Hello everybody, the next chapter is here. Now I do not own mass effect or Warhammer although I wish I did. Now a couple things to say, also a couple people mentioned the manpower problem Tiberius mentioned. True you could easily grab people from the lower hives but it's a matter of not causing more problems. Would you want to put gangers and similar people in charge of a fortress world? I wouldn't want that.
Guest: The High Lords of Terra do care about Xeno threats, they did react to the Tau when they ordered an invasion of Tau space.
grey: not necessarily as the galaxy is massive and from hints from mass effect they cover roughly 20 to 30 percent of the galaxy and as the Citadel never opened too many it is fully possible for the Relays to be missed plus with the events of the Horus Heresy and the Dark Age of Technology any possible knowledge could have been lost.
neterlan: I thank you for the help. I will try it.
Prince Sheogorath: the problems with manpower will be addressed also Nemesis are battleships but they are rare and not used often plus they require a lot of work as they take an Emperor class and tear out several decks and create bays for fighters and such so they get pulled from their battle groups.
DragonForce: I like the idea so I hope you don't mind me using it.
Diesec: the Imperium is still millions of worlds but the galaxy is massive so they are full size. the Citadel has a small sphere of influence but it's scattered while the Imperium has a massive sphere but it has a lot of gaps in it.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK!
Tiberius looked over his forces and cursed. While the High Lords didn't necessarily hinder him they had pulled every non essential personnel from the ships by saying they needed the men for Cadia's defense and to help kill Abadon the Despoiler. While it was a problem Tiberius already had over five hundred thousand guardsmen being transferred to his command on the other side of the Relay all with accompanying armour.
As he was checking the numbers the fleet was headed towards the slaver's main base in the nearby system from the Relay they activated. He hoped to save the captured civilians quickly so his real plan could go forward.
The plan was hinging on no one learning of the Imperium until the fortress world was built and ready. Plus he intended on the Quarians being the one's to man the defenses for them.
"Inquisitor Tiberius, we have arrived my Lord." He quickly arrived on the bridge and looked at the nearly empty system. They arrived at the edge of the Mandeville Point to ensure a quick arrival in case on enemy scanners.
In the system laid six planetary bodies orbiting a single yellow star. Four were too small to be of use and one of the last two was a icy rock slowly orbiting. The last was a moderately sized world with just enough atmosphere to allow the pirates to have a base with no extra environmental gear.
Around the fourth planet were six frigates and two cruisers of Batarian design. Captain Marcius looked at the enemy fleet with a dismissive scoff,
"Is this all the enemy fields? They are smaller then even Cobra Escorts!" Several ensigns on the bridge murmured their agreement.
"They use a different scale for vessels in their own civilization due to some element they require to build ships."
Tiberius told him as he looked at the position of the fleet. Marcius ordered the fleet forward as they went to battle stations. Two cruisers and twelve escorts headed to the planet with twelve hundred guard and one of the Skitarii Macroclades.
Over the planet the pirate fleet was lazing about as no one came to this out of the way back water system. Even the Turians didn't bother to patrol it. So when an unknown fleet showed up on their scanners they scrambled to their stations only to freeze in fear.
There were fourteen vessels bearing down upon them, the most horrifying thing was the very ships themselves. The smallest one was the same size as a dreadnought while the rest were far larger and longer then dreadnoughts.
All of the ships were very grim and dark. The lead vessel bore down on them and the weapons fired ruby beams at them, destroying two frigates and causing the survivors to scatter as quickly as they could.
They didn't run far as the escorts quickly cut off escape and ripped them apart with their Macro-cannons. The fight took moments with no chance of a message getting out.
Once the orbital lanes were secured several Valkyries headed down, loaded with several Guard squads and Skitarii Rangers.
Outside the Slaver's base stood four Batarians on guard duty along with a stolen Tyrian IFV. They were basically just lazing around or gambling when four muted cracks sounded, resulting in their heads exploding simultaneously as a rough bark came as the IFV blew up.
