Trilogy 4 (alpha) - Escalation

[Sigismund229]

Once again thank you for the notes simsion, they shall.be edited in. In the meantime and beore I go to sleep: fluff for the fluff god!

The Storm Breaks

With the subsidiary assaults under way, the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors set their course for the Dominion of Mycenae. However, where the warp had been a raging whirlpool for much of the Insurrection, for this vast armada it seemed to open up and speed them on their way rather than slowing them. Warriors and crew would also later report strange and horrifying nightmares and being able to hear laughter and screams, both of bloodlust and agony, through the geller fields. Alexos Travier claimed that it was his Aztekis gods who had calmed the warp in order to allow the armada to pass through it relatively unhindered and that the calm tides of the warp were a sure sign of their approval.

 

No matter the cause of the calming of the warp, its result is indisputable. When the armada arrived over its first target, it was largely intact having lost only a few minor ships and the remaining ships arriving at around the same time, something that was near miracle for a warp jump of such size.

 

The world over which the armada arrived was the hive world of Mortax, a world which supplied a great number of recruits to Clan Karakal of the Crimson Lions. While it had a substantial force stationed upon it, 1000 Crimson Lions of Clan Karakal as well as 6 million Leonic Auxilia, the Berserkers and Eagle Warriors assault was swift and unexpected. The orbital defences of Mortax fell in less than an hour and soon drops pods daubed in black and grubby white or sea green were descending on the world. From them in their tens of thousands emerged roaring Berserkers of Uran and chanting Eagle Warriors firing their bolters into the ranks of the Leonic Auxilia.

 

Rallying around their Uemos', the Leonic Auxilia and the inhabitants of Mortax fought hard. While they made the traitors pay in blood for every street corner and the Crimson Lions stationed on Mortax fought with an anger and fury only dead men walking can match, as the traitor vanguard pushed them further back and more and more traitor forces were landed, the odds were stacked ever further in favour of the traitors. Once in a while, the ever retreating Leonic Auxilia would down a traitor through sheer weight of lasgun fire but they paid for every asartes they downed with ten thousand of their own number. As they fought their way through the hive tunnels, the Berserkers of Uran made liberal use of flam, phosphex and rad weaponry, inflicting terrible losses on the population as well as the Leonic Auxilia.

 

First one hive fell. Then two, then three until finally the only hive city remaining in Imperial hands was Mortaxia Civitas Heptatius on the planet's north pole. Its defences fell in just two hours, with the last defenders being led by Uemos Kereidh around the vox station(the Uemos himself endured an indirect plasma blast and pulled himself onto a Berserker sergeant's sword in order to get close enough to decapitate him). The massacre that followed lasted days, as the Eagle Warriors sacrificed millions of Mortaxians to their gods and the Berserkers, impressed by the fortitude of the world's inhabitants, tested thousand of Mortaxian youths and inducted those deemed worthy into their own ranks while killing those deemed unworthy.

 

By the time the massacre finished, perhaps 23% of Mortax's population had been killed. A month after the invasion, that figure had risen to 51% as Mortaxians succumbed to the effects of rad and phosphex weaponry. None of the defenders of Mortax survived and no ships of her orbital defences escaped while the traitors had lost no ships and very few astartes, possibly as few as 1000, and the Berserkers had recruited more than sufficient Mortaxian youths to make up for their losses. As the ashes of Mortax settled, Alexos Travier delivered a speech to the assmbled legionaries of the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors, declaring that their holy work had begun.

[bluntblade]

You know, a solid bout of kayaking is really good for letting your brain relax and letting thoughts float to the surface. I'll start writing up the siege shortly, but I could do with some appropriate numbers for the mortal defenders and the attacking side.

[bluntblade]

One more bit to do, then I'll have a draft for the Siege. Though I'll have to finish that in an hour or so.

[Chief Captain Redd]

If you're still curious Iron Bears' 2nd Grand Wartribe can join the fray from day 1 pretty much, but Lord Chief Redd's reinforcements won't arrive till near the Cadia campaign.

[bluntblade]

Redd takes a hand too? Damn, this is all more complex than I'd realised. What I have so far is the Second and Nibaasiniiwi (who I think we agreed will share the title of Warchief with Cass at that stage) and Cass' force being the first reinforcements to reach Cadia, and Hectarion's not far behind.

