departure and assemble the troops we nee to make haste for the fleet as soon as a bird fills send it with a gunship. anyone not able to secure a spot on a leaving ship will requip and reinforce the dratherian force with any remaining enemies.' Looking to Tusanco Adormange salutes and makes haste with his honor guard toward the base.

(OOC: I'll just assume since noody posted anything about it, there are enemy ships floating around disabled...)
IC:
"There!" shouted the Admiral. "Take that ship. We'll go back trough the gate, and then have it return home. Think of all that we will gain from reverse engineering that ship..."

(OOC: Placeholder for when Drath repairs his post. My scientific explanation for him should put that argument to rest, so that repair should come soon. At such time, I shall also answer the Dratherian Emperor, and make a rebuke to Yalltar. Bugger, trying to steal my glory. Things are going just fine! Besides, I thought I told you before I was making him send all his forces to Aquaria so that you could strole in at another area. If I forgot to mention such, oh well, we can crush his forces here....and I can share a lil' glory I suppose.

Tal has spoken. All glory to Tal.)

OOC sorry for the lateness on response, my keyboard is slightly broken and i wont be able to post properly till i get a new one. My character is leaving the fight, I will center on the system with TFU after the shield goes down in about 1 weeks time. Sorry again for the inconvenience.

IC

Johannes chuckled softly, then leapt ion to the shoulder of his VMF. The small explosive charge did little more then cause the knee to flex. The massive experimental mecha was built to withstand space combat, and the small amount of punishment it just took paled in comparison to the apocalyptic energies released as an afterthought in space.

He spoke now to Adormange, though not with words. He linked his mind to the Primarch and grinned. Justice is best served to a tyrant in equal measure to his crimes. He who had tried to slink away and strike at the weak, is best slain with knife in the back. With that Johannes saluted the Wulfen, as his mecha lifted off the ground. He climbed down in to the cockpit with near supernatural alacrity, and reconfigured his mecha, preparing to reenter the dogfight above.

Whether by his blade or by another, Justice would be served. That was the only caused that mattered. Justice was above even honour. Ironic justice however, was divine. He started to laugh insanely as he targeted some of the enemy fighter craft that accompanied the black ships. He announced his intent with a swarm of dozens of "Dogfight" high maneuver Gras missiles. Which blossomed in to a forest of heavy Graser beams, arcing towards his foes. On this world, he was just one of many. Once the shields were down, and the enemy attack began in earnest he would leave this place, and make his way to a battlefield more in need of him.

(OOC: Lol, not using placeholder. ^.^)

IC:

The fleet took up a position in low orbit. Having surpassed the shield system, it didn't matter where they sat now, so they held position and continued to target the generating sattelites. The bottom hatches of the vessels began to open, revealing the massive main hangars where the docked arces sat ready. They had been ready for quite some time, with all their cargo secure onboard, and now they had their chance to ferry the Republican legions to the ground.

The floating citadels moved down through the atmosphere, and then pierced the clouds, projecting an imposing shadow upon the ground. It was a good location they had selected, an open field close to the shore, not that it would matter with all the firepower they could unleash to create a landing zone. Entire mountains could be levelled to make a spot for them, but for now they did not require any weapons, not yet. They made landfall, and began to open up, the Republican legionaries within marching out in perfect formation, armored columns rolling out behind them, and alaes of Equites on their flanks.

At once the soldiers began to divide themselves into two groups. Half defending the area, half beginning the contruction of a ground fortress that would serve as the Republic headquarters on the planet, and would secure the area from any attacks. And from the skies came the last thing that would land for now, Germanicus' flagship. The massive starship entended its landing gear, and shook the earth violently when it finally came to a touchdown. The first things to leave the vessel flew forth from the smaller side hanger bays; stingers, einhanders and transports, which began a quick journey towards the Dracian position, ready to engaged the Titans that tormented them and to bring them to safety.

"Lucianus," Germanicus spoke to hologram before him, "Please be so kind as to relay this to their Emperor. If he wishes to speak, he shall come to me at my new fort being constructed on the planet. With a minimal guard, we shall ensure his safety, afterall we are an honorable people. As for you, continue to pound their space forces, gain us air superiority. The sixth fleet has mostly unloaded, with the exception of the larger vehicles that cannot be transported with arces, but I have enough in my vessel to serve on this planet. So you can use the fleet for your battle now, however do hurry in breaking their backs, orbital bombardments would be nice later on."

He bowed slightly before closing the channel, then began to address Callis, the arrogant bastard who decided things weren't progressing well enough, even though they were. "My dear friend, I trust you had a pleasant journey? In anycase, I request that you join up with my man Lucianus and aid him in removing these heathens from the stars. He should be just about finished, however. In anycase, some of my legions have made groundfall, and should be adequate to take the planet."

((OOC: Tal, the entire point of the arces is that you don't have to build a ground fortress: they are the ground fortresses! Why waste manpower building a stationary one when you already have many mobile ones? That's the reasoning behind their use.))


IC:

Lucianus nodded. "Understood."

At the touch of a holokey, Lucianus reopened the channel between him and the Nova Sword. "The Consul and Imperator Gaius Germanicus will meet the Emperor at his command base on the surface of Aquaria." He sent the coordinates along as a formality, even though he knew the Dratherians should already know exactly where it was. "The Emperor is to be accompanied only by a small personal guard; the Republic will guarantee his safety otherwise. But we will not grant a ceasefire to other combat." He ended the transmission.

(OOC: I know. They are mobile fortresses. What I'm building is a new city. A new capital for the planet, a Republican capital. A place were good civilisation and virtue will spread from, where law and order will stem from. Et cetera....)

((OOC: Ok, but wouldn't it be best to do that after we've actually secured the planet? Wouldn't that half of the task force be put to better use actually helping with the subjugatin'?))

(OOC: Sshh. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.)

Watching as The Ships decend through the shield Captian Halodrin turns to has comms. 'Contact the Dratherian froces and alert them of the impending enemy, then contact the fleet and find out where the bloody hell they are!'
Turning to his personal comms Halodrin calls, 'Gunnery I want a full bombardment upon the projected liocation of those ships LZ and i want it now!' closing the comm he sits back down, ' If they dont get here soon i dont know how much more we can do. . '

Planetside

As Adormange sets foot upon the shi[p le looks to the sky and freezes. 'HALT mthe ship! and get the entire fleet back down here the battler is not as finished as we thought.' Adormange yells as the ship takes off toward the front lines. 'Tusanco we have company, our forces are starting to return to the lines and i will be upon your position soon. prepare for another assault.'
the comms are filled with static as a quiet voice comes through with nothing but a single word in [perfect clarity. 'Good'

An enormous disturbance in natural space opens behind the Reken and Dratherian fleets as Ships begin to translate into natural space once again their weapons charged and ready to open fire. The translating vessels carry three distinct markings. The first marking is of a howling wolf-man symbolizing Sternhammer and the original 13th wolfen fleet. The ships in this fleet are similarly painted in the Space wolf grey with tiger stripes of Dark Angels green. The second marking, a skeletal angel holding a sword in one hand and the other hand held out to block, a symbol unknown to Adormange, the symbol of Loki and the Second great company of Reken, the Death Bringers. Ships of this fleet are marked by a crimson red. The final symbol was that of a robed figure pulling himself from a fissure of space time like that of the warp. This third symbol also unknown to Adormange, the symbol of Azrael and the first great company of Reken, the Dark Ones. Ships of the third fleet were covered in black as if they had been eternally scorched by fire. Each fleet was lead by an Emperor Class battleship.
Once the three mighty fleets finished translating from the warp Halodrin contacts the lead ship of the wolfen reinforcements. ’ it is about damn time you decided to show up.’ He says with a hearty laugh. Looking out of his main view on the Spear of Russ, Sternhammer observes the state the battle had developed into. ‘It looks like I arrived just in time for the party.’ He replies. ’And I brought some friends.’ He finishes as the view screen is split into thirds the left side a being in a chair crackling with electrical currents. The right side of the screen showed a winged being in a chair, his face obscured by visible heat rising from vents all around the throne. ‘I’d like you to meet Loki and Azrael. The primarch leaders of the first and second great companies.

Each Fleet Contains:

2 Emperor Class battleships
10 Battle barges
27 Strike Cruisers (each carries 5 Thunderhawks each)
20 Lunar class cruisers
30 Sword class escorts
10 mars class battle cruisers
Innumerable starhawk fighter bombers
Total = 300 ships

Fleet specific ships: (In addition to above)

Emperor Class Battleships:
Sternhammer’s Flagship – The Spear of Russ
Loki’s Flagship – The Leviathan
Azrael’s Flagship – The Forgotten

Emperor Nova grimaced he grabbed the blade resting at his side. It was the sword that was a symbol of his office. He called out psychically to Mercer and said, Come with me you and the Dragon Guard will be my bodyguard. As far as they are concerned I am the leader. Mercer smiled, Agreed. Moments later Mercer landed on the Nova Sword His long cloak billowing over his jet black phantom armor. The specially crafted armor was worn by the Dragon Guard an ancient and timeless position of great respect in the military. Each possessing unknown levels of power and techniques but all sure to be the some of the finest in the four galaxies which the Imperium occupied. As the Shadow Chaser neared the Republic headquarters Mercer merely said, "Into the jaws of the Dragon huh?"

Lord Braze was pissed now. They would dare corrupt the holy world of the Omnissiah with their foul technologies. He called to the forces which had before rendered the enemy a respite, "All forces advance! Ordinatus take those flying monstrosities out of the sky! I want the rest of the titan legions mobilized! We offered them a chance for survival now let us leave them with no will! Also send word to the fleet to ready for orbital bombardment! We can play the same game as them! Allow the Dracian wounded and their soldiers respite I gave my word! Advance on all other enemy positions! Also I want you to get me the Fabricator General I believe it is time we unleash the Castigator! "

The forces of the Dratherians rallied with those of the Rekenians and cried their battlecry. The fierce sound would shake any enemy to their soul. The basilisks sounded to life the mighty boom of their cannons reaching deep into enemy territory. The diverse forces of the Imperium would again show their might. The Titans unleashed their massive weapons of destruction which reached onto titanic levels. Awesome blasts of plasma capable of wiping out entire regiments of soldiers flew forth.

Roy watched the Taledonia ships move through the shield unmolested. Finally something could be done! He could finally do something! The young Terran commander was felt incredible relief. Roy commanded the Dracian fleet forward confident the shield would not hinder him much longer.

Alozar set about organizing the survivors on the ground. The Black Company soldiers where still a problem those stubborn monsters refused to die, causing havoc almost as quickly as Alozar could extinguish the disorder.

Ahiezar sat up and spoke to Alozar through his helmets comms giving orders to his men.

Liadon roared in rage when he saw the Taledonia ships pass through. How dare they find a way in when he had not. He was absolutely furious he turned to one of the crew “Get Gorgoth’s ugly face on now!” the crewman turned to Liadon half his face looked like the muscles where trying to slide off his skull “... He is one the planet now and unable to speak to you.” This was not what Liadon wanted to hear, he expressed his anger by slamming his fist down on the control chair venting his rage on the inanimate object “How! How did he get down there!” the crewman didn’t react at all to Liadon’s rage and coolly replied “He used his ships teleporters to get down.” Liadon’s eyes widen “You have… teleporters. Why don’t you start sending yourselves down then!” the crewman shrugged as if he really didn’t know or care and turned back to watch the battle. Liadon grew extremely annoyed at this “I command you! Start bringing our men down! Now!” the crewman repeated the command to the fleet without acknowledging Liadon’s words.

Xavier winced as Gorgoth's flail crashed into his side the weapons digging into his ribs as he felt one snap. Reaching out he swung is sword in a sideways arc towards the center of Gorgoth's torso. He winced in pain as he wished that Xavier had been here. That big bastard would have dispatched this monster before now. This battle was as fierce as those he had fought against the Greater Daemons of Khorne the Bloodthirster. He called open to comms to Lord Helios, "Get me Xander I need his ass down here right now I don't know how much longer I can slug it out with this brute! And where the hell are Kailen and Thor dammit!?"

Lord Helios replied swiftly, "Lord Xander is enroute with the Halsia's Hammer and her battlegroup. We expect his forces momentarily. As for Lord Kailen he is already on the surface he of course brought the Hellfire with him. The Nova Barge landed on the surface with all hands aboard. Lord Thor is currently at Naval Command"

The Angel of Destruction that was his name...................On mighty pinions he soared through the sky his blackened wings making his demonic appearance darker........his eyes a bright vibrant color of red and ice blue. His katana held at his side strapped into his armor. He was shorter than many of his brothers but twice as fast and twice as strong standing at 11'4". He bore less psychic ability than most of his brethern short of Xander of course who bore very little. But his long black hair waved in the wind as he closed in on the battlefield. His objective was to find Lord Braze......

And as the enemy forces would approach to land they would meet heavy anti-aircraft fire shredding into the sky doing their best to avoid their own aircraft.

Spheres of blue arced high into the air, stretching from horizon to horizon, dragging a crackling and electrified tail as it went, and pounding the earth in a violent climax and end to their flight. Many of these did fly, and with unmatched rancor and force sent men and objects and earth in all directions without discrimination. And with them in the skies, but taking to the ground much more gracefully than their counterparts, were the TT-23 Troop Transports, eight in all, each farrying a compliment of seven legionaries, who upon making groundfall stormed from the vessels with fervant fury.

They were masterly, experts of the trade, gods of silver amongst the battlefield, their pulse rifles releasing untold heat in the form of plasma onto the enemy that was intermingled with the Dracian soldiers. Not even the mighty space marines could take more than a few blasts, and the rapid and continuous fire from the legionaries was enough to ensure a good perimeter was established around the transports that themselves unleashed blasts of plasma and slugs from their railcannons and blasters.

They sought out the Kaiser, for he was their main objective for evacuation. When they saw him sit up, they moved towards him. "Senator Ahiezar, sir. We have orders from Consul Germanicus himself to get you and your men out of here. The General is planning on bombarding this area completely to eradicate all enemy forces. As you can see we've already began. Come with me, sir, we must get out of here."

