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Posts: 828
Aug 5 12 5:26 AM
Super Power For the Empire! Mechanical Pimp
The Federation was seen in the Imperium as a quiet, mostly harmless neighbor, especially after the Core wars. Seemingly borderline paranoid, it was believed the burden of insecurity that seemed to be prevalent everywhere in the Federation would prevent them from doing anything rash or daring. The Imperials often emphasize the qualities that they consider weak in their neighbors in an effort of lifting themselves up. Thus, while the Imperium believes in ambition and strenght, the Federation was seen as a people with softer qualities. Equality, direct democracy and other things which didn't fit the Imperial psyche and as such was considered weak. And now, as the hordes of Wild Space drew closer, the Federation was so preoccupied with them that most daring generals of the Imperium suggested a flanking attack against this old enemy in an effort of gaining a better position for the future. Even the thought of the Federation planning something similar was met with ridicule.
They were wrong, as it would soon seem. The soft humanists of the Federation would soon be changed into calculating ideological fanatics in the minds of the Imperials. It was not the Federation that was soft. It was the Imperial people. This decadent society had, over the years in the past, grown used to the fact that they are the Imperium Galactica. In the exact meaning of the words, holding supreme power over the entire galaxy. That was perhaps the case a century or more ago. Now however, of that power, only arrogance and blind belief was left.
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Scanning station Delta-Ultima-Six-Five-Niner
Orbiting the frontier world of Claustrum, the scanning station was tasked with monitoring space traffic in the system of the same name and its vicinity. The planet itself was moderately populated, with about 4 billion people, it contained both urban and rural areas. Most of the population wasn't from the Aresian gene pool and were in fact subjects of the Imperium, without the full rights of an Imperial citizen. As was common with any moderately sized planet in the Imperium, the planet held a strong Aresian minority, consisting of government officials, immigrants of various backgrounds, soldiers and retired soldiers who have been granted estates here. Planetary garrison held an appropriate number of legions supported by a much larger amount of auxiliaries. As was the norm, the planet's auxiliaries came from another side of the Imperium and the troops recruited from the planet itself were serving where these eastern men came from.
As for the orbital defences, a token defensive perimeter was present, consisting of the usual orbital defences one would find around such frontier world. Missile stations, railgun stations, even a few pulsar arrays, all were in reasonably pristine conditions due to the frontier location. Many of the inner Imperial worlds have seen some of their orbital defences neglected due to the lack of possible threats. The Navy itself around the planet was a skeleton compliment of ships. The brunt of the Imperial Navy was pinned in patrol duties or combat with the forces of Wild Space. Nevertheless, the largest ships around the planet were two Battleships.
''Navarchon Terentia, is the Navy making large maneuvers in the vicinity. I'm seeing a lot of our traffic.'' an officer of the station adressed his superior in station's control center.
''We haven't been informed. But I suppose it's the Navy's standard policy to keep us in the dark, again.'' said superior.
''Just ignore them.''
Indeed they did. Until the comms traffic could be heard and both of them concluded that it was definitely not Aresian. But then it was already too late. The Federation's navy was within firing range and the station was destroyed. The other battleship had been docked and undergoing maintenance so it was destroyed before it could properly leave the docking station. The other one and the rest of the fleet offered resistance although the Federal ships were making the most out of their element of surprise. Much of their dismay, the Imperial vessels noticed that the Federal ships were mimicking Imperial recognition signatures so targeting was forced to be done manually until the recognition signatures were switched to new ones. What the captains had time to conclude was that they were victims of a sabotage. Most of the ships were destroyed and the rest retreated to hyperspace, leaving only the defence stations between the planet and the invading fleet.
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Planetside
Federal troops were landing all around one of the urban centers on the planet. Lupus Gate it was called, named after the planet's original spaceport. Alarm sirens were ringing and the sky was filling with flak as both anti-air railgun artillery and missile defences responded against the invaders. Farther away, silos could be seen loosing their heavy anti-ship missiles at the skies, aimed at the orbiting ships. Sounds which sounded like thunder indicated that somewhere heavy railgun batteries were also firing against the orbit.