[Kelborn]

Where will Ezebinkk be? He will most likely be accompanied by Harkon and his sub company of the Nightwolves.

 

Also have a minor battle between them and the Helriders plus mortal regiments or cognis elements in mind.

[bluntblade]

I have Harkon helping to flatten the Corpora Ferro on Cadia

[Chief Captain Redd]

@Bluntblade; Don't you remember? You're the one who wanted Redd to take part originally, rushing in from Terra. So it's just him and the Ironbound with most of the 4th still on Terra.

 

@Kelborn It's far easier to just call him his nick of Ezekiel, but he'll be in the thick of it leading the 2nd.

[bluntblade]

I evidently didn't. Actually, I think it was meant to be him, Cass and Nibaasiniiwi spearheading that mad dash to Cadia because of the call from the Knights Errant.

[Sigismund229]

You know, a solid bout of kayaking is really good for letting your brain relax and letting thoughts float to the surface. I'll start writing up the siege shortly, but I could do with some appropriate numbers for the mortal defenders and the attacking side.

I gave you the mortal defender numbers I think. 1 million Leonic Auxilia, 20 million tribal militia

 

And also, the vanguard of the relief force will be composed of th Iron Bears, Inroiar and Clan Tauran(who are gallic cavalry rather than hit and run)

Edited August 28, 2016 by Sigismund229

[bluntblade]

OK, here's the draft as it stands.

 

+++++

 

As Alexos and Raktra neared the Eye of Terror, they set in motion a grand diversion upon the surface of Cadia itself. Under the command of Dominator Innorvak and Tlacaelel of the Eagle Warriors, the bulk of the two Legions descended on Cadia, surrounding Camulonum and laying siege to the great fortress. This would serve two purposes, rousing Hectarion to a fury that could expose him to corruption by the daemon shard within him, and tying up the bulk of his forces so they could not interfere.

 

Cadia was the fief world and stronghold of Clan Askar, whose forces were bolstered by the fearsome Clan Karakal and four companies of the Halcyon Wardens, as well as a large contingent of militia and Leonid Auxilia.

 

Once the defence fleet was swept aside, the traitor fleet took up positions above Camulonum. While the fortress's shielding was enough to resist the bombardment, anything outside the walls for 50 kilometres in every direction was pulverised, giving the defenders little chance of preventing the attackers from making planetfall. At the same time the fearsome guns with which Clan Garda had armed Camulonum prevented any landings close within that circumference.

 

The result was a series of running tank battles in which the Halcyon Wardens’ mechanised units proving their worth against the Eagle Warriors, with the mortal troops laying minefields for the invaders. For two days they successfully stalled them in this no man's land. On the third, however, the the mightiest of the traitors’ Titans approached the fortress. Against two Warlords and an Imperator an open assault would be suicidal, and Myrvallen Hothor gave the order to retreat. Reluctantly, Karakal and the Codicii deferred to his knowledge of the battlefield.

 

-----

 

The walls held for roughly a day, a tremendous feat considering the weapons with which the hereteks of Cognis had armed the invaders. Now the fighting shifted to a brutal ckose-quarters affair, street-by-street as on Mortax. However, the artful work of Garda went beyond the outer defences; within, the architecture was designed to hinder any attacker, full of choke-points and vantage points from which the defenders could rain down gunfire upon their enemies.

 

Yet the tenacity of their enemies was seemingly unending, as were the ranks of their mortal slaves. On two occasions barricades were overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the cultists’ numbers as the fanatics, products of a thousand penal colonies and preached to endlessly by the Eagle Warriors, surged forward to die for their masters. The violence of the Berserkers was greater than ever, though they refrained from using the Destroyer weapons at their disposal. The battle within the fortress raged for two days, without pause. All the defenders could do was endure, hoping that their gene-sire would arrive before their defence gave out.

