NationStates Jolt Archive

The world Dustin V, a desolate, glacial world on the farthest fringes of known space. The planet, wracked by constant blizzards and subzero tempertures, was all but unknown to the rest of the galaxy, and it probably would have been best if it had stayed that way, for deep within the iceworld's ancient mountains laid a sinister secret.

This secret was only to be discovered when an Exploration Party was dispatched by the Imperium of Man to scout out the region due to increased Warp activity. They came across Dustin V naively, not knowing the power of which was held in its icy grasp. Landing on it's surface, their sole goal was to establish an outpost in which they could monitor the Warp activity at a generally safe distance. As they dug into the frozen soil, they came across a Chaos artifact. At the time, they didn't know what it was, but that was about to change. Within weeks, they had been possessed by the Chaos gods, sacrificing eachother to call forth the heretics of the False Emperor.

Whether by pure coincedence or some other unknown phenomenon, numerous armies were drawn the the planet of Dustin V. First came the Tau, hoping to use the concealing blizzards and atmosphere of the world to establish a secret research base. Next came the forces of Chaos, having been called from the Warp to help retrieve the artifact on the planet's surface. Lastly, came the forces of the Imperium, the vallant Space Marines and the Imperial Guard, hell bent on purging the planet of Chaos taint.

In the end, only one of these armies would survive to claim victory and dominion over the planet.

(Sign-ups and OOC Thread:http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13912197#post)13912197)

Map! http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/Marshuno/DustinV-3.jpg
Key:
White Flag- Tau Research Base
Black Dot- Black Templars Base
Tan Dot- 11th Scyre Base
Cyre Dot- Thousand Sons Legion
Grey Dot- Necrons
Yellow Dot- Alpha Legion
Imperial Guard Green Dot-177th Karasian Eagles Regiment

The Imperial fleet, arriving in orbit of Dustin V, Consisted of 1 emperor battleship, two other battleships, 6 cruisers, 4 Troop Ships (1 per unit) and 16 Frigates.

The Forces of the 11th landed first, and secured a landing site rather far from the Chaos sites. They built a base, from prefabricated modules flown in from orbit, and surrounded it with trenches, Bunkers, and Walls. The only way in or out of the base, was to either blow open a wall (need a bit of seige gear, like a bombard or medusa) or to breach the gate (A Heavy tank could probably blow it open, maybe a defiler.)

Near the base was a small prefab airfield, with several shelters, a improvised control tower (It's a two-level bunker with an all around view.) and several bunkers for ammo, supplies, and barracks. Both the base and the airfield have underground tunnels that provide access to either base's other buildings. Note however, that it can be sealed off in the event of the tunnels being comprimised. (Forfeit next round for build time.)

Aircraft: 2 Marauder Bombers, 1 Marauder Destroyer, 6 Lightning Fighters (Strike), 4 Thunderbolt Air superiority Fighters, 10 Vulture Gunships, 4 Valkyrie Transports, 1 Marauder Vigilant AWACS (Forgeworld).

The Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes known as the Black Templars, on their endless crusade to prove their worth, and senseing the forces of Chaos at work, form together a fleet of ships, a Battle Barge Known as Fallen Crusader, with a handful of Strike Cruisers and Frigates, enters the system from the warp. It seems already to be alive with activity. Inside the Battle Barge, The Crusades Marshall, Draco Harkon, commands the fleet to move in on the Icy planet. Castellan Talos, and his company of Sword Brethren in Terminator Armour Prepare for the comeing battles.

"There should be A large force of Imperial Guard and one more Chapter here Lord Marshall" Said a Serf manning some equipment on the Bridge.

"Merely Trying to leech off of our glorious work. They will do little but get in the way. Though perhaps our fellow Astartes could lend us a hand in His will!" The Marshall walked about the Bridge ordering the Serfs about. The fleet scrambled into action.
"Prepare Our forces and we shall do swift work of the forces of Chaos here!"

Castellan Talos prayed in the Chapel of the Battle Barge. His fellow Battle Brother Ferras stood by his side.
"Soon we shall join battle with the Forces of the Imperium. What is there really waiting on the surface?" Asked the Castellan standing up.
"That I do not know. But soon we shall discover and destroy the Chaos Forces at work there!"

From the depths of they Warp, they had come. Onboard great warships, vicious, spiked monstrosities, they had come. The Blackadders had come to Dustin V.
Most of the men were unhappy with this.
----
The tides of fortune on Karasi were finally beginning to turn. In battle after battle, the Eagles were decimated by the Blackadders. City after city fell to the Taint, and the Change swept across the planet. The daemons feasted, the men revelled in their victories. Then, without warning, a number of the Thousand Sons arrived. While the men rejoyced at this (they saw it as a sure sign of their victory, the very envoys of Tzeentch appearing to them!), when it was learned that a number of them had to accompany these warriors to some far off planet that most of them that not heard of, the mood soon turned. The regiment went with them, albeit grudingly.
---
A former commisar, Kalo Roasl, stood onboard one of the great ships, in the guardsmens quater.
"Sir?" A young guardsman, as yet unaffected by the winds of Change, spoke to Kalo.
"Yes, soldier?"
"Well, you know how this place is called Dustin V."
"Yes, what of it?"
"Well... it's all ice, isn't it?"
"..Your point?"
"Well... Why name a glacier planet Dustin?"
"Please, go away and find out for yourself." Thankfully, at this time a General, or at least what used to be one, chose to call him over.
"Kalo!" The man stood at least 8 foot tall, covered in spines. His right arm was encased in carapace armor while the left had morphed into a barbed tentacle. "Quit standing about, damn it! Go and prepare the men for inspection, we're reaching the planet soon. If they are not ready in time, I will personally skin you and feed you to the daemons."
The fleet (consisting of one Despoiler class Battleship, with 20 Chaos Cruisers and 15 Sword Class Frigates) moved through the warp with a definate course and definate intent.

(Everyone else is doin' it, Reserved)

The cultists' sacrifice was not for naught. The foul energies of the daemonic artifact twisted their souls, sending forth a siren call on dark winds of the Warp. And he came, the Sorcerer Lord Raparth the Divine, devout follower of Tzeentch and child of the Thousands Sons Legion. The servant of Chaos arrived through the small crack in the Materium created by the corrupted servants of the Imperium, in a hidden and tunnel-filled mountain of blue stone, submerged under a black glacier nine degrees away from the southern pole.
There he performed all manner of dark rituals, as the Tau came from the skies above. The Warp Portal grew, and stabilized, hidden from unbelievers by the illusive power of the God of Change.
Far away his followers collected the Traitor Guard of Karasi, bringing them through the Immaterium to this icy world, their trip sped by warp winds sent by the Ruinous Powers themselves. At last, after weeks of his holy work, the great portal surged, revealing Asmoday, his longtime protege, who had been sent to collect the Blackadders.

"Our vessels have arrived, my lord." The younger sorcerer said as he dropped to one knee.
"Good. You have succeeded once more, brother." Raparth gestured the ceiling with his clawed and blue-feathered left hand. "Our enemies are closing in, but we shall not fail in our task. Return to the ships, tell the captains to keep them hidden well, so that they will be ready when the time to strike comes. Then return with the Guardsmen and our own forces. This shall be our hidden base of operations as we search for the artifact and wait for the fellow children of Chaos that I have seen are to come."
Asmoday nodded before returning through the portal. Within minutes, the Forces of Chaos were strengthening beneath that black glacier, hidden from the gaze of the False Emperor's servants and the unclean aliens.

In orbit above the planet a warp portal opened (ooc: is that right, not a frikin clue on how the warp system works in 40k) and 2 galaxy carryers entered the system with an escort of 6 sword frigates, 3 firestorm frigates and 4 cobra cruisers.

Aboard the lead Galaxy ship govener millitant Lucas Asmondy turned to his comisar "Its time to purge the heratics my friend." and turning to the capatain of the ships he said " Desend, FOR THE EMPORER WE GO TO BATTLE!!" and his fleet began its aproach to the planet.
As they aproached a large group of ships came into scanner range.

"Govener, there is a large space force here already, looks likes theres a battle barge here aswell" the captain said
"Hail the battle barge, even the emporers finest can use help."
"Yes govener" the captain said opening the channle
"Hail, brother space mariens. I am govener millitant Asmonday, my forces have been drafted in to contain the recent outbreak of xeno and heratic activitys. May we render assistants to you in your holey cruisade thrugh this system?"

EDIT: The hail is aimed at TUF

OOC: I'll post as soon as I can. Bit tired right now though.

(Arr! Fleeeeeets! Beating Me To Finishing My Reserve By 5 Minutes!)

OOC: Oh, and I'll post a map soon too to help everybody with strategy.

(OOC: Why did someone else drop first? I would think it would be my job. ;) We are the fucking jumptroopers. We land on top of hell feet first!)

Reserved, then I'll edit with my post that is currently being worked on with the Microsoft Word Bearers:tongue:.

OOC: Land the closest, Jump Boy.

OOC: Oh, it's on now.

The Strike Cruisers and their Frigate guardians, located positions for proper bombardment should it be needed, and unleashed their Troops and equipment inside. A small but steady, and soon large wave of craft, Thunderhawk Gunships, and transports carrying troops went down to establish a base of operations. The Battle Barge Slowed to a stop. The huge hulk of the ship then unleashed a torrent of Drop pods, filled with the Sword Brethren and other Vetaran warriors of the Templars, into the heat of battle.

There the Barge and the Fleet waited over the new territory gained for the Templar.
The Men orderly set up a Citadel of bases. The compound was built over a mountain region, a wall and a gate system made on each level up to the fourth level, where Anti Aircraft batterys were unloaded ready and willing. Anti Armour were down the other levels prepared to unleash hell. Finally, inside the Cliffside was a short system of tunnels filled with Ammo, Weapons and supplies, and then barracks to house the forces landed. And at the top was the Air and Vehicle pad, with Dropships unleashing more equipment and Vehicles on them by the hour. And at the base of the first level of defences was a large gate leading into the system of tunnels, the only entrance into the Compound. Little did the Templars enemys know, that in the case of a breach, the entrance could be caved in.

The serf informed the Marshall. "The Compound has been constructed, and we are prepared to unleash our assualt. Also, The Commandant of a force of Guardsmen wishs to aide us."

"Inform the Good Commandant that he shall need to set up a base of opperations. That should keep him out of our way...perhaps for the entire crusade!"

Commandant of the Imperium, The Marshall of the Black Templars overseeing this Crusade informs you he shall not require your Assisstance as of yet. You may procede to Engage the enemys of the Imperium.

- Lord Castellan Riven, 3rd Company, Black Templars.

OOC:
Heres my list of ships. As for ground forces, its ranged from the threat I'm encountering. If I'm fighting a skirmish far from base, its a nice group of marines with some support. If its a all out assualt on my Fortress, your going to encounter much more.

Space:
Battle Barge, Fallen Crusader
12 Strike Cruisers
30 Frigates

Colonel White, Commander of the Scrye 11th, Sent a short message to the Black Templar headquarters:

To: Commander of the Black Templars on Dustin V
From: Commander of the Scrye 11th Mechanized on Dustin V

Commander, My forces are at your disposal, we have air support standing by should you require it.

Tau sept Ren'ka

(OOC: I'll leave the management of the research base to Falk, because I have to go soon.)

"Aun'el, are you certain of this?"

Shas'o Tirel of the Ren'ka Sept looked at the Ethereal, Aun'el Pirel, who was busy staring out the window on the bustling city below. Earth and water caste workers scurried about, going about their daily tasks.

"I wish I wasn't, Commander, but the communications are true: the Humans are on Dustin V."

"But could it not be a trap set up by the Gue'la Imperium, to lure us to our doom?"

"Either way, it benefits the Greater Good that we investigate."

Tirel hung his head at the sound of the Greater Good, the singular purpose of all Tau.

"What do you command of me, Aun'el?" He said, kneeling

"You are to proceed to the planet and destroy the Gue'la attackers." The Ethereal turned around. "I will be accompanying you."

"But, Aun'el! You cannot! If the Gue'la are there as you predict, it would be too risky for you to be -"

"I have made my decision, commander. I am going."

"....As you wish."

Tau world Ren'ka

(OOC: I'll leave the management of the research base to Falk, because I have to go soon.)

"Aun'el, are you certain of this?"

Shas'o Tirel of the Ren'ka Sept looked at the Ethereal, Aun'el Pirel, who was busy staring out the window on the bustling city below. Earth and water caste workers scurried about, going about their daily tasks.

"I wish I wasn't, Commander, but the communications are true: the Humans are on Dustin V."

"But could it not be a trap set up by the Gue'la Imperium, to lure us to our doom?"

"Either way, it benefits the Greater Good that we investigate."

Tirel hung his head at the sound of the Greater Good, the singular purpose of all Tau.

"What do you command of me, Aun'el?" He said, kneeling

"You are to proceed to the planet and destroy the Gue'la attackers." The Ethereal turned around. "I will be accompanying you."

"But, Aun'el! You cannot! If the Gue'la are there as you predict, it would be too risky for you to be -"

"I have made my decision, commander. I am going."

"....As you wish."

OOC: Yea, I'll manage the Facility and defending Tau, as well as bring in more should it be needed. My post will come soon once I finish the map.

OOC: Cool, I'll be back in a bit. Thanks.

(OOC: Just you wait, their deployment method only gets crazier from here. Bassically the first stage is that their transport slides onto the ozone layer at full speed, but doesn't quite touch it. Then they shoot the drop pods out of giant guns. Then they catapult the Armoured Company Transports behind them. The Transport dips its prow, slams against the atmo, and bounces off. This means minimal chance of interception before launching everything, and there is a good chance the Transport escapes.)

“Officer on Deck!”

The sound of a thousand boots hitting the deck simultaneously was music to Lord Masterfel’s ears. He observed with cold, calculating eyes, the men under his command. Proud warriors, no, proud Imperial Guardsmen and women stared back at him with perfect discipline. He felt his chest fill with pride for his regiment. Next to him Varvaras cleared his throat. They were waiting for him.

“Soldiers of the Imperium! The God-Emperor calls from the Golden Throne, he calls for you to purge this world of alien filth, and traitorous scum. He watches you from Holy Terra, he knows each and every one of you. He knows that we cannot fail, for we are his most blessed children. Go forth, go forth and slay his enemies that the galaxy may know His beneficent rule!”

“Sections, Re-port to your transports!”

There was no chaos. Warhawks were too well trained. It was beautiful, the choreography of their maneuvers as they disappeared into transports. They disappeared from view.

“You know that most of them will never leave this planet alive,” his priest rumbled. His old, grandfatherly demeanor was solemn.

“All of us know it. We knew it the moment we volunteered. We knew it the day we were bouncing on our father’s laps while he told us tales of glory and carnage. Yet they will see through their duty to the Emperor,” Masterfel answered with a shrug. “Choas will not wait for us, Xenos will not stop their slaughter of mankind because we cannot bear the burden of war. We fight, or mankind will be steeped in darkness. Or it might not even have the luxury of darkness. Mankind could be blotted out from the stars. Which is impossible. Not while we are here.

“A fine regiment, and a fine people,” Commissar Craven answered, “but we must report to the drop ourselves. Emperor knows whether these vile foes of ours are already entrenched. Apparently the Eleventh has had the honor of landing first.”

“Well, let us not keep them waiting much longer.”

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

The Saint Anne moved into geosynchronous orbit with the planet at full burn, its hull glowing cherry red as it skimmed across the upper atmosphere. One of the cruisers and a handful of escorts pulled out of escort formation, and slid smoothly to create an umbrella over the transport as it was about to disgorge its cargo. Then fireballs leaped from launch tubes lining its hull, falling from it like the dying embers of a flying star. The fiery drop pods fell towards the earth, screaming with the velocity of their descent. The waves of cherry-red seeds wreathed in coronas of flame stopped before larger transports made similar exits from their berths. With its cargo discharged, the Imperial Transport “bounced” off the upper atmosphere and moved back into the cover of the Imperial Fleet, its mission fully discharged.

OOC: Ok, map is ready. I'll let each of you claim a position on it once it's up. Just let me know where, and I'll place a flag or marker there.

To: Commander of the Scrye 11th Mechanized
From: Lord Marshall of The Black Templars, Crusade Force

As your force is of the Mechanized Class, we would like to enlist your aide. If you have aquired a base of opperations, Inform us of the location, so we may form up our first assualt on the chaos forces here. We are prepareing a recon force to find such forces. We will inform you if the time comes. As for your forces in space, should you have any, Form up near your base of opperations, and keep in contact. Should a enemy force engage either of us, I'm sure our fleets will make short work of them.
His will be done. No Pity!, No Remorse!, No Fear!, For The Emperor!

~ Lord Marshall of The Black Templars, Crusade Force

The AWACS, The Thunderbolts, and two Lightnings went up. The lightnings were sent to look for the enemy encampment, while the Thunderbolts provided CAP for the Base, and the AWACS did it's job.