In space the forces of the Imperium battled over the space above the ensuing battle. Ships exploded in hellish fury but still the forces of the Imperium and their mighty gothic ships fought with intense rage at the insult done to them. The Imperium would not be subdued easily and this would be a bloody war. Should any of Dratheria's citizens be harmed intentionally the blood of Republic citizens would run free. The ground was littered with anti-air weaponry but they would not fire on any Dracian troops who did not engage them. Braze had given his word and as such it was kept.

Looking out across the battlefield Braze grimaced the new soldiers had caught a few of the novice marines by surprise and they were slaughtered. Still the Space marines pushed forward directing gouts of fire on the enemy force. He called over the comms, "Get the Ordinatus to the tunnels I want them secured and ready for our next assault. Also I want all Titans on the move as soon as possible leave me two Warlords and a Warmonger." Looking again across the field he grimaced this was going to get very bloody.....

(OOC: I'm still waiting for your delegation, Drath.)

Mercer sat silently in the rear of the Shadow Chaser. Her near indestructible armor keeping them safe. A few select individuals were allowed to use and retain one of these archeotype vessels. These were High Lords, Primarchs, the Emperor, and certain members of the mechanicum. Looking out at the mighty oceans of Aquaria he smiled as he knew things rested in those oceans that the Republic could never understand. The mighty Marine Dragons their awesome appearance rivaling that of most creatures.

He had once conquered the mighty King of the Marine Dragons Kirian. He had rode the dragon on it's massive wings through the skies of Aquaria over twenty thousand years ago. That was his first step in becoming the leader of all Dratherians. Although he knew not how long a Dratherian could live for he knew they were a timeless race. They could be killed but left to their own devices they could probably live indefinitely. Even though in many ways Dratherians were physically superior to most humans they still had that one thing that made them greater than all races in the universe. The on thing that could make them truly supreme. Compassion.

He looked down at the surface and remembered the mighty Library of Genesis it's forbidden knowledge still kept by the Dragon Guard. For in it's libraries and volumes held the secrets and answers to every question in the universe. The Dratherians had mastered all art forms but after their devastating wars he was probably the only one left alive. He smiled softly feeling his twin Angelic Magnums resting at his hips as he held the legendary blade Kusanagi in his hand. It was the first time he had held the blade in a many a year. It had taken him a great deal of time to recover from his change into the being known as the Ronwe. Truly Mercer couldn't even tell you how old he was. He had walked in Anatolia alongside the Emperor millenia ago.....he had also seen the Golden Imperium burn in flames as Horus turned on the Emperor showing his treachery. He knew things he could never share because no entity in this universe was ready for them.

He stood up his long black hair flowing onto his black cape. He strapped Kusanagi to his side and smiled. The blade pulsed with power as they neared the Republic's mighty fortress. He looked over at Emperor Nova and smiled, "Well old friend like I said before out of the fire and into the Dragon's Maw." Looking over at the other five members of the Dragon Guard he smiled their form fitting armor glistening like polished jewels, "Let us be ready this day friends. For today we may die..." All nodded in silent agreement. Looking over at the Emperor he said, "Are you sure you're ready for this? If they betray us then we will be surrounded by an army of soldiers.......Do you think you'll survive?" Ryan looked at him and said, "I pledged my loyalty to you over two centuries ago when you made me a Knight of Dratheria." Mercer laughed, "Well good to know someone remembers the old ways. That gene-seed therapy was rough on you. I recall that you barely survived you transformation. Of course we implanted a modified and very special gene-seed into your body. And it is what ties you constantly to the planet of Reken." Looking at Nova you could barely notice the fangs and ice blue eyes reminiscent of the Dark Wolves. However you could tell he was of their stock. Standing eight feet tall over Mercer who stood at a mere six foot height and of a much more massive build. Yet still Mercer knew he could best him in combat as he had done so many times before.

Nova nodded and stood up looking across the viewport as the pitch black shuttle finally landed he said, "Well let's get on with this now." Mercer and Nova were the first to step off the vessel ready for anything but not knowing what to expect.

The sky is filled with drop pods as the reinforcement fleet unleashes its payload. Two of the pods stray from the rest heading directly for the front lines. once the pods brach the lower poretions of the atmosphere the air above them is likewise filled with a combination of stormbirds and thunderhawks. For this was the way war was fought. the stray pods land not three hundred meters from xavier and open their side panels fall away like a wilting flower. Only one person emerges from each one The closer of the two reveals a being in armor of ice blue with a splatter of a red that remsembles dried blood. a Scythe in one hand and a barking bolter in the other. The second being was surounded in his daemonic like wings. the armor that could be seen looked like it had been schourched by massive fires. Wielding two Chain Axes that had been made in the forges of mars itself. Spreading his wings he sends men on each side of him flying into their comrades. He hacks one axe into the closest oponent only to bring the other blade down and severs him in twain.

Ahiezar saw the comeing Taldonia transports and commanded all troops to broad them so they could be carried to safety. As the Dracians headed for their ride to safety Ahiezar said “Dratherians I shall not forget the mercy shown here. You have proven very capable combatants and know haw to handle your enemies. It is with great pleasure I can say I’m glad to have known you.”

Gorgoth brought his wounded arm in front of the weapon. The Primarchs weapon cutting through the armor and digging into Gorgoth’s flesh until bone halted its progress. Gorgoth lashed out once more with his good arm slashing in an arc so that both his claws and flail where aimed at Xavier.

Then all the teleporters where ready and three groups of fifteen Black Companymen where sent down each into the flank of the newly arrived Reken forces. Liadon oversaw the teleporter on ‘his’ ship powering up again and when the next group of fifteen lumbered up Liadon glared at them shouting “NO! Send this instead.” In Liadon’s grip was a bomb, a sinister grin formed on Liadon’s face.

They fought with furious intensity, their highly advanced and powerful weaponry tearing through the Dratherian marines until they closed, where chainsword and energy blade were tested against each other, the raw power of the Space marines against the cunning of the legionaries who parried and feinted, then went in for the kill.

"Fall back to the transports! We have everyone ready for evac. This sector is to be cleared immeadiatly! Fall back!"

Germanicus, dressed in full battle dress, stood at the head of sixteen honor guard, whose dark and glowing armor stood in direct contrast to his bright and silver plate with golden clasps that held up a cloak of crimson on his back. He himself carried no weapon on his person, but the crackling energy halberds of his guard were enough to dissuade any attack.

"The Dratherian Emperor, I presume? Come, we have much to discuss."

He turned into his guard, a corridor between them forming. Leading them through the fortress, the signs of contruction were everywhere. Soldiers laid stone and mortar as expertly as masons. Beyond the wall, crews of men dug deep and wide trenches, pilling the dirt into another earthen wall, and placing steel spikes into the trench. Within the fortifications, cabins were under construction, several meters away from the walls to avoid being caught in artillery fire. All of it was a great pattern, one done again and again on countless worlds, during countless campaigns. A perfect field base.

But it was far from being completed, and so the briefing room of the landed starship would have to serve as the meeting area. Germanicus bid his guests sit around the circular table, his guard taking positions all around the room, staring at the Dratherian guards as they too took up positions to defend their leaders. Pressing a button, the Consul summoned a few servants bearing amphoras of fresh cut wine, cold meats, assorted cheese slices and small fruits that could be popped into the mouth with ease.

"Now then," he began, pausing only to take an appreciative sip of the wine set before him, "You were the one to call this parley, what do you have to say?"

Emperor Nova was not impressed he had stood in the court of great leaders and kings witnessed majestic and beautiful things. Impressive legions of guards had been held at attention when to leaders met. He smiled as he knew his Custodes still waited aboard the Shadow Chaser. Their mighty form was created from the gene-seed of the Emperor of Mankind himself. A compliment of sixteen stood at the ready there. The Dragon Guard was all he needed though at least here. Then glancing at the Angelic Magnums in their pristine beauty resting at Mercer's side he smiled remembering how powerful those weapons were in his hands if they needed to escape that would be their way out.

Ryan's armor shown a contrasting black with red trim fitted to his body. It was artificer armor that had been crafted for superior protection and speed. On his chest rested the Imperial Aquilla while on his shoulder guard rested the seal of Dratheria in vibrant color. The blade at his side was an ancient force sword forged on Mars. Standing tall he looked at Germanicus and said, "I wish to know what has brought you to bring war on my people. I have not wronged your people in any way. I am a noble and just leader and had sent forces to aid you. While you may not have liked the Holy Inquisitor and Peras' approach to the stiuation we did not lay a finger on your people. we merely fought the Yngir. So yet again I ask what we did to have you bring war upon us?"

On the surface the Marine scontinued to drag on and fight with all their might while the Dracians were off limits the Black Company and other Republic soldiers that had engaged them were fair game.

Releasing his grip on his sword he felt ceramite plate tear away from his armor as the claws cut through to try to grasp flesh. Doing an impressive black flip he landed on the ground with a groundshaking impact. He winced and clutched at his chest in agony he was feeling his psyker power drain away. This was his singular weakness if he exerted his psychic powers too much he would begin to weaken physically. As the mighty god-like giant dropped to one knee he yelled in defiance punching the ground send thousands of diamond hard ice shards cutting their way towards Gorgoth.

In space the mighty battle barge Halsia's Hammer ripped it's way free from warp space and aboard it the mighty Xander Darkthrope stood fourteen foot tall on his bridge. He was very muscular with long golden hair and blue eyes. He had bone plates on his shoulders, feet, shins, hands, forearms, chest, backbone, and abdomen each as strong as ceramite. A few stray shards poked through over his eye. He smiled looking down at the surface as he got into the teleporter. In an instant and a flash of energy had Xander on the surface. He stepped up shaking the ground as he walked. Drawing the mighty eight foot sword Mortifer from his back he gripped it staring at Gorgoth.

Ahiezar would hear the voice of Braze in his head, Good-bye it was good to have met you warrior and I would be proud to call you friend someday.

"You have done nothing to us?" Germanicus intoned menacingly, rising slowly from his chair now. "You have done nothing to us? You have insulted the sovereignty of the Republic! I do not care if you came with good intentions, you disobeyed the authorities of the sector in every command they gave, and led an assualt upon our world! It may have not been against the people of the Republic, but it was waged upon our lands, which is just the same as attacking a Republican citizen. You have gravely offended us, and spit upon our boarders and therefor our sovereignty! We must defend the honor, the boarders, and the dignity of the Republic, and I shall see all this done by the conquest of those who have wronged us."

He took a large drink, draining his goblet and then passed it to be refilled. Satisfied, he sat once again. "I offer you a choice, which can be made at any time from here on in, to facilitate the inevitable. Surrender your title, your powers and your lands to the Republic; submit Dratheria to the control of the Senate and People of the Republic. Save the lives of your people, and submit freely. Do not, and I shall simply take it all in the end anyways, but only after your armies all lie dead, and your fleets are in ruin, and any others who oppose righteous rule struck down. Save your people, Emperor, it is your duty as their leader to do what is best for them."

Ryan stood up and said, "The Imperium never surrenders! We serve the mighty Emperor of Mankind a living god!" Pulling the massive power sword from his side and slamming it on the table he continued, "We stand as the vanguards of humanity against the darkness a light in a dark night. We will fight to the last man to remain so. For you face not an army of patriots! You face an army of holy warriors!" He looked Germanicus straight in the eye saying, "We would ally ourselves with you because your warriors have proven to be noble and just. However we will never submit to anyone ruling over us. Even if I surrendered the people would never do so." Ryan began to get upset and his battle plate seemed to groan as he flexed his muscles. Suddenly faster than anyone could see Mercer was standing before him and had put him in his chair saying, "Emperor control yourself!" He turned to Germanicus and said, "I am sorry but he is prone to uncontrollable rages like the very wolf-like space marines who currently relentlessly attack your forces.

Stepping forward he said, "I am a Dratherian. I am different from every other being in the Imperium. Most importantly I have lived longer than you could ever hope to. There are things on this planet and throughout the Centurion Galaxy that you could not hope to understand. There are also tomes of knowledge that would cause to cry in utter terror and tear your own eyes out. Words of such power that it would make your blood freeze in your veins while you still breathed. Words that would cause your eyes to melt away in your socket. Words that could bring the ultimate feelings or happiness. Or words that could bring your worst fears to life. I tell you this because you must understand what the Dratherians are. We are the beginning however these are humans you battle now and they alone will be the end." Stepping forward he smiled, "We propose an alliance a unity of nations. But we will not submit to your rule. And I will personally guarantee you that should you try to impose your rule you will never truly beat the Imperium at least not with my help."

"Do not weave fairy-tales and lore," the Consul waved of the words of the Dratherian, "I believe none of it. You are not the beginning, nor can you truly be an all wise race. Any species that can live for great periods of time would not find the need to advance very quickly in their infant years, prefering to live in modest luxury in their primitive surroundings, not needing to advance to survive. That is what makes those with short life spans superior to those with long, with the exception of the Gods who are indeed all mighty, and who started the universe proper. You and say all you want about ancient curses and horrors, but it means nothing to me. We Taledonians, direct children of the Gods, have been in existance most likely just as long as your race, but I did not come here to discuss history."

"There will be no alliance, never will the Republic settle for a quarter-victory, for such a thing is a defeat. I will wage war and bring you to your knees if you refuse to submit. But seeing as how you haven't the good sense as of yet, then our business is over." He stood and gestured with his hand to the door behind the guests, disdaining a little at the broken table. "My guard will escort you back to your transport."

Ahiezar heard the message and tried projecting his own thoughts back I agree, it saddens me that we must meet on the field of battle but our people will not remember you as enemies. Hopefully this will all end without too much pointless killing.
Ahiezar was among the rest of the survivors road the transports back to safety. Alozhar came up to Ahiezar asking “Kaiser, what is your plan concerning the Black Company?” Alozhar looked tired yet determined, for him this was his first real battle and he was taking it better than Ahiezar expected.
“We shall discuss that with the rest of the generals and the King. But I would rather leave here and capture that worm Liadon.”

