The Angels Saga

[Skirax]

Now, many of you may know that I am currently writing the lead-up to the Endtimes in my thread, The Story of Suroh. THIS IS NOT PART OF IT! This is a side project that I hope you enjoy.

 

C&C welcome :D

 

On the traitorous world of Yomnac IV, the Dark Angels lay siege to the capital of the planet, the hole into which the bastard ex-governor crawled after his army was obliterated in a lengthy campaign wrought by the Dark Angels. However, the long siege has led to the Angels getting bogged down in a dangerous and lengthy trench battle. Unable to capitalise on their specialised ‘strike at the heart’ tactic, the traitors have inflicted heavy casualties on the dug-in marines. The Angels, stuck in a burning stalemate, call for help, their cries falling on the ears of the arrogant young chapter of the Angels of Gore.

Following a series of quick and easy victories, the Angels of Gore became proud, this pride leading to arrogance. Believing that they could end the stalemate in one decisive strike, the Angels mustered their strength and prepared to strike at the heart of the rebellion.

 

Gunfire rattled across the wastes, the long stretch of land between the Marine’s trenches and the rebel’s base littered with dead, dying and decaying rebels. Wave after wave of treacherous and corrupted soldiers threw themselves at the meat grinder, the laws preventing the governor from using the old cloning banks beneath the citadel ruefully lifted, and the corrupted machines pumped out unending armies of untrained men. The self-automated artillery batteries had been possessed by deamons, bound to the machines through forbidden combinations of science and sorcery looming menacingly atop the towers of the fortress. These machines were pounding the Marines’ lines, constantly attempting to force them back. Any attempts at breaking the siege had been effortlessly thrown back, each side finding it easier to defend positions than to take them. Sergeant Fucis yelled long the line, his helmet torn away and his vox bead malfunctioned, his voice just reaching the Heavy Bolter marine a few feet down from him. The Marine nodded at his command, then released the activation stud. The rattle of gunfire ended abruptly, the entire counter-invasion force repelled. Several Marines lay amongst the ruined bodies of the rebels, an odd and ungainly sight. Survivors of the latest battle limped back from the killing ground, several of them missing fingers, or in the worst cases, a limb.

Suddenly the vox erupted in a cacophony if cheers. Fucis looked sideways at his brothers, but when he saw the same puzzlement in their body language, he called into the vox.

‘This is Sergeant Fucis of the Dark Angels, identify!’ he cried over the vox-unit as the skies were filled the roaring of god. ‘I repeat, come in!’ His reply was a deafening volley of battle cries and cheers to the Emperor. Then the sound was drained out as a large ship appeared in the sky, the symbol of a black hand with a blood drip coming into view. A scroll as long as Fucis ran across the side on a door, the text reading:

Angels of Gore

Cheers came up from the Dark Angels, their sorrow at the dreadful campaign gone in an instant. The ship was joined with more of it’s kind, all Thunderhawk transporters. As Assault Marines leapt from the craft, Terminators teleported onto the killing ground and the sky was split with a thousand drop pods. The vast pods hammered into the ground, spitting up dirt and ash. Bodies were crushed beneath the boots of giants, and Sternguard and Tactical Marines were disgorged from the pods. The might of the Angels of Gore had come to Yomnac IV.

Strafing runs ran along the walls, the Guardsmen obliterated in an instant. The gate-house fell open and, in response, hundreds upon hundreds of guardsmen poured out. Their weapons out of ammunition and their bombs depleted, the Thunderhawks retreated back into the Battle Barge. A cry went across both the Angels’ lines, the Dark Angels shouting ‘Repent! For tomorrow, you die!’ and the Angels of Gore yelling ‘Through blood and gore, for the Emperor!’ the entire gathering of marines threw themselves at the rebels. Bones smashed and heads caved in under the Marines’ merciless assault, and the Guardsmen vainly threw knives and lunged with bayonets at the Astartes, hoping to wound them. Some men fell to the floor, their power cables cut and the weight of the armour too much for them. Other had an unlucky knife lodge itself into the weak points of the armour, or eye sockets pierced by corrupted power weapons. At the centre of the rebels’ lines, a traitorous Commissar chanted prayers to the gods of Chaos, meanwhile his accursed power sword cleaving Marines in two. Fucis saw this man and charged full strength at him. Raising his chainsword, he leapt a full five foot into the air, his superhuman strength carrying him. Bringing his weapon down, he severed the man’s head in a single swipe, then picked it up and tossed it back into the rebels’ midst. Scared by the loss of their leader, the guardsmen fled backwards, but the Marines were caught off guard. Too focussed with the combat, the Marines were put on the back-foot, and were now staring down the barrels of hundreds of lasguns. In one almighty volley, the assembly of rebels fired, las-bolts searing through the air, most harmlessly pinging off the Astartes great amour, but some found their marks and began felling the great figures. Some became several, and several became many as the Marines were slowly pinned and slowed down. Some Astartes reached the enemy lines, but they were so helplessly outnumbered that they died a horrible, un-honourable death. Eventually, as one, the remaining Marines threw off the oppressive weight of fire and charged at the enemy. Like an unstoppable juggernaut, the Astartes took the entire re-formed lines of rebels by surprise. Hundreds died beneath the Astartes’ unforgiving blows, and the lines buckled then broke as blow after hate filled blow was landed on the rebels. Now retreating, the guardsmen cried out in pain and shock, thoughts that the gods had abandoned them filling their minds and then the air. Without mercy, the Marines followed through, giving the traitors no sanctuary and culling the entire lot. Laying waste to the city, and finally destroying the cloning banks even as clones threw themselves at the demolition teams, the Astartes had finally beaten the traitors, and the head of the ex-governor was now skewered atop the central spire of the fortress as a grisly reminder of the fait that awaits those who defy the Emperor.

 

The Angels of Gore left soon after, mentioning something about pirate raids in Segmentum Solar. Fucis saw the look in his commander, Simoleo’s eye, and realised he thought something was amiss. Approaching his commander, Fucis bowed as the great soldier acknowledged his presence. He smiled at Fucis, then beckoned that he stand. ‘You are concerned, my Lord,’ said Fucis.

Simoleo’s smile faded. ‘Yes brother, I am,’ he said. ‘They were too arrogant, and that arrogance cost many Astartes their lives today. I remember serving alongside the Angels a short time ago, when they had their christening battle, and there was no hint of arrogance then. I believe it is our duty to follow these men.’ As he finished his speech, Fucis was sure he was hinting at something. Then it dawned on him.

‘You don’t mean...?’ he asked hopefully.

Simoleo was silent for a minute, then spoke. ‘I’m afraid I do, brother,’ he said calmly and yet with a hint of sadness. ‘These men have been chosen as pawns, and it is our job to ensure that they are freed of their masters, even if they do not know they are being controlled. Brother,’ he said, laying a hand on Fucis’ shoulder, ‘they were damned long ago.’

 

Part two coming soon.

[antique_nova]

a few tactical errors ^^. but good ;). like why didn't the DA use thunderhawks and podds and scout scouts behind enemy lines? and why did the reinforcements land their men from thunderhawks outside the fortress? how did they get in the fortress? a commissar facing multiple marines would get ripped to shreads. not the other way round, but he could kill one or two.

thanks

antique_nova

[Skirax]

Read the first part again. DA are bogged down in a long campaign, and how could you send scouts into such a heavily defended fortress. The AoG mistakes are blatant because that is the way to show their arrogance and the comissar was a Lord, plus he's been enchanted by Chaos etc.

[Firenze]

I love it! A few tactic errors. DA will go back after each battle to remount in pods to attack once more.