Friday, April 1, 2011
Planetfall
Two Days, Two days the Orks had been in orbit and no landings. They’d appeared out of nowhere, dozens of Roks, ships and hulks had appeared practically on top of the orbital defences. They’d done their best and sold their lives dearly but once they were gone the bombardment started until all the ground based defences were silenced. This Warboss wasn’t stupid he was softening the planet up first and with our eyes in the sky gone all we can do is wait... ... Then the bombardment stopped, but this was not the first war Colonel Carlin had seen it meant they were finally coming. “Mount up men! Here they come!” The men under his command rushed to their vehicles, holding this facility with an armoured group wasn’t ideal but it would have to do, guardsmen scattered across the bay when suddenly there was a sound, like silenced thunder and a flash of light. When his vision cleared he found himself staring down the barrel of a long slender weapon, it’s owner clad in tight fitting blue armour, Eldar! There were perhaps a dozen of them in the bay all with weapons trained on his men, but they hadn’t fired, what in the Emperor’s name was going on! Two figures stood at the heart of the group of invaders, he recognised one as a Witch, one of the Eldars battle psychers, small stone runes hovered about them. The others armour was just as intricate but they seemed more like the warriors that surrounded them. This one was bare headed, female, her hair bound up in an ornate clasp. She should have been beautiful, delicate curves and features but those eyes. Looking into her eyes it was clear they were no less alien than Orks or Tyranids. They all didn’t so much move as flow like quicksilver, this situation was delicate, they hadn’t fired so they wanted something but he didn’t doubt if necessary they would kill them all where they stood. The female seemed to try starting to speak, words catching in her throat, like a note from a song, then with a pained expression she tried again. “We are not here to wage war on you this day... human” “Those guns seem to say different” “A necessary precaution, your kind only seem willing to see reason when it is the only option. We offer to stand alongside you here, alone you cannot possibly triumph. Ulthwe’s guardians become yours. There is no time for deliberation, either accept or we shall take our leave” Carlin knew the alien was right, dropping from orbit the Orks would be on top of them before they even knew what was going on, he needed good old fashioned ground pounders to keep them off his armour, and he’d seen what the Eldar’s warrior class could do first hand. Worst case, it meant fewer of them to deal with later, best case it was just one of those Eldar things and they would disappear as suddenly as they arrived afterwards. “Done, we’ll sort this out proper afterwards, right now we’ve got greenskins to deal with, to your vehicles you lazy buggers!” Even as the alien warriors lowered their weapons more Eldar began to appear in the bay, this time he saw the faint shimmer of a portal or gate in the air, tricky buggers, he’d be sure to watch for that in future. The pilot keyed the ignition even as he stepped about his command vessel, the Vendetta “Hammer of the Emperor”... ... Autarch Niala had orchestrated the battle from the bunker, the humans could not be allowed to understand their true goals, nor likely could the primitives. Seer Midorna’s loss would be lamented for cycles to come, his Avenger wards had reported seeing his body twist and deform as the old Orks power had borne down on him. The same Ork who had simply vanished in a blast of light as the harlequins bore down on him for the killing blow. It seemed as if the Orks had been trying to plant a banner, perhaps trying to win favour with their leader, they had shrugged off blows that should have even felled their kind to plant it. Them throwing themselves into the crucible of battle without concern like that was the only thing that had saved us. The humans artillery had done a fine job thinning their numbers but so many still reached the fortifications. The entirety of the “Stalking Shadow” had been wiped out trying to hold them back. Had it not been for the arrival of the harlequins this day would still have been lost. The countercharge they delivered was a fearsome sight, even her time in the Shrieking Doom shrine had not prepared her for the skill in battle they displayed. As the leaders of the assault planted their grisly banner they had leapt over the ruins of the bunker and with a splash of gore the Orks all lay dead at their feet. The Mon-Keigh’s leader had been slain but it seemed like they had held at other sites around the world, many seemed angry that this facility was now essentially under Eldar rule but others knew that waiting for help from their own Imperium would see the world burned and infested before it arrived. With the rites now complete the portal had been opened properly and heavier ordinance could be brought to bear. Soon they would be ready for their true objective...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Hive Fleet Tarrasque
Ordos Xenos Report – Omega Grade clearance requested...