Lupus Gate spaceport was one of the prime targets of the invading force as it would allow further troop deployment into the city. The enemy had got a head start, but the legion positioned nearby was quick to wake and troops were on their way to the spaceport only a while after reports of initial drop troops there were received.
Multiple mech convoys headed there. First one to arrive belonged to the legion's first cohort. The forward elements were under a shield bubble provided by a shield mech behind them. Anti-air mechs were constantly loosing missiles against enemy aircraft and sometimes even used their railguns to turn descending grav chute infantry into bloody mess.
As the civilians had been fleeing the spaceport in panic, multiple hovercars were scattered across the wide avenues. the mechs simply stomped over them or cleared larger obstacles with the large plasma cutters the sapper mechs were equipped with. Even if taking back the spaceport would fail, they intended to make its use by the enemy as hard as possible. Therefore the enemy had been facing a constant artillery barrage for the moment the initial forces landed. With the range provided by the Imperial artillery railguns, the spaceport could be reached from the legion's base.
Nearing it, the enemy had taken position behind a few downed columns and other things, efectively making themselves a good barricade. The sudden appearance of a Vesuvius-class Sapper from behind a corner stirred up their activity. Particle beams fired and at least one missile was shot down by the mech's active defences. Then the mech opened fire, a shot from the plasma mortar made a hole in the barricade, vaporizing anyone within the blast radius. The enemy was diverting more men to the point of engagement and the legion expected to meet the enemy's tanks soon. Any advantage they might have in speed would largely be negated by the urban environment, making them easier prey for the slow mechs.
Interact
Posts: 820
Aug 5 12 6:42 AM
Resident CommieSuper Power
Aug 8 12 7:00 AM
The battle raged on as more and more Federal reinforcements continued to pour in. As the terror bombing began, most Imperial elements were located at the outskirts of the city, with some individual units like 1355th Legion inside the city. Heavy anti-air theoretically had the entire city covered due to the range of the missiles. The enemy was however numerous and more than eager to silence any batteries that threatened their operations. The air units assigned to the city were seemingly not enough and for every Imperial fighter ace, there seemed to be at least three bogeys, sometimes even more. Therefore, the terror bombing took a terrible toll on the city, even though the bombers suffered casualties too. Buildings were smashed by the thermobarics and although Imperial architecture favors sturdy designs, that was hardly enough. Anyone not wearing power armor and caught within the blast wave of one of the bombs was promptly disintegrated. Hundreds of thousands died within the hour. Legionaries fared better due to their power armor and heavy equipment, although a direct hit from the aforementioned weapons would leave nothing standing. As the parts of the city burned, legionaries took positions in the rubble, determined to throw everything they've got at the invaders.
The Federation's aerial effort to silence Imperial artillery near and within the base of the 1355th Legion didn't go so well. As enemy aircraft approached the carefully planned kill zones of anti air artillery and missiles, they were mercilessly cut down. Enemy numbers did mean that they eventually gained some success too, although casualties for them were severe. The sudden appearance of the sky ship did put the base's shield to a real test. The somewhat daring deployment of a skyship over a contested zone posed a danger for the vessel. Many of the missile silos around the city and in the base switched their targeting to this more imminent threat and the skyship was soon met with barrages of anti-ship missiles. It's mighty guns succeeded in bringing down the base's shield and most of the artillery positions. Even those guns wouldn't however have enough range to reach some of the missile silos farther away, thus the enemy would have to find another way to silence them
___________________________________________________________________________
''Allright, get 'em out of here.'' said Balshazzar to the comm. Another hovertruck filled with civies started heading south. All the main roads were filled with refugees from the city while multiple legions and auxiliaries advanced to the other direction. The hovertruck was the last of them, at least for a while. He was rounding up civilians in an upper class neighbourhood, judging by the houses and hovercars they left behind. Imperial citizens mostly, both local and with Aresian ethnicity. He hoped one day to live in a similar neighbourhood. A job in his cousin's company after gaining his citizenship would have guaranteed him and his family a steady income. Now things were taking turns to the unknown. He wasn't sure anymore if he'd return to Edessa alive.
