Chapter 6: Over the Hills and Far Away
1000 Shuto, Amatsu Two Weeks later
The 1st Amatsu Brigade and the 1st Sylmar Partisan Rangers marched through the streets of Shuto, their heads held high. Thousands of civilians had lined the streets to see their brothers, their fathers, and their sons go off to war once more. The hollow victory at Oron was beginning to fade away into distant memory, as the Brigade had been invigorated by a flood of fresh recruits, all of them eager to earn their share of honor and glory in service to the Emperor. Imperial and Amatsu flags fluttered in the breeze as patriotic citizens waved banners inscribed with patriotic slogans and wishes of good fortune in the battles ahead.
The Sylmarins stared in awe at this display of patriotism, never before had they see this much fanfare given to an army going off to war. All around the city, citizens shouted to the Guardsmen encouraging them to do their duty and to have no fear. Cries of "Banzai to the Emperor!" rang out as citizens cheered on the Guardsmen. Slowly but surely the Amatsu Brigade and their attached units made their way through this fanfare and were loaded onto transports.
In orbit Rain looked out of a view port on the ship The Lone Voyager. The orbiting dock above Amatsu was bursting with activity. Thousands of small transport and cargo craft shuttled personnel and supplies up from the surface to the Imperial Navy ships in the Amatsu Task Force. The sight of the Amatsu Naval Task Force was glorious as the pride of the Imperial Navy's Amatsu units were massed to do battle with the enemy of the Emperor one more time.
0906 Imperial Battleship ship Divine Wind one month later
It had been almost five weeks since the Amatsu Naval battle group set out from its homeport. They had reached Faralon several days ahead of schedule and they had rendezvous with a small Inquisition Force led by Inquisitor Alan Kimble, who had come on his own to investigate the heretic insurrection on Faralon, the 312th Cadian Expeditionary Force and the Soldat Expeditionary Force and plans for the campaign to come were forming quickly. Rain's comment about the experience of the Cadian units was not completely true as their commander, General George Hammond, was an experienced leader and Colonel Jack O'Neill, the commander of the 234th Cadian Special Operation Regiment, was a battle harden leader who was expected to be promoted to general after the campaign on Faralon had subsided. In addition to those skilled senior officers the men of the 234th were all battle harden combat veterans. However, the two other regiments and various support units attached to the 312th were green units that were newly raised.
What in fact troubled the Amatsu soldiers most was not the Cadians. They might be mostly green but they were a modern army with modern weapons. But the Soldatans were primarily armed with obsolete bolt-action rifles and had few heavy and special weapons beyond an outdated grenade launcher model. Moreover it was an amateur army not a single soldier or officer in the Soldat Expeditionary Force has ever fought in a battle larger then a small skirmish.
Once they had finished the rendezvous and moved to orbit the planet Inquisitor Rain called a meeting of the military officers. Attending were Inquisitors Von Morris, Alan Kimble, and Vlinstad, General Omura, Colonel Minamoto, Major Takeda, Colonel Tanaka commander of the 4th Amatsu Armored Regiment, Colonel Storm, Colonel D'Aoust commander of the Soldat Expeditionary Force, Admiral Yamamoto, General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill, and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe.
"Gentlemen we need a plan of action for the battles to come. I want a strong opening move that will keep our true strength hidden until the enemy is at his weakest. I want our opening move to be flexible enough to so we can project overwhelming force against these heretics where ever we want." Stated Rain. She paused for a moment. "I also want a force to go with me behind enemy lines for long range reconnaissance."
"What unit do you have in mind Lady Inquisitor?" asked General Hammond.
"The Amatsu 1st Special Landing Battalion under Major Takeda and the Cadian 234th Special Operations Regiment under Colonel O'Neill." Replied Rain. "I would also like Inquisitors Von Morris and Kimble to begin their own investigations from the capital city."
"Your will shall be done, Lady Inquisitor." Replied Inquisitor Von Morris.
"Nothing shall escape the eyes of the Emperor's Holy Inquisition." Replied Inquisitor Kimble enthusiastically.
"Lady Inquisitor who shall be the commander of the Guard forces on the ground?" asked Colonel D'Aoust.
"General Hammond will be in command. He is senior to all of the other officers and has more experience commanding large formation such as these." Answered General Omura. D'Aoust nodded quietly in response. "Lady Inquisitor, I have a suggestion I would like to make regarding our plan of action." Before anyone could answer an aide rushed into the briefing room.
