Rise of the Shadow Legion
Chapter One
In the Eastern Territories of the Empire of Man, lies a planet called Umbra Barathrum, meaning Shadow World. A world that follows orbit behind a massive planet called Ragnal III. With this factor, Umbra Barathrum is in total darkness year round. Do to the darkness the population of Umbra Barathrum have very keen eyes in the darkness, pale white skin. They also have dark blue eyes and pitch black hair. It's a small mining world with a small population, however lacking in number, they make up in skill. They are masters of stealth and darkness, when the lights go out there will be nothing you can do.
Lord Maia's Palace in the capital city Tiber.
Lord Governor Maia is standing looking over Tiber, through a massive window high up in the palace tower. Looking over the dark city with a dark look on his face. He walks to his desk and calls for a message to be sent to General Magnus Maximums to be sent to his office immediately.
Walks over to the wine rack on the far left side grabs an old wine and pores two glasses.
"Come in, come in, Magnus. I have grave news for you." Said Lord Maia. "Drink?"
"No thank you, what is it my lord?" Replied Magnus as he finishes putting on his officer uniform walking at a hurried pace through the duel heavy wooden doors to the Lord Governors Office.
"Magnus, I have received news, that Sierra has gone dark. I received a distress signal from Sierra. Watch it Magnus because I am sending the Umbra Aluada." Lord Maia said darkly.
An image appears on the Lord Governors holo screen above his desk.
Transmission: 184430463724
Distress call…
A battered and bloodied Guardsman, a corporal by looks of his uniform, appears on the holo screen.
"To all Imperial Fleets nearby we are under attack, I repeat we are under attack! They came so quickly we couldn't mobilize a defense! They are everywhere we can't hold them back."
A large explosion is heard in the background followed by multiple small arms fire. Soon there is screaming, that is cut short.
"They have breached the barricades please in the Emperors name help us!"
The sound of las fire gets louder.
"Hold the command post now!" The guardsman screams to someone off the screen.
"If anyone is out there we are dying here, we are falling back to the country side into the forest. We have lost the hive! We will be moving into southern reserve park!"
"Move those supplies on the transports now we are running out of time!" the guardsman screams once again to someone off screen."
When the guardsman looks back at the screen an explosion ripples of screen knocking the pic feeder sideways onto the ground.
As the smoke starts to clear, flashes of a las rifle firing is seen. The corporal is lying on his back firing his las rifle on full auto in the direction of the blast. There is a loud inhuman war cry. As the corporal starts screaming then something leaps onto the corporal ending his life. It knocks the pic feeder up towards the ceiling. A hoofed armored figure stops looks down at the pic feeder, points it long black rifle looking weapon at the pic feeder, and says one thing.
"For the Greater Good"
Then fires its weapon, destroying the pic feeder.
Transmission End… starts flashing across the holo screen.
"General I want the Umbra Aluada ready for departure by 600 standard hours. There is an Imperial Battle Group already on its way. Commanded by General Corzin of the Cralon Dragoons. They are about two weeks out. You should be grouping up with them upon arrival. I am not going to let our sister system fall to the xenon filth. They fall, we fall," Lord Maia commanded.
"Yes my lord, the Umbra Aluidas will be ready for counter assault. Even as we speak ever Umbra Poreliator is collecting his gear and boarding a Lander for departure. As well as the armor companies. We will bring death to the Emperors enemies! To the very last man my lord!" Replied Magnus
"Well le.t's hope, that it is a swift victory. With minimal casualties Magnus. And if you bring the ending blow to the xenon filth. General Magnus Maximus will be remembered as the hero and savior of Sierra. Now go as I have commanded", said Lord Maia
"We will not fail you my lord," Replied Magnus.
"As I expect it, now leave me," Replied Maia.
General Magnus Maximus stormed out of the Lord Governor's office with intent of a glorious victory of the most hated enemy of Umbra Barathrum, the Tau.
All over the Imperial compound alarms were blaring out. Men are running every which way getting to their positions for departure. Several Chimeras loaded with armored fist squads are driving up a ramp onto a heavy Lander. Soon followed by a couple of Leman Russ Battle Tanks.
"Sergeant Ambrose what's going on," Asked Lucius?
"We are being mobilized, Lucius. General Maximus has ordered us to high alert we are going Sierra," Replied Sergeant Ambrose.
"Why are we going to Sierra, are they having an uprising or something," Asked Felix?
"I don't know I haven't been briefed on the situation on Sierra but they have gone dark," Said Sergeant Ambrose.
"Now listen up! Cato, Marcus, Felix, Tacitus, Valerius, Lucius, Proserpina, Tiberius, and Halarious. We have been through many campaigns together we have fought the Orks, our sworn enemy of man Chaos, the Eldar, and our most hated enemy the Tua. We have fought, killed, and lost friends and brothers in arms to all of them. We have been fighting together sense we were only youth. Not only have we been in grand assaults with our blessed chimera Debelleo Lampas and her crew Pax, Regulus, Vibius, but we have been in sieges, raids, and every other way of attack and defense you can think of. Let's ask the Emperor that we once again all return from another campaign. We are one of the few squads in the Umbra Aluada that has never lost a single Umbra Paludatus. We shall destroy this threat that threatens our home! And we shall give them nothing but take from them everything. In the Emperors name move out!," said Sergeant Ambrose.