Over a 1000 yards away stood five Rangers, four with galvanic rifles and one wielding a transuranic arquebus. They had set up with no wasted time and as they prepared ancient protocols and cyber code flared to life, ready to strike down the enemies of the Omnissiah.
As the bodies dropped and the IFV blew six Valkyries flew in as storm troopers dropped from them as they stormed the alien base. Behind them came Tiberius and his small retinue.
By his feet was his cyber-Mastiff Gabriel, a Subrique BullPup. The large metallic hound stood ready for an order from his master. A large Ogryn stood holding a large Ripper gun in hand, this was Bone'ead Hash. He has served Tiberius for twenty years with an impressive record of service for an Ogryn. Behind him stood Volkmarr, a Death-Watch Adeptus Astartes. Volkmarr carried an Infernus Heavy Bolter, this Death-Watch Heavy Bolter was mag-clamped with rare suspension discs that reduce the weapon's weight considerably. It is also equipped with a Heavy Flamer.
Tiberius watched as the storm troopers invaded the alien base Hot-Shot lasguns firing. The combat inside was intense as the Batarians were suprised at the attack. Although they were surprised plenty carried their weapons with them at all times. A fierce gunfight was raging when Tiberius entered, he looked at the aliens for a leader and spotted one barking out orders. He looked to Gabriel and said,
"Gabriel: Take him down!"
Obeying the order Gabriel leaped forward on his powerful servo-enhanced legs towards his target. With a growl Gabriel tackled the alien and clamped his shock jaws around the aliens's throat and pulled him to the ground while his magnetically locking feet and jaws held his captive there while the storm troopers forced the aliens back, giving no mercy to any who tried to surrender.
"Secure the facility and kill the rest of these Xeno scum!"
Yelled an sergeant as he waved them onward. Tiberius stepped up to the alien commander, out of the corner of his eye he saw a wounded Batarian struggle to pull a pistol up and turned. That turn caused a round from the pistol to ping off his shoulder guard. Tiberius lifted his hand and using the Warp caused the Batarian to Spontaneously Combust, leaving only a carbonized figure of ash there.
Tiberius looked at the horrified face of the alien commander and spoke, knowing his words would be understood,
"You have one chance to not suffer a similar fate Xeno. Tell me where the Humans you stole are being kept."
The Xeno still looked pale at seeing the horrible death of the other.
"Abellio, they were sent to the world Abellio to be sold at auction in five days I don't want to die!"
Tiberius nodded and gestured, causing Gabriel to release his prisoner who quickly stood. Tiberius grinned and said,
"I never said you would live, Gabriel: kill him."
Gabriel leaped with chainsaw teeth whirring as they cut the Xeno down quickly. Tiberius looked down at the mess and sighed, blood had been flung onto his pants and boots. He shrugged as a Guardsman ran up to him. The man saluted and waited for Tiberius to acknowledge him. Tiberius nodded to him to speak.
"My Lord, we have found no sign of the civilians taken but we have found something you will want to see, Sir."
Tiberius followed the man with Gabriel trailing behind him. Tiberius entered a back room to see a dozen Humans being freed from cages and even eleven Quarians surprisingly. Tiberius felt as if the Emperor's hand was guiding events in his favor.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK!
One hour earlier
Captain Neela Vas Cadash huddled with the remains of her crew, held captive by Batarian Slavers of all things.
The frigate Cadash was surveying systems for anything the Migrant Fleet could use when they stumbled upon them activating the Mass Relay, but before they could escape their engines were destroyed and the survivors taken from the wreck.
A day later the Slavers had returned with Several new aliens they had planned to sell. The new species looked very similar to Asari but Neela had a feeling that they seemed so familiar to her, like she had seen them before.
The alien's species turned out to be called humans and they were not happy about being taken. One male human had vest two Batarians to death with his bare hands. Another was used as a waiter only for the human to create some kind of incendiary device to burn several of them alive.
