The Dark Compliance

[Vazzy]

 

“What Lurks in the shadows? Hidden by the dancing light? A spark, a strike, a dark might? I know not what lurks in the night, only that I must hide in the light. “

 

 

Gamma Station

Warp Beacon

Edge of Buyarn system

I-day -7

 

The power fluctuates on Gamma station, and Fredrick stirs, exasperated. Always the lights, or the oxygen or something, nothing ever works correctly. He pushes back his thinning hair, the bags under his eyes deep pools of black on his face. He has only been on Gamma station for four years, and yet the twenty five year old looks twice that. He expected this.  Alone for four years at the edge of a system most could care less about, alone on Gamma station, the watchtower for Buyarn VI. He consults his displays, noting discrepancies on levels six and two, and sighs. He orders servitors to those positions, content to let the automatons repair whatever is flux.  He leans back in his chair, propping his feet onto the display, and falls back asleep. He knows he has the power of a battleship at his disposal, and he has nothing to fear, here in the dark.  His laziness, his complacency, doom Buyarn VI, though Fredrick will not know this, nor live to see it so. A light blinks on his display, warning of the imminent Warp translation, Legiones Astartes cruisers, VIII and XIV legions. Traitors. Fredrick doesn’t know this either. Instead, Fredrick dies when the XIVth legion’s cruiser “Sin of Machaca” burns away Gamma station with a single lance shot. Fredrick is the first innocent to die in the opening salvo, but he will not be the last. 

 

Outpost Theta

Buyarn VI

North Pole Macro Station

I-day -4

 

Private Agustin Theo has no desire to be outside in this weather. It is cold, and wet, and he’s pretty sure his balls fell off on the last patrol he did.  He shivers in his flak armor and greatcoat, the thick wool unable to keep out the biting chill.  He wonders why the Frek he signed up with the Auxilia in the first place, then remembers the commercials, with the guy in the uniform and the girls. Oh man the women that guy got. He chuckles darkly. Instead, he’s at the ass end of nowhere, freezing his balls off, not deep in some port side woman. He grumbles, shifting his grenade launcher on his back, rubbing his hands. He sees the flash of a meteor, and a boom signifying it’s impact. He groans quietly, dreading his radio going off. He wants to stay where he’s sat, surrounded by light. His captain calls him over the Vox.

 

“Theo. We’ve got something on the scanners. It’s not that big, but I want you to check it out. Over.”

 

Agustin swears under his breath, shaking his head. “Roger that Captain. I’ll take one of the scout sentinels.” 

 

“Confirmed. Be careful, there’s a storm kicking up”  

 

Agustin shakes his head and climbs up into the armored cockpit of the sentinel, a row of bright floodlights crackling to life.  He smiles as the heater kicks on, holding the cold at bay, even if only temporarily.  The sentinel lurches forward, away from the base, and from the light.  Twenty minutes later, Theo pulls the walker to a halt, leaping from his vehicle, sinking up to his calves in snow. Ahead of him a dark shape looms, casting dark shadows across the white snow.  He approaches it slowly, grenade launcher slung across his chest. It’s an ivory color, though blackened by the heat of atmospheric re-entry, with olive drab highlights. He gets closer, and spots a grinning skull, haloed by a sunburst.  It’s legion droppod. Theo would recognize them anywhere. But it’s not in colors he’s familiar with. It’s not the royal blue of the XIIIth, nor the yellow of the VIIth. He notes a stenciled XIV across one door, but he does not know that legion, hasn’t seen them in the pic-vids.  Suddenly, the lights on his sentinel go out, and Theo is left with only the light of his flashlight. It’s small bubble of light makes him feel safe, less alone in the world. And yet, he realizes he is not alone. He feels very small, and very, very, alone. He suspects this is how an animal feels when confronted by a predator. He tries not to whimper. And then he sees it. It’s stood at the edge of his vision, huge, bulky. He turns slowly, almost comically so, and stares into the face of death itself. Blood covers the white armor, and the unhelmed head has blood dripping from it’s eyes. Theo screams. And screams. And doesn’t stop screaming until the thing finishes with him, his head now gracing its belt. Gresma Truogor looks to his companions around and nods towards the brightly lit base over the hill. They nod, their eye lenses weeping dark, clotted blood, and move at a lope towards the light.Minutes later, the screams began. He smiles,and stands, drizzling blood. The Dark Compliance had begun. 