Gorgoth saw two opponents. It didn’t matter to him; the man in him was gone replaced by the monster. The monster didn’t care if it was one man or one hundred all it wanted to do was kill, and kill it would. The shower of crystal shards struck him, they annoyed him. While the monster could feel cuts caused by those little slivers it didn’t care through the red haze it saw two men, live things to kill. It didn’t matter if he was cut in half he would kill! With an insane roar he swung his good arm attempting to hit both men with a single swing from his oversized flail the attack fast and powerful. With his other arm he struck out at the downed Xavier attempting to kill, this arm was badly damaged by two deep cuts and it moved slow (at least compared to his normal speed) and moving it caused the blood to gush out more but the monster didn’t care… it only cared about killing.
Liadon cried out “NOW!” and three bombs where teleported smack dab in the Drathian forces, spaced to cause maximum damage they detonated as soon as the appeared. Liadon watched the screen and cackled when the bombs went off relaxing in his throne-like chair he said “Oh I how I love to crush the insolent so! It is marvelous!” Liadon might as well have said it to himself, all the crewmen where focusing intently on the battle, just watching it tickled their killing drive.

As the bombs exploded Loki turns to face them and sends a psychic blast back at the approaching wall of fire stopping it dead before it hits the reken line. Azrael leaps into the air toward the newly arrived legion members, his wings carrying him there with ease. as he lands in front of them he folds his wings as they absorb into his back till they are little more than slight bumps on his armor. flexing his muscles a small trickle of napalm drops to the ground under him.

After deflecting the blast Loki heads directly for the opposite flank as Azrael, making his presence known to anyone with even the slightest presence in the warp. The original reken force falls back as the reinforcements filter through them allowing a respite to their battle brothers. As the marines move through the lines they open fire on the front lines of the enemy.

Mercer grinned softly and said to Germanicus, "What you speak of in it's infancy is the Imperium.........I ruled the Grand Republic of Dratheria.......and I can guarantee you we were one of the first beings in existence." With that said mighty pure white angel wings ripped from his back and he smiled again, "We were known as the Arcorans an ancient race of warrior demons that turned against Astaroth in the war and were granted the gifts of Angels. In return for our service in His divine armies we were granted our wish to become mortal. Once here we became obsessed with amassing all the knowledge that we possibly could which is why such things as I stated exist." Stepping forward he grabbed the force sword from the broken table and threw it to Ryan who caught it and attached it to his hilt. As the Dragon Guard left Mercer only smiled and said, "I think it was a human in the old Imperium that said, 'Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane.' So by you human I will gladly be called insane. If you want a war then we will give you a war. It can be fought on many fronts you know."

Stepping froward he saw a guard glare at him. Standing near the poor guard he flexed his muscles and a three foot blade extended from his forearm and he said, "Don't even think about it." As they boarded the Shadow Chaser Mercer looked at Nova and smiled, "Well I guess it's time for me to start enacting plans." Mercer opened a tightbeam transmission to the world of Salvorus, "Master Rex I need the assistance of your Raven Guard." Then another transmission went out to Kivpa, "Ready your men it's time we take the war to new fronts."

Xavier tried to put up a barrier to deflect the claws but he found his psychic strength was not enough. The temperate climate had gotten to him and he was now weakening for it. Looking up at the claws hemanaged to throw himself out of the way just in time.

Xander laughed as the flail came at him and said, "Alright let's dance tiny." As the flail came at him he wrapped it up onto the massive weapon that was Mortifer as it flared with golden arcs of energy. He smiled and said, "Let's rock this place." He pounded the ground with his fist sending sonic shockwaves outwards from his sonic gauntlet. The force of which caused a crater to form around them making him laugh with joy, "I'll be pleased to add this toy and your head to my collection." He charged at the beast Gorgoth sending forth a mighty and powerful fist.

Potanic System, New Eternal Galaxy

Deep underground on the planet Pilinor thousands of stasis pods filled vaults shielded with all manner of devices. Psycurium enwrapped the massive underground labs to protect from sorceries of any kind while shielding systems created an electronic cloak around the complex that had been dubbed the Anthill.

Here Archmagos Genetus Wilic watched the various Genetors of his labs tend to the vast stores of Gene-seed. This was one of a few worlds to hold such stores and labs. It was also one of the most secret. In the thousands of stasis tubes lie ancient warriors who had fought in countless wars. The Space Marines of the Righteous Vanguard and the Heaven's Hammers rested in slumber. Found centruies ago drifting in space after Falx Carius had mysteriously dissappeared. Supposedly one of the original twenty Primarchs he had come to rest far out of the light of the Imperium and started his own Empire. After hearing word of the Emperor he travelled to the Imperium in search of his father but found merely a shell suspended in the moment of death. He contacted the Dratherians as they searched to rebuild the Imperium.

By all accounts and records to the Imperium Falx had disappeared and had never been found. However Wilic had decided it was of importance that his location be kept secret. He was currently resting in the deepest most protected of vaults waiting for the day when he would be needed again. The reason for the slumber was told in a message. Falx had felt he had failed the Emperor's will and he and his Marines had subjugated themselves to stasis slumber through the void till they were one day needed again. Till then they rested.

Wilic stepped across the catwalk looking at the forms of the some two thousand Marines that had been found with Xavier on Glaciare. His Legion rested here. He was under strict orders not to release these Marines under any circumstance because the escaped Xavier alone was dangerous enough. of course there had been reports that Xavier had managed to create some four hundred marines in his travels. In the nearby system of Blackor rested their fleets. The Ice Phantoms fleet was small holding but some ten vessels. Also held in hidden docks rested the some two thousand strong fleet that belonged to Falx.

As he took the turbolift to another area of the Anthill he thought to himself of the war in his home galaxy. It must be truly horrible to witness the slaughter and bloodshed brought by the titanic armies battling there. He had even heard word of two new Primarchs appearing on the battlefield bearing the sigils of Rekenian forces. He was intrigued and much desired a sample of their genetic code.

Walking in his enclosed walkway he watched as the Magos attended to the Primarchial labs. They were in the process of research into a new Primarch although whether it would bear fruit or not remained to be seen. After walking down more levels into an old and now unused portion of the Anthill he looked around to make sure he was alone. Chanting an ancient prayer and pulling a few switches he smiled as a hidden set of doors opened.

Walking though a hidden set of doors he found himself in a holy room surrounded by seals of purity and warding. This room held a solitary incubation tube and a bunch with a rather substantial genetics lab off to the side. It had been kept secret from the Inquisition because of what they were trying to create. Staring into the tube rested a new being a Primarch of sorts. He looked at the readings to make sure it was within tolerable levels. He caught a quick movement out of the corner of his eye and swore he had just seen the being inside staring at him. It felt as if he had been burning a hole into his soul. They had been trying to complete this project for centuries but had met too many failures. He stared at the dark form of the Primarch and looked away. The eyes were not even open yet. Looking at the machinery once again he was pleased with the project. They had retained much of the Emperor's genetic material. Although the Emperor's true fate was still unknown his material had proved to be stable and consistent.

He watched as the readings seemed to spike for just a moment. Staring at the tube he knew it was impossible for the Primarch to be alert but still......he passed it off as a moment of paranoia and continued his work. After finishing the scans and processing the data he needed he turned to leave the room. As the door closed the three eyes of the Primarch opened...........

Dark vessels departed the docks of the planets Lycor, Osiris, and Volcania. They were full of mad beasts and they could be called nothing else for they were no longer men. No there was one other word. Monsters. Things drawn from the deepest nightmares of humanity. Driven only to kill they howled and raged in their cells while their Wardens watched them with care. They were black ships to be sure. Their mighty armored prows piercing the void. The vessels were dark running no lights at all. Their cloaking shields engaged they ripped themselves into the warp heading for new and unknown destinations. Their cargo though would be sure to illustrate the barbaric side of the Imperium which the Republic lovingly pointed out.

DRATHERIAN SYSTEM, 40 MILES FROM TERRA

The battle raged, as both the Imperium and Republic wrestled for control of the galaxy with sword and bullet. Millions on each side died, as the firestorm of battle claimed them.

It was a shame that they're death's would never be mourned, instead, each life would be tossed away needlessly.

Such a waste, thought Primarch Nathaniel of the Soul Hunters, as he watched the drama unfold on his capital ship, The Emperor's Malice.

The primarch's armor was pearl white, emblazoned with the fire-bursts of red, that represented the legions guardian, the Soul-Drake. All of the 150,000 Space Marines, that consisted the legion, shared the same armor design. Acoording to the Chaplains, the design was made so that the enemies of mankind would know who they were fighting....

And that their soul's would be rended for all eternity.
A smile crossed the Primarch's handsome, but gentle face, Giving him the expression of an angelic executioner. He had proven himself and his legions worth on the battlefield countless times.

But this! This was a true test of the Soul Hunters power.

Nathaniel had already informed his fellow battle-brothers of the upcoming battle, and the entire legion was his to command.

The thumbed the Vox-Comm that was built into the Battle-Barges bridge.

"Attention Primarch Pera's", Nathaniel boomed "We have arrived to assist, what would you have us do?"

Peras smiled slightly another Primarch brother was here. One he did not know but he knew they came from the same gene-code looking out across the way with his warp sight he opened a tightbeam transmission back, "Welcome brother! Mercer foretold your coming. A lost brother of the Imperium we battle for our lives here. However this is not where your men and yourself will do battle. At least not this day. Johnathon Mercer awaits your arrival at the planet Salvorus in the western frontier of this the Centurion Galaxy. Take your fleets there and you will join forces with the Raven Guard and the Hunters of Darkness. Once there you will also meet your brother Kivpa Hekis. There you will be briefed on the next course of action. Believe me you will see greater battles and gain greater honor when you join up with Mercer and our brother Legions."

Nathaniel smiled.
"Of course!" he replied "we'll rendezvous with the other legions and begin the crusade, Nathaniel out!"

The primarch strode towards the elevator that led towards the Battle-bay and towards his waiting brothers.

The elevator was vast, built to support the weight of hundred marines that would travel up and down the battle barge's steely interior. It had no light's, as the battle-brothers had superb night vision, a condition had baffled even the most astute Medicae technician's.

Nathaniel pressed a button, the machine humming in reply as the platform took him down toward the marine quarters.

Nathaniel turned to his left, and saw a pair of red eyes that pierced the darkness of the elevator.

"Do you think they'll know, brother?" asked a voice.

Nathaniel his back to the marine. "Yes Traetos, I believe in time, they'll find out our curse and our blessing."

The primarch removed a portion of his armor that covered his neck. Ensribed within the flesh of the primarch (as well as the rest of his battle brothers), was an 8 pointed star.

The sign of evil....

OOC: HAH! Bet you didn't see that coming! To better understand this plot twist, I bring you...

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOUL HUNTERS!!!! pt.1

Towards the end of the year 40,000, the forces of Chaos was running out of troops, and supplies. One of the initiatives to regain their numbers, was the Darkstar project, headed by Fabius Biles' most closest assistant, Demoraggh. Demoraggh suggested with enough gene-seed, Chaos could create their own legion. It took 100 years, but Demoraggh finally completed project Darkstar, in which he created a fighting force of 2000 Chaos Marines, which he called the "Children of Hell". Abaddon was evidently pleased with the result's, and quickly sent a convoy over to pick up the newborn marines. But When the black legion got there, they had found a wasteland. The lab's and barracks had been destroyed, The weapons had been taken, and the scientists had been killed. Worst of all, was the fate of Demoraggh, who was found cowering in the Medical room, and repeating "My Soul" over and over again.
The escaped marines did not show up for another 60 years, and when revealed themselves, they did not refer to themselves by their old name.
They called themselves, the Soul Hunters.

Gorgoth took the hit, flung backward by the blow he landed on his feet recovering quickly. He pulled with his tremendous strength on his flail eager to get it back so he could continue wielding it. He once again brought up his other arm the wrist mouted gun spewing plasma fire in a cone towards the enemy. Painfully Gorgoth half-roared half-wheezed “Then let the killing begin!”

Roy felt he could finally breathe. Ahiezar had just established contact informing him of their situation. Ahiezar then asked “What has been done about the Black Company?”
“Black what?” was Roy’s ignorant response.
Shocked Ahiezar responded “Are you that ignorant about our people Terran!? The fleet of spiked black ships, they are the Black Company.”
Roy seemed to just notice their existence for the first time “Oh those ships, the other Dracians have been in a uproar since their arrival but I put them off to try and take care of the shields.”
Now Ahiezar was furious “You fool! They Black Company heralds a grim fate for everyone. Those ships are full of warriors of terrifying power, and they live to kill. They must be our first priority!”

At about this time the ground trembled as Liadon had another bomb teleported down along with two more groups of Black Company soldiers.

The Imperium was a vast and powerful entity holding itself together merely by the technologies used to create it. The webway of the Imperium was extensive to say the least it was this webway that would take the Soul Hunters to the Neboron Expanse. It's nebulous fields making navigation nigh impossible without the webway. In the center rested the world Salvorus now the current homeworld of the Raven Guard. Here in orbit around the world rested the Hunter's Lair the fortress-monastery of the Hunters of Darkness Space Marine Legion and her extensive strike force. These ships had been drawn away from Aquaria for a specific purpose the mighty ships of the Mantis Warriors had taken their place.

It was on the surface of Salvorus in the great monastery of the Raven Guard that Nathaniel would meet his brother as well as the legendary warrior John Mercer. Kivpa stood roughly twelve foot tall in his jet black artificer armor as he moved it was completely silent and seemed to be free moving allowing him total mobility. His short black cropped hair showing his military appearance but at the same time showing the features on his face which represented perfection. Mercer's six foot tall athletic frame belied his incredible warrior's prowess. It was he that had battled Remiel De Draken the Primarch of the Nelo Angelus Chaos Space Marine Legion on the surface of Baal and had forced him to retreat. Mercer stood at the dock waiting for the arrival of the Soul Hunters his Phantom Armor allowing him the movement and feel of a stealth suit with the protection offered by Terminator Armor. Such armor was so rare that it was only given to a select few. He stood at the ready beside Kivpa who were backed by honor guards from both the Raven Guard and the Hunters of Darkness. And so they waited for the Primarch Nathaniel to arrive.