Fighter jets battled in the area above them and thunder coming from guns echoed from the distance. That thunder would reach where he was standing in a matter of hours. Even then they had had to occasionally dispose of stray patrols of the Federation's gravatroopers, as their grav chute toting enemies were called. No mercy had been shown. A life for a life. A life for one hundred in this case.
Looking back at the distressed faces of the refugees, he could only feel their pain and suffering. He couldn't help but to think about his family on Edessa, other side of the Imperium. The fathers and sons of many of the refugees here were there, on Edessa, serving as auxiliaries. It was commonplace to post the auxiliaries away from their home planets in order to prevent local revolts. He hoped by Soturi* and their ancestors that the auxiliaries of Claustrum would have their revenge some day.
*A god of war revered in some easternmost worlds of the Imperium.
____________________________________________________________
The Legate was dead, the base in ruins, what remained of the 1355th Legion was holed up in the bunkers and tunnels under the base or fighting in pockets of resistance inside the still burning city. The elder tribune of the command cohort was now in charge and he had given the final orders for his men still inside the city. The enemy forces had finally crushed the base and its defences, leaving nothing behind but rubble. What they didn't know was that the base extended underground. In these bunkers, the newly appointed legate was giving orders. The operational strenght of the legion's elements at the base was less than one cohort, in the city, unknown.
''We'll head out and try to link up with the rest of the Imperial elements in vicinity. There are tunnels leading out of the base. Grab whatever weapons and equipment you find in our caches and group for departure at the main exit. We'll be taking mechs and scuttling whatever we have to leave behind.'' he said and glanced at the legion's signifer.
''Protect the eagle, at all costs.''
______________________________________________________________
Crenius had never seen a walker up close. Parades were commonplace of course, but now the beast was right next to him. And a huge beast it was, a Vesuvius-class walker stood tall. Firing another round from its main cannon and destroying a hovertank, he realized the gun itself was longer than the communist hovertanks coming at them.
Just one month ago he had graduated from the vigiles academy in the city. Always having dreamt of joining the law enforcement, he was put to service on the streets of his home, Lupus gate. The police force accepted subjects so his lack of a citizenship was no problem when looking for an honorable posting in the vigiles. Protecting the people had just been made a lot harder and he never expected to have been holding one of remaining pockets of resistance with actual legionaries. Armed with, instead of the usual sidearm, an assault rifle from a dead auxiliary soldier.
They were holding the square next to the Governor's palace. They were down to a few mechs for heavy equipment, but the palace held a moderately powerful shield generator, which had gotten them this far. A small building compared to the Imperial palace, it was still probably biggest around here, excluding the few arcologies located on the planet.
The mech fired another few shots, until it was finally caught by an aerial assault of a Federal fighter wing.
His comm crackled again. It was the tribune who was leading the defence for the Imperial forces. Ordering them to fall back to the palace he was now giving the rag tag force of local law enforcement a choice. Either fall back with them or surrender.
''The Imperium will remember your service regardless of your choice. You have done this far more that anyone has ever asked you. I salute you for that. As for me and my men, we will fight until the end. The choice is now up to you.''
Crenius was crouching behind a cover, looking at his rifle. Men like the one on the comm had probably come here long ago, claiming this planet for the Imperium. Now other men were coming, determined to spread their fould ideology and smear it all over the planet. As he concluded his train of thought, it was their fight, not his. For now, he would stay in the sidelines and let the genetically engineered, armor clad supermen do the fighting, he was just wearing an uniform and a beam jacket.
Ripping the sleeve from the shirt under his uniform, he used it to make a makeshift white flag. Other men did the same. Rising slowly from their cover, they hoped the enemy wouldn't shoot. Meanwhile, the legionaries used this short hiatus to make their tactical retreat to where they'd make their last stand.
