B7782 was frustrated, the droid did not make any mistakes yet he couldn't pin down the enemy Astartes, reports of their numbers were often contradictory and the destructive power each wielded was immense.

The average Astartes wielded three weapons, a Bolter, a Bolt Pistol and a chainsword. Many reports were in front of the General, passed up from Engineer Command, detailing effects upon common Battle Droid models and suggested improvements to either mitigate losses, adjustments to ensure a higher cost of enemy munitions or projected loss rates against these weapons.

B1 models couldn't be relied upon to withstand the attentions of an Astartes and only those equipped for tank hunting were more than fodder level threats to these armored giants.

B2s also fared little better but at least could not be destroyed at leisure by the Astartes, requiring some modicum of effort, save for the B2-HA varient which could with its heavy blaster cannon start to become a threat to the Astartes.

Only D-100s could be relied upon to match them one to one, these droids dwarfing even B2s in sheer size, only exceeded by the B3 models.

B7782 was frustrated, the enemy was continuing to swarm over Kursk, and they were countering his thrusts with their human forces, Astartes thrown in to turn critical engagements and they were swift enough to be essentially a fire brigade to deal with hot spots. The solution here would be to simply strike everywhere at once, the issue was bringing enough droids to force a break through. The war was entering its fourth month on the surface. Fredrick had brought up many organic units to serve alongside the droids and they had provided forty divisions so far.

He wished they had support from Naval assets but they couldn't access the skies over the army army, the enemies' ships protecting them from simple bombardment. However HK-217 had reopened resource missions, ore haulers and mining vessels once again brought in resources so hopefully, they would turn the tide soon.

The Super Tactical Droid looked up, he was inside a Command MTT, fitted with extra signaling equipment and its cargo space had been converts to a small command post. A security battalion was spread around, they were close to the front lines and only twenty miles behind them. He was going to personally oversee a renewed offensive, which would split the enemy in half and fix a large portion of their human forces in place, allowing them to be defeated in pockets.

It almost felt like a trap, they had broken through the badlands into this area and resistance had been limited, but B7782 continued to press the army forward. The Battleship Star Hammer was above them in high orbit and many of its turbo lasers were oriented towards the area, a punishing bombardment ready to cover an army wide retreat if required. Defoliator tanks had been authorized, Fredrick's fury over the planet's defilement had put B7782 on edge, something was off about their master, whom he had served beside throughout the Clone War, and now upon this new war with the Imperium and the Word Bearers.

B7782 had located several positions upon which the enemy was dependant to supply its hosts with food and munitions, if he could sever those lines, it would make breaking the pocket even easier. He had a wing of his army stretching around their left flank, their goal to envelop them and he would close it. They were making rapid progress, lighter hover tanks and other skimmers supplying them with the mobility to force the enemy back and keep them off balance. Unfortunately for his troops, he had allocate much of the available starfighter and gun ship support to them, as the heavier artillery had difficulty keeping up with the rapid pace of advance they maintained.

He had it redistributed to provide overwhelming fire superiority over the enemy. They were building up every available artillery piece they could, from captured Imperial Basilisks, to Hailfire tanks and HAGs in order to ensure that absolutely nothing would stall their advance. HE had even put in an initiative to have Earthshaker barrels mated to the AAT chassis. They were undergoing design process but the larger chassis of Defoliator tanks would have to be relied upon in all probability.

They were discovering all sorts of new data about this enemy. Their combination of a massive fodder army, with a core of capable soldiers, supported by their super soldiers was surprisingly effective, but would splinter if struck hard enough and the enemy Space Marines did not take the trouble of rallying the rabble.

B7782 had left behind a radiologically scoured strongpoint where such an event had occurred, Several dozen of the Chaos Space Marines had made a fortress out of a section of the battlefield and concentrated turbolaser fire, defoliator shelling and eventually radiation weaponry was employed to ensure that the Astartes were dead.

A no prisoners policy for them had been established but their equipment was of great interest to the development of their own Super Droids, the D-100 series. He had received requests for as many examples as could be gathered. It irritated him, and he sent in the irradiated remains from his last engagement.

Soon they would be rid of these monsters. B7782 respected the Imperial soldiers he fought but the Cultists he had reviewed had been cowardly beaten creatures. Several of the trained and capable soldiers had been captured, as it turned out light ion weapons would scramble the nervous system of organics, and potentially induce seizures in them if a fluctuation in power occurred in the discharge.