Primarch Nathaniel walked through the halls of the fortress monastery, the Emperors Malice had already docked, and the battle borthers aboard the ship was getting ready for war. Nathaniel was followed by his Legions greatest warriors, The Soul Rippers. Although they looked like normal space marines, the rippers could move at unnatural speeds, and cleave their opponents with one sweep of their power axes. Some witnesses of their fighting strength, said they had the grace of a butterfly, but the ferocity of a bezerker.

Nathaniel was equipped with Terminator armor, making him look more like a tank, rather than a god among men. He was armed a Power claw that enlarged his fist triplefold, and a Daemon sword, called the sword of a thousand souls.

Nathaniel had wrenched it from the corpse of a Chaos Lord, on Sagitar VI. The inquisition had launched protest of course, and it had taken masterful diplomacy on Nathaniel's part to calm their fears. What the Inquisition didn't know, was that Nathaniel could control the daemon inside and bend it to it's will. All Soul Hunters had a slight link to Chaos, but the original 2000 had "Special" connections ro their former masters. Some of the "originals", had problems with their psyche. Once a battle-brother had gone crazy on the battle-field and sang praises to khorne, and it had taken years to restore his psyche. Similar incident's had kept plaguing the legion for decades, before the apothecaries were forced to install implants, that kept the influence of chaos at bay.

But that was in the past, thought Nathaniel.

It was time for a whole new future

Nathaniel entered the room where his brother Primarch's were, and caught a glimpse of Mercer and Kivpa.

He bowed down, and made the sign of the Aquila.

"Hello my brothers," Nathaniel boomed "I have arrived at last."

Looking up at the sky loki states 'i can hear you down here my brethren' Looking back at the scene of carnage that was the battle field he began the long trek through the tide of enemy bodies that blocked him from the leader. swinging his scythe through the thick in front of him cleaving them in half. Azrael on the other hand skillfully flew over the enemy picking them up at random and casting them high into the air just to watch them fall upon their own comrades like human wrecking balls. when he was not grabbing people he opened a satchel around his waist and let micro grenades fall from it at will.

The shielding around the main gate dropped, the great gate of titanium, matching the material of the high walls that now stood on the landscape of Aquaria, opened with a groan. It was a double door, so they moved outwards, and in the opening crevice that continued to grow as the gates swung open one could see the interior of the camp. The thousands upon thousands of wooden frames being erected, dressed stone being layed around those that were completed. But shortly after, this scene was obscurred by the behemoth machines that moved out of the fortification. Four Óðinn marched out, the mighty giants of war moving to the frontlines to match the strength of the Dratherian titans that were observed in the previous battle the Dracians had begun. It wasn't known how many more they had, but those that had been in the first battle were most likely destroyed now, considering the fleet had bombed the area, and the artillery at the new ground fort had pounded the location mercilessly.

Banners and pennants fluttered below the legs of the beasts as the legions began to march out. The red backgrounds with a black "X" marked on it, a golden laurel wreath encircling it. This was the Tenth legion, and it moved out with all the glory of the Republic. Even though they weren't even as tall as the feet of the Óðinns, they all appeared to be silver colossus, their battle armor polished to a gleam, the helmets giving no facial characteristics, ensuring that they lookedlike clones, the very image of stoicism. They moved in a long line, forwards from the base, towards the capital city of the planet. It would fall before the end of the day.

OOC Sorry I had to do disaster relief for the National Guard so I've been busy.

The armies of the Imperium had mostly pulled back resorting to using armor on the soldiers of the Black Company using searing Lascannons the Imperial Guard could take care of this threat but still Xander and Gorogth fought against each other mercilessly. Xander laughed as the plasma cut through parts of his armor only to fall on the armored bone plates on his body and said, "Is this the best you can offer?" Pulling free the heavy bolter strapped at his side he unleashed the hellish fury of the 1.00 calibre rounds. His massive strength allowing him to use his modified heavy bolter as a Space Marine would use a bolter rifle. Smiling he pushed forward with incredible speed belying his massive form. Picking up the massive blade Mortifer he swung it at Gorgoth's neck.

Mercer looked at Nathaniel and said, "Good we will prepare to begin operations soon." Moments later Kivpa Mercer and Nathaniel would find themselves in the TOC (Tactial Operations Center) in the great fortess-monastery. "Currently I have released control of the Flesh Tearers, Blood Angels, and Space Wolves legions. Their Legion masters guarantee compliance of a number of Republic worlds in little time. If you could not already discern that is our job we will go on the offensive. Our stealth technology surpasses that of many other races. Recently I have thought to contact certain outside forces for aid however they are still just thoughts. It is time for us to strike however while their forces are intent on the battle for Aquaria."

Walking over to a holomap he presents the map saying, "Now it is time to decide where our forces can best be deployed."

What the enemy would find at the mighty city of Greconum was a heavily armed and fortified fortress. It's walls mounted might ship based weaponry in armor turrets built into the city walls and towers. Nova Cannons were targetted and readied in defense as Lance Batteries also powered on. The fortress city would not fall easily. In fact in all the history of the Imperium and the Dratherian Republic the city had never been taken.

Missiles screamed through the air towards the giant citadel with no end in sight. Thousands upon thousands of them, each carrying a payload capable of reducing a mountain to a dusty desert. The Óðinns stood poised, facing the forge worlds great city. The missile pods on their shoulders continueing the hailstorm of ballistic weaponry. They had incredible range, and would allow them to stay out of the way of any returning fire, unless the enemy advanced, that was. The great cannons their wielded, which could punch clean through to the core of a planet in a matter of minutes were close up weapons, and thus remained silent. Above the colossal figures flew the artillery rounds, great seering balls of blue energy which arched high into the air and came crashing back to earth in a mealstrom, everything aimed at the citadel.

At the feet of the great machines knelt the legionaries of the Tenth legion. They had set up a square, with interior walls, creating a fortress of men, all ready to unleash their own weapons upon anything stupid enough to approach while their big brothers and support guns were busy levelling the citadel of Greconum. This was necessary, for intelligence had showed that the fortress had heavy weapons, and if they entered in too close, those guns would tear the legion to pieces.

Overhead, the sillouhettes of starships could be seen as the fleet awaiting within the useless shield began to descend over the city. This force could withstand the gunds of the citadel, and could pound it, and any other points within the city deemed to be a thread, until it was but glass. The sky roared with the echoe of their great engines, and even louder as the cannons opened up. While Lucianus held the Dratherian fleet on the other side of the planet, the Sixth fleet had free reign over the continent.

OOC Now Tal remember I'm not an idiot my fleet is over the capitol city do you think we would offer you that much ground? And if you read close the battle between the Dracians and myself was not far from the capitol.

IC
The mighty shields of the citadel held firm against the assaults powered by the geothermal energy of the planet. The energy crackling as it absorbed impact after impact but the Mechanicum knew they would not hold firm forever but would buy the time necessary. And the mighty Nova Cannons and Lance Batteries would not be stopped by the distances the enemy war machines tried to put between them. Mighty weapons designed to destroy massive starships with a single blast were unleashed with hellish fury at the distant enemy forces. Their range unparalleled by any mobile weapon's platform. Even the mighty Titans, Knights, and Sentinels inside the city stood in silent awe of the sheer power the city boasted. If the enemy wanted the city they would have to take it by force.

The waiting fleets of the Imperium were not as foolish as the Republic thought. As the Republic's ships descended into the atmosphere they were pummeled by mighty bombardment cannons and a number of other heavy weaponry. Assailing them from high ground in space their weapons were to an advantage adding the momentum of gravity to their salvos. Lance batteries delicately targeted releasing deadly blasts to vulnerable points detected in the vessel's shielding. Even on the surface mighty turrets built into the crenulated walls housed Lance batteries that would strike at the attacking ships while torpedoes and heavy missiles unleashed from underground silos. Still the Republic would feel the feral fury of the Imperium.

On the surface Lord Braze stood in a command bunker far below the city commanding teams of the Mechanicum to delicate tasks. They tended to the ancient and mighty weapon resting in it's silo. A weapon created by humans from another galaxy and stolen into the care of the Imperium's more radical Mechanicum leaders. It's mighty power drawn from the mighty generators below it. Lord Braze watched as the silo doors opened and the armored turret began to rise from the earth......

(OOC: In the interests of saving this thread getting confusing, please create a new thread for your counter-attack. And when doing so, please do not assume that your drop pods would reach the surface without check. There are thousands of defence systems in orbit of every planet in the Niss system, and at the first sight of those things they would be ripped to shreds, not only that but the various fleets in orbit would be alerted to your presence and begin to do deep scans and locate your vessels.

It's just not polite to give no way for the other to respond effectively.)

Seeing the attack as the missiles flew over his head Azrael swoops low and lands on the ground casting many away as he lands.
-Brother, return to the ship and prepare for the final sweep, i am going to deal with the air.-
-The emperor protects.-Responds Loki as Azrael signals the AA weaponry in the LZ to open fire as flak rounds enter the seemingly never-ending hail of missiles.

-First squad prepare for flight.-Azrael commands as he leaps back into the air and is accompanied by a assault squad. Beating his wings he propells himself toward the source of the missiles.

Slicing through enemies as he heads back toward his own lines and soon the LZ he switches chanels on his vox. -Captian this is commander Loki, Contact Thor's Hammer and have them in orbit immediately.-

OOC But Tal Reken and I know the true face of war and well frankly it's not polite. But I will concede to some of the Drop Pods being destroyed. By the way a deep scan won't cut through my cloaking technology. Also I could say the same of you and your allies and Aquaria. A core world so easily landed on? I think not and Drop Pods deploy faster than most transports. Here's a link (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13302912) to the new thread.

IC
The Imperium was an animal enraged by the forces assailing it. In space massive armored battleships took to close in fighting using thousands of weapons batteries in addition to hundreds more torpedoes and the mighty ship destroying weapons mounted on the deadly vessels. While other vessels attempted to use their armored prows to ram themselves into enemy vessels. As vessels exploded in glorious displays of fire and plasma many more cried out in defiance unleashing hellish volleys against their enemies.

The citadel was alight with heavy ship based weaponry lighting up the planet's surface and sky as starships pummeled the Republic Sixth Fleet with heavy fire. This was the truth of war. An art but at the same time the most primal and brutal of instincts.

However the Imperial Guard was not without it's own specialized weaponry to fight the enemy war machines. A hundred Deathstrike Missile Launchers were poised to fight hundreds of miles away from the continent on a distant chain of islands. They had been strategically deployed there for use of their plasma powered enhanced Deathstrike Missiles. The ICBMs set off at high speed from their chassis' and proceeded to the locations of the enemy war machines loaded with an archaic ordnance. The nuclear ordnance would arm at twenty miles from the target. And they were on their way.

In Dratheria, Callis Yalltar received the information. Niss was under attack (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13306972&). Under his administration, no less. A disaster, to say the very least. He would risk much, if the Dratherians could dig in, and were not swept off the face of the world immediately. He swore.

"Tell Germanicus to take command of my fleet. I will take the Fourth Velox Imperia to Taledon. I will ensure that the defense of the Republic cannot be compromised."

(OOC: Drath, I meant polite in the sense of you not going by the RPing ettiquette generally accepted by NS, but I won't get into a debate about that, you and HT seem to have already settled that. However I will comment that I thought your fleet was on the other side of the planet, considering we appeared there first and you seemed to engage us...then I showed up with my reserve fleet and descended through your shield, which would be below your fleet even if you were on the same side....hey, I like that idea...)

IC:

Silly cretins. Perhaps they had height to their advantage when dealing with the sixth fleet, but now they had the massive armada of Lucianus above them, and the powerful fleet of Germanicus below them, sandwhiching them and spraying them with unending fire. It was obviously a tactical blunder, unless they had some ace up their sleeve. One that would cost them dear indeed.

The giant warmachines danced through the air as they charged the fortress, taking advantage of the long distance to easily dodge the incoming return fire, but still taking quite a few hits to their thick hides. They charged closer and closer, the gap between the two opposing sides closing quickly, and the giant cannons the beasts wielding opening up now in their turn, being in range. With these, the fortress would be rubble before long.

All at once the reken fleet mobilizes as another ship is destroyed in the sandwich. At full power into the upper atmosphere.
'Charge the bombard cannons!' Calls Capitan Halodrin calls as he takes the navigation seat. Being a former fighter pilot he begins to weave the massive emperor class battleship through the fleet back to the front. 'I want a firing solution and the fleet better keep up!' he calls again as the ships accelerates once again.

The ships in orbit were taking heavy fire opening full broadsides on both fleets. These were not just standard cruisers easily able to match enemy vessels they were capital ships some of the finest produced. Battle Barges opened up full salvoes on the enemy as the Rekenian ships closed in to aid them but the ace in the sleeve was to come soon. So soon in fact that they had been waiting in cloak. Over a hundred vessels of the Ordo Malleus decloaked and unleashed their fury on the fleet Lucianus had commanded. Their weapons and shielding far better than even the most advanced Space Marine vessels. The Grey Knights had arrived and their awesome might was evident. The Lances and Nova Cannons unleashed were far more powerful than those previously encountered by the Republic. Designed to destroy the daemonships and Chaos vessels so commonly employed by the Chaos Legions of Chronosia.

The Citadel still stood strong but the mighty shields showed signs of failing soon. The mighty lance batteries opening fire on the enemy War Machines even as the Nova Cannons fired at point blank range. Heavy weapons unleashing volley after volley. Melta Cannons and Battle Cannons and fire designed to level Legions opened fire at once directing their devastating firepower at the enemy War Machines.