DNA and password accepted – May the Emperor’s Light shine on you...
...............
This report comes from our observers in Segmentum Pacificus, already a smelting pot of issues with Imperial forces already engaged in running battles with Eldar and Orks as well as the arrival of a small hive fleet all within the last century. The Ipsos sector quietened when Eldar forces seemed to break off engagement with our forces going almost unseen before it became apparent that they had launched raids on the Tyranid “Synapse” network and driven the swarm to ground with no leadership. For a decade now the combined forces of the Cadian 27th, Knights of Marconia, Emperor’s Shadows and Angels Reticent Astartes chapters have been able to wage their war on the Orks unchallenged and had begun driving them back.
In 999.M41 however a single ship was detected in the Ipsos sector, without warning it had appeared in the middle of the system. Our tracking implements marked it as a single Leviathan class Hiveship and it was on a collision course for Davion, one of worlds marked for ground cleansing due to minor infestation and a major staging ground for the Emperor’s Shadows. An Astropathic message was sent to them, but a single Hiveship should have been no match for several battle companies of Astartes. From that day on Shadows battle activity dropped sharply and within 30 solar days all contact with them had been lost. An battlegroup from the in system naval detachment was sent to investigate and was destroyed in orbit, but not before they were able to transmit 7 seconds of visual.
Davion was largely obscured, thick clouds of spores and tyranid vessels hung in space around the planet, tendrils of organisms stretching out to encompass it’s three moons. Through the gaps in the spores the true horror was revealed. Gone was the agri-world of Davion, instead was a world of fire and madness. It writhed with stage 3 Tyranid biology but was going unharvested, volcanic vents had been torn open across the planet and at the equator like a cancer on the world sat a creature, Tyranid like in design but the size of a continent what once was a mere hiveship.
My Magos attendants suggest that in it’s crippled state the hiveship could not leave and so has begun assimilation of the world but unlike the travelling fleets chose not to drain the world but instead farms it, using the energy of the molten core to breed biomass for itself and it’s progeny. It has been suggested that what we are seeing was the evolution of their race played out again. A single world that spawned the first of their kind and began their spread into space.
All attempts to assault this fortress world have failed and I request the full might of the Pacificus Battlegroup be brought to bear. This Hive Fleet is perhaps the greatest threat the Tyranids have presented, they appear to be a mutant strain or splinter of Leviathan, their skin colouration a reversal of the established norm but their behaviour is so aberrant. Synapse Creatures are protected but to an nth degree, in engagement Tyrant class organisms are never seen without guard creatures and the Hive has a tendency to favour monstrous sized leader beasts such as the Alpha Trygon and Tervigon class organisms. Even when Gladius class beasts are spotted they are often hidden within the seething swarms safe from all but the most accomplished of snipers.
This ability to generate a fortress world concerns me greatly, if we cannot keep them isolated and this strain is allowed to reintegrate with the other fleets the Tyranid race would become virtually impossible to burn them from our galaxy and it would likely spell the end for us all as these fortress factories sprung up across the Imperium like a cancer.
As such I have designated this new strain Tarrasque to highlight the danger this swarm that refuses to stay dead represents.
May the Emperor’s light protect us all.
DNA and password accepted – May the Emperor’s Light shine on you...
...............
This report comes from our observers in Segmentum Pacificus, already a smelting pot of issues with Imperial forces already engaged in running battles with Eldar and Orks as well as the arrival of a small hive fleet all within the last century. The Ipsos sector quietened when Eldar forces seemed to break off engagement with our forces going almost unseen before it became apparent that they had launched raids on the Tyranid “Synapse” network and driven the swarm to ground with no leadership. For a decade now the combined forces of the Cadian 27th, Knights of Marconia, Emperor’s Shadows and Angels Reticent Astartes chapters have been able to wage their war on the Orks unchallenged and had begun driving them back.
In 999.M41 however a single ship was detected in the Ipsos sector, without warning it had appeared in the middle of the system. Our tracking implements marked it as a single Leviathan class Hiveship and it was on a collision course for Davion, one of worlds marked for ground cleansing due to minor infestation and a major staging ground for the Emperor’s Shadows. An Astropathic message was sent to them, but a single Hiveship should have been no match for several battle companies of Astartes. From that day on Shadows battle activity dropped sharply and within 30 solar days all contact with them had been lost. An battlegroup from the in system naval detachment was sent to investigate and was destroyed in orbit, but not before they were able to transmit 7 seconds of visual.
