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A little thing I thought of while scoping through some recent threads in the 40k Backgroud. If you stick around, the connection will soon become very apparent.

Chapter 1: Wakeup Call

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++

Two figures stirred in the sheets.

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++

"Honey?" the woman spoke.

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++

"Mmm, yeah?" Came the tired response.

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++


"Shouldn't you answer that?"

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++

The man sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, straining to see in the gloom.

+++BRRRRRRRINNNG+++

With a sigh, he reached over and answered the phone.

"Mr. President?" A concerned voice sounded over the line.

"Yeah?" The First Man responded gruffly.

"We...we have a situation."

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The first of, what I hope will be, many chapters.

Chapter 2: A Situation Indeed

Murming voices drifted throughout the room, the cabinet talking in hushed tones to each other. The President sat silently at the head of the table, tapping his finger impatiently on the glass. The Chief of Intelligence entered the room, he looked decidedly flustered. He took his seat opposite of the president.

The president addressed him. "What are we dealing with, Gurney?"

Gurney was silent. He turned to his aide and spoke softly into his ear. The aide hurried off.

"Mr. President, and all those present, early this morning at 02:00 hours we lost contact with our oribiting space-platform, the Firelight. Over the next three minutes we gradually lost contact with ALL of our orbiting sattelites, manned and unmanned. This was not restricted to our satellites. We have recieved confidental reports from other major countries confirming that they have also lost contact."

Vice Presisdent Maxwell spoke. "So what happened?"

Gurney took a deep breath. "Before we abruptly lost contact with the Firelight we recieved roughly 3 seconds of visual footage. Even though we had other sattelites attempt to locate the threat, Firelight's footage gave the best image."

The screen in the side of the room flared into life. It started with a zoom of the planet, which, given the relative lack of clouds, was quite a sight. The camera turned and zoomed out to show 2 men, astronaughts, floating. Muted voices talked, and there was muffled luaghter. Suddenly, and urgent cry rang out and the camera spun around turning to look into the void of space. The voices jabbered excitedly, almost hysterical, and edged with fear. There was a gasp from someone in the room. For 3 seconds the camera cuaght, in it's entirety, an alien ship. It was gigantic. You could tell that straight away, to see it so clearly like that in space meant it was huge. It reminded everyone there of a cathedral, with spires and all sticking out of the ship. Suddenly, the spaceship was immersed in light, and the screen broke off into static.

The focused image of the ship came up again. Frozen. Gurney stood up and spoke.
"I don't think I need to tell you that this is a truly momentous development. We could be standing on the brink of a very hostile situation. A situation I'm very sure we don't want to get into."

The room was silent. After a while, the president spoke, pointing at the screen.
"That, that thing there. The symbol on the bow, what is it?"

There, barely decipherable, was the forefront of the ship. On it's crest laid a gigantic, intricately displayed, figure. It's wings spread out wide, one might be forgiven for thinking the symbol before them was an eagle of sorts. The only thing wrong with that, was that this symbol depicted the eagle with two heads...

I like it. The intro reminds me of the movie Independance Day. I'm wondering where you're going to end up with this.

I don't remember a morning call in Independance day, but if you're worried that the storyline is going to follow it then no, it's not. Don't worry about that! 40k is far too grimdark for very happy endings.

Chapter 3: Waiting in the Wings



Lord General Valentino gazed from the prow of Furisio's Might. The planet before him filled up his vision. It was entrancing. The clouds ever so slowly swirled before him, forming patterns one could only appreciate from space. Like a child might study a small marble, Valentino gazed in awe at it. His entire life, all 79 years of it, he had never left the confines of the Vulexis system. Although he loved his homeworld, as anyone loves their home, it was a drab ugly place compared to this gem.

The Vuluxis System was located to the Galactic South of Terra. Even by Imperial standards, the system is fairly remote, though still fully functional. Boasting a Hive and Forge World, as well as several smaller mining outposts. On Vulexis Prime, hives sprung up like ugly termite mounds, and the land was stripped to feed the hungry masses. On Vulexis Secundus the forges of the main continent spilled out a constant stream of pollution, encloaking the entire planet in a cloud of filth. They were harsh worlds, dirty worlds. Worlds where greenery was something Hive children were told stories about, but never saw.

