To everyone that has reviewed the story so far thank you I will continue to do my best in making my story good for everyone. Also sorry about the walls of text in the first three chapters It's just that I'm used to reading books with pages jammed full of words so I guess that's why I typed that way but rest assured it won't happen again.
Also to Duckman 154 but everyone else also the Heralds of Light are chapter that don't rigidly adhere to the Codex Astartes. But that's besides the stuff I failed to include. They were fighting alongside an Imperial fleet that had been escorting the Fifth and Sixth Steel Legion Regiments, along with a Death Korps of Kreig regiment and the Steel Hammers Titan Legion from the nearby Forge-World of Vulcan (the last one I made up).
Should have thought of that earlier but now that the Heralds of Light will be fighting against 100,000's of thousands of Covenant not to mention their support vehicles and Scarabs ; They will need a little help because the UNSC might have Marines but in a one to one fight they pretty much get dominated even with Spartans(Spartans are mostly a commando force not a stand up drag out army). Also I wanted the Heralds of Light to be individual and for that I invented the Harbinger of Light and made up the ship class Jupiter because it was the biggest thing I could think of at the time.
Also your point is very valid emperorprotects. Imperial technology is #!T loads better than even the best Covenant tech but the reason I'm throwing in three Guard regiments and a Titan legion is something I'm going to throw in later for now lets just say it involves Chaos and the Flood
Also I apologize for taking so long with this chapter.
But without further talk here is the newest chapter of Second Imperium.
Hurtling through the atmosphere at velocities incalculable at the present, Brother-Captain Jonathan rode down through the atmosphere strapped into the drop pod with his HQ squad as it hurtled down toward the Covenant positions on Reach. Suddenly the Covenant opened up with anti-air fire no doubt in the hopes of knocking down some of the incoming drop pods. Then as suddenly as it began it ceased, certainly switching to try and knock down some of the bigger juicier Imperial Thunderhawks and Valkyries coming in behind the faster moving drop pods. Hitting a few buttons on the panel in front of him Jonathan brought up an image from the Herald of Light moving in the other Imperial ships to launch precision orbital bombardments. After hitting a few more buttons he brought up an image showing the drop pods almost to the planets surface with a timer counting down till impact. Nodding in satisfaction Jonathan switched to the Fifth Company's vox channel. "Brothers the fleet is going to soften up the Xenos scum for us!" Jonathan said sarcastically. "Did we ever need their help to begin with brothers?" He said again. "NO Sir!" the Marines of his company answered as one. "Well then do you know what this fight is going to be now?" Jonathan asked. When no one answered he said "a bloody Massacre that the Emperor himself would be proud of!!" he roared. To which the Marines replied "For the Emperor!". Glancing at the screen in front of him once more Jonathan said " 30 seconds till impact remember all squads rally around me once we hit dirt." And with that he switched back to the HQ squads channel. "are you all ready for this?" Jonathan asked. "We won't let you down sir" they all said. "Good" Jonathan said. And then the drop pod hit the ground sending gouts of dirt and mud flying every direction. Immediately the doors opened up. Unsheathing his power sword and unholstering his plasma pistol, Jonathan leapt from the interior of the drop pod. Immediately he saw an Elite pick itself up from the ground only to be skewered on Jonathan's power sword. Pivoting to the left he flung the dead Elite off his sword, to bring another into the sight of his plasma pistol. Squeezing the trigger he sent a blue bolt into the face of the Elite, whose personal shields flared briefly before going out allowing the bolt to turn its head into a melted ruin. Coming out back to the world around him Jonathan nodded in satisfaction as he saw his HQ squad had eliminated all the nearby threats and were lending their support to a nearby tactical squad. Immediately he said "stand fast brothers reinforcements are heading your way" and with that he and his HQ squad waded into the fray once more…
