Chapter 6
Shadowsword Obergrad's Fury, 1st Company Obryx Super Heavy,
Glass Fields, Obryx Industrial World
31.09.485.M35
Obryx was a peculiar world, with an elliptical orbit, and three orbital periods. If it were not for this strange orbit, it would be ideal for human habitation. It's atmosphere already mostly consisted of Nitrogen. It was only about 1.1 Terramasses in size, and at parts of the orbital cycle it could even sustain liquid water on its surface. That time would be now, the Time of Plenty. When the planet was not dominated by cataclysmic earthquakes and volcanic activity due to close proximity to its star, it was also not reduced to a frigid-cold ball of ice and rock. But it was also the one time the planet was most at threat from invasion. And Obryx was a very remote, but very well-established world, working as an anchor for the Imperium on the frontier territories of the Cerberus Sub-Sector. And Chaos knew this all too well, and every orbital cycle, when the people of Obryx emerge from their underground homes; Chaos is normally waiting for them, ready to lay siege to their homes.
The Glass Fields in front of the Super Heavy formation now were, in-fact, a reminder of an older such conflict. It had once been the surface entrance to one of Obryx's 4 major hives. But a Desolator Class Battleship had ensured that now its ruined remains were encased under a thick layer of semi-transparent radioactive glass by a brutal lance bombardment. And now, this old monument to a long-ago war was yet again a point of interest, as intelligence imformed of a major Chaos invasion force assembling here.
Arrayed against them were two regiments of Super Heavies. The 210th and the 112th. A fearsome force of over 50 Super Heavy vehicles, that few other sub-sectors could hope to muster on their own, yet alone a single planet. Obryx was blessed with massive underground STC-grade manufacturing facilities; purpose built in humanity's ancient past to supply these frontline worlds with super-heavy tanks and ensure that the great shelters that kept its populace alive, were always well-maintained and supplied. The Imperial Navy and the Mechanicus in particular, even now, fought tooth and nail to maintain void supremacy to prevent another Hive City falling prey to orbital fire. Since the great manufactories could churn out whole regiments of Super Heavies for use across the Imperium, and with Obryx's own Guard and PDF forces. But for now, non-present pondered the ancient history of the world, for before them lay a threat that needed to be destroyed. Obergrad's Fury: named after the capital of Obryx, lay in wait for their prey. Beside the Fury her sisters, Crux Magna and Viratem Imperialis did the same, their Volcano Cannons trained on the lower ground expectantly.
"Do we have any news from the vanguard?" The voice was Honoured Lieutenant Alexander of the Viratem Imperialis, the youngest commander of the three Shadowswords' commanding officers, nerves were clearly setting in with the least experienced officer. Honoured Lieutenant Forox gestured for outward vox coms, getting a simple nod from the comms officer "Relax, son, we have a commanding position here. We can see everything. If there is anything out there, we'll be the first to know." No sooner had he said that then his comms officer interrupted with a polite cough; "Sir, we got word from Baneblade Impervious in taskforce force Vigilance, they report: Contact with heavy enemy forces, Super Heavies and Titans confirmed among them. We should expect company at any moment." The Honoured Lieutenant grinned, then continued "And there you have it, Alex! News from the Vanguard. Now look sharp, those Titans are our primary." A silence filled the air, men held their breaths and power was re-routed to bring Volcano Cannons to full power with a low hum, threatening a blazing death on long-awaited traitor targets. In the distance, a rhythmic 'thump-thump' could be heard as the distant prey drew closer. Before the Shadow Swords, the artillery batteries began hammering out a brutal barrage; Earthshakers, Bombards and Manticores roared and screamed fire and steel into the atmosphere. The thumping being their que to begin their bombardment, while far on the horizon, bright lights of distant detonations and the sound of explosions marked their ordinances' termination. Then the shadow came, first a rippling bumble of purplish-blue energy was seen, haloed by hundreds of detonations. Then a head appeared, then a torso; then the full form of a towering Titan thumped over the horizon. Then another. Then another. Three of them; a Battle Titan and two Scouts. Around their feet moved a carpet of lesser units, the squat boxy frames of tanks and APC could be made out between the larger shapes of enemy Super Heavy Tanks and Transports.