 

Untitled by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

[Pict image recovered by Pack Broken Arrow, I-day +25]

 

Delegatus Gresma Truolgor by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

Believed to be Delegatus Gresma Truolgor in Crystal city, I-Day +2. Truolgor is believed to have been assigned to the dark compliance after his brutality came to Mortarion's attention during the Istvaan campaign. Truolgor would lead only a small taskforce of XIVth and VIIIth legionaries on Buyarn VI, supporting a large cultist army that would slowly overrun the planet, only to be beaten back by the 117th Buyarn Auxilia regiment and VII and VI legion units. 

[Teetengee]

That font at that size is really hard to read, so I haven't worked through it just yet, however Truolgor is a thing of beauty.

[b1soul]

That font at that size is really hard to read, so I haven't worked through it just yet, however Truolgor is a thing of beauty.

 

I don't find it harder to read...do you have a really small screen?

[Vazzy]

That font at that size is really hard to read, so I haven't worked through it just yet, however Truolgor is a thing of beauty.

Yeah you're right. On a phone its impossible to read. I'll fiddle eith it in the morning.

[Vazzy]

+++INCOMING TRANSMISSION+++

+++PACKET DECRYPTION...PACKET DECRYPTION...+++

+++DECRYPTING+++

+++ID: VIII LEGION//LX COMPANY+++

 

 

 

Untitled by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

Untitled by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

+++FOLLOW UP NEEDED+++
+++REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?+++

 

Y/N

[Pearson73]

Nice work, love the use of parts!

[Daemon2027]

Sweet, love the VIII legion guy.

[depthcharge12]

I would like to know more :P

[Hesh Kadesh]

Reminds me of those forerunners to the Foresaken from WHF equiiped with hooks and grapples to let then climb battlements but the chains hung off their back letting them act as ladders to the rest of the army.

 

Love it. The idea of silence, and pitch blackness... With the tap.. tap... Tapping of the claws on railings, laughter in the night... Then the grating of the dragged chains... So silent hill.

[Relict]

Nice to see you painting/writing again! Will you being putting in more work on the Shadow Crusade blog with me, brother? 

[Vazzy]

Nice to see you painting/writing again! Will you being putting in more work on the Shadow Crusade blog with me, brother?

Of course my friend. I have some updates in the work currently. Just sort of lost the drive for the XIII like i do every year haha.

[Relict]

Ha. I'm gearing up for ETL IV. Looking to finish my World Eaters army and our blog by the end of it (August 2015). Then I'll be working on my Ultramarines/Mechanicum in earnest. 

[Vazzy]

So, question? Where does everyone get those hanging skull bits for their night lords? I'm trying to find some and I don't know where yall got them.

[Daemon2027]

I got mine from secret weapon. They were very good. Also got some corpse bits to.

[Vazzy]

Untitled by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

[believed to be VIII legion Assault Squad trooper, more information required]

[Vazzy]

"I still hear the screams...the wounded, crying for mercy that wouldn't come. They came out the buildong, out of the sewers, killing anything in their way. Imperator Help me, I ran. I ran and hid, like a coward. "

[The Following is collected data on the Buyarn system located on the fringe of Ultramar]

The Buyarn system was recovered by Imperial Forces of the XIIIth legion and the Rogue Trader House Glaber(Who was given the system as a tithe) during their initial push from Terra during the Great Crusade. Occupied by 2 Hospitable planets, and one minor Forgeworld, the Buyarn system was readily accepted into the fold of the budding Imperium. The Glaber family would raise many auxiliary regiments from the planets, though none quite as famous as the 117^th, or “Hounds”, who would fight not only at Calth, but also in the reclamation of their home world three years later. The Buyarn system is a vital outpost in the south of the galaxy, and has managed to defend itself well against xenos incursions. The following is an excerpt on Buyarn culture and background.

