07 - Abeldar - "The honor frees", The prisoners of Abeldar are sent to face the eldar approaching army.

BTGR - ACT 08 PDF format

Abeldar - "The honor frees"

“ The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”
H.P. Lovecraft - 926M2.Holy-TERRA





Planet: Abeldar
Sector: Solanum field/agri-urban.
Relevance: force to retreat the eldar approaching army.
Force: Medusa Penal Legion.
Danger Level: High.

Previously. -9 days imperial navy arrive. [MAP, click to enlarge]


NOW. [MAP, click to enlarge]




<<for goodness sake!>>
prisoner barcode: 011001110010100110111100110100001011010011111010100011 alias: Prisoner 29 - by Commissar Holt

Name's Michael Bozik. Ended up in prison, gona fucked up at Abeldar I guess. How did I get here? Let me tell ya. These scraps of paper will be my secret diary. Was a tough ride to bargain, negotiate and steal these plus writing stuff, so this is all I could possibly get... eh what a mess here...I think I'll miss out the daily pray.



The time has come for me to sum up and look through my whole life. It's not the usual story you would expect dear reader, I'm not the typical worker, or let's face it; slave of the Imperium. I was a technician to be precise, yet is was mostly dumb slaverious monotone button pressing, lever handling, keeping together the subdatabase which is a grandmaze and you will never get it working unless a redhood comes in, say his words and miracle happens all and over again. As a void born on a spaceship, which is ever hungry for support & maintenance, this was the only way to "live". Life is, what is. Schedules touches schedules, go pray or get simply killed right away, though the halfhumans and other scum will kill you for your fresh meat, by the time you misfortunely wander into the deep dark and tight corridors, pitfalls. Law-enforcement? They are for escorting high guys and safeguard important locations of the ship. We, who keep this metal sailing in space are only numbers which perhaps wrongly updated in the ships administratum as they don't care if there are hundreds or thousands come or gone.

OST - Iron Maiden- The Prisoner


Family. I might say lucky, as most of them made it alive, and mostly without decease, mutation, imprisonment, or many other issues that may come up here. And we all worship on-time!
We lived somewhere at 11km standpoint at an unused part of a wastewater sewer. The smell there wasn't that hard compared to other parts, so it was applicable for rest, which is the definiton here for; home. My father did the same job, sometimes we worked together, even our names were the same. My mother got enlisted in the Administratum of the vessel. With two brothers, we were three little child squabbling, there were not a single peaceful minute. Later it was ceased and we ere good bros, but the early ages was terrible for us and our parents. The oldest brother, Louis for the most part became a technician too, but his friends pulled him in a different ways of life. He and his group strolled around the places of this huge vessel where no law abiding imperial citizen would step into. The day came when he were gone again but never returned.
The second oldest brother, Szyly was a genious. I consider myself a smart person, but he was truly a "suspiciously" genious. He always inquired about technologies and development. The Priests of Omnissiah or as we used to say; red hoodes, recognized this and soon Szyly was gone too, just as Louis, though Szyly was more fortunate I guess. We punctually received the reports of his progression to become a tech-priest, and is advancing on the rank ladder. For a few moments he always took the time to either visit us, or contact via communication line ports, though the latter became more influental as his services were highly demanded, and really...who would say "no" to them? I was both proud and jealous on him of his successes, of course he worked very hard, and for that, deserved it very well.

So as I told earlier I become a maintenance techinican of the spaceship, usually sent to doors and elevators, vents, lights and whatever. Boring. The guys I met there the same. They talked nothing else but shit, did their work lazily, then drank heavily algae beer. Of course they would never miss a daily pray, that is the only event they really pretend to rush for... or who knows, they might belive... and I might beli... I don't know. There are uncertainites, but I never had courage to even mention it. The Emperor...yes he is true, he MUST BE true, but these priests, missionaries, bishops and all the stuff... they are obviously abusing their position. They also preach / speak about shit and nothing. Scandals, accoutrements of high authority personell / high guys, inventing new regulations always harder than the previous one. For some time I thought we are woefully empty as we got nothing to share, but can only talk about others, the more fortunate one, but here, writing this, I must reconsider it. It's a defense mechanism, and allows people to keep on, and do their duty. Not much of a difference compared to a real servitor. So worship, and worship on time is important! I had met one of my yoke-fellow, and the other day he was brainwashed, stumped, attached to some sort of tracks... for being late from a daily pray.



Worker Recultivation processes (they called those "parties", but those are namely the events where people have funtime in my interpretation) weren't any better; maybe it was beacuse I never had any chance with chicks there, despite any efforts I took. What a smoking crowd were to be found there! These events were the base source to meet with persons, usually out of law. Too many people, and recultivation is something that even the Admiral himself wouldn't dry up without very serious reason, like combat engagement. And so, these shadowy figures made their living with quite safely but not all the time, hehe.

Reaching the twenties, from a moderately calm person, I slipped toward being a little agressive, or some might say overreactive. I was hardened and surprisingly healthy as the cruel and hazardous environment allowed. I starved and suffered.. don't know how and why, but kept on. Knew I had to get out somehow, perhaps settle down at some planets maybe... yeah dreamed many times about it. Soon news came in, that instantly cracked the usual methodica here.

We were tasked to prepare for docking. From a large spaceport a Guard Army were waiting to be picked up and brought to it's frontierworld destination. The Imperial Guard. Only way to make a change. I don't know exactly what made me so fanatical to join as I had multiple reasons doing so. Escape, honor, new way of life and who knows, ranking up, and make a living. Yeah I know, was very idealistic, but you know I was very young also! I argued with almost everyone I knew, as they all said, that I will only die in the guard, that's what they are for. But in the end, the same would wait me here, as this old spaceship will enter into hostile space, and everyone were talking about what deeply sauced shit will happen if we get into combat engagement.

What a twist! The news of war just upsetted the whole bunch of people on this ship. I was not an exception, but rather an example. Yep, dear reader, after finishing a daily pray (would be a shame to miss it) I went off to our worker arbiter and for a fee gained allowance to leave the area and finally get to my future...as I thought about it. I got recruited, and called white shield. Received a training uniform, boots, a slightly better place to rest and eat. For exchange I had to train hard, learn everything that needs for a soldier, and take every punishment, rightful and unfair alike. Our officer were very "funny" person. He liked the jokes of suffer and he meant it, so made our trainings, real nightmare. We were literally chained together, and whenever someone made a mistake, everyone received punishment, but not the one who made the mistake. Looking upon this as outsider, it doesn't bear any significance.
Forced to be up, always hurrying to await, then await standing just to hurry again, and really...really be picked at almost anything. Very frustrating, also the other mates little-biddle nouncaes weigh it even more. Instead of becoming a cohesion, we became enemies, and everyone was constant watching the other, who goes, and does what, and where. If someone makes a mistake, the platoon get punished, but later in the dark, the misfortunate will receive his own painful part, from his "comrades".

It goes without saying that I made mistakes aswell. And somehow I got picked at even more frequently, so started to slip toward being a common target for the whole white shield company! Like a crossfire situation they taught us to avoid as much as possible! Verbal scoffing, tosses, mean looking, capers... these I was somewhat prepared for and I tolerated them, but then as we finished the training course and become guardsmen, things have changed.
At the beginning I secretly whispered my name with pridefulness; Guardsman Bozik. But now, it was a pain to hear, as it was often screamed by our former training officers, and also became a common taunt in the background.
As guardsmen, with slightly larger freedom (if that word is plausible at all) the most hating group instantly turned on me, and first real hit got scored. I got beaten. They were cunning, they left out my face, so that all bruises will get covered by the uniform. I never had the courage to tell it to either our captain or the company commissar. Not beacuse the ominous group threatened me, but beacues I saw no good end doing so.
My anger grew ever larger. I don't know how it happened... it just happened, I moved by some sort of intuition. I obtained a combat knife, went straight for the "leader" of the group. Lucky roll, he was alone in the dehidratation-block.
Stabbed him from behind, stabbed him as many times as I could. I wanted him very dead, and did it! Everyone suddenly appeared for the dying screams of that little shitface.
Yep, got arrested, sentenced in prison (a hole, to be precise) for murdering a so called "comrade", decreasing the Imperial manpower resource, and renown of the regiment. I never missed a pray, even that day was not an exception, and so I avoided getting burnt instantly.

Dear reader, you managed to get this far, but I can only assure you that this is just the beginning. Our old spacecraft will soon disengange from warp space and will enter fracking real, hostile space... a warzone, full of real enemies out there.
As a trained, and now "proved" killer, I had no other option but accept into the Penal Legion Last Chancers to redeem my sins and perhaps reintegrate into Imperial Society...well f*ck that, I'm very pissed now, and care for nothing else, but to escape by the first opportunity... hmm if not for this explo collar...maaan it irritates my neck.
For the next chapter, there will be no pray, I'll describe "the squad" I ended up with! But first, I must obtain more of these paper scraps!

