Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Written mostly by Ribon Fox with parts by Commissar Nikev and others. (revised 1.0.1)


In a galaxy far far away, two people had sex and a creature named Shas'O Vera was brought into existence.
Many years later, this creature grew into maturity. Being drawn ever closer to what most would call and consider heresy, or blasphemy this creature felt that the true Imperium of Man should be led by pelvic thrusting.
Avoiding the Commissariat and others who would put down his beliefs with a bolt round to the head, he acquired a small retinue of followers. As this retinue traveled the galaxy their retinue grew with people who believed their beliefs and Ideals. Many years later, his retinue was complete.

Lord and Master-Shas'O Vera;
Farseer-Munch;
Grand Commander-Maverick;
Commissar-Wolfie;
Cadet Commissar-Ludd;
Master-Scrazza;
Master-Mozzyfozzy;

They began waging war with the Imperium of Man. The fighting during this time was the most brutal and fierce as the Loyalists and Thrusters waged war for the Galaxy.



It is the 41st Millennium and there is only War.



Planet Lamentas, Lamass system, Cordan sector.

Dagmar Caim had never been the most loyal of Imperial Citizens, but he was thankful for all that the Emperor had Provided and would never abandon him. He had just finished work and was heading home.
On his way home, he decided to take the short way, only to find that there was construction.
"Dammit" he cursed under his breath "Guess I'll take the long way, at least I can get myself a nice drink on the way."
Walking home, he came upon his favorite drink shop only to find that it was closed due to vandalism. "Damn!" he shouted, kicking the door. When he hit the door, it cracked a little releasing a odd sound from inside the shop. Knowing far better than to go investigate, but, curiosity overcame him.
Forcing the door open as quickly and quietly as he could, he shuffled inside. Sneaking to the back of the room, he saw the most horrendous thing he could ever see in three Eldar lifetimes. Terrified he fled from the building and straight to the nearest Commissariat Building.

3 Years Ago

"HOLD THE EMPEROR DAMNED LINE YOU DOGS!" Commissar Zek Shouted at the men by his sides. "LET NOT ONE OF THESE HEAT-" A bright flash appeared through the commissar's head and showered the guardsmen by his sides. Horrified by this, the surrounding guardsmen were frozen with terror as the Banner of the Arch-Enemy charged forward.


Pulling back his scope from killing the commissar, Farseer Munch sat back and watched the banners showing their Pelvic thrusting lord. He switched on his micro-bead,
"All forces, move up and destroy the fools."

Watching in pleasure as the armies of their Thrusting lord overtook the imperial position Munch began doing his thrusting prayer.
All the time he watched all the destruction and bodies, wondering why these so-called loyalists fought for a horrible dictatorship.

The Emperor had wished for a peaceful empire, where everyone's voice would be heard. This was what pelvic thruster movement stood for. To be able to do what you like, as a free citizen. And surely there was nothing better than the friendship of your fellow Pelvic-Thrusters.

-

Soon most of the world was theirs, they renamed the world of Lamentas to Thrustabon.

Only in deep in the Ardine mountains did resistance hold out to the Thrusters, lead by Lord Commissar Nikev and a hand full of troops.

Dark were those days and nothing is said about the lonely war these desperate men fought. Hoping each day that the skies would be filled with their loyalist brothers in arms and wash the sinful monster from the land in the Thrusters own blood.

One Year Ago

Astartes of the “Angels of Ordain” Drop pod on Commissar Nikev strong hold, they pledge their life to the eradication of the Thrusters after seeing the depraved things they did to prisoners and the civilian population. No one, not even the unclean xeno's deserved what the Thrusters did to them. They sent out a high priority distress signal to any and all loyal ships. Soon a trickle of ships and transports became a raging storm.

One Month Ago

In the town of Giggity Gig-Gig the citizens looked upon the sky to see the landers crash down upon the ground to releasing the Imperial Loyalists to charge down into the town and retake the city. With the City being taken, The Loyalist Imperial army move on to taking the next town, Thrustonicon.

Current time - Planet Side

Nikev looked over the ruined city then at the battle unfolding around what was once lush green suburbs, the Heretics where determined. They had put up very powerful defenses around the city. But the Starport was in his hands.
Nikev looked to his Adjutant Bantine "Call in the Angels of Ordain".

In a matter of seconds the Thunder Hawk gunships of the Astartes screeched supported by navy fighter bombers over the Loyalist army, the combined roar of the engines was loud enough to split the very air. One by one the squadrons peeled off and began unloading their ordinance amongst the Thrusting armies defenses. As the Angels finished dropping their ordinance they turned tail and began leaving the battlefield to resupply.


"NOW IS THE TIME!" Nikev shouted arriving to the second line. "IT IS TIME TO TAKE THESE THRUSTING HERETICS! CHARGE!" NIkev burst from cover with the guardsmen around him and charged into the fray.

From the flash and crack of the humble las-gun Nikev commanded his line yet even with the massed fire the Thruster Heretics charged and were soon upon the line.

"Thrust at me will you!" Nikev shouted dodging a attack, "Take this!" He shouted as he thrust his weapon deep into the throat of his enemy.

To Nikev's dismay a Thruster commander, a person known only as Grand Commander Maverick gave the order to blow the bridges, not one, not two, but all of the bridges that spanned the 70 foot meandering river that flowed threw the heart of the city. With his armies at a stand still at the riverfront he did his best to fortify his side of the bank, a new way across had to be found.
Nikev went back to the Command Center based at what was left of the Starport to figure out a new plan.

Making it back to the safety of the command center Nikev cursed for today. "DAMMIT!" He yelled smacking papers off a desk angrily.

"You know, smacking papers won't win you this war." Said on of Nikev's Tacticians.

"I know, but the damned defenses are too well defended to penetrate. They are slaughtering the guard though they can make no progress through the no mans land, and we can't make progress because we can't get close enough to the river because they cover it from the other side.
“All we can do now is push the forces they have on no-mans land back across however they got across and keep the stalemate a stalemate.".

"Ah" said the Tactician, "We may have a solution here" Nikev and the Tacticians gathered round the tact-map as the forces outside fought.

-

Very nice and orderly, you have a knack for this.

-

Maverick turned from the full length mirror to the data-table. The battle was progressing nicely. Intercepted transmissions told him that the loyalist leader, the heretic Nikev was retreating to regroup. The Tau Air caste attacks were being prepared, soon, very soon, they would bomb the enemy positions on the far banks. With the bridges down, even the enemy infantry were going to find it hard to make an assault.

