Part 1
The Thunderhawk put down on the landingpad behind ridge-side base, the crew ramp was descending before it touched the floor. The red insignia of the Jade Dragons stood out on the green of its armour. Three marines walked off the crew ramp and the Jade Dragon troops marched out behind them, Captain Razzelon flanked by Senior Veteran Sergeant Branse and Lieutenant Admiral Fercius of the 3rd companies strike cruiser which was orbiting above Carsellen V. A blue armoured figure stumbled out to meet them clutching his chest,
"Veteran Sergeant Praetor, Ultramarines 2nd company, leader of the Carsellen Reaction Force. At your service brother Captain."
The Veteran Sergeant stood to attention revealing the blood around his armour were a blue crystal was embedded. Razzelon spoke next
"Greetings Brother have the eldar pirates broken the frontal defences yet or is my company too late"
"Far from it Captain, they suddenly pulled back around the valley, they will be back soon though"
Razzelon turned to Branse
"Take the soldiers down to the frontal defences and be ready for an attack. I shall stay here for now, Emperor be with you Brother" he said slapping him on his shoulder guard
"Also with you Brother Captain" Branse turned and the assembled Jade Dragons began priming bolters and checking helmets. Branse spoke over the comm.-link
"Let us offer you a prayer mighty emperor"
Trooper Eriktsan of the Savanith 102nd dragoons pulled himself from the burning pill box and looked back at the barely intact walls. The plains below the Cliffside had been were his squad was stationed and he had checked the pillbox for any survivors when a Jetbike had fishtailed into it. The pillbox line was abandoned and the 9ft defence walls were 500 metres behind him. His left leg was crushed but there was no pain and he knew that if he survived this war the guard would fit him a new one even if it was made of metal. His worst fears were realised as the entrance to the valley 2 km to the opposite side of him to the base black shapes began to appear, using his magnoculars he zoomed in on the lead transport, ten or so warriors carrying spiked rifles and pointed helmets squatted on platforms lashed to the side of what resembled a hydro-skiff. He managed three words
"Emperor save me"
The Fifteen Marines of the Jade Dragons, were assembled into squads alpha and beta. Alpha was designated for close quarter fighting with a heavy bolter and flamer. Branse easily the best chainsword duellist in the company and maybe the chapter led this squad. While squad beta with only seven brothers was a support squad, a lascannon and a plasma gun were its special weapons but was also very capable in close combat. This was led by Captain Razzelon and on this particular mission captain Fercius. Bringing up the comm-link Razzelon knelt with his squad and began the prayer.
"Look to your armour for it is the Emperor, our holy protector. Look to your weapons for it is the mighty Machine God, slaying all who are unholy. But without faith our armour is nothing and without zeal our weapons are useless. We are the purifiers of the stars, the hammer of heretics and the doom of traitors. are the Jade Dragons, Champions of the Emperor!" his prayer ended with the sound of the incoming eldar
"Jade Dragons! TO WAR!" he screamed pointing toward the black shapes approaching ridge side base
"For war is our home" the Space marines resounded around him. The Jade Dragons battle Prayer was one of the most inspiring in the emperors holy realm. And with that the marines began to move into positions.
Two of the jetbikes had put down by the ruined pillbox and their pilots had walked over to Erikstan. They had cut out his eyes and tongue then they had shared his body parts to attach to their bladed chains on their bikes, and while he was still alive they opened his stomach and left him on a stake on top of the pillbox. He stood there brutally mutilated; a warning to all who dared to offend the Eldar.
In the outer bailey area of the base Branse jumped onto the side plank of a raider which had wedged itself into the wall, the front section of it ruined. Two Eldar charged at him with rifles held like spears with bayonets. A swing of Branse's power sword sliced through the head of an Eldar sending the top half flying. The second one fired at point blank, impaling Branse's arm, simply ignoring it he swung at the lithe Eldar smashing the left side of him with rippling energy. His squad were already fighting the Eldar which had disembarked their vile transport. Climbing onto the main body of the raider he risked a look at the rest of the raiding party.
A ball of plasma engulfed the rider of the jetbike and sent the hunk of metal flying of the ridge, and plummeting down below. Brother Hanzon was caught by a metal chain and pulled into the air, the rider pulled a savage curve and the chain constricted around his waist, Hanzon slipped his hand by his hips onto his utility belt and pulled a Kraken pattern anti-vehicular grenade out, he made his way further up the chain as the landscape swirled around him, he primed the grenade, and as the bike slowed for another attack run he shoved the grenade into the vehicles jets. A quarter of a second later a shockwave rippled through the bikes scarce armour and ignited the reactor core, half way through the current second a huge fireball destroyed Hanzon and the Rider as the next second began the pieces of the bike were being flung down at other riders and Space Marines. Captain Razzelon and his squad grimly fought on against the soaring bikes and in a few minutes there would be much more to worry about.
Lieutenant Markos of 102nd Sanvinith Dragoons reloaded the extremely heavy boltgun he had found on the floor in the infirmary next to the body of the Ultramarine, it was so much heavier than the lasgun he was used to but at the moment he couldn't care less. Just a few seconds ago he was fighting for his life against a group of Eldar wearing tiny pieces of blood red armour, carrying a wide assortment of blades, nets and pistols. His entire platoon command squad had been cut to pieces, alone and helpless he sat exhausted with his back on a ruined piece of masonry. He could hear the gentle footsteps of the Eldar behind him and their laughs. One side of him wanted to go and offer himself to the angels but the other half warned him of their seductive powers. Suddenly the footsteps stopped and Markos felt a cold metal on his neck.