Legends of the Smoke Jaguars Chapter 112
"Ten minutes to No-Man's Land," the Master Locomotor reported.
"Ground stability is within norms, no obstructions that we can't handle," the Terricoli declared.
"Enemy activity is increasing along our projected course," the Surveyor Chief stated.
"Maintain speed," Vanderspeak ordered, "Full shields, all weapon posts are to stand-by to engage."
Gun-Captain Haldrist nodded, "Aye Sir. You heard the General! Cycle the shields, check your ammo feeds and targetting spirits. Stoke the reactor, keep those tracks turning and scan the ground constantly for traps. Kiss an Aquila if you've got one, this is the real thing!"
Invicta Nova's bridge rumbled constantly as the Capitol Imperialis rolled on. Though it could move little faster than a jogging man in motion its advance was inexorable, a juggernaut of Adamantium and Plasteel set loose upon the world. Its soaring bulk cut a chunk out of the skyline and the weight of its treads left impressions so deep a man could stand in them and not be able to see over the edges. Weapon blisters twitched in eagerness to fire, the Macrocannon was triple-blessed and void shields equal to an Imperator Titan's crackled overhead. Invicta Nova was the ultimate fighting machine, it only remained to be seen if that was enough.
General Vanderspeak gazed out of the slanted windows, watching the trenches closing. Thin light of day streamed through the slanted Armourglass, revealing the enemy in all their vastness. Endless hordes of hateful foes, ready to bring ruin to his world. As a boy he'd toured on aquatic boats over the Bleached Sea, seeing polluted waves breaking across the bow. The Capitol Imperialis reminded him of those days, feeling the mighty engine drive him through the cruel tides with disdainful power. This day the Terrans were the sea, their shells and tanks the crashing surf. If all went as he expected then Invicta Nova would plunge through their lines like the prow of those mighty boats, if not... well he wouldn't be alive to suffer the consequences.
"A grand day," Disquisitor Von Tor commented at his side.
"A significant day certainly," Vanderspeak allowed.
"You doubt this is the final liberation of Tellaris?"
"I doubt the Terran have sat idle, it has taken many hours to travel from Holorus Hive to the front. The Terrans must have seen us, even now they will be rushing to intercept us."
"Invicta Nova will sweep them aside with ease!"
"I wish I shared your confidence," Vanderspeak muttered low, so the crew wouldn't hear.
Vanderspeak turned from the windows and surveyed the command bridge. It was circular, with operators sitting at consoles all facing outwards. Steersmen, power managers, savants and vox-operators. A hundred officers laboured under the low roof, sweating in the rising heat, faces lit green in the dimness of the room. Around them was another ring of Servitors, chattering quietly as they communed with the Machine Spirits. At the rear lurked Enginseers, offering rites unto the Omnissiah, seeking his blessings. But at the heart of the room was a Hololithic table, displaying the surrounding terrain.
Vanderspeak stepped to the table and examined their position. Behind lay Holorus Hive, its forges empty and depots drained. They'd left that morning to the cheering of millions, raised in praise of the might of Tellaris' industry. Ahead lay the front line but between the two awaited the Land Leviathans. Vanderspeak had stripped the defences as much as he dared, drawing together thousands of Crassus, Praetors, Olyphants and Colossi, Baneblades, Hellhammers and Stormlords. It was the biggest offensive of the entire war. He'd have liked another couple of weeks to mass more forces still but was keenly aware every wasted day drained their strength that much more. They were against the clock; it was now or never.
Haldrist tilted his head left, "Quite a change from Adamantine Spear."
"Just so," Vanderspeak agreed, "A shame Laval and Baratel aren't here to see us off."
"We'll make the Terrans pay, just you see," Haldrist promised.
Von Tor intruded, "Aren't we already in range of the Behemoth Cannon?"
"Not of our chosen target," Vanderspeak rebuffed.
"But the front line..."
Vanderspeak retorted, "Our supply situation is critical, we lack parts, food and shells, but most critical is Promethium. Invicta Nova has a plasma reactor but it alone can't win this war, we need back-up. Thus I have designated this Promethium depot here, three kilometres behind the line, as Target Alpha, it will fuel our advance deeper into the Isthmus. A hit on the trenches might set off the fuel and end our campaign. We must cross No-mans Land and then destroy this marshalling yard here, twenty kilometres behind the line, to cripple the Terran's reserve force."