Maverick turned back to the mirror and adjusted his hair. “It takes years to look this dashingly handsome”, he thought.

Turning once more to the data slate, he gave the command to Farseer Munch to reinforce Ludd's previous thrust. Despite being Munch's junior in the newly created Thrust-Corps, he was the senior commander. Munch and Maverick had been close friends since they first met almost fifty years ago, It was Lord Shas'O Vera who had introduced one another and then on they became brothers in war. Munch showed more aptitude for the Political aspect of their crusade, whilst Maverick was a master strategist, commander of both air and ground forces. Munch was the more experienced of the two, an expert ground force commander, always leading from the front.
Maverick adjusted his ear piece.

"Ludd, this is maverick. Watch for enemy air support. It's getting all too quiet."

-

Commander Fox stood on the bridge of the Flagship of the second reinforcement fleet, the “Emperor's Sword”
It had taken longer than expected to attain and keep a stable parking orbit over the battlefield far below planet side.
Some kind of pulsating force which had started the very moment the fighting had begin was thrusting against the Battle Fleet. The fleets Navigators felt a horrid ebbing pulse emanating from the forth planet, the world Thrustabon.
The day had gone agonizingly slowly from the bridge, only able to watch the battle unfold yet unable to be part of it. But now they could aid their ground pounding brothers in arms.

“This place has an evil feel to it, even from here.” Fox whispered to her self, she shock her had then straighten her self out and fixed her uniform.”May the Emperor guide and protect us.”
“Coms, Inform Lord Commissar NIkev that the fleet is now ready to give aid and support.” Fox sighed, “It is time.”
“Tell the “Light of Rinklin” to deploy all of its atmospheric bombers and fighters to the beach head, from what I can see they are in desperate need of air support.
“Order the “Holly Brand” to proceed landing, I want that Command-Control Fort ship down there in one piece. Aegis super heavy transport ships form up on the “Holly Brand” and unload your belly's as soon as you touch ground.
“Escort ships provide planet target fire suppression with your Lances, prime targets are the Hydra and all Artillery battery's, I want them shut down at lest until the ships have deployed their loads.
“I want a fighter CAP running 24/7, I'd rather we didn't get surprised while we do this. Alright, you have your orders, you know what to, lets do this by the numbers. Com'on people we've got work to do!”

As soon as the orders had been said the bridge became a hive of activity. Blips of all sizes flashed on the central Holocene.

“Coms open a planet wide channel.”
“This is High Lady of the Imperial Navy Fleet Commander “Fox” to the Heretical planet below.
"I am my Emperor's sword, the right hand of Justice and when you look up I will be the last living thing you will ever see....All ships begin OPERATION OVERLORD!!!"

Bombers and fighters scrambled, they shot out of the “Light of Rinklin's” cavernous hanger doors at high speed and then in their tight formations bank dived into the planets upper ionosphere. Ion trails emanating from the wing tips as the atmosphere started to build up to a positive force, soon the crafts were engulfed in the fiery energy of ionized plasma.
The lead Escort ship the “Avenging Wasp” commenced the planet side barge. The pinpoint strikes hit there intended targets, soon a patten of fire had been set up. The “Holly Brand” started to descend flanked on both sides by the transports. The same ion vapors, the the same fiery plasma licked the big ships hulls. Soon the ground forces will get their much needed help.

-

-

The inside depths of the citadel were dark as Lord Maverick awoke.
Donning his combat uniform, a cross between the ceremonial, parade dress of the Imperial Navy, with the dark, brown leather field greatcoat of an imperial general, he stepped out into the corridor. He put on his peaked cap and straightened it. He tightened the belt on his ceremonial sword belt, although there was nothing ceremonial about the blade inside.

It was a C'tan phase sword, presented to him by Shas'O Vera him self, he had inscribed hilt for Maverick.
"Ultimo Thrustudo et Victoria!" Maverick smiled at the inscription. "A Vengeful Thrust, and Victory!"
A motto to live by, and a motto to die by, he thought. The men had fought well last night, and he would drive them hard against the rocks of Nikev's men. And their thrust would remain victorious. He turned, and climbed the stairs to the plaza.

The plaza was quiet, empty, and barren. Anti-Air defenses were set up in the center, where the old fountain had been, and all that remained of the once-busy market square was the tiled ground. The Warmaster of the Pelvic Crusade crossed the plaza quickly, returning the thrust-salutes of the men operating the AA gun.

Entering the Command Center on the far side of the plaza, he quickly checked his jacket. Holstered, in the lining of the jacket, were his two ancient pistols, in the shape of ancient flintlock muskets, but infinitely more powerful. Each fired bolter rounds, but had a secondary meltagun built into a second barrel. The grips were marble-handled, and inset with a golden Aquila on each. The Aquila depicted not the standard imperial eagle, but a thrusting bird, almost primal in nature, but certainly more wise.

Maverick turned to the command center and proclaimed;
"Right. Let's get started. Situation report."

"Sir, we've got reports that all forces are back across the river safely, and Nikev's loyalist forces have been contained. Commissar Ludd brought a series of accurate maps, more accurate now, because he'd added his tactical knowledge from the battle to it.

The map slate in the center of the room was now showing the new map. Enemy forces could be clearly seen massing around their Control Point.

Farseer Munch had been brought in, exhausted. He had been taken down to the corridor of quarters that Maverick's accommodation was in, and left to rest.

-

The “Holly Brand” had finished its burning entry and was now on course for the beleaguered beach head. Captain Riker sat comfortably in his set on the fight bridge. This new type of troop ship looked like a massively over grown (by a factor of a 1,000) Avis Lighter, but with large amount of Las-weaponry, high calibre guns, missiles, a filly fitted out upper landing deck and thick armour at act as a mobile battle base.

“What is are ETA to the landing zone helm?”
“20 to 35min sir, I'm taking us the long way round as our fighters have come up against heavy flack fire. Looks like the big ship gunnery boys still can't his the broad side of a Space port.” The helmsmen smiled to the captain.
“Tactical, what guns have we online at the moment?”
A burly looking Necomunda male stabbed at his panel, frowned then grind, “Sir, We've got da Hellstrike missile battery's up as well as da Multi-laser defense guns.”
“What is the largest concentration of AA guns?”
“Da would be dat fortified building,” A 3d holo map blinked red the building in question, “I iz counting 30 Hydras and at lest 10 Basilisks.”
Riker Smiled, “Right, then lets take a low fly over and show them what the Imperium can do when it is moved to action. Mr Wheaton, change course for a fly over and Mr Worf commence rolling fire when we are in range. Miss Hura tell the transports and the fighters to proceed to the LZ. We're going to be a little late”

At twenty kilometers to the target the “Holly Brand” slowed to strafing speeds. The Hellstikes were the first to fire in a salvo of 10x4, all of the now expended housing units sunk below the armour and a fresh housing popped back up ten seconds later. Another salvo, then another, then the Multi-lasers peppered the large fortification as the ship passed at 200kmh.
Some how the defenders managed to fire off afew missiles.

