(Previous info on Carix can be found here https://www.reddit.com/r/WarforTrackoldMinoris/comments/1u504yv/the_cult_of_carix_an_introduction/ )

The Island of Leffin with minor villages removed.

Carix's host had been landing non-stop for weeks. While her main vessel had mysteriously departed after dropping off every living soul left the actual landings was like a swarm of bees as haulers, transports and landers of all sizes and makes deposited troops from orbital barges down to the planet itself.

Imperial Navy squadrons had avoided approaching the enemy simply due to being embroiled in constant enemy action courtesy of the Heretic fleet operating in the systems fringes. As such the Island of Leffin had been reinforced tenfold. Carix's armies arriving north of the Islands capital city Kyota and making their ecstacy filled march south to where Carix was due to land... Kyota itself.

The grand Bastion fortress Gates constructed back during the planets first colonisation once overlooking the most likely main beachhead of any large invasion force now overlooks the man made Basin. They protect the only access way for heavy armour to climb the cliffside.

But Leffin was never undefended to begin with. Its large PDF garrison and mighty twin fortress gates had only been strengthened after Carix's heralds completed their coup.

The creation of the Basin itself only added to the sheer cliff faces size. Tens of thousands of Carix's faithful manned well maintained fortifications, artillery batteries that would make Krieg officers nod in approval and a series of barricades and lookouts that meant no army could approach unseen. And no member of Imperial high command doubted the uphill battle ahead.

But all heretic eyes turned to Kyota... Carix. The Goddess. She who had promised millions salvation. Freedom from tyranny and simply overwhelmed the weak willed with a level of warp power that had enthralled all who remained willing and not. The corpses of those who rejected her power lay piled unceremoniously outside the city walls, in shallow graves across the island or in the burned out remnants of villages too blind to follow in Carix's blinding light. Banners, statues and engravings depicting her beautiful form had replaced almost all decorations. No field was untouched, no tree free of carvings both crude and art, such was the fanaticism on display. The vox was filled with prayers to a goddess whom whispered into every listeners mind. The Island was an intoxicating hell of excess and violence all in one daemon princesses name. Carix... for she had made landfall and all would know her beauty.

Waiting and praying was a procession of over a million souls. Prostrated at the grand steps of the Kyota capital palace praying and partying around statues constructed in her image. Legions of the lost and the remade, gathered from shattered hive-worlds, oathbreaker regiments, fallen pilgrims, failed PDF, hive gang chattel, and warp-touched exiles. All are drawn by promises of salvation, by the mere presence of Carix. She had not needed to recruit. She needed only to be seen, and they come.

Most wear no armour. Only silks. Flesh both pristine & scarred… for all are welcome in her embrace.
Their garb is inconsistent, strips of faded cloth, ceremonial veils, stained satins, and knotted ropes denoting ranks or sins. Some are nearly naked, painted in swirling dyes made from ash, blood, and stolen perfumes. But all were unwavering in their madness or their devotion.

Though not all waiting their Goddess were part of this mad mass of mankind. Companies of well equipped and clearly trained guardsmen equivalents carrying banners once denoting glorious Imperial insignia, bore now desecrated images changed to show the Goddess they now worshipped. Standing in perfect parade style blocks. Purple and white uniforms cleaned to a pure sheen that Mordians would have trouble finding issue with. They too waited to see the one they worshipped.

(Fair warning the images below have been generated by abominable intelligence to help visualise how the enemy looks)

An example of an elite Carix worshipping traitor militia. Outfitted using Leffin's PDF arsenal.

A Regular Carix Militia. Lasguns are standard.

Rows of corrupted leman russ battle tanks too sat idle. Their engines emitting purple smoke rather than petroleum fumes. The armour seemed to shift, the engravings depicting Carix shifting in real time to watch those gathered around. Each armoured vehicle a shrine to her beauty.

These warmachines corrupted to serve her rather than the Emperor. 10 entire PDF tank regiments had turned. All their equipment, all their expertise now serving a Goddess in opposition to the Imperials that dared try to take her world. They had turned on the chaos followers loyal to the Gunslinger the revolution had been swift.

But amongst the newly arrived hordes new horrors unveiled themselves. Twin traitor regiments leading another fresh horde of cultists. An armoured regiment and a specialised light infantry regiment. Both twisted and transformed in Carix's image. Led into the city by a procession of heralds, each robed figure one of Carix's minor psykers. Conduits of her control, of her vision. Her worship.

The tanks of this armoured regiment had once been called the 117th Ventighal Armoured regiment a battle-hardened force of disciplined tank commanders now known as Carix's Iron Choir, a heretical armoured regiment wholly devoted to Carix, their goddess of perfection, wrath, and unbearable beauty.

They field over 1,000 Leman Russ Executioner tanks, their plasma destroyers re-engineered and overclocked in desperate worship of a Goddess too beautiful to truly see. Many run hot enough to melt their own crews over time, a fate they embrace as sacred martyrdom. Or are too far gone to insanity they barely even realise what is happening.

Each tank is painted in iridescent hues of purple, gold, and bleeding pink — always shifting, always alive to the eye. Instead of Imperial Aquilas, their hulls bear abstract sculptures of Carix’s form twisting, lithe, half-screamed, half-sung in expression. Plasma coils have been reshaped into more elaborate forms often spiralled or ribbed like wings, ribs, or claws. Their crew access hatches are rimmed with symbols of excess and beauty some tanks literally ooze fragrant oils or incense from built-in vents. A grim vision of what the Leffin PDF's tanks will eventually become.

Though under Imperial control that would have been all, numerous conquests in Carix's name meant the regiment had been bolstered by more than just the battletanks. The Iron choir also consisted of formations of self propelled basalisks that fire shells blessed with Carix's psychic powers that audibly scream as they come down to explode, spreading HE fragmentations & more of that perfume smoke like mist that her forces regularly employ to disorient and overpower the weak willed followers of the corpse emperor.

Though not shaped into literal temples, these Basalisk artillery platforms have been spiritually transformed into shrines to their goddess. Their hulls are lightly adorned, with most of their sacred symbols hand-scratched, painted, or etched onto armour by their gun crews. When the cannons fire alongside the noise of the cannon, all hear Carix's shriek. Her cries of torment. Her anguish and rage. Many have been up armoured and increased in scale so that the shells they fire can be that much more beautiful. Empowered and warped by her heralds psychic power these fierce cannons are an unknown element that will test Imperial forces to the limit.

A regular Leman Russ battletank in service of Carix.

A Leman Russ Executioner

A Corrupted Basalisk.

Carix's Elite. \"Sacrosanct Blades of the Goddess\"

Lining the steps of the Capital building was Carix's true elites. Cape wearing light jump infantry.

Sacrosanct Blades of the Goddess Carix, They are Carix's divine silhouettes, elite warriors who have abandoned individuality to become living extensions of her will and image. To them, Carix is not merely a goddess of beauty and vengeance; she is the totality of meaning, the shattered mirror in which all truth is reflected. Each warrior is a willing fragment of that mirror cut, refined, and polished to wound the world with her light.

Their ranks are composed of the most fanatically devoted. Once cult scribes, zealot sergeants, fallen Imperial veterans, or fanatical devotees who heard her call in dreams. Entry into this formation is a ritual death of self, names are surrendered their faces are masked, voices are rarely used.

Each warrior dons a tightly fitted uniform of white, weave and reinforced synthleather resembling a corrupted version of scout patterns once used by elite Imperial drop troopers. Tunics bear heretical inscriptions and sacred stitching in crimson thread, mimicking the tattered elegance of Carix’s own battle-worn raiment. Armour plating hugs the chest, limbs, and spine designed more for graceful manoeuvrability than brute defense. Capes hang from their shoulders, each inscribed with Carix’ name, a devotional symbol or simply a painstakingly crafted image of their goddess. 

The most haunting feature is the ceramite masks sculpted in the likeness of Carix herself. Some portray her beatific smile. Others her tormented agony. A few rare veterans wear the long dead Lieutenant Hux’s face reserved for those who either served in the same warzones that birthed her, or have shown their devotion long enough to be noticed.

These soldiers use a specialized system known to Imperials as "Seraph Harnesses" arcane jump and grapnel rigs once derived from ancient Astra Militarum grav-tech in use by some regiments from long forgotten parts of the galaxy, now wholly corrupted and re-engineered. Twin grav-anchors are mounted at the hips, while plasma-thrusters on the back allow for burst glide movement, vaulting over terrain and straight into ruin. Grapnel-hooks can anchor to walls, ceilings, armour or even enemy soldiers themselves allowing mid-air redirection and descents that can and often do simply result in the suicidal devotees of Carix falling to their deaths. Though many of her honour guard are from regiments whom regularly used such weapons and there are always more volunteers willing to rise to such prestigious ranks.

They dance through the air, they become poetry, leaving behind corkscrew trails of rose-pink contrails and vox screeching hymns corrupted by warp infused madness all in glory for their goddess.

But then. All eyes turned to Carix. Her towering form seemed to absorb all light, until it was just her. Her body, divine architecture, every curve and angle sculpted to impossibly harmonious proportions. Her skin bears the lustre of living marble infused with light. Warm, luminous & faintly iridescent. When she moves, subtle radiance travels beneath the surface, like continents shifting under a calm sea. At a distance, she is a vision. Up close, she becomes intolerable… too radiant, too right, too beautiful for mortal minds to survive and remain sane. She stepped down the ramp of her corrupted and twisted bulk lander. Each step bending the steel under her.

Carix moved with grace beyond human comprehension, her steps slow, precise, and devastating and when she touched the surface of Trackold for the first time the ground seemed to weep tears of blood beneath her, cracking and warping under her tread yet she seemed unaware, or perhaps uncaring, of the fanatical worshippers she crushed beneath her with each elegant outstretched limb. Her adoring cultists so eager to finally embrace her all seemed to ignore the violence, too enraptured in her vision.

"Bring her..." She commanded, lifting a hand that ended in claws sharp enough to tear through starship plating. "Sygny..."

The crowds bowed and prayed hundreds died simply from hearing their Goddesses voice for real. Speaking into their very minds. But her purple caped honour guards rushed to obey. They dragged a wailing, terrified captured Auxilia from the 1066th penal regiment towards Carix.

"Ready my chambers... bring her. And prepare for war... the enemy comes."

She turned her inhuman eyes off towards the Basin to the south west. Clutching the miniscule ident tags that belonged to the long dead Lieutenant Hux between two fingers.

Without turning she continued her bloody march deeper into the capital. Her voice taking on a rage that those still sane knew was not a good sign.

"Colonel... see to the defences. My flock is reeling after defeat at the far side of the Basin. They require clarity... Your guidance and a firm hand."

