There before his own eyes, his father was struck down by the arrogant and aristocratic Guilliman, primarch of the Ultramarines legion. His anger seethed as he relived the events in his own mind on how he had launched a vicious counter attack, using every tactic and strategy known to him, finally throwing the Ultramarines off the planet in disorder, only to find that the cowards had decided to bombard the planet from the safety of their space fleets. The major part of his command had escaped the bombardments by gaining the shelter of the deep ravines of Eskrador and in their deep underground vaults. He had woven his own intricate plan of battle over the past ten millennia. His plans had slowly come to fruition and one of its major achievements would be gained today, on this planet in the heart of the Imperium. Only a single minute had passed since he reached the end of the third defence ring and had stood still. With a single thought he activated his integrated display built in to the visor of his battle helmet. The ancient suit of armour, warped and changed by the baleful influence of the powers of the warp, responded instantly activating the relevant displays as an overlay on to the view screen. Unit dispositions, tactical data, strategic deployments and troop movement plans, all forming a massive collection of sensitive data fed on to the visor and was instantly absorbed by his super human brain. Another impulse of thought caused the tactical map to be displayed on his view screen, showing in detail disposition of all friendly and enemy troops and their combat effectiveness. It had taken much strategic foresight and long arduous years of tedious perseverance to achieve the tactical situation he was faced with. That was his primach's way of waging war. His agents had been infiltrating the world of Kasr Sonnen, and in particular the fortress city of Kasr Badden for decades. They had arrived there and lived on as law abiding imperial citizens. Some had perished due to natural causes while awaiting his arrival. Others had died violently at the hands of imperial authorities while more had succumbed to the effects of the underworld. Yet many survived and rejoiced when they had received word of his coming. They had activated their cells and groups and activity long planned and left quiescent was initiated with renewed vigour. Men whom were ready to follow him unquestioningly to battle and face death if necessary were present in number at every level of the Detrosian XVIII regiment. These hardened men had been subverted to his own purpose, a thought which brought a wry smile to his lips. It was indeed an achievement, turning an entire imperial guard regiment to his cause. He read the information arriving in to his visor display with delight as reports rapidly cascaded. City central command buildings had mysteriously exploded, the entire command staff being wiped out. The Detrosian XXVIII command staff had somehow survived. Worker revolts and civilian riots had begun in earnest within the city. Streets were blockaded causing massive traffic hold-ups slowing down the daily supply columns to the defence rings. The space port had been shut down due to worker unrest. The foreboding thuds were heard in the distance as artillery fire commenced its unholy activity. He could also hear the intercepted vox caster messages as the ancient systems built in to his armour rapidly deciphered the messages. Frantic calls from the command staff of the Venturi-Argosi LV regiment emanated towards the non-existent central command. Anger and desperation were written in their messages as the Venturi-Argosi units questioned the orders that had relocated them in the open ground. This was ostensibly to allow an apparent outbreak of pestilence within the defence rings which were to be controlled by incinerator bombardment. Imperial aircraft were expected to drop incineration blast bombs on the defence rings which would kill any living organism while preserving all structures including weapons and munitions. Their terror was even more pleasant to his ears as the concentrated artillery fire of the Detrosian XXVIII and apparently allied aircraft dropping incinerator bombs targeted the extremely exposed and highly concentrated units of the Venturi-Argosi LV regiment. Three hours later the regiment would cease to exist as a fighting formation. His long laid plans were in motion. The Detrosian XXVIII remained entrenched within the city limits. He had even more important missions for them. He knew his enemy, his tendrils were within their midst, and he knew how they would react. He could almost hear the advance of the brethren behind him. They had gathered upon his command, and had born arms with no questions asked. These were no rambling hordes of deviants and mutants. These were serious minded men with serious minded mission within them. They were well armed and had been well trained. He knew of the arrival of a company each of Spacewolves and Dark Angels. He knew that they would react to the sudden collapse of a sector by rushing to meet the danger. He knew that even as he stood there the servants of the false emperor were deploying in his path. He would face them with his devout brethren, armed and dangerous. The space marines were said to be the equal of ten normal men. He had plenty with which to face them In fact the six million souls who now marched through the three successive defence rings were armed well enough to take care of two space marine companies. He would exploit their weakness and their in built animosity by focussing his attack between the two forces. He knew all he needed to know about the tenacious Dark Angels and the spacewoles from the man who stood beside him now. Braynor, wreathed in a swirling black robe which concealed dusty and dated black armour greeted his leader. There was no concealing the look of excited anticipation in the fallen angel's eyes. The gleam in those vengeful eyes did not diminish the cold and calculating confidence which also dwelt in them. This would be the opportunity that he had sought out, the death of a city, the opening of a gateway to the world and the humiliating defeat of two of the emperor's foremost legions. But, if his plans were to be unhinged, he had the Detrosian XXVIII positioned to target them from their rear, and if they failed he had other plans. For he was the ultimate planner, conceiver of innumerable plans and counter plans, of subterfuge and of martial prowess. In the end he would face any and each situation with a well rehearsed strategy. He was Ikrare-Kormordan the manipulator, the chosen of Alpharius, chapter commander of the Alpha Legion, and commander of the forces of disorder about to storm Kasr Badden. |
CHAPTER XXII: TRAITORS IN OUR MIDST (Cont) 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! |
