The forces had regrouped after the initial assault, Losses had been minimal. Only 5 brothers, and Brother Ctholus' Dreadnought chassis had lost a Blood Talon, but was otherwise operational. Collus stood with Maddox at the gates of the city. His Terminator Armour stained with the blood of Tau warriors. It had taken time for them to gain access to the city, the men inside had been on alert for several weeks. They were too shaken by the sudden development of the Dragons assault, that in the panic they refused to answer calls made to open the gate. Collus had to send an Assault squad over the walls to calm the guards.

He was now overseeing the transport of the marines into the city. He would ensure that they could properly prepare the attack, and that the city was not lost before proceeding. He was also concerned about the fleet, he had seized the initiative to ensure deployment to the planet, but the unexpected destruction of the Tau warship had rendered contact with the strike cruiser difficult. As far as he could decipher from the messages, every other ship had been disabled in the blast, the destruction of the drive core releasing a cataclysmic EMP frying all the circuits of the other ships nearby.

Even the marines vessel had not escaped unharmed. Whilst it had been shielded by the Tau line, the EMP had burnt out all its targeting, and its lance batteries were completely inoperable, leaving it unarmed but mobile.

Collus had put his tactical squads on the wall in case of a counter attack. But they had reported no movement other than lone survivors emerging from downed vehicles who made a run for cover. They were exterminated with ruthless precision. The rest of the force he had gathered in a square behind the main gates. He needed to keep the momentum up, but without the Imperial guard to hold ground, the marines were just too few in number for the job at hand.

There was a bellow of rage behind him, he turned to see Chaplain Drake tumble down the stairway from the Square above. A Marine clad in the icy white of the death company dived after the warrior priest, landing forcefully on his prone form. Maddox strode toward the brawling pair of marines, the clash of black and white armour a parody of the struggle going on between the pair. Drake was being over powered, the crazed creature attacking him had his hands around his skull helmet and was squeezing. There was a groan from the helmet as the lenses cracked under the pressure. Maddox activated his power sword, taking a large swing at the white figure.

The sword carved through the marine, removing his head swiftly and cleanly. Drake grunted as he heaved the body from atop him, he stood and reached for his helmet. The seal hissed as he released the pressure, but the helmet did not lift over his head, the damage causing it to remain in place. Drake wheezed through the grill 'Kindly fetch a techmarine... please?'

Collus nodded to a nearby marine to accede to the troubled chaplains request. He and Maddox looked at Drake, then to each other. They both burst out laughing at their brothers predicament. Woeful as the loss of a marine to the Black Rage was, the site of a mighty Chaplain struggling with his helmet was a comedic event a marine rarely got to enjoy.

'This is not funny, I cannot see!'

The Chaplain's chastisement only increasing the amusement.

*** *** *** ***
Alishia had convinced him to go and pick up 2 of her men who had been left behind due to injuries. He really needed to proceed with the mission, but somehow she managed to get his team to route for her and insist they save the 'brave guardsmen they left behind'. Jad didn't like it, he sympathised of course, but he couldn't risk the Ethereal jumping the planet or the Sanguine Dragons attacking and taking him out. His orders where to take him alive, or not at all. Vigilem was very clear on that, the fact that he would not, or could not tell him why he needed him alive told him this was a questionable assignment. The vague ones always where. The wily Inquisitor may present a puritan face to his operations, but the reality was very different. If it helped stop Xeno threats it was an option for Vigilem.

He sat on the back of the Tauros, Josla was on the gun, Varner upfront with Mal. Commissar Haynes and Corporal Grant where in the back with him and Batty. Wyn had jury rigged 3 Trakarts from the farm, light off road vehicles that ran on two tracks powered by a small engine, and he, Grimes and Bannerman had taken one each. They should be enough to get the 6 of them to Newlaiden, which Jad was confident was now secured by the Sanguine Dragons. They could then proceed with the main objective.