Meanwhile, Colonel White sent his base's position to the Lord Marshall

SNIP

Kalo knew Asmoday was coming. After years of serving alongside him, he had gained a sense. Whenever he appeared, there was a great warmth, which was cut short by the icy voice that came next.
"Are the men prepared?"
Kalo shuddered before replying, "Yes lord. They are ready to deploy, and are waiting for the opportunity to kill, turn and taint for Tzeentch."
"Excellent. I expected no less, Commisar."
"I will send an advance guard through the gate now, Lord."
"Very well. You may depart."
Kalo bowed in respect before walking away. The further away from Asmoday he got, the warmer the air became. He eventually reached the huge room where the advance group, a dozen strong team of Kasyrkin, had organized. They stood in rows of 5, with each squads seargeant, both women, and the ends. They shouted simutainiously, "Officer on deck! Squad, standard A!" The soldiers fell into position and Kalo smiled.
"Soldiers, you are indeed lucky. You will be the first Blackadders to set foor upon Dustin V. You will be remebered as the forerunners of the force, and will be greatly blessed by Tzeentch. I know you may still be aching to go back to Karas, to fight the Eagle fools-" A collective growl went up from the kasyrkin. They were all helemtless, and on each of their right cheeks the mark of Tzeentch (http://images.wikia.com/warhammer40k/images/7/73/Tzeentch_mark.png) was scarred. "-but do not fret. There are plenty more fools here, blind fools who still worship the false corpse god on Terra. One day we will march up the steps of it's palace, the bodies of his marines beneath our feet, their skulls in our hands, but that is not today. For now, we shall have to make do with killing his servants. The little things in life are needed for the big picture, eh?" The room suddenly grew warm again, then fell.
"You are ready?"
"Yes, lord. Men, boots on the ground."
---
A few moments later, the small group emerged from the portal, their black armor almost invisible in the black of the glacier.

OOC:

Mountain Area (Base Template ) and location wise coast to the North West.

Raparth the Divine, called such because of his dark faith, stood before shimmering tear in the Materium. Three cultists, all branded with the symbol of Tzeentch upon their foreheads, knelt before him, each in a sense of elation for their destiny as tools in the head of their master.
"Great Tzeentch, Lord of Change, Master of Sorcery!" He called. "Hear my words, carry them on the Winds of Change to my brothers in faith! Send these words and speed them to those who would help me slay the fool servants of the False Emperor!" He slashed his clawed fingers across the first bare-throated cultist. "Brothers! Come and slay the False Emperor's Lackeys! Let us fulfill the work of our Gods!" Another slash and another cultist fell dead. The fresh blood soaked into his feathered hand, staining the blue feathers with dark red. "Follow my voice, brothers! Come to Dustin V and let us continue to follow the lessons of Horus, and find the heritage the great Night Stalker has left here for us!" The third and final death finished the ritual. The Sorcerer prayed to Tzeentch that the other Chaos Marines heard the call.

OOC: I claim the West-middle coast.

OOC:

Mountain Area (Base Template ) and location wise coast to the North West.

OOC: I claim the West-middle coast.

Updating now.

The Huge monolith like gates forced their way open slowly. Their Armoured hulks were colored white, the Aquila in life size was marked on each door.
Out rushed several groups of Templar Bikers. The Recon Force was tailed by a few Thunderhawks for fast information transfer.
The Gate closed again.

Castellan Talos Stood overlooking as the Recon force moved out. "Hopefully they shall locate enemys to the west and south." The force split up. "Chaplin Ferras, Get the Sword Brethren ready and inform the other Castellans. We need to prepare our forces armoured support and form up with the Imperial Guard of the 11th." Said the Castellan as he turned and walked into the tunnel system to reach the top where the Air pads and were.
"At once Lord Castellan." The Chaplin hurryed off.

The Castellan Stood at attention as the Gunship thundered down. The ramp opened up and the Marshall came down. "Castellan, has the Recon Force moved down?" Asked the Marshall as he walked past the Castellan, he falling in the wake of the Marshall. "Yes Lord Marshall. We expect them to return in a few days. Have you established contact with our allies on this planet?"

"Yes, the 11th has offered its aide." They entered the Tunnel again, their black armour with white Pauldrons fadeing as they got deeper in.

Edit: OOC: SOoooOOOOoo much editing.

OOC: Put me wherever the nearest guard position is. My men should have thier boots on the ground now.

Ok. This'l lbe my last post for tonight. Getting tired. Feel free to keep up the slaughter though. I won't be able to post again until late tommorrow.

OOC: I think I'll just be in the south, I'll post an intro tommorrow.

OOC: For a base, I'd like to claim the area just to the right of the blue wave on the bottom. On the semi-penninsula.

The heavily modified Shadow-class cruiser otIarstill slid through the void, daetrin-cloak shielding it from detection. It had taken two months to make the transit from the nearest waygate, and it had been a tense two months indeed. It was two months that the Eldar could no longer afford.

Which was the reasoning for the otIarstill's cargo. It carried a single QuasDeash, a starship-class webway gate. The cruiser and would deploy it just outside the planet's gravity-well. The ship would then transmit its success, and warfleets of the Halle'Iesu craftworld would materialise adjacent to Dustin V. Eldar units would launch for the surface, and establish webway connections to the surface of the wartorn world.

Targets had already been selected for the aspect warrior detachments, fire prisms, guardian battalions and phantom titans that would exit the webway portals. The runes had been specific enough for that.

But the runes had not indicated the location of their objective. A powerful chaos artifact was here, of that there was no doubt. But it had proven frustratingly difficult to scry its location.

Force would be required. Of that there was no doubt either. But Farseer Karyasha as very unsure how exactly she was going to subdue hostile forces, and secure the planet long enough to ensure the artifact's destruction.

Lines of probability slid through the Farseer's mind. Each was examined and discarded as the situation changed, the sleek Eldar ship slicing through space towards the tortured planet.

Orders slid from Karyasha's mind to the otIarstill even as the threads of the future were analysed as they changed before her mindsight.

The Eldar had arrived.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

Blue and gold figures charged forward amidst the burning remains of a city. Their Sergeant rushed through the rubble, as explosion rained down all around them. His squad pushed forward, as daemonic fire and bolter shells rained down all around them. They had been battling for days on the burning remnants of Retaur III, against the sudden attack of the Alpha Legion. As per their recorded tactics, they came from nowhere, in multiple directions. Large Chaos Cults, built up in secret, had risen up and distracted the Imperial Guard regiments on the planet. Then the main thrust of the force came in from space, as the Chaos fleet ripped through their blockade and slammed into the planet with deadly force. They had only been able to resist due to the efforts of the Ultramarines.

The Sergeant gazed at the bodies of his brothers as he ran by, firing his bolter at the enemy. Yes, and such an effort it had taken. The final assault was upon them, the Imperial commander had done his best to build a bastion to hold off the Chaos forces. However, the sudden attack of Chaos from within by infiltrated cultists and the large assault from without had cracked it. The guardsmen, demoralized and beaten, had fallen like wheat, many rushing to join the Chaos forces. The Ultramarines knew they were the last hope. An explosion rocked the ground in front of them and they saw a line of Khrone Beserkers rushing at them, supported by Obliterators and Chaos Space Marines. They prepared for battle when a figure stepped out, and the Sergeant paled at the sight. The Chaos Lord whom had led the invasion with such skill, the one whom had personally wiped out entire squads of their battle brothers....Chaos Lord Lethem the Dire. He wore the typical power armor, darkened to dark blue with spikes and skulls mounted all over it, symbols of the Chaos gods painted all over. His helmet was a an affair of a helmet that fit his head, but was covered in spikes and two eye slits existed for him to see. He wielded a large scythe, crackling with power as he stared at the squad in front of him.

The Sergeant steeled himself and then ordered the charge. Lethem merely smiled and raised his scythe. Space Marine blood ran deep that day.

Lethem stepped over the body of the the Sergeant and came forward to see his sorceror, Rezis, standing still, his body inert. His eyes narrowed. The Sorceror's body began to tremble and then he fell to one knee. Lethem walked over. "What happened, Sorceror?" Rezis stood up and looked at the Chaos Lord.

"Milord, a message was sent out by a Raparth the Divine of the Thousand Sons legion. He has found a world known as Dustin V which has some sort of significance. The Warp whispers of a powerful artifact. The slaves of the False Emperor have already arrived to contest our claim to this world, and he calls for those to aid in his quest."

Lethem was silent for a moment as he looked around at the burning remnants of the city. This planet had fallen, the Ultramarines falling back and retreating some time ago. "Very well. We serve Chaos Undivided, and that means we must aid all those whom serve Chaos....if it suits us. And when there are loyalists to kill, and potential recruits to convert, it always suits us." He turned, his cloak fluttering behind him. "Rezis, prepare to send a message to Raparth, tell him of our arrival. Then....prepare a Warp portal. I will finish our affairs here and then join you."

The Sorceror chuckled darkly as the Chaos Lord walked off and then called for the many eager cultists about him to join him in a ritual....They chanted prayers and great dark chants of the Warp and their gods, sacrificing cultists to boost the power and range of the ritual. Finally, when its power was enough, Rezis spoke.

"Hear me, Raparth the Divine. The Alpha Legion has heard your call and will come to your aid. We will have the rivers run red with the blood of the slaves of the False Emperor and give a fitting tribute to Khorne. Praise Chaos Undivided!"

************

The fleet was given its orders and it moved away from the planet, getting into battle formation and preparing for battle. Much of the cultists on the planet were ordered to stay, along with all of the converted Guardsmen, to keep their hold on that world and be prepared for more Alpha Legion reinforcements, to cement their control. For now, Lethem had a more important appointment to keep. Rezis and his small cabal of Sorcerors cried out dark chants to the Chaos Gods, and the blood of the cultists ran deep, filling the designs etched into the open ground they had made. The air screeched and twisting, as dark whispers sounded in their ears. The Warp fought with the realspace of this world and the power of the Alpha Legion's Sorcerors and the Warp prevailed, causing a powerful Warp Portal to burst into being. Lethem raised his scythe.

"The Gods call to us, my brothers! They call for the deaths of the slaves of the Imperium! Khorne calls for his tithe of blood and bone! Slaanesh calls for his pleasure at seeing his enemies fall! Nurgle calls for loyalists to be laid low by disease and decay! And Tzeentch calls for the constant change that will undo them! Forward, and we will claim the world of Dustin V in the name of Chaos Undivided!" He charged forward, as his forces roared behind him and charged after him. They entered the Warp Portal and were sucked along through the Warp until it burst through the air of a large cavern in the mountain range the Thousand Sons had located.

Lethem stepped forth, taking a deep breath of air. Another untainted world...he loved the smell of innocence that he would rape and tear away for the glory of his gods. He turned and waved, and his forces coaxed forth a gaggle of slaves, converts to Chaos whose only use was to do the most menial of tasks. "Rezis, have this group begin the summoning of what we required and get the supplies from Retaur III coming. I want us to be in a position to strike at the Imperials quickly." The slaves were quickly sent off with cultists and the Sorceror's, whom began to call forth their structures and buildings, constructing a base they would need to fuel their campaign. Some were detailed to constructing a complex Gate to house the Warp Portal and tame its unbridled fury, for a more stable portal.

The cries of the dying and the howling of the Warp filled the caverns. Chaos had come and it would not leave without a fight.

Lethem gazed around, and as he saw his forces scouting the caverns and securing the area, he had the signal sent. His fleet, whom had already been traveling through the Warp, had received the signal and quickly altered course. With a screech of the Materium and a blast of Warp energy, the Chaos fleet exited the Warp and began to head for orbit of Dustin V. Shields were up and weapons brimming with power. Hell Talons, Doomfires and Swift Deaths poured of the ships and formed squadrons around the fleet, as the escorts took up formations to protect the fleet. Fresh from their conquestion of Ratuar III, this fleet was ready for war.

Ships Detected!

The red sirens through out the ships rang on and off, signaling that ships have entered the planets proximity.

"My lord, Hostile targets have entered, number at 31 ships. Long range scanners and the Chaplins define Chaos forces have arrived. What are your orders?"

The stand in for the Marshall was the Interim Fleet Commander. "Pull the Strike Cruisers back And form the Frigates up with them. Put them on long range assualt. The Frigates will form around them and the Fallen Crusader and we shall give them swift fury."

The ships prepared to meet the Chaos forces on the best positioning they could manage. The Space Marines Orbital forces spread out and prepared to use rangeing shots against the comeing forces.

"For the Emperor, Strike Cruisers, open fire!"

And all Warp broke loose.

The sensors of the hidden fleet, a combined force of Traitor and Chaos vessels, pinged in the darkness of their silent-running.
"We detect allied ships dropping out of the Warp, Captain," reported the sensors officer on board the Despoiler-class battleship. "The loyalist marine fleet is moving to engage."
The mutated Captain cursed the name of the False Emperor. "We can't just let those forces go to waste... Even though we're outnumber, set a course for the loyalist fleet, make them fight a two-front battle."
The Chaos fleet began to move away from the star, in whose background radiation it had been hiding, setting a course for the Black Templar fleet (though mindful of the position of the Imperial Navy fleets). Knowing surprise would be to its advantage, it kept itself in a direct line between the Space Marines and the star, acting to mask and later confuse their positions.

A Message was broadcasted to both Imperial Guard Commanders on a secure channel.

Transmission, From: Fallen Crusader, Black Templar Battlefleet

Chaos Forces have arrived, just as we feared. We Implore you to aide us with your fleets. A assualt against Our Battlefleet would be surely futile, but the loss of our ships would be great. Refer to the Marshalls Tactics.

"This is Lord Marshall Harkon, I request that your Battle Groups flank the enemy swiftly. I require one battle group to hang back and protect my fleets flanks. I shall lead the charge with the Fallen Crusader into the Chaos forces heart and tear apart their Capital ships with this Battle Barges superior weaponry. His will be done, No Pity! No Remorse!, No Fear!"

Transmission Ended.

The Fleet positioned Correctly, and launched Thunderhawks to intercept enemy Strike Craft.
The Battle Barge Made its way to the head of the fleet. It was bristleing with lance batterys and other deadly weapons. The huge ship prepared to unleash hell upon the Chaos forces approaching.

A rip opened in the warp as a number of Jet-black vessels entered the system. Aboard his flagship, Abaddon the Despoiler saw all.

"Another world, ripe for the picking. Brothers! We shall feast on death today!"

There was a roar from the crew, as troops and Terminators prepared their weapons. The fleet began making it's way towards the soon shattered world of Dustin V. Drop pods immediatly began to jettison, lanching wave after wave of troops and tanks towards the surface. Fighters followed, covering their drop. Some cruisers moved into postition, preparing for orbital bombardment...

Commandant of the Imperium, The Marshall of the Black Templars overseeing this Crusade informs you he shall not require your Assisstance as of yet. You may procede to Engage the enemys of the Imperium.

- Lord Castellan Riven, 3rd Company, Black Templars.

"Very well lord" the govener said as his transports launched deploying unitys and supplys to the center of the planets land mass.

Once they had landed the guardsmen worked with the tech priests with such speed and determination that the guard were famous for. Rapidly a multi-tiered base (4 tiers) with massive infantry quaters on the first tier on either side of a huge gate faceing south. The gate was flanked by several heavy weapon crews with heavy bolters and lasc cannons and there was a perminant kasrikan presance at it , aswell as a several phykers to relay information quickly to the higher tiers.

On the second tier (about 25% smaler than the first) were several vehicle facilitys as well as a fair few AA betteries. On this level there were some large vehicle bays where hundreds of leman russ variants, chimeria variants and artilery pices and every thing else, from sentinals to trojans.

On the third tier were several large construction bays were dozens of tech priests were asembling the stormblade and baneblade tanks that were the eagles ace up ther sleave. Yet despite the hundred or so guardsmen assighned to assist the tech priests on each build progress was slow. (this tier is 25% the size of the last one)

On the fourth tier was the command structure and a parade/ assembly ground aswell as an orbital relay and several logistical buildings.
the top two tiers had artilery emplacements as well as flak batteries. Each tier was connected by a series of ramps wide enugh for the super heavy tanks to use with room for infantry to move on either side.

While all this was going on the chaos fleet entered the system and the space mariens transmition was recived. Rapidly the eagles fleet formed up and bean to move towards the heratics, thier weapons blasting away with a huage array of lasers, lancers and torpedos.

Complying with the marine's orders, the fleet moved and took position on the flanks of the crusaders.

Meanwhile, the first scout vehicles began heading out of the base, towards the southeast, northeast, and east.

Somewhere in Warp-space

Kor'el Shor'es stood on the bridge of his Or'es El'leath Class Battleship, observing the fleet at his command (A fleet of 30 Assorted Tau escort ships, 20 Cruisers, and 2 Or'es El'leath Class Battleships, with Kir'la Class escort ships each. Tell me if it's too much.)

"Kir'la, we're approaching the Dustin system."

