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Intro as Written by Erza Tyrius

The Second Corinthian Crusade, or the Crusade of Purity 

It is the beginning of the 42nd millennium. 

The Great Rift, a galaxy-spanning chain of rifts in the fabric of reality, has cut the Imperium in half. 

From its bowels spill forth the armies of the Primordial Annihilator, led by their foremost Champion – Abaddon, the Despoiler of Worlds. 

Hundreds of planets have simply vanished in the following onslaught, never to be heard from again. Hundreds more have fallen to the darkness, becoming slaves to their new daemonic lords. And of thousands more, nothing is known at all, their fate a mystery to all. 

However, the Imperium, whilst it has suffered hideous losses, some it might never recover from, will no go quietly into the dark night. Already, thousands of regiments have been mobilised to counter this renewed threat. The forge-worlds of the Mechanicus burn bright with the fire and smoke of industry, producing more weapons and armour for the myriad armies of the Imperium of Man. From the lowliest abhuman to the glorious post-human warriors of the Astartes, all have been called to defend mankind’s domain. 

And in this moment of despair, this death of hope, mankind has found itself a champion to rally behind. 

Primarch Roboute Guilliman, reborn from aeons of slumber, leads the forces of the Imperium in a Crusade that seeks to reclaim all that has been lost. For already a hundred years, the Indomitus Crusade has raged against the dying of the light, bringing hundreds of worlds back into the fold. 

But it is not enough. 

Too many worlds still lie beyond the Imperium’s grasp, located across impassable tracts of the Great Rift. These isolated worlds are a thorn in the Lord Commander’s side, for even as his Crusade pushes deeper into the Dark Imperium, these systems and planets remain as dangerous unknowns in the reconquered territory. 

One such world is the world of Corinth, located in the Ultima Segmentum. Since the formation of the Rift, nothing has been heard from any of the worlds in its star-system, nor from the planet itself. Several Warp Storms rage around the cluster, rendering both communication and reconquest impossible. 

This aggrieves the Lord Commander greatly, for Corinth had once been liberated by the Ultramarines themselves, during the Corinthian Crusade of 698.M41. The world has thus been earmarked for immediate reconquest, once conditions improve. 

Recently, a transmission from Corinth was received by a listening post near Schindelgheist. Whilst heavily distorted, the transmission’s message was clear for all who heard it: Corinth was pleading for aid. The people of Corinth were still alive, and more importantly, still loyal to the Emperor. 

Not long after the transmission was received, Imperial observers reported that a temporary Rift corridor had opened near Cirillo Prime, allowing for relatively safe Warp travel to the other side of the Imperium. 

Sensing an opportunity to free more worlds from the Arch-Enemy, the Lord Commander has ordered for the immediate deployment of Imperial forces through this corridor. Corinth, and its surrounding worlds, have been marked as key targets. As he is currently occupied with other campaigns, the Lord Commander has given overall command to High Admiral Cassander, who now petitions your aid in this conflict… 

Corinth was once a proud and liberated world, the prized gem of the Corinth system and the seat of power for the region. Now that proud gem stands as no more than a blood diamond. Since the victory of the Formless Horror that birthed the Cicatrix Maledictum into existence, Corinth had been surrounded by roiling warp storms and raving mad men bellowing praise to malignant gods. Yet as reality seemed to waver and the nightmare began to take shape, the mountains that lay to the west, the Frozen Maw of Corinth’s major continent, laid untouched by Imperial or Chaos hands. As if some ward or primal instinct had told them to stay away, no one ventured far into the mountains, and those who did often talked of nightmares and shadows in the light. Of slicing wind and a cold such that the air itself seemed to freeze. No major expedition had been mounted because there were no minerals to be mined, as if it had all been stripped aeons ago, until one princling and his cult of chaos followers fled one of the hives, seeking refuge from the new imperial onslaught that had been attempting to relieve the beleaguered planet.

===The Frozen Maw, Western Geadres, Corinth===

Arlaz led his men from the hell that had beset them back at the hive, they had prayed to the changer of ways for escape, but their cowardice had been met with a blind eye. The gods had abandoned them, abandoned him, they had to leave before they were killed by any one of the myriad chaos cults are PDF forces who now saw them as traitors and heretics. The mountains, he lead them deep into the mountains because it was the only place they could hide, no one would look for them here. It especially helped that they had been able to steal environmental suits from the forge, they were rated for extreme heat, but also extreme cold. They would hide, and plot, and take revenge. Oh, Arlaz revealed in the thoug-

“Arlaz! I have something to report.” The shout came from the rear of the column. He followed the voice until he came upon the cult’s champion. Nara, a surrly woman and ex-ganger from the underhives, stood waving for him, an expression of dread on her face.

“What is it Nara? Have the wretches actually come for us?” His mind began to trail. Had they been followed? All this way? Impossible, it couldn-

“No Grand One, we found something, a tunnel of sorts that appears to run deeper into the mountains. We sent a few of our disciples in to check it out, but they’ve yet to return.” The expression across her face seemed genuine enough.

“Show me, let us see for ourselves. Gather a few of the men still able to walk.”

“Right away Grand One.”

