Manuvering large forces with all the precision of a master surgeon with a hangover, the various commanders attempt to outthink their opponents. Skirmishes erupt across Rhandar as the jockeying for position continues. Even the search for the infamous Locknar is put aside in the thirst for battle.
Sisters of the Revered Martyr
Sister Vespa waited agitatedly at her post. Inwardly she cursed her unworthy excitement. While gossip and idle banter were frowned upon in the Sisterhood, one would have to be both blind and deaf to miss the increase in readiness and tension in the desert fortress. Soon they would advance angainst the foul traitors and alien scum and it seemed that Inquisitor Bock himself would lead the assault. Absentmindedly stroking her bolter, Vespa murmured catechisms of devotion.
Bock's Journal: Entry 125
We have secured the passes and been in communication with the Celestial Lions and their Chapter Master Modeus. I refuse to refer to him as Revered Father. There is only one Revered Father in the Imperium, and it is the Emperor himself. Praise to him! Canoness Dahmnait grows anxious to engage the Choas forces to the south. I have told her that we must scour the territories for the Locknar, but I empathize with her zeal to destroy the Heretics. For my part, I cannot help but notice the Eldar encroachments on our position in Kurtzmann's Dale. Enoch has not replied to my communique, and while I shall give him the benefit of the doubt that he will submit to will of the Inquisition when the time comes, it is obvious he is stalling. He is allowing the alien to expand, and grow in power. Much like the Guard forces have done little to curb the Orks. Must I do everything myself? If only we did not need to search for this Locknar, I could order a pull-out and virus bomb the planet from orbit. None could question that an Exterminatus is in order.
Alas, that is not possible yet. But I shall not see the heretic and the alien pillage this world and send the resources off-world to aid further attacks against Imperial space. Modeus seems willing to engage this 'Sherman', so I think will release Dahmnait to engage at will in the south. While her force is not large, it is skilled and filled with zeal and the righteous fury of the Adeptus Sorirtas.
Myself? We shall engage the Eldar. If I have to, I will do everything myself.
End Log: 125 -0.10001010011- Thought of the Day: In His service we shall all be redeemed.
The Chaos Horde of Lord Sherman
Lord Sherman as usual was almost beside himself with rage. "Only a Speeder?!? We've avoided that territory for weeks, fearing the assault of a single speeder? Well that absolutely tears it. By the rotting left testicle of Horus that is enough. Gather my bodygaurds and assemble the host, we march!!"
Celestial Lions Space Marines
Revered Father Modeus listened intently to the com transmition. Interference from a massive approaching storm made the message garbled.
sizzt...crackle..."inform Modeus"...pop..."sizeable incursion"...snap..."counting 1 transport, and heavy tank"...sizzzt..."30 plus chaos scum"....crackle..."large figure seeming to float in midair, think we're still hidden...some sort of energy pulse...By the Emp"...crackle
Modeus monitored the transmition as he continued about his duties, but had to assume that his brave speeder crew had been killed. Their information would prove invaluable, however, and the vengence of the Lions would that much more absolute to make up for their sacrifice.
WAAAAAAGH Hackem
"FETCHITT! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU LAZY GROT!"
"Ere I iz boss!"
"ROIGHT. GET THE BOYZ MOVING, BUT REMEMBER, THEYZ STILL GOT TO KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN."
"Sure thing boss...ooof!"
"I WASN'T FINISHED, WHATS THE REPORT FROM UP NORTH?"
"...."
"WELL?"
"Are you finished now boss?...OW!...ok, Bogrott says that those point heads and the humies had a duff up over the swamp."
"I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER."
Imperial Guard
Dawn was breaking as Sergeant Richard "Panther" Jackson surveyed the putrid swamp from his spider hole on a small rise. 300 meters to his left, corporal Stack was in place, covered in the leafy blanket of his ghile suit. Corporal Rickson was concealed in a shallow ravine another 200 meters on. Jackson moved like someone in a slow motion movie as he ever so gradually swept the landscape with his eyes. No motion was hurried, no action sudden. When he finally spotted what he was looking for, he keyed his tac-radio and barely whispered into the mike. "Rickson, Stack, this is Panther. We got Eldar makin’ a move into this sector. About 16 of them, aspect warriors by the look of them. About 1000 meters to the north-east."
Rickson’s black-gloved hands caressed his scope to the west. "Sarge, Rickson here. I got the greenskins in my sights. Only 5 of them, Kommandos I think, and what looks like some kinda truck. Wait they’re mounting up and heading out. Guess they don’t like the look of the pointy eared crew."
In the shade of his camouflaged netting, Stack moved his scope onto the same area. "This here’s Stack, ah confirm ork retreat, they’s buggin out and goin’ home."
Panther whispered into the mic, "Copy retreat, good spottin’ boys," before he looked back through his scope and blinked in surprise. "Stack, he whispered again, put your scope about 15 metres to the right of the creek in your easternmost sector. Tell me what you see."
The corporal very slowly shifted under his netting and looked. "Well ah’ll be..."
Back at company HQ, the company sergeant crawled into Colonel McKutchin’s half shelter and shook him awake. The Colonel opened one eye. "What is it sergeant?"
"Sergeant Jackson’s on the comlink for you sir."
The Colonel shook his head, then accepted the proffered handset and keyed the talk button. "Jackson, what are you doing breaking radio silence?"
"No one’s listening sir, we’re alone in the sector."
"What?"
"That’s right sir. The greenskins are in full retreat. The Eldar made a move in from the northeast."
"So where are the Eldar?"
"It’s the damndest thing sir they ran too."
"Excuse me?"
"I say again sir, they ran too. We are in control of sector 42."
The Colonel dropped the handset to his hip. "That farseer is either a moron or a genius," he said to no one in particular. He brought the handset back to his mouth, "Rodger that Jackson. Stay put, we’ll have reinforcements on the way soon."
"Understood Colonel. Out."
+++Battle Report+++
Eldar of Craftworld Zaitor
The advice provided by the Farseers on the outcome of the battle at New Stutgard was totally inaccurate. Had Fuegan not paid heed to their predictions,the battle would have gone much better. Not only that, but for them to be blind to the Imperial Guard forces present in the swamp, either the Farseers were incompetent, or something was wrong.
Fuegan then ordered Hirushin and the Doomwings to raid the swamp immediately, and summoned Bok'tu and his Shadowspinners to accompany him. Their orders were to remove any presence of the mon-keigh from the swamp, and to fall back if they began to take heavy casualties. Without the order to fall back, the two Exarchs would fight their prey to the bitter end no matter the size of the opposing forces.
+++Battle Report+++
Black Guard Space Marines
The attack had began quickly and unexpectedly. The forces of the Eldar Craftworld had finally come knocking on New Stutgard's door. Many of the citizens had been caught unaware and were purged from the streets in salvos of shuriken fire. Those bold enough to confront the aliens were swept aside without a second thought. The vigilant marines however, had dug in and were ready for the attack. Chaplain Enoch led a brave defense and as the battle hung in the balance defeated a Phoenix Lord in single combat. The Eldar soon after retreated from the city but had destroyed or immobilized all of the Black Guard's vehicles. With grim determination Enoch would fight on and remove the alien threat from the planet.