Chapter Twenty Two.

Atrex marched into the chamber. It was easily the size of a Clan Companies armoury aboard a strike cruiser, falling short of equaling a battle-barges. But this was no armourary. No, once, when Vale still had need for such places, this chamber had been home. When first the city of Vale had been born, the inhabitants had lived in sheltered warrens. Tunnels that had spanned miles, criss-crossing constantly, had housed the city's first inhabitants.
But then, they discovered they were not alone. Subterranean Grimm of a myriad sort had culled humanity. Only by adapting and learning had the proto-civilization survived. They had built lodging on the surfaces, and from them, a city had been born.
But centuries, no, millenia later, the caves had been rediscovered. Many had been lost to the erosion of time. This one however, had survived. Becoming a storehouse. Now, as Vale and all of Remnant neared battle, it served as an armoury.
Before the Clan-Commander and Iron Father were six up-armoured suits of modified Cataphractii and Tartarus war-plate. The suits were all in grey war-paint. There had been no time to give them proper Legion colours, so in their place a rust-prevention paint had been used. The suits were unused. Fyfe the quartermaster had ensured their safekeeping, as had his mirror, the Raven Guard Korros, who had overseen their transportation to the surface. 'These are all of them,' he said, not questioning his aid, Phaeton. 'How long will it take to ready the assigned warriors?'
The Morlock vetrean lumbered forwards. 'My four warriors are ready, I estimate an hour each. Captain Sharax's warriors will likely take longer. But no longer than a day. Once they are fully encased,' he continued. 'I can ready them for a strike whenever our… makeshift pad is ready.'
The Iron Father nodded. 'If Remus were still here,' he said, remembering his old friend, who had died for these suits. 'Then I am certain he would already be encased. Never ceasing in his pre-battle activities. A shame that no more traitors will die by his hand.' He turned to regard the Morlock vetrean. 'Ready the men. Now if you will excuse me, I have defences to oversee.'

The first surface-to-orbital missile impacted the bow of the Emperor's Children Cobra-class vessel Sanctity of Chemos. The missile punched it just behind the main body of the blade-tip prow. It detonated. The ship shook with the unexpected detonation. The fleet advanced and paused, it drew into a defence formation against a non existing counter-attack.
When the first missile came, it had been unexpected. The second had been. The fleet rose away from the planet, pulling away to a safe orbit. Far enough away from the missiles to not be hit, but also far enough away to make an orbital bombardment wasteful. That was the plan. Prevent an orbital bombardment to prevent a total annihilation.
It was Hierax who had advocated for the deployment of a screening force of his cult soldiers. These were not trained Imperial Army forces, merely mewling wretches who were willing to be thrown into battle. They would be used to bait out the missile installations. From there, the ships would close in again and perform a series of orbital bombardment before finally launching their assault.
They would deploy the small Imperial Army force that had accompanied them. Once that force had secured a landing, the Legion forces would follow shortly after.

Cinder Fall, servant of Salem and the self-proclaimed future maiden, hid in the shadows. Since the arrival of the, as they called themselves, Space Marines, her criminal network had been devastated. Roman had been imprisoned, Neo was missing, Adam had, well Adam was difficult to be sure on. Some said dead, others that he had fled or been imprisoned.
Cinder had sent Mercury and Emerald back to Beacon. They had been enlisted in a sort of Huntsmen-militia. Whatever was coming, it was big. Missiles had shot up from a nearby island, who only inhabitants until recently had been a lighthouse keeper and a few dozen pensioners.
Salem had been silent. For the past three month, she had been… erratic. Her commands had changed repeatedly, almost seeming like they were done so on a whim. She had recalled Hazel and Watt's from their own tasks. The dust that Cinder had acquired had been spread all across the city and other kingdoms. Whatever her ladies' intentions, the future maiden could not derive.
She came across a blocked road. Not one blocked off with shanty wood, but with sheet metal and cement. It was a scene repeated throughout the city. Sighing in anger, she looked for another way to her destination.

Well, combat is soon to come. Reviews. Thank you Gabe. Not really much to say, em, hows quarantine? Ye, so, take care all.