Loyalists' Strategium

[Kelborn]

Ah yeah.

 

That's why Tzeentch got no Legion at all. Makes sense. ^^

 

Ok, name all 5 of them!

 

(We could potentially create a sixth god as well....Midaszha, the female god of greed and booty, the golden one, the gem in the night; her champions love to hoard stuff and gain more and more, the more you can gather, the more you are rising in her reputation) ^^

[MikhalLeNoir]

Call her Messi´ah^^

[simison]

Malal is canon, but not part of Alex's briefing because he's not being actively hostile against Humanity. In fact, I'm honestly unsure if the Emperor knows about Malal, given the fact that Malal would have little reason to influence the mortal plane during the Great Crusade era. 

[AlphariusOmegon108]

Malal is canon, but not part of Alex's briefing because he's not being actively hostile against Humanity. In fact, I'm honestly unsure if the Emperor knows about Malal, given the fact that Malal would have little reason to influence the mortal plane during the Great Crusade era. 

 

Well it has been muttered before that curze follows malal, and Alexos certainly has a big love for malal (its not his patron, as he is undivided, but it IS his favourite)

[simison]

 

Malal is canon, but not part of Alex's briefing because he's not being actively hostile against Humanity. In fact, I'm honestly unsure if the Emperor knows about Malal, given the fact that Malal would have little reason to influence the mortal plane during the Great Crusade era. 

 

Well it has been muttered before that curze follows malal, and Alexos certainly has a big love for malal (its not his patron, as he is undivided, but it IS his favourite)

 

 

Wait, he does? Then why is he siding with the Pantheon against Malal?

[Sigismund229]

Part 2. Not quite sure how to end it yet but that will probably be part 3.

 

Alexandros recoiled in shock at what his brother had just suggested. "It would never come to that!"

 

Hectarion shook his head. "We both know that isn't true. Father had already lost two legions to gene-curses. He would not be able to allow mine to endure with the possibility of my legion succumbing to Burden. He would have had no choice. When I took command of my legion I promised him I would not fail him. My failure is testified by every Crimson Lion who has succumbed to the Burden".

 

Placing a reassuring hand on Hectarion's shoulder, Alexandros said "Hec, it's a curse not a failing. You could not change it. You had no control over it. All that matters is how you deal with it".

 

Sitting down with his back against the bars of the training cage, Hectarion looked up at Alexandros and said "That's the problem Alex. To be human is to be flawed. I know that. But my sons haven't just continued to succumb to it, the number of them who do is increasing. At first it was only one every few compliances. Now it's one for every battle. I'm at a loss of how to stop it".

 

Alexandros sat beside Hectarion and said "Do they all die in battle?".

Hectarion's shoulders slumped and he shook his head "No. Not all. Some survive. I or the Leighai need to kill those that do. They attack us when we try. We need to fight them but often they're too badly wounded to defeat us".

 

Alexandros' eyes widened when he heard that "You kill your own sons?" he whispered.

 

"What am I supposed to do?" replied Hectarion "Their Burden gives them strength beyond that of ordinary legionaries and so they struggle on past wounds that would lay a legionary low. They don't die quietly. None of them do. No Crimson Lion will ever die quietly".

 

Alexandros nodded in understanding. "Then I make the same oath to you that you made to me all those years ago. I shan't tell anyone else. Not even our father. And I will help you find a way to cure your sons of this burden if I am able".

 

Hectarion smiled weakly "At least I can still rely on you after all this time Alex. It may sound ridiculous but I've always regarded you as a kind of older brother. I could always come to you for advice and you were always there when I needed you. I respected Icarion, Mycenae's blood we all did, but he was never an older brother to me as you were". Looking down, he asked "You told them about the more powerful beings of the warp?".

 

Alexandros raised an eyebrow "Yes. How do you already know?".

 

Hectarion threw his head back and laughed. "I've been sharing my body with one of their servants for the past 200 odd years. That and Father told me about them after he purged the majority of Ma'annan's touch from by body. He didn't tell me everything but he told me enough. Wouldn't it have surprised you more if I hadn't known?".

 

Alexandros shook his head and said "I suppose so. I hadn't thought on it particularly".

[AlphariusOmegon108]

Because the chizophrenia, his chaotic side takes over before his malal loving side does

[simison]

Ah.

 

Sig, the Space Wolves aren't removed because of their genetic flaws, but because it was to preserve Leman's dignity after an embarrassing death.

[Sigismund229]

Ah.

 

Sig, the Space Wolves aren't removed because of their genetic flaws, but because it was to preserve Leman's dignity after an embarrassing death.

Mhm I know but the cause of that death was Magnus attempting to heal his legion's flaw.

[Kelborn]

W8 a sec,

 

by genetic flaws, do you mean their fangs, etc?

Or the Wulfen curse, 'cause I don't remember the curse being dealt during HH.

