The first shots from the Tau Navy were only warning shots, But the Gravitic Launchers still took out 4 Escorts and left a light cruiser without its forward lances making it all but useless for the foreseeable future. Admiral Swanson had ordered All 6 Nova cannons in the fleet to fire on the capitol Ship of the Xeno flotilla. A simple bull-headed tactic, but a confident move that would at least show the Tau they were serious about reclaiming the system. The Target vessel dived to avoid the incoming fire, as Swanson expected, the Nova shells sailed past and detonated, taking out a small number of attack craft that had been deployed early, it did little more than shake the Tau Battleship.
Both forces were committed to the fight now, And more shots began to fly as lances and torpedoes came into range. Admiral Swanson ordered both the Heavy Cruisers to take out the Tau flagship, It had stayed below the battle plane, It couldn't be allowed to get amongst the Imperial ships and bring is formidable firepower to bear. At least its dive had left it out of the battle so far, and both heavy cruisers should be enough to keep it that way.
The distance was very close now, only several thousand kilometres between the advancing battle lines, Swanson ordered the light cruiser to burst forward and get amongst the fleet, the attack craft could cause trouble, and if the cruisers could get some solid broadsides in, the bulk of the imperial force could deal with the Tau after they were crippled.
The order was given and the Cruisers powered ahead, the greater speed and manoeuvrability over the larger ships obvious now. The Sanguine Dragons made their move now too, But it did not benefit the Admirals plan, While they had remained in formation for the approached and added their firepower, they suddenly cut away from the line, and went over the top, the speed boost almost matching that of the cruisers. This left a huge gap in the Imperial line, Swanson furiously trying to contact the vessel, if only to ensure that they heard the profanities he was hurling in their direction. The Sanguine Dragons continued regardless, The Tau flotilla took the opportunity and refocused their advance on the gap in lines, hoping to get as many ships through the gap as possible. They could then guarantee the destruction of the Imperial vessels around the gap, with fire from the entire fleet, and using those same ships as cover from the rest of the enemy's fire.
Suddenly a flash of white light and static interference shone across the system. The Tau flagship has taken critical damage, Its main reactor detonated the energy from the blast blinding every ship in the system. The Heavy cruiser that delivered the killing blow was consumed by the explosion, the other had been above the other brawling vessels, the blast shunting it upward, back into the main battle line. But with every ship involved now blind no one could take any evasive action. The vast ship crashed into the Imperial Cruisers and Tau front line that had just met. All the ships had started firing blind, 3 of the smaller cruiser and 4 Tau ships were annihilated in the blind cross fire, the final 2 cruisers were hit by the flailing heavy cruiser along with another 2 Xeno craft.
The Sanguine Dragons regained their sensors first, Only faint readings through the static, their route over the battle saving them from the worst of the blast interference. Beneath them was utter chaos, All the ships were blind firing, damaging ships from both fleets, and nothing at all in equal measure. The blast force had however moved the imperial line back, the force out weighing the drive of the star ships engines. This at least meant the Imperial Fleet was in relatively good shape, however the Tau fleet was straight above the blast and with the Heavy cruiser sawing through the ranks almost every ship had taken major damage.
Collus ordered that they proceed, the Strike cruiser could head back to give assistance later, when the other ships could either receive comms, or at least identify that where in space they were. The Marines had continued there ritual of battle through the ships charge to the planet, and now every brother marine on board was ready to deploy. Collus thought woefully on the marines that had fallen to the Black Rage, almost 30 of his brothers, more than he would have liked. But it would at least give him a sizeable focus for his assault.
The dusk sky was seared a blue white suddenly as the small group of guardsmen trekked across the plains towards Newlaiden. Keeping in the cover of the shoulder high crops, they reflected on how they ended up in this mess. They all looked skywards, Unsure of what the bright light was, and what it meant, but they knew it would mean more fighting.
'I can't believe you thought a garrison duty would be an easy ride Grimes?' Nivvon jibed
'And it was? for two weeks...' Grimes joked
'And this can't be worse than fighting those nids can it?' added Private Bannerman, this was the first thing he had really said since leaving the town behind, which caused everyone to raise their heads to look at him.
Corporal Grant turned to the Commissar 'How did you end up on this rock anyway? You were just assigned to our company out of the blue?'
