Chapter 58
Battle of Sluis Van
The Armies of Hell
Shrieking whistles and deafening roars woke Nolani Dinn with a start. She sat stark upright on the sofa she was lying on and quickly got up, grabbing her cloak and draping it around her slender shoulders as she ran. Nolani was a young woman with a willowy appearance. Her skin was porcelain white with long black hair. She wore a simple leather jumpsuit under her cloak with a lightsabre hilt and blaster pistol clipped to a loose belt.
She threw herself out the awning of her tent and ran into the controlled chaos taking place around her. The Coalition 13th Divisions central head quarters was positioned in the middle of a large stadium, the main ground full of tents housing armouries, barracks, repair pads, landing pads and centres of operations. Four anti-air guns were positioned across the landing field, Lemon Russ battle tanks were positioned at all the entrances. Platoons of Imperial Guardsmen and Alliance Marines were all running to defensive positions across the entire stadium, placing stubber machine guns and mounted blast cannons on all the high crevices and tiers. Quickly she ran into the command centre, passing by consoles and tables full of communications operators and aides before entering the central command tent.
"General" a voice called out to her over the chaos, Nolani turned around in time to see the armoured form of commander Halls, fully dressed in the white armour with blue markings of an ARC trooper. Looking at him Nolani felt like she was taking a step into the past. Shrugging off the sensation she stepped forward and caught his attention.
"What is happening commander?"
"Apologies general, I didn't want to wake you until I got all the information" Nolani nodded and motioned him to continue. She looked around as he gave his report, seeing crews of men running towards their tanks and walkers, clambering in and starting them up. Even now Lemon Russ battle tanks were filing out of the landing field with lines of men taking up positions around them.
"Chaos drop pods have hit key sections of the city" the commander reported "The local defenders were taken completely by surprise and are being slaughtered"
"This is a little much for a few squads of shock troopers" Nolani said, mostly to herself as she saw the entire battalion begin to move out,
"The division is being rerouted to the trenches surrounding the city" Halls replied "The entire army is moving to the trench systems, a massive Chaos army is heading this way"
"What about your ARC's?"
"We haven't received any orders yet general"
"Gather your company commander, understood?"
"Yes general" Halls replied before taking off through the hordes of men and vehicles towards the tents where his company were situated. He returned a few minutes later with roughly a hundred ARC troopers. At a word from the commander they quickly came to attention in a column twenty wide and five deep, E-17 blaster rifles held ceremonially against their chests. Nolani looked them up and down. They wore the white armour of regular stormtroopers except for red and blue markings along their helmets, sides and legs. Satchels were arrayed around their belts and on their armour holding blaster magazines, grenades, a blaster pistol and a combat knife.
"Listen up" she began, raising her voice over the grinding of machines and the roaring of officers "Chaos shock squads have infiltrated the city. It is most likely several squads of Chaos Space Marines with a few tanks and dreadnoughts. The division are moving out to join the main army outside of the city"
"Aren't we supposed to join with the rest of the division general?" one of the lieutenants asked.
"We should and we will" Nolani replied "But not until we deal with the enemy behind us. If we don't take out those marines then we will have the main army in front of us and those shock squads behind us…try and grab a few hover tanks and split yourselves up into your platoons, take out the shock squads and return here" she then turned to Halls "Commander you take the first platoon and deal with the infiltration in sector seven, I'll take the second and deal with the enemy at sector eleven. Pick your three most able officers to lead the other platoons and send them to sectors five, twelve and fifteen"
"Yes general" Halls nodded before turning to his company "First Platoon to me, second platoon to Jedi Dinn, third to lieutenant Aryis, fourth to lieutenant Corven and fifth to lieutenant Bakanen. Move out!!!"
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"Move it you dogs" Commissar Cheznev bellowed. Waving his bolt pistol as the Imperial Guardsmen ran to their positions carrying stubber machine guns, mortars and las-cannons to positions along the trench line. Five thousand guardsmen were positioned in a straight line along the meter and a half deep trench, their lasrifles leaning against the crevice, every now and then the line would be broken by a stubber or las-cannon.
Behind the trench system was a line of twenty Lemon Russ tanks, main guns trained on the land beyond the trenches, ready to open fire at a moments notice. Snipers were lying in their camouflage nets in and behind the trench line, some lying on the tanks for a better vantage point. Mortars were placed behind the tanks, their teams protected by the mass of armour in front of them. It was getting dark, the sun was setting on the horizon and the small specks of stars began to become visible in the darkness. Rain was beginning to fall, starting off as a simple drizzle and quickly beginning to pelt the dusty ground, kicking up masses of dust creating a dank reddish mist which was beginning to block out the darkening skies.
