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Dogs of War


Firenze

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Prolouge:

 

The noise was deafening, a crazed cacophony of sounds pounding at Axii's eardrums. The thunp of the artilerry, the screamiing of shells and dying men, the sharp crack of las rounds searing the air. The assualt on the loyalist scum had ground to a bloody halt, neither force able to breach the other's trench works. He ran along the trench, being careful to avoid the pits of sludge that seemed to fill every hole. He reached a fire point, the autocannon team staioned there pumping shot after shot towards the enemy ranks throught the thick mist.

 

suddenly the sharp note of the pact leaders whistle came through the chorus of war, commanding all to the charge. Axii scrambled up the wall to assault even as the mud pulled him back.

 

He sprinted across the crated filled No-mans land, ducking and weaving through the craters and little cover there was. But something seemed different. The din of the battle had changed, another noise had joined in. The tread of a giant. With that he looked up to see the collosal metal foot of the Imperial Warhound Titan come down to crush him utterly. There was no more noise for Axii after that....

 

Chapter 1 to be up tommorow! :P

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Chapter 1:

 

He could swear the Lupus Lux was enjoying this, crushing the traitor infantry underfoot like he would do to insects as they ran back towards their lines. he didnt even need to unleash the main guns. Sirius smiled, his grin turning into a snarl as the Lux's battle lust came through the MIU. Calm down old girl, he thought. He searched the ground for any survivors.

 

None left.

 

<Moderati, start a passive scan> he canted.

<Aye my Princeps> canted back Alexii. Within a second, they had full knowledge of the surrounding area up to 5 kilometres away. Nothing seemed to be unusual until....

'Oh Throne.....'

Three large icons moved slowly towards their position. There was only one class of machine other than a Troop lander that could give a signature like that. They came. Side by side through the mist, striding the battlefield like the gods of war themselves.

 

Engines...

 

<Bring us round 45 right, move to flank speed and charge main weapons to full!> Sirius ordered.

<Aye!> came the chorus of replies.

Now we will see who has the better engine mused Sirius.

<We have a visual!> canted Alexii. <3 Reaver class engines, one looks moderatly damaged.>

<Give me a solution!>

<Already done.>

<Firing>

The left weapon arm discharged, a beam of high powered energy crashed into the renegade titan, the sheilds blossoming brightly before collapsing in a flash of light, blinding the two companion reavers. The Lux fired again, the salvo spearing through the cockpit and careening through the energy core at the heart of the titan, tearing the enemy asunder as the core overloaded, the shockwave knocking one of its squadron members down onto one knee.

<Engine kill! Engine kill! Pull us out Steersman Marbo, lest we suffer the same fate>

<Aye Princeps.>

 

The Lux slunk back into the fog, leaving behind the searing wreckage of the first blood...

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<Engine kill! Engine kill! Pull us out Steersman Marbo, lest we suffer the same fate>

Marbo? :D ;)

 

Nice, though, I find it hard to believe that a Warhound Titan would manage to kill a Reaver before a firefight erupted, then it shrank backwards into the darkness. Maybe make it slightly more believable...

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<Engine kill! Engine kill! Pull us out Steersman Marbo, lest we suffer the same fate>

Marbo? ;) :P

 

Nice, though, I find it hard to believe that a Warhound Titan would manage to kill a Reaver before a firefight erupted, then it shrank backwards into the darkness. Maybe make it slightly more believable...

If you read it properly the Reaver was already heavily damaged. But why it was will all be reavealed later....

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  • 1 month later...
Even if it wasn't heavily damaged it would be beleivable. In the book titanicus the first kill made by the Legio Invictus is a warhound titan against a fully operational reaver titan. it may have been unbeleivable if the warhound had of killed all 3 reavers or even 2 but to kill one and dissapear isn' t really far fetched at all it is alot smaller then a reaver and alot faster and so could discharge weapons and dissapear before they could even react.
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Thanks Guys... And now for Chapter 2!!

 

 

3 Days later:

 

The ground shook to the tread of the warhound as it sprinted onwards, it's auspex pinging on passive, searching, sniffing for the scrapcode stench of the archenemy. They had been hunting for the past 3 days now without refit or re-load.

<Alexii, do you have anything?> Sirius asked.

<No sir, nothing as of... wait, I'm getting a faint plasma signature...> replied Alexii.

<Run it through the records>

<Done sir. It seems to be from the Reaver we knocked down 3 days ago>

<Steersman bring us to a halt and go silent>

The warhound slewed to a halt, the earth below churning as it skidded slightly. The Lux growled inside their heads, anticipating a fight.

<Sir, we have a location for the engine. Five klicks from here> canted Alexii.

Sirius smiled. <Lets go get him then>

The power plant roared back into life, like the hunting cry of a wild animal, and the warhound began to sprint along the trail left by the enemy. The hunt was on...

 

They kept going, past wreckage of buildings the reaver had burst through, catching all the while.

<How far now?> asked Sirius.

<one minute till contact>

<Good. This is taking too long>

 

The loped onwards, following the trail all the while. They came round a water tower, spotting the enemy reaver gleefuly tearing apart an Imperial Strongpoint. It seemed to be laughing from it's augmitters.