"Gregor it's been a while hasn't it?" Alexander asked. "Yes it has been a while Alex, it was what Pegais 9?" Gregor replied. "Yes those were good times the Orks sure know how to fight, but they are still no match for the Emperors finest right, Mark?" Gregor said swiveling to face Mark. "What? Oh no, no they weren't" Mark said distractedly. "Were us old-timers boring you Mark?" Gregor asked "ridiculous Gregor I'm as old as you are and you know it, so don't even start that nonsense." Mark said severely. "But Mark it was just a…" "Joke? Gregor I know I just wanted to be the one to give the other a hard time for once." Mark said grinning boyishly at Gregor. "Why you Coy little…" "Lord Mark, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Companies have dropped on the outskirts of the Xenos armies probable HQ, and have engaged the enemy with minor wounded and no dead." The Thunderhawk pilot said. "Good have the Harbinger of Dawn keep me updated with tactical information and casualties as they become available" Mark instructed the pilot. "Yes Lord" the pilot responded. "Where should we set down Lord?" the co-pilot asked. "Near the enemy of course!" Gregor said, making the question seem as if it was rhetorical. "What Gregor said" Mark responded. Switching to the honor guard's vox channel Mark said "are you Brothers ready to spill some Xenos blood for the Emperor?" " Yes Lord, we are ready to do the Emperor's work in eradicating the Xenos" replied the closest Terminator armored Brother. "Very well then let us make ready" Mark said. With that he test activated his thunder hammer and storm shield satisfied with his equipment he turned and looked to the two Dreadnoughts riding in the Thunderhawk with them. "Gregor, Alex are you two ready to go?" Mark asked. "One moment." Alex said; swiveling his twin-linked lascannon and rotating his missile pod. "Now I'm ready" he said. "I'm ready too now" Gregor said. Spinning his assault cannon and flexing his massive power fist. "Very well then, Honor Guard seal up!" with that command every one including Mark put on their helmets, six faint hisses as helmets sealed to armor seals forming airtight bonds. "Pilot are we their yet?" Mark asked. "Yes Lord standby, we're going to strafe the landing are before we descend" The Pilot said. With that the battlecannon opened fire with three shots one after the other. Then the side mounted twin-linked heavy bolters started to hose down any Covenant near the landing zone. One Elite simply disappeared into a bright crimson mist as bolter fire stitched past him. Several grunts and their Elite leader disappeared as a round from the Thunderhawk's battlecannon consumed them in a bright orange explosion. "Standby to disembark Lord Mark, we're coming to land. We killed at least twenty of the little bastards and they are still swarming around so it's going to be hot" the Pilot said. "you heard him Brothers, Stand UP!" Mark shouted; over the whine of the Thunderhawks engines as they lowered it to the ground. Lowering the ramp…Now!" the pilot shouted. The door had hardly lowered before Gregor pounded down the ramp, assault cannon spitting death at any alien brave or stupid enough to fire back at his armored sarcophagus. Alex followed losing of a volley of frag missiles and lascannon shots "Follow Me Brothers for the Emperor!" shouted Mark over the roar of the two Dreadnoughts suppressing fire. Running at the nearest Elite in sight Mark activated hi thunder hammer, plasma fire leaving little black scorch marks on his torso. The Elite had a look of surprise (or what passed form it for it's species Mark thought) before the thunder hammer sent it cart wheeling through the air. He then proceeded to launch several more Grunts and Elites through the air before the landing zone was cleared. "Well Brothers was that a good warm up or what?" Mark said sarcastically. "I didn't even get to use my Cyclone missiles" Brother Adam said longingly. "These pathetic aliens weren't even worth the ammo from my assault cannon" Gregor said. "Well there are plenty more aliens where that came from" Mark said. "Now let us hurry over and join Brother-Captain Jonathan, since he is the closest to us." And with that Mark strode off towards the east, the sounds of a war rumbling in the background…
"Emperor damn those Xenos bastards!" Jonathan said vehemently. As if on cue another barrage of plasma orbs descended from the Covenant artillery battery entrenched on the other side end of what remained of the forest. "Where is our damn air support?" he shouted at any one and no one in particular. "They have been shot down captain" Veteran Sergeant William replied. "I know" sighed Jonathan. He looked over at the smoldering remains of the Thunderhawk that had tried to support them. "Brother-Captain Jonathan what is the situation here?" came an authoritive voice over the 5th company's vox channel. "Chapter Master Mark?" Jonathan said whirling around to face the smoke from the last Covenant position the 5th had taken. "Who else could I be the Unknown Primarch?" Mark said. He had his thunder hammer slung on his back as he and his honor guard came striding out of the smoke. "Well as you can see we are pinned down by enemy artillery and there is about 100 feet or so of charred and shattered trees between us and them, plus they shot down our Gunship support so they have had us penned down for a good 10 minutes or so" Jonathan said. "Well then Captain you are in luck because I have just so happened upon our armor support." Mark said. Suddenly the wind shifted and blew the smoke away, behind which were enough Rhinos and Razorbacks for the entirety of the 5th along with several Predator Annihilator and Destructors plus one especially mean looking Land Raider Crusader. "Shall we mount up Captain?" Mark asked. "By the Emperor I'd thought you'd never ask" said Jonathan. "Very well then embark your troops on the Rhinos and Razorbacks" Mark said. "What will you ride in Lord?" Jonathan asked. "I shall lead the charge on the Xenos scum in my Land Raider" Mark stated. "Yes sir!" Jonathan said, then switching vox channels he said "You heard Chapter Master Mark, Brothers Embark!" and with that the entirety of the 5th company, a little under 500 men strong filled into the waiting Rhinos and Razorbacks…