They had been walking down a stone corridor for what seemed to be an eternity now and the temperature seemed to slowly drop the further they ventured. By the time they spotted the end of the corridor they were shivering from the cold, even inside their environmental hazard suits. It wasn’t the temperature that froze them in their tracks though, no, it was the nine or so men that stood frozen in the chamber. Expressions of horror, fear, and pain contorted their faces, turning them into macabre statuettes. The chamber seemed to be fashioned out of a light grey stone, lighter than the rest of the mountain, and smooth too, unbelievably smooth, as if flattened on a molecular level. Odd sigils and glyphs coated the room, but one stood out on the floor. A massive cobalt hexagon lay on the floor with a silver emblem on it. All of the frozen men were standing inside the emblems area. Arlaz slowly stalked towards one of them, a small pendant seemed to be stuck on his back, a scarab. He looked at it closer, it seemed to pulse with a faint blue light. Something wasn’t right, none of this was right, they had to leave, the mountains were a mistake, he had to get everyone out, he had to get out. A scream of purest terror came from his right and as he whirred around he too was struck by terror. A massive insectoid creature, fashioned from the same light grey stone and silver had come from the floor to cast its baleful gaze on them. The last thing Arlaz and his cult saw was the glint of sapphire and and the pulse of faint blue light as the canoptek wraith tore them to frozen, bloody, ribbons.

“It is done my lord. The vermin have been disposed of and the vaults are now cleansed.”

“About time, now go see to our Cryomancers, I request their council.”

“ At once, Your Supreme Entropic Might.”

Khaset, the Supreme Entropic Might, Overlord of the great Dahk’ash dynasty, sat idly on his throne. It had been a most rude awakening, to find his world infested, the Formless Horror having its way with reality. Sickening, all of it, but preparations were being made, this world would be his once again. The raging warp storms around the system made contact with the greater dynasty impossible, which was fine by him, more glory for the reaping. The Dahk’ash were famed and feared for their Cryomancer conclaves, they who could drain the very energy from the stars.

Khaset sat on his throne in the heart of his necropolis, time had inflicted as much entropy on them as their own technology did, cryomancy was a fickle thing. He would ponder his next move, perhaps see what remained of the fleet, see what commotions the animals on the surface were causing, perhaps try to restore the rest of the mausoleum. He had plenty of time though, and his legions were eternal, he could easily wait out for the flesh to die, as it always did. He would not though, his supremacy had been slighted and he would not stand for it. He looked to his advisor, assistant, and Vargard who stood vigilantly to his left.

“Semeru, summon what remains of my court immediately, we have plans to make.”

“At once, Your Supreme Entropic Might.”

Colonel Raven of the Wyrm Guard and Colonel Hill of the Lunar Valkyries made their way to a communication module. They were on the Adeptus Mechanicus Goliath Class Forge Tender the “Ironical Fibercon”. They originally had been a part of an exploratory fleet when their ship got seconded to the Indomitus Crusade. These Lunar Venatorii Regiment commanders have close ties to the Mechanicus. Colonel Raven had seniority by a few years but he would be a fool not to listen to the Armored Siege Commander. And he was no fool, because Errmanno knew the Fast Attack way of war but outside the siege of Hive Cogger knew very little of a grinding attrition war. At the Communication Module they both made sure they were in range of the visual receptor.

“Greeting Admiral, Lunar Venatorii 487th and 225th reporting.” Colonel Raven said. After the formalities were out of the way the two regimental colonels got their orders from High Admiral Cassander. They were to form the beach head of securing the major Hive and Orbital platform. Colonel Raven’s Wyrm Guard were to be the spear tip and Colonel Hill’s Lunar Valkries were to start the process of making a secure base for the rest of the high command. Intelligence on the situation was low. But they should be coming out of warp within the day. High Command for the Crusade would come through the second wave until then they would have to hold out.

They came out of warp to a situation that was hard to describe. Vox chatter was confused and echoed with the distortions of the Warp. Apparently the Warp Storms hadn’t completely faded. Knowing their Business the Two Regiments dropped to the planet in four Devourer Drop Transports heading towards the area outside the Largest Hive. It was interesting with the two completely different drops that happened. The Wyrm Guard came down in a wash of noise and seeming confusion as bikes, buggies, and beasts were brought out to create a Regimental Headquarters. Without a clear objective to attack they were setting up a garrison to sally from.

The Lunar Valkyries on the other hand took three Transports just for themselves but the largest vehicles in the inventory of the Imperium came crawling out. Super Heavies and Tanks Galore came out like a parade but the Women and Men of these Tank crews were yelling war cries as they were ready for siege operations or whatever else in a instant. They had a mobile regimental command and needed little more than place to park for a fully formed base

The the blackness of the immaterial, the Swordwind waited. A dozen sleek warcraft, stark white against the dark background highlighted with brilliant yet alien shades of green. These were the ships of Autach Kayl'ean, formerly of the Craftworld of Biel-Tan, now of nothing more than the void. The Eldar had been a dying race for longer than he cared to remember, now they were of a dying race without a world, and now without a worldship. Cast offs and refugees, long they had sneered down at their corsair cousins, petty open minded bandits who cared nothing for the cause or the path. Now it was their turn to forfill that role, devoid of a world to protect, or even an infinity circuit to return to, the Swordwind was the last violent gasp of a dead world.

But even a last gasp could ignight the still burning embers of an Eldar heart and so it was with that last gasp this part of the Swordwind had come to Cornith. Twelve sleek ships, commanded from the Phoenix Class Battle-cruiser 'Flame of Kaine', twelve ships full of the Swordwinds surviving aspect warriors, of guardians and wraith constructs and elegant Eldar war machines.

For now, they watched and waited, conducting ancient rituals to open long closed webway gates between the heart of the world below and the fleet lurking above. Waiting for the right time to strike.

<Another Ezra intro message.>

++ begin message ++ 

Greetings, representatives. As High Admiral Cassander is preoccupied with other matters concerning the imminent Crusade, it has fallen to me to brief you on the situation at hand. My name is Fyedas Kitaan, Assistant-Prima of High Admiral Cassander, and I welcome you to this Crusade. 