'So What going on with fleet, I haven't seen a single imperial craft other than yours?' Grant asked.

Josla turned from the Auto cannon 'Massive shitstorm with the Navy, something blew up and took out a load of ships'

'Yeah, didn't really find out what happened, the Marines left the navy behind and made for the planet.' Batty added

'Why did they leave them behind' Grant asked

'Needed a foot hold on the planet. Don't want to give the Tau a chance to set up a gun line.' Josla added

The vehicle lurched suddenly to a halt, Varner stood and turned to the passengers, 'It's not looking good'

Grant looked to Alishia and jumped from the transport. Alishia gave Jad a worried look and followed him.

She slowly walked up to the site where they had left Nivvon and Jules, two prone forms lay before here, the Guard uniforms tattered and torn, one had a large hole blown out its torso. Grimes had park close, his trakart obscuring the identities of the bodies. He turned in the saddle, looked at his comrades and shook his head. Alishia heart sank, she had told the men to stay behind. If she hadn't been so impulsive she could have been there, taken them along and kept them safe. She had lost men before, but that was unavoidable, this was her fault.

Corporal Grant dashed toward the bodies, Nivvon had a massive wound, a shot had gone straight through his body. Jules had taken a single shot to the head, close range. Didn't look like he'd been able to fight back. Bannerman had started weeping, Grimes, put a hand on his shoulder, and muttered a prayer for the fallen soldiers.

Mal hopped out of Belle, gave her a cursory check and walked to Jadden. 'What now then?' he said casually 'No point hanging on here.'

Mal never had been the most sensitive person in the world 'We get them set up, make sure they can make it to the city, and then head to our objective.' He said dryly, though it was clear he felt for the group, he couldn't bring people back from the dead. 'They will have to mourn when they are back in the city, it evidently too dangerous out here.'

'Not a chance!' Alishia forced her way into the discussion 'We have been running since this shit started, We want to hit back.'

'I understand losing people is tough, but...' Jadden started, but the commissar was too angry to listen.

'Don't give me that, I ordered them to stay behind, I got them killed!' She screamed.

'It's a warzone, it happens' he replied calmly. Alishia threw a wild haymaker, Jadden easily side-stepped it. 'I think you should calm down.' he said. Varner had readied himself to pile in. Neither of them really considered Alishia a threat. She was punching wildly, but had no form in her enraged state.

'Don't tell me to calm down, you just drop in on us, don't tell us why your here and expect to just dump us first chance you get to go glory hunting!'

'Why does everyone think I'm a glory hunter?' Jad asked rhetorically, whilst catching a punch and spinning Alishia round, to prevent further attacks.'

'Get off me!' she yelled. Jad looked at Varner.

'I'm gonna take her away for a while, you're in charge.' Varner nodded as Jad and Alishia disappeared in a crackle of electricity. Varner could just make out the flash of them rematerializing several hundred meters away beside a small cluster of trees.

'Okay, let's all just relax.' Varner turned to the others 'Don't want anyone else kicking off, 'cause I won't be as gentle.'

'Where have they gone?' Grant asked sternly.

Varner pointed to the trees. 'There!'

'But how?'

'Strange psyker powers, You get used to them' shrugged the big man 'Batty, I think we're gonna be stuck for a while. Can't have a woman giving away our position, Jad will calm her and then we will move out. Prepare some food!'

'I wish you were in charge more often!' Batty replied cheerfully.

'Come, join us!' Varner turned to the three guardsmen. 'Think you need to eat and tell stories, best way to deal with death'

'Best way to deal with most things, in fact' Batty added.

Mal rolled Belle forward and the group unloaded by the side, just away from Jules and Nivvon.

Josla put a hand on Grants shoulder, 'We will sort the food. Go put your men at peace, and join us when you're ready.'