Shor'es' hand flew to the comms button, which connected his voice to the rest of the ship. He had been handpicked by Aun'el Pir'el himself to lead the expeditionary force's efforts in space, and he would not fail him.

"All hands, we are approaching the Dustin system. All crew, report to battle stations. Prepare to deploy fighters and Kir'la escorts. Ready the Fire Warriors and their for equipment for planetfall."

"Kir'la, we are detecting multiple vessels around Dustin V. It seems the Gue'la Imperium are not the only forces there."

More enemies? The captain thought to himself. Well, at least they'll too be busy fighting each other to respond to us in earnest.

"Captain, is the fleet ready?"

Shor'es whirled around, to be met by the gaze of none other then the Ethereal himself, who now stood before him, honor blades in hand.

"Yes, Aun'el." He replied, kneeling before the Ethereal. "Everything is proceeding as planned. We will be entering the system momentarily."

"Very good." Pir'el turned to the bridge crew, who were busy carrying out the orders of their commander.

"Hear me, members of the Air Caste!" The crew all stopped and turned to gaze up at the Ethereal. They were awestruck, here was a member of the Ethereal caste, personally addressing them.

"Know that what we are doing here advances the Greater Good! Our enemies seek to destroy what we have worked so hard to accomplish! They do not aid the Greater Good, and must be destoyed!"

With that, the entire bridge crew erupted in cheer.

"I take my leave now, Captain." The Ethereal said, turning for the door. "Carry out your orders."

"Yes, Aun'el." He replied

With that, the Tau Empire exited Warp-travel to Dustin V.

The Squadrons of Thunderhawks moved under the cover of fire screened from the Imperial ships. They slid past the first frigates and cruisers easily and engaged the Enemy fighters.

Meanwhile the Black Templar Fleet, now formed up with the one Imperial Battle group, either held position and fired from afar, or seperated to join battle with the other Imperial fleet.

The Fallen Crusader moved with all haste with its guard of Strike Cruisers and Frigates. It pounded out several waves of lance fire. Its goal was to take down the enemys Capital ships while the rest of the fleet covered it from fire of the heavy enemy Cruisers and smaller Frigates. The Marshall, now returned to command of the fleet, sent a Transmission to the Guard group at the flanks of the Battlefleet.

"This is the Marshall again. This is the plan as far. The first Imperial battle group will engage and redirect enemy fire. The next will be us, with a goal of takeing out thier Capital ships and heavy cruisers. The last should likely be the rest of our Fleet and yours to mop up the Chaos scums worthless hulks that still stand. The Emperor be with you in this battle.

There were several heavy thuds as Chaos landing craft impacted into the ground. They found themselves to the west of the planet, as Chaos Land raiders disembarked their pods, with several squads of Chaos Space Marines.

In Orbit aboard the Blackstar, Abaddon the Despoiler looked on as his comm officer reported in.

"It seems we aren't the only ones interested in this world. There's another group of the faithful here."

"All the merrier for the slaughter."

"My Lord! The Imperial scum have fleets here! A good fight awaits us!"

"Patience fool. We shall be feasting on death soon enough. Let those scum make the first move."

The Black legion fleet charged weapons as it prepared for battle...

A serf looked up from his Scanners. "More Chaos ships have entered the orbit." The serf went on. The marshall replied "Then we shall strike them down aswell after we deal with this first fleet." In reality, with the combined forces of Chaos, they just might be out numbered.


ooc:
I kinda need Telros to Engage and confirm loss of ships. Otherwise, this battle is going to be pretty much waiting for him to get on.

OOC: I shall wait then.

This is the Marshall again. This is the plan as far. The first Imperial battle group will engage and redirect enemy fire. The next will be us, with a goal of takeing out thier Capital ships and heavy cruisers. The last should likely be the rest of our Fleet and yours to mop up the Chaos scums worthless hulks that still stand. The Emperor be with you in this battle.

"By you command Marshal, be advised we have detected more heratic ships and will stand ready to move to engage them if the need arises. untill then we will draw thier fire" the captain of the imperial cruiser His sacred fury replyed, opening a fleet wide comunication he said "All ships open fire, dont stop unill they glow!!!"

The Tau Research Center, originally set up as a peaceful installalation to study the warp, was buzzing with frantic activity. Their sensors had only been designed to pick up minute traces in the warp, and yet they were detecting monstrosities in the atmosphere.

Although he couldn't be sure, Commander O'Korvesa had already determined that they were fleets, most likely hostile. The good thing however, was that he had surprise on his side. The other races had no idea of the Tau presence on Dustin V.

Within moments, he broadcasted a desperate encrypted message to the nearby systems for help. As he waited for a response, he took the initative and deploy some of his crack Fire Warrior teams to the perimeter fortifications of the base, in hopes of detecting an enemy encroachment before they knew where they were.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Out in the frozen wastes of Dustin V, the Fire Warrior teams had assembled inside their respective defensive emplacement, gearing themselves up and mounting stationary weapons in the event an attack would come soon.

The Recon forces bikers were swift, all maintaining a healthy appetite for the destruction of His enemys in the most gruesome ways possible. The Assualt bikes they rode were armed with the same nose mounted bolters, but the truly amzeing sight is a Templar rushing past you can cleaveing your head off with a Powersword or a Chainsword. Recon team Alpha had sat by and useing tactical equipment to view the Base from afar. They spotted fire warrior teams mounting up and activateing the defenses. The active team leader, Yeritz faced his team.

"Brother Fedaraz, Use your vox transmitor and inform the Chapter Compound that we have located a vile Xeno force here. In the mean time, let us inform our Thunderhawk support this would be a perfect time for attack" The Leader signaled and the team moved out. He then used his vox to contact the two Thunderhawks circleing a few miles behind them. "Xeno Base located. Unleash the Emperors fury upon them from above." The Leader mounted his assualt bike and sped off with a dozen others.

The Thunderhawks twin bolters and missile pods were primed. They circled once more and sped off for the Tau base. As the approached, they signaled Compound the location of the base, then just as fast, unleashed a volly of missiles and bolter fire at the defenses, then just as soon, turned around and headed in the direction of the Templar Citadel.

The Recon forces bikers were swift, all maintaining a healthy appetite for the destruction of His enemys in the most gruesome ways possible. The Assualt bikes they rode were armed with the same nose mounted bolters, but the truly amzeing sight is a Templar rushing past you can cleaveing your head off with a Powersword or a Chainsword. Recon team Alpha had sat by and useing tactical equipment to view the Base from afar. They spotted fire warrior teams mounting up and activateing the defenses. The active team leader, Yeritz faced his team.

"Brother Fedaraz, Use your vox transmitor and inform the Chapter Compound that we have located a vile Xeno force here. In the mean time, let us inform our Thunderhawk support this would be a perfect time for attack" The Leader signaled and the team moved out. He then used his vox to contact the two Thunderhawks circleing a few miles behind them. "Xeno Base located. Unleash the Emperors fury upon them from above." The Leader mounted his assualt bike and sped off with a dozen others.

The Thunderhawks twin bolters and missile pods were primed. They circled once more and sped off for the Tau base. As the approached, they signaled Compound the location of the base, then just as fast, unleashed a volly of missiles and bolter fire at the defenses, then just as soon, turned around and headed in the direction of the Templar Citadel.

OOC: So the Thunderhawks just appeared out of nowhere? If the Marines didn't know there was a base there, why would they have air support? Oh, and remember, there are constant blizzards as well. Visibility would be terrible.

IC:
Enemy Detected.

That's what began to reverberate throughout the defensive complexes, putting all the Tau on high alert. Although they couldn't see more than few yards infront of them due to the constant blizzards, they knew to trust the drone's advanced optical sensors.

They scrambled for weapons and barricaded themselves inside their bunkers, letting no one in, and only those who could not fight out. In order to protect the turrets and AA guns from the ravages of the environment, they were kept on hydralics and stored inside the bunkers themselves. All the soldiers had to do was retract the top roof and deploy the guns.

As the turrets had been deploy the moment the soldeirs arrived at their positions, there was no need to prepare them. All that remained now was for the Fire Warriors to button-down and wait for the enemy to come within range.

OOC: One, I sent marines out east (I said I was in the North West.) to recon the area. They smack dab you as your in their path, and i also said a few thunderhawks were tailing them. I prepared for everything. As for the Blizzards, I intended to cause little damage. It was kinda like a 'We know your there!' shot. Also, their gone dude. It was a one shot volly. So some missiles should have came flailing your way by now, if not accurately.

As for the message, its 'Will be back for you.'

At the Eagles base a few groupes of sentinels and Salamander scouts were fanning out in all directions searching out hostiles on the land mass

OOC: One, I sent marines out east (I said I was in the North West.) to recon the area. They smack dab you as your in their path, and i also said a few thunderhawks were tailing them. I prepared for everything. As for the Blizzards, I intended to cause little damage. It was kinda like a 'We know your there!' shot. Also, their gone dude. It was a one shot volly. So some missiles should have came flailing your way by now, if not accurately.

As for the message, its 'Will be back for you.'

OOC: Oh, ok. I'm tired right now, so you'll have to excuse my lack of reading ability. I'll put a damage report soon.

The Chaos Lord Drakor leading the drop group, surveyed the landscape. Nothing but endless wasteland. Barren. Dead. Perfect...

"This is my kind of world... Ok scumbags, secure the area. I want to begin assaulting the Imperial Scum as soon as possible!"

Tanks throttled forward, blasting randomly at rocks, desperate to fill their bloodlust.

Warp portals opened up in what was once empty space, and the Tau fleet came through, prepared for a battle.

"Kor'el, we have entered the Dustin system."

"What's the status of our enemies?"

"It appears that there are a number of Gue'la vessels in the immediate vicinity of the planet. It also seems that some are locked in battle."

"Let them fight each other, wear themselves down. Only then shall we strike the killing blow."

"Yes si- wait." The operator pressed several buttons in succession on his console. "We are receiving a distress signal from the planet, it's encrypted. Decoding now."

It took a moment for the decryption to finish, but the message was clear. The research base was under attack.

"Send a message to the base. Tell them to prepare to receive reinforcements."

"Yes, sir."

The encrypted response was sent as follows:

Commander O'Korvesa,
This is Captain Shor'es of the Kor'vattra. We have arrived with multiple fire teams to aid in your defense. An Ethereal is with us.

With that, the Tau fleet sped towards the planet at all speed, attempting to get in range to land ground troops to assist in the battle.

By now, cultists had placed banners all over the place, and the landscape was already beginning to corrupt. The warping presence of Chaos was already beginning to show...

The second scouting party, that of the Beta, were rideing south from the North Western coast. They expected to find their Allies of the 11th first, not to encounter the taint of chaos. Thats not to say they were not prepared.
"Who are they Brother?" asked a Templar Biker at the front of the group. The force of Bikers slowed to a stop. "Chaos theres no question on that. I say we go farther in. There might be some important information we can bring back. For one thing, the group of scum they belong to."

The group remounted and went further, hopeing to find the chaos encampment. The Taint of Chaos, already creeping along the land scape was a sign of their arrival.

OOC:

Theyll be found by the Black Legion. I'm pretty sure you picked the west, that and I sent down a second party to the south, which would be directly the North West coast down the West Coast, which I think is where they are. If not, I'm sure someone else would be more then happy to make sure this post wasn't pointless.

OOC:
Theyll be found by the Black Legion. I'm pretty sure you picked the west, that and I sent down a second party to the south, which would be directly the North West coast down the West Coast, which I think is where they are. If not, I'm sure someone else would be more then happy to make sure this post wasn't pointless.

OOC: That's fine.

Aspiring Champion Ludor lead his scout party north, consisting of 2 Chaos Marine squads and a pack of cultists.

"Look! Bikers!" Screamed one marine, readying his Heavy Bolter with glee.

"Come my brothers! Let us feast on them!" Yelled Ludor.

The squads leveled their weapons, consisting of 10 Bolt guns, 2 Heavy Bolters, a Missile launcher and numorous Laspistols from the cultists, and Opened fire.

OOC: Naturally I expect you to escape, so that you can report my position and make this interesting. But as long as I kill a few of you that's fine. :)

OOC: I'm afriad you wernt paying attention. Do you really think they have no intention of takeing down a handful of you at close range with Powerswords and various other nasty things?

The Bikers had aproached a group of Chaos forces. When they opened fire from away, they quickly got into battle formation. The elaborate tactic protected the majority from direct fire.

A missile struck the nose of a assualt bike, and it toppled over, surely killing the marine when it exploded. One more Marine fell off his bike as he was filled with holes. He stood one last time and unleashed a spray from his bolter one last time, hopeing to take down a enemy, before he took far to many rounds.
Again a rocket struck a bike, it explodeing on impact. They drew their Chainswords and unleashed fire with their nose mounted Bolters. They quickly closed in and prepared to cleave and strike off heads with their chain swords.

OOC: Now I guess you post, refer your loss, and then the Marines pull out, now with information on the Black Legion. And i say that they would escape, of course because they are rideing bikes, and the Chaos Space Marines are not. Muhahaha now face the Templars might from atop their assualt bikes!

OOC: It's not about winning. It's about writing a good story. :p

The cultists screamed and darted around as several of them were cut to ribbons in a hail of bolter fire. 4 Chaos marines were also gunned down, their bodies riddled with bullets, their faces happy to have died in such a way.

Ludor himself had taken a round to the shoulder, but continued to blast away, picking up the heavy bolter from a corpse and turning it on the bikers.

"This is what I call a battle. THIS IS LIFE!"

"No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!" Came the response from several Templars. The lead Biker went right for what looked like the leader of the Chaos enemys. He raised his Chainsword and prepared to cleave off his head or upper torso. He also tried to riddle him with Bolter fire. The other assualt bikes also went right for marines or cultists, hacking and shooting away before prepareing to pull out.

As the lead templar headed in to strike, Ludor swung the Heavy Bolter, aiming for his head.

There were only 4 marines left now, the rest riddled with bolter fire. The cultists were running all over the place.

But on the horizon appeared a Chaos Predetor, armed with Lascannons...

The Leader swiftly changed directions. He reformed with the group of bikers. They turned around in the direction of the Chapters Citadel. The leader raised the engine power of his and was soon at the head of the group.
"That should stop them for now. Let us report to the Castellans. They shall know what to do."

The Bikers were now over the horizon heading along to the mountains to the north...leaveing behind the carnage of the wrecked Chaos recon force.

Ludor smirked as the bikers fled.

"Fools... you have yet to taste the power of the Chaos gods!"

The broken force immediatly began making for the chaos lines, to report the presence of the Black Templars. Back at the landing site, Lord Drakor was busy installing mobile defenses. Heavy Bolter turrets were being installed around the landing area, and Chaos Drednaughts prowled the perimeter.

Meanwhile in orbit.

"Disengage, I repeat, all ships disengage. Multiple enemys are being picked up around the Gravity Well. All Imperial Ships fall back to over watch the Imperials Coastal regions. Wait and they shall arrive." The Marshall Pulled the Battle Barge out of combat when the next enemy fleet had entered. The Strike Cruisers and Nova Frigates fell back, then formed up near the region of space over the Templar and Imperial Lines. The Strike Cruisers formed up around the Battle Barge, and the Frigates around the Strike Cruisers. The Marshall Expected the Imperial BattleFleets to comply any moment now.

"My Lord, Xenos have been found and engaged, and were certain the Recon force will locate the forces of Chaos soon. What would you have the ground forces do?" Asked a Castellan, who was waiting for the Marshalls reply down at the Citadel, useing his vox transmiter.

"You shall form up with the Imperial Guard Regiments, and assualt the enemy strongholds. Should you locate the Forces of Chaos, you shall strike at them first. Leave no taint to insult the Emperor." The Marshall ended the transmission and sat down at the Captains chair, allowing him to command the bridge easily from one spot.

"Pull back the Thunderhawks from the approaching Chaos Fleet. When they come into complete range we will blast them, and when they come limping out of the wreckage, we will blast them again!"

As the Marshall said this, a blip and notice came up on his command console. "...Their sending who?!"

In orbit aboard the Blackstar, Abaddon the Despoiler watched over as slaves scanned the surface.

"Black Templars... Tau... and lots of Imperial Guard. The slaughter will be oh so sweet."

His terminator bodyguard looked on as he paced off of the bridge. More drop pods were being dispatched, while the fleet bombarded the area around the landing zone - just to be sure.

In orbit aboard the Blackstar, Abaddon the Despoiler watched over as slaves scanned the surface.

"Black Templars... Tau... and lots of Imperial Guard. The slaughter will be oh so sweet."

His terminator bodyguard looked on as he paced off of the bridge. More drop pods were being dispatched, while the fleet bombarded the area around the landing zone - just to be sure.

OOC: Tau? From orbit, the base is concealed by the dense atmosphere and blizzards of the planet.... or are you talknig about the other Tau player?

OOC:

Hey Falk, do you think you could update the map? I think your missing a few people. That and you still didn't fix the Templars location, which should be the NW coast, not the NE.

