Chapter 1

Boots on the Ground

"Alright you maggots, the raiders are attacking and the righteous ain't coming anytime to kill em. We're being deployed to Ashrock1 to meet the raider threat. They've been pressing their attack on our outposts an-". Marvis watches the Captain Commander as his amplified voice spreads across the plains other troops such as himself stand in preparation for their departure. His eyes slowly drift towards the women beside him, Tabitha2 known also as the Imperial Queen. A trooper next to Marvis notices his diverted attention and nudges him, "She's quite the looker ain't she? How'd a girl like her get in the army?"

"Did you recently switch divisions? Her late father was the prior Captain Commander, she's not a prodigy but she's still an excellent commander."

"So she's a daddy's little princess. Heh, I was transferred from Cassius' division."

"Princess or not she's your commander now, and listen up we're about to head out."

"Your division Commanders have all been given their orders, begin deployment. For the Imperium!" Halcyon finishes his speech and motions towards the first division captain, Tabitha. Tabitha steps off the stage and enters her own Personalized Hellion Transporter3 as a portion of the standing troops begin boarding nearby hellions4 and other aerial vehicles. Marvis marches towards his squad's hellion as his squad commander, Cyrus, begins briefing the squad on their deployment orders and environmental variables. As Marvis approaches the hellion and looks forward as he sees his fellow troopers disappear into the gaping darkness of the hellion.

Balls of fire seem to descend from the clouded sky as the Hellion's thermal shields activate preventing atmospheric burnout. Various raider grunts and imperial infantry look to the sky, acknowledging the newcomers. Raider captain and commander com channels are suddenly overflown as the various leaders begin to calculate their next commands.

Marvis braces himself as his hellion's thrusters adjust their speed just enough to fall fast enough but not injure anyone inside. Tabitha's voice booms over the hellion's roaring engines, "Alright men, our troops are currently engaged with the raiders. One of the field commanders is Dalia, she's a force to be reckoned with. We'll push them back and then await my orders. For the Imperium!" Marvis' hellion drops down and as the gate lowers Cyrus runs out and yells something through the com but Marvis only hears gunfire and rock crunching beneath his feet as he steps onto Ashrock.

Lore

1. Ashrock. The planet was so named after being the Great War took place, covering this planet with ash. The planet has since then recovered into a decent planet but the landscape was now changed by the G and AB bombs of ages passed. The geographical and anti-biological bombs destroyed the landscape, leaving only furious volcanos, a frigid artic, and a still marsh, longer suitable for bustling cities and trading posts that once inhabited this planet. This planet was only for military use and small villages that learned to live off the harsh environment.

2. Tabitha , also known as the Imperial Queen is the daughter of the late Captain Commander, Natrix. Tabitha shared her father's gifts in war and command, knowing when to lead and when to command her troops. Tabitha scored in the upper quartile of all her classes, as well as being second to the prodigy, Dom, in some of her classes. As one of the few women Captains, Tabitha strives hard to make her reputation known in the Imperial Army. When Natrix perished, Halcyon brought Tabitha under his command over the first division in respect of her father.

3. Personalized Hellion Transporters (PHT) are hellions specifically modified for Captains, the Captain Commander, and any other highly valued personnel. These are very similar to hellions except they include more defensive measures, have a more advanced engine, and have a stronger and lighter material used in their outer armor. See hellion.

4. Hellions were created from an idea that Halcyon thought of himself in order to expedite the transportation of troops to and from the battlefield. Hellions were designed from a fusion of Terminator armor and a Tiamat technology. The original ones could be piloted by different troopers, but now a separate variety with auto-pilot is also being produced. Hellions can be deployed quickly from land or overships from C to S class ships, making them highly versatile. A version of the Hellion has been created in order to transport troops on water based planets, however they have not yet begun mass-production as it is speculated to be only a prototype.