After a couple of days they finally could understand the humans and it just made things worse as the humans only showed a deep seated distrust and anger at aliens, too much for it to have been caused by a slaver invasion.
While they didn't bother or attack the Quarians in their cells, for the most part they ignored them. They just prayed and seemed to believe a reckoning was coming down on the Batarians. They held firm in this belief even as the Batarians tried everything to break this from shock collars to tortures.
Then twenty minutes ago they heard fighting and shouting coming from outside the storage room they were caged in. Shouting and weapons fire could be heard when several Slavers ran in to use the door as a funnel, one was putting the door in lock down while the others built barricades.
Suddenly a blow hit the door denting it and nearly causing it to buckle. Soon two more blows hit nearly tearing the door off it's hinges. Finally the last blow struck and sent the crumpled door flying, hitting one of the mass effect fields on the cages.
Stepping through was a massive metal clad being in black and silver armor. Carried in it's arms was a massive weapon that even a Krogan would have trouble using. It spoke in a dry whisper that gave chills to everyone.
"Look upon me with despair Xenos for I am the Reckoning and I bring nothing but Death for you this day. Ave Imperator!"
With that a gout of flame erupted and incinerated two BaBatarians before they could react. Shocked out of their stupor several rifles barked their reply only to hit like pebbles against brick.
Almost as a reply the figure fired again only to for them to hear it roar as it spat death at it's foes. The Slavers stood no chance against the fist sized explosive rounds.
No Batarian lived through the hail of fire, even the kinetic barriers nearly failed to hold the rounds back. The room fell silent as the last shell hit the ground.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKKK!
Tiberius walked through the halls of the base as he surveyed the recent battle zone and nodded as he could see that the battle was a massive success. He saw several slaves that had pistols in hand, from what he could tell was that they had been more like meat shields then actual fighters.
The Batarians fell quickly as their shields didn't stop the lasguns and while the ceramic armor occasionally held, they were cooked inside the armor. The storm troopers had suffered only a few casualties.
Entering the last room he saw the remains of the cages holding the prisoners he saw several medics from the trooper squads. Looking to the side of the room he saw a group of Quarians huddled together with three troopers watching them.
Tiberius use the Immaterium to weave a rubric around himself. He wove another with small gestures to help cause the Quarians to calm and relax.
"Greetings, I am Inquisitor Tiberius of his Majesties' Holy Order of the Inquisition and I greet you in the name of the Imperium of Mankind."
He could tell they were thrown off by the very specific wording of that phrase. He smiled and waved the troopers away.
"Please, follow me this way. I have no wish to work you, there is no need to fear."
The Quarians slowly followed him, slightly worried with the Human troopers watching them. Tiberius took this chance to observe them. For the most part they were just a but shorter then Humans and slimmer. The environmental suits they wore were individualized and in some cases colorfully.
They left the base to see an Imperial Heavy Lander sitting in front of the base with dozens of people hurrying around as they gathered the fallen troopers, alien tech samples, and set up a tent for the freed Humans to be given a physical and decontamination. The level of activity and the Lander amazed the Quarians as they looked around in awe.
Tiberius stepped over to a tent set aside for him. They walked inside to see Nari setting up a table with a few apples and ordered a few papers as she looked up. She smiled at them as she stepped forward.
"Greetings, milord. I have your files updated and we should be ready to leave when the last civilians are checked."
She turned towards Neela smiled at her,
"Hello it us nice to meet you as well. I am Neela Rynmu, Major-Domo of Inquisitor Tiberius' staff and holdings. Welcome, please sit."
She gestured to several chairs around a table. As they say she filled a goblet for Tiberius. He nodded a thanks to her and sat down.
"I am aware your nervous about your predicament here. I wish to assure you that you are not in danger."
The Quarians relaxed at that. Neela asked,
"Why are we here. I doubt you really need us now that your peopkpeopke control the base. What use do you have for us?"