++begin inload//BriefOverview.log++ 

The Corinth star system, from here on referred to as Corinth Exterior, consists of 9 planets. Of these, four are of Gamma-class (ref: Civilised World): Corinth, Trespolia, Gareos, and Kalamatis. Furthermore, three worlds are of Alpha-class (ref: Agri-World): Lechaius, Isthmis and Kerchies. The last two worlds, namely Milos and Partes, are respectively of Delta (ref: Dead World) and Rho (ref: Research station) class. 

Across Corinth Exterior Imperial control was near-total, with the last known revolt against Imperial authorities occurring on Kerchies in 732.M41, following a period of climactic changes that temporarily crippled agricultural production there. Corinth itself was the main center of power, functioning as the heart of the system's administration and political life, as well as serving as the system's main military stronghold. 

Trespolia, Gareos and Kalamatis, each located relatively close to Corinth, acted as secondary centers to the capital world. Heavily industrialized, these worlds are covered in factories and hab-block clusters, that reach both far into the sky as deep underground. There is a small Adeptus Mechanicus presence on each of these worlds, which oversees the production of certain export products, such as servitor components, specialized mining equipment, etc. 

It is also through these secondary centers that the three Alpha-class planets were managed and taxed. Lechaius and Isthmis were shared territory of Trespolia and Kalamatis, whilst Kerchies was a tributary of Gareos. The agricultural produce of the Alpha-class worlds was funneled through the trading network set up between the Gamma-class worlds to Corinth, from where the produce was redistributed across the system. 

The two outliers are Milos and Partes, which lie at opposite edges of the Corinth star system. 

Milos was once an Imperial mining colony, which fell into the hands of the Ork warlord Skargor in early 698.M41, during its initial invasion of the Corinth system. Mining activities continued there at the Orks' behest, until the Corinthian Crusade arrived in-system at the end of that same year. A surprise attack was launched on the world by a strike force of the Lamenters Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, who managed to restore Imperial order on the planet. The Chapter suffered heavy losses during the undertaking, citing unexpected resistance from the local populace and unexpected setbacks during the cleansing of the mines. 

Following the Crusade, the planet remained a source of unrest, and it was soon discovered that some of the Ork forces had managed to survive in the depths of the mines. After several years of conflict, the Planetary Governor of Corinth at the time declared the world Perditas, and petitioned the Council of Terra and the Inquisition for its Exterminatus. In 703.M41, this sentence was carried out by the Holy Inquisition, as represented by Inquisitor Targellis of the Ordo Xenos. 

Partes, on the other hand, has always been a Dead World. Positioned far from the system's star, the planet is a cold, lifeless rock, subject to extreme temperatures and unpredictable weather-patterns. It is home to a research station of the Adeptus Mechanicus, but its location, size, and function are unknown to Imperial records. 

++ end inload//++ 

As you are no doubt aware, there have been little communications from and to any of these planets since the formation of the Cicatrix Maledictum (see addendum: GreatRift.log). There is therefore no information regarding the state of local Imperial authority, the strength of local military forces, or the current disposition of the populace towards Imperial rule, nor is there any indication of what foes might be present in the system. 

It is therefore of utmost importance that all Crusade forces approach the system and its planets cautiously, maintaining battle-readiness at all times. High Admiral Cassander has insisted that I ask you to keep your forces together as much as possible, only splitting them up when absolutely necessary. He has also asked that any and all contact with local Imperial forces is reported directly to him, through either myself or my fellow assistants. 

Further instructions will be given at the initial rendezvous-point at Cirillo Prime, where you will be assigned to specific battle-sectors. 

May the Emperor's light shine upon your path. 

++ end message ++

- Space around Corinth -

The small fleet re-entered reality in an explosion of warp borne light, it took less than half an hour for reality re knit the wound caused by their appearance. Colonel 5-01 and Commissar Hans Mand Gammel stood on the deck of the Grand Cruiser Might of the Emperor ever watching after warp trickery.

'' Everything seems to be in order Colonel, all carriers accounted for, as for their cargo, we should have the information soon, once everything is accounted for '' said the ship's Captain

'' Are we the only Imperial forces present, Captain? '' asked the Commissar

'' No Commissar, I am detecting a friendly fleet nearby, it seem to be orbiting above the largest Hive on the planet ''

'' Then order the transports to begin dropping my forces '' said the Colonel, his voice muffled by his rebreather unit '' By the time the ships are in position I will have my regiment number report ''

The small fleet made its way towards friendly forces, hailing them and indentifying itself as it made its approach. By the time it was in position, reports from each battalion commanders had been tallied and sent to the colonel, the regiment was present in its entirety.

'' Deploy first, second and third battalion around the city, I want our field guns, our Earthshakers and our Medusa siege guns in range of the Hive, the infantry will begin to dig a network of trenches and assorted defensive positions. The engineers of fifth and six will support the effort of our comrades in arms to build a functionnal command post ''

Once the fleet reached its destination, the three designated troop transports broke from the formation and made their way to the wastes around the hive, while the rest began moving towards the command post site.

- Surface of Corinth, the wastes -

The troopships landed almost simultaneously, each disgorging a company of Krieg Guardsmen taked with securing earily position before the more vulnerable artillery would be deployed. When the all clear signal was given, rows upon row of men and vehicles started to come out of their carriers. Man sized trenches were dug first, by the men who would occupy them, securig a solid line of defence. Meanwhile, engineers platoons attached to each battalions started to dig deeper holes, using specialised tools and Trojan vehicles. Once the holes were deep enough, the massive Earthshakers and Medusa cannons were towed in place. Elsewhere on the position, smaller cannons, Thudd guns and Heavy Mortarst were similarly deployed in small fortifications, towed by smaller Centaurs. The troops worked relentlessly and silently into the night each men knowing his assigned job, having practised such drills in the cargo hold of ships that were now leaving the planet.