When he had been given this mantle, this posistion of power, he had felt proud, but ever so slightly burdened. He had been made a Lord General in reward for his efforts in repelling the repeated Eldar Pirate attacks against Vulexis and the outlying systems. At the time the Vulexis worlds have been given a decree, direct from Segmentum Command. They were to raise a fleet, an army, as well as thier normal tithes, and send it into the unexplored vestiges of the South-Eastern sector. At the time, Valentino had been a widely hailed hero of the Pirate Wars and popular opinion saw him as a prime canditate for the leader of this expedition. Despite this there had been widespread amazement that one so young should be given such a great position of power, indeed many had decried it foolhardy.

Regardless, at the relatively young age of 77 Valentino had been given the title Lord General, and they had set out to explore the void even further to the south, and bring what they could into back into the Imperial fold. They had been surprised to find metallic pieces of equipment scattered all over the surface, and since the Tech Priests did not recognise the technology, they swiftly demanded that Valentino destroy them.

Looking now at this 'Blue Planet', Valentino was enchanted. When the twin governers of Vulexis Primus and Secundus had given him the title, they had hailed him as thier equal and promised him Lordship of whatever planet he conquered of his choice. Until now their search had proved unfruitful, a few places worth mining, but nothing capable of sustaining a large population. 2 years they had searched without reward. Looking upon this planet know, Valentino knew he had found his prize. His 'Nova Vulexis'. He would let nothing stop him and, as he turned to survey his fleet, he felt that nothing could.

He did not need an aide to tell him that even with a single cruiser he would have superiority in the sky, the primitives below had not the makings of a fleet. Their small orbiting craft had not even the slightest in the way of offensive or defensive capabilities. But Valentio wanted this pearl intact, not burnt to the ground. He reviewed the data-slate listing his forces.

Several Vulexis Guard regiments, each numbering millions from Vulexis Prime. They were joined by the Vulexis Secundus Armoured regiments. Valentino was confident that he could take this planet with them alone, but no General ever won a war by using half-measures. When he set off from Vulexis he had been proud to be joined by Captain Gilles of the Knights Ascendant. With him was a whole company of Astartes. 100 of them, a walking army in it's own right. He respected Gilles, but the Captain rarely to kindly to orders and remained aloof on their strike cruisers for much of the journey. Before Valentino could act, Gilles had set about destroying the sattleites.

The most prized piece of Valentino's expedition however, the crowning jewel of his forces, were not the Astartes. Stowed away on the accompanying Adeptus Mechanicus cruiser, under constant watch and supervision by the Mechanicum, was an entire Titan Legion. 10 God-Machines all told. Valentino was not familair with thier classes, but that did not matter. They scared him. And by the Emperor, if those machines could scare him, they'd put the fear of death into the natives.

He turned back to view the planet below once again. Lord General Valention smiled. This planet would be the Imperiums. It would be his.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good beginning,how it's going to end,the Imperium will be defeated by some Deus ex Machinima.

Actually, I've never really understood the concept of a Dues ex Machina. Is that where someone amazingly pulls through with a plot pulled outta their arse?

EF: Dues ex Machina is like if a plane is crashing and the main character magically finds a parechute under his seat.

Ah. How on Earth does that translate into invasions? Parachutes can't save you forever!!!

Google it, Im too lazy too explain.

The parachute thing is a example.

I realize.