“Mr Wheaton, time to go me thinks”
“Aye sir, I know afew moves.”
The Molly banked off lazily to the left and headed for it's LZ.

The Thruster's Fortification lay soldering but still standing, even as much of the inner sections were ablaze. Black smoke belched from the central keep already fire control were setting about repairs and fighting the flames.

At the beach head the Aegis Transports had just started to off loaded their cargo of troops and tanks when the “Holly Brand” arrived, some of the transports showed signs of battle damage from enemy fighters. She hang in the air vectoring all her thrust down, this improbably huge ship dangled in the air with the grace of a hoverfly. Slowly she made her way to her LZ, part of the old Spaceport. Slowly the engines throttled down and soon she was sitting on her equally huge tracked landing gear.

“Secure all flight systems and reconfigure for land use, bring the crawler drive on line and ready all guns, bring the AA systems online as well as the holo-coms, arm and ready the Basilisk and Hydra mounts. Open the rear cargo bay doors and start the off loading. Also get the flight deck ready as soon as, our fighter boys will be getting thirsty for fuel and hungry for ammunition. Coms contact Commissar Nikev, inform him that we are off loading and getting fully battle ready I want to know where he wants us.”

-

-

Nikev stood at the main viewing window of the Spaceport, he watched the graceful dance that was being woven by the Fight controllers, the ground crew and the super heavy troop ships. A finely ordered, yet still a graceful thing see.

"Lady Fox on the line for you sir" A vox operator said handing the headset to NIkev.
"Glad you could make the party.”
“Glad I could make it, sorry I'm not down there. You know how it is parking up a fleet. I've dispatched the Molly Brand, command her as you see fit...Sorry Nikev, some thing has come up, got to go, Fox out.”

Nikev Looked at this command craft, he had to gave it this, it was big.
“You.” Nikev pointed to one of the many Vox operators in the room. “Get me a Vox link to, ermm, Molly wasn't it? What ever it's called, get me a link to it.”
The Vox controller, gave the head set to Nikev when the link was active.

“We need you to move that thing of yours in to the battle. Reinforce the middle bridge (send them the location), your Command Vehicles long-range guns can aid all three bridge areas from there, and Emperor knows those men need you the most."

-

"HOLY HELLISH THRONE!" Pt Triton shouted.
"KILL"EM KILL'EM ALL!" He screamed at the troops around him and they all opened fire.
Hitting his micro-bead he signaled for the Ordinance of the Steel of Razengoar.
"Their Sky will rain fire" came the reply.
Mere moments after, the Guns could be heard opening fire. Carnifex's and beasts bigger yet, where blown to pieces as the guns obliterated the Tyranid forces.
"O my Emperor! WE'VE WO-" The Guardsmen stopped as his friend pointed to the smoke with horror in his eyes.

Bursting through the smoke Tyranid Warriors screeched and charged for the line. For every one that was dropped, there seemed to be 100 more to take his place.
"TANKS! WHERE ARE THE BLOODY TANKS!" He screamed as he fired from the hip.
Aiming was now all but useless for the horde was so massive, they would have been hit no matter where one aimed.

"...My Emperor..." the Guardsman said, tears streaming from his eyes "...Is no end to them?..." His gun slid and fell from his hand as the horde approached.

"COWARDICE FILTH!" Commissar Naolak shouted as he put a bolt round right through the guardsman's head.
"KEEP UP THE FIRE YOU DOGS! LET NOT ONE PASS US!" He shouted as he began blasting into the horde that was mere meters away. They had not faltered, even under then constant bombardment.

Then came a rain of pin point earth shaker shells just ahead of the beleaguered Guardsmen, they tore the vile hoard to ribbons.
-

Captain Riker had moved him self to the land bridge which dubbed up as the fight and gunnery control room. He liked this kind of efficient design, every thing where he needed it.
”Sir, orders from Commissar Nikev, we are to move up to the river and suppress the enemy controlling the opposing bank bridge remains.”
“Send acknowledgement. Mr Wheaton plot me a course and ramp this baby to full, lets see what she can do in a striate line.”

The huge mass began to roll on its just as impressive tracks, at full speed she could match that of a Leman Russ going flat out on a test track, but this wasn't a track, It soon became apparent that the “Holly Brand” wasn't built for the streets of Thrustonicon. This mattered Riker little, Holly was built to like it ruff, her large flanks smashed into buildings and all they did was scratch the paint work.
“Capitan, Hydra mounts up and and running, Basilisk mount ready to go, Fight deck also go to go, the AdMech are still having trouble with the getting the Void shields running, some thing about spirit and drinking?.”
“Thank you Mr Worf, understood. Now lets put those Bassy to good use shall we, give me creeping fire all along the bank side let them know we are here.”

The Basilisk's began their firing and as it did so the whole of Holly juddered with the force of the shock waves created by the massive guns. Aided with orbital range finders the barrage was pin point accurate. A rain of shell exploded in and amongst their ranks.
This had made the Holly a big target for the enemy Vendettas that had been scrambled to destroy her. In seconds the Hydra guns locked on to the flying killers of tanks and unloaded hundreds of rounds into the sky. Then the Multi-laser guns fired when in range. Soon the sky was awash with blasting red light and orange tracer rounds. The battle for the local air space was one of the most important things that Captain Riker believed in when it came to holding any position.
Then came incoming fire from the other bank, heavy gage artillery rounds exploded on the armoured upper deck. Each shell trying to tear the decking to pieces, but they only coursed superficial damage, the Holly was built with this in mind, still it was unnerving.

“Where the hell are my shields! You! Engineseer! What is going on!” Riker pointed at the closest AdMech.
But before the lowly ranked AdMech could speak Mr Worf Spoke out, “Sir Shield are online and I'z got their location!”
“Good work Mr Worf. Lock on to them and blast them to hell!”