*** *** *** ***
Geart put a strong right hand into the Aliens ribs, followed by a left to the stomach. Major Craft had sent an order to the acolytes of the administratum on board to send anyone who could translate Tau, though the General had insisted on starting the interrogation as soon as possible. He had managed to secure a small group of guardsmen to get some order on the ship, and they had helped clear a cell for the prisoner. Very slowly they were starting to get order back. But outside the armoured hull of the ship, was a total mystery. On top of the usual problems, a lot of the crew were starting to show sign of stress from being trapped on the ship with no sign of escape. The Navy enforcers had begun patrolling the halls silencing anyone who was disrupting the peace.

'Shhhkk.. anson. Repeat this is Admiral Swanson.' Came a booming voice over the Vox system. 'We have started regaining control of the vessel. Would all senior Navy and Guard personnel please report to the bridge?'

General Geart stopped his assault on the Xeno prisoner. 'Frakking finally!' He exclaimed. 'Guard this one, if the quill pushers can find a translator send him here, and let me know!'

'Aye Sir!' Craft replied.

'I'm gonna go get some order back on this ship' He stated, walking from the room he lifted his jacket from the top of the door.'

Craft was left with the prisoner, the two guardsmen with him looking uncomfortable in its presence. Craft, walked up to the creature, its blank eyes looked at him. He held the beings head in his hand, and moved it around, getting a good look at the face before him. And dribble of Black blue blood from its mouth covered the Majors hand. The major pulled his hand away, and observed the viscous substance, suddenly giving a violent backhand to the chained up source of the fluid. He grabbed a towel from the gurney beside him and wiped his hand. He turned back to the Tau and wiped its mouth clean of the blood.

'Get it cleaned up, the General will be unhappy if she dies.' He ordered on of the guardsmen.

'Yes Sir!'

Major Craft wondered to himself. This broken alien wasn't an evil menace. He had fought many times for the guard, he had seen Ork raids and chaotic incursions, and he always saw the horror of his foe, driving him to fight on. But this creature was so slight, so unimposing, Craft felt no hatred for it though he had been told he should. He turned and left the cell. He straightened his uniform and checked his parting in the shined surface of an Aquila on the wall opposite. He turned and headed down the hall, the administratum wouldn't need to be involved this time. He was sure he could get by without a translator.

*** *** *** ***
The General stepped onto the bridge, Admiral Swanson was there frantically pressing buttons and yelling orders. None of his supporting staff were on the bridge, but Poiller was there, looking lost and confused.

'General!' he exclaimed.

'Where the hell have you been!' Geart growled.

'Looking for you Sir? I was knocked out during the attack, I woke up several hours ago and went to your quarters but you had left them?'

'Well you here now. Stay still and be quiet.' The general swept past the young adjutant 'Admiral, what the hell is going on!'
Swanson didn't even look up from his pulpit 'Blast from the enemy's flagship going critical knocked out most of the systems on ship, and it would seem the whole fleet. From what I can tell most of the Tau fleet was crippled but are still between us and the planet. We have lost both heavy cruisers, several of the light cruisers, and a fist full of escorts.'

'And the enemy fleet?'

'Your guess is as good as mine.' The admiral stated calmly. 'Now as soon as I am able I'll try and drop you off on the planet, however that is not why I asked you here.'

'Okay…' Geart resented not being in charge, but until this was a ground assault he had no real power.

'Since the loss of power I have conscripted crew going rogue, damaged systems coming out of every orifice, and no contact with the rest of the armada. Could you please pick one of those problems and help me with it.' He said turning to face Geart at last.

'Ill grab as many men as I can, and Ill get you crew in line. Then they can help with your other problems.'

'Excellent.' The admiral went to turn back, but Geart cut in again.

'We have an enemy prisoner on board by the way.'

'What? How? Could there be others? What have they done to my ship!' The Admiral all of a sudden very animated lunged at Geart, grabbing his jacket and pulling him close, searching his eyes for answers. Geart calmly moved Swanson's hands from him and stated.