As the armored turret oriented it's fire to the fleet in the atmosphere. It wasn't an Imperium weapon. Never before was it designed and the technology was utterly alien to the Mechanicus even though it had been created by humans elsewhere in the Universe. As it powered up it fired a sharp green laser struck out towards the enemy vessels. This weapon was the 'Superlaser' captured by the mechanicum and as it fired Lord Braze spit in disgust cleaving off bits of flessh from his hands for allowing such heresy to take place but it had been done to save the Imperium.

(OOC: Deathstar?)

(OOC: Eclipse-style superlaser. Drath told me to tell you.)

OOC Um Tal the weapon is oriented spacewards not towards my own planet. So your whole post there was pointless.

(OOC: Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. I don't know what I was thinking, I shall rectify this problem immeadiatly, with a completely new post!)

IC:

It was the Inextinguishable Star that took the hit of the super laser, the weapon cleaving twaine the shielding and splitting asunder the hull that was made as if cheese before a ten megaton nuclear warhead. It shot straight up, taking a smaller frigate along with it that was equally unlucky to be just over the beam, disintegrating fully.

Fire and thick, black smoke shot straight up from the gapping hole in the middle of the Patrician destroyer, and the remaining sectors of it began to course with electromagnetic pulses. Any semblance of order was lost on the doomed vessel, as all systems failed simultaneously. But it was this failure that would bring about a great victory for the Tenth legion, as it disabled vessel began to drift through the air, picking up immense speed as it tumbled, straight towards the Dratherian citadel. Such a massive construct, even if missing a large section of its middle, would surely obliterate the structure, and the remaining warheads onboard would be detonated as well. The only thing that would stop this from occuring would be another direct blast from the superlaser, however if that were to occur, the thing would surely overheat. This, in turn, would give a quick explosion that would down the weapon and level a large portion of what was around it. If it didn't go on its own, the fleet was prepared to quickly make it so.

Lucianus nodded in approval as he watched the dance between his and the Dratherians' forces play out on the grand holoscreen before him. They had succeeded in goading the Dratherians to another level.

On his orders, the fleet did not directly engage the Dratherian warships as they advanced, but drew the lumbering war barges and capital ships on, evading them as they sought close combat and staying out of reach of all but their lances and nova cannons; the myriad shorter-range weapons platforms the great ships carried, that would have been devastating to Lucianus' ships had he granted them close-range combat, were rendered insignificant by the Republicans' fluid tactics. The massive Imperial and Protectorate battlecruisers and the nimble Patrician destroyers melted before the Dratherians' charge, pounding them with long-range weaponry; as the center of the fleet gave way, the wings slid forward and began to wrap around their rear, bombarding them steadily from the sides, top and bottom. The Dratherians would soon find themselves trapped in a bubble of devastating enemy fire. Valiant as the Grey Knights and the remaining Dratherian defense fleet were, the jaws of the Neo-Roman admiral's maneuver were swiftly closing around them.

"No close engagement," he repeated firmly over the all-channel. "If they lunge, you melt. Stay out of range of their weapons batteries at all times." Staying out of range of the Nova Cannons and lances was impossible, Lucianus knew, but negating the thousands of shorter-range weapons batteries on the Dratherian barges would give his own ships a great advantage besides their numbers and Cannae-esque tactics.

OOC: Taghood

As the mighty ship came crashing down the great domed citadel opened up with all weapons blazing. Nova cannons, Lance batteries, anti-air missiles, missile silos, and multiple other miscellaneous anti-air weaponry. The entire facility was alight with power. The massive citadel had been built to be a fortress against all forces so as fire was directed to the enemy ground force so was fire directed to any forces coming in range of it's mighty air defense capabilities. Weapon's batteries which had previously been without use were alive to try to destroy the falling wreckage. The fire was directed towards the hurtling chunk of spaceship in an attempt to both slow it down and deduct mass from the explosive wreckage. It would do enough but not the extent the Mechanicum had wished their reactive fire had been too late in engaging. The citadel's shield's fell as the mass of hurtling wreckage exploded on impact the reactive plating on the armored walls of the citadel reacting with a blue glow against minor shock waves. Still the walls were alight with fire as the enemy war machines would approach. As the enemy ships closed in low orbit the superlaser fired in an arc aiming to cut multiple ships down. Even as it did so one Imperial frigate detonated in high orbit as it failed to avoid the devastating weapon.

In space the force of the Ordo Malleus seemed to be increasing in speed and altogether disappearing off of scanners, sensors, and eyesight. The Shrouding had taken effect. They quickly closed in on the Republic ships using mighty weapons to create disarray and chaos in their forces. The Shrouding made them invisible to most forms of detection and as such they used their advantage to use advanced war tactics to herd enemies into dangerous areas. Their superior speed to anything ever encountered in the Imperial Navy making them far more devastating than the ordinary warships but their bite was thrice as deadly.

The hull was rapidly being destroyed by the gunfire of citadel, splitting off large chunks of ship and creating many more asteroids to accompagny the great destroyer that was still coming down.

It was a relief for the armies giants, who took this lapse in fire their way as an opportunity to advance nearly unmolested. They picked up speed, moving to a full advance instead of a tactical one. They could cover great distances, and were nearly at the city.

"Hold!"

The operators were stunned, and began to bring their great warmachines to a hault. They looked at the hologram of Germanicus on their consoles. "That's quite far enough for now. Take up strategic positions where you aren't in the open and wait. There is a starship coming down, right ontop of them, don't get caught in the resulting blast, will you?"

The infantry and armored columns, too, were now on the move. The great square of men and machine moving at a normal pace through the forgeworld, shelling any constructs or buildings they came across as they went. Still far from the Óðinns, they were safe from the shockwave that would result from the collision of the Inextinguishable Star.

OOC Hey uh Tal might wanna revise your post. That post of mine was left unfinished if you really couldn't tell.

OOC: Since you didn't say anything to that effect, I'm thinking that's on you.

Despite the Shrouding, the Imperial warships still had mass, which left them quite visible on the Republican vessels' gravity field scans. The nimble Republican warships continued to evade their pursuers, pounding them with as much firepower as possible while staying out of range of their myriad weapons batteries. The Ordo Malleus ships were fast, and in their mad lunges they occasionally caught prey, although their prey was wary and starting to wise up to most of their movements. The Neo-Roman pattern vessels began using their tesseract drives to make short-distance hops out of the way when pursued, and to ambush and draw on their pursuers: a mighty Ordo Malleus formation would charge a spot in Lucianus' closing bubble only to have its targets vanish and reappear behind or around it, slug a volley of railcannon projectiles at their engine ports, and vanish and reappear somewhere else out of reach. The organized chaos in the Republican comm channels was incredible; the tessering vessels had to synchronize and keep in constant contact with themselves and the other ships in the fleet so that they didn't tesser into each other, and every new Dratherian lunge had to be evaded and a counterattack orchestrated. Lucianus and his subordinates rode the wave of organized chaos like a surfer, somehow managing to keep ahead of the situation on a second-by-second basis. The Neo-Roman admiral was in his element conducting this grand symphony of combat, and he was not going to back down from the enemy.

OOC: Since you didn't say anything to that effect, I'm thinking that's on you.

OOC: Almost certainly. Tag for enjoyment, btw

The Republic ships were firing at ghosts. The gravity signatures mere shadows of the great warships. As the Admiral of the Malleus force observed their tactics he laughed. He yelled out a command and the force opened up with the mighty Vortex torpedoes. Mighty tears in the fabric of space opened up threatening to suck warships in to be lost forever and potentially interfering with all FTL drives by their sheer gravimetric force. In other places stasis torpedoes were fired creating bubbles of frozen time. This was all orchestrated with precision by the ace pilots and captain of the Malleus. Traps were easily set and this was the element of the Malleus. They still had weapons in their arsenal not seen as of yet but for now the enemy would deal with these threats.


OOC: When detonated this weapon opens a hole between our universe
and the warp. Units to close to this hole are sucked in and
forever lost. However, the vortex, as most things associated with
the warp, is unstable and unpredictable, and may change locate
and grow or shrink in size and intensity.

(OOC: I wouldn't say lost forever, considering navigation of the warp is how YOU travel FTL. And since we have such good friends in the Chronosian Imperium, whom I greet since he has tagged, we could probably get them back at some point.)

-All units fall back to the citidel and reinforce the dratherian forces- comms azrael as he and his assault troops take to the skies once more. as in a single motion the entire frount line of reken falls back as a secondiary line over takes them. Like wise the secondiary falls back behind the origional front. Reken armor moves into a likewise retreat.

a rift much like that from the reken munitions opens and grows to allow a massive ship to emerge. the ship was a rustic red and it held two symbols upon its hull one was of a hammer coursing with lightning and the other was one of the better known symbols of the imperium. that of the mechanicus.
as the rift closes behind it it heads toward a lower orbit to release the most deadly items of the imperium.

The legionary saluted crisply and stood at attention, awaiting acknowledgement from his commander. Germanicus, who sat casually in a whicker arm chair reading a dispatch from the front, simply waved his hand for the man to deliver his report.

"Sir, the Reken forces have begun to fall back from their positions, and are heading towards the Dratherian city, Sir."

"Then they plan to reinforce the failing defences of the citadel," he thought aloud, "Which should surely be disabled or destroyed by now. It would require the Gods themselves to stop the power we have unleashed against the structure."

Turning to another soldier in the room, he gave over the report, then reached for his small tea cup and took a polite sip. "Deliver this to the communications center. Lucianus is instructed to maneuver his ships so that he creates a barrier between the surviving Dratherian fleet and Aquaria. I want air superiority, quickly. Scramble all the fighters and bombers that we have in the Sixth fleet. The fighters are to patrol the skies for enemy craft and engage at will; the bombers are to begin targetting the retreating Reken forces and the remaining frontal city defences facing the square."

He rose and set down his cup, beckoning his body slave his his right hand. The slave brought the General's ornate cuirass, a thing of silver with an eagle of inlaid gold upon the breast. Next was the gladius, who's steal blade had been augmented with power technology, allowing it to slice through nearly anything with ease. The bracers and shinguards of bronze were next, each with its own advancements to the traditional. To complete the picture was the scarlet cape that the slave hung from his masters shoulders by a golden chain. Turning to the man who had delivered the report on the enemy retreat, he gave his orders.

"Soldier, have the remaining elements of the Tenth board the transports. We depart for the city."

the clouds part as the mechanicus' payload cuts through the atmosphere, three huge drop pods. as the pods fell they took large amounts of incomming fire only to shrug it off on their starchip quality armor. a small squadron of fifty thunderbolt class fighters accopany the pods in their decent to intercept any aerial attacks upon them. as the pods decend it becomes apparent that the center pod is much larger than the other two as it takes a slight lead. the pods make landfall infront of the city as the last of the reken forces pass through the gates.

Enormous routs of earth are spewed into the air as each of the pods make their own creater, reguardless of the retro burners that slowed their decent in the final seconds. Anyone within the perimiter of the creater was instantly killed and manny more burried under the falling debris.
-Commander Azrael we have arrived- cracks a very automated voice as the walls of the pods fall open to reveal two reaver titians flanking an emperor class titian. -The mechanicus has arrived-

The Legions mobilized as the city shield fell. The mighty Water Dragons Legion marched forth from the city gates after recovering from their last battle undergoing multiple repairs. Seventeen titans stepped forward from the Gates of the Omnissiah. Three Emperor-class Titans, five Reaver, and nine Warlord Titans marched forward unleashing their own mighty weaponry on the enemy war machines. At command far below the city of Greconum Fabricator General Baal Ukarion listned to his servitors drone out status reports and pass on his orders. "Water Dragons deployed outside cuty gates. Fire Dragons and Earth Dragons mobilizing now. Imperial Guard and Astartes are mobilizing." Baal stepped forward listening to this and ordered, "Prepare for deployment of Brimstone Legion. Security clearance Dragon Level 990945."

Outside the gates the mighty forces of the Imperium newly refreshed, resupplied, and upgraded joined battle against the Republic armies. Mighty basilisks and Hydra anti-air tanks unleashed their own hells on the enemies. The artillery of the Imperium pounding away at the enemy armies as they moved in. Titans joining battle against the enemy war machines. The Plasma Annihalators on the Emperor Titans would rip hundreds of warriors away in a single shot while the Reavers would pound at their enemy from a distance. Even as these collossal beings met battle two more Legions emerged from the city. The Fire Dragons composed of one Emperor Titans, twelve Reaver Titans, and five Warlord Titans marched forth against the enemy. Then the Earth Dragons strode onto the field consisting of five Emperor Titans and thirteen Warlord Titans. Four Ordinautus erupted with fire as they strode forth from underground hangers to unleash hell against the enemy war machines with their mighty Nova Cannons. Now the forces collided in the battlefield with great forces of fury and fire. Even as this battle was joined a great monster awoke beneath the mighty city......

In space as the Republic fleet would try to out maneuver the mighty ships of the Imperium they would find it near impossible as they moved with perfect symmetry and motion. Their mighty guns erupting with fire to destroy their enemies in a burning holy crusade. Now was the time for the Imperium to show it's might as three more Ramilies-class Star Forts erupted from warp space unleashing hellish blasts with their monstrous firepower.

Perfect symmetry and motion meant little when most of the Republican ships that were directly engaging the Ordo Malleus were capable of tessering out of the way of their maneuvers. Advanced the engines of the Malleus' warships may have been, but they were still beholden to the laws of momentum and inertia, and could not turn on a dime by any means to pursue their escaped prey. It had taken the targeting AIs of Lucianus' fleet precious minutes to adapt to the distortions of the Shrouding, and that had cost them ships, but they were having little trouble finding the massive Dratherian vessels now. Lucianus kept up his strategy of keeping out of reach of the Dratherians' multitudes of shorter-range weapons batteries and pounding them in turn with his vessels' long-range c-frac weapons.

Meanwhile, Lucianus set his ships that were not as well equipped for his cat-and-mouse game with the Malleus on another task. There were approximately 1,500 vessels that had removed themselves out of the way of the battle that was taking place; Lucianus now sent the majority of these to intercept the Ramilies and block them from reinforcing the Malleus. A small force of about 50 Protectorate battlecruisers peeled off with their Patrician escorts and charged up their c-frac weapons, targeting the land around Greconum where the second wave of Dratherian ground troops were emerging.