<I'll give it something to laugh about> canted Sirius.

The Lupus Lux ran across the open ground, unloading a punishing barrage into the enemy's sheilds. The engine turned to face them, it's right weapon arm firing at the warhound. The shells exploded across the Lux's nose sheilds.

<Voids hit! Voids holding at 78% Strength!>

The scout titan began to jink from side to side, the reavers cannon tearing into the ground where the warhound had been. Then the reaver's weapon cycled out, out of ammunition. Annoyed by this, reaver engaged it's power fist, the massive weapon crackling with awesome power.

<engage close combat weapon> ordered Sirius.

The warhound's right arm claced into shape, becoming a mighty chainblade.

<Now,> said Sirius, <who wants to make the first move...>

 

The reaver charged, the earth shaking as it careened towards the Lux.

<Left now!!>

The warhound leapt to the left, narrowly missing the swinging power fist. The Lux swung its weapon, the chainblade carving through the back of the reaver, immobilising it. The Lux disengaged its chainblade raising it's guns to the reavers exauhst.

<lets kill this sick creature...> canted Sirius.

The Lux unloaded a humongus barrage into the reaver, tearing it asunder as the las rounds punched through the hull. It stopped firing as the reaver toppled over, shattering into fragments.

<Lets go get another>

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Chapter 3:

 

The remaining blastgun opened up, the energy bolts like miniture suns screaming towards the enemy warhound. The other gun had been destroyed in a fight with a Reaver two weeks ago, yet they hadn't been able to get to refit yet. The Lupus Nox span on it's axis, firing as it did so as the corrupted titan ran for cover behind a broken building. Princeps Arun grinned.

<Moderatii, open up> he canted.

Ovaco grinned back. <Yessir!>

The warhound's single gun erupted with fire, tearing throught the building and into the unfortunate warhound behind, shredding it asunder, blowing it apart in a fireball.

<Good Kill>. The spirit of the Nox growled an agreement. It was a fine kill.

 

But something was wrong. He checked the auspex. There, three blips moving towards him, and they were big. The lupus Nox turned to face the threat, and die like a true Titan, as a transmission came through.

<Princeps Arun respond. This is the Lupus Lux>

<This is Arun. Nice to hear your voice Sirius.>

<I brought friends>

Arun turned to the crew on the bridge of the titan.

<Disengage weapons, its friendlies> The Nox powered down its gun with a whine of power being released. The Lux burst through the trees, skidding to a halt in front of the Nox. Then Arun spotted the other blips...

 

A massive Reaver came through the gap, twin gatling cannons hanging from its arms and a huge missile pod in between its shoulders. Loki, commanded by Skaro. A bit of a joker, Loki was the perfect engine for him. Next to it, a larger figure. Thor, The first and finest engine of the Legio Annihalatum, brandishing a hammer the size of the Warhounds in front of it. Commanded by the First Princeps, Wulf.

 

The fight was about to go up a gear.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Chapter 4

 

Sergeant Johnson ran through the fire. Enemy armour was pushing throught the Terrace District, and there was no support that they could muster. He slid behind a broken chunk of rubble, chest heaving with the effort of darting from cover to cover. He flicked open a channel to command on the vox.

'This is Seargeant Johnson of the 12th Varonian Airborne. We need heavy armour support in the Terrace District NOW!' he shouted into the microbead. 'Enemy armour and Engines moving through the area.'

'Johnson, we have sent in a small group of engines to support. ETA, one minute.'

Johnson leapt up, spraying las rounds into the oncoming traitor infantry, cutting down a couple at the front. He ducked back down as a shell shook the ground nearby. The earth shook again, this time no shells landed. He looked to the horizon as the matte black figures of four Legio Ahniallatum Titans strode into battle.

 

*

 

In the cockpit of the Lupus Lux, the mood was getting tense. The Lux could smell the enemy engines around here...

<Sirius to the Nox, Can you see anything?> voxed Sirius, simultaneously wiping out a couple of enemy Vanquishers that had gotten a little too brave.

<Negative, the scopes are clear of engines. For now> came the voice of Arun.

<Come with me, the Lux has got the scent of something, and I think I know it.>

<Be careful my friends> said Wulf. <Tread carefully and watch your backs. Me and Skaro have this fight.>

<Thank you sir> replied Arun, as the Warhounds loped off along the trail of the enemy.

 

Two hours later, the warhounds came to a halt outside the ruined Daedalus Highway. The heavens had opened, and the rain had came down in torrents. The auspex was on passive, circling round. Suddenly, a large beacon appeared on the screen of the auspex. Another engine. But this one seemed to be huge.

<WARLORD!!> screamed Arun over the vox, as the massive brute coming round the side of the manufactorum was revealed.

 

The two warhounds bounded straight into action, the plasma blastguns of the Nox shredding away at the void shields of the enemy engine. Sirius stared at the titan through the Manifold. It was larger than most usual Warlord class engines, this one having blackened plates over the entire frame, rusted joints and weld lines, yet it moved with speed. The Warlord aimed at the circling Lux.