The missile pods popped out from there storage and swivelled to face there targets.

“FIRE!”

-

-

It had been an hour since the Molly's strafing run on the fortress and only now had all of the fires had been quenched.
Maverick's Command room was in a sorry state, equipment hang sparking from the wall's, smoke hang in the air. He sighed. Thank the Gods that he was in side before the missile barrage struck Fort Thrustabon. “What the hell was that thing?”Asked some of the damage control operators.
Still the walls of this ancient citadel had witnessed far worse in it's history.

This battle was going to be a lot harder than previously thought. The constant resupply of troops, tanks, fuel and munitions to the loyalist held Spaceport. The constant threats of a Lance strike from the orbiting escort ships. Some thing had to be done about it.
Turning to his fire control operators, he enacted his deadly plan.

"That freighter thing- yes, the massive Avis Lighter on tank tracks?” he pointed to it on the holo-map, “Is it do you think...vulnerable to micro cyclonic warheads?"
"...Warmaster Maverick, sir, I can see a cyclonic wiping it out, but...we don't have any, I'm sorry, sir."
“What about the fleet above us, are they with range of the Deathstrikes as well?”
“Yes sir, they are just with in targeting maximum, but sir as I've said we...”
"That's what you think lieutenant. Contact the Deathstrike battery's and up load these targets to them."

-

“Sir!” Why they insisted on calling her it Sir was annoying.
A female, Cadian by the looks of her shot out from across the bridge, “Sir! I have what looks like huge, a really huge heat source 20,000,000km rim ward of the system, I can't tell if its a fleet of ships yet but I can tell it ain't naturally made.”

Fox looked at the screen and felt it was bad news, she had been assured the combined Thruster fleet wasn't with in 10 light years of here.
“Typical,” she thought, “Some one in Fleet Intelligence got it wrong again.”
“Alright, we have a large fleet inbound, probably a mixed flotilla of Imperial, Tau and the Emperor knows what else.” she looked at her advisor staff, “Well any suggestions would be welcomed.”
They all looked sheepishly as their feet or suddenly took a keen new interest in their uniforms. Why she had to have these relics on-board was beyond her but orders were orders. She humped.

“Okay, I will leave the Escort ships in orbit, the “Avenging Wasp” is to answer to Commander Raptor8 in allocation of fire to ground forces with the Escorts. The troop ships are to stay here as well, keep the Aegis coming and going, I want them empty in 20 hours, the “Light of Rinklin” is to remain here and act as the transports cover. All other ships are to form up on the “Emperor's Sword” in a wall battle line, we are going to go and halt and destroy if possible this fleet...Eh?...why are you all still standing here? GET TO IT!”
She had found that when she got command of the “E's Big sword” (a name used by the grunts of the ship, a ship name she thought was quite fitting,) she has had to constantly repeat her orders, or shout just to get things done faster than improbably slow speeds at the Administratum.

The Fleet split into it's new configuration, the Escorts, Troop ships and the Light of Rinklin remained in parking orbit. The rest of the fleet, a mix of battleships, cruiser ships, and destroyers, formed up on E's Big Sword.

“Helm take us to Flank speed, get us there before they can strike at the planet.”
“Eye me lady! All hands know this, secure all stations prepare for battle! Engine room? Full ahead, Flank speed!”

Fox sat in the command chair in the middle of the bridge, for 4,000 years the “Emperor's Sword” had done duty for it's name sake. She felt pushed into her set as the ship accelerated, she would have to see if a Tech-Priest could try and sort the grav-plating out, or at the very lest fix the blinking light over in the left hand corner.
She was only a small piece of this grate ships life and history, a ship that time after time has refused to roll over and die, many battles this grand old girl of the line seen and every one she had managed to drag her self away in one piece. Fox hoped to the Emperor that E's Big Sword would be able to face this “Thrusting” fleet.

I like what your doing here.

Making sense of the madness that is Pelvichammer

-

Captain Likrin of the Artillery Detachment received his orders from Grand Commander Maverick.
He thought it was strange that he'd been ordered to load micro cyclonic warheads on to his launchers, he didn't know that they even existed let alone they had any, but there they were, right where he was told to look.
It would take some time for the Tech-Thruster-Priests to replace the plasma warheads with this forbidden Tech heresy. As for the targets most of them were in low orbit, only one was to be used planet side, right in the middle of the city. Not the Spaceport as Likrin would have thought but then again they would need the port once they had driven off the none believers.

-

War Walkers started assaulting from the north east, destroying opposition, and scattering enemy guardsmen. Farseer Munch charged with the guardians, while the dire avengers laid down a withering storm of shrunken.
As he charged, Munch thought about Maverick. He had trained with him, eaten with him and fought with him. That was what he loved about the Pelvic thrusting movement. It allowed the people of the galaxy to get together and form peace.
He hated his Eldar brothers from the other craftworlds, the ones who called the other species mon-keigh. An insult, to anyone they thought inferior. But all this prejudice and hate towards each other, made them no better than the younger species.
He vowed he would create a galaxy where everyone cared for each other, where peace was long lasting. He would do this by erasing the dictatorships that was the Imperium, and destroy the arrogant bastards that were his close-minded brethren.

-

The Molly made short work of the Tyranid hoard poring over the river bank and swarming in the air, the opposing sides artillery has been for the moment silenced. Every thing seemed to be going well.

“Mr Worf, tell the 142nd Angel Guard to move up and bolster the ground troops, make sure the captains can get their Sentinel's into prime fire positions. I want to be able to pepper that bank with enough fire to sink an Ork battleship.
“Miss Hura, inform High Command that the line is held and moving forward.
“Mr Wheaton, take us to the edge of the bank, I'd like a look at the other side.”

Molly slowly moved forward with just enough speed so the any thing friendly could get out of the way of her vast bulk, soon she was at what was once the magnificent central bridge, or, what was left of it. The burnt out ruins of tall building stood naked in the grey light of the day, dust flurries blew in and out of there skeletal remain, like twisted fingers of steel reaching for the sky.
The river front was now silent, waiting to see what was about to happen. The waters lapped listlessly at the bank.
In the not so far north twenty or so flares streaked into the heavens, plumes of fluffy white smoke left in there wake as they raced space-ward. One of the streaks separated from the group and changed course.

“Sir! Incoming missile...by the...they wouldn't?...Deathstrike, I repeat, incoming Deathstrike!”
“Shoot it down Mr Worf! Fire every thing we have at it!”