"Begin Operation Running Fire once the 17th Organic Corps is in position, I want every artillery piece we have to flatten the enemy. Astartes are to be met with extreme firepower, deploy flame units against any enemy that appear to be abnormal."

He turned and watched as upon the table as red holographic representations moved into place. He knew expected heavy losses in the vanguard but once the enemy broke he would send in their reserves of fast moving units to exploit this. Even now power generators brought the droids online and he could monitor entire Corps on the move. Three Armies were being coordinated in this grand encirclement, while two others were engaging the enemy all along their southern flanks, pushing into them and driving deep penetrations into their hordes, and if reports were reliable, drawing in Astartes units to counter attack.

….

Operation Running Fire began at 1100 with a rapid advance, hundreds of AATs and Persuader Tank Droids moving in several walls of metal that came crashing down upon the slave armies of the World Bearers. This time, there were no Knights and Land Raiders to break up the vast droid armored formations and they rolled right over them.

For many, the last sight was a charging "Snail Tank's" treads as it rolled over them. The Droid onslaught was brutal and show cased just how large the Seperatist army.

B7782 had a subroutine observing trends in combat data streamed back and noting how units operated, he would have loved for a Droid Control Ship to help handle the immense flows of data but they didn't have enough resources to create one yet. It was frustrating relying upon what local unit Tactical Droids sent up to him, they were so limited compared to Super Tacticals and they themselves had to rely upon OOM series droid to send them their data feds.

One of the Magnaguards detailed to his protection was staring at him, he had noticed its purple photoreceptors trained upon him, and he didn't like that they did not contribute to the immense flow of data that most of the Droid army took part of. IG-105 had gotten Commander Fredrick to give them their own separate channels.

It mattered little but B7782 was still aggravated with this separate parallel stream. He turned his attention back to the table and contacted General B8894.

"Bring your corps back on schedule, you haven't encountered Astartes units have you?"

"No General, we have encountered massed armor formations and are being slowed, my corps will neutralize this resistance but it will slow down my movements."

"You are authorized the use of chemical weaponry to speed your advance."

B7782 had calculated the effectiveness of Gas droids long ago, but unlike the organic commanders who had initially created them, they were not intended to simply paralyze their opponents, but to simply destroy their respiratory system. He watched as a portion of the map flashed yellow as a data pulse signaled the use of massed chemical weaponry and that it was to remain off limits to organic units. Self damage was to be limited but B7782 had already calculated the marginal losses and moved on. Another figure for Fredrick during his next report.

….

Fredrick watched from the balcony as a pair of transports arrived bearing psykers for interment in the sliver cells.

"Lady Izolda is efficient isn't she,tell me IG-105 what do make of her progress?"

The Magnaguard turned its head towards Fredrick, he was nearly a height with him, having been enhanced by the IG-200 program.

"It is another threat contained, and your usage of Imperial methods is good, consistency keeps them content, however the conscription campaigns will cause unrest. Several reports of enemy preachers have also been worry some in that regard as they stir up and organize malcontents."

"Have measures been taken to ensure order?"

"Yes Lord, I personally executed one of them. Their tattoos and other symbols of faith mark them as targets, as well as many citizens bringing information on them as heretics."

The way IG-105 said heretic was odd, as if the droid was unfamiliar with the word. He turned, his purple photoreceptors scanning the nearby buildings, lens adjusting to take accurate data of some of the distant roof tops.

Fredrick knew that the IG droid was scanning for snipers, and that he would have several other Magnaguards on look out to for the numerous other routes an assassin would take. Fredrick has survived several attempts on his life, and several had been rooted out before they even occurred thanks to their vigilance. In addition, unlike the other VIPs who had been detailed a Magnaguard detail, he was almost always clad in an immense cortosis and durasteel warsuit.

The Commissar had been pushing for several changes, and had been chafing at his restrictions upon what she could do. Nor had she taken to the new CIS uniform she had been given. Yet she was effective at discovering and dealing with various Chaos infiltrators, many of whom were attempting to ferment discord in his people. He had been given a transcript of one speech denouncing him as an agent of Xenos and one of the Men of Iron reborn to bring destruction and slavery to humanity.

He pressed his metal hand against one of the stone pillars holding up the balcony's roof. Many of his crew had been forced into logical extensions of their roles aboard the Star Hammer during the war, they were the only ones he trusted with much of the functioning of this potential empire, yet a growing portion of his warmachine was being run by droids. Tactical droids, and even worse Super Tactical Droids were ambitious, and the IGs had been forced to watch both internally and be used on the battlefield.

