Disclaimer: I don't own warhammer, that belongs to GW. All technologies and characters native to 40k and the Horus Heresy, not made up by me, belong to Gdubs too. I do not own any aspect of Attack on Titan, those belong to Hajime Isayama.
Claimer: I do own the original character Warsmith Phidias Longinus of the 86th Great Company of the Fourth Legion Astartes, as well as all original characters and organizations of unspecified origin, i.e. not created by the wider warhammer community or GamesWorkshop, associated with the 86th Great Company and the attendant Expeditionary Fleet, including, but not limited to, the Legio Cauchinium and all characters directly under the umbrella of the 86th Great Company of the Iron Warriors.
AN: I might not post tomorrow, as I'm behind on my quotas. Writing is very distracting from problem solving.
Review Replies:
OGREVIEW-rando: Hey sorry I didn't respond to your review. I appreciate it. Let me know what you thought of the second and third chapters.
More-please-rando: Here you go
Psychoshame16: Well you weren't wrong, but you weren't exactly right were you?
"Giants from the sky?" General Darius Zakly directed a bemused glance towards the frantic MP. "Surely you're mistaken. Titans, let alone giants, can't fly." The elderly, bearded, long-haired man stood fairly tall in an officer's uniform. He had a dignified look, but was obviously not taking the man seriously. He let out a chuckle and shot a bemused look at the disheveled MP as he motioned for the guards to lead the man away.
The frantic MP became more panicked as the guards approached him. "No! You don't understand! Metal men! From a metal bird that flew clear over Wall Sheena and landed outside the gate to Mitras!" The MP was less composed by the second, sweating profusely and almost frothing at the mouth. "Dozens of them! Metal men! Coming to the gates now!"
The Queen of the Walls, Historia Reiss, stood. "Have they done anything to threaten us?" Historia tried to look as warm and friendly as possible, with her wide blue eyes, long blonde hair and soft friendly features she succeeded, though she wasn't helped along by the equally military uniform adorning her frame. "Perhaps we should greet them, they may come in peace."
Erwin Smith, commander of the Survey Corps, stood as well. "Yes, perhaps we should investigate before acting. If they are indeed hostile, we have them surrounded." Despite his missing arm, he still managed to look very intimidating with his cold, calculating blue eyes, military, close cropped blonde hair and sharp angular features. Erwin was also clad in an officer's uniform. "Perhaps these sky men could be here to aid us in our struggle against the titans."
Dot Pixis, commander of the Garrison Corps, held his tongue, but stood as well. His jovial demeanor disguised his calculating nature. His sharp, aged features were still very fit, and his old body was strong and also covered in a military uniform.
Nile Dok, commander of the Military Police, also stood. His dark hair and friendly features seemed a little out of place compared to the sharp looking men; he wore an MP's uniform. He turned to the panicking MP and issued an order. "Lead us to the gate. Better to meet them on our terms rather than let them come to us."
The terrified MP gave a shaky nod and rushed out of the room, leading the way back to the gate he'd been guarding.
Right after Mikasa dashed up the wall, a pair of Garrison Corps troopers rushed to where they'd seen her crest the top, only to be ripped away by a truly massive metal construct that zoomed overhead.
Startled, the two men upped their pace. As they reached the top of the wall, they rushed over to the outer edge. In the increasing light of the morning, a terrifying sight came to their eyes: a tremendous array of defensive and offensive trenches extended from the wall starting about a kilometer away and extending to a place where a small hill stood just a day ago. Where was once a hill was now a flat expanse, where massive lumbering boxes fell to the ground and then, of their own accord, took off again. Gargantuan cannons, that appeared to be just outside of the range of Trost's own, bristled by the dozens from the trench lines and appeared to be pointed at the district. The sap trenches that zig-zagged towards Wall Rose were populated by grey giants that could be seen from a kilometer away laboring to reinforce the trenches that must have been freshly dug. It was pure insanity that this besieging force sprang up, and so thoroughly entrenched, overnight.
"They're going to attract titans." The taller trooper stated flatly.
"They look like they want to bring down the wall." The shorter trooper stated, speaking as if he were some kind of outside observer, far removed from the consequences of such an occurrence.
