As the sun rose on the second day Colonel Lawrence picked up the comm. channel and contacted the fleet. In the comms room on the imperial Mars class Emperors glory, the gathered officers of the 7th hussars listened to the message. "Down to sixty men, going to attempt the spaceport at twelve midday. " through the crowd pushed warmaster Andrados, he was supreme commander on this campaign. "Negative Lawrence. You're a disgrace to the Imperium, the missions been scrubbed, sell your life dearly and the Emperor may receive you. Andrados out." The warmaster turned to the officers around him "anyone for a grass of port?" the assembled officers began to file out, a sullen mood in the air.

Lawrence slammed his fist against a tree. His anger was complete and consuming, how could one arrogant man leave the remnants of the best Kovnian regiment here to die. "Bloody off worlder!" screamed Lawrence barley controlling his tears. Then the comm. set kicked back into life.

"Colonel Lawrence, are you there sir?"

"Speaking."

"I am lieutenant hake, 7th Kovnian dragoons"

"Hake. Any relation?"

"His first born."

"Am I to be executed Mr. Hake"

"Not today. Now I haven't the authority to countermand the warmaster. But me and my boys are coming regardless."

"Opening hours at twelve"

"Make mine a pint. Hake out."

Day two, men and equipment at start

Grenadiers, 60 approx

Officers, 4

Air crew, 45 approx

Valkires, 6

The colonel smiled with fresh hope. This was his chance to regain his honour and that of his men. He marched over to where all the men he could contact had gathered. "Men, you are the bravest soldiers I have ever fought alongside." The small contingent smiled as cheering would alert the enemy. "However the warmaster, in his infinite lack of intellect has sold us out. He wants us to die to take away the foul smell left by this cock-up!" he looked at the men and then pointed to where the Emperors glory was. "But up there is one man who cares. One man who is defying his orders to get here. That man is lieutenant Hake" the men began whispering to one another, they had all heard about Hake and the battle at the basilica, he was a hero. And this hero was going to turn his back on orders for what remained of them, it filled their hearts with pride. "so at twelve the space port must be ready for his ship." "lets move out." The sixty men of the grenadiers advanced in skirmish order out towards the edge of the level. "now then men, split into fives and make your way there." As one the men split and headed off in different directions.

Harris's feet where burning, shoots of white hot pain began to pass through his shins. Though he wouldn't show it in front of his comrades he was in agony. They had trekked all night to the port only to find it undisturbed and fully garrisoned, so they set off trying to locate the remainder of their company. Suddenly there was a loud explosion and they set off at double time in that direction. He just hoped that what they found would be good.

One trooper was blasted over the side of the hive. About two hundred miles separated him from the floor that he plummeted towards. One of the marauding Leman Russ battle tanks had happened upon a group of five and was now shelling this entire section of the level in a vain attempt to finish them off. Fortunately they where so spread that only a couple of shells had caused any damage.

Harris and the others burst from the wood land to see the rear of the Leman Russ. Acting first Harris grabbed his las cell recharger, it was a necessary piece of field kit for grenadiers, and placed it under the tanks shell and fell back. Then from a distance he shot at it, nothing happened. The tank, now aware of their presence began to turn its turret. The whole squad now began to fire at the charger until, with a massive boom the tank was ripped apart. The explosion penetrated the tank detonating its ammunition stores. Shrapnel flew in every direction, one piece from the vehicles hull sheared sergeant Castor's bionic arm in half.

The spaceport was now coming into view. It was about four miles away and its bulk was visible even now. The remainder of the advance went surprisingly well by all accounts. Only one mile remained by eleven. Harris and the unit he was with had been posted as scouts. He kept a sharp watch as did all the others. "Get down" whispered a man to his left. Just up a head in a clearing was an enemy autocannon position. "I'll get it." Whispered Harris, slowly but surely he dragged his body through the brush on the left flank and began rounding the position. Then before he realised there was only fifty yards to go, but no cover. Quickly he shot up and charged towards the position. The traitors in the bunker desperately tried to swing the cannon round but it was too late. Combat knife drawn, Harris began to carve up the undefended traitors as the company marched past.