Davion was largely obscured, thick clouds of spores and tyranid vessels hung in space around the planet, tendrils of organisms stretching out to encompass it’s three moons. Through the gaps in the spores the true horror was revealed. Gone was the agri-world of Davion, instead was a world of fire and madness. It writhed with stage 3 Tyranid biology but was going unharvested, volcanic vents had been torn open across the planet and at the equator like a cancer on the world sat a creature, Tyranid like in design but the size of a continent what once was a mere hiveship.
My Magos attendants suggest that in it’s crippled state the hiveship could not leave and so has begun assimilation of the world but unlike the travelling fleets chose not to drain the world but instead farms it, using the energy of the molten core to breed biomass for itself and it’s progeny. It has been suggested that what we are seeing was the evolution of their race played out again. A single world that spawned the first of their kind and began their spread into space.
All attempts to assault this fortress world have failed and I request the full might of the Pacificus Battlegroup be brought to bear. This Hive Fleet is perhaps the greatest threat the Tyranids have presented, they appear to be a mutant strain or splinter of Leviathan, their skin colouration a reversal of the established norm but their behaviour is so aberrant. Synapse Creatures are protected but to an nth degree, in engagement Tyrant class organisms are never seen without guard creatures and the Hive has a tendency to favour monstrous sized leader beasts such as the Alpha Trygon and Tervigon class organisms. Even when Gladius class beasts are spotted they are often hidden within the seething swarms safe from all but the most accomplished of snipers.
This ability to generate a fortress world concerns me greatly, if we cannot keep them isolated and this strain is allowed to reintegrate with the other fleets the Tyranid race would become virtually impossible to burn them from our galaxy and it would likely spell the end for us all as these fortress factories sprung up across the Imperium like a cancer.
As such I have designated this new strain Tarrasque to highlight the danger this swarm that refuses to stay dead represents.
May the Emperor’s light protect us all.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Planetfall: Epilogue
“Slowly from the beginning again private, what happened when you made planetfall at the mining colony?”
He sat in a cold steel chair, the room absolutely dark aside from the light above him, at the edge of the circle he could just make out two figures, one in the uniform of an Officer, the other from glimpses of his coat must be a Commissar.
“Sergeant Kellamin lead us down, we deployed by AA-42, no intel, just to expect heavy resistance from unknown foes.
We made touchdown practically on top of the outpost just as the Holy Sisters arrived. The drop seemed to go according to plan, I caught sight of a large Ork, the war leader I assume and his hulking armoured warriors but the Sisters cut them down without even breaking stride, seemed like it was gonna be a milk run Sir”
“And then?”
“All hell broke loose, the Orks Sir, they had Bugs with em, Tyranids! Just sitting around the compound like obedient guard dogs, never seen anything like it Sir!
The instant our boots hit ground they were on top of us, slashing claws ripping through the men, half the squad were dead in seconds. It was a trap Sir, the Orks had vehicles half buried under netting or something, they crashed into the Holy Sisters before they even knew what was happening.
Then I heard it Sir, this horrible screech and there were bugs clawing out of the ground, a huge snake creature tore through the Sisters scattering them like dolls but there was more, a pack of them, 10 feet tall, they would have dwarfed even a hero of the Astartes, one of them seemed to be the leader. Before the Canoness could even raise her blade that thing tore her to pieces, didn’t even have time to scream. Then more Sisters arrived from the sky, Avenging Angels, I thought we were saved, the Sister leading them nearly took the leaders beasts head off with one blow and I saw it’s arm hacked clean off… but… but It ignored the blow, let it land! Drove it’s blades clean through her!
All the while the Orks whooped and hollered they enjoyed it Sir, if the Emperor isn’t watching over his Holy Sisters, is he really with any of us?”
“How did you survive Private?”
“I ran Sir, had to report back, the colony is lost Sir, Bugs and Orks together Sir, what hope do we have!”