"I see torches" one of the guards shouted and immediately all other noise was drowned out by the clacking of five thousand bodies as they jumped up to their firing positions, five thousand lasguns loaded and aiming towards the torches which were even now multiplying. Thousands of lights lit up the distance, their eerie glow showing the distorted outlines of Traitor Guard, mutants, tanks and walkers, all lead by Chaos Space Marines and Terminators.
"Why do they always come out at night" Cheznev growled as he watched the eerie red torches multiply to thousands, then tens of thousands. Chants began to punctuate the night sky, thousands of rasping voices calling out to their dark gods "Choose your targets. One shot one kill. Let's send these traitorous dogs back to the warp they love so much!!!"
"For the emperor" the guards began chanting in response, their own voices rising in volume as the Chaos warriors continued to approach. Besides himself Cheznev began chanting with the men as they shouted their prayers at the advancing traitors. Chants like 'We are Cadians, we are your worst nightmare' and 'For the Primarchs and the Emperor' began to mix in with the original mantra.
Then the first shot was fired, and the area of land between the two armies was lit up by the discharges of thousands of lasrifles, blasters and bolters. The corps of tanks behind the trench opened fire, their powerful main guns discharging high powered explosive shells towards the ranks of Chaos soldiers, mortars surged into the air, trailing black wisps of smoke as they took to the skies and detonated as they hit the ground, throwing dirt, debris and bodies into the air. A black Lemon Russ tank took a direct hit from a mortar shell, taking off its main gun, it continued moving for a few feet before a shell from one of the opposing tanks, exploding its front section and sending pieces of armoured metal and body parts flying. Entire rows of men were taken out by mortar, artillery and machine gun fire.
Cheznev continued firing rounds from his bolt pistol, tearing holes into the chests and heads of approaching enemy soldiers. He stopped shooting when he heard the sounds of massive feet smashing off the rocky ground. He strained his vision into the misty darkness but saw nothing.
"Lieutenant" he shouted to a recently promoted twenty something year old man "I need a few flares!!!"
The lieutenant nodded and called over a communications officer, a few minutes passed before several flares were loaded in the mortars and fired. They must have shot a hundred feet into the air before exploding with a dim bang, illuminating the area two hundred meters around them in faint light. What the commissar saw lumbering across the field made his heart sink, massive walkers, their armoured forms able to handle tank shells and superheated plasma, their boxy heads armed with laser cannons and missile launchers and their large mechanical limps holding them up, making them eight meters tall. Six AT-AT walkers, their thick armour smeared with blood and corpses, Chaos insignias etched into their sides lumbered towards them, several dozen predator tanks screaming along at their feet.
"AT-AT's" one of the lieutenants screamed "How the hell did they get their hands on those!!!?"
The AT-AT walkers immediately opened fire upon the trench line, its main laser cannons mounted on its boxy head spewing out torrents of lasfire. The beams of crimson light smashed into the ground, bombarding the trenches and forces the soldiers to take cover. A few lances hit the trenches, sending men and debris flying in different directions. Their devastating barrage was met by the tanks at their feet who fired their own salvo of superheated shells upon the trenches and the tanks positioned behind them. A Lemon Russ exploded under the barrage, and then another.
"Hold your positions you cowardly dogs" Cheznev screamed over the explosions and screams. His bolt pistol held threateningly like he was going to shoot someone at a moments notice. One of the Guards dropped his lasgun and began clambering out of the other side of the trench, only to be shot in the back by the Commissars bolt pistol. His lifeless body falling back into the trench, as the other guardsmen turned to see the corpse the commissar fixed them all with a murderous glare, sending them all back to their posts.
No one ran from a battle until he gave them the order too. They would die for the emperor today. They would die in a state of grace. Or they would die as traitors and be banished to the warp than to the emperor's right hand. Another set of crimson lances flew over his position, nearly deafening him from the ear popping screeches they made. The AT-AT walkers continued their advance, the barrage from mortar squads and tanks exploding almost harmlessly off their thick armour.
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From the backs of the towering AT-AT walkers stood Remius Hasbatos, Raptor Champion of the Emperors Children Legion. He looked down upon the trench lines of the corpse emperor and their naïve allies. His magnetic boots keeping him firmly in place as the walker he stood on rocked from side to side. Behind him stood a full squad of Chaos Raptors, fully dressed in their armour of purple, black and gold, armed with chain-swords, power-swords and bolt pistols as well as the massive bulky jet packs attached to the back of their armour.