_________________________________________________________________________
The reaction back on Aresia was confused. No-one believed the communist scum would have attacked and all seemed unreal. A few of the ordinary people paid much attention to it. Some conflict in the provinces, legions would be sent there as per usual and they would handle it. As. Per. Usual.
The emperor ordered forces to be diverted from other fronts and the Eastern Imperium for a counterattack. The Federation was expected to consolidate their claims now that they had crushingly won the first space battles thanks to clever espionage and sabotage. As the advantage in space was Imperium's in normal conditions, the navy was ordered to start countermeasures. They began preparing a counterattack and deep space fleets of light ships were sent to penetrate deep within the enemy territory. Working long durations, they would attack enemy soft targets, supply lines and etc. as the Imperium usually did to weaken an enemy in the war.
The Imperial leadership was determined to take back the contested worlds.
Aug 8 12 8:28 AM
Aug 12 12 6:45 AM
Not knowing exactly what the Federation was doing, the Imperial leadership decided to launch a counterattack. The information gained from private individuals and resistance movements on the planet was sketchy at best. Therefore, troops were diverted from the eastern frontier and from the frontier against the Order for two counterattacks, against both flanks of the Federal front. The latter consisted of veterans who previously fought the Order and the former consisted of legions from the east. The goal was to stop the Federal advance. The Imperial army was already stretched too thin.
_____________________________________________
''I know all of you have lost something dear within the last few days. But let's look at our options here. I believe that the peaceful co-operation with the occupational authorities of the Federation is all that is required for the independence of our sector.'' said one of the representatives, a native of Claustrum. The local senate convened in a temporary building. All were not present, some were dead, others fled or otherwise unavailable.
''These are communist scum! The Imperium will drive them out. Claustrum remains Imperial!'' one representative, an Aresian said.
''Nonsense, dear representative. The Imperium failed to defend us now. This is a clear sign that we should divert our own destiny from that of the Imperium's. The old empire is falling and new ones are rising, it is inevitable.'' another Claustrumian said. Many agreed with him.
''Even though I want indipendence, these communists are not the people to give it to us. By the ancestors, the damned fools freed our slaves, they raped my daughter and burned my house to the ground! I am a Claustrumian to the heart, but the Imperium is closer to us, culturally, they have brought their customs to us and we all speak Aresian! We have our own culture yes, but influence from the Imperium has us leaning to them. Co-operation with these communists is unacceptable!'' said another Claustrumian. many people agreed with him too, most notably the Aresians.
''Yes, but hear me out. What the Federation is is a democratic system. The people there are surprisingly happy of being part of the communist experiment their government is imposing on them. But they are a democracy nonetheless. This means that even though, they might try to impose their system on us at first, we'll be able to bring back market economy by voting. I've also heard, bear in mind, heard that planets may choose to leave the Federation by voting on such a matter. This, gentlemen, is the key to our indipendence, to the indipendence of the entire sector. I don't think the Federation will deny us that if the people will it!'' he said and someone even cheered for him.
Although the fact if the senate even represented anything other than themselves is debatable, the consensus among the former legistlators of the planet seemed to be that Claustrum should seek for indipendence, perhaps under the benevolent protection of the Federation, until proper armies and fleets can be raised.
Aug 16 12 5:07 AM
Aug 17 12 1:39 AM
Peleas plains
Legate of the 75th Legion and the attached auxiliaries, Stefanos Pegarius, stood in front of the tactical holo-table.
‘’This is Eagle one. All units, proceed with final weapons check and report back.’’
‘’Spear ready.’’
‘’Sword ready’’
‘’Shield ready’’
‘’Armor ready’’
‘’Hammer ready’’
‘’This is Eagle one, all forward elements confirmed. Maintain approach speed and prepare for combat.’’
