Isphyda VI
Orion and his squad trudged through the snow in the direction that the escape pod had come. Earlier, the Unyielding had received several urgent distress signals from dozens of escape pods. Many had been intercepted and taken onto the strike cruiser in orbit. A handful, like the one Orion was headed for now, had slipped past and landed on the surface. Thankfully, the snows had ceased and so visibility was not limited. They could see the smoking escape pod even from hundreds of meters away.
"There it is. Kain, stay here, keep an eye out for trouble. The rest of you, let's go." Orion said. Kain nodded and Orion set off down the snowbank for the escape pod. Surrounding the pod in a thirty meter radius was a circle of melted snow, the hot water mixing with the dirt to make muddy ground. However, that mud was already beginning to freeze as the pod cooled. Once they reached the pod, Orion examined it.
"These markings... It's from the Hopeless Redoubt. Get it open." Orion said. Willem and Yuri both complied, working at the hatch. It popped open with a hiss suddenly and from it, three Astartes stumbled out. They wore full armour and one was nursing a wound in his leg.
"What the... What happened?" Orion demanded from them. The injured one looked at him. Orion recognized the personal markings on his armour as Sergeant Tragun, from the 3rd company.
"We were chasing the Freebooters... In the outskirts of the system, we ran into a chaos fleet." Tragun said. "They boarded us, killed Captain Warren. I don't know what they're doing now." Tragun said. Orion's eyes widened.
"A chaos fleet? What?" Orion demanded.
"The Iron Warriors. A lot of them. We barely got away." Tragun said. Orion cursed.
"This is not good." Orion muttered. "How bad is your leg, can you walk?" He asked. Tragun shook his head.
"There's five autocannon shells in my leg and gut. The wounds closed over them. I can't walk." He said.
"Perfect. Wait a second, I'll contact the Unyielding." Orion instructed. He activated his vox caster. "Unyielding, this is sergeant Orion. We need a transport down here immediately, there's an injured brother who needs an apothecary." Orion said. There was a brief delay.
"Negative, Sergeant. We're under fire, repeat, we are under fire."
"What?" Orion hissed.
"A fleet of chaos warships is attacking us, we can't-" The signal cut off.
"Sergeant, there's four drop pods coming down!" Kain said over the vox. Orion looked up the snowbank at Kain and saw in the skies above four of the pods burning through the atmosphere not far from their location. Orion cursed.
"Hold position, Kain, we'll be right there." Orion instructed. He looked at Willem. "Help him walk." He said, indicating Tragun. Willem nodded and helped Tragun up. "Let's go to wherever those drop pods are landing, if the Iron Warriors are attacking this world, there's safety in numbers." As he said this, they set off, walking up the snowbank.
Isphyda I
Autarch Dalmar and his host trekked through the dense forest. A hundred aspect warriors of the Dire Avenger, Dark Reaper and Warp Spider aspects were with him, slaughtering any life they encountered. In addition, a farseer by the name of Menarys accompanied the host. It had been her insight that had led them to this world, for she had forseen that should the Orks on this world be allowed to live after receiving the technologies they had been given, they would threaten many nearby maiden worlds. Though Dalmar had no hatred for the humans on this world, he would kill them all to avoid their presence being known to the Imperium. Already they had annihilated entire villages that crossed their paths as Orks attacked them.
"Autarch, hold." Menarys said softly. Dalmar stopped walking and signaled for his host to do the same.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I sense the presence of others nearby. Humans. And the greenskins. They are hunting one-another." She told him.
"We should take cover in case they find us." Dalmar mused. She nodded.
"I concur. I can shield our presence in case they have any psykers with them." Menarys said.
"Then do it." Dalmar said. He commanded his host to take cover and then scrambled up a tree, his rifle at the ready as his eyes scanned the trees. In the distance, he could make out the hulking, black-armoured figures of the space marines that called this world home as they stalked through the forest. Not far from them, scores of greenskins also attempted stealth, though far less proficiently then the Astartes. They made an immense amount of noise and Dalmar thought it was a wonder the humans had not already found them. Or perhaps they had and were electing to remain out of sight. Dalmar did not know, humans were unpredictable beasts.
As he pondered this, his mind wandered before suddenly being brought back to reality by gunshots. The humans and greenskins had finally engaged in battle. It was a dreadfully one-sided affair, the guns and armour of the humans being far more potent than those of the Orks. The greenskins were torn to shreds in short order. The humans began fanning out and it occurred to Dalmar that as they had not called in any sort of extraction, it may not have been the Orks they were looking for. They were drawing closer. Dalmar readied his rifle as he saw many of the primitive guns of the humans being leveled at where Dalmar knew some of his host to be.