Colonel Lawrence waited for the recon team to return. "About forty men sir." Reported the scout. The colonel considered this, "pass me the comm. link." Putting the headset on, he searched the frequencies. On the bridge of the light of salvation Hake paced the floor. As of yet he had heard nothing, and if they didn't go in soon the warmaster would recall them. Just as he had hoped the comms channel filled with noise. "Hake, we are now down to about fifty. We can clear one landing bay for you. Land on bay number three. The Emperor protects. Lawrence out." Having made sure the pilots knew where to go Hake set of to his platoon. They would be landing under fire. They needed to prepare.

Gunfire echoed around the massive interiors of the spaceport, platform three was almost overrun. Grenadiers with flamers where rushing forward and clearing enemy defences before the main bulk overran them. Harris took a round to the shoulder that penetrated his armour, he fell tears welling in his eyes. But something inside said, no not now, not after everything, your going to live. As quickly as he fell Harris was on his feet again. A shadow began to fill the port as the light of salvation slid into bay number three. Colonel Lawrence began directing the defence of un-loading troops. Taking up the once enemy barricades the remaining grenadiers prepared to hold out against the some two hundred enemy re-enforcements pilling into the facility. Suddenly explosions ripped through the densely packed ranks of the enemy as the hammer of Kovnia, a Leman Russ slid out of the landing craft. Still they came on running into the guns of the Grenadiers, volley after volley of hellgun rounds dropped the foremost attackers, and massive explosions continued to smite the enemy mass as two more Leman Russ's slid out of the craft. Rapidly dwindling in number and facing superior firepower the enemy tucked tail and ran.

Hake smiled. He had been watching the conflict from the Bridge of the light of salvation. Slowly the chimeras of his platoon began to roll of the deployment ramp, quickly Hake ran down to the last chimera and stood on its turret. Peaked cap perfectly straight, greatcoat flowing a cigar in his mouth. Hake, hero of Kovnia rolled out of the ship. Suddenly the port was filled with cheering and applause. Harris stood up and began scanning the chimeras and then he saw him; he was standing on the rearmost chimera. Harris's heart lifted at the sight. It really was Hake, and with him they would succeed. The cheering began to die down as Hake dismounted and tried to find Lawrence, then a large stormtrooper began to force his way through the crowd. From the look of him Hake could tell he was a career stormtrooper, he was army from the shaving of his regulation hair to the shine of his boots. Over one shoulder was slung his rifle, also in perfect condition. On the other was Colonel Lawrence who was bleeding heavily. The stormtrooper stood to attention "I'm sergeant Castor, I thing he's leaving us." Hake looked at Lawrence and could tell that if he wasn't seen to soon he would die. "Let's get him on the transport and get him out." Said Hake looking back to the sergeant, "he's lucky to have you." Slowly Hake put out his right hand, the sergeant went to shake it then realised he was missing half of his right. "I think you had better go to" Hake quickly began writing a note with some stuff from his kit. He handed it to Castor "that entitles you to any implant you want." The sergeant saluted again and marched into the light of salvation.

Dawson dismounted his chimera with his unit. It felt strange giving orders but it was also long overdue. Forming a perimeter on the edge of the instillation would be an impossible task, so the squads of Hake's platoon took advance scouting positions with their chimeras as a way of retreat.

Now they faced a problem. They where all but cut off, soon the palace guard would mass in some organisation to attack the port. If that wasn't enough but the grenadiers had lost their superior officer. Hake jumped back on top of his chimera. "men of the 5th grenadiers. Colonel Lawrence is currently out of action. Who is your new commander" the response that he got would forever be burned onto his memory as the last thing he would have expected. The room began to fill with chanting, Hake! Hake! Hake! The pride that he felt was beyond description. "You do me too much honour, brave men of the 5th. Surely there is one amongst you more worthy!" but their minds where made. "Form up!" shouted Hake and as one they formed up into perfect parade ground formation. There was just over fifty of them left, "I want you split into five units. Each unit is to support each unit of hussars." Almost without thinking the men began to file into units and march out to the perimeter. Striding back to his command unit Hake gestured to his new comms officer, "We need more men."

Lieutenant Gaynor sat in the rubble of the highway. The enemy on this level had been all but destroyed, and yet the entire army had stalled. It was as if someone didn't want them to capture the hive, other than the enemy. An exasperated looking man came running over to him with the comm. set, "its lieutenant Hake sir" gasped the men pushing the headset into his hands.