OOC: Tau? From orbit, the base is concealed by the dense atmosphere and blizzards of the planet.... or are you talknig about the other Tau player?

Yes I did mean the other player.

Roger that, sorry for the but in.

As for the map, getting to it now!

While still on its way to the planet Dustin V, from its hiding place near the corona of the Dustin (the star) itself, the fleet of Tzeentch began to notice an increased number of both fellow Chaos followers and a considerable fleet of the irreligious Tau. Though it was only half-way to Dustin V's orbit, the fleet slowed to a crawl, then stopped. There was no need to waste the lives of Tzeentch's chosen if they could just pick at the pieces of the weakened survivors. An encoded message was sent by heretical sorcery to their forces on the ground, telling both the Thousand Sons and the Traitor Guard of the situation in space.

Far below the diverse maneuvering fleets, the Chaos base stirred, poking up into the sunlight. Holes in the glacier began the appear as Salamander tanks escorted by heretical Guardsmen burned their way to the surface, before beginning to fan out west and north. Each of these scouting patrols contained a single psyker-adept trained by the Thousand Sons. After their departure, it did not take long for Dustin V's frigid winds to obscure the tunnel entrances in a layer of snow and rapidly-freezing ice.
Lower still, the main Warp Portal had begun to effect the surrounding tunnels, warping into a blasphemous echo of a Daemonworld. Though, throughout the complex, the discipiples of Chaos began to call forth various daemons to assist them, it was in that main chamber that the Sorcerer Lord stood, in the center of a blood-drawn nine-pointed star dotted with foul Warp runes, surrounded by nine kneeling figures obscured by black robes.
"Come, spirits of Chaos, pour onto this world that we may remake it in the image of our Masters! Come, daemons, and feast upon the flesh of man and the minds of those faithful to the False Emperor!"
Though it started as a trickle, soon a constant stream of daemons of all sorts emerged from the Warp, ready to lay waste to all those who stood before them.

((OOC: Void Templar doesn't have computer access at the moment and, thus, has asked me to send out some of his troops to scout, so it doesn't seem as though the Traitor Guard have just disappeared.))

"Good to see that more of the faithful have arrived." Smiled Lord Drakor. By now the land was red and cracked, and strange demonic growths were sprouting near Banners of Chaos. Within the base, Marines prepared weaponary as they were ready to push. They had already seen a possible target - the Black Templar base. The Imperial Guard were no threat in their eyes. Many had gunned down hundred of IG troopers single handedly.

Defilers were now patroling the perimeter, occasionally venting flame, melting what ice was left, for much of the land was now corrupted earth. A number of recon fighters kept an eye on the skies, whilst anti - air defences were now being deployed.

Ludor and what was left of his men now arrived in camp, riddled with Bolter fire, and badly wounded. But still they were in a fighting mood.

"Followers of the False Emperor my Lord." Ludor exclaimed, bowing.

"I know. Lord Abaddon has already informed me. Informed me of your failure."

Drakor plunged his power sword into Ludors chest, before driving it upwards, cutting his head in two. He smiled as the gushing blood landed on his face.

"Ah... It is such a joy."

The First Recon team had already returned to the Templar Fortress. The Gates opened once more to let in the Second one in. The leader as soon as he and his team stopped at the Vehicle Hanger, jumped off his bike and ran for the Chapel. "Castellan Talos! We have located Chaos."

The Castellan turned quickly and aproached the black and white clad marine. "Where? Who?" The words came out quickly as he opened the door to allow in the other Recon marines, and a few other Castellans they had gotten to come with them.

"They are to the south directly from here. Their force has settled and likely dug in. Its...I dont know how to explain how, but we think they are under the Banner of The Dispoiler." The Lead Marine stepped aside to be debriefed by the other Castellans. Talos was out of the room by now.

Chaplin Ferras came up beside him. "What will the Templars actions contain? How will you do to deal with this Brother?" The Chaplain stopped beside the Castellan. He turned and looked directly at the Black armoured form of the Chaplain. "We go to war."

The Fortress was complete by now, Tunnels expanded to suit the Entire Crusade force. As well as their collection of heavy fire power. Land Raider Crusaders fit to fight and transport marines. Predator Destructors armed with Las Turrets and Auto cannon sponsers with Heavy Bolters. Rhino transports, and Assualt bikes were among them as well. The Marines were allready blessing the Machine Spirt and running the Tech Marines hard to get every Tank, Transport and Gunship working.

At a main Junction, the main body of the first assualt force gathered.
"Templars! Today we go to destroy the Black Legion! No more will The Dispoiler live." At that 300 Marines Cheered and let loose their battle Cries.

"No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!"

OOC: Falk, I sent your Tau a message.

Or'es El'leath Class Battleship
Tau Fleet

"Kor'el, we've entered range of the planet. It seems the Gue'la have not taken any action against us as of yet."

"Let's hope it stays that way. Commence landing."

"Yes, sir."

In a few moments, Tau transport craft could be seen leaving the position of the Tau fleet at high speed, lit up by the impact of the craft's hull against the atmosphere.

A lightning recon aircraft, scouting to the north, spotted the chaos encampment.

Within 10 minutes, the two marauder bombers, and the lightnings, were airborne, laden with bombs and missiles, the thunderbolt fighters that were in the air darted towards the area to attack any aircraft overhead, and bomb any AA emplacements.

Meanwhile, on the surface, a Brigade-strength force of Leman Russ Tanks and Chimera Carriers set out towards the chaos, to set up a line of trenches that would guard from their assault.

OOC: Err... which Chaos? Thousand sons or me?

OOC: Well The 11th are my main Allies, so I'd guess it was the Black Legion simply becuase it would mean he could get in on that battle, and that hes closest to you apparently.

The Gates of the Fortress were now opening again. Soon out came dozens of packs of Assualt Bikes. Then came Squadrons of Predator Destructors. And then the Land Raider Crusaders thundered out, with Marines inside. After these fighting vehicles, Rhino Transports, and Thunderhawk Gunships went out last, carrying the main Infantry battle force. And last came a modified Land Raider Crusader, with the White Banner of the Black Templars fluttering over it. In it were the Elite force, With Castellan Talos and His Sword Brethren inside.

They all formed up and made for south, while the other assualt forces were prepared. The Castellan used the Vox Transmiter inside his Land Raider Crusader. "Colonel White, we would like to inform you of a Black Legion Base near your Base. Launch forces against it as soon as possible. The Black Templars shall arrive soon, with intention of destroying the Forces of Chaos on this planet, and removeing their taint."

OOC:

50 Predator Destructors, 5 Land Raider Crusaders. 100 Assualt Bikes, 30-40 Rhinos, 15 Gunships, 300 Infantry (Regular) Marines Inside Transports, 50 Sword Brethren in Terminator Armour inside Land Raiders Crusaders. This is Pretty much the force of a single chapter in some cases. Good thing the Templars have outrageous amounts of Marines.

OOC: Falk, I sent your Tau a message.

Or'es El'leath Class Battleship
Tau Fleet

"Kor'el, we've entered range of the planet. It seems the Gue'la have not taken any action against us as of yet."

"Let's hope it stays that way. Commence landing."

"Yes, sir."

In a few moments, Tau transport craft could be seen leaving the position of the Tau fleet at high speed, lit up by the impact of the craft's hull against the atmosphere.

"You are truely worthy of a place among the Tau commanders. We will be dug in and waiting for your reinforcements. As for the Ethereal, we are honored by his presence."

The message was quickly communicated throughout the defensive positions that help was on the way. It was music to the weary Fire Warriors' ears, having been up for close to three nights and eager for some rest.

Damage Report:
2 Bunkers slightly damaged
1 AA Turret Destroyed
1 Plasma Turret Destroyed
2 Fire Warrior KIAs

He was naked. Within his sanctum, nestled deep in the heart of the Incendiary Logic, the ship which carried both his Host and his message across the stars, he stood. His form was tall, taller than any mortal man could hope to achieve, muscle rippling with unknowable power, flesh marked with the scars of war and the daily scourgings, rites of purity that spoke to the very heart of his shame. Remiel, Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers, held out his arms as the metallic limbs of the chirugeon-daemon enclosed him. He felt quills tipped with the bones of Imperial saints piercing his flesh, his body pulsed with ruinous intensity as the ink, blood crushed from the hearts of cardinals, invaded his debased flesh.

For ten thousand years he had killed in the name of his dark Pantheon, serving the limitless powers of the Warp. How could the countless billions of mankind bend knee to a dead god, a ruined seer entombed and silent forever, when the true Gods whispered at every turn? He had failed them, true enough, but this day he would redeem himself. He would bring the wrath of the Gods down upon the faithless, crush the idolaters beneath his boots, in the name of hallowed Lorgar he had sworn it.

Remiel hissed again, his lips parted as he let the mechanical embrace do their fell work, carving new runic patterns along the path of spine, intoning a litany of shame beside those that spoke of 10,000 years of glorious adulation before the Gods.

The skin of the universe ripped with a scream beyond human comprehension. The Incendiary Logic and the other vessels of it's fleet seared themselves into the fabric of the Materium, still trailing the after-echoes of the divine Immaterium. Remiel had armoured himself, allowing slave-helot servitor things to bolt them to his flesh. He had annointed his armor in holy oils, boiled from the fat of Imperial children, and affixed charred scraps of parchment which spoke of hatred and revenge.

He strode onto the deck of his vessel, all kneeling in his presence as the pitiful gathering about this meagre world were revealed. A world like any other, but with such promise...A glorious, maddeningly potent artifact. Enough to serve as focal point for his endeavor, to further bend the warp to his will...To enact the conversion of countless. A smile broke across his pale features, not sallow with neglect but strong. He bore the legacy of his now ascended Gene-sire within his veins. Lorgar's will burned in his veins and the Word was seared into his mind.

The six ships, 2 Battle Barges and 4 Despoiler Class battlecruisers of varying degrees of ancientness, readied themselves. Each Barge bore a half a Chapter and associated weaponries, 1000 Marines of his glorious Host, the Host of Unending Vengeance.

"Open fire." He hissed, his will sent by twitching enslaved astropaths to each of his ships, their weapons opening in glorious, carnal volleys of lance-fire and ballistic batteries, bringing a shudder to his great vessel. It ran through him, even in his immense battle-plate, bringing a frosty smile back to his lips. "Contact our...Brothers, hell contact them all. Inform them that this world shall be sanctified as befits the will of divine Lorgar.

Inform them that Dark Apostle Remiel shall attend to his flock. Tell the little bastards that death is coming to those who will not bend knee to the will of the Word."

OOC: I'll take that risk. A large host true, I suppose I could have trimmed it down to about 2000. Regardless...They're there to deploy and to keep the more annoying gnats off my flanks. The ships will be sporadic and merely serve to secure me my landing. I doubt I'll use them all anyways ^^.

I just like to keep my options ever so open and ever so...Torturously diverse.

OOC: I'll take that risk. A large host true, I suppose I could have trimmed it down to about 2000. Regardless...They're there to deploy and to keep the more annoying gnats off my flanks. The ships will be sporadic and merely serve to secure me my landing. I doubt I'll use them all anyways ^^.

I just like to keep my options ever so open and ever so...Torturously diverse.OOC: Wait until he summons Daemons from the Warp itself, builds altars to the Blood God, and begins to muster hordes of the Lost and the Damned.

OOC:

By the way, who are fireing upon? The Tau? The IG fleets? The Black Templar Fleet? ALL OF THEM?

Now the chaos fleet had already seen the incomming Black Templars force, and began firing upon the base, intent on hampering their progress while the Chaos army readied for battle.

Chaos force currently on-planet:

50 10-man squads of Chaos Space Marines
6 5-man Terminator squads
20 10-man Cultist squads
10 3-man squads of Obliterators
20 Chaos Predetors
20 Chaos Rhinos
5 Chaos Land Raiders
4 Defilers

OOC: If that is too much, feel free to complain. Hmm... looks like one of us is gonna be taken out early.

The Eagles' fleet pulled back to merge with that of the black templars, continueing to fire for aslong as posable and waiting for the chaos fleets to come closer so thier full fury could be unleashed.

In the skys above the waste lands of Dustin V several Vulture gunships were heading to fire at the Tau drop pods being reported from orbit, with them were several lighting fighter escorts.

Meanwhile the main scouting group (consisting of several sentinals) was aproching the predicted dropzone for the tau drop pods, unaware of the true danger it was in, to mop up any that the aircraft didn't destroy.

"The Imperial fleet is holding. They are reluctant to engage sir."

Abaddon smiled.

"The fools expect me to attack them... ah, the false believers are so predictable. I will not fly into their web. Let them come to us... I have a suprise in store for them..."

The pieces were falling into place. More and more players were arriving. The time to strike was approaching.

Karyasha ordered the otIarstill closer, moving towards the primary biosphere. Constant self-diagnostics kept the daetrin cloak operating at 110% efficiency. It's loss would be the loss of the ship, and more besides.

The taint of the lost and the damned was growing. The swordwind's wrath would not be long in falling...

It sensed them, the sparkling lights in a sea of black... It did not know why they had come, nor did it care... It was driven onwards by only one thought... One Desire... Hunger...

The Hive fleet had survived, when the main body of Leviathan fell, it was cast adrift, lost. The small collection of ships withdrew into itself, restructured themselves to fit a new design, adapted to a new form...


At the edge of the system Astropaths were beginning to sense that something was wrong, like an inky veil had dropped across their sight. It approached the planet slowly, drawn by the gathering of so much bio-mass just ripe for the taking. And as the first ships of the gathered fleets began to pick them up the hive-mind screamed in the minds of the Hive Fleet and they dove inwards for the kill. Huge creatures, impossibly large disgorged massive gobs of acid the size of torpedoes at the vessels in their path, smaller feeder creatures danced around the larger ones, hull grinders and gnashing teeth illuminated against the inky night. One creature much more massive than the rest sculled forwards, it's form covered with a massive Carapace and long feeder tentacles barbed with huge bone claws for digging into ships to pull them to the massive central mouth with it's rows of razor sharp teeth. Other smaller vessels tore forwards, some recognisable like the manta ray shaped vessels, others looked like nothing remotely natural, such as the huge Organic spikes with digestive tubes and firing chambers interspersed along their sleek bodies.

As one massed horde the Hive Fleet descended caring not what they killed, Caring only for opening up a path to the planet so that they could feed. As one creature the fleet moved towards the planet, their eternal hunger driving them onwards.


OOC: I'm leaving it up to everyone else here as to which fleet the Tyranids are closing on, so decide amongst yourselves who wants to engage them first. :)

OOC:

Is the Black Legion Attacking the Templar Base with Orbital fire? Becuase the Marine Fleet is orbitting the Western coastal Area, meaning you would have to get at least close enough to directly engage the fleet to be able to bomb it to rubble, which lucky for me, wont work as its inside a mountain mostly.
Then again you landed on the west coast, so does that mean your close enough to engage the Templar fleet? If so, I'd be more then happy to fix our bombardment problem...once and for all.

IC:

The assualt force was closeing in on the Chaos tainted lands. The 30 or so Rhinos slowed down and were quickly at the back of the moveing tide of tanks and transports. Their back hatchs opened and 300 Marines quickly scrambled out. The Castellan was already expecting a line of trenchs dug, manned and fortified by their Allies of the 11th.

Now they moved to push back the Chaos, and drive a stake into its heart.

The Land Raiders crested the Horizen. At a close look, they did not look so fomidable, but the two Huricane Pattern bolters sponsers, the Lascannon turret, and the multi Meltas made it a force to be reckoned with. Soon 5 Squadrons of Predator Destructors followed, then the speeding assualt bikes, now kicking it to full speed, then roaring over head were the gunships, spraying covering fire at any instant attack the Chaos might try.

And then came the Marines. Every Templar was armed with a Chainsword, and a Bolter. All 300 spread out and prepared to charge the Chaos, under the cover of the hulking forms of tanks and transports, so that they could close in quickly for the Melee. Meanwhile, all 50 Sword Brethren were now out of their Land Raiders. They were now beside the tanks, intending to charge along with them.

The squadrons of tanks were perfect for both gunning down Infantry en masse, also armed with a Las Cannon, thus earning a name among their enemys as the 'Chaos Bane'. They thundered down at the signal from several Officers spread amongst their forces. They opened fire at the comeing Chaos forces, their heavy Anti Infantry weapons zipping past tanks and transports, hopeing to be the first to strike down a marine, While light played out in a long line as the turrets aimed for tanks and anything armoured that moved.

The Land Raider Crusader Castellan Talos was on fired its twin linked Las Cannon, aiming for a Chaos Predator Tank. The Castellan Jumped down, and charged alongside the tanks with all the other marines.

"Along with me my Brothers, today we dine with Our Holy Father! No Pity, No Remorse, No Fear!" The following cheers told exactly how exited the Templars were...for the blood of their enemys would feed the land, and then the land shall be defeated itself.

OOC: Don't be too cocky. This is the Despoiler you are dealing with here... And no, not firing at the base exactly, firing on your approaching forces.