<Warning to Republican ground and air forces, prepare for imminent c-frac strike around your area> Lucianus had broadcast over the Republic's general bands, along with exact coordinates of where the strikes would occur. Every Republican from the legionaries to Germanicus himself would be made aware. <Get your heads down and prepare for shock waves> Germanicus' ground troops were still plenty far away from the citadel, not having directly engaged the assembling Dratherians and their allies yet, so they would not be incinerated by friendly fire in the initial impacts.

The first 20 simultaneous strikes bracketed Greconum in a circle about a kilometer outside the city walls. The solid tungsten projectiles weighed only 10 tons, and traveling close to 2000 km/s they each struck the plain across which the Dratherians were advancing releasing 4 megatons of kinetic energy each. The Protectorate captains kept the payload deliberately small to minimize the chance of vaporizing their own soldiers on the ground, but the blasts were just as deadly to anything caught in the vicinity of the impact points.

<First volley has struck> reported the task force leader, a Taledonian captain. <C-frac batteries are recharging>

<Continue to 20 volleys> Lucianus instructed. <Then let the dust clear and let Germanicus make his next move> The Taledonian signaled affirmative, and Lucianus returned to directing the fight against the Malleus.

The Shrouding a thing incalculable and unknowable to any machine. Such things were behind the grasp of simple mortals and mechanical minds. While the targeting computers would make firing solutions on a few of the vessels they would overall be unsuccessful. The diversion of forces would surely cost the Republic fleets as the Dratherian ships turned to new heading being covered by their Rekenian allies. Even though vessels of the Imperium were ancient they packed more of a punch than most vessels of similar displacement did. The fleet sent by Lucianus was caught in between the firepower of three Star Forts and over seven hundred Imperial Vessels.

The Malleus vessels had been analyzing the jumps of the enemy vessels and determined the way they jumped engaging FTLi across the space around Aquaria to halt STC jumps. The technology which had been developed after battling the forces of the Temporal Accord.

As the enemy focused on targeting the planet with an orbital bombardment they would be caught in a pincer movement of fifty Imperial battleships. Battle Barges hovering over Germanicus' ground forces unleashed monumentous fury with orbital bombardment cannons. Their weapons designed to shell the hell out of the area.

Massive casualties would be taken as the enemy strikes reached the ground forces but many more were saved by the void shields of the mighty Titan Legions and the Ordinatus. Others saved by the entrenched positions around the mighty citadel long ago created by the Imperial Fists. The enemy would dare to make such a cowardly strike and they would pay for it as Lord Braze heard the mighty thunder of bombardment cannons striking against the enemy forces. Looking around he noticed that one Titan, a Warlord, had fallen in battle and cried out in fury at the desecration done to such holy beings.

Men and equipment were thrown about without discrimination or care, as if grains of sand being picked up and tossed around by a child at the beach. The small square of the tenth legion was broken, a thing almost unimaginable, and this made a hit to the morale. But they were an elite legion, made of battle-hardened veterans, some of the officers being relics from the God-Kellerman's many crusades and wars. Experts in warfare and spurring their men to brave feats, or in this instance, re-organisation.

The titans of the enemy strode forth, taking fire from the spacial bombardment provided by Lucianus, enough to take down quite a few of the mammoth targets. The Óðinns, appearing out of the haze created by the continueing strikes, began to engage the excaping titans. These ancient and mighty war-machines of the Imperium were powerful, true, but they were outdated. Simply giant walking fortresses with big guns, replacing maneuverability with sheer might. They could easily destroy the mechs of the Republic in a straight-shot fight, it was true, but it wasn't that sort of combat. It was like watching Kellerman fight the Daemonic Emperor of Chronosia, the late-great Marcus, against the equally amazing Kellerman. The Daemons strength greater, but the speed of the Taledonian man-god able to compensate and level the field. So too did the Óðinns begin to dance around the titans, blasting with their giant railcannons and plasma cannons, easily dodging the majority of the titans larger weapons, but unavoidably being hit by the smaller point defence systems.

As the Óðinns skirtted around the reken titians they came soon to realise that the end of the barrel was not the only part of the titian that could attack as one is caught by one of the reavers still smoking las cannon arms. The other reaver falls suddenly silent as a large blast originates from the shell that was its head.
-Locate the source of the round that destroyed that titian and eleminate them.- commands tecpriest Roledran from his mount in the head of the warlord titian. the Titian pauses as the plasma cannon mounted as its left arm fires toward one of the enemy batteries.

The Reken fleet Re-enters orbit as one of the bombardment volleys ends and opens fire covering the bottom of the republic ships with the concentrated might of reken. after their trip into the upper atmosphere the ships spread back into a assault formation as they reach the vaccum of space once again.

As the Óðinns tried to skirt around the Titans the mighty Warlords unleashed with their close range Power Fists. As their Princeps ordered power diverted to locomotion the Titans moved faster than previously seen. The wall defenses of the city lashed out at the enemy licking them with holy fire. Soon though it wouldn't matter the Mechanicum's ultimate weapon would stride the field of battle.

The great doors opened and four Warhound Titans marched out as a black blur erupted between them. Great footfalls could be heard and felt as a Reaver-class Titan was ripped apart before it could even turn to react. The mighty monster roared. It was a Titan the likes of which had never been seen by the Republic. It towered over the Emperor Titans as it's head sat above it's frame. It's movements faster and more graceful than an Eldar Titan or for that fact most machines the size of the Warhounds. In it's right arm rested the close combat weapon which had easily sliced through the Reaver Titan before it could react. It's left arm was a mighty cannon that ripped loose with horrible fury turning a nearby forge facility to glass. The Titan for all intents and purposes was stretching out it's limbs it didn't matter though as it closed the distance necessary engaging the Óðinns and easily matching their speeds. It's muscle-like locomotive structure allowing more speed and strength than normal.

The Amiculum Mortis a Castigator Titan was the whole purpose behind the Brimstone Legion her Warhound Scout Titans under the command of this autonomous titan. Now it turned it's great fusion weapon on the enemy ground forces as the four Nova Cannons of the Ordinatus joined it in glorious combat.

Elsewhere the Space Marines would meet the Legionaries of the Republic with the Imperial Guard battling at their side.

"Hold firm!"

"Come now, boys, into positions, those beasts wish to quarrel a little!"

"First two down, third up, you know the drill. Rolling rounds."

Little was needed to be said, but the officers made their comments anyways. The square, after having reformed from the artilly strike and moved a bit more, came to a hault. The front ranks of the construct went down to one knee, whilst the third row and beyond remained standing, pointing their weapons out infront of them. All sides were protected, so no chance of being surrounded were possible. Ah, the beauty of a square. Then they unleashed with their blaster rifles, the superheated plasma bolts(each able to melt through most anything) flew forth in an unending wave of automatic fire. The first rank would unleash an entire battery worth, and whilst they allowed their guns to cool and replaced the fuel cell, those behind them opened up, and the cycle continued all the way through the four rank sides of the shape. The armored divisions were split. The fast moving, powerful war machines known as equites moved at the flanks of the soldiers, speeding ahead to engage the genetic creatures of the Imperium, whilst the battle tanks stood firm in the center of the square, unleashing their cannons at the ranks of charging marines and guardsmen.

Two large drop pods land on ethier side of the citidel to reveal two large speakers playing a foreboding tune (http://us.share.geocities.com/itsnotatrumpet/Warhammer40k-MarchintoHell.mp3) as a swarm of Reken assault troops fill the air above the citidel. Flying foward they begin to drop micro grenades into the enemy front lines only to follow the mines down and land in the freshly cleared areas they they made. Azrael and his veteran squads fly further toward what seems to be the commanders.

Meanwhile the gates of the great citidel opens and the reformed and refitted reken troops storm out in a seemingly endless swarm opening fire as soon as they are clear of their brotheren. many fall to the enemy plasma fire yet they still pour theough the opening toward the enemy.

Flying from the gun emplacements like shadows came the XIX Legion. Their Primarch, Kivpa Hekis, leading them in combat. Their enhanced armor a product of ancient long lost technologies that only the secretive Hunters of Darkness were privy to. Kivpa at the head of his Legion flew to Azrael's side holding the bow Artemis in his left hand. His sustained flight pack kept him at Azrael's side while he scouted out ahead. Behind him his Marines rained bolter rounds and plasma fire on the Republican forces below.

The ground would shake as the mighty Titans used precision heavy weapons strikes on the enemy ground forces while simultaneously battling the Óðinns.

Of course Marines fell to the deadly assaults of the Republic but the Legions of the Space Marines intermixed with the Imperial Guard were heartier than most soldiers could be. Rumbling along mixed in with the forces of Marines and guardsmen were the mighty armored companies of the Imperial Guard and the Space Marines. Land Raiders surged forward into the enemy lines disgorging companies of Terminators, their armor able to survive things normal Power Armor could not. Pounding forward using storm shields, assault cannons, and various other heavy weapons they poured large amounts fire into the enemy forces. Bike squadrons and Land Speeders strafed the enemy at high speed unleashing large gouts of fire.

It was the cruiser Victory's Name that received the order to begin the ending hours of the battle for Aquaria. She left the massive Republican armada that was spread out everywhere, capturing Dratherian forces in pincer movements and the like, slaughtering all and taking possession of the stars and skies. The domed citadel of Gregoricum was her target, the mighty structure that still stood, even under the immense amount of firepower and even a destroyer smashing into her. The cruiser stopped directly above the complex, its main guns powering up and targetting the center of the roof. A mighty roar was issued forth as the magificently large cannon underneath the vessel unleashed a beam of blue light, a most powerful stream of plasma. This it kept, the constant stream pilling forth, as if it were a waterfall, washing away the armor of the citadel. Soon it would breach, very soon...

Inside the mighty citadel twelve companies of the Raven Guard readied themselves for the urban fighting that was to begin in moments. Elsewhere the Imperial Fists and Ultramarines had fortified themselves in a large network of trenches in front of the Keep and even onto the very walls themselves. Master snipers from the Hunters of Darkness were scattered throughout the great city their cloaks rendering them invisible even to other Space Marines.

Peras stood crackling with eldritch fire his Marines were standing at the ready inside the keep while he and his company of veteran Librarians stood at the walls with the Fists and the Ultramarines. He looked out across the great Citdael to the inner gates of the Mechanicum's most holy city and hoped against hope that they would be able to hold off the enemy forces outside who utilized the mighty and ancient plasma technology. The forces of the Imperium would be unmatched in warfare but their Naval capabilities were severely reduced due to the crippling surprise attack. Even with Reken's mighty forces battling at their side they were fighting an uphill battle but one that would spill much of their enemies' blood and surely the blood of the Astartes.

Then the enemy strike broke through the mighty dome and the final battle had begun............

Loki turns toward Peras as the beam hit the citidel.
'brother it has started, i feel the powers of the warp amassing,these republic scum dont know what they are doing!, she is returning, the follower of the blood god is returning!' Toching the comms stud on his wrist Loki calls to the rekenian forces. -All non-assault forces amass and prepare for outcome omega. I Repeat amass and prepare for out come omega!-

Looking over at his dratherian comrades, a great sadness passes over his as the results of past actions come to haunt the present. This time there is no escape, no way out and she was comming for them, for everyone. Aloura was comming.

((OOC: What urban warfare? He's melting your city with a plasma lance, dude! XD))

<We are starting to phase into mop-up operations, Admiral> one of Lucianus' fleet commanders reported. <We have finally broken the back of the Dratherian fleet. It would appear that our space victory is at hand>

<So it would seem, but these barbari have a knack for pulling things out of nowhere> Lucianus replied. <Mop up their remaining naval forces as quickly and thoroughly as you can. I am going to finish off what they have on the ground>

<Understood>

The 50-ship squadron that had bombarded the land around the citadel with their c-frac weapons was given new orders. Five of the ships were assigned to Titan hunting: the massive machines were easy to pinpoint from orbit by their energy output alone, and not even the Emperor Titans would take well to having the equivalent of 4-megaton nukes dropped on them. But most of the battlecruisers in the task force turned their c-frac weapons on the citadel itself. To engage an enemy in urban warfare on his own ground was stupidity to the highest degree, and Lucianus would have none of it. On the contrary, a large chunk of enemy forces had concentrated themselves there quite nicely and made a convenient target.

"You heard the order," the Taledonian task force leader barked at his weapons officers. "Turn that city into a puddle of lava!"

Over the comms, broadcasting not only to the Republican forces but to the men of the Imperium as well was a contradicting order. "You will do no such thing, Admiral. Continue to engage all enemy forces outside the citadel city of Grecoricum, but if you continue to shell the place then you will be killing your commander.

"Dratherian and Reken forces alike, I, Gaius Julius Germanicus, Commander of the Republican forces sent to subjugate Dratheria, have arrived at Grecoricum with a contigent of the Tenth Legion. Contrary to what you may think, this force is my guard, not my army. Let those outside your doomed dome continue their fight, but allow a parley between us. My transports await your answer above you."

As it was said, so it was true. Surrounding the cruiser that had punched the whole in the dome were the transports that had left the ground base with Germanicus onboard. They were well protected by the cruiser, and flanked by fighters to stave off any enemy small craft. All that was needed was an answer. If it did not come, THEN Lucianus could melt the city.

Peras looked back to Loki and said, "I feel it too brother the Blood God's champion will soon return. We can only hope the Legio Custodes and the Sisters of Silence arrive. We sent for them after learning of her true treachery, they alone will be able to stand against her aided by the Dragon Guard. Our brother Xavier has retreated to safety after suffering grievous wounds at the hands of the Dracian Black Company's leader. Xander, Kivpa, and Kailen now currently lead the ground forces in their three prong assault against the Republic. As well Mercer is currently engaging a new more powerful enemy threat in the Asurian System. Our forces are under siege in multiple systems and here we will make a stand." He stepped forward spinning his Rune Staff as it crackled with the deadly energy of the Warp, "Here is where we make our stand!!!"