"Rrragh" Brother Savv growled "When do we attack!"
"Soon brother soon" Remius muttered, his eyes not leaving the chaos taking place below him. A stray lance of blaster fire struck his shoulder plate, making him take a step backwards. He looked down at his shoulder plate, seeing that the armour was slightly charred. He revved his chain-sword, his nostrils taking in the smell of the toxic fumes that escaped with its discharge. Tremors of pleasure ran through his body with the promise of spilling blood for Slaanesh.
"Brothers" he called, raising his chain-sword into the smog filled sky and pulling the trigger on its handle, allowing it to rev to life. His fellow brothers all raised their swords and bolt pistols into the air and screamed war cries. With a grin the champion activated his jet pack and took off from the Chaos AT-AT, his pack trailing fire and deep black smog in his wake. His marines took off after him, adding more trails of black smoke to his own.
They landed in the very centre of the trench line and immediately set to work, swinging their power and chain swords like madmen. The Guardsmen near them didn't stand a chance, being cut into pieces by the mad traitor marines. Similar squads of Raptors took off from the backs of the other walkers and landed in different sections of the trench, beginning their own paths of death and spilt blood. Remius laughed sadistically as he revved his chain-sword and ripped through the abdomen of a sergeant, the chain-saw blade spilled blood, splintered bone and obliterated organs. He quickly put a bolter round through the head of another guard, turning it into a wisp of red mist. He then put another two rounds into the one behind the first, leaving two gapping holes in his chest and abdomen.
The trench was about ten meters wide which gave the marines plenty of room to manoeuvre. The guardsmen surrounding them were so confused by the sudden surprise attack that they couldn't rally against the rampaging raptors. But it was just a matter of time before they did. Four Guards formed up in a line, aimed their lasguns and fired. Most of the shots bounced off their armour, but one shot was lucky, catching a marine in a weakened section of his armour and searing through his neck. The raptor screamed and fell, but not before he spun, swinging his chain-sword in a sweeping ark and cutting three guards in two at the abdomen.
The other Chaos marines acted immediately to the death of their comrade, activating they're jump packs for a short burst and landing on top of the four guards, cutting them to pieces with their weapons. Commissar Cheznev ran at them, drawing his power-sword and stabbing the blade into the chest of one of the raptors, the traitor marine looked down at the old man, eyes alive with red energy. The commissar ducked a fist which could have imploded his skull and rolled away, drawing his bolt pistol in mid roll and coming up in a kneeling positioned, aiming at the raptor. The towering immortal had pulled the power-sword out of his chest and threw it away. Growling angrily the commissar raised his pistol and put several rounds into the marine's chest as he approached. Finally he brought the towering giant to his knees, the commissar walked over to the marine who looked up at him and moved to grab his power-sword. The commissar quickly raised his pistol and put a round through his head.
Fast, heavy footfalls and revving metal made the commissar spin around to see another Chaos marine running towards him, chain-sword revving with screeching metal and belching black smoke, before the commissar could react to the approaching giant the sword grinded into his body, ripping him in two from his left shoulder all the way down to his right waist.
"Slaughter them all" Champion Hasbatos yelled "Leave none alive, for the glory of the dark gods!!!"
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Alema Rar, Jedi knight and general in the Galactic Alliance looked down from the cockpit of her X-wing starfighter, tilting the fighter to the right to get a better look at the battle taking place far below. It obviously wasn't going well. The Alliance and Imperial forces were getting hammered by the approaching Chaos armour including tanks and unbelievably enough a half dozen AT-AT walkers. Waves of mutants, cultists and traitor guard charged the heavily fortified positions and were mowed down by artillery, stubber gun, las-cannon, blast cannon and rifle fire.
"Cobalt leader to Cobalt squadron" she said into the com frequency "Prepare for attack run on Chaos positions. Target AT-AT and major troop concentrations, and good hunting"
A mass of clicks came over the com from the other pilots before they all began manoeuvring into a dive towards the surface. When they were within a hundred meters they began pulling up slightly, bringing them on a direct course with the advancing ranks of Chaos infantry and armour. Alema armed her torpedo launchers and released a duo of proton torpedoes upon the nearest AT-AT. The balls of red light collided with the left side of the walker, tearing through its heavy armour. The force of the explosions threw the walker on its side where a group of internal explosions finished the job. The Twi'lek Jedi grinned, as strong as the armour on these walkers was a good few proton torpedoes always got the job done.