'I was travelling to be assigned to my first regiment. A bunch of us Commissars who had just been approved for service. This was my first warzone. We'd had only stopped off for planetary leave as the ship needed supplies.' She said wearily
'That's a Shitter!' Jules smirked, he had regained some of his strength and was walking with the help of Nivvon
'You're telling me, I was in the last shuttle waiting to head back when our Cruiser was blown out of the sky by the Tau attack. We were processed and reassigned with your regiment.'
'Well you don't need to sound so happy about being stuck with us.' Nivvon jibed
'I was more upset about being forced into battle with a hangover to be honest' Alishia chuckled
'Chance to get a hangover would be a fine thing.' Answered Bannerman.
'Cheer up Bannerman!' Jules cut in 'You're really ruining this war for us y'know!'
The group continued to laugh when the recognisable whine of a Tau aircraft caught their attention. Instinctively they all went to ground, Jules yelped in pain at the sudden movement. The group had managed very little to treat his burns other than removing as much melted uniform as possible and soaking a blanket to wrap over the wounds and cool them. The aircraft passed overhead, a huge Manta attack craft far larger than anything the Imperium used for planetary operations, it glided through the sky. Its sheer size seemed to defy its speed, whilst Imperial craft of that size could enter orbit, they were bulky and cumbersome, shaking the ground as they passed, but the Xeno craft just emitted a high pitched whine, the tall foliage hiding their location well enough.
'Must be getting close to the city' Grimes whispered, as if the craft would be able to hear him.
'Yeah, but we need transport.' Alishia replied 'The whole city will be surrounded soon, and we will never get in then.'
'Nivvon's doing a good job of carrying me, think you could lift all of us lad?' Jules laughed
Alishia gave him a stern look, She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, the sight of the Tau craft had brought to life how serious the groups predicament was. Her grip tightened on the power sword in frustration, Jules had let her keep use of it saying she would be more effective with it than he if it needed to be used.
'Come on guys, you know the planet. Anything nearby we can use?' She pleaded
'Everyone looked at each other, all lost for ideas, until Bannerman softly offered 'I don't know if there is anything specific, But the Agri workers always bought supplies to the city on skim-sleds pulled by Trakarts?'
'Yeah? Know where any are?' Grimes scoffed, Grant shoved him for comment
'This whole planet is a farm, Grimes! We can find something surely' The corporal snapped
'Exactly!' Bannerman piped, Clearly enjoying the praise from his idea.
'Soo, where are we headed?' Nivvon asked
'Let me see where we are?' Jules said wearily 'Stand me up.' Nivvon lifted the wounded sergeant to his feet, Jules surveyed the scene.
'Anything?' Grant pressed
'Yeah, think I see a farm house or a barn other side of that verge?'
Alishia bounced up and pointed her binoculars where Jules was pointing. 'Looks good, let's go!' She said, jogging towards the building without further discussion. The men grabbed their packs and lasguns and went after her. Jules and Nivvon struggled along.
'Ma'am, we can't keep up with you, the Sarg is hurt?' Nivvon called, obviously irritated at the groups burst of speed.
'Stay here, the Sarg needs to rest, we will come back for you.' She called back.
Nivvon went to call back, but Jules stopped him 'It's alright, I could use a rest.'
Nivvon clearly didn't like being left alone in the middle of a warzone, but he complied and helped Jules down, rearranging the crops to provide a little extra cover, but so he could still see along the nearby pathway.
The Strike cruiser had become deathly quiet, after the riot of marching boots, chants and bellowed orders, there was relative quiet now the thunderhawks had departed and the Drop pods had been launched. The Inquisitorial team formed up behind their transport, a black Stormraven, with the 'I' of the Inquisition emblazoned on the wings and the tail. The 6 man team entered the vehicle, and Mal watched closely as the teams modified Tauros Venator was loaded to the stormraven. The cargo hold at the rear of the stormraven had to be extended to fit the large vehicle in, it sat with the rear of the chassis with in the back or the aircraft, this reduced the normal transport capacity, but the Inquisitorial team travelled as light as possible, and the rugged off roader had served them well. Malcolm had become very protective of 'Belle' as he'd dubbed her, seeing as he was the driver, by extension Belle was his, and not Inquisitorial property as was actually the case. He winced as the crane stopped causing Belle to swing beneath the craft, and closed his eyes as the support arms clanged against the chassis.