THE SQUAD

First time in a prison cell, but to be exact, it was not a real change, maybe less space, more stinch, more observation and cameras. I was locked with eight other people, who I will die within days. We only knew how many times left, as our warder and 'leader', Sergeant Ivan Darp from a Mordian Iron Guard Regiment constantly reminded us, how many hours are left of our misery, supplemented with swears and splutters... yes he did as he had some teeth missing, though Ivan were merely ten years older than me. So far what I have heard, Ivan behaved similarly with regular troops under his command aswell. I really wonder how he has not already fallen into mysterious accidents! Such a little roach, no more words wasting on him, okay?





Me. I received some sort of tatters, called cloth, and the irritator, I mean this collar of boom off my head if I think politically wrong stuff. At least it does substitute the chains and cords. Inside our cell I kinda moved freely, one by one, met with the others and get known of them. Below I'll describe the main infos I could enucleate, and in some cases, interesting conversations and replies. So let's start it, fellow reader!

Convict 56 - Thomas Chéffuan approx 25 years old

He said he was a mechanical technician, working with servitors, under the red hoodies directions. When I mentioned to him my almost similar former job, he laughed. Doing so, I noticed his teeth were actually sharp, then I started examining him. Long brushy hair, tall body, wildish voice. Can you believe it? A Feral Worlder mechanic? He got locked up here and his guilt was accidentally breaking a holy seal of the so called God-Machine. Not a smart, nor a lovely person, but still I felt a little poor to him. Strange that as a feral (I assumed) he were quite accepting his fate of inprisonment. I guess there was a long story behind this, but I didn't ask about it. He wasn't inquired after me at all, so I decided to not push it further.



Convict 889 - Adam Olli 'Flamzer' approx 28 years old

Burnt, blackened skin, muscles, tattoes of animals. Flamzer (his nickname) was a pyromaniac catachan. He was a guardsman, also got special weapon exercise with flame weapons. I saw some catachans earlier, at the training back then, they looked similar to Adam, though he longer possessed the big knife, and a kerchief which are not just stereotypes. Catachans really mean and wear them.
When the warder was not around Flamzer pulled out his secret 'Sparky' (igniter) and played with it like a child. I asked about how did he get here. He spent most of the time telling each brutal kills he claimed to done. Finally we arrived to the breaking point where he was so bulkheadedly driven a chimera next to the enemy lines, ignitet a dynamite inside it, while driving into the lines, where the dynamites exploded, blowing up the chimera and the most of the enemy altogether with Flamzer barely jumping out, moments before. He survived, he got back to his forward post. Their task was actually to hold their positions. Adam independently acted, wrecked a chimera, though (if it's true at all) it would have been a good show for a breakout, no one followed up for the opportunity, as they sitted in the post. It was considered a wasteful act and also disobidience.
Each time Ivan saw Flamzer, he said that "These rats should be shot in the head for insubordination!"
For answering my questions Flamzer asked for some of my tatters in return, which I gave him, making me half naked in the upper part. He waited for the warder to leave again then he pulled out Sparky and lighted the tatters... Other times it would have been a very cheap price to maintain relations, but it was freaking cold in there... shame on me.

Convict 11 - Raffael Tyson-Brando approx 17-18 years old, though looked older

I was shocked that in this smelly place there would be someone that outstands in misery. A thief scum from the outlaw parts of the vessel, got caught. His brownish skin, and scornful look didn't promise anything good from him.
"-What do yo looking at? Want a beatin, huh?! There, say nothing and go away faggot!" I didn't look for trouble in the first hours, so I tried ignoring him from now on. Keeping distance would be advisable in other aspects, as I saw some minor mutations ramping on him. It was like he is rotting alive!

Convict 0 - Mindzero (no one know his real name) approx totally don't know his age

The strangest figure in the 'squad'. No speaking, no words from him, just sitting in the corner, and stareing on one point for all time. Terrible scars, tatter bandagades, and degenerate minor mutations. Black, white hair. Red and Green eyes, wall white pale. Missing left ear. Can it be even more bizarre? He noticed that I was watching and within a wink, our eyes met in contact. I wavered. That lunatic almost freak me out. Then he went back staring the empty point again. I felt I just survived something utter danger maniac eruption. Or just passed a "not a threat" test? I don't know, and really don't want to ask it...

Mindzero...mind zero, what kind of name is that?... a mind zeroed, perhaps? Washed? Shocked? Okay no matter. If there are any rules here in this prisoncell, that would be exactly this; avoid him at all costs.

"-Hey there! Don't look into the eyes of MZ! Here, come, if you wish chit-chat." Suddenly a little guy appeared next to me, let's see who is him.

Convict 69 - Kullchayr, a little guy but still over 30, seems to be a ratling abhuman.

Funny little guy. Probably the only one here (apart from me of course, dear reader) I could normally talk to and is not a psycho or lunatic or anything. Just a guy being in a wrong place at a wrong time. Just like me... okay I admit it's not totally true to me but I did everything right, until that... murder... which I told to Kullchayr and he said that "-If you made a guilt you won't undo it beacuse you do this or that."
"-I see, and agree. Then what is your reason to be here?"
"-Quite simple. I was lifted to be an advisor in the Administratum for a Lord Governor. My intellect was very useful there, I cleared out many-many fragmentation and issue of the system. Then when everything started to take shape, they... let's say, removed me actuated by either jealousity or fearing that I take over their precious place. I am an abhuman you know and I shouldn't dare to take valuable positions in human society."
"-So literally your sin is that you have born?"
"-Don't tell me you surprised to hear that."

Well darn me, but I was a tiny bit surprised. Okay, our ears and minds were full of propaganda, which were to be heard all the working time back then. Beware the alien, the mutant, the heretic. Report to an Arbitratum or Adeptus Militaris personell, if you contact with any of these, especially if it is a psycho or psyker or something. But discarding effectivity and good working capabilites for that semiway nonsense?! Anyway, Kullchayr is a good fellow, perhaps the only one in here. We shared our pasts to each other, and mostly agreed that there are shittons of problems with this vessel, with the Imperium altogether. Deeply corrupted inside, getting rusty and all it's bureocratic structure slumps from the suffering of the innocent, the talented, the progressive, and the reformer. But when? When will this collapse all at once?!

Convict 74 Thomas Leizer 'Reaper' or 'Raper' Age 23

Same age, void born at here, on this ship, though he didn't went to the Imperial Guard, but rather started as a freelancer henchmen. I guess he soon found some business where he was the expandable pawn at the bottom.
His nick is Reaper, but Kullchayr told me that everyone calls him raper. Perhaps that was the reason he got arrested afterall? I don't care. And thus I didn't go over there to ask about.

Convict 112 - Haji (I cannot pronounce nor write down his real tallarn name) Age 40

An oldie Tallarn guardsman, who fought two wars and lost so many but not his life. So far what Kullchayr told me, he went mad and wanted to break out somehow and even make a living. He stole some valuable stuff, and escaped / deserted with a Tauros. He managed to hide away, but there was an all out war on the planet his Regiment was employed so he decided to sneak up on some of the Imperial Vessels to leave the planet. And that's where he got caught.
He had lost one eye, and had many scars from sharpnel. When we will get into combat, his experience would be very valuable. He used almost everything that can be found in the Imperial Guard. Small arms, mounted / heavy weapons, vehicles, vox casters, auspexes etc.
When I talked to him, he was calm, and a tiny bit kind. His stories of war were very insteresting. There was a firefight, his platoon was attacked in a building by enemy ork tanks, if I'm correct those called gunwagons. He was armed with melta bombs, and were at the 3rd floor.
The target tank was far away to throw, so he had to get close somehow, and what did he do? Jumped out from the 3rd, landed without breaking his leg, rushed for the tank and blew it up!
At other time he was enlisted to an autocannon team, and just kept firing so rapidly that the barrels began boiling. An ork stormboy squad jumped at them, and how he defended? He picked up the heavy weapon and like a spear he stabbed them in the face with the hot end!
Wow I could just fill another scrap of paper with all his stories like these. I loved them

But... there is one more left in the squad to write about. A woman.