Every thing the Molly had was pointed at the incoming missile, she shuddered as every gun and missile fired yet the Deathstrike held its course for the doomed Molly.

“All hands BRACE! BRACE! BRACE!”

The flash instantly atomized any Guardsmen with in a 1,000 yard radius, the resulting blasts tore through the Molly. Her hull shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering her innards all over the now wiped out loyalist lines she had so desperately tried and succeeded to reinforce.

-

The 142nd Angel Guard 45th regiment had been acting as rear guard when the Molly was hit. It had been cut off from command for what seemed like hours, not a single thing on the secure lines. Captain Soner didn't like it. What had hit the Molly? He had seen her come out of constant battles and even stood toe to toe with the “Seductive Charms” Chaos war hound titan. That was a close call the Molly had been ripped to bits by the hellish things plasma destroyer but she was made of harder stuff. All that was left of the Molly's Armoured Regiment was in his command.
This Sonar considered as he viewed the damage reports and what was still active, he read what was on the data-tablet.

Two “Type XIXX -LRBT-” Las-Cannon hulled Leman Russes;
Nine “-Urban Sentinel- Type XIV” Auto-Cannon with Hunter-Killer Missiles Armoured Sentinel's;
Two “-Lead Slinger- IX” Hydra's;
Two of his Veteran Grenadier squads with their Chimera's. Lieutenant Heart, her Mortar squad and their Chimera. Plus six snipers sitting in the back of his HQ Chimera.

“That's bloody grate,” he mutter to him self his Britannic accent thick. He had to shout over the din in the “Tin Can's” rear section, “Homes! Get on that blower and tell what's left of the 142nd that we are making a tactical redeployment back towards our lines! From grid B-7, to grid C-5.8! Got that?!”
Homes thumbed up his Captain and Vox-ed the word to the Armoured Force and soon the convoy was moving.
“Tell the Hydra boys to keep a keen eye out, I don't want us to be smudged out by a lucky bomb drop! Vai Victus, move your tank into point! Vai Vitaur, run your tank escort right rear flank -10 meters!”
The tanks thundered into life and soon were moving, a text book redeployment. The Armoured column lurched it's way threw the rubble from the shelling, the Sentinel's roaming round them like a pack of defensive hounds protecting it's leasers.
“To be back at the line,” Soner thought to him self, “at lest there our odds of living dramaticly get better...”
His thoughts were cut short by the shelling the column was receiving from the enemy. Every drive did what they instinctual does, they put their foot down. All the tank raced over the rubble mounds, round the shell craters, threw collapsed buildings. Several of the Sentinel's had been hit, court out in the open now just a pair of chard, mangled metal chicken legs. Then one of the Hydra's was hit, her gun mount exploded as it hurled threw the air. The shelling continued until it stated to thin and pitier out. Some how most of the 142nd made it threw.

Up ahead Soner could see the advanced line of the good guys, Leman Russ Executioner's all lined up in a row with supporting infantry and Bassies.
He would have to find this lines commander and offer up a helping hand in the defence of the line.

-

In low orbit the transport ships, escorts and the Light of Rinklin had no idea that death was coming up to met them from the planet below.

“Captain Roted...we have what looks like...it can't be...there are missiles of some kind...their, their heading for us!”
“What! Evasive manoeuvres!”

They didn't stand a chance, unlike the Deathstrike that hit the Molly these were set to bigger brothers levels. As each of the missiles hit there ship the intense flash could be seen from the planet below. The fleet was now nothing more than burning hulks falling into the planets gravity well.

-

A grate cheer came from the Thrusters at the sight of the enemy ships falling. There shattered remains burning up and streaking across the sky like a God from ancient times had rent the very sky with lighting claws.

-

Nikev stood stunned looking at the wreck of the Molly in the distance, a hush fell over the operations room. Then he noticed the space heading streaks.
“...By the...this can't be...”
Then multiple low level flashes illuminated the shadows on the ground, every one looked up and watched the destruction of their supplies, there troops, their tanks, there friends.
Some feel to their knees, some wept, most shouted at the Thruster lines. A new hatred was born in them. Only the truly dammed would be willing to use such evil weapons.
“SHAS'O VERA! EMPEROR DAM YOU AND ALL YOUR SCUM!”

-

Maverick finished his beer and giggled to him self. The enemy would rue the day they messed with the Thrust-Corps.

“Now this was starting to get fun. Bet you didn't like that”

Maverick opened his hip flask and took a big swig of the 14-year old whiskey with in it. The taste burnt his throat and left a fire in his belly.
The kind of fire that he experienced when he was thrusting into battle. He called for another beer, and lurched over to the map.

The artillery batteries were firing in an extended line, increasing target range all the time, to bombard in front of the retreating loyalist hordes, so that they would have no respite. He sent word for the siege mortar units to pop smoke between the enemy and their staging grounds. the less information those heretics had, the better. His beer arrived, and Maverick necked it quickly.
“Ironic,” he thought, “that the Thrust-Corps greatest strategist was a drunkard.”

He cast his mind to Munch, his friend of old.
"Munch, Situation report!", Maverick spoke into his ear piece.

Unfortunately, Farseer Munch couldn't answer.
The Eldar assault was getting desperate. Most of the guardians were dead, the Dire Avengers were tired, and the scorpions were fighting to get to the position but the fighting was too fierce.
Munch had tried everything with in his power to keep theses dogs back and his allies strong. This was his fault for getting stuck in so quickly. If he would die then the Fates willed it, but he would do so by taking as many loyalists with him...

Maverick looked at the battle map. Munch was right in the thick of it, in real fething trouble.

"Munch, Munch! Take command of my legion. The 42nd Elysian Drop Thrusters are now en-route to your position."

Much as he hated to admit it, Munch was a far better ground commander than he, and would use the Valkyrie-mounted airborne troops to better effect than he. They were needed there, and Munch was the commander on that ground.
Maverick gave the order for Ludd to re-enforce Farseer Munch.

"Send in the Whiteshield divisions. All of them."

The Whiteshield divisions, men not fully trained in the art of thrusting, were truly a sight to be hold, six-thousand men a division, and all for the glory of Shas'O Vera, who was by now, becoming a new god of Chaos.

-

-

Ludd held his binoculars to his face as he peered over the ridge behind which they were crouched. "It appears that Farseer Munch is in a little bit of trouble... Mkoll thrust over to their flank," he whispered into his micro-bead. "Well then, we can't spend all day sitting on our arses now can we" He felt a familiar feeling in his chest as he leapt to his feet,
"MEN OF THRUSTABON, DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER?"
He raised his chainsword high in the air, close to 6,500 troopers did so with their weapons.
“CHARGE!”