"105, any reports of seditious activities from our new Corruption Management Minister?"

"She is under surveillance but so far she is much more determined with rooting out those who worship the Chaos Religion, we have reports of executions and other repressive measures targeting sympathizers, I calculate that in the short term she will prove faithful but once we repulse the invader, in the long term she has an over 50% probability of attempting to stage a coup or attempt upon your life."

"IG-191, her bodyguard and monitor reported this?"

"Yes, he and the the 19X series provide weekly reports on threat of betrayal and their estimated damage should one occur."

"Good."

Fredrick was exhausted, the business of running a war for so long was wearing upon him. His duties as ruler of Kursk did nothing to ease this burden.

The war would be decided in orbit, and as of now they held the advantage, the enemy could not approach the Hive City with its heavy Defense Laser and later Turbo laser batteries, nor could they create a blockade as the Confederate Navy continued to secure the vital spaces above their industrial centers.

Fredrick turned away from the balcony, commando droids had begun taking those new psychers into the Black Cells to await their fates. A program was being developed in order to use them as effective members of society.

He had reviewed reports and footage of an incident when one had been rapidly mutated into what was now known as a Chaos Spawn. These creatures had proven to be difficult to put down without explosive weapons or potent weaponry. IG-190 the first of the IG-200 prototypes had nearly been destroyed facing one. It had taken many repairs to even bring him back online.

Fredrick kept walking, flanked by IG-105, they entered the turbolift and began descending floors. Fredrick would meet with a collection of industrial leaders, along with a tactical droid sent by HK-217 to account for the Navy.

"They want to discuss expanding our naval projects, and they have proposals for new warship building plans and I believe a new design."

IG-105 made no comment, the droid wasn't much a conversationalist, as occupied as it was by ensuring that he was protected at all times from possible threats. Even a Tactical droid would discuss efficiency of options and would provide its own suggested courses of action.

The Turbolift stopped and they departed, IG-105 exiting before Fredrick, carrying its electrostaff, one hand poised by its wrist, to either use the Bulldog rocket launcher or the disruptor pistol it kept holstered there.

Fredrick walked past the droid. It annoyed him sometimes, that Magna guards never relaxed, it had sometimes created tensions with his dealings with other people or some of the alien species he had worked with prior.

The naval war room was situated at the end of a series of corridors, at the center of Navy Administration. Fredrick thought it humorous, in their repurposing of chambers, that B7782 and HK-217 had bickered about which one would be given the higher administration level. Both had cited efficiency and closeness to his own personal areas as reasons for their sections being closer, yet Fredrick suspected that they were jockeying for status.

Still in the end HK-217 had gotten this floor, and he walked through the double doors into the War Room. Displayed upon several screens were depictions of the orbital situation, a map of the solar system, with points of interest marked out and still more depictions showing various sundry points of interest to the naval campaign.

"Lord Fredrick, I am designated NC-001 and am here on behalf of Admiral HK-217. We have proposed several adjustments to current production schedules and to the current situation."

"I know who are you, I was present when HK-217 was upgraded to a Super Tactical Droid chassis, I see you received his old shell."

"It was an efficient use of prior material and he required an Adjutant, but the matter at hand is that we can build up a larger force of starships with which we can secure orbital domination."

NC-001 pointed to a screen which displayed basic images of the two fleets. Two large triangles representing the enemy's cruisers, and a small scattering of smaller triangles, their escort craft. Opposite them were a pair of circles, labeled Star Hammer, and Confederate, a much larger group of ovals around them representing their escorting destroyers and frigates.

"We outnumber them but they use ships that would be considered capital ships by tonnage alone, if we were still fighting the Clone War. But they are geared to face off against larger ships or to defeat ships on the same scale as them."

A section of the screen focused on a pair of enemy escort squadrons.

"These vessels carry large laser cannons, that are known to our intelligence as Lances, while smaller than the cannons which are carried upon the main vessel's broadsides, they would be exceeding dangerous to even Imperial class Star Destroyers. But they are unwieldy similar to a even slower firing version of the super heavy turbo laser batteries found on our Munificent and Recusant classes. Our Providence destroyers can withstand blasts from them for a limited time before losing shields, and they are losing their status as capital ships to reflect this reality."

The image moved back and stabilized upon the space station. Large additions had been made to it following its occupation, it bristled with hangers, turbo laser and ion cannon batteries and most of all, several arms each with space to host a hull as large as Providence class destroyer, or the lesser classes Confederate warship.