The Sacrosanct Blades commanding officer was in many ways difficult to make out from his comrades wearing much the same uniform as the rest though he had been blessed with a mask that was clearly warp infused, the lifeless eyes of the Carix engraving glowing with violet energy. They bowed and then took off at a run making sure to not step in front of their goddess. A contingent of subordinates bowed and followed. None would dare refuse Carix... and live long.

She turned her attention to the adoring hordes.

"Come my followers... I shall show you your desires... your freedom. Your rage!" She then turned her gaze upwards to a lone low orbit Marauder Vigilant. She smiled...

At the same time as her landfall. The former Kytekan, now a Carix empowered champion, had been brought via aquila lander to the island. Treated well and shown to a room that they might worship in private and recover their strength. A Carix Herald had come to speak to them, to heal their wounds and ask them how they intended to serve their Goddess after the battle in the sands that had resulted in their enlightenment.

Vrael was watching the very quickly redacted footage alone. Sitting in the dark interior of his opulent office.

"So you are here at last." He muttered tapping the intercom. "Murmur have all the warp emitters been checked?"

His slate beeped.

>> Yes my lord. All appear to be in good condition.

He did not reply. Instead turning back to the live feed.

The pict crackled and faded to static as the marauder crew tore themselves apart causing the craft to spin out of control and careen down to the surface below, half its crew corrupted in seconds and turning on one another in a violent Carix worshipping frenzy. The loyalists of sufficient willpower forced to fight and die fighting comrades that had lost themselves under her gaze...

Vrael shuddered... "Throne preserve us." he whispered, before downing his entire drink in one go and standing up grabbing his weapons and leaving the office heading right for the landing pad. Time was not on their side.

(apologies for the delay)

"Victory! Victory!" Valyrran and Cadian cheers could be heard from all over the palace. Finally conquered by the combined Cadian and abhuman force.

"Raise it high!" Someone shouted joined by hundreds more as they watched flags bearing the Roaring lion of Valyr and the Cadian Gate being erected atop the smoking ruin.

A tough battle. One that had cost all who took part in both lives and equipment. But it was yet another victory. Something all could be proud to have achieved. A fortress secured in a lightning strike taking only 48 hours.

Of course the Lord General's representatives were here alongside numerous propaganda creating officers holding pict recorders and even a news team which was receiving constant confused looks from passing guardsmen. The goal was rather clear though. After numerous disastrous battles and costly victories a big set piece battle that was won overwhelmingly by forces loyal to the Imperium would be a tremendous boost to morale. Especially as little could be shared from the ongoing bloodbath in the western half of the planet. General Redlina's victory at Fort D'escar was a much needed boost not just for morale but faith in the abhuman general... and by extension vindication for the Lord General whom had personally vouched for her.

Redlina however was nowhere to be seen. The propaganda units understandably looking for more... traditional officers such as McMahon and Du Montaal over a towering berserker abhuman. Glorious picts of Cadian & Kwalashan troops celebrating atop burnt out traitor emplacements were being taken while the more savage fanatical Cadians and the "feral" Valyrrans were kept mostly out of frame. The same again went for the armoured vehicles. Picts depicting mighty Baneblades and leman russ columns driving through the shattered gates were indeed a popular image. Carefully doctored to remove the Imperial losses that dotted the entire breadth of the fortress itself.

Victory. As would be reported to Erelvastian command. Tales of heroism. Tales of great military feats. Tales of Heroic sacrifices and martyrs in the Emperor's name. One footnote in the war for Trackold.

Quietly tucked out of sight was General Victoria Redlina. Sitting in her command crassus along with her returned son. Valtin Redlina had been stuck in what experts were calling a warp rift that had meant for those worlds caught within the warp storm two decades had passed while here on Trackhold barely a month had gone by.

The General had kept her emotions in check right up until the hatch of the crassus closed behind them. She turned to her son... now older than her with an expression Valtin had never thought he would see... Sadness.

"You should never have left Valyrr... after.."

"I made my choice."

"I know."

"You sent me away. To hide with Greim's people."

"I know..."

She repeated quieter this time. The frankly giant abhuman woman seeming to deflate.

"You could not have known."

He tried to reassure her reaching out a hand towards hers.

"Yet I let you go. I let them talk me into...."

She shook her head, letting out a snarl of rage.

She looked up to meet his red eyes with her own. It clearly hurt to see her own son... he reminded her of her long dead husband. Painfully so especially now that Valtin was older still.

"Did they treat you well?"

"Well enough. Quatre despite your hatred of her... looked after me."

"You dress and smell of Kestrel."

"I Can hardly have spent 20 years with just the Valyrrans you sent with me."

"What of them?"

"Most have died. Defeating Wolcotts creations. But the rest should still be with Greim.... wherever he is."

Victoria let out another growl at mention of the man whom they had a troubled history with.

"And you?"

"Its not even been a year for me Valtin."

"Then there’s time yet to make amends."

She looked up at him. He had changed. His anger was not gone... but dormant. Just like hers, they had quite the temper, it seemed to run in the family.

"I do not deserve your forgiveness A mother should not abandon her child. And I should never have sent you away a second time... even if I tried to protect you."

He seemed conflicted. This was not how he'd imagined it... in truth he had no idea what to expect. 2 decades of wondering and playing events out in his head had not prepared him for this.

So he did what any child would do when words failed... he hugged her.

Redlina seemed to freeze at the gesture. Her mind returning instantly back to Valyrr some 6 years prior when she had bid her family farewell before marching off to war beyond Valyrrs skies.

She hugged him back, a near bone-breaking vice like embrace as some of that repressed emotion was allowed out. A tear running down her cheek as she once again understood the price of service in the Emperor's Holy Astra Militarum, and the consequences of the cruel choices she had made in a misguided attempt at protecting her only son.

When the two left the crassus not a single sign of what had occurred was visible. Redlina as ever was a towering inferno of authority that none would dare question. She marched off in search of her command staff with Valtin following behind.

Lieutenant Luciel fell into step beside Valtin. They had work to do.

##########################################################################

Lord Commissar Lion was once again being hoisted above a large crowd of cheering Valyrrans.

Victory at the palace had again required his personal touch. Supporting the Cadians of the 532nd he had led what remained of the Valyrran vanguard into the fray surrounded by his competent and perhaps overzealous retinue. He knew better than to pause and had simply charged in hoping beyond hope that Rose would deflect any incoming fire meant to end his life then and there... she had indeed with a psyker borne violence he would struggle to forget for however long he lived.

Watching a heretic psyker turn inside out after she tried to get in his head was something he had not gone into today thinking he would witness. But it had happened and poor oats was still white as a bedsheet with her head in her hands off to the side with Marlon trying to reassure her after seeing it.

With victory being announced Lion had been swarmed in adoring Valyrrans from the as ever Commissar obsessed 14th Assault company, Major Mintons self proclaimed "Commissars lucky 14th" She had again demonstrated just how fanatical her belief in the sainthood he had given up trying to dissuade by charging in right after him with her command squad, banner flying high and deafening warcries overpowering whatever foul sorcery the enemy had planned to use to disrupt the guard upon entry. In the frantic melee that followed he had watched Minton overpower a Chaos ogryn by leaping forward into its chest and repeatedly punching its head with her power fist screaming something about "Lions" and "no fear". Her equally heroic... or insane depending on whom you asked, soldiers had following her in without pause.

Lion was effectively carried back out of the tainted palace and out onto the sandy desert at the steps and it took over an hour to get untangled from the celebrating Valyrrans and get transport back towards the HQ. He had of course said a few words and given praise where praise was due. The Commissar Worshipping Valyrrans taking that about as well as expected. He would deal with the aftermath later.

For now... he had disciplinary matters to attend to that had seriously dampened his mood. Major Exo had reportedly gone awol. He was determined to get to the bottom of this before Redlina heard anything...

##########################################################################

Caleb and Annabelles tour continued down another level into the barracks where almost a thousand Valyrrans appeared to be resting today. It was a maze. No signs, thousands of identical rectangular rooms which seemed to house groups of 4 and sometimes up to 10 Valyrrans and all their kit. No beds, no ameneties everything seemed to be incredibly spartan, just kit, armour and weapons and bodies... so many giant abhumans poor Annabelle had gone bright red and didnt know where to look. Especially as Valyrrans didnt seem to have any sense of common decency... sort of expected from a culture that didn’t seem to have privacy.

They had come here after Calebs repeated requests to see any of the Valyrrans who had protected them from capture by Carix's agents. Darwin seemed to do a good job at keeping most of the Valyrrans from doing anything. The berserker was by far the biggest one here though a good majority of the Valyrrans on this level appeared to be Inquisition agents. Most of the armour was black, many had inquisition rosettes and purity seals visible on or under armour.

Jess was again at the front. Pride or perhaps a stubborn streak meant she refused to let anyone else take over as tour guide.

"What was the name you wanted to see again? Jaski?" She muttered something Caleb couldnt make out from the noise. Tammy heard it though.

( For those curious they can read the escape in the comments of these. Part 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/WarforTrackoldMinoris/comments/1u2h6hh/1st_valyrran_part_18_time_waits_for_no_one/

Part 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/WarforTrackoldMinoris/comments/1u515nb/a_surprise_strike_an_unclear_goal/ )

"Must be a thousand Jaski's in theatre..."

"What were the other names? Can maybe narrow it down without asking Inquisition spooks to reveal their secrets..."

(Lilli, Dorsa and Daq.)

Eventually they found Lilli. She was slumped against a wall of one of the bare rooms, stripped down to her fatigues with something resembling a saline drip connected to her arm. One she had to hold up herself mind you. She seemed to be shaking still coming down from the drug induced high after she had been shot by the enemy's peculiar weapons.

Her still mud & blood covered armour was piled in the corner, alongside what appeared to be newly issued weapons. She didnt seem to react to their approach, the helpful stormtrooper that had helped them find her shrugged. "She's not the only one who got hit by them darts. everyone’s having a rough time but doc's say it will pass. Kills normal people though apaprently. Daq was the other one right? same unit. He's in medical. Dorsa is there too i think."

He then left the group to it joining a group of Valyrrans nearby who were playing Tarot with basically scraps of paper with badly drawn symbols on them instead of cards.

##########################################################################

With Victory being declared across the northern deserts. It seemed eyes were moving towards the Isle of Leffin. With ongoing operations underway to secure the macro elevators underway it was only a matter of time now until the siege of the island began in earnest.

Valyrran command was under no misconception that it was likely they would be sent that way. Valyrran armour was not suited to amphibious operations even if most of said armour was currently scrap metal after the horrendous material losses suffered storming the fortress this very day.

Soon columns of Valyrran infantry now resorted to marching were seen on the way towards the basin's edge. Whatever celebrations were planned had been put off as General Redlina had wasted no time in requesting immediate orders from the Lord General who had praised her troops performance before confirming that yes... Leffin was the target. And Redlina would command the attack.

