Imperial Navy: Ships of the Segmentum: a Primer
Tetran Pitdog Class System Defence Frigate
Modern, as ship designs go, the Pitdog's origin can be traced back a mere 250 years. During an Ork incursion in the sector (see ArchiveScolarum#Regack Headstompa: Pliadies SubSector:Waagh:Orkish Campaigns) Tetran was identified as a significant target due to its huge mineral reserves, large population and abundant manufacturing infrastructure. The system defence fleet at the time numbered a dozen vessels and the Imperial Navy was heavily committed to combating the Ork menace and was unable to supply ships for garrison duties. To deal with this problem a new class of System Defence Vessel (SDV) was quickly put into commission.
At the time a large number of asteroid haulers (colloquially known as Junkdogs) were employed in system to move materials. This was a locally designed and built model with a small, sturdy frame and an oversized engine designed to be rugged, low maintenance and able to move large payloads via cable coupling. Void shields and weaponry were retrofitted and the result was a serviceable system defence vessel that was given the designation "Pitdog". When the Waagh reached the system several hundred of these vessels were in various states of readiness and the sheer number of defenders crushed a large part of the Ork fleet. This partial victory was credited with bringing the orkish aggression to a halt. While the orks did succeed in landing on Tetran III in large numbers they lacked space superiority and unable to land reinforcements were wiped out on the ground.
The remaining Pitdogs that survived the orkish assault were pressed into service as system defence vessels. Due to the hurried nature of the refitting many failed after only a few decades of service and a rolling program of replacement was implemented to a standardised design.
This unusual history has led to a unique ship. The current version maintains the oversized engine of the original, the excess energy from which is used to power heavy void shields and a powerful dorsal lance. Close in fighter and missile defence is provided by eight twin linked lascannons. It has a single turret mounted macro cannon which leaves it almost entirely without the ability to fire broadsides, but compensates with frontal firepower that can almost match a light cruiser. The cost of the expensive main weapon is more than recouped over the expected lifetime of the vessel by reduced maintenance (due to lack of recoil and moving parts) and low resupply costs (limited to fuel for the main reactor).
The heavy void shielding partially compensates for an almost total lack of armour. The absence of armour mass makes the ship quick to accelerate, but clumsy in turns as its directional thrusters are placed assuming it would be towing a large mass which makes them sub-optimal for combat manoeuvring. It is an open question why neither of these deficiencies were addressed when the combat model was standardised as the advantage of extra armour would seem to more than compensate for any reduction in acceleration and rebalancing of thrust vectors could have been achieved with minimal effort.
The ship has a low crew requirement and low maintenance costs for a vessel of its class. Allied to its speed of construction and volume of production it is inexpensive relative to similarly powerful vessels. Hence it is a popular ship with the Administratum and financially stretched Planetary Governors (if not necessarily with those who crew the ships in question which require substantial experience to master its handling quirks) and it would be hard to find a planet in the subsector that does not have at least a handful of these vessels as part of its system defence fleet.
Southern Hemisphere Tetran III
The three ships touched down on Tetran III within a few seconds of each other and nearly a two hour march from their objective. The retros burning scorch marks into the scrubby grassland. The ramps dropped and both PDF and Stormtroopers ran out to take up defensive positions. Totiem moved over to Ulrich as the Lieutenant got his men lined in order. Tarik chattered away happily, managing to crack jokes with the troopers even as he kept his angles professionally covered. At a nod from Ulrich he trotted over to the other two and reported back without changing expression. From a distance it looked like a friendly chat.
"We have been completely set up. It's a scratch squad. Most of it is straight out of basic. The weapon crews are technically veterans."
"Technically."
"They are career PDF, their first assignment was as marines on a SDV. They got called to a mining station that had gone dark. All went by the book, they set up heavy weapons in the docking bay to cover any retreat. Their sergeant and LT took a team each. 20 minutes later the sergeant orders them to get back to the ship over the vox. As they retreat they hear the rest of their squad screaming. When they sent the Stormtroopers in a couple of days later the station was crawling with Orks. They only recovered a couple of tags and bones from the original team."
Totiem spat. "So the rookies are probably more likely to fight than they are."
"They obeyed orders. No disciplinary mark against them. The rookies are all high scoring on marksmanship and fitness. On paper you have a good mix of experience and potential."
"In reality you have a squad that is likely to break at the first sign of trouble."
"The new LT has experience." Ulrich volunteered. "Seemed competent in the briefing. Made some solid suggestions. Asked the right questions."
"Yeah." Tarik smiled and nodded to one of his new friends on the squad and continued in the same low friendly tone. "All simulations and training exercises. He's good at those. The only actual fire fight he froze, his sergeant led the men into a charge and it was medals all round. The sergeant requested an immediate transfer…" Tarik let it trail off and shrugged.
"Totally stitched up." Totiem snarled, then with barely a glance at his map headed towards their objective taking point.