OST - Soundtrack ~ John Carpenter ~ Escape From New York (1981) ~ 13 ~ Everyone's Coming To New York


Convict 5 - Bettina Doyle approx 24-25 years old

First of all. Let me tell you something personal. My lucky number happens to be; five. Have I told before, that I didn't have luck with girls? And now... hehe, in prison... I have met with number five, I mean Bettina. The Emperor must be in his funny mood, to make such a 'coinsidences'.
"-What the hell do you want from me? I'm not in a mood to chit-chat with suckers." That was her first sentence. By the way actually this was not my worst start of a conversation with women. "-Escape from this hellhole, one way or another. And if I get more men or women together, we may have succed!" I replied but at that time I really wasn't sure of my words. Still I had to come up with something for this freezing cold beauty. I know she was not the best looking I saw in my 'life', yet the long brown hair, tall and slim body, pretty face, would definietly do, if not for that stone cold behaviour.
"-There is nowhere to go, and I don't want to go with you neither, so get lost."
Huuuu now that was fast. At least, she answered something, it is considered a progression according to my experiences.
"-Well, well. Five is really your lucky number Michael." Kullchayr appeared again.
"-What do you mean?"
"-She did not kill you for the first available moments. Yet one thing. There is something very deep dark within her, which she carries for probably too long, and ain't likely to get over with it neither, so just be very careful nexttime."
"-How do you know there will be nexttime?" We both smiled at first, then laughed, though not for long.

"-Attention maggots!" Sarge Ivan returned from his wizz-cigarette break. "-We gona leave the warp and enter our destination, soon we will move out to the dropships, lapdogs! Prepare to meet your doom!"

I turned back to Kullchayr. "-That fool, what does he enjoys so much about these news? Doesn't he know will die with us aswell."
"-Not so probable, or at least not directly with us. You see, these collars will set-off by meeting any of the criteria; he or anyone above presses the button, or simply go out of signal reach, or harming a detection system, that is very sensitively react for defusing the collar. To sum it up; Don't shoot them in the back, don't leave the battlefield, don't touch the collar."
"-What if only one convict rise up and shoot that derp?"
"-In case of a convict riot, all the squads, or platoons, or even a full company will be executed, and so they will press the button for everyone. This does force those who believe in survival, holding back the others."
"-So not only we are out of options but sarge butthead will be overseeing us from a quite safe distance, while we just die in the open, right?"
"-That's right my human friend."

We are reaching the bottom of the paper, dear reader. This was my squad. That is all important I could enucleate. Especially since I was only talking mainly to Kullchayr, and listening to Haji's hari-raising stories. For others I couldn't get more, but who knows what the tomorrow will bring or what fate will I met.
All I have is these eight guys to rely upon, and my abilites. Surely Ivan won't care of our fates and according to his sadistic nature, would rather enjoy our massacre!

If there is an Emperor far out there, throning upon Holy Terra, I say... I pray that I'm sorry for anything bad I did or thought! I will probably not be the best worshipper, but I'm afraid I'll not have any more chance to really repent my sins, at least for someone who listens. I know you are listening! I know you are watching! My heart is open to you. If I'm to die at Abeldar, so be it, I'll accept everything you destined to me.



Dear reader. Thank you for getting this through, and reading my life. I left here these scraps with the intention to leave something behind, and perhaps give some insight of how lifes could end here. From now on, we will be dispatched, and I think there will no more time, no more hope for us. Farewell.



Penal Legions are Imperial Guard forces consisting entirely of convicted criminals, debtors, liberals and other social transgressors. Crimes resulting in sentence to a Penal Legion can range from failure to return library books to murder, minor heresy, cowardice in battle, desertion, etc. By serving in the Penal Legions these individuals are given the chance of redeeming themselves in the eyes of the Emperor.
The Penal Legions are not armies in their own rights, but are attached to other regiments and armies in battle, and are useful where greater numbers are necessary to win the day. They are considered expendable, as death is the point of serving in a Penal Legion. They are often used to test enemy defences. New troops have their heads shaved and tattooed with unit insignia, and explosive slave-collars are put around their necks. The collars are a disciplinary device rather than a means of turning the troops into human bombs; the blast is directed inwards, killing only the wearer. The collars are controlled by personnel accompanying the force, and are detonated only to restore discipline. As well as the collars, Penal troops are sometimes equipped with frenzon dispensers.



The penal legion of Baras Military city: a column of outcasts, criminals and villains, march compact to the coordinates where, in theory, the eldar's army has been detected few hours before by the imperial interceptors. The prison guards follow the sides of the criminal-soldier's column, riding the assault bike or jump pack supplied to the penitentiary of Medusa for do their patrol task, forming themselves an assault detachment on its own. The Jail Superintendent Geremia "the pockmarked" Hudson, at the head of the column, leads the army of the "Last Chancers" to the new front line. From each speaker of his immense Leviathan, his headquarters inside Medusa, the Prison Governor thunders the "motto" of the Legion, an ancient chimera: "The honor frees". The atonement and forgiveness (and for the lucky ones reintegration into society), at the foot of the God Emperor, today, will be blessed in a bloodbath.

ARMY
4.000 eldar (biel tan pattern) army. strategy 4
Download

4.000 SL (count as) Penal Legion pattern, strategy 2
Download

ARMY COMPARISON: Download

Battlefield:
- field: 120 x 240 cm
- building damage and collapse rule







Victory condition and campaign effect:
- victory condition: classic tournament



<< ...and Now, Sir General? >>
<< And now, my dear friend Nelson, order at all commanders to turn off the vox devices from external channels, keeping open only the inner channel. Explain them that it's a precautionary measure against Eldar's sabotage. We shoot from their maps. We move, but we will move in the shadows. The Abeldar's radar systems is disabled by the E.M.P. attack, we will not pass unnoticed, but will be difficult to intercept us. The bulk of the army must be sent to the outer space bay of Baras: contact the Ophelia and prepare the evacuation, our vessels are anchored to the landing vessels. Commander Damat Rustem Pasha will lead the army near the space bay but don't move the army inside the space bay, however, wait for our return inside the Black Forest. We go to Hopepeak. My "fifth and a half" sense tells me that soon there we will fight the crucial battle, isn't in that location, which is hidden the book? And while the Eldar and the Imperial forces will be concentrated in this crazy war, the ENEMY will have smoothed the way, even if only with a handful of warriors to seize this damn artifact. >>
<< Orders received, General. The History will judge us, if today this was treason, or the most heroic and faithful act of loyalty. >>



TURN 0. DEPLOY.



FIRST HOUR



*Steam-sirens buzz, filled the stale air within the Leviathan prison cells.
Sergeant Ivan were already at the other side of the wickets. Warder-electric key were applied for a built in-servoskull which operated the wickets. This time, opening them for the convicts to come out!*
-The time has come convicts! The doors are open to freedom! *He pronunced "freedom" with sneer, and hate in his voice.* -Remember! This shiny day will be your last chance to prove yourselves somewhat... worthy!
Now get outa here!
~Damn you Ivan. It is you who should prove to be a man, rather than a rat!~
*The squad move out in a coloumn. We saw the rest of the company doing the same.*
-Oh fu*k! This is serious this time! *Reaper grunted it. Then Kullchayr turned back to me, as he was moving in front.*
-The raper is right. They always annoyed us with siren-ringing, but never mobilized the entire company. Until now.
*I nodded in an agreement, and the squad moved forward for the equiping sections. The section itself was a long line of scrap piled up for us. And behind those, the big gate [back of the Leviathan] slowly, clumsily began, opening down. Hundred old hydraulics and metal, scratching noise pinned down the sirens. Some blinding brightness hitted us and we needed a little time to get used to it. This will be the second time for many of us to see sunlight...*
-Yahaa! Kuuul stuff! Me first. *The scum Raffael Tyson-Brando, thrusted forward to lay hands on the "best" available equipment.*
-Doesn't matter, all of these are substandard armament.
*Everyone received a black uniform, a wastreled flak helmet painted to red, ages old rusty lasguns with one loaded lasclip, and also gained opportunity for extra gadgets.
A hurrying, slap-dash race began for the "extras". Extras were the following without the need for completeness (I just saw merely these among the huge crowd and mess, you know):
-More or better (reaching standard) quality lasguns, lasclips.
-Bayonets, knives, axes, maces, swords, bucklers.
-Frag and krak grenades.
-Weardown flak armor parts, painted black.
The warders allowed this chaos as they knew it will be the fastest way to gear up the whole company from scratch. While loading up, we, I mean me and Kullchayr risked some winks upon the guards, who oversee the events from parallel truss brigdes, both leading from the cells to the gate of the Leviathan. So despite the complete chaos down here, they oversee and controlled it from above.
Of course they had full standard gear, with jump packs, and a control device with THE button. Merciless use of the lattest was demonstrated without hesitation for instantly suppressing the occasional brawls or even firefights that just suddenly erupted here and there among the convicts.
*Blammm... an explosive collar killed its wearer, the rabble holds silent for a moment, as the disclipline by terror consolidates within our ranks, then everything goes on.* -No one will shed a tear for ya. Hehehe
-Thats mine baby! *Adam Olli alias Flamzer was arguing over a flamer! with Chéffuan. I don't know why, but I wanted to settle it down before it could start out, and offered Chéffuan my extra frag grenade to let Flamzer get the weapon he is the best with. Not to mention, avoiding early casualities...*
-Now you don't have any extras left Michael.
-I know, but still I think we better hang together with this squad, other than getting intermingled with absolute unknown guys to fill the manpower decreasement gap...as they say.
And what I might add; brawling over this pile of junk is the least what we need! *Then I leaned closer to Kullchayr for only him to hear it.*
... and we are going to exhaust sooner beacuse of the inprisonment. I already feel, my legs won't bear as much as it used to. We better off not carrying anything weightful at all. I only took this lasgun loaded, to fend off suspicion. I advise the same to you, my friend.
*Actually I didn't needed to, he planned the same already.
To sum up for the squad, everyone received the so called basic gear, and looted the following extras;
-Michael >>> nothing (basic gear)
-Chéffuan >>> frag grenade, extra lasclip
-Flamzer >>> one handed sword, flamer, promethium ammo (discarded lasgun and lasclip)
-Tyson-B >>> flak armor parts, 2x lasclips, frag grenade, knife
-Mindzero >>> nothing (he just picked up the red helmet and thats all... not even the black uniform, and weaponry...)
-Kullchayr >>> nothing (basic gear)
-Reaper >>> bayonet add-on, axe, frag grenade, extra lasclip
-Haji >>> knife, second pair of boots ~Damn, good idea! The boots we got, aren't durable for long distances, I'll keep this in mind.~
-Bettina >>> knife, stub-revolver, 6 solid slug, 3x lasclips
Many of us kept staring at her, especially those out of squad, who doesn't know how dangerous she is. Actually she ignored everyone with her cold mean looking.

