Chapter 12 Part 2

Chapter 12: Battlefield Kronus

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Part 2

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Deimos Peninsula

Kronus

Colonel Fahid Roval found himself commanding the remaining Guard Armored units on Kronus from the deck of a restored Baneblade. Usually, such magnificent machines didn't make good command vehicles. They had to be in the thick of battle if you used them right. A commander would lack sufficient awareness of the battlefield at large, and might be unable to effectively communicate, and command.

In this particular case, many crews politely refused to volunteer to serve on board the Baneblade due to the way it was restored. It was operational only due to the help of the Necron Xenos. They not only repaired the machine but supplied various upgrades. Better armor, stronger drive-train, more accurate weapons, and the Emperor only knew what nasty surprises they left behind.

Initially, Colonel Roval was considering leaving the venerable machine behind. That way, the Tech-Priests could properly study and restore it using good old-fashioned and reliable Imperial technology. Now he knew better. After he saw how they acted around the Xeno artifacts, Fahid left in a hurry, hugely disturbed by the experience. Going to General Alexander didn't help – the Lord Inquisitor was backing the unusual alliance with the Xenos to the hilt. Besides, they needed all the firepower they could get to face the Traitors.

After spending the last day within the Baneblade, Colonel Roval wasn't sure if he had been too paranoid or not paranoid enough. The machine ran like a charm. It obeyed every command with unnatural grace, shot with incredible precision, and its armor was unreal even for a vehicle of its class.

There had to be a catch, a terrible surprise waiting to go off at the worst possible moment, right?

Any such traps failed to materialize, and Colonel Roval had no more time to doubt himself or the Baneblade. The final assault upon the Traitor positions was already beginning, and he would soon have to lead the Imperial Armor into the breach.

Multiple monitors showed crystal clear auspex feeds from the nearby front, where three huge Necron Monoliths slowly advanced surrounded by infantry squares and floating Destroyers. The sky was dark with Necron Drones, offering intelligence data, sweeping for Heretical fliers, and ready to attack ground targets on command. It was an unnerving sight. After the battle against the Eldar and their Tau minions, Colonel Roval knew the Imperial Guard on Kronus scarcely had enough assets left to face such an onslaught, much less to fight Traitors and Heretics at the same time.

He could see the Inquisitor had been right, that without the alliance, they all would be doomed. Yet, at the same time, a life-time's experience cried to expect Xeno treachery. His heart rebelled at the thought of working with the alien! All the while, he was grateful that this alliance kept many of the people under his command alive.

These were strange days to live in.

The Necrons opened fire simultaneously. Lighting and emerald beams slammed into wicked sorcerous defenses. Multiple Regiments' worth of artillery opened fire, and explosions blossomed, slamming into an invisible wall. Whatever the Heretics did last for a whole minute before the sorcery shattered like glass and the Xeno firepower struck true. Twisted profane monuments disintegrated. Precise shots and drones intercepted Heretic counter-battery efforts. The Necrons advanced with the bloody-minded determination and lack of fear that only machines could display.

They were cold, methodical, and unrelenting.

Drones descended in their thousands, and the horizon burned.

"Sword Actual to all Sword Elements. We will advance now. Keep your wits and check your fire. We'll be explaining any friendly fire incidents to the Inquisition. Good Hunting and the Emperor bless you all!"

The Baneblade's engine purred to life. It was a far cry compared to the usual angry roar. The super-heavy tank accelerated faster and smoother than it had any right to be.

For half an hour, the Imperial Armor and the Mechanized Infantry accompanying it drove behind the Xenos, who crushed any and all resistance without slowing down. It was only when the crushed enemy defense lines were fifteen kilometers behind them that they met stiff enough resistance to slow them down.

Dug in Traitor Astartes, Daemon infested vehicles, and Traitor Guard Regiments chose a low row of hills to make their stand. Far behind them, Auspexes could barely make up the mountain in the far end of the peninsula. The Warp Gate was over there, and to reach it, they had to crush the Traitors in front of them.

That was all right with Fahid.

The Necron forces splint in three groups, each formed around a single Monolith. The Imperial formations drove into the available space and opened fire as soon as they were in range. It soon became clear why the Necrons slowed down. They dedicated a significant amount of their firepower to intercept incoming ordnance. That lowered their casualties significantly, yet slowed down the rate at which they could neutralize the enemy resistance. On the bright side, the proximity with the Xenos had two beneficial effects. First, the enemy focused their attention on the Necrons. Second, most welcome and unexpected, the aliens kept shooting shells and missiles heading the Imperial way.

Colonel Roval didn't know what to think about that. It didn't make any bloody sense!

He muttered a prayer to the Emperor and decided he didn't want to think about what passed for Xeno thought processes. Instead, he concentrated his attention on the battle.

The Baneblade spat its fury, and with every shot, a Traitor position went up in flame. A Lascannnon glanced off the front glacis, heating it, but not penetrating. Secondary weapons peppered the Heretics with explosive death, and secondary detonation marked their end.

Insect-like Daemon Engines crawled up the hills, bristling with spikes and weapons. Artillery and emerald beams lashed at them, tanks unleashed their fury, and several abominations blew up. The rest shot back, only for the Necrons to intercept almost all their corrupted shells. Even more, explosions lit up the shrinking space between the three armies, and the Baneblade rumbled, its battle cannon dismembering a Heretic abomination with a direct hit.

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Eliphas stood in front of the last eager sacrifices he had left. In front of him, seven Sorcerers cut through the last prisoners and slaves he had access to. Their death screams and blood might just save his hide. The enemy had begun their final assault, and the only saving grace was that it had their attention focused at the wrong place.

The Dark Apostle had his best troops holding the line, with the rabble ready to spend itself in one last counter-attack. Their sole purpose would be to buy him time.

Each Sorcerer chanted in a different language, and each murdered a sacrifice differently. Blood flowed freely into the symbol of Chaos Undivided carved into the soil. As soon as it was full, the blood ignited, and the space in the center of the symbol shimmered. Reality rippled and tore, forming a small Warp Portal.

"Move! Do not slow down, do not listen to anyone or anything!" Eliphas ordered and jumped into the portal.

For a brief moment that lasted an eternity, he was in the Warp, surrounded by Daemons writhing in agony. They clawed at a veil of searing light, and its very touch burned Eliphas' very soul. For a single double-heartbeat, he could almost sense the Corpse Emperor, feel his contempt and boundless rage.

Then he was through, and landed hard, falling face-first into scorching sand. A few Astartes he could trust stumbled out next, followed by half the sacrifices and two Sorcerers. Well, three, but the last one came out engulfed by white flames, which quickly consumed him.

Eliphas looked around. They were almost in position, and even if he had to sacrifice an Astartes or two, he would have just enough sacrifices to get the job done. He felt a profound sense of relief and began barking orders to the Sorcerers. There was no time to waste!