 

----

 

Reinforcements were close, but they were not Crimson Lions. Unlooked for, a fleet of the Iron Bears tore their way into realspace and descended upon the traitors. They were a force cobbled together from the First and Fourth Great Wartribes, led by Lord Chiefs Redd, Cass and Nibaasiniiwi. How they masked their approach and travelled so quickly is unknown, but theories include a member of the Nightguard, covert agents operating at Malcador the Sigillite’s behest, the guidance of the Emperor Himself or even Turrus, the renegade apothecary of the IIIrd Legion.

 

Whatever the means, they struck with a ferocity that left the traitor fleet reeling and in disarray, securing positions from which to deploy their troops against the besiegers. Warchiefs Redd and Nibaasiniiwi led the fastest armoured units against them which, coupled with a pinpoint bombardment from orbit, brought down the Titans and then wreaked bloody havoc among the Traitor lines.

 

The defenders in Camulonum were quick to respond as the enemy faltered, and began to drive them back. Beyond the walls the plains ran with blood as the Bears grappled with the Eagle Warriors and the mortal zealots who served as their soldiers. The defender's morale soared as another force drew near; Hectarion himself this time. However, the Primarch would not intervene personally once he learned that his erstwhile brothers were elsewhere. Instead he sent the bulk of his forces to help break the siege, while he went in pursuit of Raktra and Travier.

 

The Insurrectionists were quick to realise their situation, and swiftly fell into a fighting retreat. In a bitter blow, Innorvak challenged and slew Myrvallen Karakal as the Berserkers withdrew from the city. But the traitors' most depraved act of savagery was directed at the Bears, as a hundred Blood Boilers launched a suicide attack with phosphex bombs.

 

The Bears reeled, as their brothers suffered agonising deaths from the Blood Boilers’ chem-weapon onslaught. But worse was to come, as the Eagle Warriors unveiled a maniple of the Corpora Ferro. These cyborgs, formed from dead Astartes and animated by baleful Warp energies, were also prone to the ruinous effects of the phosphex, but felt none of the agony that the Bears did, and would kill as long as their bodies were intact. Nibaasiniiwi's force was driven into a scrambling retreat, as to engage the monstrous creations in hand-to-hand was to be consumed down by the phosphex. Redd's endured by dint of their slower advance, which had allowed the Knights of House Harkon to keep pace with them.

 

Total disaster for Nibaasiniiwi and his comrades was averted by the arrival of the second wave under Cass. Under their guns the Corpora Ferro were swiftly obliterated, but the abominations had served their purpose, and the bulk of the surviving traitors escaped to orbit. From here, they disengaged and set off in pursuit of their masters.

[Kelborn]

Harkon can split its forces: two clans at cadia, three over there

 

they have 13 clans in total with one being annihilated and one at nordmar as a garrison

[Sigismund229]

Just one thing: do the Bears arrive as the vanguard of the relief force or seperately?

[bluntblade]

Nibaasiniiwi's and Redd's is seperate. I'm thinking the 2nd link up with Hectarion.

[Sigismund229]

Done some more. Next up is the Gidion Rift.

 

The Raging Storm

Mortax was just the first world to fall. It was soon followed by half a dozen others as the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors attacked more and more worlds and various splinter fleets broke off from the main force to attack less well defended worlds. On many of the worlds that fell to them, there had been only a small or non existant Crimson Lion presence and the defenders had been the brave soldiers of the Leonic Auxilia. While better drilled and disciplined than many units of the Imperial Army, the Leonic Auxilia were no match for warriors of the Legiones Astartes and could provide no more than a speed bump. Nonetheless, they fought for all they were worth, inflicting casualties of ten to one or more against the hordes of crazed fanatics driven into battle by the Eagle Warriors and bringing down even a few legionaries through weight of concentrated firepower. One notable example of the courage and determination displayed by the Leonic Auxilia was that of the 509^th infantry cohort. Part of the garrisson of Iridia, the 509^th turned a collection of barn houses into an impromptu bunker, defending it for a week against the assaults of the traitor Army and cultist units. Eventually, the traitors decided to gas the 509^th out of their fortifications, unleashing terrible chemical weapons against them against which the Auxilia troopers had no defense save the cloths they wrapped around their mouths. Led in person by Captain Gasg of the Berserkers of Uran, the traitor troopers attacked again to be confronted by a charge by the remaining troopers of the 509^th, still coughing up their lungs into the cloths they'd tied around their mouths. While they were annihilated, their determination earned them the unusual accolade of a salute from Captain Gasg.

