Author's Note: Hello, loyal citizens! I'd like to apologise for my long hiatus from this site, but I plan to make a come-back to writing. I will eventually return to Battlestar Invictus, as it is my flagship story (pun definitely intended), but my co-author has not been up to the task as of late and I myself have been suffering from burn-out as well as a busy irl situation. But wait no more! I've been cooking up this lovely piece for a while now, and I intend it to be short and sweet, heavy inspiration from the stories Baneblade and Shadowsword published by Black Library, so that everyone who has been waiting can satisfy their thirst for 40K goodness from me. Enjoy!
Prologue
Front Report, Priority: Aquilus
Gothic Sector, Bhein Morr Sub-Sector, 12.03.145.M41
++Adeptus Terra Sub-Sector Worlds++
Krool - Agri World
[Planet IV of Stellar Body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 0.89 Terramass. Fularis System. Moons: 1. Population: 1,201,678.]
[Engaged. Population reduced by 40%. Imperial Controlled.]
Oechalia - Civilized World (Developed)
[Planet III of Stellar Body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 1.1 Terramass. Fularis System. Moons: 3. Population: 6,709,704.]
[Chaos Occupation. Unknown number survivors or remaining resistance.]
Fularis - Civilized World (Developed)
[Planet V of Stellar Body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 0.9 Terramass. Fularis System. Moons: None. Population: 4,910,891]
[Unengaged. Acting Sub-Sector Fleet HQ. Home to Blackstone Fortress II. Imperial Controlled.]
Balaam - Agri World
[Planet I of Stellar Body: Blue Giant [stable]. 1.2 Terramass. Balaam System.
Moons: 4. Population: 3,001,981]
[Engaged. Unknown damage to planet. Void-Supremacy lost. Imperial Controlled.]
Kharlos - Mining World
[Planet II of Stellar Body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 2.1 Terramass. Elysium System.
Moons: 12. Population: 754,911]
[Engaged. Unknown damage to planet. Void-Supremacy lost. Imperial Controlled.]
Elysium - Civilized World (Developed)
[Planet VI of Stellar body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 602 Terramass. Elysium System.
Moons: 144. Population (orbital): 8,107,821]
[Unengaged. Active recruitment world for elite drop troops. Fleet Anchorage. Imperial Controlled.]
Bhein Morr - Civilized World (Developed)
[Planet V of Stellar body: Blue Main-Sequence [stable]. 2.1 Terramass. Bhein Morr System. Moons: 3. Population: 18,987,019]
[Unengaged. Acting Astra Militarum HQ. Imperial Controlled.]
Mastado - Mining/Industrial World
[Planet VI of Stellar Body: Blue Main-Sequence [stable]. 1.2 Terramass. Bhein Morr System. Moons 6. Population: 5,891,301]
[Engaged. Heavy casualties both military and civilian, Unknown Numbers. Imperial Controlled.]
Luxor - Mining World
[Planet IV of Stellar Body: Blue Main-Sequence [stable]. 3.4 Terramass. Bhein Morr System. Moons: 2. Population: 876,901]
[Chaos Occupation. Unknown number survivors or remaining resistance.]
Stranivar - Hive World
[Planet IV of Stellar Body: Yellow Dwarf [stable]. 1.6 Terramass. Stranivar System. Moons: 1. Population: 59,872,407]
[Engaged. 20% of Hive cities under Chaos occupation, 40% contested. Unknown casualties among the civilian population. Imperial Controlled.]