Meanwhile Colonel 5-01 and Commissar Mand Grammel had arrived at the Lunar Venatorii position, asking to meet the commanding officer as soon as possible to organise their forces together.

====Lunar Venatorii Combined Basecamp====

 

Colonel 5-01 would discover as he moved from the orderly lines and holes of the Krieg that things seemed very different for the Lunar Venatorii. There were trenchworks being worked but they were not nearly as extensive as his own. But what was the most startling would be that there were two complete regiments camped there. The mobile fortress of the 225th acting as the Headquarters for the moment was an impressive sight as it made the Stormsword, Shadowsword, and Banehammer that were surrounding it look small. Further down the line was an entire motorpool with hundreds of Leman Russes. The 225th was an Armored Siege Regiment and it showed by the numerous vehicles that occupied their area of the camp. Colonel Hill was in her fortress directing her various elements to their designated spot. The Lunar Valkyries were in an array of Flak Armor and Leathers of their homeworld. Far from quiet, they were a boisterous bunch each having a full mask and helmet but obviously female voices for the most part. Thousands of troops were moving massive machines of war and here and there the large transports for siege breaking were seen. As well as a small Artillery Battalion and flight company were making their spaces known. Lunar Valkyrie’s symbol for their badge was their namesake, a charging woman on a winged horse holding a lance backdropped on a moon. Their Ranks more easily told by the bars on their leathers.

The Wyrm Guard of the 487th were not much better but their camp on the opposite flank contained no Earthen Works beyond a few gunner’s nests. The firepower of the men and women of the 487th was reliant on their mobility and clear areas to roam. Already flights of the monstrous Wyrms were flying overhead gathering intel and making know the terrain. The Cavalry had both horses and motorpools of bikes broken into squad and company elements. The largest area was given over to the Wyrm pens and Chimera area for this regiment. Colonel Raven’s beast as well as an escort from his mighty 3rd Battalion were obviously in the mobile fortress as the telltale Wyrms napping outside its main entrance. Sgt. Holiday was on guard duty in his Windrider Carapace Armor. The riding leathers with a roaring panther head denoted their rank by color.

For the Lunar Venatorii Rank was just a matter of trust and one should know their leaders by voice or sight. They were very unorthodox in their dress and methods. As the Colonel of the Krieg and his commissar was escorted through these lines by one of the Lunar Venatorii that was on the guard roster, they would see most of this. Sgt. Holiday took the guests from the other guardsman as soon as they reached the Mobile Fortress. “Welcome Gentlemen, this way. Colonels Raven and Hill are expecting you. I am Sgt. Holiday. Corporal Edwards you’re on watch, take care of Azula.” Azula being the resplendent deep sapphire blue Wyrm with white specks near the entrance.

As they made it deep into the fortress, they were escorted into what was obviously a command center. Cogboys were working the various systems to give them the holographic display of the planet as well as more detail displays of this Hive and other hives on the planet. Colonel Raven called out to one of the runners that were stationed around the room without looking up from the display. “Get a flight out to the PDF HQ and see what they report the situation as and another flight out to the Governor’s Mansion and confirm he is still around. I want around the clock patrols and scouts until we know for sure we control this area. “

Colonel Raven was a lean man chewing on an unlit cigar as he put his mind on the problem of lack of reliable intelligence and the fact the vox was not reliable thanks to the twice bedamned warp. As a veteran of another crusade he held the distinction of being the senior of the two colonels of the Lunar Venatorii but Colonel Hill’s mind was nothing to knock and neither was her second Major Theophania. The three of them made up the high command of this landing at the moment. Colonel Raven was in leathers like the rest of his troops but wore rare power armor and had a bolt pistol on his him. Colonel Hill on the other hand wore a simpler outfit that was also leather but had just some carapace that was the issue of officers. Both of them had their masks and helmets off revealing their features. Raven was an older gentleman whose life had been harsh by the number of scars and his mustache. While Hill looked relatively youthful as a petite woman. Theophania was actually the tallest of the bunch by standing well over six feet tall but also had a figure to match her. Her dark features were intelligent and strong. She was a contrast to the two lighter skinned and lean colonels.

++ prior to the arrival of Imperial forces on Corinth ++

Planetary Governor Aldo Bacchiadis nervously scratched his beard as he checked the dataslates again. Once well-groomed and kept short, in the traditional Corinthian style, his beard was now long, stringy, and greying, and Aldo felt its greasiness as he ran his fingers through it.

A few months ago, he would have been ashamed to leave his office in his current state. He would have sent out servants to prepare him a bath, and given his clothes to the maids, and he would not have set a foot outside of his quarters until both he himself and his garments looked presentable for the public. He would have proclaimed, to all that would hear it, that a man who cannot manage his own appearance cannot be trusted to lead a world in the Emperor’s name. He would have told his fellows of one of his father’s famous catchphrases, of how clean men make for clean cities, and he would have praised his father’s wisdom and the way it guided him even long after his father had passed.

But that was then. That was before… Before the world he had known had been torn out from under him.

Here he sat, in a reinforced bunker far below his former office, in a filthy room lit by a single candle. Reading dataslates that gave him no hope for the future, and that only confirmed his worst expectations.

The last report made him sigh deeply. There had been no word back from Perian and his Arbitrators. There was therefore no way of knowing if they had been successful in their mission. He had not been able to sway his brother from attempting to reach the Lechaeum, Temple of the Astrotelepathes, and he had been forced to watch the remaining Arbites march towards what he saw as a certain death.