Chapter 4: Confusion Reigns

Mike waited in line at the barracks phone booth. It was pretty hectic out there at Fort Brannigan, all the networks were down and none of the mobile phones where working. There were plenty of rumours and gossip, the main opinion was that there The phone booth however was landline and still worked, which was why all the folks, those who weren’t rushing around, were crowded around it. Finally, after half-an-hour, it was his turn. He called the only number he had, fidgeting as the dial tone sounded.
A female voice sounded “Hello, Chika here.”
“Chika! It’s-”
“Sorry, I can’t come to the phone right now.” The recording continued. “Either I’m here and I’m trying to avoid you, or I’m really not here at the moment. Leave a message after the beep. Or don’t. Whatever.”
+++DEEEEEEEET+++
“Chika, baby. It’s Mike here. Some weird stuff’s going on out here, everything’s messed up. I don’t know what but something’s going down. Just wanted to call to see if everything’s okay back home...bye.”
With a sigh, Mike hung up. Chika was his girl, but she could be a handful. Mike was glad she hadn’t been given the opportunity to give him a good tongue lashing before they moved out. Speaking of which, where were they deploying anyway?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Assembly Hall was rife with noise, everyone had a question they wanted answered. Major Grant took to the stage.
“We’re going home boys.” The Major boomed, silencing the muttering and chatter with a stern glance. “It seems like the paper-pushers back in Washington have had enough of this hell-hole of a country and have recalled us. All of us.”
There was a moment of silence, the confusion on the soldiers faces plain to see. Hadn’t they just received a new surge of troops this month?
“I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t like leaving a job half done, but the High Brass has given the word. Not a soldier left behind. This country is on its own. What happens next here is not our concern. Any questions?”
Almost the entire assembly raised their hands.
“No? Good. Everyone’s to have their bags packed and ready to leave at 1500 hours. I want Fort Brannigan empty by the end of the day.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the first time that entire day, the oval office was empty. After all those rushed meetings and urgent calls, he was exhausted. He slunk down into his chair, putting his head in his hands. There was nothing more to be done. This was possibly the most important moment in the history of mankind, and he didn’t know what to do. “Who would?” he chuckled darkly. It wasn’t like this happened that often. The president stood up and leant against the window, surveying the grounds. He looked up into the sky and offered a silent prayer that this would all turn out alright. He prayed that god would grant this nation his blessing, for in this crucial period of time, they would surely need it. But for now, all they could do was wait.
With that out of the way, he took his seat again. Turning to the compartment under his desk he opened it to reveal a strong bottle of whisky. Opening it, he grinned darkly. If God couldn’t help him now, a bottle of whisky just might, he told himself.

WE NEED MORE!!!!

MOAR!

Chapter 5: The First Piece Moves

Valentino struggled to rein his in temper as he snapped at the vox-screen. “I understand your position Captain, but in order for me to rely on you and your men you need to follow orders. That attack was unprovoked, those orbiting craft were manned. And you had to go destroy them as soon as we arrived, without orders!”

Captain Gilles scarred face regarded him coldly through sharp, unblinking eyes. “Tolerance is weakness, Lord General. That technology was heretical, the Tech Priests deemed it so! They had to be destroyed!”

Valentino let out an exasperated sigh. It was like talking to a brick wall. Could he not see? How much harder were the negotiations going to be now that Gilles had demonstrated this unwarranted act of aggression?

“Captain, I-”

Thankfully, Father Josanef’s wizened tone interrupted Valentino’s sharp response. “What the Lord General is trying to say, noble Captain, is that these people could have been persuaded to abandon their heathen technology without bloodshed. Once they saw the Emperors light, they would shy away from this deviancy. These are not the vile xenos or traitors that we have had to struggle against for millennia. These are brethren once lost to us, and they should be returned to the fold of the Imperium as peacefully as possible. Only if they fail to see His light should a strong hand be used to persuade them.”

Captain Gilles eye’s seemed to soften...somewhat. He nodded in acquiescence. “Words of wisdom indeed. I am shamed that my recklessness has caused such difficulty in your duty to carry out His will.”

Father Josanef chuckled. “Nonsense, my son. One cannot reprimand another for his zeal. It is this righteousness that gives us strength in these dark times. But we must also be cautious to exercise restraint, lest we lose ourselves on the Path of Destruction."

Gilles bowed his head. “Indeed. I shall submit myself and my men to the Lord Generals command.” He turned to Valentino. “Perhaps he shall be wiser in knowing where to put our zeal to use. Gilles out.” The vox-screen went blank.

Valentino breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Father. Things were getting a little heated there.”

Josanef laughed as he limped away on his cane. “Think nothing of it, my son.”