IC: The Chaos forces were dug in heavily, ready to repel the Imperial attack. Win or lose, this would be a glorious day.

OOC: Let's give everyone else a chance to post before we rush into battle. That way some interesting developments might occur.

OOC:

Agreed Then.

OOC: So Falk, any idea when you might add me to the map?

The 11th's trench line to the north was fully set up, cutting of the chaos' route to the Scrye HQ. Earthshaker emplacements, AA Guns, and other defensive measures were added.

Meanwhile, in the air just north of the trench line, two marauder bombers, laden with high explosive bombs, and 6 Lightning fighters (Reloaded with hellstrike missiles after spotting the chaos base,) began to approach the chaos (Base? Lines? I don't know which.)

Minor parties, in your post please mention WHICH Chaos army you are attacking. There are like 3 of us. Just saying "The Chaos" is going to cause confusion.

OOC: No takers? Oh well I'll have to post then.


The first ships of the hive slammed into the rear of Abaddons fleet, Doomrippers launched themselves forward latching onto the Chaos vessels with tight claws that dug deep into the ancient metal. One attached itself to an escort cruiser and it's grinding teeth dug through the thick armour plate as the ships void shields sputtered lightning along it's length, it's flesh burned as it died but it's grip only tightened, pulling the vessel out of formation as it was split along the keel. Lights flickered briefly onboard the vessel as the teeth tore through the decks. The creature died but it's deathgrip never loosened and the vessel gently turned in space dragged away by the dead creatures last frenzied movements. Two more Doomrippers closed in on their prey as the Hive fleet slammed full force into the rear of Abaddons lines. Wardrones poured out in an endless black cloud from the Hiveship surrounding it's length with their immutable forms. A pair of spore vessels managed to dive under the coalescing organic mass, they sped towards the planet with a few Drone vessels for support.

The first of them breached the atmosphere, dispersing their cargo into the air, Fleshy egg sacs slammed into the ground and burst open. As the clouds of snow settled more and more burst open disgorging their cargo into the frigid air. In the top right hand corner of the continent the first wave of troops began to mass, Ripper swarms in frenzied masses burrowed through the snow casting it up into the air. Huge Carnifexes shouldered free from their fleshy wombs and bellowed into the air as Hormagaunts gathered, their blades shining. And at last one figure emerged, it's elegant crest rising high above it's head, two blades unfolded underneath it's mass as two clawed arms reached upwards, one clasping a Devourer Bio Weapon. It snarled at the three Tyrant Guard that had emerged taking their positions alongside it, the roaring and screaming reached fever pitch in the air as the horde gathered. Finally as the great gathering of monsters reached critical mass the Hive Tyrant threw it's head back and a long ululating roar drowned out the rest of the gathered creatures. The hunt was on, and the Hive was hungry....

OOC: Has thousands sons even landed yet? You, in any case.

OOC: No takers? Oh well I'll have to post then.


The first ships of the hive slammed into the rear of Abaddons fleet, Doomrippers launched themselves forward latching onto the Chaos vessels with tight claws that dug deep into the ancient metal. One attached itself to an escort cruiser and it's grinding teeth dug through the thick armour plate as the ships void shields sputtered lightning along it's length, it's flesh burned as it died but it's grip only tightened, pulling the vessel out of formation as it was split along the keel. Lights flickered briefly onboard the vessel as the teeth tore through the decks. The creature died but it's deathgrip never loosened and the vessel gently turned in space dragged away by the dead creatures last frenzied movements. Two more Doomrippers closed in on their prey as the Hive fleet slammed full force into the rear of Abaddons lines. Wardrones poured out in an endless black cloud from the Hiveship surrounding it's length with their immutable forms. A pair of spore vessels managed to dive under the coalescing organic mass, they sped towards the planet with a few Drone vessels for support.


The Eagle's fleet opened fire on the Tyranids, sending a warning to the imperial bases bellow reading thusly
Attention brave warriers of the Imperium. A Tyranid force is here, ready your weapons, from now it will only get worse.
Emporer preserve us all
Captain Hudson, I.N.S. Golden fist

At the Eagles base the Armore brigades were being activateated. The Tyranid spores would need to be located and destroyed fast before the relentless hords spread to choke up the imperial supply routes, the best way of doing this was a lightining strike with thier vvehicles acording to the govener millitant. Thrugh out the base the machine spirit was blesses, the Emporer praised and weapons loaded as 35 hellhounds (think theyexist lol), 20 leman russ exterminaters and 20 chimeria upgradaed with flamers or heavy bolters (transporting 10 guardsman squads(with 12 men each and flamers), 2 kasrikan squads (6 men each), 6 priests and 6 phykers, 2 ogryn squads(1 per chimeria) and the govener-millitant with his escort of 2 vindicare assisns 3 elite kasrikan an elite commisar and 6 of the best guardsment in the regiment) were readyed while the fleet from orbit tryed to predict the spores landing point.

OOC: Do please tell me if iv gone overboard with the force, i do that a lot :S
OOC2: i dont know if spores can change thier course during decent or indeed much about the 'nids. let me know when you'v touched down and toss a coin or something to decide whether im sucessful or not please.

The Thunderhawk gunships unleashed fury upon the entrenched Black Legion. Their Assualt Cannons, and missile pods fired, the muzzle flashs lighting the darkend skies, the ruinious powers already begining to corrupt the sky. The firepower launched from the gunships was aimed at the enemy infantry and tanks. On the ground, the Black Templar Tank Squadrons pushed on, fireing the sponser heavy Bolters, and fireing Las Cannon shots at enemy Chaos Tanks.

Now the Assualt bikes sped on ahead of the tanks and armoured transports. The Biker packs unleashed fire from their nose mounted Bolters, and once again drawing chainswords and powerblades. Their white Tabards fluttered in the wind, the Marines charged shouting their battle cries and swearing oaths as they ran along side tanks and Rhinos. Muzzle flashs from their Bolters pop around the sides or at the front of the tanks. The Land Raider Crusaders duel Las Cannons fired, aiming for enemy transports or tanks, while Thunderhawk transports that recently added to the attack force, zoomed around the battlefield, watching for enemy fighters.

Castellan Talos now stood on a small mound of ice and dirt. He swung his sword forward, shouting out "For the founding Father, and The Emperor!" His Storm Bolter fired and his chainsword started up, and he picked up the pace, his call makeing the Templars around him renew their own pace, and charge faster then ever, their blood lust could certainly be smelled out, by the savage Chaos Marines, likely even more enthusiastic.

The Assualt bikers closed in before any of the other ground forces, their nose mounted Bolters churning out rounds, and their swords aiming for heads and torsos. The rest of the assualt forces were close behind, also churning out as much ammo as they possibly could.

OOC:

Okay, as theirs no one posting up a storm, lets get this on and going.

OOC: I am happy to inform all of you that upon conclusion of this RP, depending on the level of interest still available, I will be starting an offsite Galaxy-wide RP Board.

OOC: Yay, someone's shooting at me! Yay, we're going to go Galaxy! That's gonna be awesome.

Tau Landing Craft

Aun'el Pir'el sat in his landing craft, surrounded by several fire warrior bodyguards. In order to separate the chain of command, Shas'o Ti'rel was occupying another landing craft.

Suddenly, the craft adjacent to him exploded, with shots from enemy fighters just barely missing their own ship.

"Aun'el!" The Air caste pilot shouted from the cockpit "We've come under attack from Gue'la fighters!"

"Evasive maneuvers, pilot! We must reach the surface."

"Yes, sir!"

The natural skill of the Air Caste pilots kicking in, the Ethereal's ship darted two and fro between the Imperials' fire. The Imperial gunners, however, were battle-hardened veterans from many campaigns, and a number of landing craft were either destroyed or damaged, killing many fire warriors before they could even fight.

"Luckily for us." The Ethereal said out loud. "Our landing zone is well within the range of our base's weapon emplacements."

---------------------------------------------------
Tau Flagship

"Kor'el, our landing craft are under attack!"

"Dispatch fighters to protect the remaining ships. Move a few escort ships to ward off any further attacks."

"Yes, sir."

The Tau detachments moved as one, with 4 escort ships, 2 Cruisers, and a number of fighters moving to engage the Imperial detachment.

----------------------------------------------
Surface of Dustin V

The remainder of the Tau expeditionary force touched down on the surface of the planet, already under fire from Imperial ground troops.

The Tau base, being meant for science purposes, was not intended to handle large-scale military landings. Therefore, the landing reinforcements were forced to land just outside of the base, in order to deploy efficiently, but still well within range of the Tau base defenses.

"Move, move, move! For the Greater Good!" Shas'o Ti'rel shouted, waving his fire warriors out of the craft. Around him, shots from Imperial walker vehicles hitting the ground around the ground. Hammerhead Gunships and Piranah Light Skimmers headed out of the orca dropships, some of which were smoking from the space attack. One of the Piranah's exploded as soon as they hit the snow, causing the Orca behind to be engulfed in flames, destroying the Piranah's that had yet to be deployed.

Behind them, the Tau base stood, it's defenses activated and ready.

"Return fire, quickly!" Ti'rel shouted over the Tau coms-net, which was connected to every fire warrior via helmet. "We must destroy them before they can inform their command post!" Almost immediately after he said this, the fire warrior next to him fell backwards, a large hole appearing in his chest.

The infantry took cover behind what rocks and other areas they could, while the hammerheads and other vehicles began to return fire, aided by the massive guns of the Tau base.

As Tyrannid "things" Slammed into the vessel, corrupted tentacles writhing on the outside of the vessel reacted instinctively, swatting at the Tyrannids, and spewing putrid, corrupt biles on them. A small force of Terminators donned armour and exited the vessels, Attacking the ferocious Tyrannids with a blood fury of their own. The rest of the fleet began to fire on the Tyrannid vessels, firing shot after shot until the Gun ports were glowing...

OOC: I get the impression no one likes me... :D

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

As the first of the Black Templar lines became visible, Chaos Artillery opened up, sending heavy bolts of energy at the approaching forces. The Chaos forces were simply waiting for the Templars, being heavily dug in as they were. The auto-tracking Heavy Bolter turrets were ready too...

OOC: If I do get killed I already have an idea of what to do...

The ground forces at the tau dropzone were holding thier ground, fireing las bursts at the stronger vehicles and ignoring the weaker ones while the aircraft began to pull back under a hail of AA fire from the base, even so 3 of the aircraft went down and one suffered sevier damage to its engines and began a kamakazi run on one of the orca carriers.

Meanwhile the guards armored force began to move out to punch into the Tyranid foothold.

As the Hive fleet engaged Abbadon's forces more and more vessels slid through the gaps appearing in his formations making a beeline straight for the planet. As the Chaos Terminators breached one of the Doomrippers the creatures defensive abilities reacted to the hostile organism's snapping claws on long wirelike appendages slipped out of small holes in the tube shaped hallways snaking out lightning fast towards them. Corrosive acids began to churn deep in the creature as chambers began to fill up with the substances, whilst Termagaunts began to slide free from the organic holding cells they slept in whilst in transit. The Other Doomripper had almost closed on another cruiser when the massive firepower slammed into it's carapace, energy writhing along it's length as it's carapace cracked under the onslaught and purple ichor began to pour out into space. The creature propelled itself onwards as it was torn into again and again until finally it died, but the momentum it had build up caused it to tumble end over end as one solid mass towards one of the cruisers in it's path. The rest of the fleet had made it's intentions clear as the first of the offensive organisms had attacked the Chaos vessels and ducked and dived from the hail of fire streaming towards them the rest pushed forwards through the cracks in the formation and breaking towards the planet. Whilst the Hiveship moved ominously slowly surrounded by the clouds of Wardrones towards Abbadon's vessels with the rest of the main offensive force. For the moment the Hive fleet seemed to ignore the Imperial guns, determined more just to reach the planet, and kill anything that stood in their path.

On the ground the second spore ship had disgorged it's payload, the Imperials fire destroyed many of them before they had a chance to slam into the ground. but enough got through to bolster the Tyranid horde considerably. A Second synapse creature had burst free from it's cocoon as soon as landfall was established, the Broodlord had quickly called it's Genestealer retinue to itself surrounding itself instinctively with the Eleven creatures as it began to co'ordinate with the Hive Tyrant. Several zoanthrope floated free from their their bonds bolstering the Psychic call of the Hive mind and relaying orders to the lesser organisms. As the guards armoured column began to approach the Tyranids foothold into this land the Hive Tyrant roared and ordered the horde to move with a single impulse fired through their minds, whilst from orbit a great screaming roar split the sky above the ocean as a Harridan tore inwards towards land, it's Gargoyles ready to be disgorged like some deadly living payload.


OOC: Numbers seem fine to me Ih8u, I'll post up the general strength of the forces on the planet so far for you and give you a link to the Lexicanum article on the 'nids in the main OOC thread. The spores once launched can't really change direction a great deal, little nudges in flight to correct landing course, but after all they are just organic pods designed to deploy initial planetary forces. Also I'm assuming that a little over a third of the initial landing forces were wiped out by your orbital fire before most of them landed on the planet.

A few vessels were torn apart, but it did not matter, for more were arriving from the warp. The Fleet continued to fire and although bloodied, the Terminators continued the battle.

OOC:
Wheres the Necrons? It would be nice to have them around, that way they could run pest control against those Tyranids. They sure know how to kill stuff en masse to.

Edit: Wait...then they would kill everyone else to...and that would suck.

The Doomripper spasmed as it finally closed on the Chaos vessel to do some real damage, as the vessels tentacles beat at the vast monster and the Carapace began to founder under the corruptive Bile the thing launched at it, the massive claws sunk into the hull digging deep as the teeth set in it's vast maw ground metres thick metal to shreds. Inside it's deep gut the Termagaunts began to close on the Terminators, the shredding claws lashed out blocking the path of the warriors before turning on the spot and snaking towards them lightning fast. The claws of the Doomripper surged forwards pushing with all it's weight against the vessel. The Hive fleet moved forwards into the flanks of the fleet pushing like a single fist against the massed vessels, their singleminded determination driving them onwards as they tried to push through the fleet and to the planet to disgorge more Mycetic Spores into the atmosphere so that the planetary consumption could begin.

The ground forces at the tau dropzone were holding thier ground, fireing las bursts at the stronger vehicles and ignoring the weaker ones while the aircraft began to pull back under a hail of AA fire from the base, even so 3 of the aircraft went down and one suffered sevier damage to its engines and began a kamakazi run on one of the orca carriers.

Meanwhile the guards armored force began to move out to punch into the Tyranid foothold.

OOC: Just a quick question. How many Sentinels did you scramble? IC post to come soon. I'm exhausted right now.

"It's going for a dropship! Shoot it down, quickly!" The Shas'o yelled into his comm-net. The skirmish couldn't last much longer. The Hammerhead tanks were the equivalent of Gue'la Leman Russ, or at least that's what the Gue'vesa soldiers the Shas'o had fought alongside had said.

The Imperial Fighter, its cockpit flaming, screamed straight towards the Orca dropship. Luckily, it had already dropped it's soldiers, and the Air Caste pilot, his natural senses kicking in, was able to successfully move the main part of the dropship out of the way.

ooc: i scrambled about 12 sentinels, viewing it as a nfairly adiquate force :)

The fighter crashed harmlessly into the ground, its forward section being utterly destroyed and its engiens splutered then died as the power core began to overload.

The imperial vehicles ignored all but the synaps Tyranids, knowing that with out them the beasts would quickly decend into chaos and infighting with out them. A wave of fire, las shots and bursts of bolter fire rocketed towards the zoanthropes as the chimiria droped thier troops off. The infantry foucused its fire on the advancing hoards of gargoyals and other monstrositys while the goveners Vindicare bodyguards slinked away to get a line up on the brood lord, the govener and his guards going with them to protect them during thier isolation.

As the fire roared towards the Zoanthropes, Termagaunts threw themselves in the path of the hail of gunfire, many of them mercilessly cut down where they stood. The gargoyles jinked and swerved from side to side with only 6 of them being swatted from the sky before they got into range and the sky around the Guardsmen suddenly filled with thousands of tiny Borer beetles rocketing towards them. The tiny insects were frenzied as they were fired, seeking only to bore through armour, flesh, and bone. To the left of the Chimaira's a massive Carnifex roared, to any who could recognise the Imperial Designation for the beast it was known as a Death Beetle. It's tusked maw dripped with potent bio acids, as the Toxin sacs beneath it's secondary claws pulsed with a sickly green light. Around it's feet symbiote Rippers screamed and clawed as it stepped forwards it's mace tail swooping left and right agitatedly as it raised the Venom cannon gripped in it's lower right arm and fired the corrosive poison crystals at the Chimaira. There was a series of rapid sharp cracking noises as the Crystals broke the sound barrier and slammed into the Chimaira's armour, the rounds moving too fast for any hope of avoiding them. The crystals blasted through the armour giving off small electrical charges and filling the interior of the vehicle with it's deadly poison. To the right of the Chimaira's another two Carnifexes charged the vehicles, their scything claws held close to their body as bestial roars emerged from the savagely tusked mouths of the beasts. Their massive crushing claws snapped ominously as the beast's closed on the armour. Across the Tyranid horde Termagaunts returned fire at the Guardsmen as the Hormagaunt's tore forwards screeching as they ran, faster than any man could hope to match they closed on the troops, as their scything talons began to rear up. The Broodlord and his Genestealers had moved around the battlefield, they had seen the smaller retinue of troops move away from the main force and the Hive mind drove them towards it, they stalked their prey and closed on them rapidly as the Hive Tyrant directed the heaviest of the fire. The remaining three Carnifexes had begun to move towards the Broodlord, their massive forms gaining speed as they too spotted the new prey. Behind the lines of the Guardsmen the Snow erupted as swarms of Rippers burst upwards and forwards, with only a few feet separating the Guardsmen from the massed creatures that streaked towards them. The Harridan had reached land and was closing on the battlefield rapidly, it's massive form roaring as the mighty wings beat against the air.

