The Fall of “Out”.

[Catachan Colonel]

Jun 13, 2008 9:29:20 GMT -5 Garou24 said:

Synapse pulses entered the Hydralisk's mind.

It awoke from its slumber, in stasis for eons in a cold underground lair beneath the surface of Out. Shifting its great bulk it slithered up to its full height. Built like its smaller ravaner brood-lings but standing taller than a hive tyrant, its full head armor barely missed the ceiling of the cave. More synapse pulses transmitted their message to the Hydralisk. Not orders per say, more of an urging. Driving the Hydralisk's instincts toward the goal of the Hive Mind. The Hive fleet was approaching, on course toward the planet Out. The instincts directed the Hydralisk to raise its brood and be ready. When some of the fleet would descend on the planet to collect its biomass, the Hydralisk would be ready to partake in the eradication....

I only questioned the eons part.
Perhapse Garou24 Could Flush out the back story of the beast. If it is from a long lost vanguard fleet from ages past that means Out is a death world (results of stage 1 Tyranid infestation) And like the Catachan devil the beast is likely a legendary creature among the Out Citizens. Likely a Guard veteran squad the "Fighting Hydralisks" has been named after it.

If it is a lone creature that was not part of a vangaurd fleet what has it been doing what legends have sprung up from its original entrance to Out? Do the lictors and gene stealers (cults?) which preceed a fleet know about it?

Either way back to the story...

[Iron Warrior]

After the initial boarding the 6 Fire teams and 2 dreadnoughts formed a Point Defense to fend of the first Xenos responders to their invasion of the Leviathan Hive ship. Storm Bolter and Assault cannon fire dwindled away at these minor threats, but now the Hive mind knows the exact location of the intruders.

Opening a Vox to all units, Garithos begins to speak. "I want 3 teams to make their way to the Hive nodes and secure the area around the nodes, once we have them we will attach the Melta Bombs to the nodes and make out way back to the Point Defense perimeter. Purge them in Flame, Crusaders...Garithos out."

With the Grand Crusaders order 3 teams were dispatched to fight through the waiting mass of bio engineered warriors of Hive fleet Soleman. The insides of this ship were damp, warm and chitinous. Tunnels in all directions, some huge, larger than a marine in tactical dreadnought armor some smaller than a guardsmen. Probably access tunnels for smaller species.

Team 1, consisting of the Ancient Dreadnought and Terminator Squads 2 and 3 went after the hive node most heavily defended. Several different species fell to the unforgiving massed fire of the Crusaders, experts at annihilating Xenos. After the last Tyranid Warrior fell, thus killing all synapse in the area there was no resistance in capturing the Hive node. They secured their melta bombs to the Node and made haste for the point defense perimeter.

Team 2 consisted of Terminator squads 5 and 6 and another Ancient Dreadnought. Although running into the fewest amount of bugs they made contact with the Tyrant and its guard. However their Power fists made short work of the killing machine, but not with out taking some casualties from the monster. Carnifexes fell to Lascannon and massed assault cannon fire. Storm bolters seemed to ricochet of the armored hide of the great beast. Once the 2nd hive node was secured, they placed their melta bombs on the node and quickly returned to the Point defense perimeter.

Team 3 Consisted of Garithos himself and his retinue of close combat assault Terminators with lighting claws. Also with him was Master Archivist Antinidas and a team of Thunder Hammer terminators. Their fight was the fiercest having to go through swarms of rippers, followed by hormaguants with scything talons and Engineered warriors whose claws could rend even terminator armor. They were able to beat back the masses but at a great loss. Wounded himself Garithos stumbled back to the wall for support and called in to team 2 which was nearby needing their support to finish off the warriors and Gaunts, time was running out. The hive mind would be sending an innumerable amount of more warriors their way soon. The node needed to be taken and destroyed. With sheer determination and combined fire power and tactical mastery the Terminators form team 2 were able to push back and destroy the gaunts and warriors and their pursuit took them right into the node chamber. With the melta bombs secured and in place they and Garithos left to return to the Perimeter Defense.