Dalmar opened fire from his position above the enemy, sending lasers through the trees at the Astartes as shuriken rounds ripped through trees, power armour and flesh. Warp Spiders teleported all around the humans and let loose with their Death Spinners, monofilament wires reducing the heavily armoured marines to bloody chunks of gore on the forest ground. Bolter fire rang out as the marines tried to defend themselves, though it was a futile struggle with only two Eldar being hit before the marines were all killed. Dalmar climbed down from the tree and walked over to inspect the carnage.
All of them had died, torn asunder by the advanced Eldar weapons. None of them had entered the thrice damned suspended animation that Dalmar knew some marines to fall into, causing them to bounce back from wounds that would have slaughtered any reasonable being with a thirst for vengeance against those who had put them in that state. Dalmar found space marines to be incredibly frustrating to battle. They were tougher than any, carried weapons that tore the slender and lithe Eldar bodies to ribbons and never died. But these ones had been quite cooperative with dying, which he was grateful for.
"Let us move on, there are still many more of the greenskins and mon'keigh to slay." Dalmar called. As Menarys retrieved the spirit stones from the two Eldar who had been killed, the host began to walk through the woods again.
Isphyda I, Power Marines Fortress Monastery
Yariel and Crau looked at the last few seconds of footage that had been transmitted by sergeant Avery. The squad walking through the trees, sighting several slender figures emerging before the footage cut off.
"Take it back. Just before it cuts out and pause it." Crau instructed. The serf nodded and did so. Crau frowned as he examined the figures in the trees. He sighed angrily.
"Eldar. No doubt about it." Yariel said. "I think those are Aspect Warriors, so we can't know which Craftworld they come from."
"Where they come from does not concern me. What they are doing on that planet and why they are slaughtering my marines does." Crau said.
"Perhaps those men would have survived if you'd made sure Yariel sent out more than a squad to that forest." The now familiar voice of the sorcerer whispered in his head. Crau ignored it with some difficulty.
"I agree. I suggest we dispatch the second company to that location immediately. We don't need these Eldar while we're trying to contain the greenskins." Yariel suggested.
"Yes, that sounds like a good..." Crau began but he trailed off when another serf rushed into the room, panting.
"M'lord, urgent news." The serf gasped.
"What?" Crau said. "Here I was thinking things couldn't get any worse, get it over with."
"The Hopeless Redoubt and Unyielding have been lost, m'lord. An Iron Warriors force is invading Isphyda VI." The serf said. Crau's expression remained neutral. Of course there would be more enemies in this fight. But the serf did not seem to be done.
"And also... A large amount of Orks recently appeared on Isphyda II. They're currently invading one of the hives and Governor-General Karling is requesting your aid." The serf continued.
"Really? Well, isn't that just brilliant." Crau said.
"Careful there, brother, that sarcasm is reminiscent of Orion." Yariel commented.
"Now isn't the time for jokes. Is there anything else to report?" Crau said. The serf nodded.
"Our sensors indicate that the Iron Warriors fleet is splitting off. Some of their ships are remaining in orbit of Isphyda VI but two groups have split off. Both have passed Isphyda V. One is nearing the fourth world in the system and the other seems to have set course for Isphyda III." The serf said.
"So every inhabited world in the system is under attack from somebody. Is there any word from the forces we've recalled?" Crau asked.
"Yes, m'lord. They're rendezvoused outside the system and are currently performing a Warp jump for Isphyda VI. They should be in place to beat back the attackers there within the week." The serf replied.
"Well, at least something is going our way... Isphyda II doesn't need our help, there is a significant enough PDF and Imperial Guard presence there to withstand the Orks that are there. Isphyda IV has a large Skitarii force stationed there to protect the interests of the forge-world, that should be able to hold out long enough for us to save Isphyda III and VI. Yariel, I want you to stay here. You've just got the first company and unlimited access to the armoury. Do what you can to defeat the Eldar. Keep an eye on the Reydrik Peninsula, I still want whichever Ork warlord that comes out on top to be killed. I'll take the second and third companies to Isphyda III and then Isphyda IV. With any luck, it'll be all I need." Crau said.
"I would request you leave a few more marines to me, Crau. The first is under-strength already from fighting the Orks, we can't-" Yariel began.
"It'll have to do, Yariel. I have a suspicion that I know where these Iron Warriors came from." Crau said. Yariel frowned.
"Where?" Yariel asked.
"Agora. Where else? No Warp Rifts have been opened and Warsmith Savanax has had his Grand Company stationed there ever since we failed to stop him from capturing it a century ago. Our most recent intelligence from there suggests he's finally replaced the losses he sustained in that battle, so if we've got a Grand Company at our doorstep, we'll need as many marines as we can use. And as many ships." Crau said. Yariel frowned.
"Alright. You say I'll have unrestricted access to the armoury, but..." He trailed off.
"Not to the parts I'll be taking with me, no. I need heavy armour for this." Crau said.
"Very well. At least leave me a land raider." Yariel requested. Crau nodded.
