Apollyon calmly assessed the situation, transmitting his orders to his battle squads with the clarity and composure that comes with decades of service in the legion Astartes and the Deathwatch. He was the conductor of the massive orchestra that was the battle for Caliban. Pride swelled in him as he thanked the lion and the emperor for this opportunity to serve them. Yet, his training prevented that pride interfering with his command. He had more surprises for the trespassers and he planned not to let any one of them live to tell the tale. His alert senses eagerly scanned the displays and sensor readings for the much anticipated infiltrator force, that was surely present in their vicinity. Who ever had created the explosive introduction to this battle by clearing the path for the invasion fleet, would most certainly attempt to distract the defences by further actions. The observed the positions of the enemy vessels, marvelling at the three vengeance class cruisers from the days of old, their sleek lines hiding the infamy of their actions. The powerful lance weaponry of the vengeance class cruisers and the single desolation class cruiser were focuses on the void shields overlying the command centre. Their intention was clear. He expected a large drop ship assault on the outer perimeter, mainly to be led by rebel guardsmen and mutant rabble. The main strikes would be surgical in nature, attempting to decapitate the command structure. For that to occur the shields would have to be disabled, which is where he expected the infiltrators to intervene. The enemy raiders added their weapons batteries and torpedoes to the ordnance carried by the attack craft. Hidden defence turrets revealed themselves suddenly, laying a curtain of steel, disintegrating the entire first attack wave. The follow on waves pulled up desperately, trying the fathom the newly emerged threat. Another nodded command, more runes activated in the sanctum internus and more events began to occur. Three small asteroids lying abreast of the clear path began to vibrate. A small embedded sensor raised its head at the receipt of a previously coded signal. It's receptor array deciphering the co-ordinates at lightning speed. Buried deep within it, man made mechanisms activated. A sudden explosion on one side of the asteroid flung the mass of rock in a linear direction. An implosive impeller drive activated, providing directional thrusts and intermittently boosting the speeding asteroids velocity. One of Gravad's raptors, tasked with surveillance of the cleared path had just enough time to shout a warning before he was caught in the hail of rock debris that hit him like a meteor shower. The asteroid continued on its projected path, sparing not a single moment to consider the first heretic casualty of today's battle. Sensor screens on the invasion fleet suddenly filled with warnings and proximity alerts. Three asteroids were approaching like runaway space ships. Despite their experience in space, the crew of these ships were after all mere humans, with all the instincts for survival and self preservation that the species is renown for. The smaller raiders began to speed up to try and avoid the oncoming behemoths, while the cruisers also attempted to manoeuvre while their gunner officers targeted the rocks. Pandemonium broke loose within the invasion fleet as the first rock whizzed past, missing every warship but showering them with a massive hail of destructive mineral debris, blinding their sensors and damaging augers. The second asteroid smashed directly in to the middle of one of the raiders, pulverising it in to atoms within the blink of an eye. Roiling plasma from its warp drives created an expanding cloud of inferno that set alight three troop transports, the conflagration wiping out the equivalent of an entire imperial guard regiment. The third asteroid struck a glancing blow on the last vengeance class cruiser, shattering its engines. The rock itself broke in to a large number of smaller fragments, speeding at increasing velocities, peppering virtually every vessel in the vicinity with armour penetrating hits. Bowdane screamed in anger. In a matter of seconds the vengeful attack fleet had been struck a decisive blow. The invasion fleet now resembled leaderless cattle, with the various ships trying to maximise their survival by separation for the shower of asteroid debris that was following each asteroid. The enemy had been very cunning indeed. He cursed his warlord Gravad for his over confidence. This battle would have to be won by nothing but direct assault. He barked an order to launch the boarding torpedoes. The mutated specimen that functioned as his operations officer croaked a warning that the defence turrets were yet to be over whelmed, and died a moment later. Bowdane was in no mood for discussions. He would assault the out post now! He saw the display of the out post's void screens, ordering all the lance batteries of all ships to concentrate at a specified spot. He saw the shields buckle underneath the combined might of the high energy beams. Then they flickered and momentarily the segment of the out post surrounding the command centre lost its shields. This was the moment Bowdane had waited for so long. He screamed at the ten terminators positioned ready to teleport. Arcane blue lightning erupted around them, and the first squad disappeared in to the immaterium. The second squad was just beginning to disappear, Bowdane amongst them when he heard a warning. Gravad had sensed the change in the battle. Using the asteroids as in ready made weaponry, with the simple additions of explosive propellants and directional sensors was a stroke of genius, and now the carefully choreographed invasion plan was in tatters. But it would not delay the inevitable. He had identified the site of the most powerful void shield generators and was already winging his way to destroy them. Two of his men still accompanied him as he stealthily penetrated the outer bastions of the out post. The few automated sensors and servitor sentinels were easy prey to his martial skills. He knew very well, that the enemy would be aware of his presence and the general area by the simple expedience of following the de-activated sensors. He expected his speed and agility to achieve his purpose and his battle prowess to see them though any unforeseen difficulties. He had noted the flickering of the void screens in response to the concentrated lance fire, and recognised the failure of just one of the shields for what it was. A trap! He momentarily admired the cunning of the defenders, making a mental note to make their deaths particularly painful, as e shouted a warning to Bowdane through his helmet mounted vox caster. In his heart he knew that it would be too late. The battle lusting Bowdane would find it too much of a temptation not to assault. Gravad clenched his fists in anger and began to run in great bounds, assisted by his raptor pack, along the corridor. The main void shield generators his one focus. Apollyon concentrated hard on the tactical displays, while keeping a close eye on the progress of the infiltrators. They had breached the outer defences and the few servitor sentinels that had been encountered had been deactivated. They were heading towards the shield generators as he had expected. Outside, the battle had been joined in earnest. Propelled by blood lust or fear of their masters, the surviving renegade imperial guard regiments had begun to deploy from their transports. Like a swarm of locusts the assault craft fell from the transports while massed weapons battery fire and concentrated lance fire was taking its toll on the defences. Here and there a defence turret blew up or went silent. The void shields were still up apart from the one which he had allowed to falter. He was satisfied with the defensive strategy for the moment. The gun emplacements for the ground battle were all manned within fortified turrets by servitors with pre-programmed fire arcs or by chapter serfs. His own battle brothers had been formed in to strike teams and he fully intended to take the battle to their enemy. The Knights of the order shall not wait to be assaulted. He had fire teams positioned strategically within their complex for the expected breaches, ready for counter attack. He noticed the "Eviscerator" fire a string of torpedoes. These would be boarding torpedoes filled with his heretic brethren, of what legion or affiliation remained to be seen. Whoever it was, they were ready to meet them. It was at that moment an alarm sounded on the overlay screen. The techmarine adjusted a few runes and looked to Apollyon. "Multiple contacts emerging from the warp Brother Captain" Apollyon saw the icons of warships small and large emerging from the immaterium. On the "Renegade's Death" Dalamere also saw the icons, a tight knot forming in the pit of her stomach. On the "Eviscerator" Bowdane was too frenzied to notice the new comers, while Gravad continued to charge through the outer defences of the Keep, completely oblivious to the situation |
CHAPTER XVII: BATTLE FOR CALIBAN (Continued) Chronicled By ( Shadow Guard ) |
GATHERING OF ANGELS |
This section provides the narrative history of the events that took place during the Gathering of Angels campaign conducted by the Inner Circle, during Abaddon's Thirteenth Black Crusade. This is in no way the official GW version nor is it in anyway an attempt to infringe on their IP. There are many versions of imperial history buried within the sands of time and this is but just one of them. Read on if you dare! |
