Battle for the Zerrel system
Chapter 1
The Chapter Master Hells Guardian paced the bridge of the Highwind III, the sole battle barge of the Elite Guard Fleet, and although a brilliant naval tactician he would have prefer to be fighting on the ground with his battle brothers than in the command center.
The bridge was eerily silent, the deathly silence only broken by occasional beeps from the bridges instruments. He hated the waiting game, but it was essential, to move to soon would tip their hand and lose them the advantage. The Tau must not be allowed to gain a foothold.
For several months now, reports of Tau activity near the Zerrel system was increasing. His advisers had anticipated a Tau attack at any moment and from all the evidence now presenting itself, it seemed his faith had not been misplaced. It was certain to all that the Zerrel system would be the next target for the Tau Third Sphere expansion and he had taken key positioning accordingly to lie in wait and the outskirts of the system hidden within an asteroid field.
The system was within easy reach of two Imperial forge worlds and a key route into the heart of the Eastern Fringe. Yes he would hold the Zerrel system at all costs, he would hold it for the sake of the Imperium, and he would hold it, for the sake of his people.
It was a strange concept to consider the population of the Zerrel system as his people, but in essence they were all his people, Chapter Master Hells Guardian had started his life in the Zerrel system before being accepted to become a Marine, just like his father before him, as had all his fellow battle brothers once been citizens of Zerrel. He glanced out from the bridges window, looking at the 3 adeptus ships that had joined the fray, men and servitors just like him trying to protect their home world. Each ship having been built in the Zerrel shipyards and each crew member a son born in the Zerrel system, even his mighty Highwind had been built there. He was almost proud to be a Zerrelian but his loyalties lied with the Emperor of Man
Instruments began to bleep and the once eerily silent bridge seemed to boil into noise as orders were made and status reports were announced, the Chapter Master waited silently in the bridges chair as the servitors and officers bustled noisily. One by one the 32 strong Tau fleet exited the warp space deep into the system bypassing the trap laid in the asteroid field. The Tau had long seen the Marine and Imperial ships lying in wait and had avoided them spectacularly, proceeding to drive straight into the heart of the Zerrel system.
Hell's Guardian gave a nod to his pilot who dutifully turned in his seat and plotted the commands to turn each ship around to head in after the Tau ships to give chase.
The Tau had arrived precisely where he thought they would.
Chapter 2
The Tau already had a huge headstart over the Elite Guard’s fleet and were undoubtedly preparing to drop troops to the surface the moment they arrived in orbit of Zerrel II. He had high hopes they would not reach the surface but would have been a fool had he not made careful plans in case of such an event and had placed the majority of his marines onto the planets surface
The Tau fleet only had 2 more hours until they reached orbit and could start offloading troops and equipment to the planets surface and, If successful, it risked them getting a foothold for the invasion of the whole system.
From behind the moon of Zerrel IV and hidden by the Systems only sun, came 7 Imperial Ships advancing straight at the Tau fleet from the Stern portside. The bait had been laid and now the trap was strung, all that was needed now was to ensure it struck the mouse a killing blow.
The Tau were slow to recognize the arrival of the Imperial fleet, their advanced sensors blinded by the sun’s radiation and light, just as Hell's Guardian had planned. With a total of 7 refitted Imperial Ship’s and the Elite Guards fleet of 4 now bearing from opposite sides they would inflict heavy damage before the Tau could redeploy to the this new threat.
The Chapter Master watched from his bridge as the Tau ships suddenly took evasive action and changed course moments before the first wave of torpedo’s struck their hulls. 6 of the Tau ships were crippled and many more damaged with the first wave of torpedo’s and were unable to continue their march. The remaining fleet were already changing course to give cover for their stricken comrades as the Battlebarge and his 3 Adeptus Cruisers gave barrage to their defenseless rear, destroying them all.
The battlebarge’s bridge vibrated from the shockwave of Tau reactors and Hell's Guardian ordered to hold course, driving straight between the flanking Tau Ships allowing him to bring all guns to bear.
The battlebarge shook violently even before he was able to give the order fire as half of the remaining Tau fleet directed their guns against its hull. The other half already engaged with the second Imperial fleet.
The bombardment cannons brought forth an almighty wraith against the lesser armored Tau ships inflicting heavy damage to several vessels and taking a severe beating. He had already ordered the lower deck on the port side to be sealed to prevent decompression as some of the hits caused parts of the hull to buckle, sealing the fate of many servitors whom he new would continue their tasks despite being condemned to their fate.
The Brave Sir Robin piloted dangerous close to the Highwind as the second volley of Tau fire struck the hulls, absorbing most of the hits aimed at the already damaged battlebarge and causing several explosions in the aft and upper sections of the ship.
As his battlebarge and adeptus ship’s cleared the gaultlet leaving the Tau ships behind him he ordered to continue pushing so that they could hit the broadsides and rears of the Tau fleet ahead of them. The second Imperial fleet could easily loop round to help cover their rear and would be in a perfect position for a torpedo run.
Status reports came in one by one, damage to the lower decks of the battle barge and light damage to the weapons systems, they were venting atmostphere but bulkheads were already in place. Minor damage to the Defiant and the port weapon batteries of the Ravenwing would take an hour to get back online and they only had one functioning lance portside.
Chapter Master Hells Guardian looked out to the Brave Sir Robin and saw with dismay, the smashed bridge and pluming smoke bellowing from it engine section. All attempts at communication failed and he had no choice but to witness the Brave Sir Robin streaming into the asteroid field and striking one of the larger fragments with a loss of all hands.
He returned his attention the battlefield, the Chapter would mourn and celebrate their dedication to duty in due course. The Tau ships that they had flown past had now turned round and were in pursuit, he knew they would not be as folly as to allow themselves to head headlong into the jaws of the Imperial Fleet in front of them.
The Defiant had already branched off to pick off two Tau ships trying to out flank the Imperial ships and were caught out as the Defiant released a battery from its torpedo tubes and lance weapons, destroying one and badly damaging the second.
Realisation came as instead of the Tau fleet ahead remaining engaged with the Imperial fleet they began to break off and continue toward the planet, the Imperial fleet already committed to in a direct line to the puesuing Tau fleet leaving the forward Tau fleet with a clear run to the planet.
Hells Guardian had not anticipated the Tau to try and make planetfall during battle and he would be hard pushed to reach orbit in time. He cursed the xeno’s under his breath and ordered the communication to the command centre of Zerrel IV, warning them of the incoming dropships soon to arrive.
The voicebox crackled as the Imperial fleet master requested confirmation of what to do. Hells Guardian could hear the uncertainty in his voice. He ordered quickly and clearly, to destroy the pursuing Tau fleet and leave the second Fleet to him. He was confident that not a single Tau ship would make it past them.
As he arrived at Zerrel IV the Tau had already dropped the majority of their troops and equipment to the surface and were already pushing back the Imperial lines in order to fortify their position.
His ships released everything they had at the ships who were now easy targets and destroyed each ship, but not before several railgun shots had crippled the Defiant and damaged the forward section of the Highwind.
As the last Tau ships exploded or burnt up in the atmosphere, Hell's Guardian rose from his chair and taking his sword and hellfire boltgun, walked calmly to his waiting thunderhawk to join his brothers on the surface.