The legions participating in the upcoming battle were spread out on a wide frontier. With no weak spots, the enemy would have a difficult time facing them. The legion’s forward elements were arranged in Triplex Acies, a formation used on open terrain. It had three primary lines with gaps, arranged so that the line behind would fill the gap in the first and so on. Auxiliaries were postioned on the flanks and in the rear as reserve, together with the legion’s assault mechs. Rear elements waited 5-30 kilometers behind the forward elements, in a typical Imperial fashion. These consisted of artillery , command and supply cohorts and their fire position legionaries and mechs, dug in and ready to provide long range fire support.
‘’Stratcom, Eagle one.’’
‘’Eagle one, go ahead Stratcom.’’
‘’Be advised. TFC Arx Victoria will continue the battle for air superiority during your assault. Keep your anti-air units ready since we expect that the enemy has brought fighters. Scorcher wing has been designated as your air support for this mission. Transferring them to your frequencies.’’
‘’Copy that. Scorcher wing, do you read?’’
‘’This is Scorcher one, reading you loud and clear. We’re ready to bust some commies.’’
The mostly open plains offered little protection, except a few rolling hills, occasional buildings and rock formations. This was the natural habitat of both the Imperial mechs and the enemy’s hovertanks. The mechs would have the initial advantage due to the size of their guns, which outranged whatever the Federals were carrying, except the missiles. For them, each of the mechs was outfitted with an active defence laser system, as per usual. The enemy would have to close in fast. The legate decided to give a few final words to his men.
‘’Legionaries. The enemy we are facing today believes in a system of voluntary slavery, where an individual has no control of his life. No free man or woman of the Imperium should ever have to bow down to a system like that. I am sure all of you realize the gravity of the situation. The enemy must be stopped. Otherwise, nothing will stop them from bringing their depraved system into our territory. They call us greedy, yet I beg to differ. It is them, the communist scum who are greedy. Greedy for our well earned wealth. Greedy for the glory of the Imperium Galactica. Greedy enough to have us all toil in their factories without pay, like mere slaves. Today I ask you the same as the Imperium Galactica. I ask that every free man and woman of the Imperium does his or her duty to the fullest extent. The future generations hang in the balance and our ancestors are watching. Do not let them down. Eagle one out.’’
‘’Sir, recon drones have maintained visual with the enemy, they are closing in to engage.’’ said a femal sensor officer, sitting close by. The command mech appeared like the standard Vesuvius-class walker, but it sacrificed troop carrying and the heavy railgun for advanced command and control capabilities. It had a mock up gun on top to make it indistinguishable from the other walkers.
‘’This is Eagle one, the enemy is closing in. All units, disembark, I say again, disembark.’’
He looked at the tactical screen and zoomed in as legionaries poured out of the mechs. They would take care of any infantry that got close enough and use their AT weapons against the enemy tanks. The legion’s mechs were deployed in the following fashion: 4 Vesuvius class infantry support or tank destroyer mechs per single shield mech and a single AA mech.
‘’Assault mechs, hold positions until my mark and after that proceed with encircling maneuver. We need to get them to close in with us first.’’
In the center, a Vesuvius-class tank destroyer was preparing to engage. Commanded by Castor Felix, a centurion.
‘’Walker march. Helmsman, keep her steady.’’ he said. The centurion checked the status of his walker. Armor integrity oprimal, nanites wee ready to perform repairs, shields at 100% and the larger bubble projected by the shield mech at 100% as well. As the first railguns opened fire, the combat had started. Missiles were already flying overhead as the communist tanks became visible in their scopes.
‘’Stand by for firing orders. Targets one through three marked.’’ he said.
‘’Aknowledged. Pulsars ready to fire.’’
‘’Fire!’’ yelled the centurion.
Two white ion beams pierced the landscape as the first line of mechs began firing. The first target was destroyed and the centurion began marking more. An artillery barrage was also laid down on the enemy.
‘’Eagle one, Scorcher one. You are clear to engage enemy tanks, over.’’
‘’Scorcher wing ready. We’re in the pipe, locked and armed.’’