Strauss received the perhaps unwelcome information that Redlina was on her way by Valkyrie. And he had mere hours to finish clearing up before she arrived proper. Commissar Middenstraak and a small force of Valyrrans were already here "representing" the 1st but generally just standing there and watching the Cadians with clear mistrust.

Trackold was abuzz with activity. So many plates spinning all at once. Too much to do too few agents to deploy. Not enough time...

Inquisitor Vrael was departing from Inquisitor Arenis' base of operations. Having seen quite enough of the Logicians via the picts he had glimpsed for today. He had thus decided to leave her to it and focus on his own problems...

As they walked to the waiting transport He looked at Neema his agent.

"You disapprove of this course of action Neema?"

She didnt stop walking just ahead of him but her head slightly tilted to the side.

"We do not trust Arenis. She has every reason to kill us. And you walk into her lair just to dump more bad news on her?"

He chuckled... realising just how much he needed that brief distraction from everything.

"I know the risks. Arenis might be a monster but she is not so foolish as to draw Daman's Ire too. She broke our deal I will not cover for her any longer."

Neema just took a deep breath through gritted teeth... Her Valyrran temper rising something fierce but she wouldn’t break ranks in front of their observers.

She changed the topic before a blood vessel burst.

"Murmur has a report for you."

"Oh?"

"The kytekan."

"The what?"

"Alice. Taronian stray."

"Ahhh that one. What did we do wrong?"

"Used the VIM. It made it too obvious its us."

"Ah... fair."

They reached the ramp and entered the transport and its cool interior. The aircraft didn’t even wait, the pilot hitting the engines and sending the craft airborne immediately.

Neema sat opposite him, even seated the abhuman was looking down at him thanks to her height her legs forced over onto his side of the small compartment just to remain comfortable.

"She hasn’t tested the slate. And its been moving erratically supposedly. Likely she's up to something. It fits previous cases of non compliance observed."

Vrael put a gloved hand to his face, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead and leant back into his harness.

"Fine... have Murmur deal with it. She hates us interfering with the network anyway... clearly. We are too stretched as is... at least its a small harmless mistake... not like she's gone and told anyone senior." The Network had been his before he became bogged down with all this nonsense drawing all his attention. Murmur was his apprentice in most aspects and had taken his life’s work and made it her own.

Neema just stared at him continuing with her report "We have prisoners already. Survivors from Hotel Bravo. Some Highlanders wanted to speak with you. I had them redirected to a backup. Supposedly an awakened psyker in their ranks. Commissar Krayl is dead by our agents hands."

"The list grows then. Keep me updated on Alecia's status."

"Yes sir... and we have this... Ork Hunter business. They cannot be allowed to get away with plotting your assassination."

"Its more an elaborate game of getting Buck killed to me... But true... now that the Erelvastians are aware we cannot do nothing... Imagine if Falkenrauser decided to plan my demise instead of a dinner party."

He laughed at his own joke. Neema growled, taking it seriously as always.

"You have an invitation to the Lord Generals banquet tomorrow."

"Oh do I? ... I feel we are a little busy."

"Yes Sir."

"Carix?"

"Making landfall as we speak."

"Great..." He said with no joy in his tone whatsoever. "Get us under one of our warp inhibitors as quickly as possible."

The transport flew as fast as the airframe would allow heading back towards Communion.

"Hilde will be in orbit in 2 days time.... supposedly Lord Admiral Sommerham has been sniffing around Admiral Brants deployments. Brant is requesting we take the traitor immediately into our custody."

"And hold her where? In my cupboard?"

"A grave perhaps sir?"

"Let's not be hasty... She wants to make a deal... I intend to hear her out and if needed I'll have Lion deal with her."

"Sir."

######################################################################

Within the large Valyrran military fortress East of Communion. Safely under an anti Psyker Inhibitor and behind many meters of steel. It had been a long night for Caleb.

Annabelle was not speaking with him. She had actively avoided him since their conversation and locked herself in her small chambers.

Today though they awoke to something different. a knock on the door.

Outside the room was Hazel, Darwin Jess and Tammy the four had been asked to cover for security as some big operation happened. Darwin had basically just followed Hazel and as usual towered behind her.

Jess was still not properly recovered. Her extensive injuries and Tammy's insistence on no Processing and Kellan's reluctant approval despite his own medical opinion had meant she was recovering slowly. Her midsection hurt like hell and even now she was bandaged up and only wearing a tank top instead of her full uniform. They didn’t look the part of guards... especially with Hazel and Tammy being Minthelian women in an odd mix of Minthelian jumpsuit and Valyrran uniform.

Jess chuckled painfully. "Thank the throne Dex isn’t here... we are on guard duty not room service." She gave Hazel, the one who had knocked a shake of the head.

Dex, Finnie, Berkins, Casha, Paykel and Hoolihan were on guard duty at the nursery 50 floors down. This upper level was a different world entirely from the sterile steel corridors below that they had called home for a while now.

This level actually had decorations and some Valyrran art depicting battles or glorious Commissars doing commissar things. For the abhumans this was extremely upper class despite being basically a normal corridor with some tasteful art that anyone with any sort of money would scoff at and call plain. The floor was still that sterile steel and the walls were not any better. But at the very least it had some character.

######################################################################

Valtin Redlina's medicae Crassus pulled up beside the frontline command area in the waning hours of the battle for D'Escar fortress. A mix of Valyrrans, Cadians and troops from other regiments making up the combined armies besieging this place milled around. The wounded piling up at a makeshift aid station. Equipment, blood and the smell of death everywhere. War was never pretty and a big push like carried out today was not without sacrifice. A fact Valtin was no stranger to.

Yet being back amongst his own kind... Other Valyrrans for the first time in 24, nearly 25 years. He couldn’t help but feel... Safe... He had never wanted to leave to begin with. His mother had been in essence forced to let him go. Under the pretence of protecting him. He had so much to say...

He had dreamt of meeting his mother again for so long. Now it was very likely to happen and he didn’t know what to say when the time came.

His silver Kestrel style armour drew a lot of looks especially from those who had a history with the Kestrels. Mostly bad history if he remembered back that far. For those on Trackold it had been months. For Valtin... decades.

His red hair and fierce red eyes along with the way he looked similar to General Redlina meant that his arrival was quickly noticed. But the fact he was now technically older than his own mother was something he had not quite come to terms with since they found out about the time dilation.

His path towards the main command dugout was stopped by a face he remembered. Lieutenant Luciel. The general's Servitor.

Valtin Saluted. Out of habit it was a Kestrel salute. Which only got a raised eyebrow from the lieutenant who returned the salute in crisp Valyrran fashion.

"Valtin... you look... Well."

"Lieutenant."

"This transfer says you are to join the General as a member of her staff?" Luciel held up a basic slate with the form Praxus had signed for the Raptors a few hours before.

"If the general is willing to have me."

"Wait for now."

he couldnt hide the scowl on his face.

"May I ask why?"

"I will not allow you to distract the General. Not now."

"She is my blood. I have a right to see..."

"No. She is the commanding officer for this entire siege. Her full attention is needed to see victory achieved as swiftly as possible. I know how you affect her. She is my responsibility."

He opened his mouth. unable to find the words. He wanted to shout... He had waited this long.

Luciel stood her ground.

"When the fighting is over then you may have an audience."

He clenched his fists and bit his lip.

"What has happened? Since when have I been such a burden on my own Mother?"

Luciel snarled. Which caught him off guard she was genuinely angry at him... as if him returning was a bad thing. That hurt.

"You have no idea. She has sacrificed everything for you. Suffered humiliation. Sending you away was for your own protection and it tore her apart. She....!"

Luciel looked away sharply. This was not the place nor the time.

"Wait here. Be useful with the Medicae I will come and get you when we deem the fortress taken and can afford distractions..."

Valtin nodded. "I’m sorry... Stavros... is..." He shook his head. "I'll tell you later."

Luciel did not show any reaction. Her face remaining unreadable, fitting her nickname. She turned on the spot and marched back into the dugout. Valtin wandered over to a Valyrran medicae and volunteered to help.

He was not turned down and got to work helping with the stream of wounded being carried in for emergency treatment.

######################################################################

Vraels inquisition troops still deployed to the southeastern jungle now were cleaning up after another fierce battle. Jaski sat atop a pile of heretic soldiers corpses, his entire body was shaking as the adrenaline both natural and administered by stimms was wearing off. Multiple days of pursuit, easily ten times the recommended dosage of stimms and more than four separate las wounds later, the fact he was still standing was tantamount to Valyrran resilience and his own willpower. He only lived because he was a Valyrran... he had no doubt and knew he was about to collapse soon.

His black carapace armour was caked in mud and blood he was missing an arm from the chase that had resulted in him losing some of his charges. And even now Signy was missing. The damn traitors had gotten her aboard an arvus lighter just seconds before they could reach them. it had taken three tries. Two destroyed shuttles and easily a platoon of Carix troops lost but the heretics had gotten her out...

Not all was lost though. Santo had been recovered. Along with the remains of the dwindling former Gryllus Auxiliary. Reduced to 6 including Santo. From the idents he had been sent the remaining survivors were Jaun, Ca'sa, Ch'eebs, Caleth & Sanders not least of all. Everyone else was dead. Sygny had always been their priority and the cultists had sacrificed everything over these gruelling days and nights of relentless firefights and fighting retreats leading the team hundreds of miles north of where Jaski had originally lost his arm in a dogged relentless fight that was certainly a sign of the hardship to follow facing Carix's devoted.

(10 & 7)

He looked up at the rain clouds above finally removing his rebreather & letting the rain land on his pale face. Letting exhaustion fall over him, he didn’t move again until the Valkyries arrived, flying overhead and a stormtrooper from one of the relief teams grabbed him by the shoulder, helping him to his feet.

As the Valyrrans mounted up onto the Valkyries more cleanup teams arrived to catalogue anything useful and heavy flamers got to work torching anything heretical. The Valkyrie compartment speakers played a recording of Lord Commissar Lions encouraging words. Congratulating the troops on a mission well done. Jaski just hoped that he had done enough, everything went muffled... then silent as he slumped forward in his harness.

######################################################################

A few hours later same day.
The fighting was over. D'Escar was officially won. The Cadians final assaults had crushed the traitors final holdings and ensured De Molessen and Falkenrauser would have their victory. Finally the last bastion of heretic resistance in the north of significance was crushed.

Strange reports of lightning and suspected heretical foul sorcery powered teleportation had been reported but psykers had confirmed the Knight threat had departed the planet for good. Only to be replaced by the newly arriving Carix.

