Battle Barge Salacia. Tarsas Sector. Segmentum Tempestus. 997.M41

Amphithoe looked over the chess board. It was an old game, even by the standards of the Imperium. It had even been played back on Terra almost forty thousand years ago. Even today it had survived as a game to test the mind. She liked it. It was a game of nobility.

Amphithoe's own board was a Hydraphur classic with a marble surface and nalwood figures. She paused to look over the situation once more before selecting a knight piece and moving it in the ''L'' position to the new square.

''I do believe that's checkmate,'' she said to Vandius. The Silver Knight was still in battle plate, seated at the other end of the table in the entertainment room of the Salacia. She had dragged him out here to get some sort of social life. He spent all of his time otherwise in his quarters or in the training rooms.

''Indeed it is,'' Vandius gave a faint smile as he looked over the situation again, he was outmaneuvered.

''This is the third game I've won so far, dare say that you have been letting me win?'' she questioned.

''Not at all my lady, it's just that I prefer real war,'' Vandius explained in an almost reluctant tone.

''Of that we will have no shortage of,'' Amphithoe rose from her seat. Vandius began to quickly and carefully put away the pieces.

''Yes, I've been kept busy haven't I?'' the Ultramarine remarked as he finished folding the case before handing it to one of the servants.

''You really should take some time off. It's not healthy to throw yourself utterly into work. Even Astartes can be worn out.'' Amphithoe told him. ''May I suggest the La Ventila? The Beneficent Sun is hosting a traveling theatre company for the Naval Command.''

''What's that about? Please refresh my memory.''

''A period drama set in the 34th Millennium about a family on Terra-''

''Lady Amphithoe. We are about to exit the warp.'' came the voice of the Commander Valerian. She touched her armor collar and voiced an affirmation.

They were approaching Cyrek, the crown jewel of the Tarsan sub-sector. The snow-covered ice world was famous for its rare crystal mines and the glittered crystalline cities that rose up elegantly out of the icy wasteland. This was the lynchpin of the entire Tarsan front.

Two hundred Silver Knights commanded by Valerian himself accompanied her aboard her personal battle barge along with an entire battlefleet to aid the beleaguered world. The Hive world was a vital fuel processing plant that they could ill afford to lose.

Senshi Esin had already taken command of the forces on Cyrek. Apart from a small escort of Silver Knights she had command of a Preceptory of the Howling Swords and detachments from the Genesis Chapter, the White Scars and the Iron Champions.

However the Tyranid swarms on the ice planet had proved to be stronger than expected and thus thirty Valhallan regiments along with a group of Silver Knights had been sent to reinforce the Imperial positions on the planet. Vandius and his team had been temporarily transferred from the Pegasus to the Salacia.

''If you would allow me to prepare milady...'' Vandius nodded to her.

''Of course. Gather your team. I will be entering the battle myself.'' she said.

''Yourself milady? Are you sure?'' Vandius held a note of concern in his voice.

''I'm not a doll Marcus. Besides, I have you as my bodyguards.'' Amphithoe told him. Although Vandius was a Captain, the Silver Knights rarely deployed as an entire company. Vandius himself did not command the battle companies, but rather a single kill-team.

''Of course milady, I live to serve.''

{oOo}

''Attention. All Silver Knights report to the hanger bay. Squads Vandius, Gedecci and Bane report to the Waverider for combat escort.'' The voice of one of the senior chapter serfs sounded over the vox. The hanger bay of the battle barge was filled with chapter serfs and Astartes as they prepared for launch.

''The Waverider. I always wanted to ride in that.'' confessed Khaden over the vox.

''The Waverider?'' Dovah inquired.

'' Amphithoe's own steed. See? There it is.'' Khaden pointed out.

The Waverider sat at the head of the Thunderhawk formations. It was one of the few Stormbird-class attack ships in the Imperium's service, carefully maintained by the Mercurians at Amphithoe's behest. The craft was specially up-armored and fitted with superior performance engines.

Vandius and his team were in full plate. All of them except Cestus wore long white armorplast stormcloaks over their armor for cold weather combat purposes. Vandius had his hood thrown back, allowing his chested helm freedom to move about.

Amphithoe herself was armored in a customized suit of carapace armor, with special heating systems built in for the cold weather assault. Her face was concealed by a special combat helm. Her war plate was the sea green of the ocean, trimmed in silver and white. She wore a white stormcloak with the hood drawn over her features. She clutched an ornate master-crafted power trident in both hands.

Vandius and his team followed her closely, Cestus and Nicander to her right and Dovah, Vandius and Khaden to her left. Above, The Ultramarine Captain spotted the forms of a dozen more Silver Knights ready and present in the Waverider.

The massive form of Knight-Sergeant Bane was easy to spot. Everyone in Amphithoe's chapter knew him well. The Night Lord was easily the largest of the Silver Knights, his massive form towering over everyone. His head was shaved bald and his features were covered by a fearsome rebreather mask. His Terminator plate, along with the rest of his squad, was painted a special jet black. His gauntlets incorporated to massive power fists each with an integrated bolter.