The officer nodded and the second man stepped into the light, a tall Commissar, his bolt pistol suddenly rose to the Privates face
“On charges of Heresy and Cowardice”
There was a click, a flash and the world went black…
He sat in a cold steel chair, the room absolutely dark aside from the light above him, at the edge of the circle he could just make out two figures, one in the uniform of an Officer, the other from glimpses of his coat must be a Commissar.
“Sergeant Kellamin lead us down, we deployed by AA-42, no intel, just to expect heavy resistance from unknown foes.
We made touchdown practically on top of the outpost just as the Holy Sisters arrived. The drop seemed to go according to plan, I caught sight of a large Ork, the war leader I assume and his hulking armoured warriors but the Sisters cut them down without even breaking stride, seemed like it was gonna be a milk run Sir”
“And then?”
“All hell broke loose, the Orks Sir, they had Bugs with em, Tyranids! Just sitting around the compound like obedient guard dogs, never seen anything like it Sir!
The instant our boots hit ground they were on top of us, slashing claws ripping through the men, half the squad were dead in seconds. It was a trap Sir, the Orks had vehicles half buried under netting or something, they crashed into the Holy Sisters before they even knew what was happening.
Then I heard it Sir, this horrible screech and there were bugs clawing out of the ground, a huge snake creature tore through the Sisters scattering them like dolls but there was more, a pack of them, 10 feet tall, they would have dwarfed even a hero of the Astartes, one of them seemed to be the leader. Before the Canoness could even raise her blade that thing tore her to pieces, didn’t even have time to scream. Then more Sisters arrived from the sky, Avenging Angels, I thought we were saved, the Sister leading them nearly took the leaders beasts head off with one blow and I saw it’s arm hacked clean off… but… but It ignored the blow, let it land! Drove it’s blades clean through her!
All the while the Orks whooped and hollered they enjoyed it Sir, if the Emperor isn’t watching over his Holy Sisters, is he really with any of us?”
“How did you survive Private?”
“I ran Sir, had to report back, the colony is lost Sir, Bugs and Orks together Sir, what hope do we have!”
The officer nodded and the second man stepped into the light, a tall Commissar, his bolt pistol suddenly rose to the Privates face
“On charges of Heresy and Cowardice”
There was a click, a flash and the world went black…
Friday, March 26, 2010
Prologue: Planetfall
The AA-42 Landing Craft shook violently as it plummeted through the planet's atmosphere. Buckled into his seat with his lasgun strapped above him, Private Kevar, 3rd Class of the Dantesian XIIIth Mobile Infantry held his breath to help with the pain of the atmospheric change. Giving up, he let out his breath in one long sigh, and turned to his Sergeant.
"What're we doing on this rock, anyway Sarge?" he asked.
"Yeah," added Private Ostamin, to his right. "You decided to take us on a lovely desert holiday?"
"Right. Because you're so beautiful, I wanted to see you in a swimsuit," the Sergeant replied. The round of laughter this got did little to calm Sergeant Kellamin's nerves. He had been briefed on the situation earlier and it sounded like a bad one to be thrown into. Little was known about what had happened to the mining colony on this planet, only garbled messages about alien assaults came through before the station was overrun. Kellamin didn't like being thrown into a fight when he didn't know who he was fighting. He even more didn't like the fact that there had been no time for preliminary stealth drops, landing artillery and special forces to assist them, just a handful of Sisters from a nearby convent. But that was the Dantus way. Prima In, Prima Invictus. First in, and first to victory. He met eyes with his fellow Sergeant in the drop ship and nodded slightly before addressing the men.
"Alright, you beggars, listen up. We're about twenty seconds away from making contact with Emperor only knows what on this Warp damned ball of dust and rock. Now you're all veterans of hundreds of drops, in training and in war, so I won't waste time going through greener rubbish. You boys have fought by my side before, and I know what you can do. And what you're going to do is go down there and give whatever we find down there the biggest, and last, shock of their lives. We've got no artillery, no showy Spec Ops with their sneaking about down there. But we do have some of the most battle hardened Sisters of the Order of the Ebon Chalice dropping with us, so the Emperor fights with us today! Prima In! Prima Invictus! Dantesians Clear the Path!"