"Sirs!" he shouted. "We have an emergency distress call coming from the surface. The call is coming from the Ecclesiarchy cardinal on the surface. He says there's been an insurrection in the capital. He's hold up with something called the Ecclesiarchy Guard, the Royal Life Company, and the local queen in the capital cathedral. He says they won't be able to hold out for much longer."
"Colonel D'Aoust prepare your men for battle!" ordered General Hammond.
"Sir?" asked D'Aoust.
"The Inquisitor wanted a strong opening move that won't give away our true strength. Your men have the firepower and numbers to protected the local monarch and defeat the rebel forces and besides they need a good battle to blood them for the battles ahead. Do you understand?" Replied Hammond.
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed Colonel." D'Aoust saluted and turned and left the briefing room trailing behind him was his second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Sharpe. They watched the red uniformed officers leave. General Hammond then turned and began to give more orders. "Colonel O'Neill, Major Takeda I want your men ready to insert by tonight."
"Insert where General?" asked Major Takeda.
"Here, Major." Spoke Rain as she pointed towards a holographic map of the planet. "This is the province of Norting Wind. The capital of the heretic forces is situated there and from what we understand the source of the corruption that plagues these lands. If we can find the source of the corruption, then we can cut the head off this insurrection."
"Lady Inquisitor, that province is far north. The conditions there are going to be very rugged. Right now it's the warm season, but soon the weather is going to get cold, very cold. Do we have the right equipment to handle artic conditions?" asked Colonel O'Neill.
"The Special Landing Battalion has brought Artic equipment. We have enough extra supplies to supply your regiment." Answered Takeda.
"Good. I'll have my regiment ready to go." O'Neill turned to General Hammond. "General, permission to prepare my regiment for action."
"Granted. Colonel. Major Takeda, prepare your men as well. I want your men to insert when we drop D'Aoust and his lot into the capital."
"Yes, sir." Replied the two officers and they saluted and turned to leave the briefing room. Just before Takeda and O'Neill left General Omura spoke up.
"Major, take the sentinels units with you." Takeda turned around.
"Thank you general." Replied Takeda and saluted
"Well looks like our opening has just been made." Muttered Minamoto. "General, I suggest we adjourn for now."
"Suggestion noted Colonel. We will adjourn for now. We'll meet back here at 1000 tomorrow. Dismissed gentlemen." The remaining officers quickly scattered across the ship. Some returning to their quarters, others returned to other ships in the task force. Takeda after quickly meeting with several of his officers to arrange the artic supplies that the Cadians need decided to pay an old friend a visit.
Takeda made his way to the pilot barracks and went up to a particular bunk. In that bunk laid an Imperial Navy pilot asleep, snoring softly. Takeda grinned devilishly and kicked the bunk.
"Get up flyboy! Its not even noon yet and you're asleep! Get up!" shouted Takeda. The pilot groaned and Takeda kicked the bunk again.
"Shugo, what the hell are you doing?" asked the pilot.
"Waking you up Toshizou."
"I'm still resting after what we did yesterday." Muttered Lieutenant Toshizou Okabe.
"What? Drink sake until we fell over at like 1800? If you had a hang over it would be gone by now. Get we're going to do some sparing."
"We spar almost every other day Shugo, can't you think of something that you aren't good at to do?" asked Okabe.
"Not when I'm going planetside in a few hours. Need to brush up on my hand-to-hand skills a bit more."
"My ass." Muttered Okabe. Sometime later Okabe landed with a thud on the practice mat.
"Get up flyboy, we're not done yet!" ordered Takeda. Okabe groaned.
"No more Shugo. I'm done for the day." Takeda grinned and held out his hand.
"You're so lazy Toshizou."
"Whatever." Replied Okabe as he grabbed Takeda's hand and hauled himself to his feet. "I'm a pilot not a ground pounder."
"Doesn't mean you can't keep yourself in shape."
"Shut up." The two officers grinned. Suddenly Takeda's face fell as he went into deep thought.
"How long has it been?" asked Takeda.
"How long has it been since what?"
"Since we met at Shirohoshi. It must be what? Twenty or so years?" Okabe paused.
"Fifteen. It's been fifteen years since we were just boys at the Shirohoshi Academy huh?" Okabe laughed. "To be young and foolhardy again. We're old men now Shugo."