General Victoria Redlina finally relented... Allowing herself to take a seat for the first time all day. She looked to her colleagues in the Cadian 34th and Cadian 532nd giving them a nod and a salute before leaving the cramped dugout they had used for a forward operating command center.

Redlina being the better part of 10ft tall had been forced to slouch for hours. She was relishing the idea of standing upright for once as she approached the exit only to frown upon seeing her adjutants expression. It was as usual almost robotic in nature but Redlina knew her aide well enough to tell something was off.

Her mind started racing... was it the Inquisition raid on that blacksite? Was it the final tally of Valyrran losses? Maybe the Lord General? .... Lion?

"Yes lieutenant?" She said too tired to really try and hide the frustration and dread in her tone.

Luciel saluted.

"Valtin Redlina is here General."

Redlina froze... for once speechless. a million questions racing through her mind at a thousand miles an hour. Why? When? HOW?! He was supposed to be safely tucked away under Greims protection!? Why was he back here?!

Luciel could see Redlina's notorious temper flaring. "Time Dilation according to the reports given by the reinforcements."

Redlina actually went pale. And stormed passed the lieutenant she did not want anyone to see. Something very rarely seen on the fiery generals face.... Fear.

"How long." She barked without turning seemingly walking without any real destination in mind.

"23 years." A familiar... yet foreign voice answered from the side. Near a medicae tent.

Redlina turned her red eyes to look and saw... a man who looked just like her long dead husband... he just had her eyes and hair. She could tell immediately it was her son.

She swallowed and shoved down the storm of emotions she felt in that moment. Now was not the time. Her breathing got heavier...

"Come." She said, doing commendably well to retain her composure especially with so many eyes watching. She headed for her crassus. The only real privacy they might have.

Valtin followed as did Luciel, though the lieutenant kept her distance and mostly just watched. Valtin had the sense not to speak... and frankly he was not sure what he had expected his mothers reaction to be.

######################################################################

At an undisclosed military bunker far behind Imperial lines.
Inquisition agents Augustine Degrosa & the Valyrran known only as Murmur had waited a few hours as information came down the line but it was now time to interrogate the Highlander recovered alongside the rest of the SD59 troops.

Mathilda was not in chains nor had she been stripped of her uniform. But she was in a small room with nothing but a table and a chair for company now since they had landed at this place.

Degrosa walked into the room first, the door being lifted open for her by Valyran brute strength rather than any sort of mechanism with a loud clang and grunt of effort. She seemed to brush past the show of strength and took a seat, pulling up some spectacles and placing them on the end of her bony nose.

Murmur who had been the one to open the door ducked inside next and leant against the wall, the mask covering the lower half of her face as before. She didn’t seem interested in Mathilda and was tapping away at a data slate as before.

Degrosa paged through her own slate. Coughing gently and pulled out a napkin to wipe her mouth before finally leaning back and looking at Mathilda. "Now. I hate time wasting but shall we talk now Highlander?"

Similar conversations were being had with the other captive SD59 troops though their interrogations were a lot more typical of Imperial Hereticus activities. Few would survive and it was down to their own training to see if any would talk before succumbing to the Valyrran's torture methods. Any snippet of information on the warheads both recovered or rumoured was of most interest. And confirmation that there was no further SD59 activity on world... Vrael was done with having the elusive force run wild around his territory and it was being wiped out as cleanly as possible.

######################################################################

Vrael himself entered the cell holding the awakened psyker Jasky. But not without placing a psychic inhibitor device right at the doorway causing him immense discomfort. He was taking no chances with this one either. Two Valyrran stormtroopers armed with volkite and what looked like null rods entered they slouched over flanking either side of the door while Vrael walked in and took a seat, casually sitting down and wiping a glove over the dusty surface of the table between them.

"Highlander Jasky. My, my, I apologise for... well all this but I cannot take chances with psykers right now."

He leaned forward.

"I am told you wanted to talk?"

######################################################################

The other Highlander, Kate found herself in a room with only one visitor. A Valyrran agent brandishing the rosette. Agent Neema did not introduce herself. She merely stood and spoke down to the Highlander while wearing her usual tight body glove under a Valyrran intelligence officer's heavy coat and cape.

"Your valkyrie crew colleagues are safe. But I want you to recall your encounter with the heretics. Why did they follow you and your colleagues? Why did they allow you to live where so many others did not?"

She had seen the helmet footage. It had been seized from the Riverine fairly promptly but a copy had been preserved for the Highlanders to peruse should they cooperate.

She was also in a foul mood. Courtesy of the ongoing updates of the fighting occurring or just concluding at Hotel Bravo.

Aboard the Leviathan Overlooking more landers coming in to deposit more war material and men for the ever evolving war for Trackold. The young Lord general was sitting at dinner, his trusted officers and a collection of his life guard joining him in a three course meal.

As calm polite conversation continued Archibald looked at the slate a servant was holding out for him to read.

"Are you sure going above Grimhoff was wise Count General?"

Falkenrauser dabbed his mouth with a gold stitched napkin that was immediately swiped by a passing servant and replaced with out him even asking.

"Grimhoff is behind schedule. Recent events only make him look weak and inneffective. There is little sense in allowing such stagnation."

Marshall Holte sitting opposite placed his fork down.

"Redlina will no doubt be pleased."

Archibald politely nodded.

"I cannot just be seen to do nothing."

Falkenrauser took a sip of amasec.

"The abhuman deserves no such pleasure. In fact she shouldnt be anywhere near command. I strongly suggested and still do that her reassignment was a mistake."

Lady Theresa spoke next, her bowl of Minthelian stew barely touched.

"She has succeeded in breaching thhe fortress. She is not behind. The Lord general shows her..."

Falkenrauser raised a hand, politely interrupting her.

"The abhuman is a mutant. She should not be a general and is as proven incompetent at diplomacy. Her feud with Von Grimmhoff is pathetic. There are plenty of officers of much better stock within the ranks who could replace them both."

Holte watched Falkenrauser sternly. The rest of the table's quiet conversations had died down as everyone listened.

"You believe the Lord Generals faith is misplaced?"

Falkenrauser seemed enraged at the comment.

"I believe that his favouritism for a beast is damaging his reputation. We are Erelvastian. He is Erelvast. I swore... we all swore an oath to see him sit the throne. Catering to the giant beast is damaging. And risky."

Holte continued to speak, the verbal sparring match clearly one they were repeating from private conversations...

"She is popular. So is Grimhoff."

"With half our northern forces. The west has no such issue and they are on schedule."

Archibald spoke up interrupting them both.

"The general may have a temper. But her loyalty is unquestioned. I have given her this chance as she remains one of the few with experience of command at such scale. Even if others like McMahon, Braithwaite or Du Montaal would be better fits. They would see it as a slight on Redlina. And likely object to her replacement. While her abhuman features remain contentious I will allow her victories to speak for themselves."

"Well said my lord general." Theresa said, a sentiment echoed by the table at large.

Falkenrauser nodded. "A fine point your grace, but my objection still remains. I would see you sit the throne. These two officers are pulling you down."

"That is quite the accusation Count General." Holte quipped.

"What of the Inquisitor? Vrael? His failings are numerous now. How can we listen to a man so inexperienced wielding that rossette."

"They are doing their Emperor given duty. Incidents are under control... so I am told."

######################################################################

Inquisitor Vrael was not having a good time. he had not expected the need to deploy his contingency on SD59 so soon. The timing could not have been worse. Troops were everywhere ahead of Carix's landfall. Arenis was preoccupied with the logicians whom she didnt feel fit to tell him about and he only knew about thanks to his agents.

Still... with Alecia trying to secure the warheads before the NightLord traitors did, his naval assets occupied in orbit & his military assets locked up engaged at Fort D'Escar. He was stuck with few options.

His Valkyrie was headed for Arenis. Even if he hated her guts and found her quite frankly an abomination he was an Inquisitor and like it or not they needed to work together.

For one, it was likely that Arenis had no idea what was occuring with Dalens forces. Or Hotel Bravo. A combination of Heretic jamming and a small amount of his own pre planned contingency effectively made everything occuring over there invisible to all but his assets.

Neema sat opposite him.

"This is not wise sir."

"You have said that Neema."
"You are not listening. Arenis is not our ally. We need to be prepared to fight. Not go straight to her, Alecia made that quite clear."

"Alecia knows what is at stake. Pride should not stop an Inquisitor from their duty."

"You expect her to react rationally? She despises us. She sees us as nothing."

"And she is a monster pretending to be human. But she will fight the beasts of the warp and the traitors in equal measure."

"You should have at least pulled rose out sir. This is unwise. I cannot protect you alone."

"Rose is where she needs to be. The Lord general has been assured we wouldnt meddle too much. These warheads once secured by Alecia will be safely secured. I simply need Arenis to shoulder her share of the burden and realise she is not fighting this war alone."

Neema didnt like that. But she just looked back at her slate. Perpetually typing away and reading.

"What of the signal."

"Naval assets are due to report by the morning."

"Good..." He leaned back in his seat. The valkyrie came into land.

######################################################################

The escape pod was quiet. Hilde had been floating for days alone. After she had drained the rest of the unlucky Kestrels who happened to pick her escape pod for refuge of their souls. The fallen Valyrran had enjoyed her time as Empress of Kestrel... taking over Wolcotts empire doing what he couldnt... Then... then everything had been ruined by years of war. Eventually leading to her "death" and escape damn Quatre... Damn Greim... they had taken her dream from her. A world all to her own... Wolcott had lied... her advisors had lied... too terrified of her rage to properly keep her informed of just how badly the war had been going now here she was. Out of options, out of everything. One last gamble to try and seek repentance...

Maybe Redlina would understand... Maybe... Lion?... Would they even remember her? She held onto her only real hope... a datapacket, one containing everything Wolcott had achieved. Everything she had usurped. All that was left... While Quatre and Greim chased Wolcotts ghost. Hilde had again survived. Thats what she was... a survivor. And now she had one last gamble to play. Inquisitor Vrael... she knew he had been hunting her like a hunting canid every step. He had no idea how close he had come so many times. The Carix caused time dilation however had allowed Hilde the space she needed...

She was gambling now though. No plan. No escape route. Only herself... after Borak, her only Valyrran colleague... even if he had been turned into one of Wolcotts emotionless stillborn his death still hurt. He had sacrificed himself without thought to allow her to escape just as everything exploded. Her last connection to her former life as a simple Valyrran corporal... One she had spent days upon days speaking to as a form of coping with what she had done...

Stablights flashed over the frozen window. A ship... impossibly large She peered through the frosted armaplas and laughed... The Roaring Lion of Valyrr. The symbol of her home... A Valyrran navy escort had come to "save her"

######################################################################

As Vrael departed the Valkyrie Neema whispered in his ear.

"Its Hilde. She wants to make a deal."