Screams of anger and rage filled the valley as Commissar Ludd crashed his lines into the soft flank of the loyalist. His chainsword swung in grate arcs, it bit into flesh and bone alike with ease, none not even the loyalist dog of a commissar could match Ludd's fury with his buzzing blade of death..

Soon Commissar Ludd and Farseer Munch met in the middle of the maelstrom. Ludd's best medic had worked dozens of minutes working on Munch's chainsword wound that was carved across his chest. Coupled with Munch's own powers, he was healed up to combat status.

"Thank Khaine your here. Alright, if any of Maverick's troops are close to the waterfall, please make your way to the rally point. We need all the help we can get."

Munch was glad that Maverick was in overall command. Even though Munch was good at planning, he wasn't very good at dealing with situations he didn't interpret. That was the reason Maverick was in charge. He could determine the ebb and flow of a battle.
Slowly, Munch's position pushed back Nikev's forces. But he wasn't the only force there.

He smelt the smell of crude gunpowder then came the screams of the loyal guardsmen.

"Get back you giant toad! Back your gon-" A snap was heard.

Munch grinned, the Ork looked at Munch, sniff, nodded then ran headlong in to the fray carrying what looked like an over sized meat clever . Munch appreciated the simplicity and efficiently with which the orks killed with. He wouldn't be joining the warp today.

-

Maverick heard the commissar's cries over the Vox-Network, and was hit with a wall of shock.

Munch. His brother, his warrior, his commander, was injured. He risked compromising his battle plans if he sent more troops to him, but he couldn't leave him to die, could he?

“Both of you return to Fort Thrustabon, let the orks keep them tied up”

Ludd and Munch boarded one of Maverick's personal troops Valkyrie and so the pair of them were zooming just above the mangled trees then the devastation of the city bellow. Ludd being as enthusiastic as ever was manning one of the Sponsons mounted heavy bolters, laying fire to all the loyalist that they pasted over. Munch let his eyes close as he tried to block out the stinging pain of the wound.

-

Maverick was tired. He needed sleep, else he was going to keep drinking. and if he kept drinking, he would be drunk in command. And whilst that was fun (he cast his mind back to his days as imperial commander on Isstvaan V and chuckled), it was unacceptable.

But he stood on the makeshift hover pad and waited for Munch, he had to see with his own eyes that his brother was alright.

The Valk kicked up the dry dust as it loomed overhead and lined its self up with the markers, as is dropped the dust cloud became more intense.

Munch limped off the transport and Maverick raced over and gave him a big hug, Munch winced at the pain.

“Sorry my friend, is it bad?”
“No, it is but only a scratch. But you would think that the many life times that I have lived that you wouldn't forget how painful a chainsword can be.” Munch smiled.

“Munch go and fix your self up and rally the troops. We shall defend the riverbanks through the night. Then we shall consolidate our efforts in the morning. Prepare the artillery to continue the fire, no respite.”

“No respite.”

-

Very impressive Ribon Fox

(Thank you, you should see the cut'n pasting, its a mess lol As you can see i altered some of it so that it would mesh)

-

Nikev stood at the main space port window, he watched the sun of this world set, it's dyeing light stained the dust in the air and what was left of the city blood red. He hoped that the lines held until the morning.
He had news that an ancient network of mass transport tunnels lay under the city, built long ago when this world was at its technical zenith, but like most things in this age now all but forgotten.
He had sent some of his best troopers to scout out the tunnel network. Some had reported that much of it had collapsed, yet two of the main lines did run under the river, right under the very feet of the Thrusters.

-

As day gave way to night the fighting lulled down to long range artillery pop shots, nether side wishing to give away what they were planning to do come the sickly light of the morning.

-

Ludd unable to sleep or rest was wondering around the fortifications at the central bridge remains. We was inspecting them as well as giving inspirational speeches to the line troops. Mostly how well they had repelled the anti-Thrusters and that they will each earn a place in the new empire that would be build by them in the name of Shas'O Vera. When natured called he relived him self on an Imperium standard that was torn and still smouldering.
“ I've wanted to do this for a long time.”
Then Ludd heard a rumble come from beneath his feet. His men also heard it also and rushed
to his side.
“Find out where that came from!” He said hastily finished and zipped him self up.
Soon an old, low levelled plas-create building was found where noises could be heard clearly from behind its thick, double doors.
Ludd pressed his ear up tight to one of the doors and listening. Then with his auto-pistol he shot at the lock of the old armoured door and kicked down the badly rusted hunk of metal from its hinges.
Beyond was a set of stairs that descended into darkness that was so thick that it could almost be cut by his sword.
He pulled out his sword in his left hand and with his auto-pistol in the other he steeped into that unknown place.
Ludd activated his black sun visor and ordered the rest of his men to do so as well, a nice and useful gift from their Tau allies. He was awestruck. The stairs kept going down for what seemed like 100 of meters. On either side there were posters, even though time had eaten away at them the shape of humans could be seen threw the dust and grime. One even was readable. It was some sort of advert for a food place of sorts. “-Mach Do'nalds- You're loving it....”
From time to time they could feel the rumble as it reverberated up threw the tunnel and each time Ludd and his men froze.
It took nearly 15 minuets before they reached the bottom of the stairs. The space was dimly lit and it was vast, like one of the shrine buildings top side. A vaulted ceiling held up by incredibly slender pillars, more of the advertisements from a bygone age was plastered over the walls, in some places there was graffiti, some thing about the terror from the sky and the end is nigh sort of stuff.
Then they noticed in amongst the rubble, debris and smashed plexi-glaze there was a vast number of human bones. Skulls littered the place. A mass grave from a war and a time no longer remembered. The dust on the floor was at lest an inch thick save for a number of fresh foot prints that ran from one side of the cavern to the other.
With no sign of the Heathens, his men were getting jumpy every time there was a rumble and the rumbles were getting louder. Ludd signaled for his men to spread out and to hold this tomb at the base of the stairs.
He followed the tracks. They lead to what looked like some kind of platform. Suddenly there was a sound of grating from behind him. He whirled round, his greatcoat flying out faster than thrusting Vera him self. He saw a man wearing the livery of Nikev coming out of a door way.
Ludd thrust his sword right through the belly of the heathen, between the gaps in his carapace armour, but not before the loyalist cried out the alarm. A concophany of noise came from the other side of the door.
"We have been compromised!" Ludd screeched into his micro-bead. "Look to the ground, they have discovered an ancient tunnels system!"
He ran back to his men and they laid down covering fire over his head at those that chased him. Soon a full scale fire fight was going on in this hole
The vox network was now alive with chatter, it was seemingly unhindered by their position underground, it was a tough job coordinating units underground but easy for any thruster as skilful as Ludd.
Using a flamer in such a tight space would have been potent, but also lethal for his men if the dust that hang in the air ignited, it would kill him and his troops. Ludd grimaced, it would have to be done with bayonets and close ranged las bursts.