"Alright gents!" Forox shouted over the crescendo of destructive power unfurling outside "Those Titans will take some time to home in on our locations, so we'll likely only get one shot! That Battle Titan should be the only one in range of us here, so that's our target! Aim for the head, and wait for the Void Shield to turn White, that means it's failing!" He only barely managed to finish saying it when the Banelord Titan opened up with it's Havoc Missiles. The storm of missiles blacked out the sky and came down on the artillery battery positioned nearest to the Shadowswords. The explosions of roiling plasma marched among the artillery line, a blazing trail of bright-white detonations demolishing everything it came into contact with. Seconds later, the gun-line was no more, not even wreckage remained; only craters and dust. "Sir! If we don't fire now it will kill us!" A panicked Alexander protested, "Just hold, damnit! We'd be dead already if it spotted us!"
The crews of all the super Heavies were tense as they watched the ponderous traitor god-engine pick its way forward, emitted a might roar from its war-horn as it obliterated tank platoons and defensive positions with each use of its mighty weapons of war. Around it, the gossamer-thin shimmering field of energy was barely visible, it was glowing blue now; which meant all the fire being hurled at it was stressing it's Void Shields. The deaths of thousands was not completely in-vain. But it seemed to be refusing to turn white, the indicator of an imminent void shield collapse. None of them would get to see the field turn white before the head of this most fearsome of beasts, slowly, turned to face them.
Alexander himself was panicking at this point "Sir, if you don't order us fire now, we may never get to!" There was a tense pause before the commander of the section cursed over the line and gave the order "All tanks, open fire for full effect! Put that thing down!" the last part was nearly a scream as the Battle-Titan tracked one it's weapon arms slowly towards the most pressing threat; but the Shadowsword battery fired first.
Three blinding white lances of light tore through the atmosphere, roaring as all the moisture in their path flash-vaporized to create a shimmering mirage around the blinding beams of energy. All three slammed into the Void shield of the titan as one, instantly the shimmering barrier went from blue to white as the three super heavies did the work a full division of lesser tanks and artillery could not; putting out enough energy to overload the void shields in an instant. For a second, just a second, the shield looked like it might hold; as the beams of light started fading in intensity; the Shadowswords' generators failed as they strained to their limits to keep the beam focused on the titan. But just as it seemed the super heavies were doomed, the void shield disappeared altogether, and the searing beams slammed into the face of the massive construct. The Titan staggered and roared as the impact caused it's metal hide to run liquid down it's torso; it fired it's weapon, and a blinding light engulfed the Shadowswords' sugar feeds. Alexander closed his eyes. So close.
…. but then the Honoured Lieutenant opened his eyes. The Battlefield was noticeably quieter, as though the hundreds of thousands arrayed to fight were collectively holding their breaths. What was going on? Barely believing he was alive, he tentatively peered at the sugar screens. For a second, his heart sank at what he saw. There stood the Battle-Titan with one of its Scout Titan escorts. The other lay crumpled, wrecked by the relentless pounding of heavy ordnance that had simply overwhelmed the lighter Titan hull. But… There was something wrong with the Battle Titan. It… wasn't firing. Alexander squinted, and on closer inspection, he could see the head of the Titan; mangled and burned. They'd done it. The Titan still stood upright, but it was very much dead. The remaining Traitors were in full retreat, their last Titan feverishly acting as a rear-guard as hordes of tanks and infantry poured out over the terrain; The Battle of Glass Fields had shifted completely in the course of minutes. The Planetary Capital, Obergrad, was saved, at least from this latest and greatest Chaos offensive. The death of millions avenged by the few Shadowswords Obryx had.
But the elation and amazement were only temporary, as Alexander took stock of what that last retort from the Titan had done. It had been an act of desperation, sensing its death was close the God-Machine had lashed out with a barely aimed shot from its gargantuan Plasma weapon. But it had almost finished off its killers. Both Crux Magna and Viratem Imperialis were gone, along with most of the terrain they had been deployed on. It was now a rapidly evaporating pool of roiling plasma, molten rock and metal slag. Two great relics rent from the hands of the Imperium with one blow and… Obergrad's Fury had not escaped intact. Its generators were charred black, dead, the adept was sobbing as he told his commander that they may never fire again. Its volcano cannon had died, its spirit expended so that it could slay the monstrosity that was the Chaos Titan. After several hours spent in silence, watching the battle rage below, the wounded war hero named Obergrad's Fury backed off from the hill and drove back home; it's future uncertain.
Author's Note: Finally, I make my return to story writing, with a chapter on the history of the Banesword for which this story is named. Currently I'm engaged in rewriting the Invictus story; I'm not happy with it.
You should be able to expect more chapters for this story soon though, it's only meant to be short; but hopefully you have fun with it! I Certainly enjoy writing this one. Anyway, that's my update, so… uh, bye for now? Stay tuned.