"I am apart of an order that seeks to ensure Humanity's survival from the enemies of Humanity, those within, those without, and those beyond. There are dozens of threats out there. The fact you hadn't been discovered until now is nothing short of a miracle."
He looked at them very seriously. He knew he had to be careful with this, he needed them to help him in this endeavor. Their support would make this easier and quicker then conquering them but he would if needed.
"I, with the support and approval of the High Lords of Terra, wish to bring the Quarian people under the banner of the Imperium to further the survival of our two species. I ask your help in this endeavor."
Neela couldn't help but feel surprised at this as no one ever cared about the plight of the Migrant Fleet. She could see how they could benefit but she couldn't see how this "Imperium of Mankind" did and that worried her.
"I want to know how you benefit from helping us. No one ever helps purely out of the kindness of their hearts. Plus, even as a Captain I can't really create an agreement with you."
"I know, I am merely asking for you to help me meet your Admiralty Board. As for benefits, the Mass Relay these Slavers used is a problem as we don't use them for travel. We are building a Fortress-class world on this side of the Relay as well as orbital docks for ship work.
I see the use of your people's expertise in engineering and mechanics to be a boon for us. Now I need to oversee the last of the work before we leave. Nari will help you with anything you need."
He stood at this and left the tent while Nari was pulling a small table device next to the table itself. She turned to them and said,
"I can answer most questions you have about what Inquisitor Tiberius plans and the Imperium at large."
One of Neela's remaining engineers asked,
"What exactly is a Fortress world and what would we do."
"A Fortress world is a fortified planet with several layers of defenses from orbital defense stations to planetary defense weapons on the planet itself as well as system defense boats and minefields.
You would help man and maintain the defenses and work in the docks on void ship construction and repair work. A few centuries from know after the Magos Biologis repair your weakened immune system you will start to create Imperial Guard regiments to help defend Imperial space, for now however you will create a Planetary Defense Force to defend your new home."
They were shocked at the blatant way she believed they would join the Imperium and seemed to have no doubt they would. She smiled and pulled up files on a small computerized device.
"There are countless alien races in the galaxy but they are not a major concern, there are only five that do matter.
They are the Eldar, the Orks, the Necrons, The Tau, and the Tyranids. Their motives range from the simple hunger of the Tyranids to the mysteries of the Eldar."
Tiberius watched over the process of gathering Batarian technology samples, which were watched diligently by Ordo Machinum members and rescued civilians were checked for any problems like diseases.
An hour later Tiberius stood in his personal Valkyrie with the shell shocked Quarians who after thirty minutes of listening to stories of enemies too powerful for the Flotilla to fight stood in awed silence at the inspiring sight of the Slayer of Shadows hanging over the planet in all of it's glory.
The ship outclassed any Citadel ship even the Destiny Ascension. As the Valkyrie and Heavy Lander entered the hangar bay the civilians were escorted away to get some food and sleep in the barracks assigned for them.
The Quarians on the other hand were given barracks closer to the Inquisitor where they could be watched better. A Fabricator Biologis gathered genetic samples from them and hurried off to a lab worried another Fabricator would try to steal his samples.
From data taken from the Slaver base and the commander they knew the location of the location of the rest of the civilians. Tiberius drew plans to invade the planet as more ships arrived increasing his total military might to four hundred Guardsmen and a hundred and forty storm troopers along with armour and aircraft.
The fleet prepared for battle when three Adepts Astartes strike cruisers arrived in the system. Tiberius met Kardan Stronos and received the help of the Iron Hands in return for his vigil in the Citadel Systems for their long lost Primarch and the ability to come and go as they pleased for their search.
Tiberius eagerly agreed to this as the might of these reclusive Astartes was legendary. With a hundred warriors no force could easily stand against them.
On the morning of the sale two hundred voidships appeared at the edge of the system and started the journey to Abellio. One hundred and twenty escorts sped ahead to engage the Xeno fleet.
Orbiting the planet were five hundred craft of various size, twenty "dreadnought" equivalent ships, eighty "cruiser" and the rest various frigates or corvette class.