By the time the company armed up, the gate finished the opening procedure. Fresh air touched our pale faces. It was a very good, long awaited feeling. I was still twinkling beacuse of the brightness as did many of us. Only Kullchayr was fine as his ratling eyes handled these circumstances better. For a moment I was jealous over his birth as an... no... this thinkering really stood only for a moment*~...eh...shame on me.~

*The penal legion infantry company codenamed ASF-01. *~Call me a genious, but I figured it out before you, damn sure. It stands for Abeldar-Solanum Field First Company, the main bulkhead of the legion. Judging upon this very location specific, temporal-like name, they didn't expect us to survive this battle... well....~ *, as we have been named by and through the speakers, the ASF-01 began its disembark action from the Leviathan. Each platoon were designated to a single Leman Russ Battle Tank. Hehe I just occured me one of Hajis incredible stories with these steady vehicles. I must be the only one in the ASF-01 that walks to his death... laughing.

As a trained, former guardsman I recognised the company attachments. We escorted a pretty well armed group of chaps. We got Russes, Hellhounds, the Leviathan, air defense in a form of Hydra. They are of course crewed by Guardsmen, as well as the heavy weapons teams, and sniper platoons.

Still twinkling though. And hot!* -This sun is burning me alive, dude!
*Our platoon formed up behind a Russ. Guns loaded and ready. We began march as ordered. I asked Kullchayr for what do he sees afar.*
-We are on a rockhill! There is a road to our right and to our left aswell, both with a couple of buildings. Guess empty all of them. There are 1...2...3. Three bridges ahead, each of them connected by these roads accordingly.
-Tell us about the enemy, smartass! *Flamzer shouted in.*
-No sight of them, yet! Not surprising, they will only appear after they killed you within a wink!
-Not always... *Was that? Yes that was Bettina. But fefore anyone could reply, Raper got in.*
-Yeah, as those Eldi bitches gona be raped first, but that wouldn't last for a wink, that's sure! Haha!
*Most of the squad laughed, but not me, Kullchayr, Bettina and Mindzero. I saw the anger in Bettinas eyes, and her hand tightened upon her revolvergrip. There is truth in what Kullchayr mentioned about her past. Something dark and sad. With a strong relation to rape and... Eldar?*

*So far, no enemy contact, or at least we didn't see them with our eyes for the moment. We march behind and next to our armor. The sheer size of our lines is more or less soothing, but not for Haji. The old tallarn told us, that the size doesn't matter as it is mostly calculated according to enemy forces by high ranking officers. So the enemy will have at least this large / strong force on the other side of the River Tana.
Still the armor engines kept bellowing, our legs tyring. The Penal Legion is deployed and began mobilizng along the lines.*









Edited by Radgraglio - 14/4/2021, 13:24

TURN 1
Initiative: Eldar



<< I don't care about anything, Jail Superintendent Hudson, that you don't have heavy weapons! Wind on the penal legion. No. Human. Mercy. >>
Earl William J. Zardok. Earl of Abeldar.

OST - Harold Faltermeyer - The Running Man - Soundtrack Music Suite




Less than twenty-four hours after the defeat of Palium Borough. The eldar's drums of war relentlessly press, this time on Solanum field. The conquest and control of Tana River, strategically for the xeno, ensure the safety of the north-eastern front. The penal legion advances, silent, dazzled by the light of the sun: a precious gift for most of the prisoners who haven't seen it for years. The explosive collar tightly around thier neck, the condemned inexorable march forward. Death is in front and behind of them, lurking like a predator ready to strike. From his mighty Leviathan the Jail Superintendent Hudson communicates to all the companies the approaching maneuvers. The criminal detachments take place, followed by Prison Warden assault detachments. An invisible enemy in front of them, and the last chance for redemption. The Battle of Solanum begins.



<< Ignorance is strength. War is peace. Freedom is slavery.>>
Malachia Von Frundsberg. Lord Inquisitor. Istanor VII°

<< The kingdom of man lives crushed under the most horrific and brutal dictatorship that history has ever known. In the name of an undead emperor, puppet in the hands of the Inquisition. >>
Jordan Brown. Last words. Burned alive in the 39 millennium at Solanum Field, as heretic.





Nothing. No trace of the enemy , just far and vague radar signals. Ephemeral. The huge Leviathan of the Jail Superintendent Hudson advances when, quick as two arrows in the sky three fireprism whizzing on the battlefield, vanishing behind a rocky promontory. << Pop up attack! >> scream The gunner assigned to the Leviathan's battlecannon, but miraculously, the three shots miss. Hudson opens the speaker on all vox device : << ready for a global overwatch! >>.



The entire right imperial front, composed by the Leviathan, one Stormhammer, a sentinels detachment and the twelfth penal detachment hold their position, firmly entrenched behind their tank. The squad, in their midst, just after the first line, take cover. The minutes go. Nothing in line of fire, but the radar shows some movements. How dancing flames, beyond Tana River, an aspect warrior warhost mounted on wave serpent, one night spinner and a falcon detachment advance quikly in cover: behind the hills and woods. Among them a darting storm serpent is also identified: the eldar arcane machine able to carry on the battlefield entire warhost through the warp.











On the middle, the eighth penal mutants detachment is under barrage of three nightwing fighters, fallen from the sky over their heads, killing a handful of mutants. Meanwhile, a prison guards assault pack, with their jump packs, lurk on a building near the right front, while a second hurtling over the bridge, contesting the webway portal, one of the two secondary xeno objectives. The webway portal starts to emit lights and melodies incomprehensible, and a Windrider warhost hurtling at speeds unheard to the left side of the battlefield, joining another one jetbike squadron.















On the left imperial side, two prison guards packs on warbike advance beyond the forest, both from the right and left of it, while the twelfth penal legion, given the opportunity, occupy the bridge that gives access to the primary eldar's objective, followed by a prison guards jump pack platoon.







If on the right imperial side the eldar are ready, as ferocious predators, to pounce on their prey when it will be exhausted in the right manner and at the right time, on the left side thier maneuvers have faltered. The imperial army saw a flaw, an exposed flank, and moved in depth. The Jail Superintendent Hudson , from his powerful command center, grins to the loss of the dozen beastmen: << a bit of junk deducted from the imperial budget >>. The battle of Solanum has begun.