“…A relatively developed world, Buyarn VI is similar to what most Archaeo-Historians believe 22^nd century Terra was like, divided into nation states led by a more powerful international organization. Buyarn was indeed like this, and was divided into 15 Nation states. At the time of the Dark Compliance, Buyarn Defense Forces had been in conflict with a religious cult known as the Octed, (now known to be a ploy by the archenemy). The Octed used suicide bombing, coordinated raids, and “arcane” technology to throw some of the southernmost states into disarray. The Octed would rise up in all nation states on the Day of Ash, utilizing the destructive power of the warp to overwhelm Buyarn Defenders…”

“…Well known for the martial culture of her people, Buyarn’s military prowess made them a difficult prospect for the Warmaster’s forces to take without support. As such, 200 Astartes supported the effort, though with the arrival of loyalist forces [REF: VII LEGION/VI LEGION/HOUSE VYRONII/117^th AUXILIA], Horus would pour more manpower into the system in a bid for the forgeworld as well as the arm’s factories located on the planet. The people of Buyarn VI and VII were unfortunately broken by the VIII legion terror tactics, though disorganized resistance met the invaders the first few days, before being eliminated by the XIV legions indiscriminate use of poison gas on populace centers.”

“VII legion forces would arrive first, in response to distress calls sent out three weeks previously,( XIII legion forces had been indisposed, though two squads would make planetfall with Lord Glaber), led by Templar Champion Michael Deutornomus. His small strike force would be comprised of only 50 marines, though ten were his own elite Templar Brethren. They would sustain protracted hit and run campaigns on the Traitor forces until the arrival of Skra of the VI legion two weeks later. Led by He Who Smiles at Pain(?), the Space Wolves would quickly drop into battle, creating a safe zone for loyalist forces to meet. Unfortunately, the loyalist astartes were still outgunned, though salvation would arrive merely three days after the Wolves. Klaus Glaber returned home from Ultramar, his Navigators, nearly all slain in the process of maneuvering through the Ruinstorm. The 117^th would make planetfall, joined by Knights of House Vyronii and Mechanicum forces of the Epsilon Omega Ru, the Forgeworld orbiting the smallest planet in the Buyarn system. For three years, both sides would take and lose ground, with the traitors receiving constant reinforcement from various legions and regiments. Meanwhile, the loyalists would hold position, drafting civilians to merely have bodies to man weapons. During the Scouring, XIII legion forces would make planet fall, relieving the loyalists, and grinding the traitors to dust."

Buyarn VI by vazzy2012, on Flickr

[Continental Map of Buyarn VI-Pre Dark Compliance]

IMPFIST by vazzy2012, on Flickr

[Assault Trooper Vigo I-Day +36]

Brother Androkles by vazzy2012, on Flickr

[Veteran Androkles(WIP) I-Day +40]

[Relict]

The Octed = Chaos ISIS? :P

 

I dig the spare ammo on the pauldron. 

[Vazzy]

The Octed = Chaos ISIS? :P

 

I dig the spare ammo on the pauldron.

Partly...

 

Auxilia WIP up tonight

[Operative]

Enjoyed the read and great work on getting two more painted.

[Vazzy]

 

 

 

“C’mon you sons of bitches, you wanna live forever?”

-Troop Master Daly to members of the 117th Cohort at Bresta Ridge

 

You know, it’s never the guy you think. I mean, the guy who stabs you in the back, the one who takes advantage of you. You’re always watching the big guy, the one who scowls at you in the line. You never suspect the reedy guy next you, the one who can barely shoot straight, or follow orders. You spend your time watching that big dude, and you never realize that it’s the little guy, the “weak one”. Those are the guys you watch, ‘cus they won’t come at you head on. They shoot you in the back and claim the enemy did it.  Growing up in the streets like I did, I knew the type, but you still never see it coming. The XIIIth sure as hell didn’t. I know I didn’t. I remember, we’d just gotten op against the greenskins at Memnas, and were told we’d be going up against them again at Ghaslakh. Seemed a waste, and I know I sure would have appreciated some R’n’R but hey, you take what you get. Too bad what we got was he almost total destruction of Calth. Calth, man, that was a :cussed up situation, too many people, too little room. Lotta dead. :cuss the Word Bearers, :cuss every last one of them. After Calth we’d bounced around Ultramar until we heard the traitors had made land fall on home turf. He burned through six navigators getting us back. Fighting at home, that was…I don’t talk about it much. I’ll say this, I never fought harder. 