'Don't panic, it was an escape pod through the observation glass. I dealt with it, I don't believe there are any survivors other than the prisoner. But I will add it to my agenda.'

'Yes, yes of course' The Admiral collecting himself once more 'Good work, General.'

'Quite' Geart replied. 'Come Poiller! Let's get moving.'

'Yes Sir!' Poiller chirped.

The General ordered the first group of Guardsmen he saw to fall in with him. He would need to have presence if he was going to get the ship under control so he could land on that planet. He also sent Poiller back to his quarters for a new uniform for them both. He needed to look like he was taking control.

He proceeded to march through the ship taking guard squads and placing them at intersections, while he consulted an Enforcer crew as to what needed doing.

'Anyone who is basic crew will have a wrist mounted tag. It will tell you the section and deck they are assigned to.' Said the squads officer, a middle aged man with a large moustache that brushed against his visor. 'If you can at least make sure everyone is on the correct part of the ship, the enforcers can get them to the right jobs.

'I'll see to it then, do you have a vox unit so I can contact the admiral whilst on the move?' Geart quizzed.

'I don't have that sort of authority, but you can take this.' Pulling a small vox transmitter from his belt. 'Its my back up, I'm on channel Alpha-36. The group is the section of the ship and the actual number is the squad number. Filter through some of the channels to speak get different teams. But I have no idea who is going to be operating.'

'That will do nicely, Thank you' Geart gave the man a polite salute and waved his group on. He was prepared to scour the entire ship to get his campaign back on track.

*** *** *** ***
Aun'El Cha'riss Uanta paced silently across the deck on the Gunship. Letting the news of the losses wash over him, he could still barely believe the savagery of the Gue'la at times. Even the Kroot, animalistic as they were, fought with a certain grace and fluidity, but the transmitted pict footage he had been shown was a display of utter brutality.

The shas'vre delivering the report droned on about lost men and equipment. Even one of the new XV104's had been taken down. A sizable investment wasted, and before the main campaign had really started. Nen'sho would have a lot of explaining to do. Cha'riss would not be considered to be the next Aun'O if his campaigns failed and he wasted resources. He looked up and the figure in question was pacing through the camp. He was a large figure, even amongst the Fire caste, his control suit stretched across his muscled frame.

'It seems your campaign is failing Shas'O!'

'Honourable Aun'El, this is but a first strike, we would have expected it to have been fierce. The Kor'vattra has…' Cha'riss cut him off with a wave.

'Do not trouble me with accusations made of the fleet. From what I can see they managed to disable to majority of the Gue'la vessels through great sacrifice, and it was but a small portion of the enemy force that landed and yet still decimated your ground force? He asked rhetorically, he paused just long enough for Nen'sho to start a reply before continuing.

'Indeed, the reports I have received from Ele'ty would suggest a general disinterest in executing the campaign effectively' Nen'sho stiffened and the sound of the Por'vre. 'He claims you sent a minimal force to track down a group of assassins who made an attempt on his life.'

'They were a small group of barely equipped survivors, and Ele'ty got shot at during his failed attempt to show them the light of the Greater Good.' Neh'sho hissed 'I will not blamed for his pathetic reaction to finding himself in a warzone instead of a library!'

Cha'riss knew Nen'sho and Ele'ty did not get on, indeed far too much of his time was taken up dealing with their arguments. He was fully aware that the Ambassador was probably inflating the truth to get his own way and that Nen'sho was a perfectly sound commander, he probably made the right call, but as Aun'El he needed to take control of this and give Nen'sho the push to put things right. He moved towards the muscled figure before him, took a deep breath in and fixed his gaze on Nen'sho.

'You will recover from this counter attack.'

'I will recover the from the counter attack' Nen'sho slurred after him.

'You will complete the siege on the city.'

'I will complete the siege…'

'And claim this world for the Greater Good.