With Perian gone, he had not only lost his only living relative, he had also lost what little fighting strength Corinth still had. The men and women who had remained in the bunker with him were the wounded and the sick; Perian had rounded up all those fit enough to carry a rifle for his last, futile charge.

Aldo cursed his brother. He cursed the cruel vagaries of fate, and he cursed the blighted creatures that had come to murder his world. Aldo buried his head in his hands, and began to sob softly.

Hive Acro, his home, the beating heart of the Corinth system, was dead, and now only the ghosts still wandered there.

------Meanwhile in the Corinthian Primary Hive----

Third Battalion sent out their scouts and forces as per orders of Colonel Raven. The old man wanted two things contacts with the PDF and securing the Planetary Governor. The heroes of Third Battalion were of to the task. As unconventional as the 487th Lunar Venatorii were, they were simply the best at these kinds of quick actions. Sgt Jacob Holliday, the Flight Leader of third chose the Wing-leaders of 2nd and 3rd company for this honor of being the first into the fray. Marshal Gustav Stålhandske commander of 3rd Battalion decided to support his flight leader by having the rest of those two companies to advance and secure a supply route. Wing-leader Sgt. Garvey of 2nd Company circled around the hive and made it to the spires of the wealthiest.

The carnage around there was some the worst he ever scene. But the battles for these spires were long lost. The signal for help was centered around the halls of the Astropaths. It was there his entire wing went in force. The Vox experts of the Wyrm Gendarme were the best at tracing signals which led them to sounds of battle. Arbites of this hive battles a desperate defense action against an angry mob of madmen dressed in rags and covered is gore. The Madness of the Warp had afflicted many it would seem. But these madmen were hardly armed for a fight against a wing of Wyrm riders. Thirty Wyrms and their riders immediately pitched in to save the policing force that had sent the distress call.

After a short but bloody encounter where the worst injuries were on the Arbites and one private who ended up with a broken arm, they were able to evacuate the beleaguered Imperial representatives. It was from the brother of the Current Governor they learned of a refuge where those still loyal to him currently resided. A third of his riders broke off to go rescue and escort the governor back to the main camp on Sgt Garvey’s orders. Everyone rescued was injured in some way, some so serious that Fourth Battalion Samaritans were dispatched along routes cleared for rescue operations. What had started as a small-scale mission turned into a major scale operation.

The hive was in no condition to support the Astra Militarum Operations of the retaking of Corinth. Bands of Madmen and traitors roved the streets. Unlike Hive Cogger these were regular rabble that was easily broken at the appearance of the Air Superior Wyrm Riders. The fierce Wyrms were vicious and fast, nothing in the hive could fight them effectively. This made the clearance operation of the Horse and Bike troopers much easier as they secured evacuation routes out of the city to refugees under the guard of the Guns of the 225th who had the siege works well underway. The appearance of the Krieg troops at their camp and camps surrounding the city made many a scratch-company come out of the works and flood towards the relief.

Wing-leader Sgt. Talia of 3rd Company had a better time of it. He immediately broke his Wing into several smaller teams for search and rescue of any PDF or Household forces left after disaster befell this once great Hive and beacon of civilization. They set up several nest bases from which to mount rescue operations from. Fortunately, they found that the PDF had been a well drilled force. Many of the PDF had adopted the various tactics and standards of the fifty or more regiments who had cleansed this planet from the green-skins. The PDF had already secured a citadel of defense against the mobs but had been cut off from supplies and communication. Very few of the disciplined men had broken in the long siege that now had finally broken in their favor.

Outside the walls of their defenses there was piles of bodies and gore as wave after wave of madmen and mutant had attacked them. They had sustained heavy casualties as medicine and ammunition ran out. The relief of mounted troops fresh from drop ships was a welcome sight. The PDF core of troops of about regiment strength with support elements had survived. And several smaller such defensive grouping scattered in the ruins were recovered as well. Over the days the entirety of the rest was brought out of the doomed hive and brought into a basecamp built for them by the engineers of Forth Battalions of each of the Lunar Venatorii regiments. It brought their personnel strength up quite a number able for other actions. Further the senior leadership outside of the Arbites had not survived, so the chain of command was effectively what the Lunar Venatorii wanted it to be.

The Regiment sized element of Corinthian citizens were mainly light of infantry, but had a core of heavy infantry. The months of combat made them experts in urban warfare. And an large numbers of specialists were recovered to make argument nearly as strong in numbers as the Kriegers. The bad news was the Arbites were very few in number due to casualties and the Governor's people were either too injured or weak to be moved for awhile yet. So a few companies worth of soldiers would be tied down guarding the Corinthian ruling class.

The Loyalists of the Imperium had recovered the important elements of the Hive for their new crusade. But still this was just one hive and it’s production abilities were gone until more citizens could be brought. They needed to secure another supply of ammunition, food, and other resources if they were going to continue to bring this world into compliance. But at least the ridership of Aldo and his brother Perian was safe now.