Farseer Munch sighed as news of Ludd's discovery came to him.. There was a tunnel network now? How far did it spread below the ground?

"All marauder teams, scan the ground! Look for heat signatures - I need to know how far the tunnels reach!"

"Sir, this is marauder six., unknown sir. They are to deep for our scanners to pick up"

"Dan it... Ludd, use grenades. Trust me. Keep them their until we can get some heavy troops to you.”

Ludd grinned at the vox-message on his communicator..
"Very well men, it's frag time!"
Ludd grabbed a grenade from his bandoleer under his greatcoat and lobbed it into the encroaching darkness. The frag blasted one poor soul in to a horrid pink mist and shrapnel tore threw those behind him. Then started the true exchange of fire.
Nether side was going to give up their positions. Beams of red laser light blasted between the two forces, illuminating the space with an evil blood red bloom. Hundreds of the distinctive lasgun crack echoed off the tomb like walls becoming like thunder with the bangs of the grenades throwing stuff in all directions.
“HOLD THE LINE, THRUST WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT MEN!” Ludd roared above the din. “HELP IS ON ITS WAY!”
In the far distance of the cavern Ludd saw two scout Sentinel's, he gulped they didn't have the fire power to take these thing on. Then Sentinel's unleashed their multi-lasers into Ludd's ranks. It was devastating, the super hot blasts cut threw his men's armour as though it was nothing more than a t-shirt.
Things looked bad for Ludd, then, for just a moment, time and reality wobbled, then ten Terminator clad Astartes of the Thrusters of Phalanges teleported in behind the loyalist guardsmen.
The five heavy Terminators fired their assault cannons at the Sentinel's while the others assaulted the guardsmen in hand to hand combat with ripping lighting claws.
The Sentinel's turned their guns on the Terminators blasting hot chunks of their armour away but the Terminators replied with rendering fire that cracked open the Sentinel's armour and hit their fuel tanks. The spinning shards of hot plas-steel whizzed threw the air. The assault Terminators crashed into the loyalist rear flank and proceeded to rip them limb from limb.

-

Oh, why is it always terminators who save the day?
Great job ribon fox

-

As it had done for hundreds of thousands of years and will probably do so the red light of the systems sun rose from its sleeping place in the west and started its long 15 hour trek across the sky. Its first rays giving all that it touched a healthy golden glow, belaying all the horrors that had befallen, soon its true sickly light showed the devastation for what it was. A city with its heart ripped out and all that was left was a rotting corps of steel and concrete.

Threw the night Ludd's men with the aid of the Astartes of the Thrusters of Phalanges drove Nikev's men back into the dark and sealed the ancient tunnels with blasting munitions, the way had been closed. How many of these tunnel existed was unknown but the Thruster high command had to know. So on the orders of Farseer Munch he ordered that Aspect Warriors of Dire Avengers
and Dark Reapers were to explore and map the tunnel system on their side of the river. All things could be made to be useful.

-

Shas'O Vera stood at the northern flank of the city, his eyes scanned the opposite river bank, below him some of his men had built a large number of water craft, soon his own assault would start and he smiled.
“The past few days has gone well.” he said to one of his aids.

He had heard all this from his own unit, the Thrusters of Phalanges, his chosen. Those skilled above all others with the mighty art of delivering thrusting.
His generals may rank higher than them, but these are far better and yet, generals are skilled in more things than normal thrusters would be. As it should be.

He stood as he addressed his men. In one hand he held his trusty bolt launcher, in the other a mirror shield that would deflect all the las fire from Nikev's guns. The sun's golden rays washed Vera in a god like glow. All that heard his voice fell under a spell that was his will.

"Men, today we fight and today, we thrust into the enemy, to make a large enough hole for the rest of our forces, my mighty thrust-suits shall lead the charge, their thrusters being stronger than all others..... but today, you all stand as one unit, one mighty thrust.... and today, this thrust shall break them down!!!"

All the men and aliens alike cheered at Vera's speech, surely they wont stop now?

They boarded the assault crafts and with all the sound of a Necron tomb they crossed the river. Not one single loyalist saw them. As soon as most of Shas'O Vera's force had crossed he spoke, his voice as majestic and as terrible as a mountain falling into the sea.

“Their they are, those that want to enslave us, to rid the galaxy of our thrusting love. They wish to keep the stars a blaze with war, where as we, the Thruster's just wish for pace and love.
“But No!
“They shall not ever know the joy it is to be one of us, they shall never know our love, we shall win this day! Thrust my men! Thrust and let slip our cries of war, thrust with all your hearts!”
Vera hefted his battle suite's might power sword high and pointed at the enemy's lines.
“Charge!”

In one swift movement, the mighty thrusters run towards the loyalists battle lines, armed to the teeth with all the weaponry the Shas'O Vera could give them and charged into the fray, leaving nothing but a trail of footprints and vehicle tracks in their wake

.

Nikev had slept little only managing to snatch a few hours here and there, he felt ruff and shot to hell but he would see this day out one way or another.
He scanned last nights battle report, it made for grim reading.
All along the line shelling had been a main factor, Nikev knew that men can only be pushed so far before they start braking. He would return the shells two fold during this day.

The central tunnel had been discovered by the Thrusters and even though his men fought valiantly most of them were lost, the tunnel had also been collapsed under the river making it impossible to dig threw, there were no reports about the tunnel in the south being compromised and so far all was going to plan in that section, at lest that was some thing.

Now to the matter of today he knew that the enemy would strike come first light, but were along his already badly batted battle lines would the hammer blow fall.

To the north?
The Astartes of the “Angels of Ordain”, the 390th Catachan “Blood Fangs”, the 36th Winchester “Rifles” and the 101st Praetorian “Foot'n Mouth” had already taken a beating from the Farseer Munch's Eldar and Ludd's traitorous guard all yesterday. The Orks constantly threw out the night smashed against the well defended plas-create pillbox emplacements of the Angels of Ordain.