Kxill- (Uninhabited/quarantined system)
[+++DATA REDACTED BY ORDER OF THE GOD-EMPEROR'S HOLY INQUISITION, 22.07.334.M40+++]
++Navy Battle-Group Bhein Morr++
Overall Commanding Officer: High Admiral Javer Van Stroup
Second In Command: Admiral Kora Reave
Tertiary Command: Vice-Admiral Conkor Vance, Vice-Admiral Lorron Von Seth, Vice-Admiral Corra Ney
-Naval Units/Assets, Bhein Morr Sub-Sector
2 Battleships [Retribution: Blood Hawk. Oberon: Sky Watcher.] [At Fleet Anchorage: Elysia][strength 100%][++Note: Sky Watcher only recently repaired, at 60% effectiveness. Blood Hawk undergoing refit.++][Status: Reserve]
2 Grand Cruisers [Vengeance: St Alba. Avenger: Glorious Revolution.][At Battlezone: Fulris][strength 100%][Status: Engaged]
1 Battlecruiser [Overlord: St Domica][At Battle Zone: Bhein Morr][strength 100%][Status: Engaged]
8 Line Cruisers [The Omega Wolves (3x Lunar): Sentinel, Revenge, Glorious. The Bulwark (3x Lunar): Saint's Herald, Lord Sovereign, Duke of Voss. 2x Gothic: Invicta Gloria, Sarr Nigrum.] [At Battlezone: Fulris and Bhein Morr.][strength 62%][Status: Engaged]
18 Light Cruisers [2x Dauntless Flotillas: 12 vessels (6x torpedo, 6x lance). 2x Enforcer: Persecutor, His Word. 4x Endeavour: Industrious, Resolute, Vigilant, Stalwart.] [At Battlezone: Fularis, Bhein Morr, Balaam and Stranivar][strength 66%][Status: Engaged]
34 Escorts [3x Sword Squadrons: 12 vessels. 2x Firestorm Squadrons: 6 vessels. 3x Cobra Squadrons: 16 vessels][At Battlezone: Fularis, Bhein Morr, Balaam and Stranivar][strength 47%][Status: Engaged]
Additional: 900 Transports, Sub-Escorts, Monitors and Picket Vessels [strength 67%] [Status: Engaged]
2x Goliath Factory Vessels [strength 50%] [Status: Reserve]
1x Battle Barge Dorn's Fury [At Battlezone: Stranivar][strength 100%] [Status: Engaged]
1x Vanguard Strike Cruiser Blade of Orar [At Battlezone: Bhein Morr][strength 100%] [Status: Engaged]
[++Admiral Reave, Note: Current naval assets in defence of Balaam insufficient. Success doubtful. Request immediate reinforcements. 06.03.145.M41++]
[++High-Admiral Van Stroup, Response: Request denied, 09.03.145.M41. Remaining subsector reserves assigned to Bhein Morr capital system. It's Strategic Value is Absolute.++]
++Army-Group Bhein Morr++
Overall Commanding Officer: Lord-General Gustav Lo Parigar
Second In Command: Lord-General Heinrich Von Hern
Field Commanders: General Goro Von Bok, General Ghert Von Hern, General Jothan 'Papa' Reid, General Hektor Von Klaust, General Versily Romenov
-Battle-Group Balaam
Commanding Officer: General Goro Von Bok
2nd Balaam 'Oath-Keepers' (Mechanised) [16% strength]
7th Balaam 'Choir Boys' (support) [47% strength]
8th Balaam 'Goro's Legion' (Foot) [23% strength]
609th Cadian (Foot) [Destroyed]
203rd Cadian (Foot) [67% strength] [Merged with 609th Cadian. Total strength increased 9%. 08.03.145.M41.]
21st Cadian (Armoured) [21% strength] [++Unit Note: Ammunition supplies low. Tank strength down to single figures per company. 1st and 2nd Core combat ineffective. 09.03.145.M41.++]
89th Cadian (Support) [61% strength]
Additional: Ogryn and Rattling Auxiliaries [900 total strength]
Planetary Militia and PDF forces [20,000-40,000 Total Estimated Strength.]
[++General Von Bok, Note: Being slaughtered by orbital bombardment. Further holding of key cities doubtful. Require further naval support. 09.03.145.M41++] [++Unresolved.++]
-Battle Group Bhein Morr
Commanding Officer: General Ghert Von Hern
2nd Mastado Hoplites (Foot/Tunnel-fighting specialists) [46% strength]
1st Bhein Morr (Armoured) [Destroyed]
31st Bhein Morr (Support) [19% strength]
427th Cadian (Foot) [12% strength, Combat Ineffective, reserve only.]