Von Tor bowed his head in acceptance of military strategy, yet Vanderspeak was not appeased. Von Tor had no place at the sharp end of battle and yet, as the Ur-Council's envoy, he was not about to let their mighty asset out of his sight. Vanderspeak was keenly aware that Invicta Nova was not a Tellarite creation, it had come from the Novans, and was not given freely. By depending on this Capitol Imperialis the victory would belong to the Ur-Council, and Tellaris would have no choice save to join them. The timing of it all stank, they'd unveiled this war-winning weapon at the most desperate juncture. He had wondered over the last few days how long the Novans had been holding back, waiting for the situation to devolve before stepping in. There was nothing he could do about it though, without Invicta Nova the rebellion would die.
"Approaching the front," the Master Locomotor reported.
"Open all vox-channels," Vanderspeak ordered, "Land Leviathans hear me! For seventeen years you have fought like heroes, with greater devotion than any other warriors in the galaxy, and today your faith shall be rewarded. Behold Invicta Nova, the instrument of the God-Emperor. By His will we shall sweep the corrupt Terran filth from our planet and bring Tellaris back to the glory it deserves. The day of days is upon us, so give thanks as you advance, sure in the knowledge that the God-Emperor favours us!"
Cheers rang over the vox-waves as the Land Leviathans rolled out, thousands of machines igniting their engines and surging towards the evacuated trenches. Staggered advances saw them form a vast V-formation, with Invicta Nova at the tip, right where it would draw the most fire. Vanderspeak was counting on the Terrans throwing everything they had at the Capitol Imperialis, sparing the Land Leviathans. So long as the void shields held it was a sound strategy.
A distressing rumble shook the decks as Invicta Nova rolled over the trenches, but the broad tracks squashed them into nothing. With a tremble of the plating on every deck Invicta Nova crossed the line, and shells began to fall. It began with a distant flash on the Terran side, sending a lone shell high into the sky. Before it even landed scores more blazed, hundreds, Earthshakers as far as the eye could see thundering away with abandon. Invicta Nova's shields rippled as shells began to explode overhead, spreading electric contrails across their surfaces like ripples in a pond. More fell, more, a ceaseless string of detonations battering the protective dome.
"Shields are straining!" voices rang in the command bridge.
"We're drawing too much fire!" another officer barked.
"Reactors are spiking, we must slow down!" a third barked.
"No!" Vanderspeak roared, "Maintain speed, do not stop for anything!"
The juddering of the deck made the Hololith frizzle but Vanderspeak saw the Tellarites advancing. As a great wedge they drove forward, braving the artillery fire. Colossi shields soaked up the hail, but the greatest weight of firepower was aimed at Invicta Nova. The Terrans had enjoyed hours to reposition their guns and brought stunning barrages to bear. Ordnance enough to level a city, bring down entire Knight Houses, even breach the shields of a scout-Titan, but Invicta Nova withstood it all without a qualm. Vanderspeak was amazed, even he'd underestimated the inviolate nature of the shields, the Capitol Imperialis soaked it all up and just kept going, yet the Terrans weren't out of tricks yet.
At the halfway mark the trenches exploded outwards as hundreds of Leman Russ tanks surged forth. Dozer blades streaming mud they broke cover and raced to engage, turrets rising in eagerness to shoot. They did not fire, not yet, their guns could not penetrate the all-encompassing shields, but if they got under the envelope then they could strike the hull directly. No matter the thickness of the armour it could not withstand hundreds of battle cannon shells at point-blank range.
"They've prepared a warm welcome," Von Tor commented.
"Let's meet them in kind," Vanderspeak replied, "Bring up the Super-heavies."
Haldrist interjected, "Permission to engage?"
"Tell the blister gunners to indulge themselves," Vanderspeak allowed.
"God-Emperor bless you sir," Haldrist grinned, "All defensive emplacements: weapons free. Fire as they come to bear!"
From the Tellarite lines surged a score of Super-heavies, racing to meet the oncoming Leman Russ tanks. Outnumbered a dozen times over, but they were the best of the Land Leviathans, and their weapons were in a league of their own. Dire retorts sounded as Baneblade tanks let rip, blasting trundling vehicles to slag. Stormlords opened up a second later, eviscerating armour plates with sheer numbers of shots. Hellhammers boomed after, dicing anything they targeted, blowing proud machine into tiny bits. The Terran countercharge faltered in the face of superior Tellarite aggression, their paltry cannons burping feebly in response and making little impression. Those few who dared press the attack were easy pickings for Invicta Nova's weapon blisters, Lascannon shots punching through thin roof armour to spear any tank that dared stray too close.
"We're gutting the bastards!" Haldrist crowed.
"We are indeed," Vanderspeak agreed, "Now for the Earthshakers. Ready missile batteries, precision targeting, any man who hits that Promethium Depot will answer to me."