 

However, not all worlds had only the Leonic Auxilia defending them. On the world of Strans, the traitors found there to be a force of 12,000 Crimson Lions(mainly of Clan Briganda) defending the world alongside the Leonic Auxilia. Locking their shields together into a shield wall, the Crimson Lions fought hard, fighting like madmen. Indeed, there were many instances recorded of Crimson Lions dropping their shields and charging forwards into the traitor ranks, fighting pretenaturally fast and hacking their way through dozens of traitors before being killed themselves even as the traitors hammered themselves against the Crimson Lions shield wall, trying to break through the solid wall of shields.

 

While the Crimson Lions defending Strans were killed to a man, they had exacted a heavy price on the traitors before succumbing and had, more importantly, held the traitors long enough to send warning to their primarch who had been mustering a large force of legionnaries that he had been ordered by the Warmaster to lead against the Godslayers.

 

However, hearing of the attack on Strans, Hectarion decided that he would lead his legionaries against the traitors attacking his fief. Sending his apologies to the Warmaster, Hectarion set course for the borders of the Dominion which the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors were butchering their way through intent on halting their attack and exacting revenge for the III^rd legion blood that the traitors had spilt.

 

@blunt: If you're done with Cadia, could you do the aftermath of the Blood Crusade or check if Raktra needs any help with 'Serkers fluff?

Edited August 28, 2016 by Sigismund229

[Sigismund229]

First part of the battle of Gidion Rift

 

The battle of the Gidion Rift

 

The Attack on Aran

The place at which the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors would meet the Crimson Lions was the Gidion Rift. Both sides would emerge from the warp at the Gidion Rift for the simple reason that it was one of the few points on the Dominion of Mycenae's eastern border where a stable warp jump could be made. All around it the warp was, for the most part, prone to storms from which even sturdy warp faring vessels stood little chance of emerging. So both fleets set course for the Gidion Rift in order to take advantage of the relative stability of the warp in the region.

 

The first fleet to arrive was the traitor armada. However, rather than immediately making a warp jump, they began to head towards the world of Aran, intent on its destruction. However, unlike those worlds they had attacked so far, Aran was a heavily fortified world that served as both a fortress to guard the Gidion Rift and a resupply point. Its orbital defences were vast, consisting a dozen star forts and thousands of ground to orbit missiles and defences cannons on the world's surface in addition to its not inconsiderable fleet and garrisson of 15,000 Crimson Lions and 23 million Leonic Auxilia and the warning from Strans had given the garrisson time to arm an additional 30 million militia. By any conventional reckoning, Aran was a formidable fortress and any force attacking it would incur heavy casualties.

 

However, this did not deter the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors, who arrived in orbit over Aran at full attack speed and with their weapons batteries opening fire on the defence fleet and launching boarding pods at the defence forts. Within two hours, the defence fleet of Aran had been annihilated. However, the defence forts, defended by bionic enhanced members of the Leonic Auxilia and over 2000 of the Crimson Lions themselves, did not fall so easily and fought on, their batteries continuing to unleash salvoes into the traitor fleet and their defenders making the traitors pay in blood for every step taken on the fort. The destruction of the defence fleet also enabled the ground based defence cannons and missiles to open up on the traitor fleet even as drop pods in the livery of the Berserkers of Uran and Eagle Warriors descended on them.

 

From out of the first of these drop pods burst Raktra Akarro, primarch of the VII^th, his Milewalkers at his side as the first wave of 70,000 Berserkers of Uran charged out onto the surface of Aran and fell upon the defenders of the world. With bolters and chainswords in hand, the Berserkers began to fight their way through the trenches and bunkers of Aran's ground defences. Without room to properly deploy in firing lines and concentrate fire on individual legionaries, the Leonic Auxila and Aran militia were slaughtered by the brutal sons of Uran. However, equally the confined space favoured close quarters combat and the use of boarding shields, two fields in which the Crimson Lions excelled. Within the confined regions of the trenches, the Berserkers of Uran sustained heavy losses fighting the III^rd even as they wrought horrific casualties on the Leonic Auxilia and Aran militia.