SECOND HOUR

*I looked around to check my squad marching behind our designated armor. Everyone seems nervous, tired, even Haji with all his experience. Flamzer restlessly turning on and off the lights on his flamer also shows his guts shrinking. The left of the squad was even more closer to the edge as they weren't even soldiers, their combat capability is still questionable. The feel of very death soon consumes us all. Nothing remained of earlier hard talks, big mouth, and stone coldness or simply joking around. This is serious. This is war. And this is our second hour of survival and no one knows how many are left. Except for Mindzero. That guy is sure a freak. With only a single flak helm, and still wearing his dirty tatters and not even boots or weapons or anything! I don't know what conscioussness remained in him as he actually understood his environment and his orders...but still strange...or should I say, suspicious? Glad that he is at the right side of the Russ while I'm at the left.*



-No-nothing. No trace of the enemy. *Kullchayr was a bit wavering, his words sounded slutter.* -No worries my friend, they are damn sure out there ready to kill us all.
~Well darn me! I shouldn't fun with that, as this little guy is likely to panic by just mentioning the incoming, although inevitable bloodshed. But I already said what I said, and he turned away with an "oh ok", like saying "that's it, I'm dead". He is holding his lasgun with total uncertainity, I hope he won't do any mistakes.~
*In the end, I had look out for my own still worrying my legs and my skin. Though slowly we got use to the sunlight, but my pale skin started hurting me, it got fried!* ~I must be looking like red as my helm.~ *The explosive collar also became more irritating as it absorbed the heat. And that pesky rat Ivan just walking behind us, overseeing our actions with all his fancy gear and a hat to maintain some cover against the sun.*

*Later Chéffuan broken our weighing silence.* -What if they really gone? By spotting this huge army and the big stuff? *Pointing at the Leviathan. Doing so, the answer moulded into a form of "lightnining". Wszzzzz.* ~From where?~ *No one seen anything, just the lights then nothing.*
-Heads down! *Haji screamed it first. Some kind of blue lines pointed at our Leviathan stroke out again from nowhere, two of them missed it completely, and only one hitted it's structure but a greyish glowing, like a mirror, shielded the War Engine and bounced off the attack. Unfortunately bounced to our direction and scratched the ground behind us a few metres away!*
-Waaaah! *Tyffffff. Kullchayr frieghtenedly turned back for the glanced "attack", but in his haste, he fall on his back, accidentally firing his lasgun... missing our custodian by not much.*
-Nooo! Waaiit! *Too late. The explosive collar blew off the ratling head, painting me and Chéffuan in his light red blood. Sarge Ivan pressed the button for him, not knowing / or not gambling? that it was an accident.*
-It was an accident idiot! -Convict 29, do you want to follow him, and ask? Willing or not, he threatened 'your *While saying it, looking upon all the squad with unsparing way.* custodian and by the law of our regiment, I acted accordingly.
~I so much wanted to tell my opinion. No, not just tell, but force my opinion with my gun! Yet his hands were already at my button aswell. Even if I hit him first, can't stop him pressing it. I was a coward and worried for my own life.~ *Moreover Ivan received the fresh orders from his ear vox device. And things were just settled he continued as if nothing happened. Shame on me, that I letted him...*
-All right convicts, we hold here! Dig in! *Actually not just us, but the entire right flank stopped to hold its position, the vehicles turned to neutral gear, their turrets aiming at a far position from where the shots 'may came from.*
-Yeah right, and with what? We ain't got any stuff to dig this rocky field! And by the way even if we do, we will just die in our holes.*Flamzer worded the squads "opinion".*
-Convict 889! You are a capital sentenced subject of the Imperial Guard and are ordered to dig in, right here! I don't care with what. Use your hands! Anyway our mission here is to withstand the enemy flanking manouvre against other Regiments. In defensive, the day is always with the Guard! And if it with the Guard it is also leads to your successful absolution. But feel free if you want to serve AS a cover. *With his grim smile, Ivan rested his hands upon the execution device.*
-Yeah, yeah we already diggin it, like moles... 'sir. *And so the squad hitted the dirt and started scraping the rocky field enclosed by complainings and swearings. I spent a glimpse upon Haji, seeing he took off his helmet and used it's edges to dig out his riflepit. We all did the same, and partially chilled out as we gained some defenses and weren't used up for a suicide assault in the first place. And what more, lying in our riflepits we could rest a bit and perhaps start praying. Ivan being a dumbass still knew us convicts. He knew that we could just kill him rightaway and face death punishment if the circumstances turn out we wouldn't survive anyway. A week has past since our drop and deployment, and finally we got out of prison cells, but were still far-far away from freedom.* ~We are still inprisoned, even out of cells. But no, it's not the explosive collars that cages us in the open... but rather our new prison cell is called;
hope.~

*While we finished I look at back lines also. Artillery guns, heavy weapons made some haste fieldwork around them, but what concerned me that our second line of hellhounds were aiming at the first line. Us.* ~Sure, they expect a close assault on us. Fine. Let's keep in mind, if that happens I will have to rush forward immideately for the ominous chance of survival.~
*The ground was actually cold, so I applied some to my face in order to quench it. It worked but touching my face was still paining me. What further insulted me, that Chéffuan used Kullchayr's body as a cover! But I was helpless to stop that, since Sarge derp ordered him to do so. That sadist knew my anger towards him, and seemed rejoiced that I was bovine.*

*In the end we were waiting in our position. Regaining my sight I could finally see the far horizont. The two huge silos or something like that, obscured our firing zone, *~congrats mr. generals...~* with a Sigillum tower, then following up the road with my eyes I saw a radar station and the brigde from where probably the Eldar shots came. Then my attention is caught by the mountain to the right from the brigde. I haven't learned much of tactics, but so far that big rock is outmost suspicious hiding place for anything. I wish I would mistaken.
Suddenly we heard explosions and whizz sounds on our far left side. And only after the sounds of attack we saw something very fast making a half circle in the air.* ~Damn those things surely outclasses our thunderbolts, making them look like flying trucks.~
*Even as a far away event it melted down the squads rebuilding coldness. It was written on everyone's face, (except Mindzero) ~When they will come for us?
*Within the last moment I captured another exception. Bettina. Her face wasn't red by the sun, but rather hatred. Pure hatred was glowing out clearly, looking upon the enemy territory. Probably thinking on Eldar?* ~Hmmm, definietly. *I would bid high amount of Throne Gelt that she had met with Eldar before...in a gruesomely tradegic way.*

*And so the Imperial right flank took overwatch and hold it's position. The turn to move is now in the Eldar hands. Will they launch an attack? And if they do, can the scrappy ragtag Penal Legion withstand it's superior firepower just by the sheer numbers?*
~These questions were written on the squad faces. But so far what concerned me, is 'when.
When will I be able to shoot that b'astard Ivan, down?!~

ARMY STATUS END TURN 1: download

TURN 1. end turn.
Penal Legion: 1 (defend the flag)
Eldar army: 0

Edited by Radgraglio - 14/4/2021, 13:23

TURN 2
Initiative: Penal Legion



<< That book wasn't to be hidden, that book was never to be written. My order has made a terrible error, Magnificent Inquisitorial Representatives of TERRA, millennia ago. We are all aware of the immense risk that we will encounter, if the words written there will be heard by human ear, and disclosed in the imperium. Is possible laugh of everything? Can we also laugh of the God Emperor? The laughter destroys fear, and without fear there will be no faith in the Holy Inquisition. Thousands of worlds will rush in uprising. We know very well that in the nature of our God Emperor, those words live in Him, the light and strength of the entire human race, words of one of the founding fathers of our entire civilization. I will obey Your Holy orders. That book must be destroyed. Our hopes will soon be in the hands of the space wolf chapter. They, and only they, have the strength to tear it from the Eldar's claims, and consign it in my hands, for dispel it into oblivion which it's destineed. >>
Malachia Von Frundsberg. Lord Inquisitor. Istanor VII°

OST - Harold Faltermeyer-Massacre Highlights






<< There was peace! The damned peace on Abeldar, a spell that I knew it could not last long. If I didn't know it, for sure, to finish, and you with me my dear nobility, straight to the front in the penal legion, I would have already started negotiations "under the table" with the Eldar, handing them the book. A book that kills, or a book for which men and Eldars ... kill.>>
Earl William J. Zardok. Earl of Abeldar.

On the left side the advance of the twenty-second penal legion is unstoppable, the engines roaring of the leman russ and the hellhound exceed the bridge, followed by dozens of prisoners well protected behind the tank assigned to them. Occupied the wooded hill, the detachment opens fire on the warp spider warhost before them. Fifteen fall under the imperial firepower, but the warhost doesn't recede. The Eldar trying to protect the entire frontline with the double move of the war walkers, but the initiative is still in the imperial hands. A prison guards platoon on warbike assault and onslaught the war walker near the bridge, forcing them to flee, while on the opposite side, another platoon of prison guards on jump pack abandons the building near the webway portal and assaults the night spinner, crushing them in a fierce firefight.