His real name was classified. He only went by the nickname that he received when he still lived in the underhives of one of the Night Lord's recruiting worlds. In a way, thought Vandius, the name reflected him well.

The Night Lord was the leader of the most fearsome Terminator assault unit in Amphithoe's Silver Knight's chapter, the Backbreakers. They were aptly named, Vandius had quite personally seen Bane himself break a fully-grown Warboss over his knee.

Cestus raised his power sword in salute. Bane nodded in return. He had already attempted to scout out Cestus when the young White Consul was first inducted into the Silver Knights a few decades ago, having learned of his immense potential, but Vandius got to him first. It was something that Bane had never quite let go. Personally the Ultramarine would thought the Consul would prosper better under his leadership.

Behind him were four infamous veterans. Logan Howlmane of the Space Wolves with his lightning claws. Darius of the Howling Griffons, a former Honor Guard Champion in that chapter. Braghen the silent World Eater encrusted with bionics and scars. Khorden, the famed close-assault flamer specialist of the Salamanders. Each a legendary hero.

Knight-Sergeant Daron Gedecci was a Blood Angel who mostly specialized at close range fire support with flamers and storm bolters. Vandius was only vaguely familiar with him, he had never actually served alongside the sergeant before, but he had heard good things.

The Astartes knelt as Amphithoe entered the Stormbird. All of them clutched at vials of water that hung from various points from their armor, each filled with a sample of Talassar's oceans, the place where she had been reborn. Oaths were resworn as was the custom of her chapter of Silver Knights.

''Rise.'' She said softly. They all did so.

''The Backbreakers are at your command.'' Bane nodded to her, his voice filtered through his rebreather.

''Nice to know my mouthpiece is in style.'' Khaden voxed over the private vox channel. Vandius told him to shut it before nodding to Amphithoe.

''Gladius stands ready as always.''

''As does Firebringer.'' Gedecci seconded.

''Then let us depart my loyal knights. I think Esin would like to greet us.''

{oOo}

Frozen winds howled as show and ice pelted the massed Imperial flight formation. The Waverider led the assault, followed by almost two dozen Thunderhawks and a hundred Valkyries belonging to the 45th Stormtrooper Brigade. Three entire Imperial Navy fighter wings escorted them. Only the best for the Senshi.

Behind them troops transports for over thirty Guard regiments would disembark into the atmosphere, carrying tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of armored vehicles to enforce the ground forces. More bomber wings and Navy gunships would provide fire support.

Cyrek really had only one massive landmass, the rest of the planet was frigid ocean, dotted by massive icebergs. Below on that solitary landmass rested the beautiful crystal-cities of the Cyrekians. But it was the capital, Reverim, that was currently under assault. Here Senshi Esin led hit and run assaults from outside the heavily fortified starport and the local mining habs against the Tyranid swarms that attempted to devour the planet.

Below tens of thousands of Tyranid assault creatures charged towards the Imperial defense lines. Warriors of the PDF and the Howling Sword held the line while Sororitas mounted in modified snowbikes in various flanking counterattacks against the Tyranid horde.

The gunships swooped over the horizon, various weapon mounts blasting away hundreds of Tyranid war creatures as they moved in to deploy their troops. Above, Imperial Valkyrie gunships and fighters engaged Tyranid aerial beasts to make room for the Silver Knights.

The Waverider hovered before a group of navy blue-armored Sororitas before lowering its assault ramp. Cestus flew out first, landing among the Tyranid horde with a massive thud before the Backbreakers landed, tearing right into the xenos.

Behind them emerged Gladius and the Firebringers, doing their best to cover Amphithoe as they moved into battle. All across the battlefield, the Silver Knights moved into combat, directed by Commander Valerian.

Amphithoe raised her power trident and directed a massive torrent of icy water to gush out and flood the Tyranid horde. Like a biblical disaster of ancient Terran myth, the immense tides of water swept away thousands of Tyranid creatures.

Gaunts and Genestealers flailed around and Carnifexes were carried away by an unstoppable monsoon. Zoanthropes were swept away, their stunted limbs kicking uselessly as they drowned. Biovores and Tervigons were simply lost in the blue torrent.

But still the Tyranids came on. Tens of thousands more came in wave after more waves hit the defensive lines. But the humans held, and drove them back. The Silver Knights, slaughtered wave after wave of creatures, straining the ice fields purple with Tyranid ichor. The Guard and the Sororitas moved up in massive armored formations, counterattacking the Tyranid flanks.

The Silver Knights certainly earned their share of glory. Gladius dutifully guarded Amphithoe as she cast down Tyranid after Tyranid. The Backbreakers accounted for a total of nine Carnifex assault beasts in the course of the day.

After four hours of constant assault, the Tyranids finally quit the scene. Even the Hive Mind evidently had enough of the Imperials and withdrew to lick its wounds. The Imperium stood, bloodied, but triumphant around the city.

{oOo}