"Of course. Well, no time to waste. Until we next meet, brother." Crau said, stretching his right hand out. Yariel clasped it firmly.
"Until we next meet." He repeated. Crau looked at the serfs.
"I don't think we have the numbers to win this on our own. Get word to Ultramar. See if our progenitors are willing to help us." Crau instructed. They nodded and hurried off. Crau took a deep breath and then strode out of the room.
"Many will die, you realize. So many innocents... No matter how successful you are, you will fail in your duty." The voice whispered. Crau gritted his teeth and picked up his pace.
Isphyda VI
Dulenti looked around as he exited the transport, taking in the scenery of this world. It was very white, he noted. Not far, hidden behind a snowbank, he could make out the artillery of the legion, roaring as it sent a sustained bombardment at the large, medieval city two kilometers away. Dulenti had been given command of two hundred marines in Savanax's Grand Company. Of those marines, approximately half were loyal to him, the other half to Savanax. When drawing up battle-plans, he made sure that those loyal to Savanax would be on the front line alongside the thousands of cultists from Agora.
A sustained orbital bombardment of every major city on the planet had been carried out and now, they were laying siege to one of many cities which had refused to surrender. He was surprised this city still held out. First an orbital bombardment, then heavy carpet bombing from Iron Warriors aircraft and now it was under fire from static artillery emplacements while Iron Warriors construction personnel set up walls and barricades. Since he had offered his services to Savanax after being exiled from the Thousand Sons, Dulenti still was unused to the Iron Warriors way of war, though he certainly admired its efficiency. These lapdogs of the Emperor, however, were particularly stubborn. A squad of Iron Warriors approached Dulenti.
"Sorcerer, the bulk of our ground forces are in place and the city's defenses are ruin. Now would be an ideal time to strike." The sergeant of the squad said. Dulenti nodded.
"Yes, it is. You know the plan. The assault begins now." Dulenti commanded. The squad turned and rushed off as they relayed his commands and readied their guns. From Dulenti's experience with the Iron Warriors, the battle would be over within the hour. A loud cheer went up from the mass of cultists as they received the order to attack and they swarmed down the hills for the city in the distance as the artillery bombardment continued. A hundred Chaos Space Marines accompanied them and Dulenti watched from the landing zone as it was fortified, happily taking in the carnage from afar. While he waited, he thought perhaps he might taunt the Power Marines chapter master some more, but then decided against it. He would need to be alert in case any unexpected changes happened in the battle.
He needn't have bother, however. The city was taken in short order with few casualties. This disappointed Dulenti somewhat, but he did not mind. There would no doubt be a force of Power Marines arriving at the planet soon and Dulenti imagined that when they arrived, he would need to be back in orbit to make a hasty getaway.
Isphyda IV
Savanax cut down the Skitarii warrior with one stroke from his axe, volkite rounds fizzling against his tactical dreadnought armour as he plowed through the ranks of the forces that had been arrayed at the large platform to defend it. Hundreds of bolters rang out as they gunned down the Skitarii opposition and bombers flew overhead, blowing apart the artillery emplacements set up by the Adeptus Mechanicus to defend their world. Ahead of him, the landing platform stretched out for hundreds of meters and hundreds of Skitarii forces were scattered across it to oppose him, some in cover, some out in the open. Savanax laughed madly as he barreled forward, invulnerable to the fire that was directed at him. He smashed into a Skitarii Ranger squad, their Galvanic Rifles having little effect on him as he beheaded one, bisected another and rejoiced in the slaughter of the rest of the squad. Truly, Savanax never felt more alive than when making others less so.
"Iron Within, Iron Without!" He roared as he split the final Ranger in the squad in half. He looked around the battlefield and saw a squad of Skitarii Vanguard in cover, their flashy red robes and numerous cybernetic implants sticking out like a sore thumb next to the large metal boxes they hid behind. He also noticed three of them carried Plasma Calivers. This, he did not approve of. He charged at them, making as little noise as possible so as to avoid drawing attention to himself. He failed and the pounding of his boots on the floor alerted them to his presence immediately. Radium Carbines and Plasma Calivers trained on him but before they could fire, he smashed shoulder-first into one, sending the wounded Skitarii flying as he lashed out with his axe, cleaving through the cybernetically enhanced chest cavity of one and beheading another in the same swing. Warnings on his HUD flashed, indicating high levels of radiation, but he ignored these as he ripped apart his foe, their feeble attempts at resistance meaning little to his armour.
As he tore them asunder, his forces pushed forward, driving the Skitarii closer to the edge of the platform. If they were forced much further back, they would fall hundreds of meters into the mountains below. To the right of Savanax, the wall to the massive aerial complex the landing platform was attached to was located and the Iron Warriors moved to secure it. The battle was going favourably and as Savanax finished off the last of the squad of Vanguard, he pointed his axe at the remaining Skitarii on the platform.