She hesitated for a second longer and then pulled up her snubfighter sharply, bringing it a few meters level to the ground. Chaos troops below her took cover as her fighter flew overhead, kicking up dust and wind as it passed their positions. She passed under the head of a walker and tried pulling up. By know the Chaos troopers below her had regained their senses and were firing sporadically upon her little fighter, bolter rounds, plasma and lasfire collided with her fuselage shields which began to flicker
Her astromech droid screeched as her deflector shield began to flicker and instinctively the Twi'lek pulled up hard on her joystick, bringing her snubfighter into a steep climb, the force behind the climb forcing her back into her crash webbing. As she brought her fighter out of its climb she peeked at her shield indicators and exhaled a breath, another barrage would have punctured her shields and sliced into her fuselage.
"Cobalt leader to Cobalt squadron, form up around me"
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The bridge of the Executer was a site of controlled chaos as operators and ensigns worked feverishly at their stations, their superior officers watching their every move carefully to make sure everyone was doing their assigned tasks to the letter. On the walkways above the chaotic crew pits it was fairly quieter. Soldiers were at their guard posts at the entrances and key points along the bridge, ever alert and ready to move at a moments notice. At the head of the main walkway, overlooking the frontal viewport and the long lines of hyperspace was Anakin Skywalker, Jedi masters Yoda, Mace Windu and Plo Koon standing at his side.
A little further behind them was a group of seven Jedi knights and masters, dressed in simple Jedi attire with their lightsabre hilts hooked to their belts. All were Jedi whom had been rescued from raids of Chaos occupied worlds and star systems. Anakin's former master Obi-wan Kenobi stood beside the love of his life, the blonde haired and lithe Siri Tachi, the equally slender form of Aayla Secura stood beside her followed by the Nautalon Jedi master Kit Fisto, Jedi healers Barriss Offee and Luminara Undali were next followed finally by Jedi master Shaak Ti.
"First off" he began as he turned to his guests, a number of Jedi who had been saved during the behind enemy lines raids on Chaos outposts and fortress worlds "Its good to see you all out of the infirmary"
The seven Jedi nodded their affirmative, some with small smiles, and others with faces of stone. All were heavily bandaged with wrappings around their arms, legs, abdomen and torso. It was quite obvious that the high ranking daemon responsible had unleashed almost every type of torture possible, and a few that weren't. In fact if it wasn't for the actions of the Watcher, a Jedi immortal whom the daemon princess had imprisoned, at least two of them would not be standing in front of him now. Even now he wondered where the immortal had gone. He vanished some time later without a trace.
"As you all know we are about to enter a maelstrom. The decisive battle of this war has begun without us" Anakin continued "The enemy armada has been cut off with their defeat at Bakura, and the failure here has only stacked the deck even more in our favour. The Hapans and the Imperials will be there before us and no doubt help tip this battle further in our scale…even then the odds will be even"
"This will be a monumental battle and I am short on command staff. You are all hereby promoted to the rank of General. You answer to senior generals Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon and myself" he looked into each of their faces before speaking again "I am not blind to what some will think so if you all find a problem with my leadership then I will stand down" This caught the Jedi in attendance completely by surprise. Even the three senior masters flanking him looked slightly baffled by the chosen ones words. Anakin meant every word he said, it would not be wise to go into battle with a leader which the others did not trust. There was a more personal reason for this however, his own guilt at being responsible, even partly, for the deaths of all who stood before him made him fell like he was being judged. With a deep breath Obi-wan stepped forward.
"Anakin many of us were weary of you taking full command of the fleet at the beginning" Obi-wan saw Anakin wince and grimaced "But during the events of this war we have seen a change in you. You think with a clear head, you don't let your emotions judge your actions and you obviously carry a heavy burden of guilt. Well we will say this here and now…I forgive you"
"As do I" Aayla added and was followed by similar words the others in attendance. With each one saying that they truthfully forgave him, Anakin felt his heart get a little lighter. It was only a fraction but to him it made all the difference.
"Thank you, all of you" Anakin replied, bowing deeply and humbly before his friends, no his family. They may not be related by blood, but they were as close as family none the less. As the newly appointed Generals began filing out of the chamber Obi-wan walked up to Anakin, and as he came beside him saw tears run down the chosen ones cheeks.