'Mal, come on. We have work to do.' Josla called after him, He just gave a whine of desperation and walked up the boarding ramp in to the craft.
Josla settled into her flight seat, took her auto pistols from the holsters at her hips and rested them on her lap, The Stormravens seating was too tight for them to fit properly, she reached up and they attached to clips on the wall beneath a large Webber. Batty was opposite her, matching Webber above his seat, He was still inspecting his lasgun tentatively, a shotgun rested between his knees. Wyn was next to him, sat in silence eyes flickering, using his cognitors to review the mission information. Varner was towards the front of the ship, he had a battered book in his hands, and had his feet rested on a large brown leather bag. He looked more like a traveller than a trained killer.
Mal gave a last look out the side of the Stormraven at Belle before sitting down. His laspistol and shock maul where already above his seat. Jad walked out from the cockpit.
'Okay, expected flight time is 17 minutes, all gear should be loaded. Drop site should be quiet and away from the Marines assault. With any luck as they assault the city, we should be able to identify the targets location on descent.' Jad called over the whine of the engines starting up. 'Remember, the target should be separate from the main force, He is primarily a religious figure so he will be kept safe.'
'Yes Sir!' the team replied. Jad went to his seat, his large sword firmly secured above it, along with his bolt pistol. He sat down, and pulled the straps across himself, and began sending warp lightning arcing between his fingers. It used to make the team uncomfortable, but they had been working together for almost 6 years, they barely noticed the psyker wielding the power of the immaterium beside them.
The craft creaked as it lifted from the deck of the strike cruiser. The occupants feeling the artificial gravity of the strike cruiser drop away as they drifted from the hanger. Moments later they are shunted sideways as the craft accelerated forward towards the planet below.
The first drop pods crashed to ground behind the Tau line at Newlaiden, timed perfectly the thunderhawk gunships swooped overhead spewing assault marines onto the midnight shrouded fields of Kethrin Prime. Both Dreadnoughts had landed amongst the Tau, The first fired its Frag cannon at a squad of XV8 battle suits, taking the left arm from one. The other charged a kroot squad, impaling a krootox on a blood talon whilst carving through the rest of the squad with a huge swing of the other clawed arm. From the rear of a White Thunderhawk descended the Death Company, the Marines driven insane by the Black Rage inside them. The squad fell up the Tau with righteous bloodlust, 3 where shot from the sky by the Tau firepower, but most landed amongst the unprepared Tau. 2 of the glistening white suits of armour landed upon a Riptide Battle suit, Both hacking at the armoured giant with their chain swords. Chaplain Drake was with the Death Company slaughtering with methodical calm amongst the gruesome chaos, directing the fury of his fallen brothers at the Tau. There was a hiss Thump as one of the marines upon the towering battle suit fired his infernus pistol into the colossus' head at point blank range. The suit twitched, the pilot inside having lost his eyes to the discharge from the sensor system being incinerated. The suit flailed wildly and fell, crushing Tau men and machines, the Marines atop the giant were lost in the carnage of the falling battle suit.
The initial assault was now joined by the supporting armour that had now been dropped by thunderhawk onto the plains. 2 Baal Predators let their assault cannons loose on the Tau line, but by now the Tau had started to form a coherent defence. The final Predator, an Annihilator, sniped at the heavy elements of the enemy force. Lastly a Land raider Redeemer slammed to the floor, treads turning before it landed. The metal behemoth charged the lines, ramming a transport and dropping its assault hatch to reveal the squad inside. Librarian Collus stepped into the breach, his honour guard squad forming up behind him. With a haunting cry Collus unleashed a blood red beam of energy from his hand, striking out into the enemy ranks. The final part of the Sanguine Dragons terrible attack was signalled by a crackle of energy, and a whoosh of displaced air as Chief Sanguinary Priest Maddox teleported in with 5 assault terminators. They marched relentlessly forward, cutting a swathe through the Tau lines.
The Tau force, though much larger, could not handle the sudden, close range assault from the Sanguine Dragons. They quickly broke apart and fled the onslaught. Collus ordered a containment of the immediate area surrounding the city, He would have time to pursue the Xenos later, if he left his forces stretched too thin, they could be quickly eradicated during a counter attack.