 

However, slowly, with the traitors paying in blood for every step, the defenders of Aran were driven back and soon a landing site had been established on which whole regiments of cultists and penal troopers were being landed alongside the warmachines of the Cognis and titans of the Legios Gemina and Vanqour and Eagle Warriors riding to war in hulking Mastadon tanks. Then news arrived. A fleet of Crimson Lions led by Hectarion Mycenor himself had exited the warp and were approaching the traitor fleet in a battle spread.

[bluntblade]

Will do. I've got one bit of fluff I need to suggest to him anyway, and I believe they need another exemplary battle

[Kelborn]

Ok...some of you might not like what I've to say but there are some things concerning me.

 

Probably it is already too late to mention these kind of thoughts, but I wanted to let you know either way and hopefully clarify them before I'm continuing to support you with a strange feeling in my stomach.

 

First and foremost:

 

I do not intend to discredit someone's work or take away the glory of some of you!!!!

 

So where to start?

 

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the current situation of the Blood Crusade. The question which arose is yet simple and complex at the same time:

 

Why?

 

Icarion's realm is surrounded by loyal forces for about 27 years. He has nowhere to go as he is facing enemies wherever he looks. unlike Horus, who conquered the northeast part of the universe and made his way towards Terra. Horus had one huge front line, he didn't had enemies in his back. The greatest threat (besides Jaghatai going rampage within his borders) for him was Ultramar at his southern flank. Therefore, he arranged the Shadow Crusade including Lorgar and Angron and further the Battle of Calth. That lead to the great ambush above Calth.

 

Icarion is in a different situation. As I said, he is surrounded although he managed to conquer quite an impressive realm and further gained the support of eight other Legions (I'm excluding the Predators as they were loyal at that time).

 

Like Horus, his overall goal is Terra. With Terra having fallen, the Imperium will break apart. No question about that.

 

Now, looking at our galaxy map in comparison to the canon one.

While Ultramar was at the southern flank of Horus approach (and he needed to secure his flanks), Mycenae is on the opposite side of Madrigal, right behind Terra.

 

I know that Icarion might need a victory in order to keep his forces at bay but why Mycenae???

 

It is among the well defended regions within the Imperium. There are countless other possible targets which might be more worth it. AND it is on the other side of Terra. Yes, it could bolster Terras defenses but yet again, Terra is more important.

 

I do see that having our own campaign within our own Ultramar is awesome and it gives a good stage for the Lions to flex their muscles but I just don't see the necessity of it anymore.

 

The galaxy is a 3D battlefield. Icarion can send troops deep within the Imperium's realm and wreak havoc there instead of fighting 1st World War style for each and every inch of territory.

 

Why not sending the Grave Stalkers beyond enemy lines to wage a campaign of terror and intimidation to demoralize the enemies ranks?

 

Amidst the ranks of the Imperium might be dozens or more governments which sympathies with Icarion but don't dare to declare their fealty as they fear retaliation. The same can occur within Icarions realm as well.

 

Why not sending the Godslayers or one of the more diplomatic Legions of his forces to unite those systems and worlds?

 

If they need a victory, what more could be satisfying than to destabilize the enemies ranks? In doing so, forces, holding the front lines, might be tasked to hunt either the Stalkers or the rising rebellions. It could be a good task for the Predators. While fighting the Stalkers, they could realize what a Legion is capable of, which could be the first steps towards their later determination of annihilating mankind.

 

Why not sending the Eagle Warriors and the Berserkers to the Eye of Terror, let them doing what they want over there or even send them as a distraction? Let them attack Cadia, let them drown it in blood in order to let Raktra ascend. It's like killing two birds with one stone:

 

- the Ascendance of Raktra (though this is foremost Traviers plan)

- a great opportunity / distraction for the Lions to keep them away from the front lines (as Sigi said, they are spread all over Mycenae and an attack of Cadia could bind the majority of them)

 

In doing all of this, Icarion could bin at least 2 Legions of an already depleted enemy, while he can concentrate on Terra.

 

I can already hear Simis voice: "But Alexos wouldn't let that happen!!!!"

 

Well, yes he does. As it was mentioned for several times, he just get glimpses of all possible futures. The closer they are at hand, the clearer he knows which is true and will occur.