"Anakin" Obi-wan asked, placing a hand on his former pupils shoulder "Are you all right?"
Anakin immediately wiped the tears away, shook his head gently and spoke "Just got something in my eyes master"
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Nolani scrambled up the mound of rubble towards its peak, trying her best to ignore the half buried bodies and severed limbs of people who had perished when the building had collapsed. She continued to make her way up until she came upon what she was looking for. A section of the wall was still intact, just high enough to supply suitable cover from enemy return fire. She jumped up and sat against the ragged wall, leaning against its cool stone and taking a deep breath before rising slightly and gazing over into the courtyard beyond.
The Chaos marines were there alright, about nine of them spread out across the yard. Six of them were armed with bolters, another with a heavy bolter and one more with a flamer. A Chaos champion stood in their centre, his helmet off revealing a bald head which was pale and scarred, the banner of his chapter fluttered above him in the slight winds, attached to the pack at the back of his armour. Unlike his fellows he was armed with a simple bolt pistol and power-sword.
Slowly Nolani raised her hand, summoning the platoon she was commanding to her position. A few moments later and the twenty ARC troopers were around her, taking up positions along the walls remains. Either aiming their E-17 blaster rifles at the Chaos marines or mounting the two blast cannons they requisitioned from the division armoury to the walls. The Jedi grabbed the electrobinoculars around her neck and looked through them, adjusting knobs to make the picture zoom in and become clearer.
Several of the marines weren't walking normally, but limping like they had already been wounded in a previous engagement. She gasped as she zoomed in closer, there were openings in the marines armour, gunshot and slash wounds most likely which were festering with many different varieties of infection. The helmets of these marines looked more like gasmasks than normal war helms and through bulbous eye visors she glimpsed bloodshot eyes.
"Plague Marines" she gasped. She had heard horror stories about these specialists. They were the chosen warriors of Nurgle, the Chaos god of disease and infection. He hand picked these warriors and made them walking vats, holding every deadly disease that humanity had ever encountered. These Plague Marines were in turn made immune to the contaminants effects but on many occasions even they succumbed. It was said that entire battles had been won once these monstrosities gained a foothold in an enemy army, spreading the diseases, breaking the enemy soldier in body and mind.
"It appears you made a good call in hunting these things down general" one of the ARC troopers beside her whispered "Force knows what would happen if they assaulted the army from behind"
She nodded, removing the meter long sniper rifle which was slung to her back and leaned it against the stone wall. Her breath steady, her grip firm she looked through the sight, gaining a close look at the Chaos champions exposed head. She didn't grin, didn't show any sign of emotion, her face, her entire body was like stone. Then she pulled the trigger and a shot rang out into the courtyard. The Plague Marines were instantly alert and began running for cover in the debris strewn central plaza. Their champion did not join them, for he lay on the ground, a pool of blood forming on the concrete ground from the hole in his head.
The shot was the signal and immediately blaster rifles and blast cannons opened fire, spraying the courtyard with blaster bolts. Another two Plague Marines fell to the ground dead before the others could find cover. When they did they returned fire, bolters rang out into the night, followed by the clacking of a heavy bolter being discharged. We didn't get the one with the heavy bolter, Nolani thought with a snarl before looking through the sight of her rifle, calmly scanning the surrounding ground for another disease ridden Marine.
An ARC trooper took a bolter round to the head, disintegrating it in a haze of red mist before the headless corpse fell backwards. Nolani took cover behind the barrier, grabbing the ARC beside her by the helmet and forcing him down with her as a spray of bolter shells impacted off the wall. A choked cry sounded from further down the line as another ARC took a direct hit from the heavy bolter, causing him to explode in a mass of organs, blood and splintered bones.
"Sith me" Nolani growled before peeking over the fortifications and firing off a well aimed shot at the Plague Marine holding the Heavy Bolter. The towering behemoth took it in the shoulder, causing him to stumble slightly, he regained his footing however and continued to pour heavy fire upon the wall, which by know was pocketed by dozens of impacts.
The blast cannons continued to fire barrages of suppressing fire, catching another Plague Marine as he tried to change positions and peppering his armour with blaster bolts. For a long tormenting moment the marine stood there, taking the explosive rounds of crimson energy before succumbing with a roar and falling back to the ground, his entire body smoking. A barrage of bolter fire clanged out from the remains of an office block across the courtyard, peppering the position where one of the blast cannons was and killed its two gunners. Nolani calmed her mind through deep meditative breathes and, aiming carefully took out another Marine with her sniper rifle. She let the empty, smoking magazine fall to the ground before shoving another in and once again aiming through the sight.