Hammerhead gunships flew over the Imperial forces, making the omnious sound often heard during the Great War, when these gunships were mostly used. Old as they were, they were still durable and more than useful, capable of carrying a large load of missiles and individually targeting each one of them.
The gunships loosened their missiles and broke off left and to get caught in enemy AA as little as possible.
Sep 4 12 5:38 AM
Sep 13 12 10:29 AM
The attack was a stunning success and there seemed to be nothing the Federal tanks could do to stop the advance of the Imperial mech columns. The mechs moved onwards as the Federal commanders pestered their flanks with whatever they could muster. The plains were won and the next target would be the landing zones. Air was too thick with enemies, although friendlies alike, so the mechs would have to march to their destination, which, in turn, would take time. Time enough for the Federals to gather more forces and perhaps even attack the rear elements, if the line was not held strong...
Pegarius kept a keen eye on the tactical display, while listening to comms traffic. The situation elsewhere on the planet seemed to be turning to the favor of the enemy. Pegarius decided that the legions would follow their orders to the last man.
________________________________________________________________________
Ria, Western Strategic Command
The Western Theater, or the Army of the West as it was more often called was downright exhausted. The legions and auxiliary forces had been fighting off the Order for some time now and now that the Federation's invasion was rolling, the troops were exhausted. Moreover, the reinforcement pool was empty, so the commanders had resorted to requesting reinforcements from the Army of the East. The smaller Core Command itself had already practically collapsed a short while ago with the speedy advance of the Federation's forces. Army of the East was a troublesome bunch as it now formed the largest standing military within the Imperium. Some reinforcements had already arrived, yet the Army had repeatedly requested that its former Warmaster, Julius Agamemnon, to be placed in command of the operation. The emperor has denied all requests like that, at least until now. Nevertheless, most Eastern legions that had reached the west went to bolster Agamemnon's forces, who was fighting off the Order as a Supremo, south from Ria.
Sep 21 12 2:23 AM
Oct 14 12 2:34 PM
The sky turns crimson, it knows what to wait for
as the bows of ships glimmer in the docking stations.
They rest like animals, wounded and exhausted
So wakes up the besieged city, ready to meet its final day.
-Mythologia, Book VI, Prophecies
The attack directed at the heart of the Imperium came as a surprise for everyone. The High Command had expected the enemy to consolidate their power in the captured territories first, before resuming the offensive. Now it seemed like the enemy wasn’t going to give the Imperium too much time to react.
The battle fought on the orbit of the planet was fierce. The understrenght Home Fleet was pitted against the invading Federal forces. While the Federals had the advantage in numbers, as per usual, the Home Fleet sported vastly more advanced ships, capable of outgunning Federal vessels of the same class. Home fleet also sported a few dreadnoughts, against which the Federals would be in serious trouble. Nevertheless, the battle continued, hindering either side from providing much orbital fire support.
Given the speed of the Federal ships many of them were able to deploy their troops before joining the battle, much to the dismay of the Imperials, and afterwards cover further deployment by other Federal ships. The tactics used by the Imperials were nothing fancy due to the fact that many of the commanders of the Home Fleet have gained their positions due to pedigree, not competence. A few individual ship captains, probably acting on their own, were able to innovate enough to send drop pods filled with naval legionaries to the landing zones used by the Federation, in hopes of deterring the enemy advance.
The orbital defences around Aresia were numerous. Numerous, yet not quite up to date with latest Imperial military hardware. Tanis base was currently on the other side of the planet, which gave the communists some breathing room.
The planet itself was a nightmare for any invaders. Planetary defences constantly sent up missile barrages and they themselves were hiding under a multitude of shield domes the planet was covered with. Urban landscape would channel especially the movement of enemy armor into streets where they would have to face Imperial mechs head on. All in all, the multiple layers of the city, the arcologies and levels, its very fabric, made the movement of armor a very difficult task. The troops on the planet were numerous, despite the fact that multiple legions had already been dispatched to strengthen the frontier. Aresia might be an ant hive, large, cumbersome, slow to wake up. But now it had woken up and soon the ants would be converging on the position of the invaders.