 

The Godslayers have Legionnaires who nullify the Warp. They could cover their Legions approach. The Grave Stalkers are a pariah Legion which as well could cover their attacks. And even if that doesn't work. They can strike at any time, anywhere. Would like to see how Alexos could manage assaults spread across the entire Imperium at the same time. No one, not even him could prepare such appropriate defenses. And if he can, it's overpowered. Sorry, but that would lead us to a point of madness I don't want to get close to.

 

To sum this up,

 

I would revise the entire Blood Crusade idea and turn it into something like a "Tides of Blood" (don't know if this name is already in use in the canon universe, it just popped up in my mind) campaign with battles all across the Imperium just for the sake of keeping the loyalists in trouble, while Icarion prepares his final approach.

 

Leave Cadia; use it as a giant battle including Hec, Raktra and Travier. Make it a glorious, incredible battle. Let it drown in blood. Do whatever you like. But leave the rest of Mycenae for the either the readers or side boxes.

 

Use the abilities of the traitorous Legions to flood the Imperium with chaos and anarchy. 27 years of "cold war" where long enough. Now it is the time of war!

 

Make Icarion the leader he deserves to be. I imagined him to be more cool headed than Horus. I just can't see him letting the Blood Crusade happen as it is happening right now. I can't see him desperately needing a victory. He is the firstborn. He is the Stormlord. He is the one to bring the Imperium to his knees!

 

Just my two cents of thoughts.

 

Yet again:

 

I do not intend to discredit your work! I do not want to insult someone or to take away the glory! You all did a great job for now!

 

These are just my thoughts which bothered me while driving to my brother-in-law yesterday. And as I need about 1 hour to get to him, I got plenty of time to think about this whole concept.

 

And please, please, please

 

Don't take everything literally, ok? I know that I'm lacking skills in writing English. Please don't use this against me, ok?

Edited August 29, 2016 by Kelborn

[Skalpynock]

Cadia drowns in the blood of Lions and Berserkers. The paladins of ancient times have returned, butchering those they had brought to the light. Hundreds of kings fall in one night, as their worlds crumble to dust. The time of conquest has ended, there is only war now.

 

 

Execute ordo Hexa-Sixte

[bluntblade]

A large factor is Travier's machinations. He presents not so much the prospect of a major victory as a game-changing weapon, and the possibility that Hectarion could be enslaved to the Insurrectionist cause. Edited August 29, 2016 by bluntblade

[Doctor Perils]

Execute ordo Hexa-Sixte

Noooo, don't kill off the jedi! They're the best part of Star Trek!

Edited August 29, 2016 by Lord Thørn

[bluntblade]

Don't reference the prequels unless you want to see my Black Rage impression (I wasn't really into Star Wars until The Force Awakens, but have despised the prequels for years)

[Doctor Perils]

I wasn't really into Star Wars until The Force Awakens

You, sir, are of a rare breed

 

Meanwhile, in the 31st millenium...

[MikhalLeNoir]

All true here. Nothing to add although I have to say: blood crusade happens about 15-20 years in the insurrection^^.

 

What he haven't considered until now is: what would icarion do? I mean Athrawes. He knows his primarcj best and it is up to him to decide if it is out of character for icarion to attack a target to far off, to tightly defended. Damn that he has too much to do. Of course we can have icarion gain so much ground in the first 10 years that he prsctically surrounds terra and wants a united front against the imperium. But that meams that a lot of loyal homeplanets are lost^^. But them he would touch the lions dominion^^

 

 

 

 

 

Good thing caerbannog is absolutely out of place^^

[bluntblade]

 

I wasn't really into Star Wars until The Force Awakens

 

You, sir, are of a rare breed

 

Meanwhile, in the 31st millenium...

I get rarer when I tell you I saw TFA at a midnight screening (some friends were in Auckland and there were still tickets going on the day). I was sold within a minute, then Daisy Ridley showed up and I was head over heels.

 

But yeah, 31st Millennium. The Blood Crusade rolls around with the Imperium's xenos allies helping them to stall the Insurrectionists. Icarion could legitimately fear an attack on his borders, and the Lions are likely to do the most damage in that scenario.