Another ARC trooper fell to bolter fire bringing the fatalities to eight troopers. She counted five enemy marines lying on the ground. This was going to be a very costly skirmish. Suddenly a jet of flame shot out from the far side of the line, encompassing three ARC troopers. Their screams resounded through the air, bringing a chill to Nolani's entire body as they fell from the battlements, their bodies on fire and smouldering.
She spun, dropping her sniper rifle and grabbing her lightsabre from her belt as the marine carrying the flamethrower limped up the battlements. With a blur of motion she ignited the blade and force-jumped at the marine, her sapphire blade lighting up the night air. The marine aimed his flamethrower and pulled the trigger, sending out a spray of fire at Nolani. The flames touched her robes, setting them on fire. The Jedi quickly disposed of them and force pushed herself over the flames, smelling the burned ozone and feeling the heat on her pale skin. She swung her lightsabre as she somersaulted over him, taking his head of his mutated and disease ridden body which in turn fell sideways, rolling down the rubble and debris to the ground.
A shell impacted against the far wall, blasting straight through it and killing another two ARC troopers. A predator assault tank had just became visible and was approaching their position, its two side guns and main cannon firing a steady stream of explosive shells.
"Damn it" Nolani muttered before running over to a lieutenant and taping him on the shoulder "We cannot hold here, initiate a tactical withdrawal!!!"
"Yes general" the lieutenant replied.
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"All portside lance batteries fire" Frostman shouted to his ordnance officer, his fury clearly visible in the red tinted light of the bridge. The twenty plus lance batteries of the Overlord-class battlecruiser opened up with a terrifying series of booms, long lances of orange light cascading through space and colliding with the Tyrant-class cruiser which was duelling them. The obsolete warships entire starboard side erupted in explosions and smoke. A series of internal detonations from ammunition stores caused more damage to the Cruiser, forcing it to initiate evasive manoeuvres to make an escape. No such luck.
"Order the Terran Star to finish the job" Frostman ordered to his communications officer, who swiftly began sending the order to the Terran Star, a Dominator-class cruiser. The artillery cruiser fired a round with its mounted nova cannon, the high powered shell colliding with the retreating Chaos cruisers aft section and ripping it apart, for a moment the enemy vessel hung in space before vanishing in a flash of light as its warp core detonated.
"Give captain Donahue my regards" Frostman grinned before turning to his ordnance officer "Mister Jameson order the port lance batteries to reload" he then turned to the front of the bridge, his eyes focusing on his helmsman "Mister Vermount full speed and bring her about fifty degrees to starboard. Miss Shafer ask the Terran Star and her escorts to accompany us"
"Yes sir"
The Lord Admiral settled into his command throne, his hands clasped together as he looked out the massive viewports. In that direction was a small taskforce of Alliance star destroyers being harassed by a trio of Chaos cruisers. He would save them and have them gather with the remaining escorts to the rendezvous point at the other side of the planet. Chaos had pushed them back and had taken over a full half of Sluis Van's orbit. Thankfully the planetary shields were up and holding well against the Chaos orbital bombardments and the shipyards were still safely under Coalition control. The Planet Killer remained where she was in orbit, not bothering to pursue the Coalition fleet, but instead was hammering away at the shields with enough firepower to destroy a small taskforce.
"Sir the Terran Star reports that she is winthin range of the closest cruiser"
"Than by all means" Frostman replied and watched as the nova cannon opened fire again, releasing yet another ship destroying projectile. The shell collided with the cruisers portside, eradicating its void shields with one simple stroke. The Eternal Empire, a Gothic-class cruiser followed up by firing its starboard lance batteries, causing the enemy ships now unprotected portside to bloom from several explosions. The star destroyers saw their chance and lumbered out of the Chaos cruisers net. Making a run for the relative safety of Frostmans hastily put together taskforce, which even now was made up of the Lord Admirals Overload-class battlecruiser, Crimson Lady, The Terran Star, the Gothic-class cruisers Eternal Empire and Firelord, and four Sword-class frigates.
Once the star destroyers were out of the firing line the taskforce released a salvo of long range lance fire upon the cruisers, most of the barrage aimed at the struggling Murder-class cruiser which the Star had hit just a few moments earlier. The limping capital ship didn't stand a chance. The barrage struck it's portside, hitting it again and again until it simply disintegrated under the bombardment. Another shell from the Star collided with the dorsal section of the second Murder cruiser. Just a graze, but enough to pulverize its void shield and char the armour black.