The men's roar of agreement merged with the ship's thrusters as they kick in to bring them in for the grav chute drop. The co-pilot's voice came over the intercom.
"Equip chutes. Five seconds to jump."
The doors of the AA-42 slammed open and the roar of the engines filled the cabin.
"Four... three... two.... one... GO! GO! GO!"
"What're we doing on this rock, anyway Sarge?" he asked.
"Yeah," added Private Ostamin, to his right. "You decided to take us on a lovely desert holiday?"
"Right. Because you're so beautiful, I wanted to see you in a swimsuit," the Sergeant replied. The round of laughter this got did little to calm Sergeant Kellamin's nerves. He had been briefed on the situation earlier and it sounded like a bad one to be thrown into. Little was known about what had happened to the mining colony on this planet, only garbled messages about alien assaults came through before the station was overrun. Kellamin didn't like being thrown into a fight when he didn't know who he was fighting. He even more didn't like the fact that there had been no time for preliminary stealth drops, landing artillery and special forces to assist them, just a handful of Sisters from a nearby convent. But that was the Dantus way. Prima In, Prima Invictus. First in, and first to victory. He met eyes with his fellow Sergeant in the drop ship and nodded slightly before addressing the men.
"Alright, you beggars, listen up. We're about twenty seconds away from making contact with Emperor only knows what on this Warp damned ball of dust and rock. Now you're all veterans of hundreds of drops, in training and in war, so I won't waste time going through greener rubbish. You boys have fought by my side before, and I know what you can do. And what you're going to do is go down there and give whatever we find down there the biggest, and last, shock of their lives. We've got no artillery, no showy Spec Ops with their sneaking about down there. But we do have some of the most battle hardened Sisters of the Order of the Ebon Chalice dropping with us, so the Emperor fights with us today! Prima In! Prima Invictus! Dantesians Clear the Path!"
The men's roar of agreement merged with the ship's thrusters as they kick in to bring them in for the grav chute drop. The co-pilot's voice came over the intercom.
"Equip chutes. Five seconds to jump."
The doors of the AA-42 slammed open and the roar of the engines filled the cabin.
"Four... three... two.... one... GO! GO! GO!"
Friday, October 17, 2008
Battle Fluff: Meeting of the Ancients
The Dark Angel strike force now had the Eldar in their sight, down in the valley they could see them assembled, it did not seem to resemble the classic force at all. With virtually no transport and no ships spotted in system how had such a force come together and just as importantly why?
This world had no strategic value, there was no colony here, the Captain was concerned, why had such a group, clearly consisting almost exclusively of the Xenos warrior elite come here?
This was not the time for doubt however, Sammael would not wait, he had readied his Ravenwing and was ready for battle. To fight alongside the Master of the Ravenwing was a great honour, but for him to be deployed in such a place, what was of such concern that he would take the field personally? More questions with no answers.
The word came over the comm-net and the Dark Angels readied their weapons then charged over the ridge as one. Bikes Rhino’s and battle brothers charged, a glorious sight indeed though their charge seemed to go unseen, not a single Eldar stirred. When they reached optimum support fire range the Captain went to call for heavy weapon fire but those words died on his lips.
The Eldar force turned as one, weapons appearing in their hands that he would have sworn were not there before and a volley of weapon fire smashed into his men. This was not what stalled his advance however, when the Eldar shifted he saw 4 figures at the heart of the group whose strength and skill the Captain had read reports of before, the Immortal Legends of the Eldar race, Phoenix Lords!
Imperial reports had them single handed cutting down Captains and Masters along with their guard before weapons could even be raised, each one an army in their own right, to face 4 of them here and now? What kind of battle had Sammael lead them into?
This world had no strategic value, there was no colony here, the Captain was concerned, why had such a group, clearly consisting almost exclusively of the Xenos warrior elite come here?
This was not the time for doubt however, Sammael would not wait, he had readied his Ravenwing and was ready for battle. To fight alongside the Master of the Ravenwing was a great honour, but for him to be deployed in such a place, what was of such concern that he would take the field personally? More questions with no answers.
The word came over the comm-net and the Dark Angels readied their weapons then charged over the ridge as one. Bikes Rhino’s and battle brothers charged, a glorious sight indeed though their charge seemed to go unseen, not a single Eldar stirred. When they reached optimum support fire range the Captain went to call for heavy weapon fire but those words died on his lips.