To the west?
The Emperor knew how weakened his lines were there in that part of the city. The loss of the Molly and the onslaught of those damnable Tyranid hoards were taking there toll. The 142nd Angel Guard held their line even when the rest of the line broke, due to their actions the line was restored when the reserves moved up to reinforce them. He would have thank Commander Fox for these brave men and women of Britannia, they would all get a commendation for their actions.

To the south?
Those brave souls from Armageddon, Brandenburg and Krieg held the line in face of heavy artillery bombardment all day and all night, his men had dug them self in and were ready to fight tooth and nail for every inch of trench they had dug. Getting them out was going to be harder than digging out an Alla'bamma flesh tick.

Nikev was brought out of his reading and inner musings by one of the main line Vox operators.
“Sir! We are getting reports that a large mixed force is, is assaulting the northern lines.”
“Show me on the map.”
The holo-map flickered and fizzed as is went from a tactical overview of the whole battle field and zoomed in on the aria in question. Nikev's own troops blue blips, the enemy's troops red blips and there was a hell of a lot of red all over the tac-map.

“How in the Emperor's name did they get across the river and not been seen?!
“Scramble all fighter and bomber units, we need to give them air support as soon as we can!
“You! Get the masters of the artillery battery's on the line and tell him he is to start taking target fire requests from the line troops.
“Inform the Angels of Ordain that they are free to engage any and all targets, their weapons are free, that should put a smile on the face of their captain.”

-

-

At Fort Thrustabon High Commander Maverick awoke with a hang over, his head was pounding like a squadron Ork Mega-Gargant stomping across the fields of his mind. He gowned has he straitened out his slept in uniform. He looked in the full length mirror, brushed his hair, donned his cap and gave him self a cheeky little wink.
Even feeling as ruff as an orks under garment he still looked as good as always. He looked at the tray on which was food, even though he was hungry he doubted that he could stomach any thing solid at the moment so he just took the large mug of tea and gulped some of it down and headed for the C'nC with the cup in hand.

The plaza was buzzing with activity, The Tech-Thruster-Priest's worked along side their Eldar Bonesinger counterparts to combine their technology in building a single powerful shield generator for the Fort. Most of the damage from the past few days had been repaired or just covered with plates of steel. The anti-air defences had been rebuilt. The Warmaster of the Pelvic Crusade crossed the plaza quickly, returning the thrust-salutes taking care not to spill his hot drink with every thrust.

Entering the Command and Control centre Maverick saw his old friend Munch asleep in the command chair. He smiled and thought it would be best if he slept some more.

He picked up a data slate and read threw the last nights endeavours, all looked good. Even the report from Ludd and these new tunnels that lay beneath their feet, Munch had done the right thing with sending in the Terminators.
His red shot eyes scanned the rest of the reports as he perched him self on the main holo-map. Afew times he nodded and once or twice he raised an eyebrow as he read, as he took a mouthful of tea his eyes fell on the words that Lord Vera him self was leading an attack on the northern flank. A stream of liquid flew across the room.
“Why was I not informed of this?!” His voice full of anger and rage.
Munch awoke startled and instinctively reached for his sword. Quickly he remembered where he was and saw Maverick's face twisted up in fear. “What has happened my brother?” Munch's voice soft and musical as always.
Maverick handed the slate to Munch.

Munch read in silence, reading human wasn't one of his strongest traits.
“Ah, I see your trepidation, Lord Vera dose work in mysterious ways, not even I a well trained Farseer can see his path threw this life, we can only see the ripples he makes when it happens.”

“I just wish that he would have told us, this throws an ork sized spanner into the works. What if some thing was to happen to him?”

“Fear not brother, I can feel that our Lord is well.” Munch said as he cleaned the rivers of spilt tea from Maverick's uniform. “I sense that our Lord will be returning soon.”

-

Shas'O Vera grew weary of the fighting and even though it had been going so well. He and his men had driven deep with in the loyalist lines but the Astartes of the “Angels of Ordain” had stall his assault. They refused to give way and now it was bogging down into a war of attrition.

Vera decided on heading back to thruster command, on foot with just his usual weapons and armour to protect him. This would inspirer his troops with the notion that if their grate and powerful lord was willing to use the same arms as them then they must try to be as grate as him. He gave medical aid to those that needed it and said litany's for those that died in his arms.

He had made it back to the Thrusters side of the river when a stray artillery shell exploded just a few feet away, sending him and his retinue hurtling into the sky and landing against some ruins.

Vera called out to his men but none answered all of them killed in the whirl of molten shrapnel, he him self was badly injured, but his pride and his pelvis were okay, today he had cheated death again and he smiled, his fate was assured.
With one move he activated the distress signal built into the left gauntlet of his now in tatters armour and waited for rescue.

-

High Commander Maverick stared stunned at the holo-map, Lord Shas'O Vera distress locator beckon had been activated. He points to one of the Vox operators and shouts at him
“You! Send an Avis Light to our lord now, escort it with every thing we have in the aria, our Lord must be kept safe.
“You! Inform the medical staff to get the Medicare facility prepared. Lord Vera maybe injured and we must keep his light burning!”

The Vox operator turned to Maverick.
"It has been dispatched, sir. As well as twenty Valkyrie's in escort patten Bravo."

“See my brother, our lord is coming to us, just maybe not in one whole piece.” Munch used his I know some thing you don't smile.

“Munch?” Maverick's voice full of concern.

“Our lord is alive, he may not be in the best of moods when he arrives but he is very much in one piece, so put your mind at ease.”

-

Ludd had been in Shas'O Vera's force and had been fighting all day, he had been amongst the first to cross the river, the first to charge and the first to smash his way into one of the Loyalist held emplacements.
It was good to be back on this side of the river and he was giving them hell. He had told his men not to engage the Angels of Ordain, that was to be done by the Thrusters of Phalanges.

Then news of their lord being down swept like a tide of despairer across the Vox-coms, Ludd's iron for a moment wavered and he hesitated.

Vera was down... The unthinkable had happened. A collective groan went up from his men. Ludd's heart sank, he would have to push on, for the sake of this war.

"My men, my brothers. this is a dark day, but we will rise up from the ashes of this moment.
“All is not lost, you have your weapons, now give them hell... we will fight to the death be it theirs or ours.
“FOR SHAS'O VERA!"

-