Then the message came.....Peras looked forward and the voice of the mighty Primarch echoed in Germanicus' head, We shall meet.....I will arrange a meeting in a statehouse outside the Keep wall. Meet me there in fifteen minutes.

The Titans were faster than the starships could imagine and even though they struck and destroyed a few the overall attacks would inevitably damage their own forces. Still yet the forces of the Imperium clashed with the Republican Army and yet the battle was still bloody astartes blood turning the ground a bright red.

In space the Republican forces only thought they had broken the Imperial Navy her mighty ships seemingly fleeing only to regroup and strike yet again with overwhelming firepower intent on punching a hole through the Republican fleet in space. Now was the time for the Imperium to shine, to shine as bright as a supernova.

OOC: Nice try Drath, but there's no way a Titan can jump outside a 4-megaton blast radius in the quarter second it takes for one of those c-frac projectiles to travel from battlecruiser to surface, much less see them coming. 2000 km/sec, remember?

IC post to come later.

Lucianus immediately halted the battlegroup's bombardment of Greconum, but not before several projectiles smashed home. Those few extra hits were of no matter to the Admiral, though. In his opinion the citadel deserved to be razed to the ground.

<My gratitude for informing me of your intent beforehand, Imperator> he replied to Germanicus alone, annoyance lending a very slight edge to his voice.

-----

Elsewhere in the system, the Republican battlegroups pursued the Dratherian forces relentlessly as they attempted to fall back. As if they would simply let their enemy retreat and regroup when they had a clear advantage to press; the idea was preposterous. The Republican vessels continued to use their tesseract drives to great advantage, springing on their foes wherever they attempted to mass, surrounding them and pounding them with every weapon available. As the Dratherians were thus kept splintered and prevented from massing all of their forces in one place, the Republican numerical advantage was increased further.

<Whoop! Here they come again, Navarch, incoming group making a rush on forward right vector nine-six-nine!>

<Battlegroup Lambda and Epsilon, you are the hammer. Mark jump coordinates and go!>

The strategy was essentially the same wherever the Dratherians tried to mount an attack. One or two battlegroups would remain in place and begin to trade fire with the incoming Dratherian groups, while three or more additional groups would jump in and bracket the attackers from all sides, blazing away at them with firepower and numbers much greater than the Dratherians could supply in return. Divide and conquer served the Republicans well.

OOC: I didn't see that you were using c-fracs in the post so sorry. However You also didn't take into account the STC FTLi I implemented which would prevent your tesseract drives from working.

IC
The vessels of the Imperium were hardier than the Republicans ever would have guessed. Archaic as they were many of these vessels had seen times long past and had survived thousands of battles. Their mighty weapons of destruction they wielded were far more devastating and as the enemy vessels closed the gap between space they would meet the full brunt of the starships. Mighty bombardment cannons turned yet still on the enemy vessels unleashing deadly ordnance. Mighty Life-eater virus torpedoes with heavily armored warheads were fired at the enemy with deadly and calculated accuracy.

Lord Helios stood on he bridge of the Litany of Courage with his power sword drawn. He gritted his teeth and called out order after order to his crews as he watched more ships fall. However hope came with the reinforcements of the Rekenian Navy resupplying their numbers with fresh ships and ordnance. The Republic would soon meet more resistance as they received word from the Asurian System that a fleet of 2000 fresh Dratherian Naval vessels and three Starforts were en route to Aquaria. He smiled at the new dawn and relished in their newfound hopes particularly of the assistance of the Rekenian forces.

It was a short, bitter-sweet reply that was sent back to the Dratherian commander; scorn riddled within every syllabul(spl?).

"Do you take me for a fool, Dratherian scum? Some simpleton easily swayed to meet you in a very unfavorable location? I will not set foot near your titans. It shall be within the safety of your citadel, not in the open, that we shall meet, else I shall turn this planet into glass."

Loki and Azrael meet at the gates of the soon to be destroyed citidel as they hear the reply to Peras. Loki opens his mind to the source of the reply,

How courageous to want to meet behind our lines where you can attempt a strike at our leaders. why not meet at a neutral location just the theree of us.

Peras almost burst out laughing as he received the reply from the Republican leader. Peras reached out with his mind to soothe his brother's concerns, Fear not brothers with my Librarians in attendance they shall be able to make no strike in fact if we meet within the citadel we will be more apt to strike should they try something. In fact three Legions occupy this citadel currently and will be able to respond with fury unmatched. Meet me at the statehouse in fifteen minutes.

He looked at his Librarians and nodded then looking to the transport he knew to be Germanicus', By the Keep I meant the formidable inner fortress of the citadel. As I said before I suggest we meet in the Statehouse at coordinates 99405036. It is one of the few great pieces of architecture that your weapons have ceased to destroy. I will be waiting for you there with my Librarians as well as my brother Primarchs from Reken.

Fifteen minutes later Peras sat almost luxuriously in a grand seat of ornate gold and silver. The scene depicted upon them was that of four dragons battling high above the seas of Aquaria. It represented a battle of the elements as Earth and Wind dragon met in deadly combat and Fire and Water dragon met in bloody torrents. Above it all Dratheria shone like a star in the distance her features unremarkable. Beside this chair were two more chairs like it on either side of him reserved for his brother Primarchs. On the opposite side of the great wooden table sat three more chairs of similar design which were reserved for the Republican delegates. Peras smiled as the room filled with the warp power emanating from his very body.

Fifteen minutes had passed indeed. Lucianus was ordered to continue his assaults on everything but the citadel, and the Tribune Aeolius left in command of all ground maneuvers whilst the new debate occured. And the debate, or more easily called an offer of life for the Imperium, was beginning. In a display of strength and grace, as only done by a General of the Republic, the transports, stocked full of stoic soldiers, descended into the cavity of the citadel. Their turrets, capable of clearing a landing zone, swivelled back and forth menacingly, but neutral. These were arces, mighty floating fortresses designed for quick landings that hit like a hammer, and now they came with deadly precision to convey an olive branch of sorts.

Thousands of legionaries, all in gleaming silver armor that covered them head to toe and making them indestiguishable from the next, had filed out in perfect unison; the squares of metallic soldiers led by the officers with their brightly colored plumes and capes. Wasting no time, they set up a perimeter, the mighty and capable arces forming the towers for the wall. And then, in the center, had descended the keep. An arce, bigger than all the rest, carrying the ex-Consul of the Republic, he who was as if a God and held so many lives in his hands.

Keeping with Taledonian military tradition, he had dressed himself in the impractical but impressively beautiful armor of his peoples history. A breastplate of gleaming silver, with inlaid gold forming a mighty eagle holding a twig of laurel and a dagger. Shinguards of gold shone from his legs in the sunlight that filtered through the now open roof; his bracers of the same precious metal following suit. A blood-red cape hung from shoulder clasps, and the ivory hilt with inlaid jewels of his gladius could be seen at his side.

The striking figure marched forth, followed only by a well dressed body slave who held a trunk in his hands, out of the group small army of his soldiers and followed a Dratherian escort into the conference room. He sat in the middle of the three chairs set out for the Republicans, and his man stood behind him. Before him, the imposing figure of Peras, who sat returning his hard gaze with one as equally stony. Doubtless the barbarian was attempting to read his mind, but it would do little, his thoughts would be shared anyways.

"I really must congratulate you," Germanicus said at last, "You people can really raise a pretty force. Shame I was ordered to slaughter so many."

OOC: Ok, fine, but that still doesn't change the fact that you're outnumbered about 3 to 1 overall, and when my battlegroups jump on your squadrons one or two at a time that numerical advantage gets multiplied further, as we're able to send more of our forces against much less of yours at a time. Piecemeal, you see? There's no way I'm gonna let any significant amount of your forces regroup for another all-out attack, let's put it that way, because I have enough forces to keep you split up and I'm gonna use 'em. ;)

IC: Actually, the Republicans knew exactly how hardy the Dratherian vessels were, considering how long they'd been fighting them, and they knew just how many forces to send against each enemy squadron to dispatch it quickly and efficiently. With every passing minute, the Republican vessels' scanners lent them new data on their foes' design and construction, and new insights as to where to strike hard to cripple them.

Lucianus turned his eyes once again to the plain around Greconum. His 50-vessel task force was largely inactive again, as it only required about 10 Imperial-class battlecruisers to pinpoint and slag the Titans present. There were still plenty of Dratherian and Rekenian infantrymen engaging Tribune Aeolius and his legionaries, though; that was something that Lucianus could do something about.

"Double the vessels in that battlegroup," he ordered, and 40 additional Imperials and 10 Protectorates peeled off from their positions around the command battlegroup and scooted towards low orbit.

"Tribune Aeolius," he said, raising the ground commander on a new secure channel, "I am ordering a heavy orbital strike on the entire plain around Greconum in five minutes. None of your men will be caught in the blast, rest assured, but I need you to execute a temporary fighting retreat to let us target more area. Any remaining Dratherian forces left on your side of the blast area should be well within your capability to finish off." Opening a simultaneous channel to his task force commander, he said, "Stand by for an all-out orbital bombardment on everything between the citadel and our men in five minutes, Navarch. I want that land and everything on it turned to glass."

Aeolius looked at the melee around him with pride. No matter how many battles he fought, or how many times he saw the training activities, he was still amazed. Every soldier can be taught skill, and every soldier can become skilled, it's what soldiers do, they become more and more skilled at killing. But what the legionaries had was discipline, solid, unbreakable discipline.

The space marines were giants, towering over the men of the Republic without question, but they were as if a mob of giants, working more alone than together, and those that did were outnumbered in anycase. The guardsmen were a different story, all shooty and scared, rellying on their leaders for inspiration and staying well away to take advantage of range, not like the marines. A great army, the Dratherians had, made even more formidable by their Reken allies.

Clad in their silver armor, with the helmets affording nothing but the same stoic expression even as blood of friend and foe alike splattered them, the soldiers of the Republic held their ground. The square was mostly intact, having dropped many before the enemy finally closed, where they were met with gladii and hasta, each of polysteel, able to slice clean through even the thickest armors. When the space marines had used their jump packs to get into the square, the rear lines were merely moved back some, with legionaries from different sides not being engaged moving to reinforce. A brilliant symphony of war, and a magnificent display of Republican training. They all worked as one, feigning so that their comrades could swoop in at the undefended mark and make the hit; swords moving to block a blow aimed at one of their own busy with some other Dratherian or Reken soldier. Fine men made up the Tenth.

"I don't like it, Lucianus, but logic outweighs glory. If you can hold off for a moment and simply do strategic bombings around us, I can have some birds quickly evac us. After that you can C-Frac the entire area for all I care."

Peras smiled he did not need to sense Germanicus' thoughts his mind was so unprotected that tendrils of thought just issued forth to him freely. looking him in the eye he poured a glass of wine and offered a cup to Germanicus. Peras spoke his voice echoing both in the physical and psychic worlds, "You speak of the Astartes I assume. They are some of the finest warriors in creation easily able to match a human army thrice their size and come out triumphant. Our Imperial Guard does as well deserve some honor for they are well trained warriors. Looking at your forces they seem well-trained as well and possibly not exactly human. Their gene code seems to differ greatly from that of a normal human."

Taking a sip of wine Peras continued, "Now let us see...I know right now that your forces are currently planning a strike on the surface with more weapons in an attempt to decimate our forces. How do I know this? Well everything and everyone has an echo in the Warp and as such I know many things others do not. However fear not I will not warn our soldiers. No but I do suggest that you call off the orbital strike because of the hundreds of miles of catacombs and underground reactors beneath the citadel. Your bombardments have already destroyed too much of the surface to do it on the scale Lucianus is suggesting. It will only end in your death as well as ours." He stretched out with his mind and tasted more of the Republican fleet, "Now let us get down to this what are your conditions?"

In space the mighty battlefleet of the Imperium broke through the Warp and opened fire on the unsuspecting forces of the Republic fleet. Their mighty weaponry and advanced Dratherian technology made this fleet a bigger threat to the ships of the Republic than the previous Imperial fleets. It's massive girth broke through the enemy strike groups and began to collect the surviving vessels of the Imperium.

The reken fleet lay practically forgotten in the uppermost reaches of the atmosphere. awaiting for the republic to attempt to bombard again. Almost if on cue a fleet of ships departs the larger fleet to head for the planet. now was the time to strike as the fleet lurches into motion directly at the diverting ships. as soon as they were in range they would open fire, as soon as they were in range they would unleash hell.


Keeping his own counsel Loki stands behind Peras as he opens the debate.
keep your thoughts in check brother i feel something uneasy about this man he is not like the others. Looking to the shadows Loki nodded as his bodyguard of figments entered the room. turning his attention to the republic force he studied each man in the stature and alertness before turning to the man seated.
"You will be warned that this show of force may have worked in the past to unsettle your enemies but you would be wise not to underestimate the movement that you see in the corner of your eye."
as Loki finishes a single figment comes into full sight behind him. The lithe body of the assassin is covered in a black body glove, that seems to absorb the light around it. Even though they share the same color of the glove it is easy to see the bulges of many weapons strapped all over its body. and as quickly as it appeared it draws a dagger and allows it to catch the light before re sheathing it and falling back into the shadows of the room.

After Azrael's meet with his brother at the gate he rejoined the fight calling all Reken forces around him to his banner. Guardsmen and Astartes alike joined the charge guns blazing and swords drawn, with their leader inside they would not attack the citadel, for if they did he would surely die before the first defender hit the ground

The piercing blue eyes of the Republican general darted from Peras to Loki, a look of amusement and mock pity evident as a slow smile formed. Refusing the wine, he remained cool and calculating, taking in everything that was in the room. The assassin had been noted earlier, and thus was not that big of a surprise. The real surprise was the stupidity in showing the killer, instead of attempting to hide it.

"And you would do wise not to make threats, little man of the Imperium. This show of force, if you wish it to be known, is but a small fraction of the might of the Republic. Had we seen you as an actual threat to us, you would see a fleet twenty times the size you have already, and every inch of terrain on this world would be covered by our soldiers and war machines. We are vast beyond imagining, and more powerful than you could ever dream of being...alone, that is."