Scores of guardsmen fell under the rain of bugs andwere scatered by the carnifexes as the leman russ tanks switched thier fire to the masive beasts. the surving Chimeria switched thier fire to the rippers as they came above ground to kill thier targets.

The govener and his bodyguard moved back from the incomeing creatures as the govener called in 20 maruader bombers to engage the gargoyles and to try and subdue the rampageing carnifexes. His vindicare bodyguards split up and concealed them selves up some trees, activateing thier stealth suits, and began to blast away with thier rifles in rapid sucession.

As the Tanks incoming fire exploded around the Carnifexes the first of them with those massive claws faltered and finally slammed into the ground, it's huge form pulverised. The second beast tore past the body of the first and slammed into the body of one of the tanks lifting it slightly from the ground on one side, one of the massive claws closed around the sponson gun and with a sudden massive pressure crushed it into scrap. The creatures tusked maw tore into the armour again and again as it frenziedly attacked the tank with claws and teeth and blades. The Death Beetle had taken a few glancing blows from shrapnel and explosive damage, but even as the Imperials watched the burns along it's carapace seemed to be healing from the damage as it raised it's Venom cannon and fired another volley of crystals at one of the tanks. The crystals lodged beneath the armour and exploded sending jolts of electricity along it's armour, turning it into so much twisted and burned swiss cheese, as more shots poured into it the Tanks' armour began to buckle under the onslaught.

The rippers that had burst from the ground were perforated by the incoming fire, dozens of their densely packed swarms fell beneath the fire, but it was not enough to contain the horde as they swarmed the gathered guardsmen. As soon as the Harridan breached the battlefield it's ear splitting roar bellowed around the area. The massive form left a deep shadow that flitted over the field as suddenly the second swarm of Gargoyles detached from the Harridan and swooped down low spraying the Guardsmen with Bio plasma and Devourer rounds, the first swarm had broken and built up some distance between themselves and the Guardsmen. Meanwhile the Harridan had been redirected by the Hive mind and swooped over the trees where the Vindicare assassins had last been seen before the Broodlord had been distracted by the Leman Russ tanks. As it raised over the area it roared once more, it's truly massive form blotting out the light as it suddenly launched great gouts of Bio Plasma down at the trees as it passed, the huge projectiles burned an unnatural blue as they screamed towards the earth.

The Black Templars tanks were now already hunting down the enemy. The marines were spread out into teams chargeing at cultists and marines, shooting up entrenched enemys, and useing chainswords to turn cultists mobs into scattered limbs and organs. Talos used his chainsword to dispatch a Chaos Marine. His Bolter spun around and riddled a few cultists with the explodeing rounds. He was working his way through the battlefield in search of officers. His hunt would lead him to Chaos Lords, champions, and the sort.

His squad formed up around him. He lead the charge, leaping over bodies. They followed, unleashing Bolter fire at Marines on the other side of a tank. Talos bloodied his armour as he finished off a Chaos Sergeant. His sword stalled. He tossed it aside and took up a fallen Power Sword. "No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!" He reset the pace, in search of enemys. Thunderhawks buzzed overhead, unleashing hell on enemys below.

Overhead in space. "Order a bombardment on multiple enemy hotspots. And make sure more Armour Support is transported down. Will need to prepare the other Assualt Force to destroy the Xeno scum. They shall fall easily under our onslaught. How is the battle below?"

"Destructor Squadron 3 has taken a beating. 2 has lost 3 Tanks. The rest are nearly unharmed. Our men are makeing short work of the enemy My Leige. We should have the main body of Chaos running with in the hour if we push for the heart of the force." Replied a Serf manning a some sort of equipment.

"Good. We shall also need to shoot down those Ships in orbi-" The Marshall was interupted. "Sire! The Devourer has arrived. Many Tyranid ships are attacking the Black Legion fleet. Several more are landing the vile things inside them. What are your orders?" The Marshall paused. "Is anyone engageing them?" The Marshall turned on the Serf with eyes that saw right through him. "Yes sire. Imperial Guard forces with the Commandant accompanying him." The serf backed up a little. The Marshall let loose a quick torrent of curses.

"Tell him to bombard the Xenos, and scorch where ever they have landed. We must not let them spread. Make sure to corner off the area by cleanseing the surounding area once his forces have pulled out. As for the Xeno scum...will let them destroy each other, then go in for the killing blow."

The Fallen Crusader Unleashed droppods filled with marines near the Guardsmen force. The Drop Pods landed right in the heart of battle. Out came marines, who fired upon the Tyranids as soon as they gained ground. Chainswords were used to dispatch any that came close. More pods landed around them, some cooking aliens alive and then crushing them. The Black Templars have arrived for battle yet again.

ooc: i cant really bost untill alk answeres my question on the ooc thread, needless to say if im right then belive me you should run away for no apaent reason, if not then my govener comits suicide under a massive bombing run and the tyranids get noms.

This could really swing either way depending on YOU *points to falk)

Farseer Karyasha still waited. The otIarstill itself was becoming tense. The gestalt consciousness that was the Eldar ship never got tense... or so it had been thought. But now the anticipation of combat was palpable.

The moment had to be timed perfectly. The time to strike measured exactly.

Precisely timed, carefully orchestrated Eldar strikes would maintain the balance of power. None of the four warring factions, not the servants of the Mon'Keigh Emperor, nor the children of the Great Enemy, nor the Devourer, nor the Young, would get the upper hand, of that the Eldar would ensure.

The consequence? Each would bleed out, leaving the Eldar free to intervene on a larger scale, and accomplish their objectives with a minimum of loss.

If they chose their moment correctly. Or, more to the point, if Karyasha predicted the moment correctly.

There was an awful lot riding on her slender shoulders.

The cloaked Eldar cruiser took up station behind a Dustin VIIIe, and made preparations to deploy the QuesDeash.

Aboard the Strike Cruiser Fist of Sigismund, Prime Squad was making ready on the Embarkation Deck. Thunderhawks were fueled, armed and prepared for battle. Castellan Seir briefed his assembled troops.

'Prime, Chaplain Ilian will take you in first with drop pods, secure a landing area for the Thunderhawks, which will bring Second Squad down, along with the Outriders and Brother Tiguris.' At this, he nodded to the hulking Dreadnought who raised his massive claw in salute. 'I will remain aboard ship until such time as I and the Sword Brethren are required. Consider the D-Z hostile, but not combat active. We will establish a bulwark against the Xeno threat, and we will turn them back. Remember, we are here in support of the Guard. Our main priority is protecting human life, by any means necessary. Go now, and the Emperor with you.'

An immediate flurry of activity commenced, as the Battle Brothers jogged in orderly manner to their respective transports.

As the last of the Hive ships tore past the floating debris and scattered dead of the rear of the Chaos fleet they closed on the planet. Now that they had cleared a path for access to the planet they seemed uninterested in anything that wasnt directly in their path. As the massive Hive ship followed the swarms of lesser creatures it sculled towards the atmosphere surrounded by the massed swarms of Wardrones that protected it from attack. It had noted the arrival of the armoured humans, and the destruction they had rained down upon it's brood already on the ground. As the mighty vessels clawed through the inky black of the universe the roaring hunger thundered through the minds of all the horde. The first of the fresh spore vessels detached from the main fleet and headed directly towards the planet, as the first of them breached the atmosphere swarms of mycetic spores rained down upon the surface. And yet more vessels still came...

On the ground dozens of Hormagaunts had fallen beneath the fire of the Marines, the ground lay stained with purple ichor and fallen foes. The Hive Tyrant had begun to push forwards with his remaining forces, already they poured fresh fire at the Marines, filling the air with tiny beetles and deadly spines that tore into their ranks. As the Carnifex that had assaulted the first of the Leman Russ Tanks finished turning the first of them into scrap it turned and charged another in the ranks. The Death Beetle had been pulped by incoming fire and had sunk to one knee under the onslaught, even the beasts regenerative capabilities were struggling. As it turned on one knee it screamed it's impotent fury to the sky and held tight to it's bio weapon pouring it's deadly crystals into the ranks of the Marines. The repeated cracking of it's payload breaching the sound barrier was the only herald of their doom. The crystals exploded as they impacted with the ancient ceramite armour, filling the air with metallic shrapnel and deadly poisons as electricity burst free, blasting holes in the Marines. The Death Beetle collapsed further under it's wounds, a large chunk of carapace had peeled away from it's face leaving the exposed bone beneath open to the sky. Finally as it collapsed entirely it's eyes cast to the skies the rain of fresh Mycetic Spores poured into the atmosphere turning the sky above the field of war dark as they came...

"Keep firing, keep firing!" The Shas'o yelled over his com-net. The Hammerhead gunships and Piranha skimmers continued to fire continuously, their railguns and pulse cannons keeping up a stream of fire. But the enemy sentinels (despite their classification as 'light vehicles') were holding on, and managed to down three Piranha skimmers.

Abbadon sighed as he looked on. His fleet had been devastated by Tyranids, his ground forces by Black Templars.

"Half the galaxy is after this lump of rock... How pathetic. This is not worth my time. I have bigger fish to fry."

The remains of Abbadons fleet fled into the warp, leaving the ground forces to the doomed fate.

the imperial sentinals began to pull back, or rather the one surviveing sentinal began to run off as fast as posable towards base. The aircraft had arived back at base and even now thier pilots were relaying thier inteligance to the comanding officers. It was decided the Tau could wait, the tyranids were prioraty and all the construction teams were re-assighned to build the now 25% complete baneblade tank.

The imperial armor and remaining troops began to fall back to the space marine lines (/positions?) and were adding thier firepower to space marines and hammering away at the heavyer beasts. The vindicares were fast to react but not fast enugh, in seconds they were incinerated while the govener and his remaining bodyguards began to skirt the battle field widly to try and meet up with the other imperial troops.

In orbit 3 of the imperial ships powered towards the hiveship blasting away as they shot towards the ships, a large wing of suport craft comeing with them to try and take out a few of the wardrones should they try and swarm the ships. With a crash the first ship rammed into the port side of the hive ship another, the others hanging back.
On the ships bridge the captain send a voice message around the ship "Children of the emporer" he began "Today we die for honor, for the regiment and for the emporer!!! there is little else to say other than ' may the emporer preserve us all' and that you should rejoyce in your death in his name. While this was said the ships powecores were being deliberatly overloaded to try and eradicate the hiveship.

OOC: Sorry, i completly forgot about the tau engagement, i thaght you'd just eradicate the sentinals, its why i pulled the aircraft back and not the sentinals.

OOC2: OK, the last bit of the post could be seen as either GMing, bitching or both. Do tell me if you think that and ill edit it, i was just trying to 'depict' the fanatisim/ utter devotion to the emporer in the 41st millenium.

A small vessel entered the system. Undetected, it made it's way into the atmosphere, touching down near the Black Templars base. Out of the vessel paced Firaxia, Vindicare assassin. Silently she made her way towards the camp.

Tranmission to the Fallen Crusader, From Castellan Sigmund Seir.

Fist of Sigismund on standby. Requesting landing coordinates so that we may assist in you fight. Deploy as you see fit.

With an almost negligent air the Hive ship whipped one of the massive tendrils back and wrapped it around the vessel embedded in it's side. As the long scything blades sunk into it's armour the Hive ship pulled the vessel free, and as the tentacle snapped outwards again the vessel was flung with incredible force out and away from the Hive ship. Almost as soon as this was done the Wardrones frenzied as they were supported by Dark Prowler's and Void Fiends. They formed a thick sphere of moving Biomass around the Hive ship as great gobs of Plasma and Acid were launched at the enemy vessels. Now the Imperials had caught the attention of the Hive fleet, and they began to turn their attention to them properly...

As more of the initial forces were whittled away by the incoming fire one Spore, even more massive than the rest screamed towards the earth behind the Imperials lines. It span gently as it free fell downwards, it's purple and white skin and carapace pulsed slightly with veins as the light caught it. And then with an earth shattering boom that cast up a great cloud of snow that blocked the view of everyone who was watching it, the spore landed. A massive figure began to shift and break free of the spore, as impossibly large blades snaked out and slammed into the ground and an ear splitting roar that turned mens stomachs to putty escaped the beasts form. As it took it's first step towards the Imperial lines its shape blotted out the sky, multiple bio cannons span across the Imperial lines as it's multi faceted eyes regarded the prey before it. And then, it fired. The cannons roared and whined and cracked as they poured into the rear of the lines, the withering hail of fire was like the fist of an angry god descending on the gathered Imperial forces, as it took a step forwards Poisonous spores escaped from rent's in it's spinal armour filtering around it like an aura of death. Multiple blades slid out and swooped low to the ground, each one powerful enough to dice a Leman Russ into cubes with barely a thought. Above and around it the Gargoyles had gathered and flew around the massive Bio-titan protecting it from aerial attacks. And as more spores slammed into the ground around the field of battle Tyranid Warriors, and Gaunts and Lictors and Carnifexes began to shoulder free to engage the Imperials. The horde had landed, and now they were angry...

OOC: Its more of a Citadel now, but there are various Shelters filled with under attention serfs manning equipment.

Talos jumped away from a tank, its hulk explodeing under the fire layed down from his forces. A explosion filled the air once more. He look around and saw his target. The Chaos Lord decapitated a marine Neophyte, his form thrown away as a bloody mist obscured the Lord. Talos charged under a hail of fire from the ragtag remains of Chaos Marines and scattered mobs of cultists. The Predator Destructors crushed them with their heavy weapons.

Yet more jumped up and charged Talos and the other Black Templars, the Bolters from both sides Marines lit up the dark night. Talos' tore down a dozen cultists with a some swift swings from his Powersword. "Your mine!" The Castellan in his bloody armour clashed with the Chaos Lord, his Powersword knocking in to his bloody weapon. Talos' Bolter was knocked from his hand. He now gripped his sword with both hands. He landed a few more blows, before the enemys weapon nearly got his head. He ducked under it, and drived his sword deep into the Lords torso. Abaddons forces were no more.

Talos and his marines now stood near a mound of Chaos bodys. They were purged with fire, along with many other mounds. Their remains would be little but ash. The Black Templars that died there would be preserved and their Geneseed obtained.

"Sire, we have been ordered to join up and attack a new enemy. The Great Devourer has arrived on this planet. We must destroy it lest our loss be for not." Chaplain Ferras came up beside the Castellan. "Then let us go! The Emperors will must be made apparent. The destruction of these Xenos and the further purgeing of those traitors should accomplish this." The Black Templar Forces moved out in the direction of the Tau.

And at the Citadel, once more a assualt force set out in the direction of the Tau, half of it going for the Tyranids.

OOC:

Ih8u** (Positions is more like it. Theres not enough of them to hold one huge spot, more like a dozen fireing positions. Good thing their pretty badass.)

Imperial Navy* (I don't think I really want to exact multi death on the Imperial Guard, mostly becuase I'm trying not to make this EXACTLY like Dark Crusade, and becuase I RPing the bad guys.)

"Guardsmen, are they in position?"
"Yes sir. Ready and aimed."
"Very well. Connect me to them." A faint crackle was underneath the rough voice over the radio. "Guardsmen, are you ready to fire?"
"Yes sir, main gun is ready."
"Then, on my mark. FIRE!" Several ear splitting blasts sounded, as earthshaker rounds were shot into the fray towards the tyrannid forces. "Keep at range. If they get close, and only if THEY get close, engage them with the armor."
"Yessir."
"And say hello to the Governor." The man grinned from ear to ear.
"Yessir. It would be a pleasure."

"ALL FORCES PREPAIR TO RETREAT!!" shouted the govener into his com link and saying to the lead space marien said "Battle brother, there is no way we can defeate that thing!! might i sugest an orbital strike or a tactical retreate? We have a stormblade tank in production and that should be able to deal with the monstrosity but even our Leman Russ' are not sufficent to stop it! I am all for death for the emporer but it would be preferable to live and kill more of his foes Would you agree?" Thye leman russes were being rapidly masacered and only the iron will of the comisars kept the remaining units from fleeing.