"FORWARD, BROTHERS! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" He roared. "IRON WITHIN, IRON WITHOUT!"
"IRON WITHIN, IRON WITHOUT!" They echoed, pressing forward with renewed vigour. The Skitarii were gunned down in the dozens and as Savanax reached their line, he smashed into a large squad of Rangers, knocking them aside in a manner not unlike an ancient Terran game known as 'bowling'. Those few he hadn't knocked down fell in short order to his axe and so too did those who had been knocked over not long after. The last member of the squad was beaten about the face with the flat of his axe and sent flying over the edge of the platform, plummeting to the mountains below and breaking to thousands of bloody pieces on the rocks when he landed. The Iron Warriors pushed forward, shoving the remaining Skitarii over the edge without mercy and watching with glee as they fell thousands of meters.
The battle was won, leaving the Iron Warriors a place on the world to strike out at various key targets from. It also contained many vehicles which they would seize and re-purpose for their own needs. Savanax took a moment to catch his breath, smiling as he thought of the bloody tally he had reaped that day.
Isphyda VI
Orion lay prone on the large mound of snow overlooking the city below as the Iron Warriors set upon it like crows to a carcass. He watched with disgust. After a while, he scowled and rose to his feet, walking down the mound to join his brothers below.
"There's nothing we can do for them. Apothecary Radri, how are you faring?" Orion asked. The white-armoured space marine looked up.
"Very well. It's difficult given the fact that his wounds sealed over the shells, but I've managed to extract them and he should be able to walk again soon." Radri said.
"Good. Hey, I don't suppose you brought any spare guns with you on your way down from the Unyielding?" Tragun asked. Radri shook his head. Tragun sighed.
"Just my luck, stuck with a pistol and a sword... What are we going to do? There's a whole army of them, there's thirty of us." He said. The numerous space marines around them all shrugged and looked to Orion, waiting for him to say something. Orion scowled.
"Well, we're not going to fight them out in the open, that's for damn sure. But... If we can maybe find some places to hide, important places, we can ambush some of them. It'd be easier to get the element of surprise with bikes, or with armour that blended in... I wonder if we could find any white paint." Orion said. Tragun recoiled at this suggestion.
"Paint our armour white, you mean? But there's a reason we wear black. We take pride in our chapter's colours, it would be... Disrespectful to paint over it." Tragun objected.
"Shut up. It was a thought, we don't have any paint anyway." Orion said. "Perhaps if we waited for nightfall, we could sneak up on their landing zone, kill a few of them and slip out undetected."
"That would be a good idea, though these are Iron Warriors we're dealing with. They're probably more heavily entrenched than the Imperial Guard on Cadia, it may be difficult to infiltrate such a position." Radri pointed out. Orion pondered this for a moment and then shrugged.
"I suppose there's only one way to find out. Either way, we might as well do our duty by the Emperor. As far as we know, no help is coming. It's just us. Tragun, get up, see if you can walk." Orion commanded. Tragun slowly rose unsteadily to his feet and stood shakily for several seconds before taking a step. Then another.
"I think I'll manage." Tragun finally said.
"That'll be good enough. Let's move out." Orion said. The marines readied their weapons and began moving through the snow.
Dulenti sat on a chair in the center of the landing zone, sipping at a warm drink as he listened to the bustle of various construction personnel fortifying the landing zone even further. Far away, he knew that the Iron Warriors in the city would be rounding up the populace for sacrifice. Whether or not they held the city was irrelevant, it would be devoid of all life soon enough and then they would move on to the next city to give it the same treatment.
Suddenly, he was drawn out of his thoughts by a loud commotion not far from him. He frowned and set his drink down, rising to his feet and wondering what was making this noise in the dead of night. Cultists and Iron Warriors scrambled for their weapons while construction personnel streamed away from whatever was happening and Dulenti could make out the sound of bolter fire. He rolled his eyes. This would be the marines that had escaped from the ship in orbit, no doubt.
"Alright, Iron Within, Iron Without, all that. You know the drill, kill them all." Dulenti called lazily as dozens of marines raced for the source of the commotion. He strolled after them as if he were taking a walk, not headed for a fight. In the distance, he could make out dozens of Iron Warriors engaged in a firefight with somebody in the distance. Dulenti could not make out how many there were but he imagined they were not attacking in great numbers. He sighed, raised his hand and summoned his staff before running for the firefight. When he reached the line of Iron Warriors, the firefight had ended, the enemy had slipped away. He frowned, looking around. There were several bodies littering the ground, but the enemy was gone.
"Well, that's just rude." Dulenti said.
"What do we do, Sorcerer?" An Iron Warrior asked uncertainly.
"Find them. Kill them, bring me their heads." Dulenti commanded irritably, turning and heading back for where he had left his drink.