Tarik took a longer look at his own map before following, assuming the troopers would fall in behind. "How on Terra does a place like this have a north?"
"On each world north is considered to be the centre of the triangle between the 3 pillars, and south is diametrically opposite it. So we're currently in the southern hemisphere." Ulrich responded, looking up at the first hints of dawn. "I like it."
On the far side of the planet from the other bodies of the system with no pillars or planets to eclipse the sun there was only true night and true day. While both were still of a fairly irregular length and altered on a daily basis at least there was something resembling a real dawn and dusk between the two. The sun rose and the temperature rapidly headed above what might be considered ideal, but a cool breeze made it all feel relatively comfortable. After an hour marching through trackless grassland with only the occasional rock outcrop or lake to orientate with Totiem lifted a fist. Instantly the PDF dropped into a defensive crouch and began to search for targets. After a moment Totiem beckoned Ulrich and Tarik forwards.
"There." He whispered, indicating a white smudge on the horizon. "That's the base."
"Anything?" Tarik asked.
There was a high pitched electronic whine as various servos in Totiem's bionic eye moved around.
"No life signs."
"Feels dead." Added Ulrich.
"OK. Stay sharp." Tarik dropped back to the others as Totiem signalled the group to form up again.
Overhead the bright white sunlight began to dim as clouds started swirling across the sky. Tarik called over to the Lieutenant.
"Is this weather normal?"
"I don't really know sir, I was born in the triangle on One."
"Would any of your men?"
There was a frozen moment as the realised that he was expected to provide the local knowledge.
"I'll go find out." He trotted off and Tarik moved closer to Ulrich.
"Is this natural?" The clouds were grey and had covered the sky in a remarkably short time. They also seemed very localised as at the edge of the horizon it appeared that bright sunlight still shone down, glinting from distant lakes.
"It isn't some form of warpcraft." Ulrich ventured after a moment. But it doesn't look right. He gestured to the vox operator "Better radio in our status."
The trooper, swung the heavy set from his shoulders and began to hunt for a signal. But there was nothing but static on all frequencies. "Vox is out." He confirmed after a moment, resetting the now useless equipment on his back.
"Double time!" Tarik ordered and they began to move faster. As the minutes ticked past mist coiled up from the standing bodies of water and slinked about amongst the few tree trunks even as the light faded, the clouds above now a threatening dark grey.
+Two klicks out.+ Totiem signalled using Arbites signs now the vox beads no longer worked. The old PDF base would have been clearly visible now but the mist was obscuring the details as the clouds continued to thicken and drop.
"Stay tight, don't want to lose anyone." Tarik's voice was muffled by the incoming fog and he looked towards the vox operator with concern. Inquisitorial guards, even regular guardsmen would have comm-beads, but here there was a single radio for the platoon and if they lost visual contact it would be a nightmare trying to re-establish it in the increasing gloom.
"Contact!" In one flowing motion Totiem brought his rifle up and fired off a shot at a half seen shadow. Something heavy thudded into the ground and he increased his speed even more.
"Multiple contacts." One of the imperial Stormtroopers sent a burst of las fire to the left even as PDF troopers let off a barrage to the right.
As yet there had been no return fire but now Tarik could see dark grey shapes in the mist. Human sized, basically human shaped but disturbingly inhuman in the proportions.
"Get to the base we'll make our stand there!"
The mist thickened further, now tinged a sickly green. Tendrils of mist distorting the shapes of the figures, moving slowly, yet somehow gaining ground on the retreating troops. The first return fire howled with a shriek like an electronic daemon. Green fire lighting the mist and connecting with a luckless trooper who screamed as his armour, skin then bones disintegrated under the intense beam. Tarik pulled out his pistol and fired back along the trajectory of the incoming fire. It cut out abruptly, but then two more green beams stabbed out.
Another trooper yelled as his leg was hit, vanishing below the knee. Another trooper caught him before he went down and tried to drag him towards the promised safety of the PDF base.
"Move!" Ulrich commanded, a touch of mental compulsion added to the fear his inquisitorial status gave him and several of the troopers broke and ran along with the lieutenant. Tarik glared at him, then sent a handful of rounds into the haunting mist. The mist drew back and the walls of the PDF guard post appeared abruptly as if they had just sprouted from the ground. Totiem was already at the main gate. Rifle stowed over a shoulder and his pistol in a two handed grip as he barged through the gate.
"Clear!" He reappeared placing a couple of careful shots then ducked back inside as answering fire scored heavily into the rockcrete wall and adamatium gate.
Another trooper cried out briefly as the rest of the survivors crashed through the gate. The inquisitorial Stormtroopers laid down a barrage before ducking inside themselves. Tarik looked around at the survivors. The lieutenant was on his knees throwing up. With a grimace of contempt Tarik raised his pistol and shot him in the back of the head.