"We have peaked in the size of warship we can produce given our faculties, if we can invest proper material into the production of new additions, we could expand capacity towards Providence Class Dreadnoughts which will be redesignated Providence Class Cruisers to reflect our tonnage update."

Fredrick watched as transparent plans for an additional ring was added with projections long enough to host a Cruiser under construction, but of particular interest to him was one of them was significantly larger than the others.

"Whats the large one for?"

"We plan build Subjugator class heavy cruisers, in order to counterbalance potential enemy heavy weight units. We project the if these are classed as cruisers, then logically, battlecruiser and battleship classes must exist, which will require naval strength well beyond what we can create currently."

The central table flickered and instead of a strategic overlay, it projected an image.

The vessel resembled a Lucrehulk, but larger. The connecting column from the coreship to the ring was substantially thicker, and the coreship had a large round disk shaped dent in its front. On the arm's rings it had a series of large turrets, each featuring a pair of long barrelled cannons. Smaller turbo laser batteries were clustered around them, and Fredrick could tell just by relative sizes, just how massive this vessel must be. Then he saw that it had been provided with a scale, the vessel had a diameter of six kilometers.

"This is a design that HK-217 developed in order to be our new flagship and Star Dreadnought. It is known as a Lucrehulk class Dreadnought. It is configured with a super laser, using schematics obtained from Genonisian research into such weapons. This vessel is equipped with four reactors in order to supply all of its systems with appropriate power. It has the shield strength calculated to withstand prolonged lance bombardment and is armored to shake off Imperial macro cannon barrages. We project that such a battleship will require about one decade to produce, including the time it will take to construct a gantry capable of handling that class of warship."

Fredrick was impressed, had they had one of these vessels during several engagements in his time, they'd have driven the Republic before them.

"What are we looking at in destructive capacity for the Super Laser?"

"HK-217 predicts that it should be capable of stripping the shields of an enemy cruiser and dealing significant damage after that. It has a recharge time of roughly an hour between shots. In addition it can deal extreme damage to any planetary target, we predict that it could crack the crust of a planet and destroy anything unprotected."

Fredrick saw the promise in such a vessel but it would have to wait, they didn't have the time or resources to spare for such an ambitious project.

"It has my approval but only once the conflict has finished, we should be close to breaking them on the ground which will bring this conflict within a year of its conclusion according to B7782's estimates. Continue production of our current vessels, we need as many ore haulers, destroyers, mining vessels and fighters as possible."

"As you command Lord Fredrick, we will begin the naval armaments program once the conflict has reached its conclusion."

Fredrick rose from his chair and pointed at the Star Dreadnought.

"I want one of those in a slipway as soon a the faculty can be built, we have a solar system full of asteroids and several rocky planets to strip mine, We will no longer be forced to cower behind our defense batteries, we will take this war to them, you have my authorization to strip the asteroid belt to bare rock to fuel our war production. I expect more frigates and destroyers to be manufactured, we will drown them in a tide of steel."

NC-001 crackled an affirmative and began to retrieve its various data projections.

"We will retake our skies."

….

The battle was raging around them, droid munitions rained down upon the Cultists, CIS tanks leading charges into the teeth of their guns and pushing through.

Thousands of battle droids rushed forward, blaster bolts covering their charges. Towering B3 Ultra Battle Droids flushed out the human defenders, while their lesser brethren swarmed around their legs.

While on their own, most droids were not soldiers of legend, as unit they became increasingly potent, and the rabble that was arrayed against them was put the rout. Without their dark masters, the will of slaves met unfeeling machine might and was swept before them.

Chemical weapons were brought to bear, poisoning the air, while heavy guns laid bare many of the strong points of the enemy. Hundreds of shells rained down, turning the soil to a cratered moon scape. As night fell, turbolaser blast illuminated the battlefield like day for brief flashes as they destroyed tanks.

B7782 had made great in roads into the enemy army. While a brother of the Word Bearers was each akin to an entire platoon of regular soldiers, the rabble they faced barely slowed down the grinding treads of his forward assaults.

He would have to report to Fredrick soon, he was making progress but what else can be expected when heavy armor backed up by several corps of infantry slammed into low quality troops.

Hundreds of droid fighters danced above their heads, raining blaster cannon bolts onto the unprotected heads of those who resisted B7782's advance. Auto cannons churned the sky and in that maelstrom, many droid fighters came down in flames, it was the definition of a target rich environment for both sides.