Phantom Squad roars with approval as they finish putting on their black fatgues and Dark Blue Cadian Battel Armor.
Together Phantom Squad loads up onto the Debelleo Lampas and headed their way to the Heavy Lander. The campaign to recapture Sierra has begun.
In the hull of the Troop Transport Black Void, the Umbra Aluada was gather in a large chamber big enough to hold 10,000 men, and it didn't seem big enough. The lights are dimmed low to help accumulate there eyes. General Magnus Maximus Stands in front of the Aquila on the stage back drop.
"Soldiers of the Umbra Aluada, we are going to our sister system Sierra to push back our hated enemy the Tua," General Magnus Voice echo's through the gathering chamber.
An up roar of abusive words and threats rise at the mention of the Tua, from all the Guardsmen in the gathering chamber.
"An Imperial Battle Group already on its way. Commanded by General Corzin of the Cralon Dragoons, as our Lord Governor Maia has informed me. We are to meet up with them upon arrival of Sierra. General Corzin has under his command the Cralon Dragoons, Cadian 6th Infantry, Cadian 92nd Armor, Janis 9th Infantry, Janis 504th Armor, The Royal Vapolan 9th Task Force, Mordian 607th Mechanized Battalion. And a company of Space Wolfs of the beloved Adeptus Astartes are there to aide. Upon arrival we are to head to the designated coordinates. General Corzin has ordered us to land with the Royal Vapolan 9th Task Force," said General Magnus Maximus.
General Magnus points to an open area of land north of the Sierra's hive city Abaus Asto.
Murmur starts to rise as squad commanders and tacticians start agree on how easy it can turn into a giant grave upon landing.
"I know many of you have doubts, with the Generals plan, I agree. That's why I am sending a strike team to the surface I need two to three squads to infantry and an armored fist unit," Said General Magnus.
Sergeant Decimus of Ghost Squad stands up.
"I volunteer Ghost Squad General," said Sergeant Decimus.
"Very good I need one more infantry squad and an armored squad unit," said General Magnus.
Sergeant Gaius of Reaper Squad stands up.
"I volunteer Reaper Squad to be your final Infantry unit Sir" said Sergeant Gaius.
"Very good, now who wants to be the lucky armored fist squad lads?" said general Magnus.
Sergeant Ambrose stands up and salutes.
"I volunteer Phantom squad to be the final unit in the Strike team to secure the land zone," said Sergeant Ambrose.
"Thank you Ambrose for volunteering you armored fist squad. For we all here know what happens to armored fist strike teams when Tau are the enemy. Your transport is target right off the bat, by their Broadside Suits. Report to my command deck at 1500 hours," said General Magnus.
In unison Sergeant Ambrose, Gaius, Decimus say.
"YES SIR!"
Command Deck 1450 hours' Standard time.
General Magnus Maximus is pacing around a holo table in the middle of the command deck. Tacticians, advisers and aids are scrambling all over the deck, planning assault plans gathering satellite and navel vessel scans to update the ships data base, trying to stay on top of all Intel, and current situations on their destination. The glow from the holo table and scanner screens lights up the command deck in a light blue. The blast doors at the end of the narrow deck open up and Sergeants Decimus, Gaius, and Ambrose walk in, once they arrive at the holo table the salute General Magnus Maximus.
"Nice of you to be on time gentlemen, I have the drop zone pulled up on the holo table. Ghost and Reaper Squad Strike Transports will land one click south of our landing zone. I want you to take your Squads through the woodland where the remains of the Sierra 32nd Defense Force is suppose to be, they are all that's left of the Sierra Armies. They do how ever have several regiments fighting in the Emperors armies the Imperial Guard, and are unable to respond in quick session. Our Lord Governor Maia has sent a message to all over their Regimental commanders informing that their home is going to be in good hands, let's not let them down. Shall we," said General Magnus?
"Sir what do you want us to do if we come across survives? Do we tell them to hold position and wait tell its clear or have them regroup with us and push on," asked Sergeant Gaius of Reaper Squad?
"Well tell them this, if they don't form up with you and push on I will guaranty they will all be executed for cowardice by Commissar's Vibius and Germanus without trial. Do I make myself clear Sergeant Gaius? I will not let others hide, and let you and your men die because you were out gunned, and outnumbered. I value the lives of my men and you should to," Said General Magnus.
"Yes Sir, I will see to it that there with us." Replied Sergeant Gaius
"Now that Ghost and Reaper Squads know thier objectives, I want Phantom Squad droped and extra click. It is a opean feild there, it will be a hot drop so make sure your men are ready Sergeant Ambrose," said General Magnus
"Yes Sir," replyed Sergeant Ambrose.
"I want Phantom Squad to regroup with Ghost and Reaper Squad. Once there I want Ghost and Reaper to take point through the woodlands, to scout out any possiable threats, such as Battle Suits that can waste Phantom Squad. Ambrose I want your men and your transport to give heavy support to Ghost and Reaper, if the occasion should arise," said General Magnus
"Yes Sir," they chours the squad leaders.
"Now we should be reentering normal space just out side of Sierra, right about... now," said General Magnus
Alarms all over the command deck start blaring as the troop transport reenters normal space, with Sierra in view.