'…Greater Good.' Nen'sho finished, and shook his head sleepily, his vision slowly focussed back on Cha'riss.

'Go on then' He smiled, gesturing the Shas'O away from the deck of the Manta.

'At once, Sir!' Nen'sho boomed confidently, turning and briskly walking back into the camp, yelling orders at men to prepare. Cha'riss gave a quick glance to the guards to his side, both looking lost after the effects of his pheromones. He paced back inside the Manta and took a seat in his chair deep within the armoured hull.

*** *** *** ***
Alishia felt her knees buckle as she rematerialized, she fell and vomited violently. She had been struggling with Jadden's grip one moment, and was weak and sick the next. Jad knelt next to her and rubbed her back.

'That happens to everyone the first time' he said softly 'Drinking will help.' He passed her a canteen from within his coat.

'What the hell just happened?' She gasped.

'I had to blink you away from the group, you were distressing them, needed to calm you down.'

'Blink me away?'

'Oh, I teleported you.' He said slightly proud of himself, but Alishia rolled back on her heels and grabbed her bolt pistol.

'You're a Psyker?' She sternly looked at the man before her. She was clearly running through the events of the past few hours, wondering how she could not have known.

'Yup, you'll want to cock that so there is a round in the barrel…' She turned her weapon to the side to check, Jad moved with startling speed and took the gun from her grasp.

'Will you just relax for a minute' he said gently placing the gun on the ground behind him. 'I assumed you knew considering you saw me take out the squad at the Farm house. Why did you think your guys pointed their guns at me and not anyone else?'

'I don't know, I didn't make the link. Where are we?

'Just a few hundred metres from the group,' he gestured to his left, the outline of the truck visible in the distance. 'But you were trying to take my head off, so I thought we could take some time out?'

He stood slowly, and held out a hand to help her up. She inspected the hand, it had a small line of the metallic colouring like the tattoo on his face on the back of the hand, disappearing under the coat. Tentatively taking hold, she allowed him to lift her from ground onto her feet. She brushed herself down, noticing the puddle she had created a moment ago and sidestepped away.

'This is my first fight y'know?' she said after a long silence. 'As a proper commissar anyway.'

'Hmm, thought you guys where here on garrison following one of the Hive fleets attacks?

'The guys are, I was just unlucky. This was my last stop on route to be assigned properly at the Eye.'

'I wouldn't call missing out on that too unlucky?' Jad replied quietly 'It's an awful place, where awful things happen so often and to so many, you can feel it staining your soul.'

'But at least I could make a difference there? Not just run across a planet until I get myself and my squad shot.'

'But that's not what you've done, you have rallied your squad together, got them to keep fighting against the odds, and taken out the enemy where you can? Sounds like exactly what commissars are for to me.' Jad smiled.

'And what about Sergeant Jules? Nivvon? I left them behind to be slaughtered!' she tensed with anger again 'and what about everyone else who has been killed?'

'Trust me, that's far better than shooting them yourself, which commissars are far better known for?'

'That would be if they had deserted, but they didn't, they just got killed.'

'Look I understand, this is the first time you have had responsibility over anyone, and when they die, it affects you. But its war.'

'And what if I could have stopped it, what then?'

'Then you deal with it, you think I never had to watch my friends die doing this? Jad snapped 'What did you think you'd be doing? Living up to the promotional material, leading glorious charges and getting medals?'

'I don't know, but not this!' Alishia screamed at him, the rage bubbling over again. He softly put his hand on her shoulder.

'I'm sorry, I forget what it's like early on.' He whispered 'I know it never quite works out how you expect.'

'Yeah, not exactly. Anyway, I'm quite sick of crying now? She laughed softly, obviously wanting to change the subject. There was a pause, Alishia took a couple of steps to a large smooth rock and sat on it. 'So, teleporting?'

'Yeah?' Jad chuckled to himself.

'Any other strange things I should know about?' she asked as Jad moved over to her. They continued to talk for some time.