"Shut up! We're not that old, besides who are you to talk I out rank you." Replied Takeda, a wide grin spread across his face.
"You got that promotion because that Inquisitor has the hots for you." Countered Okabe. Takeda grew red in the face and scrunched up his eyebrows.
"That's not true. I got my promotion because of my dedicated service."
"I'm joking. You take everything so seriously Shugo, ever since we were boys you were the serious one."
"Whatever." Takeda paused and then spoke again slowly. "We're going behind enemy lines this round. Supposed to be an extended long-range recon and Intel gathering op with the Inquisitor." Okabe nodded and began to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeah I know." Okabe look down at his timepiece and frowned. "Crap, I should be going."
"Same here." Takeda sighed. "The operation begins in a few hours, I should probably get some rest."
"Good luck down there." Okabe spoke his eyes blazing with a determination that always shined through his laidback personality "I swear to you that any threat from space won't get past me. As long as I draw breath, I'll keep you and your men cover from up here."
"My ass you'll cover us! We're fighting half feral heretics not renegades!" replied Takeda. "The thoughts are appreciated though. I'll see you when we get back." The two old comrades departed to fight another battle in the name of the Emperor.
"Banzai to the Emperor!" shouted Okabe.
"Banzai!" replied Takeda.
Four Hours Later
"Colonel, all units have been loaded on the dropships, sir." Reported Major Jean Chevalier, the commander of the 3rd Soldat Expeditionary Regiment.
"Good, we better get going then." Replied D'Aoust.
"Yes, sir" Chevalier paused a moment. "Sir, when I asked you where we were going and you replied 'over the hills and far away' I didn't think it would be this far." D'Aoust laughed and replied.
"Major, when I recruited you I didn't think it would be this far either. Come on lets get this done."
"Yes, sir." The two officers quickly boarded one of the dropships and strapped themselves in. Inside were rows upon rows of their men; each wore a dark crimson uniform with a gold colored breastplate, a cream colored hat, with brown leather bandoliers strapped across their chests, and two cartridge boxes attached to their belts. The dropships began to rattle as they moved into launch position. The dropships launched without delay as D'Aoust and his men began their dissent to the surface.
"Colonel, where do you want me to land?" asked the pilot.
"In the courtyard of the cathedral."
"Say again, sir?" asked the pilot
"Get my men into that courtyard!" shouted D'Aoust.
"Yes, sir." Replied the pilot. Within minutes the dropships had landed in the courtyard much to the amazement of the local population. D'Aoust and his men came charging out, bayonets fixed, while D'Aoust and his cavalrymen mounted their horses and drew their revolvers.
"I am Colonel Richard D'Aoust, the commander of the Soldat Expeditionary Force and a representative of His Imperial Majesty, the God-Emperor of Mankind. I have come by the order of the Emperor's Most Holy Inquisition to protect this cathedral."
"I am Sir Seiryn of Her Royal Majesty Lady Kyr's Royal Guard!" shouted one of the locals, a man in majestic silver armor. "I am the Lady's representative for the time being as she is preoccupied with the defense of this position."
"Sir Seiryn! If you would be so kind as to escort myself to the lady, with her permission I would like to deploy my men against the enemy that plagues you." D'Aoust slowly moves his horse forward towards Seiryn. Behind them, Major Chevalier and Colonel Sharpe followed on foot.
"The Lady is this way." Seiryn and D'Aoust spurred their horses towards the cathedral. Once at the cathedral, both dismounted and began to walk up the stairs leading into the sanctuary. "My lady! This is one of the offworlders that the cardinal promised would come." Cried out Seiryn. Inside a group of armored warriors stood around a table with maps and papers spread about it.
"Is that so?" asked a woman, clad in armor similar to Seiryn's. D'Aoust took careful note of the lady's immense beauty. D'Aoust bowed and spoke.
"Your ladyship, I am Colonel Richard D'Aoust, the commander of the Soldat Expeditionary Force. I have been commanded by my superiors to come to your aide and destroy the heretic forces in the city." D'Aoust stopped and introduced his officers. "These are my subordinate officers, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe and major Jean Chevalier." The two men saluted in response.
"Thank you for coming to our aid. Are you here to take command of the defense of my city or are you men at my disposal?" asked the Lady Kyr.
"My lady that is up to you to decide. It is not our place to tell you what would be the best for the defense of a city that we know little about."
"Excellent, you and your men shall be under Sir Seiryn's command." Replied Lady Kyr. "Sir Sei, deploy the Colonel as you see fit."