The news runs fast on the vox devices, but the enthusiasm was soon suffocated. Many other news coming from the left battlefield side . The beastmen detachment and the penal infantry too don't procede according to the plans, and are forced to recreate a new front behind the first planned offensive line. This imperial hesitation gives at the eldar the possibility for organize a counterattack. A jetbike squadron and a guardian warhost on wave serpent advance rapidly against the twenty -second penal legion, killing tens of soldiers and destroying one leman russ , when from behind, appearing from the void the survived warp spiders, elementals warriors of the warp. Those appearing as ghosts and then vanish, leaving death and destruction behind them. The eldar support fire is massive, the imperial tanks explode, the prisoners-soldier are dying like flies. At the end the carnage is very high, the warp spiders in retreat, reduced to little more than a dozen warriors, leave on the battlefield a carpet of casualities. What remains of the twenty -second penal legion withdraws behind the bridge from which , boldly , was arrived a "quarter" before.







The second guards platoon on jump pack goes on the building near the webway portal, previously occupied by the other guard platton, while the riders-guards, light cavalry, with a march order protect the central imperial front from a possible attack of the storm serpent. The imperial offensive impetus has stopped. The eldar, lost their artillery, accelerate their plans.







On the left side, the entire imperial army is in overwatch. But suddenly, the battlecannon's gunner of the leviathan sends immediately a message to the command center, " Fireprism! Pop -up attack! Permission to break the overwatch ."
"No. Hold the position! Do not open fire . "
" But we're the target! We are the target! " The desperate cry breaks in half, followed moments later by two heavy explosions. The battlecannon explodes , and with him his gunners, and a column of smoke gets up from the left side of the Leviathan . "Falcon troupe approaching sir! " Shouts an officer from the command center!
" OPEN FIRE! NOW! " Thunders the Jail Superintendent Hudson. The fire power of the Leviathan unleash on the incoming Falcons: three explode in mid-air, while other two stop in retreat. If anyone believed that the left front would not have been attacked, he was wrong, and many more. The Jail Superintendent Hudson, convoked his officers, abandon the Leviathan.

"I leave the warengine operative command to the second lieutenant. I can also direct the operations behind the twelfth penal detachment " , but someone heard him murmur, " I will not do the end of that crazy Cadian Voltaire." The squad sees them flee, as in a military parade. The parade of the high poppies. The Jail Superintendent Geremia "the pockmarked " Hudson and all his infamous staff, reach the top of the hill at their shoulders. Who can escape from this hell. Escapes. The fear spreads among the twelfth penal detachment. And this mean only one thing, that the eldar main attack incoming.







Lightning, the storm serpent advance rapidly approaching to the Leviathan and open fire. Although the mighty armor resists, the crew is completely in disarray, orphaned of their commander. The Leviathan fall back. The storm serpent begins to emit a melody almost sweet, delicate, while the reality all around begins to vibrate, to flicker, and time and space, suddenly, bend.



<< This retreat could be interpreted as an act of cowardice, Jail Superintendent Hudson. >>
<< Are you sure, Lieutenant Williamson? And who can swear it? The word of a thousand of these wretches not worth an imperial penny in front of mine, when "justice" will be done. And I'm the justice. >>

Around the storm serpent, unrelenting, stand out the silhouettes of the mighty wraithlord, followed by wraithguard and the guardians, commanded by the Farseer. Quickly reach the Stormhammer and the leviathan in disarray. Resistance is futile, the clash unequal. The powerful claws of wraithlords savagely destroy the Stormhammer, while the leviathan collapses on itself, under the eldar firestorm.



The retaliation of the twelfth penal detachment arrives immediately. The order is to advance, to open fire. The squad advances among his fellow penal-soldiers through the ruins of destroyed Leviathan, and soon the guardian warhost is overwhelmed by the pounding imperial firepower. Almost wiped out, the warhost runs away near Tana River in retreat.





The Eldar Autarch, in the midst of his best warriors: fire dragons and dire avengers, jump with the wave serpents on the imperial primary objective ready to play all throughout. If there will be a victory, this should be torn as soon as possible. The twelfth penal detachment and the aspect warrior warhost are in front of the other, both are the most important units on the battlefield: two mighty towers of a chessboard in a deadly game.





THIRD HOUR

-Rejoice comrades! The real battle has begun! Soon it will be our turn to spill blood! Ha-haaaarrr! Can you feel it? CAN YOU FEEL IT?! Embrace the joys of carnage!! *Everyone. Every single person in the squad just got wavered by the voice that was heard. The madman, the total-absurd psycho; Mindzero have spoken for first time, since we know him.* ~Holy Throne, that voice! Don't tell me, that thing is a human!~ *Our heart-beating fastened up, but it was not the only thing that were lumbering. In the far background, beyond the rocky hills to the left, explosions, familiar imperial gunfires and those strange whizzy sounds erupted in a constant whirlwind.*
-Stay in your position, Convict 0! *Ivan yelled at Mindzero as the freak stood up, and his eyes sweeping through the horizon for enemies. This time, everyone prayed silently for the sarge to press the button, but then... they eyecontacted. Ivan Darp was shocked, sweatingly unable to stand the gaze of Mindzero. He looked like paralyzed to press the button either. His hands were shaking rapidly, yet couldn't reach further for one sufficent centimetre.*
-If he kills the custodian dickhead, we are finished! *Haji shouted to the squad, and so we all tried to aim at Mindzero, but our arms like plummet, were too hard to move up. Meanwhile the sarge fallen to his knees, deeply suffocating from something unseen, yet powerful force.*
-Time has come for me! And you will be my first blood to offer! *Mindzero said it, with spittle coming out of his mouth.* ~Offer? To who? Is that what people gossiped with dread? Those unbelievable tales, I thought they were just for frighten children... tales of daemons and ... chaos?~
-The Devla will eat us alive! My frackin holy throne, I'm innocent! *Tyson-B started sprinting away.*
*Then I petrified with fear. Fear of oblivion, a threat of total destruction, which that freak Mindzero could cast on us. Before the second line of the company could realize what's going on and wipe out the complete squad with their sheer size volley fire, Flamzer made around the "spell" that immobilized us. Mindzero's power only denied us to directly attack him, but appearently the indirect methods were still available to carry out. Flamzer raised up his flamer and projected the burning promethium up high in a trajectory that ended upon Mindzero! In the process the catachan almost burnt himself as some drops of promethium fall on him. But he just laughed on it.*
-Heheheeee, toasted creep. *Everyone regained his mobility, also Ivan got saved from certain death as convict 0 hopelessly squirmed on the ground to put out the hellish promethium flames. Then we heard that additional explosion got attached to the background lumberings. Tyson-B was no more. Ivan didn't miss his acts, and instantly executed him.* ~What a sadist! He just escaped death and were still looking after our punishment... although that scum deserved it anyway.~
Reaper spoke out his chaffing.* -Dude, that's six left of us! And we ain't got into combat yet! It wouldn't be a problem if this mission is for money contract, but now??
-You! You... *Ivan gasping out.* wish after them? Cowards, lunatics, scum! You want to die?! If I'm dead, you are dead, that's the deal convicts! How many times do I need to repeat your circumstances and the last chance, which you seem undeserving?!
*Haji came in, with his wondrous calmness.* -Let us settle down. What happened is happened by the law of the penal legion. We are sharing fates and may only survive if for the first time, we work together, do something properly.
-Do it then! What in Holy Terra did hold you back?! *Suddenly his vox bead cracked up, and he had to push it closer to his ears to hear the news.*

*The explosions, firing were closesing. The ground trembled. The Leviathan.* -The Leviathan! *Chéffuan pointed at our command vehicle coming under heavy fire. Around them in the rocky hills, serious gunfights, combat, agony, and far cries were to be heard, but none could be seen, but only the flashes.*
-Squad! Ready yourselves, we have received new orders!
~God Emperor, please not overthere!~
-Our new order is clear and straight. Advance to the rocky hills, repel the xeno assailants and secure the position. Before you pee in your tatters, this will be combined ~meaning: large amount of lowly armed will be deployed, just like us.~ forces operation. Now go, move out!

