A/N: So in the past two years since I last updated, BREXIT voted to leave the EU, the US elected a new president and this story with finally continue onward. The chapter you see below was not what I wrote in 2016, this is more a January 2018 to September 2018 re-write. Sorting out my Codex series and of course leaving College and getting employment. None of that matters, cos this story is back on track after a VERY LONG Hiatus at the side of the road.
This chapter will cover the attack preparations on Argentum Hive. I will most likely split the actual attack into two or more parts. Hate to be a dick about that, but otherwise, it'll be too long to make sense properly and I can't sit down for that long to write a chapter of possibly 10,000 words, unlike the great CreamofWheat.
The "Data" revealed in the book will be discussed by both UNSC HIGHCOM and the common Marines too.
I'm toying with the possibility of the Tempestus Engines engaging Imperial Forces, so I'd like you lads and lasses to comment your opinion on this, but this would most likely happen in two or so chapters.
Chapter 7: Advancing on Argentum Hive.
Colonel Andrew Cobb, UNSC M780 SHSW/MODP Coyote, Imperial-UNSC First Front Advance, 180 Miles from Argentum Hive, Orestes Forge World, 00:15 hrs, 24th February, 2895/UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time.
Behind the slow ponderous advance of the Imperial Titans were the UNSC 50th Super Heavy Armoured Division comprising of M780 SHSW/MODP Coyote's and in the shadow of the mobile command centres, squadrons of M860 Red Wolf MBT's further kicked up the soft pink dust. Combining this with the down force of aircraft and the strong winds, it had visually blinded the convoys following behind. The CSV440's were carrying resupply for the UNSC Contingent and were forced to use the Night Vision/Forward Looking Infra Red built into their helmet HUDs, alongside the bright red lights ahead of them, the racks of white spotlights mounted on vehicle roofs and front ram bars. Inside the Command and Control, none of what was being experienced was inside. The main command deck was quiet, lacking the noise outside and the officers, that usually occupy the deck. The Fleet Admiral had ordered that all Coyote crew members rest before the assault on Argentum Hive.
Colonel Andrew Cobb was reviewing the data that had been so damning to the Imperial/Forge partnership on Orestes. He had just finished reading the data and began to contemplate the results. Alex, the Smart A.I. installed on the Coyote had run through it all before and was advising contingency plans to support the Imperial Forces without Titan aid.
"What does this text represent to the both of them?" he asked, still looking over the data, still confused at its significance.
"The Data is valuable to the Orestes Forge as it states that the God-Emperor and their own god is different." replied Alex, her form brought up a section in her hand sent it to the Colonel.
"And who is this god they refer to?" Cobb was confused that for an empire that devoted themselves to one religion and for one purpose, this text is so damaging that the Imperial Guard Regiments pulled back from the Combat Zone, per Lord Governor Aleuton's explicit orders. He even tried to get the UNSC to abandon the mission, not that they would do anything like it with Lord Gearhart's understanding.
"The Forge believes in a Machine Spirit called the Omnissiah." stated Alex,
"Omnissiah. Now that is a mouthful." chuckled Andrew, but knowing what this would cause is too important to laugh about for any longer.
"The data describes the two separate entities completely, and that is the problem."
"The Mechanicus and the Imperium require one another to survive in this galaxy," said Andrew, the pieces finally falling into place.
"Exactly, the Mechanicus cannot survive without the Imperium equipping their weapons of war, and the Imperium cannot survive without the technological support that they provide." finished Alex, "This is why I have been advising contingency plans to continue the attack on Argentum."
"But that won't mean shit if Legio Tempestus and Invicta bolts from this fight to attack Orestes Principle," replied Andrew. While Alex nodded to that assessment.
"These are the contingency plans I drew up whilst you were reviewing that data," Alex informed the Colonel, who had leaned forwards to properly look at the plans.
Contingency Operation: DESERT STORM
Massed deployment of UNSC Air Power from Orbiting Vessels. Consisting of D-98/Super Heavy Assault Gunships, HG-84/Heavy Troop Carriers, AV-34/Aerial Helicopter Gunships, F-52/Heavy Fighter-Bombers and B-78/Super Heavy Strategic Bombers armed with a MAXIMUM complement of Redapo Missiles and Plasma-Coated munitions.
Deployment of UNSC Armoured Ground Forces elements are to hunt individual titans, MA430 Multiple Guided Missile Launcher Systems and MR465 Dedicated Tank Destroyers would Target specific points on the enemy Titans, such as; Weapon Limbs, Knee Joints, Waist Connection and Cockpit/Reactor Shielding at Long Range in sync with Aircraft attack runs. M860/Main Battle Tanks, MR460/Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicles, (Heavy Mobile Anti-Armour Tank) HMAAT750s would engage the enemy Titan in the same areas, but at a medium range at high speed to prevent destruction and distract the target from counter-firing at the Fire-Support Artillery batteries. M70 Force Application Vehicles would engage the Titan's Escort at close range at high speed.