++ open file/INTRVW_N23_52.log ++
++ beginplayback ++

[A door is shut in the background. Footsteps can be heard approaching the center of the room. A chair is pulled back, followed by the sound of someone sitting down.]
Subject (S): Is this really necessary?
Interviewer (I): Standard procedure, sir. All Imperial forces encountered beyond the Rift must be debriefed before returning to active service – I’m sure you understand.
[Subject grunts, and shuffles on his chair. (nervous?)]
S: So what is it you want from me?
I: I would like you to answer some questions for me.
S: Questions?
[Subject laughs.]
S: Usually, I’m the one asking the questions.
[Interviewer laughs.]
I: Don’t worry, sir. We’re not here to cast judgement. We merely want to know what happened here.
[Subject does not respond.]
I: Sir?
S: I don’t want to talk about it.
I: We don’t have to get to that straight away. Let’s start with something simpler. State your name and function, please.
S: What for?
I: Makes it easier to process the recordings, sir.
[Subject grunts.]
S: My name is Tobias Dokimastos. I am an Arbitrator of the Adeptus Arbites, servant of the Imperium and the God-Emperor of Mankind.
I: Good. Where were you stationed, sir?
S: I was assigned to Precinct-Fortress Heraklon.
I: This is where, exactly?
S: In the western precinct of Hive Acro. Right next to the Hall of Heroes.
I: The Hall of Heroes?
S: It’s where the locals celebrate heroes from ages past. Bit too sentimental for my taste, but it kept the population happy, so it made me happy.
I: A bit of a strange place to put an Precinct-Fortress, don’t you think?
S: Not at all.
I: How so?
S: It reminds the people that even heroes aren’t above the law. Keeps them from getting funny ideas. Or at least, it did.
[Momentary silence. Interviewer shifts in his chair a bit.]
I: Moving on. Where were you when the Rift opened?
S: I had been called back to the Precinct-Fortress to assist with the transport of several low-level prisoners. So I was there when… when it happened.
I: What did you do?
S: What did I do? What do you mean, what did I do?
I: How did you respond to the situation? What orders were given out, where did you go, etcetera.
S: We…
[Subject remains quiet for several moments.]
S: I don’t remember much.
I: Anything helps, sir. Just tell me what you do remember.
[Subject remains quiet for several moments. Subject can be heard going through his pockets.]
S: … is it okay if I take a smoke?
I: Sure.
[Subject produces a lighter and a lho-stick. Subjects lights the lho-stick with the lighter, and puts the latter in his pockets again.]
S: There was… screaming. So much screaming. I don’t even know if half of it was real or not. I was standing next to the prison transport one moment, the next I was on the ground, wrestling with this psycho who tried to tear out my throat with his teeth. It was chaos. The prisoners went berserk, tried to kill everyone. Explosive collars took out most of them as they ran off, but some of them just went crazy on the first thing they found. Once I’d bashed his face in with my maul, I linked up with some of the other Arbitrators that had been assigned to the transport and tried to figure out what was going on.
I: What then?
S: We went inside the fortress, figured that the seniors would know what to do. We’d tried to reach command over the vox, but the line was filled with static. Could’ve sworn I heard some voices in that static, too. So we went upstairs, to the command center.
I: What did you find there?
S: An abattoir. No, really, that’s the most accurate description I can give you. The place was covered floor to ceiling in gore. You know we Arbites are tough bastards, but I’ve got to say, what I saw in there turned my stomach.
I: So your commanders were dead?
S: Aye. They’d been ripped apart. Gutted. We found bits and pieces of them strewed around the place. Some we didn’t even find at all.
I: So what did you do then?
S: We… We…
[Subject pauses.]
S: We found Perian. Or he found us, I don’t fully recall.
I: Perian?
S: Senior Judge Perian Bacchiadis, the Governor’s brother.
I: Where did you find him?
S: I told you, I don’t know if we found him or if he found us. He was just there all of a sudden. He’d been badly injured, but he lived.
I: So Judge Perian was now the one in command?
S: He outranked us, and was the most senior among us. So yeah, he was. Still is, too.
I: And what were his orders then?
S: We…
[Subject pauses, and shifts in his seat.]
I: Sir?
S: I… I don’t remember.
I: What happened after you met Judge Perian, Arbitrator?
S: I don’t remember.
I: Did you retreat from the Precinct-Fortress?
S: I… I…
I: Sir?
S: Don’t make me…
I: Don’t make you?
S: Don’t make me remember.
I: Sir?
S: Please don’t make me…
[Subject appears in distress, and is shaking in his chair.]
I: Sir?
[Subject starts shaking uncontrollably, falls to the ground.]
[Hasty footsteps can be heard. The door opens, and more footsteps enter the room.]
I: Get a medic in here!

++ end playback ++

-----Basecamp Alpha One Outside Primary Hive of Corinth-------

While elements of Third Battalion 487th ‘Panther’ Cavalry was securing a route of escape for those still loyal to the Imperium the rest of the regiment was not idle. They might not be making the great earthen works their fellows of Krieg were, but they were doing something as important. The bikers of First and Second began to establish supply routes with the other elements of Krieg Death Corps. According to intel from the elements that landed near them that the commanders of Siege Regiment decided to surround the primary hive in preparation for laying siege to it. Those of Krieg were in a better position to do so then the Siege Breakers of the 225th Lunar Valkyries and more so than the Fast Attacking Cavalry of the 487th Wyrm Gendarme. So 487th began to support the war effort by establishing communications and supply routes to protect the vital convoys. Fourth Battalion of the 487th however had a much different mission profile from the rest. Each company’s Samaritans was sent to support the rescue efforts while the engineers and soldiers of that battalion set up a proper field camp.

The Camp of fourth battalion was ringed with barbed wire and set up temporary housing and interview areas for the refugees fleeing the hive. They had to prepare for large numbers of civilians as well as PDF and other troops coming through their processing area. This was a quarantine of sorts, no one would be allowed to be free until they were interviewed and vouched to be of the Imperium. With the madness and whatever else that affected the Hive, 487th was being cautious. Interviewers were only allowed to continue after everyone passed the medical screening as well for toxins and disease. Due to the low numbers 487th had however they were supplemented by members of the Lunar Valkyries.