On the way back to the defense perimeter Garithos signaled for the thunder hawks to return for evacuation, the responded in due time. Arriving in the same coordinates as previously recorded my the Master Archivist, for quick and least defend-able by the hive fleet. Terminators and Dreadnoughts began to Vanish into thin air teleporting back to the Thunder hawks. With the last team safely aboard. Anitnidas detonated the meltabombs which tore flaming holes into the side of the Leviathan ship. The ship was massive, larger than a battle barge. The 3 explosions looked minute against the gigantic ship but they made the difference. With those key hive nodes taken out, most of the synaptic waves will be interrupted and the fleet will seem silent until replacements could be engineered. This should buy the imperial on "Out" some time to prepare a defense and organize their forces. The Scarlet Crusaders left the fleet in dissarray....returning to their flag ship "The Righteous Flame"

[Iron Warrior]

The Colonel focused his enhanced monicle onto the documents laid out before him with a somber expresion on his aged stone like face. His grey eyes dart back and forth surveying the numbers and calculations. He runs his hand through his hair slicked back, black with greying patchs from age and stress. His uniform is a black over coak with the same color pants and jacket. The medals upon his left chest show years of service and battles won. His shoulders show his rank and office. This was a man of experience and knowledge.

He glanced up at the other man in the room across from him at the table towerinng above him. This giant of a man wore mark 4 Power armor of blue and bore the symbol of the Ultra Marines chapter. He had his helmet off, his head was shaved bald and four silver studs were buried into his head as a sign of Veteranship. His armor was pristine, clean and polished. The markings and colors of the 3rd Company.

The Colonel spoke in a thick Germanian accent, "Captain, if 'Zese calculation are correct then 'Ve 'vill run out of supplies in 3 months time. Our Casulties...or Rather Stiegers and Greyburns casualties are outstanding. 'Zey vill run out of men in a matter of 'veeks, I regret to infrom you 'zhat I do not have 'ze supplies to assist 'zhem. 'Zhey are on 'zhere own."

The Captian of the Ultra Marines looks rather stern at the Colonel and speaks deeply and with a tone of ire. "Colonel Hildebrant, your men are doing a fine job of defending the eastern sector of this hive, however if Greyburn and Stieger fall, your quadrant will be in danger of falling as well. Your duty is to the emporer and to Humanity even if it means your....."

"'yah, 'yah", Interupted the Colonel, "I know of duty and honor captian, but I vill not sacrifice my men because of 'Zhe incompetence of other officers. I intead to fight "Ze Xeno head on, and 'Ze Rieksguard will fight to 'ze bitter end but 've 'vill not fight under such incompetent leadership. Forgive me Captian Fabian if I sound Harsh, But I too know of 'Zhose two histories on Nissin. "

Captain Fabian raises his left eyebrow up in agrivation of being interupted but realizes it will do little good to confront the colonel on his manners at this time. "Very well Colonel, I would then like to ask you on the status of Project ASP. Is it ready to be deployed?"

Colonel Hildebrant puts the papers in his hands down and stands up. He fixes his jacket and over coat before speaking. "Captain, ASP is a hoax. It is not real, it vas ment for psycological varfare. You know 'zhat if strong feign veakness and if veak feign strength. We let 'zhe so call Top Secret information leak to others so zhat 'zhey enemy would catch wind of 'zhe false information and think twice before attacking. It seems zhat it worked fairly vell.. 2 Splinter Fleets have broken off and headed for a veaker target zhat is one day out from here. Zhat planet is of no concern to us. Ve now stand a chance of turning zhis fight around." The Colonel walks over to the Captain and looks up into the Captains eyes. "You do see zhe importance of zhis tactic, yes?"

The Captain looks down at the Colonel, his frustration rising with the Colonel. If it were not for the desperate situation and the leadership and experience he brings to the battlefield he would arrest the Colonel on the spot and summarily execute him. Unfortunatly it is not the time nor the place for it.

"Forgive my deception Captain, Zhe Rieksguard have zhere methods zhough some do not agree with our ways. I do hope you did not put too much stock in Project ASP. Now, to zhe task at hand, I vould recomend we move vhats left of Greyburn and Stieger forces into our quadrents so ve may consolidate our forces more appropiately. I also hear zhat we have new arrivals..." The Colonel swallows hard and looks away from the Captain and walks away while speaking to him " It so seems Zhe Space Volvles and zhe Grey Knights have become involved. I vould expect you to shepard zhem into our fighting formations, yes? You have...hmmm....more in common with zhem zhan I do. And I am sure you are vell aware of my dipostion vith your kind, vith all due respect, Captain Fabian, ve are allies after all." The Colonel half grins at the captain as he turns around.