The taller trooper glanced over at the shorter trooper. Noting that he appeared to be in shock, he took the initiative and spoke to the shorter man, "You should report this to Garrison HQ. I'll stay here to observe. Request reinforcements."
The shocked man gave an unsteady nod, and then, his body shaking, he dropped off the wall and directed himself to the local command center.
"First a coup, and now this?" The taller trooper held his head in his hands. "We're all going to die, I just know it." He fired an emergency flare from the one flare gun on his hip, a black plume extending towards Trost's inner gate, signaling that, once more, the district needed to be evacuated, and summoning all available troops inside the wall to his location.
From his command post two kilometers from the spaceport, with a direct line of sight on the strange crystalline plug where a gate ought to have been, Captain Martinus, clad in a suit of Mk IV Maximus pattern power armor, saw a black plume of smoke appear from above the crystal blockage. He blink-clicked open a vox-channel to all legion-brothers and auxilia under his command, as well as the Warsmith and the other council captains. "We've been spotted. Prepare yourselves accordingly."
The titanic din of one thousand legion-brothers and countless mortal auxilia shifting from labor to combat readiness could be felt in their bones. Rhinos and Land Raiders rolled into ready position just five hundred meters from the projected max range of their cannons, cranes lifted carriage sized artillery shells into the waiting breaches of massive artillery pieces, and quick, last minute checks were performed on their weapons by the soldiers, mortal and transhuman, manning the trenches.
The same procedure occurred at every other Iron Warriors position on the planet, and the forces remaining in orbit, Astartes, Titan, and human prepared themselves for deployment on a moment's notice. The fleet's targeting cogitators were preemptively brought to bombardment readiness, and the communications officers stood alert to ensure that all communications made it to who they needed to. The 86th expeditionary fleet came to combat readiness, prepared to act as soon as the Warsmith gave the signal.
The Ark Mechanicus, Newton's Foresight, rested in geo-synchronous orbit above the research station. To some interest, this moon happened to be the largest moon, bigger than Terra itself, orbiting the largest gas giant, in fact a brown dwarf and the sixth planet, now designated IWEF86-695B, in the system. The Mechanicum scholars and technicians found this fascinating, and the Magi Biologis, after detecting indications that the facility was meant for biological research, were especially intrigued. This moon was habitable, with a breathable atmosphere and a strong magnetic field to deflect the worst of the radiation coming from IWEF86-695 and IWEF86-695B, and the force due to gravity on the planet's surface was two and a quarter times greater than Terran standard. Ideas about an Ogryn farm or some kind of failed local super soldier program ran free through the Ark as they prepared for the samples that would soon come up from the surface.
The Magi Dominus, Explorator, and Biologis on the surface leading the investigatory landing party led countless skitarii and adepts into the ancient research facility. After splicing into a cogitator not too far into the entrance, the Magos Explorator identified the main data stacks within the facility. With the their destinations known and a decent map of the facility, the path forward was clear.
The investigation and reconnaissance party split into three groups to scour the facility, each led by one of the Magi. As early as the first set of data stacks, the Magos Biologis had determined they had been conducting trials on human subjects.
The records spoke of forced human trials conducted by a group calling themselves Ymir during the dark age of technology. Further, they described a program that took latent psykers and forced them to mutate into gigantic, cannibalistic monstrosities ranging from the size of an Astartes to, in the case of one notable specimen, sixty meters tall, towering over a Warlord Titan, though still dwarfed by the noble Imperator class titan, Maxwell's Fortitude.
The Magos Biologis opened a private channel to the Dominus and the Explorator leading the other groups. He blurted an urgent message in binaric cant, "Esteemed colleagues, take heed of the following data packets." Delving deeper into the records he'd retrieved, he noticed something that could prove quite troublesome. "According to the records on this stack, these mutants were transported to the fifth planet. The most recent log on the data stack, dated roughly one thousand years ago, details a containment breach in this facility."
The Magos Explorator chattered an order through the vox, "Transmit all acquired data on these creatures to our allies in the expeditionary fleet. The Warsmith will be indebted to us again."
A loud humming sound spread throughout the facility as a lesser tech adept restored full power. Unbeknownst to them, a bank of powerful UV lamps inside of the facility sprang to life as well.