Two hundred and forty torpedoes launched and raced across the system ready to destroy anything in their way as the escorts swarmed towards Abellio ready to engage the Xeno fleet. GUARDIAN lasers fired at the payloads, some blew but more Xeno Corvettes and twenty five frigates blew as the melta charges burned through their armor and caused explosive decompression, and in most cases their reactors blowing up.
Their void shields blocked retaliation strikes as the Xeno fleet fired back. Two Dauntless cruisers micro-jumped on each flank and fired broadsides into the enemy. The hab-block sized rounds tore through multiple ships even as they turned to fire their Lances into the fleet.
The two Nemesis fleet carriers arrived as they unloaded their fighter craft while their escorts dived into the fight.
The Dauntless class ship, Death to the Heretic, faced six enemy cruisers along as it fired it's weapons while the more maneuverable Xenos dodged rounds were they could. The fight was still in the hands of the Imperial fleet when the Emperor class Battle cruiser, Wrath of the Righteous, finally arrived to bring it's cannons to bear.
The Iron Hand's strike cruisers launched their boarding craft towards a frigate that was trying to flee the system. There were to be no survivors of this battle.
Five Iron Hands Terminators from the first company teleported to the ship in a lightning strike, landing in the engines.
Layla vas Ryya was chained to a terminal in the engineering bay when a crack sounded, she flinched thinking it was the crack of the overseer's whip. She looked up when no scream of pain came.
Standing there was a massive metal figure carrying a large machine gun one handed and a large fist clenched with the other. It's angular head looked at her with glowing red eyes and seemed to see her very soul.
A shout broke the stillness of the moment when a Batarian worker say them. The large figure before her said something she didn't understand and a second later fired the machine gun in it's hand. Shells impacted against the area the workers had been and devastated them when the shells tore through what little shields they had.
Pistols fired back but they couldn't penetrate the armor shell. Suddenly Layla saw four others show up from behind other engines of hatches. Pirates stormed in only to see the new arrivals and were fired upon without hesitation.
One turned it's gun towards her and pulled the trigger. Layla braved herself by instinct and waited, after minute she looked to see the chain holding her was ripped apart by the round.
"Wait here while we clear this Xeno vessel, child. We will retrieve you when we are done."
Came the deep calm voice of the lead being, Layla just nodded in a stupor of shock. Farther in the ship several Batarians and Turian pirates were racing down the corridors to boarding craft when a clanging sound came from the ship's hull. Two pirates edge nearer to examine the hull. There are two spots getting red from heat.
"They are cutting through the hull!"
Screams one too late, two Melta charges blow creating a massive hole where a Caestus Assualt Ram unloaded his ten man squad of Iron Hands Astartes. They purged the corridor with Bolters and Flamers marching forward at the retreating pirates. There were four Assault Rams embedded into the ship. They took the hold only to find nothing but containers of stolen merchandise or supplies. The only non-pirate they found was the Quarian slave in the engineering bay. They marched through the ship and slew the rest of the pirates with no mercy, no regret.
The battle for orbit was nearly done and so Tiberius ordered the Guardsmen to prepare to land and assault. Heavy Landers were loaded with troops and vehicles. One Lander carried two Imperial Knights from house Neveux. Finally the last pirate and slaver ship was destroyed as it was rammed by a Turbulent heavy frigate.
"Milord, we have orbital supremacy!"
Tiberius nodded and turned towards the doors and was walking out when he ordered,
"Launch all anders, it is time to invade this Xeno hellhole. So no mercy."
Hundreds of Landers and several hundred Valkyries and Vultures swarmed towards the helpless planet as frigates settled into orbit fire positions towards the planet.
LLLIIINNNEEE BBBRRREEEAAAKK!
So the Invasion is next chapter. Please read and review. Tiberius and his work will be more in the foreground soon but until then we will get to see Guardsmen fight pirates and slavers. please give me your thoughts and Merry Christmas!