The base was as expected. A simple prefab square, 4 solid walls each a hundred or so metres long. Simple stairs providing access to a gunners walkway with a guard tower at each corner. The single gate they had entered by was the only way in or out. In the centre of the compound was a low entrance mound covering a bunker a ramp leading down to a thick sealed hatch. The only other above ground feature was a small shack, a radio mast stapled to the nearest guard tower giving away its purpose.
"Totiem, on the wall, spot and snipe. Ranieries…" Tarik turned to find the Stormtrooper already at his shoulder. "I want the heavy weapons teams one in each of those towers. Plus a spotter on each wall. The rest of the firepower on the front wall and the gate. We cannot let them get in here with us."
Ranieries nodded and began carrying out his orders. Ulrich was shoving at the great adamatium gate, but the hinges were rusted solid and even his power armour enhanced strength was not enough to move it. He moved to the edge of the door, took a breath before spinning around and snapping off several shots. He ducked back into cover as more of the deadly green beams ripped through the air where he had been standing. Another punched through the door just a little too high to do damage.
"We've been herded. Call for backup." Tarik yelled before peering out long enough to line up a single shot. Ulrich nodded, removed a small cylinder from his belt. Activated it and then threw it halfway towards the bunker entrance. Tarik backed from the door, his place swiftly taken by a Stormtrooper and he ran for the stairs. Troopers were scattered along the length of the wall, each in their own firing slot, though two more were now lying in crumpled heaps, testament to the accuracy of the return fire.
Tarik slipped into the nearest firing slot and confirmed what the inquisition team had long suspected. The nearest of the shadowy figures resolved themselves into dull metallic skeletons. Emerald fire gleamed from eyes in a death's head faces. The howling of weapons fire came from long barrelled rifles, bladed at the end and obviously effective as a close range melee weapon as well as their ranged lethality. Necrons. Dozens of necron warriors were visible all slowly advancing on their position and the swirling mist promised an endless tide of reinforcements. The heavy fire from the surviving PDF troops was having some effect, but it took multiple direct hits to take down a single necron warrior, and then for every two that went down one quickly got back up again, damaged armour reforming and re-joining the implacable advance. Totiem was having more success, his sniper rifle loaded with armour piercing rounds. Each shot a headshot that permanently put down one of the metal monstrosities. But he had been tagged as the most dangerous opponent so each shot had to be followed but a quick relocation before the retaliatory fire took its toll.
There was a heavy whine of a power source charging then a vivid red glare as finally one of the heavy weapons opened up. The powerful lascannon put a hole straight through one of the leading necrons and the steady rate of fire briefly threatened to halt the advance. A small group of the metal warriors paused, then as one turned their fire on the guard tower, blast after blast reducing it to matchwood. A last couple of defiant las blasts reduced one more necron to slag before the last of the weapons team succumbed to the deadly accurate fire.
"Wraith!" roared one of the Stormtroopers, firing at the back wall of the compound where 3 sinister figures had apparently appeared through the wall. Taller than a man and humanoid from the waist up they floated above the ground on coiled serpent tails. One drifted up to a PDF trooper manning the wall, seemingly indifferent to gravity. He fired backing off frantically as the necron approached but las-blasts just went straight through it. There was a flicker and the wraith's hand slashed down, tearing through the trooper's chest and flac-vest in one easy sweep. A pair of shots hit its carapace and it jinked sideways with the impact before flickering again. The next shot went through it as though it was no more substantial than smoke.
Tarik leant over the edge of the wall's walk way and yelled down to Ulrich who was still taking occasional pot-shots by the door.
"If there's anything you can do, now would be the time!"
Meanwhile
"Marshal, the Inquisitor's party has been out of contact for just over one hour now."
Kryn shoved her foot into the boot and yanked the fastenings closed before grabbing her gauntlets, chucking them into her helmet and jumping to her feet. Her dress uniform was laid out neatly on her bed. She glanced at it, an unwelcome reminder of the earlier memorial service, then headed for the door. Her progress was blocked by the trooper who had delivered the message as he stood with his back to her and stared fixedly out of the door.
"Get a grip. I'm dressed." She snarled shoving him out of the way. "I want the squad on-board and be ready to go 30 seconds after I hit the ramp."
Without waiting to see her order obeyed she headed to command, juggling the helmet between hands as she scrabbled for the envelope that Tarik had passed her.
She burst in, Darien was on duty so she marched to him and called to the ranking Judge over.
"Witness – orders from the Inquisition under seal."
"So witnessed. Timestamp affixed." The Judge muttered into his voxslate which automatically imprinted a coded date and time onto the document it was creating that would prevent tampering with the transcript.
Kryn ripped open the seal and took out the scrap of paper inside. On it was a single name. She bit her lip and closed her eyes hoping when she opened them it would change. It did not.
"What's the problem?" Asked Darien.
"She showed him the paper."
"Oh." He paused. "At least what happens next is all the Inquisition's fault."