"Does she?" Was all Vrael said, a smirk finally returning to his expression after a terrible few hours.

"Then once this is over with Arenis... we can speak with her. Lock down all reports. Valyrran eyes only."

Neema nodded. Looking now at the Scions of Arenis personal teams. Vrael had arrived basically alone... only Neema for protection and he was seemingly unarmed. Such was the urgency with which he brought this message personally.

######################################################################

At D'escar fortress Redlina, McMahon and Du Montaal found themselves in a bunker captured off the chaos defenders just outside of range of any of the palaces remaining artillery. The devstation wrought thus far by the Imperials astoundingly successful lightning strike would go down as a decisive Imperial Victory that much was clear.... they ahd stormed 80% of the fortress in but one fell swoop... though at cost.

"That is our target Generals." Redlina said sourly. The Dome like structure was aflame with artillery impacts, marauder bombers had been carpeting the area with explosives yet the rudimentary shielding seemed to have staved of most of the damage. Even as the gigantic Valyrran siege guns began to focuss entirely on the Dome now that the fortress overall had fallen into Imperial hands.

"My regiment has not the numbers of armoured vehicles necessary to complete this final step. It will fall to your considerable armies i feel. But dismounted infantry will advance as needed."

Lord Commissar Lion was off to the side. Much to Redlina's annoyance he had brought the psyker with him.

"We have two companies with enough vehicles to assault in the first waves as it stands General. I will lead our troops in support."

"Thank you Lord Commissar."

Redlina turned to her colleagues. "This is the final objective which will see the enemy broken. We need to secure the Aerodrome and the Throne room. Likely the cathedral also. But the aerodrome and the Throne room are the main objectives. The command centre and cathedral are secondary. I entrust Lion and what mobile forces I have left to support whichever of yours need it most. There is little I can..."

"Generals..." Interrupted Rose. The Alpha level Valyrran Psyker stepping forward, the air around her growing thick with... wrongness.

"What is it witch!" Redlina growled.

"I sense a trap. The enemy hides Knights... i think... No... Armigers at the least. They wait behind the hangars with what remains... the larger knights prepare to flee... I feel... Carix... Her ship enters orbit. The knights intend to leave through her arrival..."

The towering abhuman snarled. But nodded. "Ross... Castinius. You know your forces best... Aerodrome or Throne room. Choose... These Knights are but one aspect. We know the heretics here are mostly beaten but a defiant last stand is always a risk. They have still gotten whatever armoured reserves they hide in the hangars."

"Lord Commander Grimhoff. An Imperialis level transmission for you sir."

An Erelvastian had appeared at Strauss tent. In full regalia. A messenger of some sort in that over the top Erelvastian uniform with an excentric shoulder cape that reminded him of the kind worn by the damn Valyrrans.

The Erelvastian bowed, offering out a parchment rolled up in a thin metallic tube covered in an expensive looking fabric.

Signed by Lord General Prince Archibald van-der Griff Molessen III. Strauss blood pressure was not getting any break. The sudden spike in noise outside told him all he needed to know...

The letter read as follows.
"Your delays are unacceptable. Attached are orders to your troops. As you read this the same orders are already being issued to your commands."

The Upper Cliff STAGE 1

Nimh 1st and Only. u/Quinttus42

Are ordered to lead the first waves on the south eastern most set of auxiliary lifts. Demolish the fortifications along the ridge line and prepare for further insertion into the basin itself.

Cadian 728th. u/ulfgrimnirr

Are ordered to secure the Northern auxiliary lifts. Destroy enemy fortifications and secure access ways into the basin.

Ork Hunters. u/Scottish-Psycho

Ordered to secure a specific access staircase usable by infantry just south of the main administrative authority. Then use this to sneak into the Basin and ambush defenders just as allied troops begin descent operations.

4th / 7th Kytek Republican Guard u/Accomplished_War4970

Are tasked with securing the main central freight elevator as your ONLY priority. This lift cannot be allowed to be destroyed by the enemy. If it falls. Which IT WILL NOT... None of our superheavy assets will be available for the assault on Leffin. Any officer found failing will be held personally responsible. Due to the delays of battlegroup Grimhoff it is believed the enemy have completed preparations for demolition. Do not allow the enemy to carry out this plan.

314th Khemetic u/Apprehensive-News716

Your unbloodied forces are tasked with securing the Upper Administratum Authority complex. This strongpoint needs to be secured to speed up logistics and munitorum processes required to move troops up and down into the Basin for the upcoming siege of Leffin.

No excessive damage to property is permitted. The Facility is needed in tact. Intelligence suggest it may also be rigged for demolition. Do not allow this structure to be lost.

54th Krieg Super-Heavy Regiment. u/Apprehensive-News716

You are tasked with the demolition of enemy strongpoints in support of the Kytek assault on the central lift.

Taros 9th & associated elements. u/Thatsidechara_ter

Your orders are simple. Artillery are to suppress enemy defences ahead of all out assaults. Then to deploy all demolition experts into secured facilities for explosive removal duties. Logistics security and regular supply convoys to and from the front are your main priority. Carix's cult is known for carrying out raiding actions seemingly out of nowhere we cannot permit delays on our timetable any further.

Anyone with experience in industrial operation is ordered to assist in the running of the Central freight elevator once secured and safely handed over to rear line personnel post operation completion.

Cadian 728th-3 "Screamin' Skulls" u/HighlightEntire

Your orders are simple. Secure the Lower Administratum Authority complex + attached Control Tower. Once assaults get underway. You will be required to deploy via valkyrie and conduct a lightning raid to disrupt enemy command elements within the Basin using the lower admin complex as their base. The control tower is required to operate the mag lev rail lines and cranes we intend to use. Secure it intact....

Red Cadian 728th. Grey - Krieg superheavies. Pink - Taronians, Cyan - Kytek. Dark Blue - Kemetic Purple - Ork Hunters. Green - Nimh. Gold - Cadian Screaming Skulls

######################################################################

THE BASIN. Stage 2

Once the upper Basin has been secured. All forces are to deploy down the cliffside by whatever means necessary and clear out the main storage yards. The Maglev train yard and then link up with screaming skulls elements holding the control tower.

All Pylons encountered belonging to the daemon Carix are to be destroyed immediately to reduce the chances of Daemonic possession.

6 Have been identified. spread out throughout the Basin. Codified Alpha. Primus. Tertius. etc Eliminate these as encountered. Or if possible contain them for study. Though this directive is by no means an order. Destroy if any sign of corruption persists. While the Pylons remain active enemy Psykers will cause intense warp based fog and disorientation.

(Note OOC. the Pylons cannot be destroyed outright even with Vraels technomagic boxes every regiment has been gifted... you must find and kill each of the 6 psykers to destroy the Pylons.)

The Pylons.

• Primus (First) u/HighlightEntire - Directly outside of your main objective. The Control Tower.
• Secundus (Second) u/Apprehensive-News716 - Fairly straightforward. Yours will be placed within the expansive rail yard storage hangars.
• Tertius (Third) u/ulfgrimnirr - Yours is at the base of the cliff directly facing your access point.
• Quartus (Fourth) u/Scottish-Psycho - Yours is in an underground bunker complex built into a multi level storage hangar.
• Quintus (Fifth) u/Quinttus42 (a coincidence i assure you)- Your Pylon is at the rail lines sitting between two of the main train terminals in and amongst the parked maglev trains and carriages.
• Sextus (Sixth) u/Accomplished_War4970 - Yours is nestled in the courtyard of a workers hab. Replacing what was once a statue of the Emperor. Now deformed into a glorious depiction of Carix. Surrounded on four sides by the highrise habblock structure.

######################################################################

To recap.
"This is a series of large industrial mega lifts designed to move vast quantities of ore, cargo and supplies up and down into the man made tear into the sea that links the continent to the island of Leffin to the northeast."

The basin, as we are calling it, keeps the seawater out through the Impressive sea walls that ring the entire area that has been heavily stripmined of all resources. Imperial analysts have reassured us that to blast any whole in such grand structures is simply impractical... still. We do not intend to drive along the basin... Instead. Grimmhoff has been entrusted with securing the Rail Facility on this edge of the basin. Rail Facility X290-HL6 This giant rail facility houses 16 Maglev rail lines. Each are linked to the facilities lowest section at the base of the main Industrial freight elevator, the bulk of the facility itself is located down here over three miles below sea level.

Your objectives in order are as follows. Secure the upper administrative authority and destroy the fortified bunkers at the top of the ridge. Once this is achieved, your forces must sieze the central freight elevator itself. We need this intact or else nothing will be getting across the basin full stop. There are 12 smaller auxiliary lifts across the entire breadth of the ridgeline but these are not sufficient to move superheavy armour but they will need secured also.

Once the main elevator is taken, you must then secure the main storage yards. The Maglev train yard and the control tower. These are all needed so that we can begin transferring supplies towards Leffin. The trains within are also of a scale and speed that we cannot replicate. So secure the trains and their warehouses as quickly and efficiently as you can....

This facility is defended by cultists and no less than 4 regiments of PDF acting as garrison, half along the ridge and half down in the basin. Now it is unknown if they will retreat but expect statues similar to the ones found by the Cadian Screaming Skulls in the recent attacks on Sabbad. These statues... are not to be taken lightly. They are in effect pylons... amplifying the cult and shielding them from attack. These pylons, are built to resemble Carix... otherwise referred to as their Goddess, any guardsman whom is weak of mind will likely fall under Carix's control and the only relief after prolonged exposure is death. So ensure your men and women are reminded of their duty, take no chances. If they fall to her whispers they will be her pawns. Entire worlds have fallen to her cult already.

NOTE> If you intend to use the lifts for armour. Limit yourself to waves of roughly a platoon at a time. aka 12 tanks. Or 2/3 platoons of infantry + weapons.

If using the Central super lift. (so long as it does not explode on us) You may deploy entire companies of vehicles in each wave. Infantry are less restricted. Access points both stairs and lifts are in abundance. but 12 Auxiliary lifts and 1 super lift are the numbers confirmed. It is down to you how your orders are interpreted succeed or fail based on your dice rolling. You are free to describe all chaos elements but note the below as for all details to their makeup.

ENEMY FORCES

NO SPACE MARINES - Serious. None are present. If you fight any soemhow its Carix's perfume driving your people insane.

PDF Traitors. - Leffins own troop style pictured below.

Cultists - Purple clad hordes screaming Carix name. Most of them are former workers and railyard families.

Traitor Guard. Made up of Carix Loyalists, deserters, and a mix of traitor Minthelian & Cadian troops.

Psykers (Arguably the most dangerous threat you will encounter. Plz no "I delete them without any fuss" make them into bossfights. Spooky robed women with powerful short range psychic attacks.)