"Target the artillery!" Haldrist roared at the harried bridge crew, "Let them taste our fury!"
Invicta Nova's prow missile batteries flared, streaming warheads in sequence. Praetor launchers on lesser vehicles joined in, raining high explosives upon the artillery park. Now it was the Terrans who felt the storm, fireballs sweeping across their positions in chained detonations. Crews died, barrels collapsed and secondary explosions swept further out, decimating hundreds of Earthshakers in seconds. It was glorious, and yet the battle was not won. The Terran's first wave had been crushed, their forward batteries eliminated, but further back their reserve force was being readied. Far behind the line a massive formation of tanks revved their engines, waiting for the order to sally forth.
"It is time," Vanderspeak declared, "Let the Triumph of Tellaris sound."
Haldrist barked, "Load the Behemoth cannon, target that hub and make ready to fire!"
"Close blast shutters and don ear defenders," Vanderspeak commanded, "All hands brace for incoming shockwave."
Armoured shutters rolled down over the windows and crew pulled thick muffs over their ears, as officers and Enginseers cried, "Breach opening, shell loading. Capacitors charging, blessings increasing in tempo. Magnetic accelerators primed, praise the Omnissiah. Shell is loaded, breach secured, beginning ritual divination. Loaders are to withdraw to the blast shelters. Target sixty-four by nineteen, range twenty kilometres. Make your elevation thirty-two degrees, I say again thirty-two. Capacitors are at maximum potential, praise be. The Machine Spirits are straining, they yearn to fire. The divinations are favourable, the Omnissiah approves this action! Targeting locking in, we are ready to fire."
Haldrist turned to the General, "Behemoth Cannon is ready and awaiting your order."
"Then by all means... shoot," Vanderspeak commanded.
Invicta Nova roared as the Macrocannon discharged. Starship-grade, mightier than any weapon seen on the front line in seventeen years of blistering war. The Capitol Imperialis shook like a bell, actually rocking back on its tracks. Artillery and shell had not made it stagger, the fiercest wroth of Terra had not given it pause, but the sheer violence of the discharge threw it back on its tracks, making the whole deck sway.
Vanderspeak grabbed the Hololtih as the floor tilted under him. The noise was indescribable, causing his augmetic ears to short out. Many crewmen fell from their chairs, hands wrapped around their ear guards, tympanic membranes bursting despite the protection. A moment later the shutters were etched by brilliant light, tiny threads of burning illumination leaking around the edges. Vanderspeak hung on as he awaited the shockwave, and it hit a moment later, slamming into the angled prow and tossing broken Leman Russ hulls against the rising bow like pebbles torn from a beach to be thrown at bleak cliffs. The pattering of wind and metal rang loud, competing with the echoes of the firing for volume and Vanderspeak prayed they would survive.
"Direct hit!" Haldrist cried as he pressed his earmuffs against the sides of his head.
"Did we do enough damage?!" Von Tor snarled in the bedlam.
"Let's see, open blast shutters!" Vanderspeak commanded.
He turned to look outside and beheld a vision of hell. The far horizon was a sea of fire, dancing flames spreading unchecked. Everything around the impact site was flattened for five kilometres in all directions, buildings, tents and machines thrown aside like discarded children's toys. Bodies had been eviscerated by flying shrapnel, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds even, wiped from existence. Smoke rose in thick columns and high above a mushroom cloud began to form, blocking out the weak sunlight. Vanderspeak had thought only Atomonic bombs could produce such an effect, but so powerful was the Behemoth Cannon that the blast was scarcely any smaller. Hundreds of thousands of men had been obliterated in one shot, the entirety of the Terran reserve force at a stroke. Vanderspeak's jaw dropped at the sight, his heart quickening. The universe was overturned, such power, such majestic wroth, as if the God-Emperor's fist had descended and struck the enemy as a divine thunderbolt.
"It's greater than I ever imagined," Vanderspeak breathed in amazement.
Von Tor folded his hands smugly and said, "The Ur-Council's strength is yours."
Haldrist pulled an Aquila from about his neck chanting, "And Lo, he did breathe a mighty breath, and the wicked and the infidel were swept away by a great wind."
A clamour of voice arose from the vox, hundreds of cries on all channels and Vanderspeak called, "What is that racket?!"
A voice operator pulled his pick-ups back into place, "Sir, the Land Leviathans... they're... they're singing."
"Singing what?" Von Tor demanded.
"Hymnals, they're singing praises to the Golden Throne, all of them."
Vanderspeak gazed out the windows in stunned awe, "Let them sing, let everyone hear the voices of the Tellarites and all shall know the Land Levithans are going to win. Tellaris Triumphant!"