 

And Sigi, as Simison said, please be careful. This burden is very similar to the BAs thirst.

 

Wouldn't it be cooler to have the following?

 

Instead of a battle rage, etc., imagine a Marine heavily wounded. Because of his wounds, his mental control is weakened, the thought of failing his primarch and the Emperor resulting in a Berzerk mode.

 

Would be something different than what we had so far.

[MikhalLeNoir]

Suicide Berzerkers of Mycene^^

[Kelborn]

Something like this, yeah. :)

[Sigismund229]

W8 a sec,

 

by genetic flaws, do you mean their fangs, etc?

Or the Wulfen curse, 'cause I don't remember the curse being dealt during HH.

 

And Sigi, as Simison said, please be careful. This burden is very similar to the BAs thirst.

 

Wouldn't it be cooler to have the following?

 

Instead of a battle rage, etc., imagine a Marine heavily wounded. Because of his wounds, his mental control is weakened, the thought of failing his primarch and the Emperor resulting in a Berzerk mode.

 

Would be something different than what we had so far.

I don't see how this is much different to the Burden as it stands now. Fighting in battle, succumbs, goes into berserk mode. 

 

What am I missing?

[MikhalLeNoir]

The one is a battle rage with seems to be rooted in aggression. The other comes from a position of failure/ weakness.

[Kelborn]

The one is very similar to the BAs flaws, the other would be something I haven't seen yet.

By this, you could give the Lions a new "obsession" of fulfilling duty and as a sidenote a certain fatalism.

 

"I've failed. Father forgive me. I haven't done enough. Not enoug... No, not this WAY!" *rampage mode*

[simison]

There was only one being he suspected knew the truth and that was Alexandros. Ever since he joined the Halcyon Wardens on Terra, those centuries ago, Pyrrhicles had noted the number of void engagements he had been assigned were less than the average a typical Warden could expect to serve on. High enough to ensure that his prowess remained as equal to his brothers, but few enough that Pyrrhicles enjoyed long gaps of relief from this terrible form of war. 

 

No relief coursed through him today as his eyes glued onto the digital displays. They showed him perhaps the most ridiculous void engagement in the history of the Imperium.

 

Fighters danced in clouds as Loyalist and Traitor pilots evaded one another, while also denying the other a chance to break away. The Lightning Bearer warships attempted to form adamantium walls to bar the path of the Warden vessels. In turn, the Wardens forced their ships, which could fight engagements at ranges of thousands of kilometres, to engage in risky maneuvers as they dodged the impromptu barriers, sometimes coming within a few dozen metres of crashing into their former allies. Pyrrhicles saw battleships desperately turn on their axis to avoid their towers colliding with the bellies of other ships. If all of this had been part of some bizarre training exercise, Pyrrhicles could already hear his master laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all.

 

Regardless, the 18^th Fleet was steadily making its way to the edge of the system. Estimates suggested that the first Warden vessel could make the jump to the Warp in as little as fifteen minutes. And, by some miracle, not one scratch had been inflicted on any hull. 

 

We might just be able to get out of here without combat, Pyrrhicles hoped to himself. 

 

No sooner had the thought formed did the tactical officer shouted, "Lord Protector! Torpedoes launched!"

 

Pyrrhicles' eyes jumped to the appropriate space on the screen. He saw the torpedoes headed straight for the Evening Star, their course make it undeniable that they had come from one of the Warden Escort Cruisers, The Jutland Spear. Fury and dread built up in his heart as Pyrrhicles shot his attention toward communications. "Contact the Spear! I want to know who gave the order to open fire! Put it on the bridge speakers." Pyrrhicles stepped back away from the screens as he subconsciously counted the seconds passing by.

 

"Connection established."

 

Before Pyrrhicles could utter a word, bolter fire filled the room, bellowing over the speakers. An explosion forced static all through the line. A voice attempted to get through. "Lor-... tor! Betrayal! W-... losin-...Not-!" The words said before another explosion ended the line. Alarms clamored as the situation quickly escalated. Pyrrhicles saw the cause: the Lightning Bearer ships were preparing to fire. 

[bluntblade]

It's worth highlighting the fact that void engagements usually take place over mind-boggling distances, while this is at insanely close range

[simison]

Added a phrase in the third paragraph.

[Demus Ragnok]

Ok thought I would shift the discussion on the DoR attack on the Fire Keepers to this thread.

 

Drak mentioned a Rope a Dope bury them in bodies tactic. I say this can be a piece of the plan but not the key feature.

 

Strangely I want the Jade General to look like a tactical genius here. He is a primarch after all. Being able to strike a serious blow against a much larger enemy force, and survive.

 

What if Jade sends a small cadre to train in siege craft with the FK.

 

These act as spies and saboteurs, giving Jade tactical info and disabling FK systems at the moment of attack.

 

The FK are already deployed against a difficult enemy. WoP fleet shows up. No surprise we all bros.