Armoured vehicles. - Leman Russ, Salamanders, Chimera etc. No dorns or superheavies in the chaos garrison.

Carix PDF Trooper. (Yes AI. until i get proper refs done on the shoulder imagine its a pretty picture of Carix.... or just her name sprawled in blood.)

Cultists are armed like so, or basically just unnarmed human waves in rags. (this one is not AI)

An example of a Carix aligned tank. Perfume like fog spurting out of the engine and the cannon firing sounds like a scream.(and a bang) (This one is AI)

Darkness had fallen over the Communion area.

Within the Valyrran facility, Inquisitor Auestis Vrael had finished assessing the days many reports. He turned towards the only other occupant of the silent airtight room. His mind heavy with doubt. Especially with how things had been spiralling lately.

"Alecia."

"Yes Inquisitor" She replied, not turning from the window, her abhuman feline esque ears twitched.

He grit his teeth before standing and walking over.

"No one can hear us. We know this room is scrubbed. Neema is not here."

"Yes... and?"

"Can we drop the act? Just for once. We need to discuss this Logicians activity... and... well... everything. Wolcottt, the enemy... Carix."

Alecia turned to look down at him now thanks to her abhuman enhanced height. A fire in her inhuman eyes glaring at him.

"Auestis we made a pact..."

"Nine years of playing this game without a word? I am no machine."

"We can trust no one!" She snapped. "Only us. We swore to see it through. Do not tell me you are losing faith!" The Abhuman leaned in her expression absolutely terrifying as far as Vrael was concerned.

She continued. "The Warband was shattered. Our enemy is confirmed to have a presence on world and now you want to talk!?"

He swallowed. "We have done nothing but bide our time... build our network and alienate every other inquisitor with our heavy handed violence and distrust.This Carix nonsense is ours to deal with because we burned every bridge. After Arenis, Germanicus & Rath refused to take responsibility!"

Her intense glowing blue eyes seemed to somehow become more rage filled...

"By design... we must look weak and incompetent. We must lure our enemy out and keep them off our backs. We swore to avenge her Vrael. We can only do that by keeping total secrecy. We know not who works for them and everything up to this point has only made it clear none can be trusted! Even Daman is suspect..."

He looked up at her, feeling so small and insignificant beside her giant form but he still pointed a hand at her chest refusing to let this go without an attempt. "We only survived because you were the pet. and I was the new recruit. Neither of us important to the warband on paper... We both know you were Cheng's favourite. She was..."

Alecia grabbed him by the collar, lifting Vrael multiple feet off the ground effortlessly. He might as well have weighed nothing as far as the abhuman was concerned.

"The Inquisition would never accept an abhuman in their ranks! We survived because they didn’t realise what we could do."

"What you could do! You saved me. I did nothing! I had just been recruited!"

"We did our duty. We can trust no one but ourselves." She hissed.

A device on the table beeped. Alecia dropped him instantly. He barely remained upright and gasped for air.

"It's likely Neema.... Inquisitor." She said, her voice back to that devious, disarming tone...

He coughed, holding his neck before stumbling back to the device & tapping it.

"Yes?" He hid the shaking in his tone well.

"Inquisitor. Our naval escorts picked up a distress transmission on augers near the edge of the system, a pod from one of the Kestrel ships."

"Yes, what about it? We already have enough problems."

"Its... a Valyrran code my lord."

"Thats... not possible. What code?"

"Gryllus emergency codes sir. General Redlina's command."

"It must be..."

"Hilde sir... yes I believe so. I have already tasked the Valyrran escorts in the fleet to break off from escort duty of the reinforcement convoys and intercept."

"Good... keep us informed."

The line cut. Vrael turned to Alecia who was watching him like a hawk.

"Wolcott is likely connected to...."

"Auestis. You need not state the obvious. Do your duty.... do not falter like this again or I will kill you and do this alone." She interrupted him again.

Her tone was the way it had been when she had torn through an entire platoon of Logician backed assassins during the escape from the massacre that propelled him to Inquisitor... He knew not to test her further if he valued his life.

Sighing and taking a glass of amasec from the nearest table. He tried to change topic..."Are we letting Arenis do whatever with this Mako place then?"

Alecia turned once more to stare out the window across the desert.

"Yes. but everything is under surveillance. We know she met with this rogue trader Persephone. Perhaps we can make use of her too... Our spies are everywhere, little occurs without us learning of it eventually. Let the psychic monster play her self righteous crusade the one she thinks everyone but her is too stupid to understand. I have yet to meet a psyker that is not insane and the fact we allow one to own the rosette is a disaster waiting to happen. if she's as old as records suggest that only makes it worse."

He felt that while harsh... perhaps there was some jealousy on that statement. Considering an abhuman, also a "mutant" was barred from the position... And Arenis had been rather blunt about her dislike of Alecia or Valyrrans in general calling them mutants in their past encounters. And being honest it had certainly made him less favourable to her himself... The costly series of events only worsening any dislike.

"And Dalen... SD59?" He asked Referring to the not so cooperative agents that had effectively ruined any chances of cooperation to begin with their obstinance.

"Arrogant fools. they think we haven’t noticed them and their warheads."

He looked at his cogitator sitting across the room... It was flashing now. Alecia noticed it too.

Site Hotel Bravo... was under attack. https://www.reddit.com/r/WarforTrackoldMinoris/comments/1ukxjbg/first_blood/

Alecia beat him to the cogitator, courtesy of her longer legs and inhuman speed... "Deploy our forces. Those warheads are too valuable... get Sommerham to prepare for an orbital strike..."

A signal was sent... u/MagicMissile27 u/DoorGunner42 u/dogster202 The contingency was on.... u/JustARandomUserNow u/Thatsidechara_ter

The Valyrran assault on the Bastion was impossible to hide. The heretics knew what was coming and as columns of blue painted crassus and Macharius chassis vehicles trundled into formation while the Cadians fought ever northward.

"Companies 10 through 28 Form up and advance. Target is 5 km west. Creeping barrage suppression is on schedule. All commands. Advance, Advance. Advance."

Valyrran tanks lumbered forward Major Exo's tanks taking the lead supported by a staggering amount of Praetor armoured assault launchers which all in turn came to a halt in a solid wall of steel.

"Fire!"

The roar of foehammer missiles was deafening. Especially for the enhanced hearing of the abhumans. Rockets streaked across the sky before exploding all across the heretics second tier of defences around the bastion complex.

Within a black painted crassus advancing in the first wave alongside the 8th 14th and 24th assault companies...

Lord Commissar Lion lamented the lack of ear protection afforded by his commissar attire. The loud ceaseless rumbling and clatter of steel within the dark red lit interior of the Crassus was bad enough. On top of that he had to put up with the smell... his retinue packed into such confines would have been fine were they regular humans. But Valyrrans were anything but and the Berserkers hadnt apparently washed since fighting in the southeast months ago...

Rose stood before him, wearing her new inquisition supplied bodyglove equipped with what was simply an oversized lightning claw covered in psyker symbols. The abhuman had not seen combat since her return and was very eager to show her newfound skills... Her expression was perhaps most terrifying, she seemed ecstatic and then when she glanced towards him his vision swam purple for a brief second and she smiled.

To his immediate left was Corporal Poli, his fiery adjutant. The abhuman had for some bizarre reason ripped her uniform to be more... revealing he assumed as it certainly didnt help with heat... which in a normal regiment would have been grounds for flogging... but this was an abhuman one and basically there was no replacements anyway. Tanya was on one of the heavy bolter sponsons. The veteran had barely said a word since returning from seeing her daughter... but in full combat gear once more, her expression was hidden behind her rebreather. The Veteran had brought all her weapons with her this time, much the same kit she had went on the suicide killacarrier mission with over a year ago now.

Marlon and Oats were hyping one another up, pre battle nerves always being an issue for the least experienced members of the retinue. The crew of the crassus did the same, Ilga Vinmie and Lim were all in the front compartment driving and manning the two forward sponsons. the interior door was open and Lion could catch glimpses of the sand and the Bastion rising up ahead through the limited viewports until the crew closed them and enemy fire intensified.

Borge and Stasha Stood as usual in their full gear right by the exit ramp. But the other terrifying addition to Lions growing army of crazies... Major Zero. The berserker pretty much didnt fit in the crassus. She was hunched over to his right completing the wall of muscle he was surrounded by. The 10ft tall abhuman was twitching, opening and closing her boulder like fists repeatedly as if imagining crushing skulls or something. Breathing steadily and the only sign she was actually paying attention was the way her bright red eyes kept looking at him every few seconds when she thought he wasn’t looking. between her legs was two Valyrran combat shotguns.. though calling them shotguns was a mistake as they made astartes bolters looks small. Gigantic slug throwing weapons with axe like bayonets... weapons the others within the crassus all shared. Seeing as 10 more berserkers crowded into the crassus with him and his retinue.

The red glow from the emergency lights was only helped by the Valyrran abhumans themselves, whose glowing inhuman eyes lit up the area of their faces slightly. A rather unsettling aspect he had become numb too over the years serving exclusively with them.

The voxset Poli wore fizzled and a berserker who was gripping a harness too hard simply snapped the material as they amped themselves up for war.

"Good effect on target. Intensify fire on Point 2-7."

"Enemy armour sighted. Engaging."

The roar of vanquisher cannons firing could be hear through the very thick armour even over the noise of the engine.

"Enemy superheavy dug in 2km front. Engaging. 2-9. lay down smoke over."

"Copy. Deploying smoke."

The nerve wracking advance was soon made worse when something exploded outside. Rose's eyes flashed violently purple for a second causing every abhuman to reach for their weapons and edge back from the "witch" Only Lion & Zero held their ground. He was 90% confident Rose wouldn’t hurt him... intentionally and Zero was always 100% willing to throw herself at anything that might hurt the commissar.

"What was that Rose? Another feeling?" He asked.

"No... I deflected a projectile aimed at us."

"Deflected?"

"Yes commissar. You are quite safe..." If those words werent accompanied by a rather sadistic smile... he might have felt a little comforted by them. Zero growled and Lion swore he heard Poli mutter something.

Still, for appearances sake he smiled back and nodded... The psyker's infatuation with him was no secret. But it was no less terrifying. Valyrran or not.

The moment was interrupted by the vox once more

"2-45 is hit. Unable to continue."

"2-44 taking the lead."

There was a monumental explosion as a crassus nearby simply went up in a ball of flame thankfully Lion in his metal and muscle box didnt have to watch a 60ton tank getting thrown through the air as it took a direct hit from one of the Bastions heavy artillery guns.

"Damnit! Those guns are meant to be suppressed!"

"On it. Flank speed. Frakk the engines. Get the infantry closer."

A chorus of "Copy." relayed through the line.