The Eldar force turned as one, weapons appearing in their hands that he would have sworn were not there before and a volley of weapon fire smashed into his men. This was not what stalled his advance however, when the Eldar shifted he saw 4 figures at the heart of the group whose strength and skill the Captain had read reports of before, the Immortal Legends of the Eldar race, Phoenix Lords!
Imperial reports had them single handed cutting down Captains and Masters along with their guard before weapons could even be raised, each one an army in their own right, to face 4 of them here and now? What kind of battle had Sammael lead them into?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
CAMPAIGN FLUFF: Exodus from Dantus IX
Trooper Lowe sat down on a rock and closed his eyes. The sun was making him sweat, he wiped his forehead with his sleeve. He watched the conversation taking place in the distance. The Inquisitor that had brought Lowe's recently formed regiment here was discussing something with the Canoness and the terrifying figure of the Captain of the Space Marines. None of my concern, thought Lowe, just let me at those aliens. Lowe had heard seen the training holovids for the alien enemy. Sickly looking green things and spindly bug creatures. Don't worry, they'd said, just give 'em a few blasts of lasgun fire and they'll be running. And besides, this was a babysitting mission for the Inquisitor. Combat was unlikely, stated the briefing. Unwatched by Lowe, the meeting broke up. The trooper was just drifting off when he was woken by a boot to the ear.
"Wake up trooper," shouted his sergeant, "We're pulling out of here. The valk's will be here in ten."
"What, no action sarge?" asked Lowe. "The buggers must have 'eard we were coming!"
"You just get yourself smartened up and ready. Seems like something big 'as gone down and this planet's no longer a priority."
Indeed, Trooper Lowe could see that even the Space Marines were making contact with their own transports, whatever they may be. Lowe was in awe of these mighty warriors that he had heard so many stories about growing up in Hive Epsilon on Dantus IV.
Suddenly there was shouting and Lowe turned to look at the source of the commotion. Troopers all about him were pointing at the horizon. Just coming over the peak of the hill was a horde of hideous alien monstrosities. Even at this distance, Lowe could see that they were nothing like the training 'vids had depicted them. As he watched, horrified, more and more of the creatures swarmed over the hill.
"Emperor save us... there's thousands of them!" trembled Lowe.
"Firing positions! Squad, to me!" screamed the sergeant, "Lowe, stop dreaming and get your useless arse over here! You wanted to see action? Well, it looks like you got your wish!"
"Wake up trooper," shouted his sergeant, "We're pulling out of here. The valk's will be here in ten."
"What, no action sarge?" asked Lowe. "The buggers must have 'eard we were coming!"
"You just get yourself smartened up and ready. Seems like something big 'as gone down and this planet's no longer a priority."
Indeed, Trooper Lowe could see that even the Space Marines were making contact with their own transports, whatever they may be. Lowe was in awe of these mighty warriors that he had heard so many stories about growing up in Hive Epsilon on Dantus IV.
Suddenly there was shouting and Lowe turned to look at the source of the commotion. Troopers all about him were pointing at the horizon. Just coming over the peak of the hill was a horde of hideous alien monstrosities. Even at this distance, Lowe could see that they were nothing like the training 'vids had depicted them. As he watched, horrified, more and more of the creatures swarmed over the hill.
"Emperor save us... there's thousands of them!" trembled Lowe.
"Firing positions! Squad, to me!" screamed the sergeant, "Lowe, stop dreaming and get your useless arse over here! You wanted to see action? Well, it looks like you got your wish!"
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Campaign Fluff: The Ancient Darkness
Brother Ignatius staggered as another bladed arm struck his helmet, his combat knife flashed in response drawing a splash of Xeno’s blood.
The Ork force had been mostly blunted but the Tyranid’s were all over them, he and his remaining battle brothers had been overtaken by a sea of small vicious creatures and bladed armed Gaunts. Victory was an impossibility now, they had to pull back and conserve their gene-seed as losing it to these creatures would be unthinkable.