118th Cadian (Armoured) [31% strength] [++Unit Note: 1st Core reports only 140 operational tanks. Ammunition low. 07.03.145.M41++] [Merged with 1st Bhein Morr. Total strength increased 8%. Tank shortage in 1st Core resolved.10.03.145.M41.]
81st Cadian (Support) [41% strength] [++Unit Note: Mortar and Howitzer ammunition critically low, combat ineffective in approximately 5 hours. Down to lasguns and heavy stubbers. 11.03.145.M41++]
32nd Cadian (Foot) [Destroyed]
172nd Auxilian (Foot) [109% strength, merged with 32nd Cadian]
210th Obryx (Armoured/Super Heavies) [76% strength] [++Unit Note: Down to 3 companies from heavy fighting in Quinrox Sub-Sector. 1st Company under the direct command of Lord-General Lo Parigar.++]
Additional: Parigar's Blade Shadowlord Super Heavy Command Tank [Claimed Property of Lord-General Gustav Lo Parigar. Currently acting-commander of Obryx Super Heavy 1st Company.]
Planetary Militia and PDF forces [200,000-500,000 Total Estimated Strength.]
Ogryn and Rattling Auxiliaries [20,000 total strength]
Space Marines of the Sons of Orar Chapter [16 Space Marines]
[++General Von Hern, Note: Units severely depleted. Immediate reinforcement of paramount importance. 09.03.145.M41++]
[++Lord-General Lo Parigar, Supreme Command, Response: Reinforced, 12.03.145.M41, 172nd Auxilian Rifles (Foot) and 210th Obryx Super Heavy Regiment (Armoured/Super Heavy) assigned.++]
-Battle Group Stranivar
Commanding Officer: General Jothan 'Papa' Reid
3rd Stranivar 'First-Borns' (Foot/Veterans) [56% strength]
42nd Stranivar 'Spire Rats' (Foot/Urban Specialists) [61% strength]
8th Cadian (Foot/Veterans) [78% strength]
401st Cadian (Mechanised) [63% strength]
1112th Cadian (Support) [47% strength]
22nd Cadian (Armoured) [39% strength]
1st Luxor Grenadiers (Mechanised) [134% strength][++Unit Note: brought above strength by local volunteers.++]
Additional: Planetary Militia and PDF forces [6,000,000-8,000,000 total strength.]
Ogryn and Rattling Auxiliaries [140,000 total strength]
Space Marines of the Imperial Fists Chapter [200 Space Marines]
-Battle Group Fularis
Commanding Officer: General Hektor Von Klaust
1st Fularisian Guards (Foot/Veterans) [81% strength]
4th Fularisian (Armoured) [73% strength]
10th Cadian (Support) [65% strength]
43rd Cadian (Mechanised/Veterans) [61% strength]
76th Cadian [Armoured] [59% strength]
801st Auxilian 'Titan Hunters' [Armoured/Super Heavy] [86% Strength]
Additional: Planetary Militia and PDF forces [160,000-200,000 total strength.]
Ogryn and Rattling Auxiliaries [5,000 total strength]
Space Marines of the Imperial Fists Chapter [40 Space Marines]
Leviathan-Class Command Tank Ryza's Revenge
-Battle Group Elysia
Commanding Officer: Lord Commissar Haclok Kerr
[General Versily Romenov executed on charges of Incompetence and Heresy.]
12th Elysian (Drop Troops) [74% strength]
51st Elysian (Drop Troops) [81% strength]
501st Elysian (Drop Troops) [83% strength]
111th Cadian (Foot) [39% strength]
908th Cadian (Support) [34% strength]
807th Cadian (Support) [43% strength]
82nd Valhallan (Foot) [12% strength] [++Unit Note: Combat ineffective due to poor deployment. Reserve only.++]
12th Valhallan (Armoured) [32% strength]
Additional: 2nd Valhallan Super Heavy Armoured Company [4 Baneblades Total Strength]
Ogryn and Rattling Auxiliaries [8,000 total strength]
Planetary Militia and PDF forces [100,000-160,000 Total Estimated Strength.]