*The squad attends for readying. Haji changes his boots. Reaper loots out the frag grenade from Tyson-B's headless bloodied corpse and binds it to his own. Flamzer verifies his flamer and short sword.
Chéffuan is looking at the others trying to hide his confusion on what he really should do and just copies. Bettina verifies her stub revolver as a secondary surprise.
Me, I just unlocked the guard on my lasgun with the one clip loaded. Face burnt and thirsty, I couldn't think of any special. However my thoughts were filled with blood. Kullchayr, my friend is gone, the squad is dying and we will probably get killed in the rocky hills. Third hour is our last one.* ~What can I do? I really, really am close to turn around and shoot that bitch! At least that would be something right to do now.~

*Krrrrrrrrrr. The engines roared up. We enclosed to our Leman Russ and the company began it's advance to the left. On the move the cannons exchanged fires with the enemy. Some hited very close to us, but we managed to keep on. The plasteel armour protected us, although it couldn't do anything with the slopes. My legs started aching again. I saw the flashing of lascannon from our tank pairing up with others. Then, like furied wardogs, the heavy bolters crackled up barking. We were reaching the smoking ruins of the once mighty Leviathan, and also passing by the freshly charred bodies around.
Hostile small arms shots appeared. Glanced away from our tank in front. Tyffff, tyfff, tyfff. Reaper, Bettina and Chéffuan frieghtenedly shooted back to the source of the shots (behind some greater rock) but without any significant achievement.
We kept going. We completely ensconced behind the tank. The rock was 50 metre away. Ivan "bravely" jump packed back to the second line. The squad is now on it's own, ready to engage.*
-40 metres! *Flamzer shouted.*
-Get ready for grenade-melee! *Haji tried to organize a close assault.*
-30 metres! *Flamzer shouted. The battle cannon whammed at a target unseen to us but more further behind the rock. It's large smoke and earring it caused, completely disoriented us. We moved by instict. Forward. Forward. Ever onward.*
-20 metres! -Frag out! *Haji screamed. Chéffuan and Reaper threw his frag to both sides of the rock.
After the detonation of grenades, we uneasily charged forward to attack the hidden enemy.*
-Waaaarrrhhhhh! ~I don't know wheter I heard or just felt the squads warcry, as the battlesounds, gunshots and explosions were ear-splitting.~

*We found no one behind the rock in the meantime.
But far away we saw the withrawing enemy.
Eldar. They must be them though I have never seen one before. Blue armor, yellow helmets, fancy stuff, a banner, crystals, and orange glowing weapons. They weren't many at all. While we had like approx 500-600 infantry and tons of vehicles, they only had 3 walkers, which looked like oversized sentinels with lots of gear, and they merely had 30-40 infantry.*
-Keep shooting! *Haji screamed, and strangely the squad with the whole company acted as a cohesion. The heat of battle forged us, and kept bursting. Tyfff, Tyfff, blamm, blammm, whizzz, whizzz. Despite hastely retreating to a large block of building, the xenos did it with disciplined tactical move. One half were moving, while the other half kept shooting, then they changed the roles periodicly, with perfect rhytm.*
-We will wipe them out! Damn xenos won't escape! *Chéffuan managed to shout through the noise in his jubilation.*
-Super-Heavy! Get down! *A large yellow wafting Eldar tank with two huge orange cannons and extra gun mount, swayed in from the far right of us. That thing was large like a baneblade, and it just "parked down" in front of us!*
-There is no cover! It's over!
*Flames and smoke rise up metres before the squad, partially obscuring it from the super-heavy as we all proned down like if we were stomped into the rock. In theory, we were.*

*Then the devastating volley arrived. The Eldar Super-Heavy busted out some hellhounds, and wrecked or damaged some leman russes. Small rocks hited me everywhere as the ground was scratched up by the mounted gun long bursts. The promethium flames and smoke which popped up just metre in front of us miracoulisly covered well! Although it was very hot again, I was sweating but who cares when one just escaped from the jaws of hell! I was smiling.* -Flamzer! Hahaaa, you Marboing catachan! Buddy, you pulled us out from deep shit! HahaAA!!
*Our heavy weapons support platoons, combined with hydras and the rest of the russes, focused on the Eldar super-heavy and marginally damaged it, despite that many shots simply got richocheted from it's reflective mirror like armor.
I hated them as enemy, but also respected their acts. The super-heavy intervention allowed the rest of their kin to finish withdrawing from the open ground, and blur into the building they occupied. Yet, the battle tolled them as well as our ranks. I stood up with emptied lasgun (actually I didn't realize that from half the battle I was just pulling the trigger without firing any shots. Only "ticking" the gun.) and soon, dizzines strike at me, as the exaggerated situtaion, the heartpumping, exhausted me, especially my legs.
But some of us remained at the ground. Chéffuan, Reaper and...* -Machariis beard!
*Haji were down too!
~And I thought you would make it old tallarn buddy. The Emperor will forever remember your name, whatever it is in your language, Haji.~
*Three left; me, Bettina, Flamzer. And surprise, surprise. Custodian, Sergeant Ivan Darp appeared without any bruises from the rocky ground, scar or dirt. I guess he didn't even needed to fire his weapon as the second line wasn't directly engaged. They were out of small arms range most of the time, if not the whole.*
-Excellent convicts, the position is secured and the enemy is withdrawing. Now re-arm and regroup, the day is not over, yet.
*For some reason I couldn't release my knuckled hands, while looking for attainable las clips.
I'm sure no one would miss him, but I just couldn't do it. Not yet.*

ARMY STATUS END TURN 2: download

TURN 2. end turn.
Penal Legion: 0
Eldar army: 2 (blitzkrieg, defend the flag)

Edited by Radgraglio - 14/4/2021, 13:23

TURN 3
Initiative: Eldar

I am the Arch-fiend, the Despoiler of Worlds, and by my hands shall the false Emperor fall.

- Abbadon the Despoiler

<< My priestssssssh, pray IT deeply. Wake up them from their deep sssshhhh.... ssssleep, blesssssshh shhh... them. My worssssssshipped: Giant Walker Godsssss. We go into a sssshhhhh... ssshhh... state of alert. Held ready for action in the utmost ssssshhhhh.....ssssssecrecy. There wassssss.... an era...>>
Great blacksmith An-te-hai Tung of Adeptus Mechanicus







OST - John Carpenter - Christine soundtrack - Extended




codAbeldAuro-repX2963-K001L-KL0X +218: OPERATOR Cod.69463.345.001 - Transmission open.
codAbeldAuro-repX2963-K001L-KL0X +219: Lord Zardok. There is a noise on the signal from Solanum battlefield, it isn't due Eldar's EMP attack, but of unknown origin.
codAbeldAuro-repX2963-K001L-KL0X +220: OPERATOR Cod.69463.345.001 - Transmission closed



On the left imperial side the penal legion returns to the attack in a sequence of clashes with the eldar. A jetbike squadron move quickly against a penal guard assault squad on warbike, followed by a second jetbike squadron, that sweeps them away in a fierce firefight, consolidating thier position in the adjacent forest. What Remains of the twenty-second penal legion det. opens up a return fire, destroying some of the elusive jetbike.





The seventh penal detachment, a column of prisoners with only a hydra tank in the middle, march quickly inside the forest, contesting the primary eldar's objective. The chain of command has been broken, and now the imperial detachments proceed according to the original plan, when they don't follow the pure survival instinct. The arrival of the troops doesn't pass unnoticed, and the Eldar tend them a fierce ambush in the forest. The warhost of guardians approaches with their wave serpents near the forest, while the shining spears assault in a ferocious close combat the prisoner-soldiers. The carnage is immense, dozens of prisoners fall like insects. The bodies are stacked on each other, and finally, those few survivors, withdraw beyond the forest. However, their sacrifice, blocked the eldar's forces still beyond Tana River.





However, the heart of the battle is on the left side. The twelfth penal detachment quickly tries to reassemble the ranks, but the enemy is behind them. Quick as a thief in the night, the aspect warriors warhost commanded by the autarch assault, the squad is just beyond the first line. The exchange of fire is terrible: two wave serpents and a dozen firedragons fall killed, but the losses in the imperial ranks are much higher, and soon the battle turns to a ghastly escape. Those who aren't overwhelmed by the enemy, are murdered by their superiors. An horrible escape, made even more excruciating by the dastardly fire of the falcons troupe, which quickly advance consolidating the eldar's victory. The detachment is almost annihilated, the tanks retreat, when in the sky whizzing three nightwing fighters, again, causing even more carnage and destruction in a detachment now in disarray.









All detachments on the battlefield that were at the scene, however, abandon the original plan and run to save the day. A first assault of the penal guards on jump pack turns into a massacre, but the second platoon destroys the storm serpent, regaining ground. The penal detachment with a tactical march quickly arrive near the bridge. The eldar's victory is hanging by a thread. The fire prism troupe hovering in the sky, ready to fly around the imperial objectives, cutting definitely the way of imperial reinforcements. But as he gets up in the sky, early returns on its positions, perhaps confused by recent developments on the left imperial front. Fast, with a rush inhuman, the last penal guard assault platoon on warbike march on their objectives, covering the twelfth The penal detachment, which with incredible courage, regroup and come back, ready for fight again.