Midas Luxury Residential Area, residence of Marcus Cornelius Sulla
“Emperor’s cock! The bloody serfs are already here!” he cursed.
Prancing around the atrium seemingly mad, Sulla did nothing to calm down his family and their servants.
“Dominus, that is what I heard from the neighbours.” one of the slaves said.
“Of course, you can’t hardly miss a drop pod landing nearby!” he said.
Renius Pansa, his oldest slave, had also something to say.
“They will be here soon, dominus. I am not sure whether they’ll start searching buildings, but your and your family’s safety is of the utmost importance.”
“What, you know what these people do! You’ve heard the reports, from Claustrum and beyond, these bloody communist rape, burn and plunder whenever they see something more fancy than they have back home, which is, frankly, all the time. Talk about inferiority complex.” He said and continued.
“But you are right. Make the necessary preparations and start loading the shuttle. Family heirlooms and then ourselves.”
“Yes dominus.”
“Pansa, you are my longest serving slave. Whatever happens, you are still my property until I grant you your freedom.”
“Yes dominus, I wont fail you.”
“Good. Now go.”
Then Sulla turned to his guards. Hardened mercenaries they were, he ordered them to hold out within the house if possible.
As one might expect, most of the legions on the planet had a specialization in urban combat, given that it was the dominant environment there. That meant that those legions were also equipped accordingly, with plasma shotguns and other weapons suited for shorter range engagements. The planet didn't have auxiliary troops, instead, the legions were supported by the Custodes, a force of military police, equipped similarly to the auxiliaries.
Troops from one such cohort of custodes were approaching a residential area, where reports of enemy infantry had come from. On the ground troops moved forward, with the vanguard consisting of men equipped with forcefield shields and wrist mounted laser weapons. Behind them, men equipped with plasma shotguns would follow and last, supporting firepower was provided by custodes with shortened versions of the standard issue rifle. On the rooftops, snipers kept the pace by jetpacking from roof to roof and covering the advance of the troops on the ground.
“Point men, move out, the Federals can be behind any corner!” said the Custodes Decurion who was leading the squad.
By lucky chance they had happened to be nearby, since as soon as the Federal ships had been spotted, the alarm was sounded. No one knew where the enemy was targeting so the initial idea was to have the troops spread out around possible targets of interest. They had been ferried to this upper class neighbourhood by a gunship, when reports of enemies there were heard. The gunship was on its way somewhere else by now. Probably to assist legionaries in their higher priority operations.
Indeed, there they were, a group of Federal soldiers and a few mercs fighting. By the looks of it, the enemy had slaughtered a few dozen hastily armed slaves and most of the mercenaries by now.
“Point men forward! Give them fire support! Close in and engage!” yelled the Decurion. The men of his squad entered the fray, taking cover behind the decorative architecture of the park area.
Oct 15 12 2:08 AM
Oct 15 12 2:35 AM
The Emperor leans on to his golden hand
in the depths of his metal tower.
With face like stone he recites a story from the times immemorial
the empty walls of his palace as his only listeners
Near the palace
Perched on a rooftop, a lone figure was zooming in on the probably destruction of the most visible symbol of the Imperial might. Wearing a peculiar looking armor, yet appearing transparent to any observers, he was having a conversation with someone.
''Sir, the Federal forces are battering the palace. Have you got confirmation that he is still alive?''
''Invictus has the palace's systems in its grasp. He is still there, alive and well, for now. Maintain position. Should the Federals choose to move in, I will give you the order to go ahead with the plan.'' came the distorted voice from the other end of the line.
''And if they don't?''
''Then Invictus will finish this. For now, it will make certain that the Emperor stays within his quarters. For his own safety, of course.''