The command post outside the walls was the first to receive a cryptic notice to "watch for mutants of unusual size" from the Newton's Foresight. This message came in roughly when the Warsmith and his honor guard disembarked from their stormbird. A mortal vox operator clad in a fully sealed black greatcoat, boots, gloves, stahlhelm and gasmask relayed the message to the other formations. His uniform and wargear served to anonymize him among the mortal soldiers dutifully rushing around the command post and manning the surrounding trenches. Only thirty-six legionnaires remained on location, the rest having left as part of the Warsmith's honor guard. The vox operator almost imperceptibly shook his head, "Legionnaires! I'm serving alongside legionnaires! During the Great Crusade no less."
Trooper V3967-1, returned to the vox, acting as the switchboard operator for the command post and generally served to regulate vox traffic and get the long range messages where they needed to go. A low thud shook the ground, knocking a transmission cable loose from its socket. V3967-1 replaced it thinking nothing of it, after all the Iron Warriors always deployed enough big guns to shake the ground.
Phidias stood a short distance removed from the lead elements of his honor guard as they approached the large gate of wood and wrought iron. In the five minutes they'd spent marching to the gates of the keep he'd received two messages: one expected, one cryptic and unwelcome. He knew their lines would be spotted a short time after dawn, if not before then, so he'd planned to make contact with the rulers of the island before they received word. The cryptic message from the Newton's Foresight to "watch for mutants of unusual size," was something he had not accounted for. Still, it fell well within the margins of error he'd projected for the operation, and thus conveyed to the entirety of the 86th instructions to treat it as an order.
Phidias sent a binaric missive to Lexicon-617-Xi, instructing him to broadcast real time interpretations through the vox-net and to request the gates be opened to admit the envoys of the Imperium.
Phidias' amplified voice rang out from a high output vox-grille set in the Magos' chest. "We envoys of the Imperium of Man, the IVth Legion Astartes, The Emperor's Iron Warriors, come to welcome you into the fold. Open the gates, and admit us to speak to your rulers"
A loud thunk rang through the wood and metal of the gate, the sound of a gate being barred. Lexicon-617-Xi continued, "You have nothing to fear from us. Comply and you will be first among the denizens of your world." He left the alternative unsaid, as the Warsmith felt they need not be any more hostile. Yet.
"We will make our own entrance in two minutes time. Your compliance is encouraged, but not necessary." Still no response. Across the local vox-net Phidias gave an order, "Siege terminators forward." He initiated a two-minute countdown, then blink transmitted it to the HUDs of the pair of terminators. A pre-programmed order to ready chainfists would display for them at fifteen seconds.
Phidias' Maximus pattern artificer armor's auto senses detected hurried footsteps moving away from the gate. As the timer reached fifteen seconds, the legion-brothers clad in the massive suits of Cataphractii pattern Terminator armor revved their chainfists and activated their power fields. At the same time, an indistinct number of people were running towards the gate. At five seconds, the footsteps seemed like they had nearly reached the gate, roughly forty-five meters away. At one second, Phidias projected the approaching people were thirty meters away. The timer reached zero, and with practiced ease the siege terminators struck the door, the rotating power fields rendering the gate down to atoms and splinters. The venerable gates of the stone keep fell to the ground, revealing the advancing forms of a group of what appeared to be PDF Officers.
Phidias removed his helmet using a few mechadendrites to appear more human to the stunned mortals. Lexicon-617-Xi, proving once more that the Mechanicum make poor negotiators, synthesized an androgynous voice and addressed the natives. "Greetings unaugmented cousins, we have come to welcome you into the galactic fold. Does your culture assign names to individuals?"
Historia stopped short when she saw the door explode, then stood shocked when she realized the MP had not been exaggerating. Machine men. Giant machine men, and a giant metal bird behind them in the plaza. Shocked still, Historia glanced around at the commanders and the MPs. Though doing a good job of hiding it, the assembled men and women were equally surprised.
She looked ahead just in time to catch the figure in ornate, grey armor near the center remove its head using a host of metallic… tentacles? It revealed the patrician features of a normal, if incredibly large, man.
A voice rang out from the figure robed in red near the remains of the gate. Underneath the hood, sinister green lights shined out. "Greetings unaugmented cousins, we have come to welcome you into the galactic fold. Does your culture assign names to individuals?"