"Whirlwinds open up a creeping barrage 30 seconds on the first line of defense and work your way up from there" Mark said. "Yes sir" The Battle Brothers in charge of them said. Mark swiveled the multi-melta on the top of the Crusader towards the rear of it, where the rest of the armored column was following his Crusader. The five Whirlwinds at the back of the column angled their rockets towards the enemy started firing their deadly payloads at the Covenant forward defense line, bight flashes and then white contrails the Vengeance missiles hurtling towards the aliens. The Covenant forward defense line; situated in a dry river bed, provided little protection to the large assortment of Covenant hunkering down getting ready for the armored thrust. But at the first sight of the missiles hundreds of one man fast moving hover sleds and slightly slower 4 man hover sleds followed behind. Almost all of them had left the low dip of the river bed, which had hidden them from the advancing Space Marine armor before the missiles impacted. But a few of the smaller ones (Ghosts if Mark remembered right and the bigger ones Specters) and one of the bigger ones were sent flying through the air by the detonations of the Vengeance missiles. Most of the aliens had already fallen back to the other rocky side of the river, but there were still enough to warrant the barrage. Grunts and Elites were sent cartwheeling through the air, or just disappeared into blue and purple mist from the shrapnel of the missiles. But Mark didn't pay attention to the results of the barrage any longer for the first elements of the Space Marine column and the Covenant counter charge were exchanging fire. The first wave of Covenant Ghosts and Specters were either vaporized or turned to smoldering wreckage by the Predators escorting the armored thrust. One Ghost rocketed straight for Mark's Crusader. Leading the Ghost as it entered range of the multi-melta Mark loosed of a blast at the Ghost. It impacted dead center of the Ghost, instantly melting the Ghost chassis and fusing the driver's torso to the seat. The driver futilely tried to get of the Ghost but was crushed along with his vehicle beneath the treads of the Crusader. Then the two armored columns collided. Ghosts and Specters were riddled by concentrated storm bolter fire; others were turned to molten puddles by lascannon shots from Predators and Razorbacks. The hurricane bolters on the Crusader perforated several Ghosts that got to near and Mark accounted for several more with the multi-melta. After 3 minutes of concentrated and disciplined fire the Space Marine armored column left several hundred Covenant vehicles and Elites wrecked and dead in the forest ruins behind them. Suddenly the Crusader leaned forward as the Crusader went down the river side and into its bed. At least 3,000 Covenant plasma weapons opened fire on the column. Plasma shots whizzed and whined past Mark, who was crouched down behind the blast shield mounted to the multi-melta; returning fire along with the hurricane bolters on the Crusader and the other vehicles of the armored thrust. Hundreds of Covenant defenders were shredded and vaporized. Then the Crusader lurched upwards as it climbed up the side of the river. Letting go of the multi-melta Mark slid into the passenger compartment of the Crusader. Reattaching his storm shield and grabbing his thunder hammer Mark said "Every one get ready. Then the Crusader crashed into the Covenant lines. Several Grunts and Elites were crushed beneath the grinding treads of the Crusader. The frag launchers on the front of the Crusader detonated turning several more aliens to mist and paste. Then the ramp went down and Mark charged down the ramp, Terminator armor servos whining in protest. One dazed Elite was picking it's self up of the ground until Mark swung his thunder hammer down at its head. The thunder hammer passed straight through it's personal shield, pulverizing it's head into paste in a booming discharge of power. He then saw dozens of more Covenant converging on him and his honor guard. Grabbing his thunder hammer by the haft he stated to spin in a circle, straight at them. He spun straight into the group, thunder hammer booming continuously as it slammed into the body of another victim. After several seconds he stopped spinning and shaking his head to stop the dizziness he saw that he