"My lord we are being hailed by the lead star destroyer, the Dominion"
"Put him through"
The Dominion came up on the holo-screen, a sleekly designed Nebula-class star destroyer which looked like a jewel within the defensive formation of old Imperial-class star destroyers. Another image appeared beside it, the form of the taskforces commanding officer, a tall human man with angular features, black hair in a military cut and dull brown eyes.
"I am Captain Shao of the Dominion" he introduced with a flawless salute "Thank you for the save sir, we owe you"
"Captain Shao, I am Lord Admiral Quincy Frostman" he replied "We are currently initiating a retreat to the second point to rally with the remaining Coalition fleet, you shall accompany us"
"Understood Lord Admiral" Shao said with another salute before his hologram flickered out. Frostman leaned back into the worn leather of his command throne and ordered the taskforce to continue onward to the safe zone. Exchanging long range fire with enemy capital ships as they approached the Coalition controlled zones. In the distance the Lord Admiral could make out turbolaser, turbolance and lance fire between the opposing factions, coupled with blooms of explosions from dying capital ships and destroyed fighters.
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"Coalition forces being overrun in sectors three, five, nine, ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen" the servitor reported from his station "Sections four, six, seven and eleven have been overrun by Chaotic forces. Alliance Grand Admiral has authorized a withdrawal to the second line sectors"
"Order our forces to follow suit" Visnik ordered, he had not sat in his throne since they had withdrawn to the night side of Sluis Van. Instead he was pacing across the bridge like a caged animal, shouting orders and threats to not just his bridge crew, but his commanders as well. The port lance batteries of his battleship fired another combined salvo of fire upon the approaching Chaos ships, causing his vessel to rock wildly from the discharge like an old era sea ship caught in a storm while hundreds of smaller plasma, laser and rail-guns fired continuous streams of projectiles into the surrounding kill zone, trying to hit the small swarms of enemy fighters which were strafing his command ship.
"Sir we're picking up hyperspace signals in sector thirty" his sensor officer reported from his post "Bearing ninety degrees at sector one two zero angel two" the officer brought his face closer to the display readings, his features creased in concentration as new information scrolled down the screen "Receiving a signal, it's the Hapan's my lord. The Hapan's have arrived!"
Over twenty thousand kilometres out from the planet the battle-group of the Hapan navy arrived. Thirty Battle-Dragons lead the fleet into the system, they in turn surrounded by hundreds of four hundred meter long Nova-class battlecruisers and several dozen modified Imperial-class star destroyers. At the head of the fleet was the modified Royal Battle-Dragon Song of War, a vessel twice the size of a regular battle-dragon and containing three times the firepower of its smaller cousins. Standing on the bridge of the Song of War was Tenel Ka, Jedi knight and current Queen Mother of the Hapan Consortium. She, like the rest of her race was incredibly beautiful with angular features, long rusty brown hair and piercing grey eyes. Her body was slim and physically fit; despite the emerald and gold royal robes she wore which covered her form. A lightsabre hilt was clipped to a belt at her waist, a sign of her pride at being a Jedi.
"My Queen" Duke Lestat said as he approached her, dressed in the silver and crimson uniform of a fleet admiral "The Chaos armada has advanced further than anticipated and is even now in control of a full half of the planets orbit"
"What news on Coalition forces?"
"They have successfully withdrawn to the night side of the planet my lady" Lestat answered "Skirmishes on all fronts from advancing Chaotic taskforces but the majority have positioned themselves around the flagship"
"I see. Very well" she said as she drew the royal blade from its scabbard at her waist, holding it firmly in front of her before pointing the blade towards the raging battle beyond. Despite the gravity of the situation her face was set as stone, not showing any emotion, even though her heart was in turmoil, wondering if she should devote a full half of the Hapan fleet to this battle "Order the advance Duke Lestat, let's give our allies a hand"
"Yes my lady" was the Dukes answer.
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Sergeant Chevron of the Crimson Fists aimed his bolter and fired a spray at the incoming Chaos hordes, killing several before ordering a tactical withdrawal to the edge of the city. His eight fellow marines followed suit, each one grabbing a frag grenade and throwing it into the Cultists. They ducked into their foxholes and waited for the grenades to explode before jumping out and running back to the outer buildings. Across the line other Space Marine groups and detachments of Clone Troopers were remaining at the rear of the retreat, protecting the disorganised Coalition forces as they ran to secondary positions.