How could this even be, clearing an Ork infestation would be challenge enough but having the Tyranid see them as their own! What kind of monster had those researchers created. To make matters worse the Tyranid’s seemed driven by their unrelenting Hive Mind even without Norn Queens or any higher command organisms. Imperial doctrine listed the elimination of these “Leader-Beasts” as highest priority with their destruction sowing chaos and discord among all their lesser forces. This group however seemingly had no such organisation, had they somehow adapted beyond the need for it or was there a missing piece of the puzzle?
Ignatius suddenly felt a twinge of pain as one of the bladed arms of his foe punched through his torso, his armour quickly dulling the feeling and his arm already in motion tracking his attacker with his bolter, one quick burst shredding the cranium of the creature.
Comms chatter was virtually gone, most of the battle group had been destroyed and Ignatius lead what remained of his squad back, they needed to make it to the plateau for extraction and meet up with the Thunderhawk there to get back to the firebase.
He could see the Ork leader, thundering around on his ramshackle excuse for a vehicle, howling in joy, revelling in the bloodshed. He was brandishing his latest trophies, pieces of the armour of the Sisters sent to aid them.
Then the sun was blotted out and the ground shook with a terrible impact, turning his head he saw it, a monstrous winged creature with huge bladed arms like the one that lead the attack on the research station. The creature towered over him clearly scarred by the battle, it’s carapace was cracked and shattered in places with it’s black ichors seeping from the wounds. Ignatius swung his bolter round tracking a weak spot near the neck, but the creature moved faster than he ever thought possible. Scythed arms lashed out slaying two of his battle brothers before they could even raise their weapons while one struck severing his arm at the elbow.
Casting his blade aside he reached for the Krak grenades at his belt, if he could detonate them he might yet take this beast with him. The world slowed as he reached, sparing a glance at the creature as it tore apart the last of his squad it’s eyes gleaming, but there was no emotion, simply the instinct and the deeper sense of something ancient as the stars themselves staring back from behind them as the creatures head whipped forward with it's razor toothed mouth spread wide…
The Ork force had been mostly blunted but the Tyranid’s were all over them, he and his remaining battle brothers had been overtaken by a sea of small vicious creatures and bladed armed Gaunts. Victory was an impossibility now, they had to pull back and conserve their gene-seed as losing it to these creatures would be unthinkable.
How could this even be, clearing an Ork infestation would be challenge enough but having the Tyranid see them as their own! What kind of monster had those researchers created. To make matters worse the Tyranid’s seemed driven by their unrelenting Hive Mind even without Norn Queens or any higher command organisms. Imperial doctrine listed the elimination of these “Leader-Beasts” as highest priority with their destruction sowing chaos and discord among all their lesser forces. This group however seemingly had no such organisation, had they somehow adapted beyond the need for it or was there a missing piece of the puzzle?
Ignatius suddenly felt a twinge of pain as one of the bladed arms of his foe punched through his torso, his armour quickly dulling the feeling and his arm already in motion tracking his attacker with his bolter, one quick burst shredding the cranium of the creature.
Comms chatter was virtually gone, most of the battle group had been destroyed and Ignatius lead what remained of his squad back, they needed to make it to the plateau for extraction and meet up with the Thunderhawk there to get back to the firebase.
He could see the Ork leader, thundering around on his ramshackle excuse for a vehicle, howling in joy, revelling in the bloodshed. He was brandishing his latest trophies, pieces of the armour of the Sisters sent to aid them.
Then the sun was blotted out and the ground shook with a terrible impact, turning his head he saw it, a monstrous winged creature with huge bladed arms like the one that lead the attack on the research station. The creature towered over him clearly scarred by the battle, it’s carapace was cracked and shattered in places with it’s black ichors seeping from the wounds. Ignatius swung his bolter round tracking a weak spot near the neck, but the creature moved faster than he ever thought possible. Scythed arms lashed out slaying two of his battle brothers before they could even raise their weapons while one struck severing his arm at the elbow.
Casting his blade aside he reached for the Krak grenades at his belt, if he could detonate them he might yet take this beast with him. The world slowed as he reached, sparing a glance at the creature as it tore apart the last of his squad it’s eyes gleaming, but there was no emotion, simply the instinct and the deeper sense of something ancient as the stars themselves staring back from behind them as the creatures head whipped forward with it's razor toothed mouth spread wide…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