Everything switched its fire to the bio titan as the slowly began to back away, never ceaseing fire as they tried to retreat back to the base.

In orbit the ship exploded and the imperials tried to destroy the smaller ships, having little other choice but to ignore the hive ship.

The Templar shrugged off the enemy fire. He looked up at the massive form which blotted out the sun. He responded via his Vox bead "If you will not die for the Emperor, then you shall not live your self! Charge the monstrousity!"

The Templar forces all formed up and once again started up their attack on the Tyranid horde. Their Chainswords whirled about and their bolters blazed away, all of them unaffected by the looming shadow. "No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!" The Black Templar renewed their assualt.

On the Battle Barge Fallen Crusader, a single Drop Pod was released. It came down into the heart of battle where the Tyranids were spreading about. The doors opened and out came a single figure. He was clad in dazzleing black armour with white pauldrons, the jet black colour playing hard against a bright white tabard draped around it. He wielded weapons unlike any other, and purity seals marked his armour in dozens of places. He swated aside a few tyranids, his black sword cutting a swath through the lesser xenos. The Emperors Champion had arrived.

"GUARDS MEN, CHARGE!!!!!!!" yelled the govener, his commisars relaying his orders "FOR THE EMPORER!!!" he yelled, his warriers takeing up his battlecry as they charged forward, still fireing and the vehicles began suicidal strikes against the other tyranids to try and secure the champions imediate area.

The wave of fresh warriors closed on the Imperial lines in an endless line of blades and bio weapons that spat death at anything in their path. The artillery shells had mashed a few squads of fresh Spinegaunts that had barely escaped from their Spores before turning a larger group of freshly landed Carnifex into so many pieces of offal. Three Carnifex that had managed to link up in the mayhem of the battle roared as they slammed into a Leman Russ and tore it's armour apart, and slicing open the crew inside. The horde threw itself into the teeth of the Imperials, the Hive Tyrant recognising the danger this newest arrival to the battlefied heralded. Behind a group of Marines a Lictor's blades flashed as the creature removed the head of the Marine in front of it in one fell swoop, it's chameleonic skin shifting as it prepared to begin slicing and dicing it's prey.

As the Guardsmen charged the ground rumbled beneath their feet and many were thrown off balance as the ground began to rupture and boil upwards. When suddenly with a blood curdling roar a Trygon burst free from the ground It's four claws lashing out and slaughtering those closest to it as Raveners burst from the ground in the middle of their ranks. The Hierophant regarded the prey before it and slammed one massive bladed leg down into the centre of a Leman Russ in it's path, killing the crew instantly as it's massed cannons focused on the Marines and unleashed a torrent of firepower at the positions closest to it. The Broodlord and his Genestealers had managed to close on the Governor after the Harridan had incinerated his bodyguards, and now as the man screamed orders to his men they burst forwards roaring as the Broodlord directed them at the lone prey before them. Above the Battlefield the Harridan had turned and now flew directly towards the Imperial Artillery, it's roar announcing it's presence.

So far with the Imperial vessels distracting the Hive Fleet in orbit the rain of Spores had stopped as they turned their attention towards this foe before them...

OOC: Emperor.

Under heavy fire from Hammerhead gunships, the Shas'o could see that the Imperial vehicles were pulling back, taking causalities along the way. In a matter of minutes, the skirmish was over. The fire warriors stepped out of cover. Surveying the damage, they found that 5 fire warriors were dead, and several wounded. 6 Piranha skimmers were also destroyed in the fighting. Not surprisingly, no Hammerhead Gunships were destroyed, the Sentinel weapons not being able to penetrate their heavy tank armor.

"I want medical teams out here to attend to the wounded." Tir'el commanded. "Begin reinforcing the defensive positions around the base. Begin the landing of Crisis teams, extra vehicles, and extra fire teams."

"Yes, sir." Shouted his second-in-command, who promptly went off to relay his orders.

A voice behind him interrupted his train of thought.

"Commander, I would like to speak to the commander of the station, with you in attendance."

Tir'el turned to see the Ethereal. An honor blade was held in his hands, and he was flanked by four fire warrior Shas'ui.

"Of course, Aun'el." Tir'el nodded, and followed the Ethereal into the base.

As the main door to the base slowly opened with a hiss as the internal atmosphere escaped into the frigid environment, O'Korvesa waited anxiously for the arrival of the Ethereal. It was an honor above all honors to simply see one with your own eyes, let alone work with one.

Making last minute preparations for the arrival, O'Korvesa ordered his best Fire Warrior Team to act as the Ethereal's Bodyguard. Each of the 12 Warriors had lined up in two opposing rows perpindicular to the doors, standing at attention.

As the Ethereal strode in, accompanied by another Tau Commander, O'Korvesa bowed down graciously.

"It is truely an honor to have you here with us, O great Ethereal. If there is anything we may provide you with while you are here, please tell us."

The Ethereal looked down at Commander O'Korvesa.

"Rise, commander. You have fought well in your defense of the station, and in that I commend you. I ask that you continue to serve the Greater Good, and drive the alien invaders from the system. I would also like to understand why the Gue'la have arrived at all, so we may begin to understand the psyche of this 'humanity.'"

The Ethereal gestured to Tir'el, who stepped forward.

"This is Commander Tir'el. I wish for the both of you to work together to destroy the aliens."

"Commander." Tir'el said, slamming his fist on the breastplate of his armor. He had removed his helmet. "I am looking forward to working with you."

"Now that that is settled." The Ethereal continued "I wish to personally address the troops."

Vlasingrad Harek, The Champion strode on past the piles of corpses, both human and Tyranid alike. His sword dripped with the weird blood of the aliens he had slain. He watched the huge hulk of the Heirophant. The weird creature killed enemys with ease, smashing and pushing aside tanks like they were insects. "This should be interesting."

In orbit over the planet the battle fleet blazed away at the incomeing tyranid vessels. "So many!" A serf yelled as his scanner overflowed with new signals.
Marshal Draco strode past him. "Order our Nova frigates to fire on the incomeing ships from a forward position. Have out Strike Cruisers, all of them, focus heavy weaponry at the larger ships. Allow none to pass! You! Inform the Strike Cruisers Fist of Sigismund, Litany of Strife, and Sword of Fury deploy their forces where the Tyranid menace has landed."

The Nova frigates, Gunboats bristleing with las batterys. The increased the red streams of light flowing over to the incomeing Tyranid ships. Smaller ships would surely surcome to such a onslaught, but huge ships would merely shrug it off, which is why the main cannons of the Strike Cruisers launched vollys of heavy fire at the lumbering hulks.

Vlasingrad impaled a Xeno, and tossed it aside, as several marines joined up around him. They took cover behind a large mound of bodys and wrecked vehicles. "What shall we do to harm such a creature? Any forward assualt on it has been stopped. But we cant simply lay back and be consumed!"

"Do not worry. Will think of something. The greatest battles are never one with the greatest weapons, but with the greatest warriors, who weild them. When the time comes, a path shall be made by the Emperor himself, and it shall guide us to victory!" The Black Templars cheered and charged on, engageing the surrounding monstrousitys.

Vlasingrad circled behind a Carnifex. The creature had been eating away at the Imperial guards armoured support, but no more, as the champion dodged a counter swing of a scything claw, grabed hold of it, rideing up to meet the monsters head, and kicked it dead center. Vlasingrad jumped on its head, and started to slash away at it. as the beast took to the ground, the Templar jumped off it, and rolled to a stop. He quickly stood up and followed in the wake of the other Marines. Blazeing lines in the sky indicated reinforcements.

OOC:

Force Commander/Bloodthirster move bitch! :P

The Ethereal looked down at Commander O'Korvesa.

"Rise, commander. You have fought well in your defense of the station, and in that I commend you. I ask that you continue to serve the Greater Good, and drive the alien invaders from the system. I would also like to understand why the Gue'la have arrived at all, so we may begin to understand the psyche of this 'humanity.'"

The Ethereal gestured to Tir'el, who stepped forward.

"This is Commander Tir'el. I wish for the both of you to work together to destroy the aliens."

"Commander." Tir'el said, slamming his fist on the breastplate of his armor. He had removed his helmet. "I am looking forward to working with you."

"Now that that is settled." The Ethereal continued "I wish to personally address the troops."

O'Korvesa rose, slamming his fist against his breatplate to conclude the Tau gesture.

"As do I."

He looked towards the Ethereal.

"I thank you for your words most beneficient one. We will continue to do our utmost to benefit the Greater Good. Now, if you will just follow me into the Command Center, you can address the troops over the Intercom."

"Thank you." The Ethereal followed O'Korvesa through the base to the Command Center.

"Thank you." The Ethereal followed O'Korvesa through the base to the Command Center.

The commander signalled the Bodyguard detachment to follow, each soldier taking up a well choreographed position with the VIP in the middle. As Korvesa led the Ethereal through the complex, he pointed out the general direct of the Quarters and Research Lab.

The doors hissed open as they approached the Command Center. A white mist of steam from the hydralics descended on the company as they walked inside. The room, dome-shaped and completely white-washed, had computers and control consoles lining the ways, each seemingly competeing for space of it's neighbors. In the middle of the room stood a lone, circular control panel with a holographic projection of the planet itself, covered in red blips indicating all Tau positions. As the Ethereal strode in, all personnel on duty instantly stood at attention.

Motioning to the room and the various drones and computers, O'Korvesa said,

"This is the heart of our base, the control center. As this was not built for military use, we lack the standard operating equipment a normal Cadre would have. Nevertheless, our ever resourceful Earth Caste Scientists were able to assemble some makeshift equipment that will do nicely for now."

He then mointioned to the control console in the middle of the room.

"When, or if you wish to address the soldiers, meerly activate the console."

"Thank you, Commander." The Ethereal gazed at the console for a moment, considering what to say. Finally, he activated the console, and connected himself to the rest of the Tau on the planet.

"Followers of the Tau'va, hear me! I am Aun'el Pi'rel of the Ethereal Caste. I would like to commend all of you on the valiant defense of this station, and ask that you continue to do so.

Know that our enemies do not follow the Greater Good, and seek to do harm to everything the Greater Good works toward. The over-zealous Gue'la, who are too blinded by prejudice and arrogance to be reasoned with. The evil Tyranids, who leave nothing but death and despair in their wake. The Sorcerers of the Warp, who seek to only corrupt and destroy. These are the triumvirate of enemies that we must defeat in order to claim victory for all Tau. Know that they oppose the Greater Good, and are therefore doomed.

It brings me great sadness that battle is the only way, but against such tyranny and malevolence, there can be no surrender! So let us stand against this darkness as one, and together, we shall fight it in the name of the Greater Good!"

With that, the Ethereal pressed the button again, and stepped away from the console.

"Chaplain, we have our destination. You may disembark when ready." Castellan Seir stood before his command altar, looking at the superimposed battlemap hovering in the center of his bridge. From his altar came the voice of his most trusted friend.
"Affirmative. We are ready."
The Astartes commander nodded to his unseen friend.
"Ready status confirmed. Servitor, kick the door."

Below in the launch hold, five hundred combat prepared Astartes rested in their diverse craft. At the Castellan's words, the servitor opened the bay doors for the drop pods. Three hundred Battle Brothers fell toward the planet. The voxnet was alive with chatter, as it usually was on the drop, men speaking with each other as if they weren't falling through space towards the Great Devourer and much else besides. Suddenly, the crafts heated up, and the Space Marines knew the had hit the atmosphere. Chaplain Torvald stood directly by the door/ramp, meaning to be the first out.

A call came over the voxnet. "Not long now, Astartes. Go with the Emperor, carry out his will, destroy the enemy of his mighty empire." Prime Company responded with their own war cry.
"Unleash Hell!"
Three hundred Space Marines slammed in the Tyranid forces, and three hundred Space Marines unleashed hell on the Xenos threat.

The imperial ships followed the battle plan of the space mariens, adding thier firepowr to thier battlebrothers.

The govener reacted fast, moveing out of the way of one of the broodlords guards and, as a hail of fire met its companions from his kasrikan body guards, he stabed at the creatures back with his power claws, fireing his wrist mounted bolters as his blades sythed down.

Atheras Lekra, who had earned the nickname Atheras the Bezerk during his days as a Khorne Bezerker, scowled as he looked down at the planet from aboard his ship, Renewed Faith. He knew he should have gotten here sooner. Not only was another Space Marine Chapter here, who would undoubtedly mistrust the Redeemers just as much as the others did, there were several of the Chaos Legions. He was most worried about the Word Bearers. He could only hope that this particular Dark Apostle had not heard of his Chapter and their betrayel of them during that battle.

He sighed as he ran his hand down his scar crossed jaw. The scars covered his face, as well as most of his body, from centuries of fighting for the Blood God wherever the battle was the most fierce. Although he had renounced Khorne, and returned to the Emperor, he still retained much of the qualities that had made him a prime bezerker.

As he sat contemplating the planet, one of the former cultists ran into the room. "Sir, the men are wondering when we will make landfall. We hunger for the blood of our enemies." Atheras gave another sigh at that. He supposed waiting would not make his reception any warmer. "Tell them to prepare for landing. We may as well get the bloodbath started."

Space above Dustin V

"Kor'el, another Gue'la fleet has entered the system. At their rate of movement, they're going to be right on top of us."

Kor'el Shor'es looked over at the blips on the display screen, closing in towards their location. He sighed.

"So much for keeping our distance. Assume combat formation! Launch all fighters and bombers!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Tau fleet moved as one, assuming a standard combat formation, with the smaller ships forming around the larger ones. With all speed, the Tau fleet surged forward.

On the bridge of the Tau flagship, Kor'el Shor'es crossed his arms, anxious about the battle ahead of him.

OOC: Heh, I know this is a bad time but I'm getting off.

OOC: K, nighty night.

Again Atheras was interrupted from his thoughts by a former cultist. "Commander, Xenos have been sighted, apparently heading to assault the Battle Barge." Atheras gave a growl of anger. Damned aliens. Normally he would be excited about the prospect of battle to come, but he did not enjoy battles in space. He was not one for the maneuvering of ships, and he held no delusions that he was skilled at it. No, he much preffered a ground battle, where you could actually fight.

He could see only two options in this situation, though he knew that were he more skilled in this kind of battle, he would see a great number more. He could either lead a boarding party, and take the fight to the Xenos, or he could leave some fighters behind to block his landing on the planet.

Atheras was much more inclined towards that last. He was a man who believed a planet was won on the ground, not in the skies. Those who were actually on the planet owned it, rather than those who had it blockaded. That, and after he landed, he would be able to fight the Xenos the way he wanted.

His decision made, he growled a command to the cultist to send fighter to keep the aliens busy, while the bulk of the forces landed on the planet.

"Inquisitor Yulann, the Xenos have been sighted. Shall we-" The Inquisitor smiled thinly and murmured "Well, well. Do not thirst for blood so much, Justicar. No, make contact with the Astartes. I have... an idea." The three strike cruisers of the Grey Knights advance force floated through space, silent, and waited for a response.

"By the emporer sir, i am detecting more ships in the system! a tau fleet aswell as the reedemers. Also a grey knight strike cruiser groupe" yelled the guardsman monatering the sensors as the ship shook from bio weapon impacts

"Inform them of the situation planet side and request they render assistance soon, it seems unlickly we will withstand much more punishment from the hostiles!" the comander yelled louder still to the comms officer as a cruiser exploded to the port.

As serfs scrambled about inporting and exporting information from one officer to the other with command consoles, or manned scanners that buzzed every second for some reason or the other, The High Marshall received multiple new signals on his command console. "Grey Knights?" He cursed "Get me a link with them. You!" The marshall pointed to a busy serf. "Yes my lord!" He quickly stood at attention. "Order the first battle group to charge home and render those bloody Tyranids useless. We shall cut the head off the snake."

"Yes my lord." The serf followed his orders, just like several others on the battle barges bridge, which took in yet more enemy fire. The void sheilds replaced the overpowered one. "Combat strafe them. Send in Boarding partys." The ships moved out from their fireing position, and further engaged the enemy ships. Thunderhawks strafed the large vessels that came in with the horde of comeing ships. All while the waves of Sword Brethren, in their Terminator armour luanched for a rather large vessel thrashing its way in the planets direction. They attached themselfs to the vessel, blew in, sealed, and moved out, ready to gun down every Tyranid that comes in their direction.

"Battle Brothers...MOVE OUT!" The hulking forms of the sword brethren squad smashed its way through the battle field. Talos lunged with a chainsword for a nasty looking Tyranid, while tanks rolled in and crushed 'Nids that got in the way, fireing at the Xenos with lascannons and Huricane pattern Heavy Bolters.

The Champion worked his sword through one more hulk of a Carnifex. he droped it to the ground, and then finished it off with a slice at the head. The thing writhed and twitched for a moment, then died. He swung his melta at a pair of Guants, and fried them with the molten death it spewed forth.
"No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!" The battle was escalateing. Marines left and right took heavy bio weapon fire from the sky and on the ground. But they fired back in both directions. The Champion went further in the Direction of the rampageing Bio-Titan.