Valentino regarded the old man wryly. In truth, Father Josanef was not much older than Valentino, somewhere in his late 80’s. But unlike the higher classes, Josanef refused any juvenant or anti-aging drugs of any kind, feeling that he would not be of much use to anyone whether he was young or old. So as it was, he looked every bit the old man he was. Despite his age, not once had Valentino ever felt him a burden. Indeed, at times he felt that Josanef was the only man he could ever truly trust or confide in. It was Josanef who had offered him those sound words of wisdom in the bleak days of the Pirate Wars, his stirring oratory inspiring all those around him. A quiet passion resided in this man, a passion that Valentino respected and valued. As he took his seat Valentino thought on this and realised that, without Josanef, he doubted he could ever have come as far as he had.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Lord General!” The sharp voice of Vice-Admiral Fastan broke his reverie.

“Yes, Captain?” Valentino responded tiredly.

“Orbital Surveillance has identified the major population centres of the planet, sir!” the Vice-Admiral barked.

Valentino sat up. “You don’t have to shout Vice-Admiral...So have we identified the planets Capital?”

“Negative, sir. We are uncertain whether or not this planet even has a capital.”

Great. That’s just what they needed, thought Valentino sourly. If this planet truly lacked a capital then negotiations could be very difficult. Then again, the Tactia Imperialis did state that ‘A Foe Divided is Easily Beaten.’ It gave Valentino some comfort that if negotiations did break down then he would not be facing a united foe. However, he needed to know more.

“Orbital Surveillance can’t do much more for us Vice-Admiral. Send in the recon units. Near the population centres, have them scout the area. Pick up what information they can. Send a message to Captain Gilles, have him do the same. And let’s get a base of operations set up in a secluded area....here.” Pointing to a large area of greenery on one southern continent. “In that mass of greenery. It should cover our deployment.”

Within the hour, several Valkryies and a single Thunderhawk discreetly made their way planetside, bearing their load of scouts both human and superhuman. The first of the Imperials had come...

MOAR!
Which chapter of Spehz Mehreenz hurr hurr?

The Space Marine Chapter is a standard Codex Chapter, the Knights Ascendant. (Reffered to in Chapter 3)

I will go into more detail concerning thier colours and coat-of-arms ect later on.

I'm glad you guys are enjoying this.

KILL, MAIM, MOAR! KILL, MAIM, MOAR!

Is your new profile pic meant to be Eisenhorn lol?

Meh, just re-read the whole thing and noticed 'Captain Gilles of the Knights Asecendant' I feel like a numpty now :s
It's not my fault...it's Tzeentch's!

Large patch of greenery... has to be the amazon, there is no way the red center could be called 'green'. *snickers*

Chapter 6: First Encounter

A car listed lazily through the countryside, disturbing the tranquil surrounds with its blaring repetition of Lady Marmalade. Inside the vehicle Chika fidgeted impatiently with her phone. Why wasn’t the damn thing still not working? With a frustrated sigh, she threw the mobile phone into the back seat. It hadn’t been working for nearly two days. Two days! How could one manage to live like this! It was like the Dark Age of Technology or something...Still, Chika thought, at least it gave her a chance to get away from work and see her mother in the country. Sighing, she thought about her hubby, Mike.

“That dumb mug.” She sighed. I hope he’s okay, she silently added, biting her lip.

Lost in her thoughts, she missed what would have looked like a very peculiar shooting star fly overhead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scout Sergeant Chevellone watched as the Thunderhawk soared back into orbit. Turning, he observed the initiates before him. Like him, they had all been selected from the Feudal World of Verduxe. Like him, they were all the firstborn sons of the ruling noble families. All over the world, yearly tournaments were organized that would gleam the finest fighters of these families. The winners would be given a chance at becoming an initiate, and there was when the true tests began. However, these were newly inducted novices. They still had the rashness of youth, a trait that would deliver them great glory, or get them killed. It was Chevellone’s duty to drill discipline into these adolescent apprentices, but sometimes he truly got sick of their bickering. Chevellone turned to see another row between Marseille and Mille going on that very moment.