-Corporal Israel Haynes

 

The Valkyrie shudders as it hits atmosphere, the dark green panels on the fuselage blistering as the extreme heat licks the edges. Inside stand ten men, armored in gold and green, suits clicking as they speak amongst themselves. At their head is Sergeant Daly, Troop Master of Tercio prime.  He carries a gilded charnabal sabre in one hand, a las pistol in the other. He alone is unhelmed, his chiseled features stoic as the landing bucks around him. He is focused on the vox signals sent up by the local pdf, and is worried. 

 

“This is Antony Aregallo of 7th company! We’re being overrun! Throne alive, what is that! I-“

 

The cry is cut off by a throaty roar, and Daly recognizes the sound of a mas reactive being fired. He winces as the vox returns to life with a scream of agony, then silence. As the Valkyrie clears  the lower atmosphere, the doors slide open, and the 117th is shown what has become of their beloved planet. Below them, the City of Robbery burns, it’s iconic clenched fist collapsed in the heart of the metro district.  Private Stellan mumbles a prayer quietly, to a deity long assumed dead. Daly says nothing, for he too wishes for divine protection. The men are restless, and cry in surprise when anti-air begins to welcome them, taking terminus tercio to the ground. Their Valkyrie judders, a flak shell exploding near the wing.  The transport swoops low, the nose cannon clearing the way for the squad to deploy. Daly raises his sabre, and his men deploy at, rifles singing. Around him, more of the 117th are deploying, their burnished gold armor already failing as stubber lay into the Auxilia. The mob of cultist lays into the men, and Daly sees the true horror of the Heresy. Men, women, elderly, and youths, all of them screaming at him, thirsting for his blood.  He weeps as he cuts down those that could have been his neighbors, the blood painting his face a hot reminder of the people he has failed.

 

“I’ll never forget the those first five minutes in Robbery. The armor hadn’t hit the ground, and the airdropped aegis lines were too far from the dropzone. We ended up digging in and doing our best to hold off the waves of crazed cultists coming at us. It was hard, really hard. Those were our people, people we’d sworn to defend, and yet here we were, shooting them stabbing them. You got 8 year old kids coming at you, and you just kind of…freeze. You can’t shoot this kid, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. But then you see him stab one of your buddies, and you realize, these aren’t the people I swore to save. It’s hard, but someone has to do it. “

 

-Bres Shent, Sergeant, 117th Auxilia

20150412_181755 by vazzy2012, on Flickr

 

[Typical loadout for 117th Auxiliary during Buyarn Liberation]

 

2015-04-12_08-35-29 by vazzy2012, on Flickr

[Gun Cam footage from Valkyrie A00254 shows Auxilia member advancing. Note the teal stripe borne on the right shoulder, represents service on Calth]

[Teetengee]

That music was really well timed to the fluff, well done.

[Daemon2027]

Great job on the background and on the model.

[Operative]

Great fluff once again, I found it especially immersive with the music.

 

Another great miniature, keep it up!

[Relict]

Well done, brother. Very enjoyable. 

 

So does the 117th have a master chief petty officer somewhere in its ranks? :P

[Vazzy]

FB_IMG_1429592318693 by vazzy2012, on Flickr

{First confirmed sighting of Knight Titan "Warmonger" of House Vyronii}

That music was really well timed to the fluff, well done.

Thanks man, I spend a long time looking for music to fit.

Great job on the background and on the model.

Thanks man, hopefully I'll have some VIII legion for y'all later.

Great fluff once again, I found it especially immersive with the music.

Another great miniature, keep it up!

Cool, glad you liked it.

Well done, brother. Very enjoyable.

So does the 117th have a master chief petty officer somewhere in its ranks?

I wasn't going to...but now that you mention it....