had launched several Grunts and Elites at least a dozen feet away in all directions. Surrounded by at least a dozen more he prepared to charge at one group till he "heard someone say "crouch" on the honor guard's vox channel. Dropping to one knee, several storm bolters, along with a cyclone missile launcher and at least two assault cannon reduced the remaining Covenant to wet gory piles. Getting back onto his feet Mark turned around and said "Well done Brothers now let us rejoin the battle". "Lead on Lord" the leader Veteran Terminator Marcus said, his assault cannon spinning to a stop. "Very well then follow me!" Mark shouted. He and his Terminator Honor Guard charging back into the giant melee as the Space Marines thrust in deeper to the Covenant lines, leaving behind Grunts, Jackals, and Elites plied into mounds of corpses…
"Die Xenos Scum!" Jonathan shouted as he bisected another Elite with his power sword. Whirling around he saw a strange U-shaped dropship try and land some more Covenant reinforcements but a krak missile streaked up and blow up the middle of the U, leaving the arms to fall flaming to the ground. But several others were disgorging aliens, several small bird like creatures hunched behind solid energy shields; along with their Elite overseers. Turning to Sergeant William he said "Have the HQ squad focus fire on their shields, lets see how much punishment they can take" "Yes sir!" William replied then in a voice to the two tactical squads that were following them he said "concentrate on the shield bearers!" "Roger" the sergeants in charge replied. Suddenly the Jackals came under disciplined bolter fire, arm mounted shields stopping only two or three bolts before overheating and collapsing; allowing their bodies to be blown apart by multiple bolt shells. Suddenly a whole swath was blown out of the covenant line as several Predator Destructors roared into the fray autocannons and heavy bolters pulping dozens of aliens. Suddenly a large giant green stream of plasma impacted the lead Predator, reducing it's front half to molten metal. The beam then swept across to another Predator reducing it to slag to. The remaining Predators swiveled their autocannons and firing them at something in the giant screen of smoke a few dozen yards in front on Jonathan and his squad. To Jonathans horror a giant metal leg reached out and skewered the Predator closest to the smoke. Pulling back up the leg flicked out sending the predator crashing into the ground at least 40 yards away. Suddenly the thing the leg is attached to lumbered out of the cloud. It stood at least 5 stories high on four legs and had a giant plasma cannon on the front of it which sort of looked like a mouth. 2 more smaller rapid fire plasma cannons sent streams of blue liquid into the Space Marine lines. Several plasma cannons, autocannons, lascannons, and krak missiles streaked up to hit it but just left scorch marks and dents in its armor. More alarming was that at least five more of the four legged machines had lumbered out of the gloom and proceeded to lay into the Space Marine lines with their plasma cannons. Snapping out of his funk Jonathan switched to the Chapter Masters vox channel. "Lord Mark these those Xenos things are…" "I know" Mark interjected "they are tearing into our lines, but don't worry Titan support is on it's way" He said reassuringly. "I hope so Lord, I hope so…"
"Princeps Brandon and James standby to drop!" said the gravely voice of the Steel Hammers Titan Legion Commander Constantine. "Roger" Said Brandon and James. Switching his vox channel to that of his fellow Princep's Warhound Titan, Brandon said "By the Emperor I thought they'd never launch us, I thought we'd just sit here and watch things develop without even setting foot on the ground." "You and me both" replied James. "Princep Brandon, standby for launch" said a mechanical voice. Switching to the internal vox of the Defaeco Haereticum. "all personnel standby for drop, strap yours selves in ladies were going in hot!" Brandon said. "Roger that" the various personnel replied. Satisfied with all the preparations; Brandon allowed him self to slip into the mind link of the Princeps chair. Instantly his view switched to that of the Defaeco Haereticum's view. Weapons readiness, power levels, void shield integrity, and other vital pieces of information scrolled along his view. Distantly Brandon heard Commander Constantine give the order to launch. Suddenly the View switched from the interior of the Mighty Anvil's holding bay, in which the other six Warhound Titans of the Steel Hammers were either undergoing maintenance or waiting for orders; to the drab steel interior of the HLV that the Defaeco Haerectium was hurtiling towards Reach in. it took just under 50 seconds for the massive HLV with it's cargo to reach the predetermined altitude were it was supposed to fire the massive retro thrusters on its bottom. Underside retros firing the HLV still hit with a lot of force. Inside the HLV, Brandon's view shook with the impact; sending