“What folly is this? The Lady of Bourgeone is the fairest in the land!” Cried an outraged Scout Marseille.

“Ha!” Laughed Scout Milles “In yonder kingdom of Bourgeone perhaps, but even a fool knows that a kingdom of hags offers little competition for beauty! The Lady of Le’Valles is by far the prettiest damsel one might set his sights on.”

Marseille drew his combat blade. “Sloth! Vandal! Brigand! By rights I should cut thee down where thee stands!”

“Silence!” Boomed Chevellone. “I’ll have none of thy prattling. ‘Tis a fools burden that one must teach such an empty headed lot as the likes of you!”

Contrite, the offending pair bowed their heads and stepped back, returning to their duties. The rest of the scout party looked on in amusement. Chevellone surveyed them. Marseille tended to his heavy bolter, Milles tinkered with his sniper scope while Pierre and Danielle busied themselves with their equipment. Spotting a dilapitaded structure of some sort to the west of the field, Chevellone barked out orders.

“Milles, Marseille scout the périmètre, there is a roadway half-a-click from here. Should Thou encounter the native, remain unseen. Pierre, Danielle follow my lead and let us secure yonder structure...”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chika wrangled her hands on the steering wheel. Maybe she should try the mobile one more time...but where was it? Oh, that’s right. She’d chucked it in the back. She leaned behind, reaching for it. Wriggling and straining, her hand grasped the edge of the mobile, and with a cry of triumph wrenched it from underneath the seat. She sat up just in time to see a hulking figure, clad in blue and grey, blocking the road before her. With a scream Chika slammed the brakes.

“Merciful Emperor!” Cried Marseille, as the vehichle crashed into him, knocking him to his feet. Bringing his Heavy Bolter to bear he nearly opened fire before Milles stopped him.

“Zounds, Marseille! What dost thee thinks that thou art doing? His sire, Chevelon, bequeathed upon us not to engage!”

A stunned human looked out from the car, gaping at them. The front of the car seemed decidedly demolished. A strange native song continued to play. The two scouts shifted nervously.

“Dost thou hast any ideas, Milles?” Marseille enquired worriedly.

Milles remained silent, thinking. “Surely his sire will have our head.” He sighed. “But what’s done is done. We cannot let this native maiden leave and her mouth run wild. We should take her to him. He will know what to do.”

Milles tore the door from it’s hinges and reached inside to grab the struggling, screaming girl out. Shouting in her native language, she railed ineffectively against his bulk as he slung her over his shoulder.

“Careful, Milles. That there yonder be a lady that thee are dealing with.” Marseille murmered.

“Ye, and a feisty maiden at that.” Milles grumbled as they made their way back to Chevalon. “His lordship shall be none too pleased with this...”

The french shall have their revenge!


Anyways, nice story. I like it, keep it up.

100th post!!! Time to celebrate in the classiest of SPAM fashion, by eating live pork in front of a statue of the god SPAM, whilst spreading jam over thy body in supplication. (I just know what you will say to this.)

I...I honestly don't know what to say to that...

Aren't you an inquisitor?

Well, yeah. SPAM = Heresy then???

Here, let me help you...

*sets an entire pack of warpbeasts on the food covered one* Dinnertime!

... and possibly get the Ordo Xenos looking in your direction. *grins*


(Seriously, this is good. I'll be amused to see reactions to this sort of thing, and I'm wondering how there isn't broad panic yet; if the ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye at night, I have a slight hunch that the huge Imperium ships may be kind of obvious...)

1) ISS?

2) It's only been two days since thier initial appearence, and that was only close enough for the Strike Cruiser (SM) to destroy the satellites. I figured that any claims of giant ships in the sky would be met with skeptimism without Govt backing. (And you kinda ruined my storyline plan )

Oops? ISS = International Space Station. I was just thinking that if every amateur astronomer saw this big thing advancing and the word spread and anyone with a pair of binoculars could pick it up, things may be a teensie bit obvious.

But if your jammers have managed to knock out or put a severe dent in TV and internet, then the point is less major? Word of mouth only goes so far and people are worrying abo more than stargazing.

*is still keeping an eye out for the Ordos Xenos*