At the strange question, Historia quietly stammered out the first thing that came to mind. "K-k-k-rista," realizing her mistake she cleared her throat and drew herself up. "I am Historia Reiss, the Queen Within the Walls. These are my commanders and guards."
The metal giant that had revealed his face moved forward and spoke. Funnily enough, though his lips were moving his voice seemed to be coming from the red robed… thing. "I am Warsmith Phidias Longinus, commander of the 86th Great Company of the IVth Legion Astartes and master of the 86th Expeditionary Fleet." He paused as he'd been instructed to do so when making important declarations years ago by a diplomatic adept then continued. "We've come to induct your world into the Imperium of Man. By consent or otherwise."
Historia balked. "They want to rule over us!? We just freed ourselves from the old regime!" It took her but a moment to gather herself, then she addressed the betentacled giant. "We cannot submit while the threat of the titans looms over us! There are too many lives at stake for us to abandon our mission!" The fire of passion burned in Historia's eyes as she spoke against the giant called Phidias. "We care not to join this Imperium of yours. We have too many problems to entertain the delusions of petty tyrants when our very existence is under threat."
"You speak of titans child? You suffer under the threat of god-machines?" Phidias asked her.
"What is a god-machine?" Erwin asked under his breath, masking his confusion under an impassive expression.
Phidias eyes slid over to Erwin, "Titans, mortal. God-machines are titans. Towering engines of war that loom over the fields of battle and lay waste to the enemies of mankind." His eyes swiveled back to Historia. "Your world is threatened by titans?"
Historia shook her head in frustration, "No titans are man-shaped giants that devour human beings and roam outside of Wall Maria." She clenched her hand into a fist and continued. "They've been attempting to break through the walls and wipe us out."
"Man-shaped giants?" He looked thoughtful for a moment before murmuring "Mutants of unusual size." At that moment, the great company's general channel exploded in contact notifications.
Martinus' anger flared as he felt the thud of artillery firing. He voxed out to all troops under his command, "Who ordered a barrage?"
A reply crackled back across the vox. "None of the guns have fired, and the armor hasn't begun the advance."
Before Martinus could reply, an urgent message came in from the rear trenches. "CONTACT! GIANT MUTANTS!"
Martinus rushed outside the command dug out and whipped around to view the southern approach. Now he understood the warning from the Newton's Foresight: Mutants of unusual size.
It was utter chaos at site zero, the command post. They'd been attacked by giant mutants at all sides. Casualties were high, but Trooper V3967-1 was trained to expect such things. The Legion Sergeant that had been left in command issued an order to Trooper V3967-1, "Transmit Support Request Code: sigma-tau-nine-seven-zero-two directly to the Warsmith."
From the screaming and gunfire outside the communications center, things were looking bad for site zero. In minutes, it had gone from combat ready to barely holding the trenches. Screams of 'They're eating us,' and 'It swallowed a legionnaire!' came through the local vox-net.
Trooper V3967-1 worked quickly to transmit the Support Request Code, trusting in the Sergeant in command to hold the line.
Barbarossa voice broke through the crowd in a shout. "A powerful psyker is approaching! Ready yourself!" The psi-assisted voice projection allowed his voice to clearly reach Phidias even over the current chaotic state of his ocular HUD and the massive amount of information his augmented brain was attempting to process. A young, relatively short PDF trooper with messy dark hair came hurtling towards the broken gate.
"Commander Erwin! Wall Maria's districts are under siege!" He looked around to take in his surroundings spotting Mikasa slung over a mechanical giant's shoulder. "MIIIIIKAAAAAASAAA!" he fired an anchor at the apothecary and launched himself in her direction.
A cloud of steam obscured the area as flashing red text overtook Phidias' vision: Received: Support Request Code: Cry Havoc. Flashing beneath that read: Origin: Site Zero. This was no longer a simple compliance.
AN: I made an outline of the plot points I wanted to check off for today's chapter. It worked pretty well, I think. Leave a review please! I might not post tomorrow, I have to catch up on paying work, and this takes quite a bit of research.
Postscript: No ideas for the Legio Cauchinium? You have to see the pattern after Newton's Foresight and Maxwell's Fortitude. Free spoilers to whoever figures it out.