The 225th was oddly formed around their area of the three-regiment camp. The Tankers of the Valkyries had an arrogance of the ponderous firepower they had brought to the fight. Three super heavy classed tanks that in some cases literally kill Titans. Their large guns and divisions of heavy Leman Russes left the protection of the camp under no question. Also, the 225th had proper earthen works that was smoothly attached to the efforts of Krieg but theirs was odd as they had more areas of flatten land and ramps for massed armored columns. But that wasn’t the most impressive part of their base of operations. Centered in the camp was a tread vehicle that was the size of a Titan and had a massive amounts of defensive weapons and a cannon that could fit four tanks inside with room to spare. It’s Void Shields could take an Orbital Cannon strike.

Surrounding this massive mobile fortress was several companies of Artillery. While they didn’t have the numbers of their Krieg counter-parts they did place them in ideal formation for both far and near support. Their mix was more for in support of an Armored Column and Infantry Counter Attack than the whole battery and counter battery of most artillery. With only a few Medusas and Basilisks they didn’t have the numbers for a serious bombardment, but it was enough to keep a corridor clear for the refugees. Supported by Wyvern Mortars and a brace of light tank escorts, the Artillery was a perfect support to the efforts underway.

This was the first step in establishing a series of holdouts that would be the key to securing the planet and eventually the sector for the Imperium once more. Most of the refugees had little clue to the state of affairs for the Hive much less the planet. Interviews were going slow and the few who should have knowledge either had convenient amnesia or ended up under the treatment of the medics as they ended up convulsing. This made it very slow to ascertain the validity of those that were left. Further the disturbing amount of gore and blood in the Hive of so many and the few numbers of survivors made trust even more of an issue. Something had effectively decapitated any real armed response and made the Hive the hunting grounds for the insane.  Only the Governor and his brother seem to be any kind of leadership left. But their survival with a lack of how left the commanders of the Lunar Venatorii suspicious. The Lunar Venatorii were experts on fighting the traitor and the Xenos threats of this arm of the galaxy.

++ GREETINGS, USER ++
++ SECURITY IDENT? ++
++ Hybris ++
++ IDENT CONFIRMED ++
++ ACCESS GRANTED ++
++ RESUME OPERATIONS ON PERSONAL LOG M41.23.#<// [record corrupted]? Y/N ++
++ Y ++
++ CONFIRMED ++
++ OPENING… ++

It has been forty-three hours now since the first of the Imperial forces arrived on our world. Forty-three hours. It still doesn’t feel real. I feel like I’m dreaming, like I could wake up any moment and be back in the nightmare, back in the darkness of the bunker.

But it is real. I know it. I’ve seen it, felt it. I’ve shaken hands with the men and women who came to save us, talked to their officers, even had a few words with their commanders. I’ve been escorted here, to this temporary retreat, along with several members of my staff and the surviving Arbitrators. My people are being cared for, shepherded to quarantine zones and fortified refugee camps.

I can hardly believe it. Even as I sit here, on this fine bed, with a warm meal – thoughtfully provided by the catering support staff of the 225th Lunar Valkyries – beside me, I can hardly believe any of it. To think that an entire Crusade would be launched just to save us…

I don’t have much time to enjoy this moment of joy, however. I am still Governor of this world, and of this system, and I have duties to fulfil towards both the Imperium and my people. Tomorrow, I will meet the other commanders of the 487th Lunar Venatorii and the Death Korps regiment. Colonel Hill, the senior officer of the 225th, also told me that word of my survival has been sent out to High Admiral Cassander, and it is likely he will be coming down here as well.

After all these months, all these hardships, we can finally fight back. We can finally begin to retake what is ours. Corinth will be liberated, and then all the other worlds in the system will follow. The flag of the Imperium will wave across the Corinthian system once more!

Praise be to the Emperor of Mankind! Praise be to His servants, who have come to deliver us from this evil! And praise be to the Imperium, who has not left us to rot in the dark, but returned to us the light!

Thank you. Thank you, a thousand, thousand times thank you.

++ CONTINUE EDITING? Y/N ++
++ N ++
++ SAVING ++
++ CLOSING… ++

>

The runner that Colonel Raven had spoken to, saluted and was about to run off when Sgt. Holliday grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. "Colonel, those objectives are complete. The Governor should be rested and over shortly. Let me introduce you to Colonel 5-01 of the Krieger Regiment. Sgt Talia's Wing has set up forward operations with support of her commander. Further she rescued the PDF HQ, they will be down for retrofitting for a couple a weeks as they are processed for information. Sgt. Garvey also secured a portion of the planet's Arbites. Supply Convoys and Scout patrols are being organized to flow to the other Krieg battalions. "

Sgt. Holliday was the defacto senior non-commissioned of the regiment and his report was to the point. He quickly grabbed out a tablet with the details of the operations he put into motion knowing his commanders minds. This was how a veteran regiment operated it seem with the knowing how each other worked. Colonel Raven cracked a grin and clapped Holliday on the shoulder and took the tablet. "Good work lad. " Then he turned to his fellow Colonels. " Welcome to the party 5-01, odd name there. Anyways as you can tell the be damned planet has little Intel and except for our space borne box, communication is by foot due to interference. Glad to see reinforcements. I don't have enough boys for all these planets. Colonel Hill and were talking strategy. My boys and her girls are just not made for a static war, so we are going to be heading out as soon as we can get enough pdf to restore control. "

The Colonel of the Wyrm Garderme was a lively man who seem to extrude energy. Already in a few short days that it took for the Krieg to land he already had several operations on the way. Colonel Hill whole quieter was too making the best use of their time. As one could tell by having a mostly operations base set up and ready to go. It was obvious though that the Lunar Venatorii operated as maneuver units. And there was other hives to secure and production to get back under imperial control.