The crassus accelerated. The long nerve wrecking drive was nearing its end. Thousands of Valyrran guardsmen prepared to charge into the fray... praying to the Emperor that they would not get hit like the unlucky vehicles...

"Incinerators clear the trenches."

"Infantry are to dismount in the Bastion itself. Stop for nothing."
"Tanks are to engage strongpoints and enemy armour. Make this clean people. Redlina'ss watching."

"But we.."

"Thats an order. Ignore the damn trenches. Heretics cant harm our armour anyway. Get beneath those guns!"

As the first wave advanced in a solid line of armour the second third fourth and fifth waves had formed up behind having cleared the vehicle graveyard left behind by the fierce armour battles the Cadians had bled for.

Rose's eyes flashed once more and everything shook within the crassus. The red lights went purple and Poli let out a nervous squeal reaching out without thinking and grabbing Lions leg. he grimaced slightly as a Valyrran was never gentle... She quickly withdrew her hand but was visibly shaken.

"2 minutes."

"almost there Poli. Rose has us protected." Lion said... without really knowing that was true or not. But with a psyker of her raw power it wasnt out of the question..

The vox sparked. "They are focusing fire on the Commissar. Exo get your damn crews to suppress the Bastion!" Colonel Zerac's angry voice barely suppressed a growl. No Valyrran liked the idea of the commissar being under fire. But Lion had insisted on going in with the first wave. He already hated his (in his eyes false) unofficial saint status. But he had always led from the front. That was the one lesson he had taken in from the Schola. For better or worse.

The crassus was rocked by repeated explosions but like before Rose's eyes would flash, the interior would warp and someone would throw up but the crassus simply shrugged anything off as the projectile was swallowed into the warp or shoved aside.

"1 Minute!"

"Minton take south. Hafna north. I will take the east head on. Dismount secure a perimeter and for Frakk sakes stay out of the tanks firing solution!"

The Berserkers all grabbed their weapons the flooring was battered by stamping feet and weapons being checked.

The lights returned to red. as the heavy bolters started firing en masse. then with Roses shield weakened slightly the impacts started to be audible. hundreds of impacts smashing into the front of the crassus as the entire heretic garrison fired at the relentlessly advancing abhuman armour.

"30 seconds!"

Lion looked to his retinue. All of them turned to him.

"For Valyrr." He said firmly. They all nodded. The berserkers roared like savage beasts ready to be unleashed on the enemy.

######################################################################

"General."

Redlina looked up. Colonel Praxus was here to deliver his latest report in person. Ammunition stockpiles for his heavy earthsplitter guns was running dangerously low.

"Forces are advancing but as expected this... suicide charge with the Lord Commissar at the front is causing heavy casualties amongst our armour again. We cannot replace..."

"I do not care." Redlina interrupted.

"We fight for the Emperor. Material losses are to be expected. Victory is ours but it is never free."

"But the commissar!"

"He knows his duty Colonel!" She snapped back at him the slate in her hand sparked and cracked as she restrained her rage.

"You do not need to prove anything to the Cadians. They know we do what must be done but surely this could be done in a less costly brutal method!"

A unit icon blinked out on the hololith as the 34th Cadian army fought valiantly to secure the second interior wall.

Redlina did not blink.

"We have no time Colonel. The commissar will not fail. Our soldiers will not falter."

"And we will have an infantry regiment after this is done with the rate of attrition."

"Then we will march."

Praxus actually smirked at that. Redlina was a former tanker... But it was brutally honest.

"So this is the famous butcher at work."

"I do not spend lives thoughtlessly Colonel. Now if that is all you are dismissed."

The colonel saluted smartly and left to return to his guns.

######################################################################

The ramp crashed down and the Valyrrans roared. it was deafening and Lion's ears rang with the sheer volume.

The abhumans stomped down the ramp. One of the berserkers immediately took a lasround to the arm and simply growled even as his flesh burnt and cauterised. Shotguns boomed as the abhumans let loose their slug weaponry on the closest Heretics trying to defend one of the four giant vehicles hangars.

Lion... for appearance purposes and totally not because his head was spinning and he was internally screaming about how insane this entire thing was walked "calmly" down the ramp... The abhumans already had leapt into a bunker their crassus had basically rammed into just outside the titanic structure. Rose simply walked with him, the psykers immense size and the fact that she was glowing with veritable warp energy made him and her a very obvious target, yet the abhumans running at them seemed to be working as a suitable distraction. Poli had her voxcaster on full volume trying to hear the reports in the absolute carnage that was developing rapidly all around the Bastion as the first wave reached their objective.

Lion was looking at the sheer brutality on display. A berserker... Fang he believed, simply grabbing a heretic and tearing their head off with her bare hands. Her shotgun already imbedded axe deep within a now spasming corpse of a chaos bullgryn she had simply thrown herself into. the reason he struggled to tell if it was her was the fact her usually orange wild hair was now red with gore.

"For LION!!" The abhumans roared as they charged into the next set of enemies unlucky enough to be within eyesight.

A macharius tank rolled up alongside them its twin battlecannons roared, firing elevated as far up as the gun allowed. The twin cracks smashing into the bastion above sending debris raining down. It was frankly chaos. and not the warpy kind.

"Tanya!" He shouted. Somehow the Veteran sergeant heard him and she rushed over her twin hotshot pistols in hand. "Commissar!?"

"Find me Minton! We need to advance inside. Start clearing the guns!" he pointed upwards as everything shook when one of the colossal guns fired, the smoke and flash was immense as the cannon sent a shell off to the east towards the advancing Valyrran hordes.

"yes commissar!" She shouted in reply, but as she turned everything seemed to flash purple. Rose stepping forward and closing a fist that was wreathed in warp energy, she then seemed to punch the arm towards the cannon in question. Lion felt his stomach turn inside out then back to normal as the warp basically tore its way into reality. He looked away as a blinding flash and deafening crack tore through the battlefield. When he looked up the giant siege Cannon and a 300 meter wide section of the bastion was simply missing. Steaming, glistening a stomach turning purple was now a gash in the side of the once seemingly impenetrable structure the air around the retinue seemed to hold still, clammy and it smelt of ozone.

Poli made the sign of the Aquila as did the other non psychopaths within his retinue. Rose was standing there looking not up at the devastation caused... but at him looking for approval almost.

The horror he felt in the back of his mind he kept far away from her scrying senses...

"Keep it up. Do not let them recover!" he barked. Training and a general desire to get out of the open overpowering any bone chilling fear he may be feeling.

Major Zero rushed back over, what passed for a uniform for a berserker now thoroughly drenched in gore. She knelt beside him and just growled... waiting for orders.

"lets move!"

#####################################################################

The Valyrran first wave made swift work of the heretics outer defences and pretty quickly proved why many feared the angry abhumans both friend and foe. despite severe vehicle & equipment losses the platoons of carapce clad stormtroopers streamed into the Bastion turning the tight well defended corridors into bloodbaths. Hardpoints found themselves barraged in grenades or simply burned out while smaller defensive stations were simply bowled over by stormtroopers with bayonets fixed.

Nothing short of a Bullgryn could truly face a Valyrran in melee and hope to come out on top. The basic cultist and heretical troops within simply stood no chance as they were torn limb from limb. They might gun the first roaring abhuman down only to be overrun by the next three. It was like fighting a tide of muscle and carapace that did not give you time to breathe.

The Berserkers under Commissar Lions personal command were not any easier a foe. Pure primal violence unfolded in the sections that Lion led personally. With his retinue and soon after Major Mintons command squad marching with him through blood soaked rooms. The fist of the Valyrran advance wreaked bloody havoc through corridor after corridor clearing the Bastion and with every gun removed from this plain of existence by a very eager psyker the firepower directed at the still advancing waves of Imperials was lessening again and again.

Lion didnt actually so much as fire his weapon. But the sight of the Lord commissar was a lightning rod that raised Valyrran morale to dizzying heights of insane bravery, tempered only slightly by the terrifying Psyker at his back who was basically snapping her fingers and removing large chunks of the very fortress they fought to take....

After two hours of bloody fighting the abhumans had effectively secured the bastion having fought a violent campaign of bloodshed that had the abhumans very clearly on top as the victors.

Outside the scale of the losses however became clear. The Crassus Incinerators had scoured the trenches in heavy flamer fury as had the tanks. But the sheer volume of enemy anti tank fire had taken its toll. The superheavy chassis vehicles while resistant were not invulnerable. Hundreds of Valyrran armoured vehicles littered the sand approaching the Bastion, burning, knocked out or simply disabled as tracks or engines took direct hits. The loss of life may have been limited but the fact remained. the 1st was a mechanised regiment in name only for the foreseeable future...

Lion found himself standing in the former heretics command center. The former owner of which had been popped like a blood filled grape when he had roared a challenge to face the Lord Commissar in one on one combat only for Rose to refuse on Lions behalf by using her powers.

Oats and Marlon sat covered in ash and soot from the flames, neither looked particularly well.

Tanya was as ever on full alert standing close enough to the commissar that she could shield him should anything try to harm him. But it was Major Mintons beeming face that brought lion back to the moment. "You did it sir!"

"No... no Major. We all achieved victory this day." He replied. exhausted after running the entire time just to keep up with the Valyrrans. That was the expected humble commissar they all knew... Every Valyrran beamed with pride at the words.... even though it was nothing special.

Major Zero was butchering two dozen cultists that had surrendered. she seemed to take an uncomfortable amount of joy in the violent act of removing limbs or simply crushing the poor hapless regular humans. The other berserkers were not much better. Even the regular Valyrrans seemed unsettled most standing to the side to let the "monsters" loose.

Lion wondered if Zero was imagining each of the heads she was violently removing right that moment as Taronians.... but quickly shook the thought away turning towards Rose who stood by a display showing the system and all navy activity happening. She pointed to a lone vessel approaching Trackold on the opposite side of the system from the newly arrived Imperial supply convoy.

"Thats her." She said to noone. But Lion heard it inside his head... She was speaking with him telepathically again. "Carix".... the thought alone made his tongue feel tingly.

######################################################################

Redlina received word of the Bastions fall 3 minutes later. She congratulated her brave troops and ordered those who could to mount back up and head north to assist the 34th Cadians with securing their bridgehead on the final section before the Palace itself.

"General Mcmahon. Du Montaal. Prepare a vanguard to strike the palace. The aerodome and enemy HQ are next."

"Commissar Lion. Have your troops mop up enemy forces on this tier alongside the Cadians. Get yourself and all the other units still mobile to move to support the 34th immediately. Out."

u/dogster202 u/DoorGunner42

As the battle for D'Escar fortress began in earnest. A lone Valyrran artillery loader sat on the edge of their hastily dug gun pit, the 12 man crew enjoying a momentary lull in their fire mission as they had simply ran out of shells for their giant siege cannon the Valyrrans classified as an Earthsplitter cannon.