A minor city was being being ground as rocket and turbo laser bombardments rent buildings into rubble, screaming cultists showering droids with walls of bullets, running into occupied buildings strapped with bombs. The battle was becoming desperate as the two armies clashed.

Prayers were raised, asking for their masters to deliver them, but no answer came.

….

One of them came, walking through the fires that were spreading unchecked. It was one of the four legged droid walkers, a small one at the head of dozens of Super Battle Droids, spraying further torrents of blaster bolts. A pair of orange colored droids scuttled forward, baring large flame throwers and a repeating blaster mounted on their front.

The cultists huddled in the buildings, awaiting the signal, a pair of auto cannons would open up and they would start firing once the droids moved to engage the buildings at the end of the street. Bajir was waiting, clutching his lasgun to his chest, taken from a corpse after his autogun had been destroyed after taking a blaster bolt meant for him.

He held in his other hand a large grenade, they had stuck several explosive heads together and he would toss it once the enemy entered the trap. He prayed that Tzeentch would see this deception to fruition.

The sudden noise of the two auto cannons firing sounded, the sonic booms as each gun fired thundered in the confined spaces. Bajir popped up and hurled his explosive into the host of Super Battle Droids, then began firing the lasgun at those he could get beads on. It was at that moment he noticed a pair of cloaked figures, raising long thick barreled weapons and firing into the windows, detonations of green material coming from the windows as they fired.

One lowered its weapon and began firing a large pistol, Bajir saw one of the men struck by it drop, his armor punched straight through and the smell of cooked flesh rose from him. The purple eyed droids continued, picking targets while the platoon of B2s assaulted through, many being torn apart by auto cannon fire. The dwarf spider spider had been taken out, but the two crab droids began scuttling up buildings, moving rapidly, plunging their thick limbs into the concrete walls.

A burst of blaster fire sent Bajir taking covering. They were winning this battle, and when he popped back up, he saw more and more of the droids being cut down, but the two purple eyed droids had disappeared, their potent weaponry leaving its marks upon the battlefield.

The rumble of engines could be heard and a flight of low flying gunships soared over head. Hell Blades were above them even now, fighting in the smoke filled skies as the city burned.

"We have to move, be quick and be quiet, there are more droids out their, and I didn't see any wrecks from the crab droids, brothers we will regroup with the rest of our congregation."

The others looked at him, he had become champion by virtue of surviving where his predecessor had fallen, killed by one of the massive Ultra Battle Droids.

"What are you waiting for, Lord Khorne scorns cowards!"

They exited out the back of the building, running from the site of the battle, Bajir half expected to be obliterated by artillery soon.

They made it to the end of the block before a loud crackling noise sounded from behind them. Bajir turned around to see one his faithful fall, blackened corpse slumping as one of the Magnaguards stood there, reloading its disrupter pistol.

"Take cover!"

The squad dispersed, the magnaguards were elite droid soldiers and standing like shooting gallery targets was suicidal.

One of them, Hajar hefted his heavy stubber and began firing at the droid which broke into a sprint, simply moving faster than he could rotate the heavy machine gun. It fired another shot and another man fell down, charbroiled.

It dashed into cover, bursts of purple bolts keeping the cultists' heads down. They began firing at the alcove where it had ducked into.

It was at that moment the other one dropped down, bearing a glowing orange shield and firing its disruptor pistol.

Bajir pulled out a standard frag grenade from his belt and threw at the Magna guard.

The droid shot it out of the air, and its fixed its gaze upon him.

Bajir ducked and just before he could pop back up to return fire, the other droid came bursting out of the wall, a shower of masonry thrown ahead of it.

It branished an electro staff and stuck faster than the eye could follow. The two droids came on like a whirlwind, scattering the cultists before them. Bajir fired his lasgun at full auto into the Magnaguard as it charged him, its electro staff blurring in arcs are it cut down the two men in its way, and hefted one up as a shield as it came forward.

Bajir drew the axe that he had been given by one the of Guardians, and steeled himself.

The Magnaguard threw the body at him and came charging.

He swung to intercept and the droid struck at him with the middle of the staff, twirling it like a baton. He struck at the droid, his axe aimed for its shoulder joint.

The magnaguard reacted, hooking the sparkling end of its electrostaff just under the edge of the axe and wrenching it from his hand.

It kicked him, knocking him back and the air left his lungs when slammed into the wall.

It strode forward raising its staff to spear him.

It was at that moment the guns of the Star Hammer began to rain fire from orbit.