<We just been locked!> Shouted the Moderatii.

<Brace!>

The shots crashed into the Lux, knocking it sideways through a wall. The Lux kept on going through the otherside unhindered.

<Voids holding at 48%. we cant take another hit like that!>

The Lux opened up, pummeling the front voids while the Nox was scampering round and firing at the rear. All of a sudden, the Warlord experience total shield failure, the Voids blowing out in a bloom of light. The reactor went next, tearing the warlord completely asunder. The Lupus Lux and Nox stopped firing and came to a halt.

<Good Kill Arun>

<We both killed it>

Sirius grinned. <Lets go hunt the rest down>

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  • 3 weeks later...

Wow, that was tasteful! A bit more salt and pepper would be appreciated, though. Like the battle with the Warlord.. a few more lines describing the battle. Other then that, good read, and as mentioned before, Titanicus-esque! Two warhounds taking out a Warlord, that's stuff of legend..

 

Keep it coming, Firenze! I stand ready with fork and knife to devour your fluff! :)

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A little fleshing out could be used here.

 

The tale takes place upon the world of Ligatum VI in 956M41. It is very like nowaday Earth, but has been invaded by traitor forces. The Legio Ahnialatum was requesitioned to defend the planet. Dogs of War follows the Lupus Lux and a small selection of the Legio throughout the course of their most famous action.

 

A new enemy shall be revealed next, a faction that creates a three way worldwide war... One even this one Legio cannot stop...

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Chapter 5

 

[2 Months Later, next continent to be conquered]

 

The engine kept coming, it’s jump jets, sending it flying through the air like some awesome bird of prey, hunting down the last of the company as they fled for shelter and support. Laskii ducked behind a wall, panting heavily as he hid. He reached down for his service pistol to find it wasn’t there.

Must have fallen out earlier, he thought as the Eldar engine loped onwards past his hiding position. He breathed a sigh of relief as it passed. He had survived it. He looked around at the devastation before him, shattered everywhere, vibrated into a pulp by the xenos sonic cannons. He leant forward, hefting up a dropped rifle. Still good. He checked the magazine, noting that he had twenty shots left. Standing up, he ran towards the shattered highway that connected the hives, hoping and praying he would find friendlies he could link up with.

 

Slowing down to a jog as he approached the roadside, he heard a faint rumbling, like a couple of giants in the distance running after a herd of livestock. The rumbling grew louder, the source coming closer all the time. Laskii span to look behind him, sighting movement in the trees. He crouched behind an overturned civilian road car, raising his rifle to his shoulder. Suddenly a grav tank burst through the trees, swooping over his head, the downdraft flinging him to the floor. The tank swung round, its turret analysing the target. The xenos vehicle then exploded, speared through the middle by a beam of blinding light, the overpressure flinging the remnants of the vehicle over the road. The source of the fire and the rumbling came into view, two matt black warhound titans. Behind them came a convoy of Imperial chimeras and battle tanks. Laskii cried out, jumping up to gain the attention of the convoy. It slewed to a halt, three storm trooper squads in black armour and blue-grey camo clothing leapt out, weapons drawn and aimed at the lone trooper. The sergeant came towards him, signalling the others to lower their weapons as the two titans watched overhead.

‘Identify yourself,’ ordered the sergeant, his voice gruff form the fumes of the tanks.

‘Sergeant Laskii of the 3rd Maravian Regiment, sir,’ replied Laskii.

‘Come with us, we’ll take you back to the hive.’

A flood of relief went through Laskii as he was led towards the waiting chimeras. Yet that was when all hell broke loose.

 

Suddenly, three enemy titans leapt over the tree line, missiles streaking towards the idling vehicles, obliterating them in a flurry of fire and shrapnel that cut down the storm troopers and the unfortunate guardsman. The warhounds leapt back sprinting to cover as they went into battle ready mode.

 

*

 

The warhounds, the Lupus Lux and the Lupus Nox ran on toward the canyon at the end of the highway, jinking left to right as they avoided the Eldar fire.

<Steersman, go right! Hide us behind that manufactorum!> canted Princeps Sirius.

<Aye!> canted back the steersman.

The Lupus Lux turned to the right as the Nox went to the left.

<Bloody Eldar bastards. Moderati, bring turbos to full. We’ll gut these engines like the scrapshunts they are.>

<Aye!> canted back Moderati Alexii.

The warhound skidded to a halt, reversing direction as its twin came round the back of the enemy titans.

<Fire!>

 

The warhound ran back round the side of the building firing all guns at one of the engines, taking advantage of the confusion that they had caused when they split up. The enemy titans began firing back, the supercharged energy beams splashing off of the void shields. Suddenly one of the enemy engines exploded dramatically as the Lupus Nox came round the back of them, its plasma cannons firing shot after shot into them. The Eldar revenants attempted to disengage before being mercilessly cut down by the warhounds combined fire.

<A good kill, Sirius,> said the Lupus Nox’s Princeps Arun over the vox.

<Too true,> replied the Lux’s Princeps.

<Lets go. They probably got a signal out to their forces. We better get moving now.>

<Acknowledged. Lets roll.>

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