He turned his attention back to Peras, his tone and appearance becoming more benevolent and business like. "My terms are simple. Dratheria shall surrender immeadiatly and accept the mantle of client state to the Republic. Upon further investigation by both myself and the Senate, we see your people as far too independant and....barbaric, to fit in with our good and civilised nation. Therefore I see no point in fighting to subjugate you any longer, as in order to make Dratheria a working province we would need to kill all of you and simply re-populate the worlds. However as a client state, we can both benifit much more with alot less waste.

"As a client state, you will retain your independance and autonomy from the Republic. You will continue to formulate your own laws, and be governed by whatever officials you see fit to appoint or elect. You will, however, be subject to the will of the Republican senate. Should we demand that you go to war with our enemies, you shall obey. Should we demand that you cease relations with our enemies, you shall obey. Should we demand that you make peace with our friends immeadiatly, you shall obey.

"Further than this, you shall pay us tribute. Every year we shall expect ten million universal standard dollars, preferably in its gold equivalent, and you shall send ten percent of your standing military along with five percent of your standing fleets to act as auxiliaries for the Republic.

"Should you accept these terms, than we shall have peace. We shall have trade agreements, and we shall have friendship. And being a friend of the Republic is a great thing, Dratherian, for it allows you to use our reputation to back your own, and should you call for aid, the senate may deem the cause worthy and give you aid."

He paused, fishing quickly for anything he may have missed. "Ah yes, and we shall require maps of your territories, along with rights of passage and the ability to construct enclaves within your territory to ensure all these things are enforced. This offer is for your allies in Reken, as well. Should they choose to not accept, however, and continue aggression upon the Republic, then we shall eradicate them. Should they simply choose to retreat into the blackness of space, however, and be forgotten by us, then peace can settle with us as well."

Peras looked to Loki for the briefest moment, Fear not brother I know what I do however keep your assassins in check as I keep mine in check. Peras smiled and said, "True you may have noticed the one assassin but how about the ten others in this very room? In fact I know you have not seen them because I can hear your thoughts. Make no mistake that I am easily one of the most powerful psychics in the universe. Currently I have four Vindicare Assassins in stealth suits positioned around the room with their Exitus Rifles aimed at your very form. The old servant nearby is from the Callidus Temple as are the other five assassins in the ranks of your soldiers. They are perfect at impersonations. Flawless even. Fear these assassins not for had we wanted you dead well you would not have survived to be sitting where you are. They are merely our Honor Guard and precautions."

Peras listened to Germanicus thoughtfully and said, "You may have what you have requested. However since our war has so severely depleted many of our forces we request rights to recruit feral peoples for our Imperial Guard and Space Marine Legions. We also request aid in rebuilding our dockyards in the Asurian System. As for the fleets and Guardsmen you request I will tell you that you will have them once we have sufficiently rebuilt our forces so that we may redirect forces. Also your enclaves will be restricted to certain places for our safety as well as your own. Many worlds are considered holy and as such cannot be.......used for this purpose however we suggest you build your first enclave and fortress on the paradise world Eterra in the Shuvian System. Let us see there must be one more thing.....ah yes. Many of these regions are inhabited by foul xenos and chaos entities that are restricted to even the Space Marines by the Inquisition. Are my terms acceptable?"

"You will pay double the monetary tribute then until you are sufficiently prepared to send our auxiliary forces. And our enclaves shall be placed in areas to assure the steady flow of treasure and men. After reviewing the maps you are instructed to give us, we shall ensure that this Eterra is ideally suited to this task."

The slave cut in, his tone rather haughty for his position. He opened the chest he was carrying and removed some documents, which he placed infront of Peras on the table. "If you will sign here then this war will be over and you shall become an official client state to the Republic. Here is one for you too, so that Reken may submit itself to our rule as well."

"As for help rebuilding," the slave continued, "If you will look over these documents then you will see many construction firms within the Republic that would gladly contract to your government. However I fear, since your people haven't the best reputation amongst the citizens of the Republic, the price of hire may be steep, resulting in a longer period of time before you may recruit more men. Should a one time gift of say...two billion in gold, be presented to my master now, then I'm sure he can use his vast influence to garner your people better prices with the construction firms."

Peras almost smiled as the room filled with crackling warp energy. With a single baleful look he slammed the slave against the wall pinning him with shackles of Warp energy. His fury was immense at the simpering little being and he drew himself to his full height towering over all those present except for his brother. He raged his voice almost painful in the minds of those around him, "How dare you, you little insignificant slave! I am far superior to you and you will respect that for were it not for your master's respected position as a warrior I would have already crushed you. I could show you horrors beyond imagining and kill you hundreds of times over. Now quiet your tongue you worthless worm!" At those words the slave would find it was unable to make any audible noise. Peras turned his attention back to the documents and examined them closely when he had at last finished he picked up the pen and signed the paper. Looking back behind him at Loki he nodded, "Recall your forces brother this is finished...."

OOC: Oooooh, you done it now!

The slave looked over at his master for help, and upon seeing the stern face of Germanicus he was heartened in a way. He knew that, even though he was a good friend and loyal servant, the General would not make much fuss when it meant possibly screwing up the treaty.

"Lucianus," Germanicus called over the comm link, "You may cease orbital bombardment and pursuit of Dratherian and Reken forces. They have surrendered to us, and are now protectorates of the Republic. Begin reforming, I shall join you in the council room of your flagship within the hour to discuss certain matters of importance."

Looking at the Dratherian, he slighted his eyes as if somewhat upset at the outcome, though he had everything he wanted. "I shall return to Taledon, and submit this to the Senate. It shall be they who begin founding the colonies, however Triton's Fortress, as we call the base we have erected here on Aquaria, will remain, as well as a full legion and fleet in orbit to assure its safety. Come, Namelius."

With that he left the room and boarded one of the transports, those soldiers of the tenth that had landed within the citadel with him doing the same. The tenth headed back to the base, while Germanicus began an ascent to greet Lucianus.

Later Peras and his brothers were assembled in the command center miles beneath the city of Greconum. Already the Mechanicum had raised and transported might construction engines to repair the citadel and he defenses. Elsewhere the Asurian orbital yards were being reconstructed. But this was of no concern to the Primarchs. The five of them stood tall around a hololithic display of their galaxy. All of them was without armor or weapons for this was not a battle. Xavier was still tending to the wounds delivered to him by the monster of the Dracian armies. Xander stood taller than the rest of his brothers his bone plated form making him an imposing figure. Kailen stood opposite him his angelic appearance making him beautiful but none could help but feel the aire of mercilessness around him. Kivpa stood cloaked in deep dark robes his mood having changed after coming across some heretics claiming to be gods. Finally Peras stood at the head of them all, his ancient clothing showing his arcane nature.

When Peras spoke it was with a stern tenderness in his voice, "The Blood Ravens and the Mantis Warriors stand at full strength yet. My legion the Psi-Lords stand at 80% strength. The Imperial Fists, Ultramarines, White Scars, Hunters of Darkness, Hellblazers, Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Raven Guard, Salamanders, and the Black Dragons are all at half strength. The Mortifactors, Black Templars, Seismic Fists, and Iron Hands are below half strength." He looked back at a data-slate in his hand, "Currently the Imperial Guard stands at a little over half strength due to the aid of the Astartes, the Legio Titanicus of Aquaria are heavily damaged, the Imperial Navy also stands at half strength, and the Legio Custodes is at full strength." He looked around at his brothers, "As you can tell the situation is quite dire. The Imperium's forces are heavily damaged and reconstruction of our forces will take some time. Currently we have a fleet out patrolling for salvageable starships so that we may rebuild the Navy as quickly as possible."

Xavier's chill voice reached out, "The forces of Chaos will not hesitate to strike during this time. Of that I can guarantee." Xander similarly spoke, "Of this he is right I must admit. However it still does stand that we should have the remaining forces standing at the ready." Kivpa and Kailen looked on silently as their brothers spoke. Finally Peras came to a decision, "Kailen take your veterans and join with the Grey Knights and the Exorcists combined headquarters who will be coordinating counter-offensives against the Chaos forces. Your elite strike groups should be able to effectively defend against the enemy forces." He pointed to four different sectors on the map and said, "With the remaining forces the rest of us shall take command of a different sector each to patrol and maintain in the aftermath of this war." A voice came from the corner it's tone quiet and constantly shifting, "My men have currently infiltrated the Republic to keep eyes and ears on our new allies in case of another attack. They are my finest and shall not be detected."

Peras nodded and said, "Then business is concluded...."

Lucianus had disengaged as ordered and assembled the Republican fleet at the 2nd Lagrange point beyond Aquaria, where they held position and assessed their losses. Lucianus left that work to his cadre of fleet commanders, and waited for Germanicus in the conference room. He was quite early, but took the time to brood alone and collect his thoughts for the upcoming report.

Gaius had taken the time to change out of his armor, adorning a rather common but comfortable tunic and some simple leather sandals. He was tired from the days events, but he would never let himself seem so. A young general drained of energy? The very idea was repulsive.

There was no grand ceremony awaiting his transport as it slowly touched down within the gleaming hanger bay, for assembly had not been called and everyone had their duties to attend to. Pilots and engineers were about the place, fixing up the crafts that had made it back from the fighting that had ceased; they saluted as he passed but then went back to work. Moving through the metallic corridors, Namelius following close behind massaging his sore throat, he finally arrived at the conference room.

The doors slid open with a slick whoosh, and closed with the same graceful effect after the two men had entered. Lucianus was about to stand, but Germanicus waved him to stay seated. Customarily, the general would have taken the head of the large table, opposite his soldier, but in a strange act he took up a spot not a seat away from Lucianus and crossed his hands on the smooth surface. His hands were dry and cracking, he noticed, and somewhat bloodstained. It wasn't well known but he had joined the Tenth's square for awhile before finally moving on with his men to the citadel.

Silence prevailed in the room, Namelius standing quietly at the side of his master, awaiting any sort of order, but Julius simply sat there staring at his hands. Finally, and with a sigh, he looked up at Lucianus with his stoic, business-like expression.

"How did you fair?"

"Well enough," Lucianus answered. "My fleet commanders are tallying the precise numbers as we speak, but I estimate our losses around 20%. In return, we annihilated the entire Dratherian fleet that was in-system when we commenced our attack, plus close to 75% of their first relief fleet. I am less certain about the casualties inflicted on the Rekenians. All in all, I would estimate a kill/loss ratio of about 3 to 1. Considering we outnumbered them from the start, I would call that acceptable, though not optimal. They are tough, I'll give them that. Narrow-minded and brutish, but tough."

Nodding, Germanicus turned to Namelius and extended his hand to receive a group of papers that the slave removed from the folder he was carrying. "It will have to do. I'd like our boys to retreive some debris from a Dratherian vessel. Something with a marker of some kind...their flag or standards.

"Apart from that, I'd like you to choose a small force of say...a hundred vessels..to remain in orbit of Aquaria to safeguard our new colony there. I'm leaving the Eleventh legion to occupy the fort until civilian populations start to move in. I'm assuming it will be business first, and their workers, but with any luck we can assimilate these barbarians over time by introducing them to good civilised society."

Laying the papers on the table, he reviewed them quickly to assure they were the correct documents, then slid them over to Lucianus. "If you'll sign these, then I'll submit them to the Magister Militum upon our return to Taledon. The man the Senate has appointed is a friend of mine, and for the work you've done for me I shall ensure you are given a permanent command. This war has been most profitable for you, Lucianus. Appointed a Senator, the creation of a good reputation, and a new command. Not to mention the business opportunities here if you're a man for it, though I expect Marionetonian's shall be the first ones to set up here."

Lucianus cracked a small grim smile as he accepted the paperwork, looked it over and signed it. "War does tend to be quite profitable for the victors, doesn't it?" he said as he signed. "I am not much of a businessman, I confess, but I am grateful for the command."

He passed the papers back to Germanicus and set his hands on the table in a businesslike manner. "If we are done, I will get my men on finding you your triumph centerpiece while I arrange the guard fleet."

"I believe we are done," Gaius said in a soft tone, "You have command of the fleet and the legions for now, my friend. Get us home, eh? I'm sick of this backwards place already"

He smiled as he finished the lie. No general ever tired of the land he had just conquered. Still, being back in decent society would be nice, and he had no idea where the Senate was at the moment. The war with Dratheria may have been over, now he had the ever happening political battle to re-join.

OOC:sorry for the absence sandstorms have keep internet down"

OC:
'We are not finished here as of yet.' speaks Loki as he steps up to the table. As my brother requested my forces. have halted their advance and will remain at their positions until the opposition has left. As for Reken joining the Republic, you will find that we pay homage to no one and we will not join you. You may consider us an ally if you wish but we shall never succumb to you or your people.'
Taking a step back he turns and leaves the room. In reaction to his departure the twelve figments that surrounded the room emerge from the shadows and follow their leader back to the outside world. as the last assassin leaves he drops a small piece of paper on the table where the contracts lay. It Lands on the contract Peras was signing as what is written shows:

73rd combat fleet current strength: 38%
Rekenian combined imperial guard current strength: 20%
Dark wolf det. current strength: 53%
1st legion current strength: 100%
2nd legion current strength: 100%

Opening his mind to his brother Loki speaks 'Brother i never brought Azraels and my legions into play for as you should have seen this battle was lost from the start; but a show of strength was needed for the better of the imperium. As you now understand. If you need our services again you know where we shall be.'

Peras telepathically communed to Loki, I know it was brother....this was all a part of the plan between myself and John Mercer even the destruction of Loreiia, we have access to information that will bring about a new age for the Imperium. However we are not their servants but we will aid them till it otherwise suits us. Know this though, they fought but one and a half of the nations of the Imperium of Man.....we still have many allies behind us including Duneria. By the way thank you for your assistance I know due to the civil war that was engulfing your nation that your forces were diminshed. However be aware that myself, the Legio Custodes, and the Sisters of Silence are coming for Aluora.....