The Colonel looked at the next one with a raised eyebrow. He previously recognised "Bandersnatch" from somewhere in his time within the UNSC Navy, but he just couldn't place it. Looking to Alex he asked about it. "I've heard of Bandersnatch before."
The A.I answered his query. "Bandersnatch was a UNSC Code used before the Post-War reconstruction. It signified the aftermath of a Weapon of Mass Destruction discharge or detonation." The Colonel nodded his affirmation and continued reading.
Contingency Operation: BANDERSNATCH
Deployment of UNSC Orbital Vessels to destroy large concentrations of enemy forces that DESERT STORM would fail to contain without unsustainable losses. Therefore, UNSC Winter-Class Super Heavy Cruisers, UNSC Scarlett-Class Heavy Frigates, UNSC Brutus Super Heavy Destroyers, UNSC Atlas-Class Medium Assault Carrier are to move into Geosynchronous Orbit above the targets. They are cleared to use Weapons of Mass Destruction, including the atmospheric use of ship-to-ship armaments. Magnetic Accelerator Cannon (MAC) Rounds, M98 Castle Missile Delivery System, MK2851 Onagers and UNSC Energy Projectors are all to be used if required.
As the Colonel continued to look over the plans drawn up by Alex, his eyes scanning over all the details. He noticed that the final one included the use of WMD's. He was thinking of asking if they'd have the permission of the Lord Governor but realised that wouldn't matter if the Mechanicus Titans were bearing down on Principle Hive. The UNSC was hoping that the current predicament of the Frontline would not be harmful to the Titan Crew's effort, but only time would tell if the data was going to make a difference.
Captain Kirsty Goodacre, UNSC Navy, UNSC Scarlett-Class Heavy Frigate 'Spirited Fire, 03:15 hrs, 24th February, 2895/UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time.
On the bridge of a single Frigate, the same image was being uploaded, transmitted and updated to two dozen of other UNSC vessels in orbit of Orestes. The data that was being updated from the Jaegar-Class Heavy Stealth Corvette "Rattlesnake", was disturbing in the very least. It showed a steady withdrawal of Imperial Troops from the Mechanicus' ranks and reforming on the opposite side of them, inside and out of the UNSC Forces perimeter. It was a smart move by the Imperial commander, however reckless it was for if the Titans did fire, then hundreds if not, thousands of UNSC Personnel would be killed in the first salvos. As a show of camaraderie, the UNSC Commanders recorded the new positions of the Imperial front without a problem, though they understood why.
The data released by the Forge over 4 hours earlier, had thrown the Imperial and Mechanicus war efforts in jeopardy. Imperial Hive populations are rioting in the streets against the Forge, and the Forge was smashing basilicas and in turn, Forge shrines as old as when Orestes was founded were being destroyed. Already the PDF had mobilised additional strengths to contain the civil disturbances, with off-world guard regiments being called to supplement the cordons around Forges in each Hive. Legio Invicta's fleet had repositioned its cruisers to geosynchronous orbit above Imperial Hives, their intentions unclear to them at the moment.
The First Front had advanced within 30 miles of Argentum Hive, Orestes' second city. Long ranged shelling had begun at midnight after the 77th Artillery Division was set up. Guard self-propelled armour from the 91st, 129th and 232nd Vitrian Artillery regiments had deployed alongside them with super-heavy siege pieces, not ideal for anti-titan work, but would still hurt them if struck by the shells.
Recon flights had identified multiple titan concentrations within the massive hive's curtain wall. The streets filled with rubble from upper levels and the wrecks of Orestean PDF vehicles. Whilst the wrecks were of no concern to the accompanying Titan Legio's, the Imperials and the UNSC would have to carefully map out the most effective route to capture the strategic points with the hive city structure or otherwise become bogged down and easy prey for roaming Chaos Anti-Tank troops.
The Spirited Fire, another five frigates and the UNSC Stallion, an Atlas Class, had established a High-Orbit 70 Miles South-West of Argentum, ready for anything. Be it orbital fire support, reactionary troop deployments and as a somewhat safe haven for CASEVACS.
"Has the primary formations begun they're advance?" asked Captain Goodacre, keeping an eye on the holo-table.
"Negative. Guard units are nearing final battle positions." responded an Junior Ensign, fresh from her academy, just a week's memory.
Kirsty thanked her and told her to update the command crew the moment anything changed. In the meantime, she went back to her chair to continue a light study of the data.
A/N: Short as F**k chapter, I know, I know. But this will be finished, I hope to have the next chapter out within 2-3 weeks from Publication.
S.T.T, signing off.