Tae was keenly watching the Cadian tanks and transports... She had forgotten the number of the regiment that Buck or Derek as he had asked her to call him by if anyone asked was from. She didn’t quite understand why and well, she was not the most adventurous of Valyrrans to begin with and had not asked anyone of the 1st's older members why they wanted him dead mostly out of the simple fact that Buck had asked her not to and she was like most Valyrrans, exceptionally trusting.

Even if they had only known eachother a short time. Tae still believed he would be back... she was a little concerned if he was attacking the fortress that Tae's unit had been bombing relentlessly now for weeks. She looked down at her pristine, well looked after copy of the Erelvastian history book Buck and her had been reading. Its white and gold over the top decorations a stark contrast to the dirty, barely dressed, muscle bound abhuman sitting in the sand holding it.

Her expressive glowing green eyes watched the various blue and then green vehicles trundle by. Wracking her brain for what number Buck had mentioned was his...

######################################################################

The Valyrran intelligence Ministry Valkyrie had simply flown at full speed towards The Valyrran compound. With Carix's agents on the loose a location filled to the brim with Loyal Valyrran soldiers was ideal. It didnt matter how good a liar a cultist was, they couldnt fake being 8ft tall and intermix with abhumans.

The Valkyrie landed hard, the stormtroopers quickly grabbing the three wounded Valyrrans and taking them off for medical aid. Annabelle stuck with Caleb and made it down the ramp before she seemed to pause.

"Miss... Alecia." She said quietly.

Alecia was there towering over Caleb and Annabelle in the same manner Caleb had seen her before. A terrifying undercurrent of barely restrained rage palpable.

"Annabelle.... Caleb. Welcome... Follow me."

She gestured with a single finger, beckoning them to follow the alluring abhuman as she slowly sauntered back towards some steel steps leading into a veritable fortress.

In every direction Caleb could see hundreds, if not thousands of abhumans all in the black of the Inquisition moving equipment and personnel into and out of this fortress in the sand.

######################################################################

North of the crashsite some 50km away from where Caleb had only just managed to escape captivity. Sygny and Sanders sat tied up on the back of a Tauros Venator. The Carix aligned soldiers that had taken them were hurriedly attempting to refuel and get moving again. The sounds of encroaching Inquisition Valkyries only hastening their attempts.

Chasing after them on foot was the dismounted stormtroopers who had used their enhanced Valyrran bodies to run without pause after the fleeing heretics. The small Imperial aquila pendant still tucked away inside Sanders tunic being a discreet tracker that the Valyrrans were following. One such Valyrran was Jaski, having woken up after falling from the rear of the truck and being injected with a Valyrr combat stim. He was still hallucinating and barely holding himself together... but he had a mission to complete... and he was angry.

######################################################################

The sounds of Jenson wheezing in pain after yet again losing to one of Frosts underhanded tactics filled the formerly quiet dugout. "Noooo JENSON! WHY! How do you always lose!? EVERY TIME!." Screamed Katra.

Sepha was laughing like a maniac and held out a hand for her twin to hand over the bet winnings. Which a reluctant Katra did, huffing and puffing in frustration while glaring at Jenson who was doubled over after being kicked in the unmentionables... again.

"Guess I win again Lieutenant." A triumphant Lieutenant Frost gloated, placing a boot on top of the table they had been seconds ago using to arm wrestle over who would get to fly the Valkyrie today.

"You cheater" He groaned. But quickly recovered and grabbed his flight helmet. "Where are we going anyway?..."

Frost smirked. Grabbing her own helmet. "Supply base out east. VIM wants us to drop something off. Wouldn’t say what... and I don’t ask questions.

"Yay!" The twins exclaimed always eager to fly and get away from the relentless earthshaking noises of artillery bombing fort D'Escar.

About an hour later.

A Valyrran valkyrie came in to land at the Imperial camp at far too fast a speed to be sensible, yet somehow pulling up at the very last second meaning it effectively skidded across the sand and drifted to a stop. The twin sisters Katra and Sepha giggling with glee being thrown around in the back held still only by their restraints.

The passengers who had unwillingly been forced to endure a far too reckless flight and landing practically jumped out of the Valk. "Why the frak do we let former thunderbolt pilots fly like that?" One whispered, Straightening out their cap before grabbing one of the boxes that thankfully had not been torn free by the crazy flying.

(Anyone running logistics for Strauss' battlegroup can collect. First come first served.)

A VIM officer was leading the procession flanked by a few other Valyrrans in the usual blue and grey of the 1st. Guardsman Tyrr, Sergeant Cairne and Guardsman Rorke. The three all exchanged looks and shrugged. Tyrr was already loosening up the buttons on his tunic now that the VIM officer was distracted.

"Wonder if the Taronians are here?" He said alloud.

"Why? you lookin that one you wont shut up about?" Cairne teased, giving the guardsman a playful thump on the shoulder. "Just keep your shirt on till then playboy."

"Cmon Cairne, you know he's been good. Gotta let him play sometime or else he'll not be your runner when you forget to send your report in!" Countered Rorke.

"Shut it..." The sergeant replied with a smile and a wink.

"Grab a box each." The VIM officer ordered.... "You two as well" he barked to the two Twins who groaned in unison. Unclipped themselves from the Valkyrie harness and begrudgingly obeyed.

"What they need with these silly pros...pro...prosthe... Stupid arm thingies anyway!?" Katra complained.

Nobody answered.

######################################################################

Commissar Fanella du Middenstraak approached General Grimhoffs tent in her full commissariat uniform, including the extra in her opinion ridiculously overcompensating Valyrran armoured shoulder cape. A confident swagger in her step as she simply walked in. Anyone who thought of stopping her would find themselves staring down a bolt pistol she desperately wanted an excuse to use.

On the way she passed a platoon of Erelvastian landspeeders, the "posh twats" as she liked to call them when out of earshot looked so prim and proper. Not at all like proper soldiers though they did at the least put effort into their uniform and appearance unlike the ghastly state of the 728th...

Middesntraak quietly swore again at Lion for shoving her out here... it was in truth a very smart play by Lion. He got her out of his way and put himself in good standing with command by seemingly trying to help Commissar Thornberg with discipline issues he had raised impacting the 728th...

She nearly growled... but stopped herself from doing such a thing... She was not a beast like a Valyrran. The pretty blond commissar would get his comeuppance soon enough.

In the southeastern front. At the rear camp where what remained of the Carix aligned penal unit was being held. Just as the guard shift change was underway.

As guards discussed rumours about the stolen Cargo 8 from that very morning there was a titanic explosion. One of the scheduled arriving ammunition trucks was engulfed in fire and then simply gone in a bright flash that broke every window in the entire area and took the entire western gate with it. Then as the ear-splitting ringing stopped the screaming started.

The Erelvastian and Graidholm guards were either killed outright or thrown from their feet by the shock-wave, surprise was absolute.

Smoke and debris rained down and the lasfire started. Purple smoke suddenly started bursting all over the camp as smoke mortars thumped and rained down a barrage of cover from the treeline. The rapidly decreasing vision made it impossible to make out friend or foe for those quick to react and organise. Dark purple cloaked troopers in tightly-fitted uniform of white, weave and reinforced synthleather resembling a corrupted version of scout patterns once used by elite Imperial drop troopers charged into the smoke. Lasguns, swords and various other small arms in hand. These were not regular cultists. And the panicked, frantic reports from the Imperial guards on the perimeter were quickly being cut short.

Simultaneously across the southeastern fronts rear lines, small attacks occurred seemingly in sync with this main thrust on the main supply base. But these attacks were conducted by normal heretical forces and relatively light in nature. Likely those driven off from the Crossber crossing and the surrounding area.

Santo was woken by the deafening explosion and he started coughing as that horrid purple fog like smoke began pouring down into their prison building. The sounds of gunfire and screams soon followed.

Purple cloaked soldiers wearing pure white face masks and tight fitting white jumpsuits stormed into the room pointed at him and then Santo's vision went dark as some sort of dart hit him right in the chest....

######################################################################

Following on from the comments under https://www.reddit.com/r/WarforTrackoldMinoris/comments/1u2h6hh/1st_valyrran_part_18_time_waits_for_no_one/

Northwest of the same camp that was now burning, Caleb stirred from his unwanted slumber. He was being dragged, his limbs felt heavy, he was unnarmed having been thrown from the cargo 8 presumably only minutes prior.

He immediately noticed the corpses first. At least 8 of the strange purple cloaked soldiers that had chased them this far, each of them had been clearly gunned down by lasfire or simply torn limb from limb. (19) As his vision stopped shaking, he got a glimpse of his "rescuer" it was Dorsa. The sole remaining Valyrran who was in combat shape after the frantic chase. She was swaying back and forth, her black painted armour damaged and charred.

The burning cargo 8 was behind them and even though the purple smoke was thinner here you still could not see far, Caleb could see headlights approaching...

######################################################################

In the command centre thousands of KM away Inquisitor Vrael was glued to the status reports.

Annabelle's SOS was blaring. The limited transmissions they had received from the Inquisition agent Jarski and his team had not been good and the signal from B33N had cut just as they crashed and came to a stop some 7 miles from their rendezvous.

"Kilo 8-9 is on route sir. As are all QRF forces. Which objective do we prioritise?"

"Caleb." Vrael replied. Tightening his grip on the table he was seated at.

They had known Carix's agents were watching the former Gryllus Auxilia. But for the Cult to be this brazen and with far more numbers than estimated was concerning... Burton must have missed some heretic camp for there to be this many insurgents behind his lines.

Alecia was beside him. Staring at the same reports, leaning over so she could actually see the screen. "You knew they would try this." She whispered softly in her ear...

"Yes... but not so quickly..." He replied, trying to keep his voice calm and collected.

"We cannot lose them all."

"I know that. We wont. We have lured them out."

"Caleb is the priority. The others aren’t as vital."

"And your Annabelle? I thought you liked that one?"

"She is... replaceable. But if she remembers her training I trust her to survive."

"How cruel Alecia."

"Coming from you... Vrael. Do not make me laugh. Annabelle made her choice and volunteered to prove her loyalty. She pledged to take on any challenge as did our Stormtroopers."

Vrael just silently shook his head before speaking up to the command centre staff.

"Get every Valkyrie we have in the area to that crash site on the double."

######################################################################

OOC

Anyone with troops assigned to the far rear of the Southeastern front for whatever reason can assist in the defence of the supply base. If you think your people have an excuse to get involved with Calebs plight please DM me and we can work something out. For the main base feel free just to insert your people doing whatever they might have been doing in the rear.

(Tip. Don't get hit by a dart. Its normally filled with a drug cocktail that will pretty much kill anyone who is not an abhuman, though they will still enjoy every second of it.)