OOC: John Woo anyone?

"Inquisitor, the Astartes planetside as well as the Imperial Guard has just informed us of the Tyranid threat. Shall we move to assist, or eliminate the Xenos fleet first?" The Inquisitor mused over the question. Should he help, or should he take independent action? Eventually he decided "Justicar, there is no point engaging Xenos who are not attacking at the moment when there are more Xenos planetside. This is a perfect opportunity to rid the universe of such filth. We will assist the Black Templars. Tell Brother-Captain Justinian to prepare to drop planetside with 200 Brothers. Let us see then... Ah. I believe we can spare 18 terminators. Drop them too. And Justicar Yrsin. It is because he cannot be buried until this war is over that we must grant him the honour of battle. Drop his dreadnought. I think we can use one of our Land Raiders here. Drop that too, and tell the Enginseers that the storm bolters and the hunter-killer missiles are to be mounted on the Land Raider. And send out the four Predator Destructors; it will be interesting to see how they perform under the guidance of the Grey Knights. Go, Justicar. And may the Emperor watch over you."

Atheras was informed of a floating Grey Knights ship, but almost immeadietly rejected the idea to contact it. Grey Knights, along with the rest of the Ordo Maleus, did not trust the Redeemers. No, he simply commanded the cultist to continue with the plan to get the Battle Barge a safe distance away from the Xenos, so they could safely make landfall.

He was yet again interrupted from his thoughts. "My Lord, there have been reports of some of our...brothers...fighting Tyranid." Atheras stared at the man. He did not like the way he paused before saying brothers. Perhaps he was one who had not truly forsaken Khorne. He would have to keep an eye on him.

Then his thoughts turned toward the Tyranids. Perhaps if he helped kill the Xenos they would perhaps be more trusting. "Drop two companies a few miles from the battle. I myself will lead them." He told the cultist. Anything to get out of space...

The explosion rocked the surface, and both Tyranids and Space Marines turned to see dark shapes emerging from a drop pod. Immediately, a hormagaunt leaped towards the shapes, only to be impaled on a force halberd. Out of the smoke emerged 9 Grey Knight Terminators, glorious in their grey armour, carrying the will of the God-Emperor himself, and as more and more hormagaunts leaped towards them they opened fire with their storm bolters, ripping them apart into shreds of bloodied flesh. One, the Brother-Captain, shouted "In the name of the God-Emperor, exterminate these vermin!" and as a warrior attempted to tear a Terminator in half, four force-halberds embedded themselves in it. Another drop pod landed and another nine terminators emerged out of it, and as the eighteen assembled and began to fire a barrage with their storm bolters, more and more drop pods began to land. A bit further behind, five Thunderhawks landed and their cargo dropped to the ground: tanks. They immediately began to pour fire into the Tyranid swarm but the Tyranids were quick to respond and within seconds, a carnifex was in front of the land raider. As it reared back to strike, however, another drop pod crushed it and from inside emrged a Grey Knights Dreadnought. It walked towards the body and tore off its head with its left arm. A swarm of hormagaunts charged towards it, but it turned and it was apparent that this thing was no ordinary Dreadnought. Its right arm WAS four assault cannons stuck together, and the arm had extremely powerful servomotors to compensate, therefore the Dreadnought moved like a normal Dreadnought AND had four times the normal firepower of one. All four cannons began to fire, and the swarm was quickly ripped apart in a shower of rounds. Behind it landed another few drop pods, and Justicar Invictus stepped out, followed by his over-equipped squad. Twelve Grey Knights, all armed with Incinerators and Storm Bolters with Force Swords on their hips. THIS was overkill. As more hormagaunts approached, led by a Warrior, the Justicar pointed and suddenly a sheet of pure white flame incinerated them all in less than a second, leaving nothing where at least fifty Tyranids had been. The Justicar wordlessly continued on, and around him more and more Grey Knights continued to drop planetside. ANd this was just the beginning. Soon, another fleet would come and then...

"FORM UP MEN, RALLY TO ME!!" roared the govener as he narowly avoided a sything talon and fireing a quick burst of bolter fire at its wielder
"TAKE HEART!!" shouted one of the comisars "THE GREY KNIGHTS ARE HERE!!" as 3 lemanruss tanks were shreded apart next to him by the bio titan

Justicar Invictus stepped forwards, shredding a Hormagaunt with his storm bolters and ordered his squad to incinerate all in their path. Soon, they had barely cut a path to the comissar, and Invictus beckoned Yrsin forwards in his Dreadnought. Wordlessly, he joined the Comissar with his troops, and as the Grey Knights formed a line and began to push the Tyranids back, the Terminators slowly began to cut a beachhead through towards their target.

The bio-titan.

The Champion pushed on, shreding and burning, slashing and hacking down Hormagaunts. His Melta burned down more of them. Marines bolstered his assualt for the Bio Titan. "Sir. Grey Knights." A Battle Brother pointed at the head of a new assualt, with drop pods swarming down among the Templars own. "No matter. It is us along who shall bring on glory for the Emperor. Renew the assualt!" They pushed on.

Talos swatted aside a Xeno, shouting out "Get the tanks on the front of the main fireing positions. I need the Land Raiders pushing forward now! Heavy weapons need to be brought to bear on that Colossus!" His Sword Brethren and surrounding marines waved on the ones behind. A land raider Crusader terminated a dozen chargeing Hormagaunts. It pushed on in the direction, trying to join with the Champions assualt further ahead on the battle field.

Tristan fell back slightly as he unleshed bursts from his Storm Bolter. The monsters were easy to spot with his enhanced optics, but they came and came from everywhere. The endless horde swarmed from all directions on the Terminators. "I have more comeing from the right."

"No to the left! The Left!" A new Terminator came past and shreded a Tyranid with his sword. "Are we close yet?" He asked. "Emperor help us we are." Tristan looked at the explosive they were carrying. "The Emperors fury will wash over this ship. Onward! No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!"

Draco Harkan ordered more Terminators at the large vessels comeing planet side. "Power to fore Las Batterys. Nova frigates fire from stronger fireing postitions. Keep them moveing. Hunters unleash missiles. Blow those Xenos to dust!" A hunter exploded from the bio weapon blasts that over powered others. "And get us more ships." A serf turned around "Yes my Lord. Sending the signal. There comeing as planned."

Draco smiled. They stand no chance against the power of the Emperor. Our Brothers will swat this fragment out of existance.

Valdin, Tank commander Pushed through forward his battle group. The squadrons had near arrived where the Tau forces where suppose to be unloading troops. They would catch them while they were unguarded. "The Machine Spirit is pleased." The Engineseer smiled as he ducked under machineary to talk to the commander. "Yes. We shall show those Tau just what a Destructor can do. They stand no chance." The gunner called down. "Comeing up on them. Unleashing fire with the Las Cannon. Hurricane Pattern Heavy Bolters unleashing fire as ordered."

"Strafe to the right, try to do as much damage in the elemant of surprise." The Tanks crested a snowy rise, unleashing fire as the Tau dropsite and further on, the base came into murky view in the blizzard. The Lascannons vollyed, thundering on for the Craft. While the deadly ammount of projectiles flieing for Firewarriors and Pathfinders was impossible to count. Following close behind, marines charged in their wake, unleashing missiles from Luanchers, and fireing with a Heavy Bolter here and there. The Marines, eager to close in for the Melee, powered up their chainswords. They whirled to life, blood still crusted on a few of them, those of which had just come from a battle. While more and more joined them, includeing one more heavyily armed tank force, and waves of marines joined up with the other forces, cresting the rise and pieceing shots past the first wave.

The Crusade, in the Templars eyes, will not fail.

"Justicar Yrsin, show these Xenos the might of the God-Emperor." The Dreadnought wordlessly lathed the Tyranids with assault-cannon fire, but they were everywhere and the renewed assault of the Grey Knights halted in front of the horde. For a moment, it looked as though the charge would be broken when suddenly another wave of drop-pods crashed into the ground. "Inquisitor?" stammered Justicar Invictus and the Inquisitor Yulann nodded, telling Invictus "I am not prepared to be left out of the slaughter of Xenos, Justicar. Tell your men to prepare for a physic barrage." The Justicar relayed the command and a few moments later the entire 240 man unit focused their physcic energy on the Tyranids before them.

The horde exploded into scraps of flesh, and with renewed vigour the Grey Knights charged forwards. The tanks rumbled to life and Invictus, beckoning the Comissar forwards, ran across the field of dead Tyranids. Yulann jumped into the fray with his power sword, slicing apart the hated Xenos calmly.

"Charge!!!" yell the govener once more as the last few tanks were shreded by heavy tyranids and yet more of his men fell to the ranged assult "Inquisiter, i would inform you of the traters from my system if you wish to hear it. Needless to say it isn't my men fireing those artiliery pices!"

"Neverthless, it is your responsibilty if those men are traitors, Governor!" shouted Yulann as he sliced a warrior in half, and continued "My men are tied up trying to get to the bio-titan! I need your tanks to either clean up that artillery, or aid my men! As for the titan..."

"Yes, Inquisitor. We are waiting upon your command." The Grey Knights manning the three strike cruisers aimed their guns at the bio-titan planetside, and waited. The Emperor's wrath was waiting to unleash its fury...

Atheras suppressed a wince as the drop pod suffered turbulance. He despised this part. He always felt so vulnerable in the pods. He was leading a group of the Defyers of Khorne, ten other pods. The Defyers were former Berzerkers, and to those who did not know what they were looking for, they're armor looked to be covered in runes of Chaos, beseeching the Blood God.

However, to those who knew these runes, they were in fact just the opposite, runes casting the defiance of the Redeemers in Khorne's face. The armor had gotten them in trouble in the past, others of the Adeptus Astartes who mistaked them for true Berzerkers. However, he refused to ban it. It was a personal sign for these former Heretics, and only the most trusted and most skilled of the Chapter was allowed to wear the armor.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the thud that told him he had landed safely. He readied the chain axe he had used for centuries, and burst from the pod, followed by the Defyers, all screaming in crazed bloodlust as they crashed into the Tyranids. The rest of the Company he had decided to use for this would soon land in the Thunderhawks.

Vlasingrad led the charge. He was joined by tanks and more marines. The heavy weapons the tanks were equiped fired vollys of Las fire at the monstousity. Vlasingrad jumped a Carnifexs claws, landed on its head as it came down, and cut it off, before jumping away. He went on, smashing and tossing aside smaller Tyranids, and shrugging off Bio fire. He returned fire with the rest of the Templars, now switching to a Storm Bolter.

He was now closer to the Bio-Titan. He ran ahead of his men, amazeing all around him, as he seemed to want to engage the huge beast all on his own.
The sluggish levianthen had to be busy with tanks and heavy fire to notice one Marine crouching past its vision and prepareing to use his surprise on it. He looked around and found what he was looking for. He prepared to get higher up on top of the beast, to end its life.

Draco reinitiated broadcast, this time forceful. He literaly broke down the Grey Knights wall of broad cast and Hailed them himself.

This is a warning from the Marshall of this crusade himself. In the name of the God-Emperor, may his will be done in our Crusade, Stand down from orbital fire. Our forces are thickly engaged in the battle below. Fire upon the Titan via orbital fire, SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED. We shall not back down from this fight. Fire via Orbital fire in a Battleground claimed by the Black Templars will be accepted as hostile act, and vengeance...would be swift.

Draco ended the broadcast, with a glare, and turned to his serfs. "Get me some ships ready. If those ships unleash fire, I want them in range to blow them out of space." Draco sat down in his Command chair before the serf could reply. "Inquisitors...oh so infuriateing."

Tristan waved on the further reinforcements. They stormed past large and small chambers, past the piles of dead xenos, and into a larger chamber where the charge was. Two Terminators reported to him. "Sire, were getting in more reports of overwhelmeing attacks. The flanks are straining to keep thet chamber clear." Tristan walked past. He came up to the charge, and activated it. "Then we shall relieve them. All of you, fall back to the reentry. We have 30 minutes before this thing destroys this entire vessel, and everything in it. Men pulled out, with bolter fire comeing closer as Terminators retreated slowly, keeping a tide of xenos back.

ADDITION!:

Tristan ran back, kicking aside a Gaunt. He put it down with a quick spray of Bolter fire. On he went with the last of the Terminators. A group was behind them, laying down fire for the retreat. They rounded a corner, and sprayed fire at oncomeing hostiles. They were now swarming from all directions, in the many knooks and craneys of the vessel. They had to leave, now, or the vessel would not only take them, but off set the balance of the fight, as many other charges had been placed by now from multiple teams on multiple capital ships. The chain reaction would destroy almost all the hive fleet.

Tristan made for the extraction point, only to be blocked by the hulk of a Carnifex. He swallowed. He waved on his team. "Go. I'll take give you some time." His Battle Brothers made no move. "Sir, the corridors are blocked. We might make it out, but were not leaveing with out you." The Tyranids swarmed around them now, comeing from all directions. It seemed almost hopeless...when a shudder and a hiss ripped though the tension. The wall they were backed to split open and out walked a Dreadnought thundered past them, and dropped the xenos chargeing them. The Terminators ran into their new exit. The Dreadnought followed close behind. They made it to their exit shuttle. The mariens laid down fire as the door closed. When it slammed shut, the ship exited the vessel, and turned full speed for the Templars fleet, to avoid the blast.

The champion was on top of the beast, running down the shakeing back. He nearly fell as the beast shudder from the las fire. He reached the head finally. He tried to get its attention, by shooting at it. It shook harder, nearly pushing him off. It roared, something that could destroy the eardrums of a lesser man with out sound displacers. He disattached the bomb he was carrying on his back. He attached it onto its skull, as it focused more attention on its head then the tanks below. He fell and was now hanging on its head. He looked directly into the beasts eye now. It blinked, the look of a predator beast spotting the prey it sensed. He shot into the eye. It roared. He fell. The bomb...went off. The thing wasn't powerful enough to damage the thick skin of course...which is why he threw it into its maw as it let out the roar. The thing shuddered and the head exploded. The champion was knocked further back, landing in a pile of bodys and snow.

Valdin's tank laid waste to yet one more dropship. In the back ground, missiles flew past, swating aside battle suits and infantry. His squadron was down 4 tanks, but still in the battle. Marines thundered past, engageing the Melee Inept Firewarriors. "This is not a battle. Its a massacre!" said the Engineseer. Valdin smirked. He was about to say something when then tank shuddered, and blew, heavy weapons fire tore through the side of the tank, takeing the Engineseers life intantly. Valdin blacked out for a few minutes. Blurry vision returned. Towering over him was a Firewarrior. It looked at him curiously, then turned its weapon on him as if to fire, when Bolter fire shreded the Tau apart. A pair of Marines thundered past, one of them stopping to help Valdin up. "Were about to assualt the base! What of your tank?" "Valdin looked around at the battlefield. The Marines kept thundering by, fireing at oncomeing Tau. "Its gone. Along with crew." Valdin looked around and took up a Bolter. "I'll fight." The marine nodded and joined the battle again.
Valdin sighed. I'm a Tank Commander, not Infantry. But ran along with the Marines, spraying Bolter fire.

Draco smiled. He detonated the charges, the huge ships shuddered, then blew up, takeing several surrounding ships with them. Draco cheered with the best of the bridge opperators. A serf approached the Marshall. "Templar Fleet entering system. Our reinforcements are here!" And so they were. Two more battle Barges with several strike cruisers and dozens of frigates. Draco smirked. "This battle, is nearly over."

Talos lifted the hulk of the champion up. He shook, then stood up the rest of the way. His helmet was nearly crushed, and the armour dented and scratched. He looked around and spotted his sword, lifting it out of the tundra waste. Several tanks were destroyed as the beast thundered down on them, but a majority backed away. The Templars around them cheered, while otheres ran around mopping up the remaining Tyranids, letting none escape.

The Champion and The Castellan lifted up the Templar banner with the other marines renewing their oaths as is their want. "Were we not here to dispel the chaos forces at work here? The Champion turned to him and said "One battle at a time Castellan." The serious face broke up enough to count as a laugh if such a thing existed for a Black Templar.

The Marshall Set his ship over the postition of the Tau base. The Battle barge sat quiet, and then unleashed a small barage, aimed to break down the outter defenses for the Templars below to break in with. The lances of light sped down and toppled the outer walls and bunkers in one section, clearing the way for oncomeing Tanks and Infantry.

Reading the transmission, Yulann suppressed his anger. Who did this Marshal think he was? Yulann was an Inquisitor, which meant that he could simply take the Marshal to be tried for heresy, having stopped a bombardment that could have stoppd a bio-titan, and then have him burned. "Oh well." he said and shouted "Invictus, move the tanks up and tell the Brother-Captain that route 7 is open!" Invictus saluted, and the Grey Knights moved out. It was time.

(Reserved. Too tired to post now.)