a thought through the mind link the door on the HLV fell open with a tremendous thud; Turning the few Covenant survivors of the HLV's impact to paste. Another thought and the Defaeco Haerectium began striding out of the interior of the HLV. Glancing around Brandon saw that even with the massive underside retros, the HLV had still come down with enough force to create a small impact crater. Suddenly several tiny streaks of plasma hit the outer most void shields. Glancing down Brandon chuckled as he saw a group of aliens (crazily or foolishly) firing at him. With one thought the Defaeco Haerectium's left foot came down on the aliens with a thud. Raising his foot back up to inspect his handy work he smiled with smug satisfaction as several dozen aliens were running away at the sight of his upraised leg. Setting it back down Brandon heard a Moderati called out "Chapter Master Mark Anthony sends greetings and asks if you and Princeps James in the Igneus Canis could lend the Heralds of Light a hand." "tell him it would be our pleasure" Brandon replied. Turning in the direction of the dry river he saw 5 quadrupedal beetle like machines as tall as his Warhound advancing on the Heralds of Light; who had been driven back by the machines sudden appearance. Motioning James to follow him with a wave of his turbo-laser destructor Brandon set off through the Covenant lines, smashing several aliens with each foot step. Noticing he was in range he stoped and raised his turbo-laser destructor and aimed for the middle of one of the quad legged machines. The blast blew a hole in it from front to back. The machine's legs went limp and it crashed forward crushing several dozen aliens who had been sticking to close to it. Bringing up his other arm he shot at another with his plasma blastgun; melting the entire back half of the machine. The remains of the forward half collapsed backwards sending a plume of dirt and smoke into the air. With his view of the other 4 machines momentarily blocked, Brandon shifted his attention to the Igneus Canis smiling as he saw James immolate several dozens of aliens with his inferno cannon, while turning his Vulcan mega-bolter on several small purple colored hover tanks that were sending little blue orbs of plasma at him; instantly several hundred massive caliber bolt shells into the bodies of the little tanks; shredding them into metal confetti before they could even explode. Suddenly Brandon was snapped out of spectating as two bight green beams of plasma impacted on his outer void shields, burning trough almost all of them; before he was able to maneuver out of the way. Glancing back at the smoke he saw that the 4 surviving quadrupedal machines had emerged through the smoke and 2 had stopped to shot at him, the other 2 lurching off after James. Snapping of a quick shot at one with his plasma blastgun, and firing at another with his turbo-laser destructor. The plasma blast melted off one of the machines legs turning the one behind the melted leg into a stub of a leg as the bottom half had been separated by the superheated blast. The machine fell on the stub and tried to stay up right till several small figures clambered up and into the interior of the machine; returning moments later and running back down the leg as several small explosions went off inside of the machine, culminating in the reactor going critical and knocking friend a foe down with the blast. The turbo-laser shot had struck the other machine in the reactor causing it to explode in a miniature green mushroom cloud, leaving behind the four legs which toppled onto the ground. Turning to engage the other two Brandon saw that it wasn't necessary. James had lit one on fire and it was standing completely still as dark black smoke billowed out of the entry point on it's top(later it would be discovered that the machines crew had literally cooked in the heat from the inferno cannon) while James blew off the others front legs. Marching over he raised his foot and brought it back down on the top of the machine, crushing the top inwards. Nodding in satisfaction at the aliens retreat after loosing their quad legged machines support, plus being pushed back with renewed vigor by the Heralds of Light; Brandon set off after them annihilating dozens of aliens with every shot, followed by James as he continued to pour hot streams of promethium and bolt shells at the retreating Xenos horde…
After the decisive route of the Covenant at the dry riverbed, the Heralds of Light struck deep into the heart of the main Covenant army. Leaving thousands of Grunts, Jackals, Elites, and Hunters dead and dying as the Heralds armored spearhead, being led by the 5th Company; charged deep into the heart of the Xenos army. Finally with help form the Fifth and Sixth Armageddon Steel Legions, the Covenant forces on Reach were butchered to the last Grunt, the Imperials giving and taking no mercy; much to the horror of the UNSC forces that fought along side them.
Now the question between the two forces was What Happens Next??