Settlement 228 in the Calixis Sector is a small frontier world, populated by tough pioneers. Fort Bozeat is the main fortification on the planet, acting as a defence to the largest settlement on the planet. An ancient portal of unknown origin had been found on the planet and was being investigated by Inquisitor Rathbone and a detachment of Blood Angels under her command.
As the day dawned, guardsman Pike sat just outside of his Chimera in the Bozeat compound with the rest of his squad. He and his fellow guardsmen were on rotation in acting as planetary defence on this godforsaken backwater. Nothing had happened in the six months they had been there, apart from the arrival of several squads of Space Marines for reasons that he was not privy too. He wasn't sure whether he was reassured or intimidated by the presence of the members of the Adeptus Astartes. He was just finishing his ratburger when the klaxon sounded the alarm. At last, he was going to see some action!
In low orbit, the sleek Dark Eldar ships released their deadly cargo of Raiders and Ravagers to begin the offensive below. The pact that had been formed between several Archons was that they would strike and take out the main defence on the planet and then they could move onto the undefended settlements and pick their prize of the monkeigh to fill their slave holds.
Several miles away from Fort Bozeat, Warhound Canis Alpha, requisitioned by Inquisitor Rathbone to be part of her forces, heard radio chatter that the Fort was under attack. Princeps Ryanis Smythe sent a request to the Inquisitor to go in support of the Fort and was pleased when this was given an affirmative response. Powering up, the Titan took great strides as it rapidly closed the distance to meet the enemy.
Archon Kamile surveyed the battlefield. Her proud Incubi had broken past the perimeter and were slaughtering Space Marines with their Klaives, which were an unexpected bonus to provide her with amusement. However, she was not impressed by the absence of half of the forces of Archon Sartoth. There would be words (followed by bloodshed) over his treachery later.
Guardsman Pike was firing his lasgun at the invaders as fast as he could, but for every one struck down, another two appeared. Sleek dark Raider circled the edge of their defences, with dark blasts of energy engulfing tanks and artillery pieces, making them explode and showering down white hot pieces of metal. He was now beginning to wish his prayers for something to happen had not been answered...
Canis Alpha strode onto the edge of the battlefield, its weapons powering up and launching ravaging blasts that tore wholes in the enemy forces. However, it was quickly swarmed by large numbers of Dark Eldar Raiders. Princeps Smythe overcharged the Void Shields as lances of energy struck around the form of his Titan. Even with the shields knocked down, the enemy anti-tank fire pattered off Canis Alpha's armour. The Princeps felt invincible, his God Machine towering above the battlefield. It was only too late that he noticed the diminutive form of a Dark Eldar Talos latch onto the ankle of his Warhound and tear its way through the actuator. With a sheering of metal the Warhound toppled and fell to the ground, to rise no more and with it, the hopes of the Imperials were crushed.
Archon Kamile stood bloodied in the middle of the enemy fortifications, her bodyguard dead. She was close to claiming the communications relay that was being used to co-ordinate the defences. Shot after shot of Imperial firepower was absorbed or deflected by her Shadow Field. Arhcon Tihew had died earlier, his Shadow Field malfunctioning at as soon as he entered the fray. Kamile had well rewarded Tihew's favourite courtesan that she had conspired with to place a disrupter device on his person that had led to the failure of his personal defences. The smile this brought to her lips was the last thing she did as she was struck by a multilaser shot.
Guardsman Pike crawled out the wreckage of his Chimera. The sound of death surrounded him and the order had been given to retreat. The few remaining artillery pieces and scattered squads of guardsmen were still putting up resistence, but it wouldn't last much longer. As he tried to escape, his path was suddenly blocked by a group of dark shadows and he felt pain ravage his body as shards of black crystal tore into his body.
Archon Sartoth was pleased. His plan to let his allies take the brunt of the assault had worked and now he laid claim as the only surviving Archon to all the spoils. Soon all of Settlement 228 would feel his wrath and submit to his will..
for images please see here
http://ketteringgamesclub.freeforums.org/slave-raid-on-settlement-228-t744.html