"Gaynor, are you there?"

"I am old friend."

"How do you fancy a piece of the enemy."

"Convince me!"

"How about joint command in the attack on the governors palace"

"As long as he's not some twelve foot blood sucking daemon!"

"I don't think there should be any fear of that!"

"Well in that case I'm yours!"

"Good. A flight of Valkires will pick you up. Hake out."

"What was it sir?" inquired one of the younger men in his platoon. "Its just Hake blatantly disregarding orders again" he smiled at the younger mans quizzical looks "get ready to leave! Where going to the governor's palace" men began hastily gathering equipment, Gaynor paced back and forth. If he survives this it will be promotion for sure.

Day two, men and equipment at midday.

Grenadiers, 53

Hussars, 58

Officers, 1

Air crew, 45 approx

Valkires, 6

Leman Russ tanks, 3

"It's not enough." Sighed Hake. If they where going to face an unknown number of enemy across a fifty mile square area he needed more men. Lots more. "Get me in contact with Colonel Evans." The comm. operator worked with a speed that would put Dawson to shame.

"Colonel Evans here"

"Its lieutenant Hake sir. We got through and now hold the port. Minimal casualties"

"Jolly good show!"

"But we need the rest of the 7th if we're to end this war!"

"But the warmaster will never allow it."

"Bypass him!"

"I couldn't!"

"It will save thousands of lives."

The channel went silent for a moment.

"Be there in two hours. Evans out."

Colonel Evans marched down the corridors of the Emperors glory with grim determination. How could he disembark two hundred and fifty men secretly? The answer was he couldn't. Getting out his personal link to his officers he gave the order, "all men to transports, be ready to leave in thirty minuets!" rounding the corner Evans was confronted by the last thing he would ever have wanted to, the warmaster grabbed his shoulder. "What are you doing Evans" a cool malice dripping from his words. "I'm going to save this entire army" he tried to push past but Andrados just stood there. "The 7th are ship bound. For the rest of the campaign" smiled the warmaster. The Colonel however was finished with pleasantries. "Heretic, scum!" shouted Evans. The warmaster just stood there and laughed "where's your proof?" shocked Evans reacted the only way he knew how, drawing his bolt pistol he put one round, point blank between the Traitors eyes. Shouting into the comm. link "be prepared for emergency evacuation, there's treachery afoot" but even then he could hear the sound of fighting over the link. The ships crew where going to fight before they let the 7th escape.

The sound of Valkires began to fill the space port as Gaynors troops began to land and disembark. Gaynor voice could be heard through the din giving his orders. "All squads are to re-enforce the perimeter!" just as the other men before them the 209th pathfinders ran to their positions, a sense of purpose driving them forward. "At least we have a bloody perimeter now!" growled Hake, he and Gaynor had made a command post at the back with their two command squads and their equipment. "I hope your Colonel Evans gets here!" shouted Gaynor over the din of Valkire engines. "we should find a use for those damn Valkires." Commented Hake marching up to the assembled pilots. "Take your ships back down the hive and bring any men you can. Give my authority!" the pilots ran back to their charges and began to depart. Suddenly a space faring interceptor roared into the space port, its exhausted pilot bolted across the bay towards their position. "sirs, the warmaster is a heretic, the Emperors glory is in traitor hands!" shocked by this sudden news Hake questioned the man. "what about Evans?" his face a mask of confusion. "Evans shot the warmaster and has managed to escape with the 7th hussars as well as the 12th infantry who where on guard duty. Almost two hundred of the ships crew have also left with him." Hake quickly did the maths and the answer was good. There was now only the problem on the Emperors glory. "fly to port Joseph in the next sub sector. Tell them what happened." The pilot nodded and ran back to his vessel.

Day two, men and equipment at end.

Grenadiers, 53

Hussars, 58

Pathfinders, 49

Officers, 7

Air crew, unknown.

Valkires, 5

Leman Russ tanks, 3

Day two, re-enforcements on the way.

Hussars, 250 approx.

Reg. infantry, 300 approx.

Naval ratings, 200 approx.

Officers, 40 approx.

Leman Russ tanks, 30 approx.

Hake sat down and studied the numbers. This was more than enough men to flood the entire level. Tomorrow they would capture the grounds for the Emperor and once the grounds are taken, they will strike at the Palace.