As the Crimson Fists dived into the next patch of foxholes they aimed their bolters over the edge and released another salvo, killing more packs of Chaos warriors with every barrage. Further back was the lumbering forms of the Chaos AT-AT walkers, firing their laser cannons into the defensive lines, incinerating entire sections of buildings and blasting trench systems. More diverse barrages of shell fire came from the corps of tanks and artillery vehicles all around them, turning buildings into cratered and half demolished ruins and leaving craters in the concrete ground.
"Brother Sergeant" Brother Noels called from across the line. The Crimson Fists battle-brother was looking up at the sky "Incoming from above!" the sergeant looked up and immediately raised his bolter. Several small tears had appeared in the dark skies, looking like crimson scars in the otherwise slick black atmosphere. Hundreds of winged silhouettes were spewing through them, swarming across the sky and diving towards the city streets.
"Furies" Chevron shouted before aiming his bolter and firing a spray of fire into the air, over half of the Clones and Space Marines in the trenches and foxholes changed their firing solutions to the sky as the Furies glided down towards them. They were nightmarish monsters, their bodies a mass of pink and black muscle, long claws on hands and feet, leathery wings a few meters in diameter and beak like maws armed with lines of dagger like teeth, all designed to rip a victim to pieces in a few seconds.
Several Furies corkscrewed past the barrage and began attacking unsuspecting guardsmen, their claws tearing through chest cavities and piercing limbs before dragging the screaming victim into the skies, ripping them apart with tooth and claw. A wave of furies descended on their position, forcing even more of his battle-brothers to take their attention away from the approaching Cultists and fire sporadically at the fast daemons.
Several daemons got through the barrage and dug their long claws into several Clones, piercing through limbs and chests before dragging them into the air. The Space Marine sergeant took out a fury in midair before one pounced on him. He dropped his bolter, grabbed the struggling daemon and crushed its head with his armoured fist. He then drew his combat knife and grabbing a Cultist stabbed it into his chest. The traitor spat out blood before being thrown back into several of his comrades. Quickly Chevron grabbed his bolter and swung it back, smashing the metal barrel into the face of another cultist before firing into the crowd, killing several more with one five second spray of bolter shells.
Just as the sergeant felt that they would be overrun a barrage of laser fire struck the advancing Cultists, mowing the entire wave down. Chevron was forced to duck as the lasfire peppered the front of his foxhole. He peered over his hole, seeing an X-wing fall towards their position, black smoke billowing from its engines, as it flew overhead the sergeant saw the small muscled forms of Furies dug into the fighter's wings and canopy, ripping through its light armour in an attempt to reach the pilot. The snubfighter struck the ground several meters behind the entrenched Space Marines, spewing debris and pieces of machinery as it hit and forced itself along the street before smashing into the side of a collapsed building.
"Initiate a tactical withdrawal" the sergeant shouted to his Marines "Back to the third line!" The Space marines nodded and fired several more rounds into the confused Cultists before beginning to withdraw. As Chevron made his way up the street he spared a glance at the fallen fighter which had saved his squads life. He considered for a split second. The pilot saved his life and that of his battle brothers. It was only right that he return the favour by saving the pilots life. He suddenly changed direction, running towards the snubfighter. Two of his own Marines saw him and followed their commander. Chevron saw a few of the Furies had survived the crash and stopped, coming down on a knee and firing a short burst, turning one of the daemons into red mist.
"Cover me brothers" Chevron shouted before breaking off into a run towards the fighter, his two battle brothers supplied suppressing fire for him as he ran, sending the last few daemons back to the warp from whence they came. Quickly the sergeant jumped up onto the fighters damaged wing and placing his bolter at the side grabbed the canopy, using his superhuman strength to rip it off and throw it aside. He looked into the canopy and froze.
The pilot was an alien, fairly human looking in appearance with its orange jumpsuit and helmet on. But now that he was close he saw that the helmet had been modified for a head not of hair but of tails, he glimpsed bluish skin, slightly charred by fires that probably came from the now burnt out console. It was a female, a Twi'lek if his reading of xeno information in this galaxy was accurate. Growling he went to leave the woman behind, but before he could move a heavy weight slammed into him, forcing him off the wrecked fighter and onto the ground. He looked up in time to see a Fury fall on him, teeth and claws retracted and ready to cut through his ceramic armour.