-Krieg base camp, near Corinth Primary Hive-

Commissar Hans Mand Gammel, colonel 5-01 alongside the commanders of each battalion gathered for a briefing, after linking up with the Lunar Venatorii. The Kriegers had a plan of their own to purge the Hive, allowing pressure to come off from the Venatorii who would extract persons of interest within the Hive. The Colonel had agreed to deploy his only airborne asset, squad 5-06-03-06-93, colloquially known as squad 93, to support the Venatorii. The Engineers of 5th Battalion found a weakness within the wall, one that the combined batteries of first to third Battalions would smash apart, allowing the mechanized Grenadiers of 4th company to secure the breach. Once the breach is firmly under Death Korps control, twenty companies would come in and spread around the Hive, purging the heretics from the inside, with the rest of the regiment on stand-by to support the troops in the Hive.


-Krieg lines, 20 km from the walls of the Primary Hive, 05:00 local time-

Precisely at 5:00 am, the initial barrage designed to create a breach in the walls began. The massively thick walls lasted a full thirty seven minutes before an entire section collapsed under the combined fire of the Earthshakers, Minotaurs and Medusa Siege guns combined firepower. As soon as breach could be seen, the entire mechanized 4th company of Grenadiers gunned forward. The first vehicles were outfitted with heavy flamers, while the squads inside carried additionnal flame based weapons, used to purge survivors from the breach. The rest of the Centaurs disgorged their content and the Grenadiers swiftly secured the breach. They voxed their success and the rest of the forces soon joined them, establishing a solid Krieg foot hold in the city.

-Imperial Guard HQ-
Colonel 5-01 inclined his head as Colonel Raven introduced him.

'' Our troops have penetrate the Hive, I understand that you have evacuated the Governor, but we cannot let heresy fester within the city, those who would seek to abandon the Imperium will die, those who are still loyal will be brought to our camp, armed and trained ''

Colonel Hill not wanting to be left out of the fight, especially since her Valkyries were seige busters decided to also ease the pressure on the 487th's efforts. As the Kriegers opened up on a breach, she ordered her women to do the same on the opposing side. But there was a secondary objective for this as well. Several Tank companies were ordered to secure the forges and production facilities to make rebuilding easier.

The Valkyries sullied forth as a great column under the fire of massive Super Heavies that lead the way. Only the primary tank battalions moved forward as the primary troop elements were stuck on garrison duties. Her subordinates showed why the Heavy Tanks of the Lunar Venatorii could break through most anything. The cannons that fired in mobile warfare tactics allowing each section fire in order. The precision and weight of fire that could bring titans in moments broke a second hole in the massive walls by the time the heavy treads made it there.

With a sense of competition the Lunar Venatorii broke the wall almost in time with the Krieg and they had started a moment later. The tanks flowed into the city crushing any foolish to block their paths. Luckily there were very few anti tank set ups. The rabble would flee before the mighty tanks. Where there wasn't a path before new ones were made with the rubble of the destroyed.

++ datathief//Gamma-Rho-12-A//vox.intercept//timestamp [data expunged] ++

(spkr_humanmale_1 (?)) […] this rate, the Imperials will be at our doorstep before we- […]
(spkr_humanmale_2) I know, damnit, I know. I didn’t expect them to move this fa-[…]
(spkr_humanmale_1 (?)) […] ]What then? Do we retreat? Or do we […]
(spkr_humanmale_2) […] No, by the […] no. If we do that now, we’ll lose everyth- […]
(spkr_humanmale_1 (?)) […] what do you want me to do then? You know we can’t use the […] without getting cau-[…]
(spkr_humanmale_2) […] -will be hitting the outer walls from two sides. Steer clear of the streets, and do not engage until […]
(spkr_humanmale_1 (?)) […] You’re not suggesting- […]
(spkr_humanmale_2) […] I am. Rig the forges, and head to the Temple District. We won’t be able to stop them, but we’ll at least be able to […]
(spkr_humanmale_1 (?)) […] And what if they don’t fall for it? […]
(spkr_humanmale_2) […] They will. […]


++ begin message ++

My lords,

I have been approached by a member of Governor Bacchiadis’ retinue about the Lavron District (ref: HiveAcro_districtmap.pict). This individual, who introduced himself as Adept Telherian, was formerly an acolyte and friend of Magos Gillerhys, who acted as the overseer of the Mechanicus facilities in the district. He expressed concern regarding our impending strike at the district, and asked me to pass along the following message to you.

++ inload//message//reading…. ++
++ inload complete ++

Hail, fellow servants of the Omnissiah,

I apologise for my bluntness, and for the way this message will reach you, but these are uncertain times and I did not truly know to who I should direct my pleas. I have heard that an assault upon the Hive is imminent, and that you intend to strike at the Lavron District. I advise you to be very cautious when approaching the Mechanicus installations within the district. My master, Magos Gillerhys, sealed their approaches when the Great Rift opened in the sky, and we have not heard from him – or from any of the other acolytes and workers within – since. I fear for his life and safety, but more importantly, I fear he may have activated all the facilities’ defensive systems to keep the Archenemy at bay. Therefore, I urge you to be extremely careful in and around the Mechanicus’ compounds, as their weapons systems are not able to discern friend from foe, and will open fire on any trespassers.

Attached to this message, you will find a security code that should allow you to access the Mechanicus’ private vox-net. You will not be able to reach the Magos directly with it, but hopefully one of my fellow acolytes is still on-station to receive the code and transfer it to him.

May the Omnissiah be with you,

Adept Telherian

++ end message ++