"Yes, my lady. Colonel what weapons are your men equipped with?" D'Aoust grinned and replied.
"Bolt-action rifles, sir."
"Bolt what?" asked one of the Faralon generals.
"It's a type of gun, sir, highly accurate with a high rate of fire." Answered Chevalier.
"I see, Colonel D'Aoust, I would like you to deploy your men along the walls to begin firing down onto the traitors." Requested Seiryn.
"Very good sir. Major Chevalier move your regiment onto the walls." Ordered D'Aoust. Just as Chevalier was about to salute a loud roar resounded. "What in the Emperor's name was that?" asked D'Aoust. A Soldat soldier burst into the room and shouted with a panicked stricken voice.
"Colonel! The traitors just blasted the East gate open with a cannon! They're charging was we speak!" Quickly the officers inside the cathedral charged out and began to shouted orders.
"Sharpe's Eagles! Form double ranks at the gate!" shouted Sharpe.
"D'Aoust's Warriors! Form mounted double rank behind the 2nd Regiment!" order D'Aoust. As he mounted his horse one of his junior officers rode up to him.
"Colonel, we've never done a mounted double rank before!"
"No time like the present!" replied D'Aoust. "Mister Chevalier form your men in triple rank in front of the cathedral! You are to prevent the enemy from taking that building at all costs!"
"Yes, sir." Quickly the soldiers of Soldat formed their lines and prepared to meet the enemy face to face. Sharpe slung his customized rifle off his shoulder and joined his men in the ranks.
"Heavy bolters! Fire at will!" At Sharpe's command the heavy bolters opened fire cutting down many enemies but still they advanced climbing over the bodies of their fallen comrades. "Rifles! Make ready!" Sharpe's men raised their weapons. "Take aim!"
Another roar resounded as several of the charging traitors sudden exploded in a rain of flesh and blood. A loud crack followed and suddenly a section of Sharpe's line fell. The traitors had fired their cannon again. The solid metal shot flew through the air cutting through several of their own men before smashing into the center of Sharpe's line, badly mauling the tightly formed ranks of Soldatans.
"Damn it! Reform the line and fire at will! Reform and fire at will!" shouted Sharpe. He turned and faced the enemy and raised his rifle and began to fire. Behind Sharpe, D'Aoust had his cavalry formed into ranks. D'Aoust had his men firing in volleys by rank. After volley after volley from the Soldat soldiers the traitor forces gave way and they began to retreat.
"They're falling back boys! Charge them now before they regroup!" shouted D'Aoust as he drew his saber and charged forward. Behind him his cavalry surged after him sabers gleaming in the sun while Sharpe's infantry advanced behind them.
Takeda and his comrades knew nothing of the fierce fighting that engulfed the city, which they had now learned, was called Geffenia. The results of the battle did not even concern them. Takeda, O'Neill, and their men had landed thousands of kilometers behind enemy lines. If anything went wrong, there would be no way for them to extract before facing overwhelming numbers of enemies. The Specal Landing Battalion, along with the 234th, had been deployed a little over dozen kilometers from the enemy capital. They had located an abandoned village and converted it into their base of operations. All around the village guardsmen moved supplies and weapons to fortify the village into a proper Imperial Guard base.
The village was located a good fifteen kilometers away from the enemy capital in a heavily forested section of the province. The town had been long forgotten, but it served as the perfect forward base. Rain strolled across the streets and boulevards with ease surveying the bustle of activity around her. A plan was already forming in her head how to proceed. It was simple yet efficient, the sort of plans that Rain preferred. She turned on her vox and spoke softly into the microphone.
"Colonel O'Neill, Major Takeda please meet me in the town hall in twenty minutes." The two quickly responded. Rain smirked and switched her vox to a different channel. "Have several sets of cloths prepared, local peasant style."
"As you command, Lady Inquisitor." Replied her aide. Rain smiled coolly; as long as she could start conducting successful reconnaissance operations within the week she should be able to move to phase two of her plan.
Yet despite the initial success with the defense of the planetary capital, now know to the Imperial relief force as Prontera, and the successful insertion of over six thousand men, there was something lingering in the air and her mind that troubled Rain. Around her at times she could feel the tendrils of the Warp touch her psychic shield. Yet just as soon as it came it went and each time Rain reached out with her mind she found nothing. That by itself was more troubling then any presence she could feel.
