
++6 066 786.M41++
++Segmentum Tempestus++
++Sapharius Cluster, Kararian System ++
++Deep System Remote Observer Station 23++
++Unidentified Warp disturbance detected in location quadrant 74389, bearing 0568 mils, range 505 768 km. Will continue monitoring. Out++
++6 075 786.M41++
++Segmentum Tempestus++
++Sapharius Cluster, Kararian System ++
++Deep System Remote Observer Station 23++
++Unidentified Warp disturbance emitted large mass estimated size diameter of 75 km with range to target 5 689 km and closing steadily. If trajectory and speed remain constant, estimated time to contact with Severen’s Planet: 15 days 17hours 37 minutes. Closer observation has revealed numerous large pieces have broken off from the main body, however all trajectories remain the same. Recommend alert level Epsilon. New observation incoming. Wait. Smaller targets identified as medium class Ork Cruisers. Recommend system wide alert level Alpha. New observation incoming. Wait. Ork fighters are on attack vectors with this station, deploying counter measures. Wait. Counter measures ineffective we are under att0001101001010010100101++
++Contact with Deep System Remote Observer Station 23 lost at 2347hrs 075 786.M41++
The agriworld, Severen’s Planet, hung like a jewel against the backdrop of space. Bands of white and grey clouds gently drifted across its blue and green surface, hiding the panic that was spreading like wild fire below. During the preceding nine days the planet’s upper class had been deserting the planet like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Entrepreneuring merchantmen began selling space in their cargo holds not even fit for prisoners with many a ship’s Captain taking in enough credits to set them selves up on paradise worlds. For many of those cowardly souls, this would prove to be their last journey, with a few of the more unscrupulous captains empting their cargo holds into space and returning to Severen’s Planet for more passengers. After witnessing one such atrocity, the Imperial battleship Severen’s Blessing launched a killing salvo on the freighter in retaliation for the deaths and as a warning to other captains.
After sending his household and their families off planet in his personal craft, the planetary Governor, retired Imperial Army General Van Veers, assumed overall command of the planet’s meager defense force. On the twelfth day, after refusing General Van Veers request to save his ship and people, the captain of the Severen’s Blessing ordered his ship on an intercept course with the Ork fleet. During the opening salvoes of the battle Severen’s Blessing managed to crippled or destroy three of the greenskin’s vessel. Ordering his ship on a course out of system, the Severen’s Blessing managed to draw the Ork fleet away from it’s course to the planet. After a five day running battle that saw many a greenskin vessel destroyed, a flight of fifteen Ork fighters manage to evade all the Imperial ship’s point defenses and smash themselves into it’s scarred hull. One of the explosive laden fighters, careening wildly, detonated inside the ship’s exhaust port. This explosion triggered a chain reaction that detonated the ship’s power core and ripped the valiant destroyer from the inside out.
Slowly the greenskin fleet turned it’s ugly face back towards Severen’s Planet. Warboss Grazsnikt’s WAAAAGH had come to Kararian system.
+++
“Sir, the greenskins have begun to bombard the planet. It will be only a matter of hours before their mobs begin planetfall”
General Van Veers look up wearily from his map slate towards his adjutant. Captain Reichstein’s heroic action had allowed the PDF to bring in the vast majority of the planet’s remaining populace into the planet’s single main city. Even now refugees still straggled through the city’s main gate. During the past sixteen days the soldiers of the PDF and ordinary citizens, farmer and upperclassman alike, strove to improve the city’s meager defensive wall. Leftover from the planet’s original founding, successive generations of lax governors, basking in the systems peacefulness, had let the planet’s defense molder and decay. Van Veers first act as governor had been to reinstitute mandatory service within the defense forces as well begin fortification of the capital. Unfortunately, the Orks had a different plan.
Fifty thousand unblooded boys and five hundred thousand souls depending on them, Van Veers thought to himself. “Emperor protect us”, he murmured softly to himself and then in a louder voice, “Signal the Astropathica to send out the final distress call. We can only pray that someone will hear the call in time.”
“Yes, sir.” The major saluted crisply, turned on his heels and headed out of the command bunker.
“Emperor protect us”, he snorted. “I think he has already forsaken us.”
+++
The Astartes battle barge Argo’s Fury of the Legio Bolter and Chainsword’s Great Company Light of the Emperor emerged from the tear in the fabric of realspace trailing the ethereal energies of the Warp like a comet’s tail. Closely following in her wake trailed her sister, Infernus.
On board the Argo’s Fury, her master, Great Company Master Captain Bors, stood in front of the command pulpit. All around him he could hear the toneless voices of the command deck’s servitors relaying reading from their instruments. Hushed voices of the ships officers passing orders to their rating add a counter play to the music of an efficiently run bridge. Bors felt through his ceramite shod feet, the vibration of the ship’s plasma generators begin to power the conventional engines as the Warp core entered it’s shutdown cycle.
“Sir, we have successfully entered the Kararian system. Augaries comfirm the fleet is still together.”
“Very well, inform the Navigators to commence planning for the next leg of our journey. I shall be in my chamber.” With those terse order’s Bors turned to leave the bridge. But before he could reach the bulk head doors a junior deck officer shouted.
“Master, the Astropaths have just reported a distress signal originating from this system’s fourth planet. They are under attack. Sir, it’s Orks.”
Beneath his hood, Bors’ eyes flashed wickly. Slowly his mouth curl upwards in a feral grin, exposing long, razor sharp canines. So much for an uneventful return trip from Novema, he thought, things were about to get interesting again.
“Send word back to the Legio, inform The Lurker, that we shall be delayed for a short while. Order the fleet to assume attack formation. The servants of the Emperor require our protection.”
Once more Hell had come to Severen’s Planet. But this time it would be the Angel’s of Death that would drop from the skies on burning contrails of fire.
Edited by Merkava, 14 March 2008 - 04:32 AM.