 

FK systems get bamboozled WoP deploy plant side. Titans teleport in. Maybe it all begins with the WoP spies redirecting FK siege guns against their own positions. Mechanicum and Army pincer the FK legion as a whole while the WoP make a precision strike against Niklaas and his retinue.

 

And maybe a small Harbinger fleet shows up to help with the naval battle.

 

Oh and I'm not telling how Niklaas and the FK survive. I've got an idea and it's rather heroic. Maybe. We will see.

[~Drakzilla~]

I too would like to see Jade excercise his strategic acumen. He is known as "The Jade General", after all.

 

Perhaps the Fire Keepers and Warriors of Peace could be campaigning together? Maybe even against some kind of Psyker heavy force, since the Fire Keepers don't like witches and the Warriors have pariahs.

 

Just wondering: Do the General and Niklaas ever meet in combat?

[Demus Ragnok]

Perhaps a long xenocide campaign.

 

I think Jade would only go one on one with Niklaas if 1 Nik is wounded severely and J need only land a kill shot or 2 as an act of desperation.

 

Jade would have a great advantage in skill and agility, but Niklaas is second only to Daer'dd in physical power. And may be even more resilient than the Bear. I think Js goal would be to kill Nik by other means (titans) rather than personal combat.

[bluntblade]

I'm intrigued. Especially if this gives me a chance to put Thirgen, Fyrstr and the others through the wringer. Tarkus will get a proper workout this time, I reckon.

 

Thinking a bit about the smaller bodies of traitors, they could be used to try and hit smaller fleets, especially with regard to the Scions and Void Eagles. Levels of success may vary - I have Antonidas foiling the plot by his would-be Serpent allies, and it doesn't end well for them.

[simison]

"Contact the fleet!" Pyrrhicles roared, animated far beyond his old frame would suggest. "Combat is unavoidable now." The moment the communications officer nodded to him, Pyrrhicles continued, "18th! Our sole objective is to warn the Warmaster of this treachery! To that end, I'm ordering the fleet to assume formation Iota-53-Nu. In the name of the Warmaster and Emperor, so long as one ship reaches Terra, not one life lost here will have died in vain. Lord Protector, out."

 

His commands given, Pyrrhicles returned to Captain Alden's side. The master of the Dominion of Reason spoke, his voice coming out with a metallic undertone. "Is it wise to expose us to the brunt of the enemy's attack?"

 

The designated formation would have the Warden fleet recreate a massive wedge, normally used in void battles where it was absolutely necessary to break through the enemy's lines. Frigates and escorts formed the forward ranks supported by the heavier warships, but ultimately creating a powerful but expendable shield. Meanwhile, the flagship of the fleet would be at the very rear in the center for maximum protection. However, the current situation created a complete inversion of the formation's intent. With the enemy coming toward their sterns, the flagship and the heavier warships were now the most exposed ships of the formation with the lighters ships at the tip of the wedge occupying the safest space. 

 

"I meant what I said," Pyrrhicles whispered, his face set in grim stone. The deck beneath their feet rumbled as the attack began in earnest, pouring pressure on the void shields. "The lighter ships stand the best chance of escaping. It is our duty to improve their chances, no matter the cost." He spoke louder. "Target the nearest Light-, no, the nearest Harbinger vessels. Full spread. It is now a fight for survival."

 

Alden grimaced. "I never thought I'd see the day where I would have to give the order to open fire on Lightning Bearers." With a sigh, he explained, "I've deployed all fighter and bomber wings. Until we near the escape point, we'll need them to fend off the enemy. There's no point in sending them forward to join the other ships, given their limited hanger capacities. If the situation changes, should I order them to abandon the Dominion?"

 

There was silence for a moment as Pyrrhicles' tired brown eyes noted several Escorts and Light Cruisers abandoning formation to move to screen and protect the larger cruisers. Although it was a blatant disobedience to his orders, Pyrrhicles did not even consider disciplining. "Truly, no other legion has mastered the virtue of self-sacrifice as we have." He turned to Alden. "Alert them when that occurs but do not make an order. If they wish to make a final stand, then I will not deny their valour."

[simison]

As the void became filled with firepower, Pyrrhicles noted the six ships that had held course, neither siding with the Warmaster or the newly declared Stormlord. With the start of combat, three of those ships were now moving to re-join the 18^th, another was falling back to Malis and his Traitors. The remaining two held their ground. Pyrrhicles did not know which he held in more contempt: the ones who had declared for the Stormlord or the ones who couldn't make up their damned minds. However, he feared for the three now attempting their own escape. While Pyrrhicles commanded forty-four ships, it seemed that a tenth of the entire Harbinger fleet was waiting for them, easily numbering over seven hundred warships. And those three Warden vessels were well behind the first hundred Harbinger ships. 

[simison]

Do Imperial warships have rear facing weapons?