On the left imperial front, the last penal guard assault detachment on jump pack fly contesting the eldar objective on their bridge.



Almost all imperial detachments regroup for the last extreme resistance, while many eldars formations don't stop their retreat. Suddenly, from the front, arrive the news: The Eldar don't advance beyond Tana River, while those eldar's formations who had attempted the blitz withdraw on their previous positions. An anonymous voice exclaims on vox device: "we stopped them!" The penal legion, reached by their auxiliaries in the rear, recompose their detachments taking position on the imperial side of Tana River. After a few hours the hostilities begin again, but for both sides another invasion is impossible, and start a slow and exhausting battle of dozens of skirmishes along the border.





<< Let advance our HQ tank chimera, bring me back on the battlefield. I want to savor my "victory" >>
<< Yes sir Hudson! >>

FINAL HOUR

-Squad! Take your positions. Assault imminent! *Ivan Darp voiced out the orders that we didn't know no longer come from high command, but the doctrine of the penal detachments deployed; must be spent.* ~Hell our numbers aren't even sufficient for a squad damn it! Only Me, Flamzer, and Bettina are left. All exhausted from the recent engagement, thirst for water... ammunition was spent already altough there were many corpses to reclaim some more. Flamzer was nervous as he ran out of promethium and had to change to a lasgun instead.~
-Bad omen fellas. Bad omen.
~Bettina... strange, despite the blind luck (and some effort) of how we survived up to this point, she were
quite ablaze! The flames of war around her? No. It's not plain bloodthirst, but what then? Avenge? I found out earlier that she had some "deal" with the Eldar, and it seems she takes pride killing them. If this will be the extra punch we need to win, then it's fine I guess...
Fine I said? Heh, there is nothing fine here at all as I'm not here by volunteering, not here for this bloodshed either. I just want to get out, no matter what. I would be ashamed but if that means I shouldn't kill Ivan then let it be... just let me out of here alive!!~
*The entire company prepared for another close engagement. This time, they were the one being attacked. Again the grating cannonshots, the drumming heavy bolters, echoed with whizzing sounds. The xenos advanced with strange although floating fish-like tanks. Most of the shots got richocheted from their armour, but more of the time, they missed altogether. And thus the Eldar danced closer to the hills, and their warriors (few in numbers) hopped out of their vehicles.*
-Shoot them! Kill them! *Volleys of lasfire tyfffd against the enemy. Only one Eldar warrior fell to the ground.* ~Did we all miss the rest? They're fracking fast!~ *Their counter-fire was devastating. Waves of shurikens, crystal needles, or some undefineable fires sliced through our complete lines. One of the shurikens cut into Flamzers arm deeply wounding and bleeding him. A crystal needle shot pierced through Ivan's flak armour, and flesh, and exited from his back armour with ease. I made some unaimed shots therefore early leaned back to cover of rock which protected me. I can't see Bettina.*
-Ejj...ejj buddy... Mich... *Flamzer crawled over, he looked terrible. That wound was a lot more deep than I saw first.*
-Flamzer hold on! You are bleeding seriously! Let me bandage it.
-Ahh...nah... I'm finished... we all finished here, you know it. *I actually had to lean very close, my ears touching his mouth as the battle raged on trembling the hills.* Here, I saved this. *He showed a krak grenade.* Ooohhuhh... okay... Mich... you cover me... and I'll go for it. *For a moment we exchanged eyecontact. He accepted his fate and face it more courageously then this entire regiment of prison scum, me included. He was not the same bigtalking chap I thought earlier, but a hero! Flamzer were a hero to me and I sadly bare the thought that I'm going to assist losing him.*
-Okay, ready. *I helped up Flamzer, then when he nodded I leaned out of cover began shooting and he ranning forward to an Eldar tank.*
-Whaaaaaarrrrhhh!! *Shurikens butchered Flamzer on the run, metres before he could do any harm. One of those edged disc went straight to me and hitted my eye, cutting it out!*
-Damn! Arrrhhhh! *I was shocked by the pain and fell back to the cover, sitting behind it's temporarily safe, while the massacre went on. Hundreds killed. Tanks blew up. The company was beaten and ran in panick. If they somehow evaded the Eldar advance, they were executed by the remaining of the custodians.*

*I had no idea how the front was. Even our battle were chaotic and were still on. Everything was exploding, and my face full of blood, I couldn't see much. I was screaming in pain and panick. I was totally sure that this is going to be my final hour.
Someone appeared next to me, quite close! As terrified as one can be, I looked up to him. I can't tell how joyous that it was a she! Bettina. She were wounded but not seriously.*
-Get yourself together. This is not over, until we see them dead! *She picked up my lasgun and handed it to me (I can't even remember when did I drop it...).*
-You maad?! It's over! *She slapped me.*
-No! Reinforcements arrived! The xenos are drawing back! And they shall not escape! Come with me or I'll shoot you right now!
*How, or why, but I stood up.*
Cover me! *We went around the rockhills, as the firefight seemed to enter there, where the company was earlier.* ~the xenos passed over me not even noticing?~ *However, with more forces joining, the imperial penal legion held out it's positions, the battle was ceasing down. I didn't have the slightiest idea of how many forces remained also where the rest manouvrered around the hills. Seemed completely chaotic, bodies everywhere, mostly human but there were some Eldar aswell. Bettina made a shot into each xeno corpse we went by. We were closing to the remaining of the infantry firefight. The vehicles probably moved out. Suddenly a wounded Eldar warrior appeared from behind a rock. He saw Bettina targeting one of his kin. She was grounded by the shots, yet she was reaching for her stub revolver. The xeno warrior shot her
again finishing her, instead of attacking me as I was there wielding a gun too, however not moving at all... just watching.*
~Does he know I'm not willing to fight anymore?!~
*My hands were still gripping the lasgun, yet not moving it, not aiming it to the "enemy". Actually the Eldar warrior dropped to the ground. He was more injured than looked like, but still alive.*
-Con...Conv!!!... 29!! *I turned back quickly*
~Holy Throne it can't be he survived this long!~ *I saw our custodian, Sergeant Ivan Darp crawling closer, lying in the dirt in his blood. In his hands the device... functioning. He no longer had the strenght to either stand or shoot, but I couldn't risk that wheter he can still push the button!*
-Kill...the enemy! It is your order! Ahhrg *gasp* ... last warning! Last chance! *The pain in my head was still echoing. The engagement seemed over, with each forces withdrawing into it's position, altough I still heard far away gunshots, explosions.
I nodded to him and turned again, back to the alien foe of the Imperium.*

~And? What's next? Everyone is dead and I will be assigned to another squad and this shit hell will repeat over and over again until I die. I already lost my eye, my family, my dignity... everything! I even lost the last chance! Damn it was
the first thing gone long before we were forced into penal legion. We were fools to believe it at all, damn! They knew it. Ivan knew it! And he just kept laughing in our dirty, bloodied face.
No more!~
*I whispered it* -God Emperor. Judge my actions and I accept it. *I ticked my lasgun to overcharge shot mode, then made a long sough, which was followed by outbursting, outrageusly quick took of breath. I did not care the Eldar anymore. The world was nothing for me and now, within the next hastened heartbeats, the following were to be heard, seen and felt;

The rubbing of my boots on the rocks...

Ivan's grim and dirty face changes into snarl...

My face turned out to be snarling aswell...

The one healthy eye quickly looked for it's final prey...

A faint clicking of the button of the device...

My moan of pain, raising my lasgun...

The rapid inward explosion of the collar!...

The heat around my neck! Everything gone blackened, from this exact point I acted kind of "remotely" or don't know...

My arms insistenced to hold the lasgun, and I managed to pull the trigger...

Tyfffff. The lasfire pierced out from my weapon against Ivan...

Sergeant Ivan Darp's face got melted, his brain boiled...

Two bobs as my two knees touched the rocky ground...

Before my body collapsed completely, I enjoyed freedom. Not by existing for a few seconds more, but by honouring my comrades.
~Slaying Ivan, I avenged them and this honour freed my soul...~



ARMY STATUS END TURN 3: download

TURN 3. end turn.
Penal Legion: 0
Eldar army: 0

IMPERIAL AND ELDAR PLAYER DECLARE: DRAW
DRAW

<< I congratulate you, Jail Superintendent Hudson. You've stopped them. It's your decision to grant clemency to those who have distinguished themselves in a particular way during this battle. For them, when the war will be over, there will be freedom. Your courage, Jail Superintendent, is an example to all. >>
Earl William J. Zardok. Earl of Abeldar.

Next scenario: The thin steel line

Edited by Radgraglio - 14/4/2021, 13:23