Palace
The Praetorian Prefect, Arminius Roka, was having a bad day. He was trying to scramble the guard to defend the palace as best as he could but he wasn't exactly sure whether or not the Federals would just try to level the whole thing. Therefore, some of the guard was dispatched to neutralize the advancing Federal troops and they did reasonably well until the enemy's tanks came in the picture. The guard, as advanced as they were as infantry, had no vehicles, and thus were suspectible to high calibre vehicle mounted weaponry. Against infantry though, they slashed and shot their way through hordes of enemies before succumbing.
Many of the palace's systems were malfunctioning, defense turrets and the like. The enemy bombardment couldn't have penetrated so deep, so Roka suspected jamming, yet he had doubts of the enemy capabilities to mess with the highly advanced AI that controlled the palace's systems.
''Sir, we can't reach the Emperor!'' one of the Praetorians reported.
''What?'' said Roka, turning to the holographic image.
''He has barred himself inside his quarters.''
''Is this some kind of a failsafe system or has he gone mad? Tell him that he needs to move his Imperial ass out of there if he is to evade death or capture.''
''Yes sir, we'll try to bypass the systems and reach him.''
Arminius turned back to the tactical screen. The enemy would soon overrun the Praetorian barracks, despite their heavy losses, and from there on, they had a clear way to palace proper.
______________________________________________________
Near the Emperor's quarters
Taras Solomon, a Praetorian Guard, was leading the contingent of troops trying to reach the Emperor. Someone contacted him.
''Solomon, this is Lanius, do you read?''
''My lord.''
''Secure the Emperor at all costs. If you fail and the communists reach you before you get in, fall back.''
''Understood.''
Oct 15 12 6:32 AM
Oct 15 12 7:01 AM
''The communists have begun storming the palace. They intend to take it and undoubtly the Emperor as well, should he choose to capitulate alive. Operation Spectre is a go. Move into position, Fulcrum Five.'' said the commlink belonging to the man on the roof.
''Understood, sir.'' he said and closed his visor. Glancing at the combat zone, he gathered that he would have no problems slipping in unnoticed from the direction of the palace hangars. The sight of it all was terrible, but it didn't move anything inside Fulcrum Five. He had a mission and that was the only thing of utmost importance for him. He checked his gun, which seemed not to fit in with his overall suit. A rather archaic design explained the ease of manufacture, yet many said the gun in his hands worked in even the harshest of conditions.
Loading his camouflage, Fulcrum Five lifted off gently and gained speed. His jetpacks were taking him towards the Imperial palace.
The fierce assault was headed by enemy cyborg forces. The plasma grenades, now in the apparent use of the enemy as well, were found more numerously among the legionaries, who each carried three. Many were also armed with plasma rifles, causing the advance of a few too audacious cyborgs to die out with them. Many seemed to replace each enemy dead however. The legionaries were forced to close combat, a few cyborgs lost their lives to the plasma shotguns cutting through their armor but when it came to melee, an individual legionary had no chance against a cyborg. Then the Praetorian guard of the palace joined the fray.
''Praetorian Guard rally to me! For the Imperium!'' yelled Arminius Roka, the Praetorian Prefect. Enemy noticed them but didn't get shots through as Roka and his men were shielded by each other. Firing with both hands, each containing heavy pulsars, the praetorians cut through the enemy horde like a knife though butter.
A cyborg was charging Arminius with his chainsword. Arminius blocked it and the enemy chainsword was cut in half by the power lance. The other lance found its mark and penetrated the cyborg's armor, killing him. The praetorians were heavily armed and armored, but it also made them more cumbersome and less agile. They however brought the advance to a standstill as Federal troops searched for some cover.
''Red Maiden, you communist bitch! You and the other serfs have come to the wrong planet! Aresia remains Imperial!'' he yelled, figuring that she was leading the assault.
Oct 15 12 7:33 AM
Oct 15 12 8:10 AM
While the cyborgs were busy pondering how to get through the door, something was happening. There were signs of previous attempts, by the Praetorians led by Solomon, but they had given up and fallen back earlier. Much to the cyborgs' amazement, a small display with colored lights turned green and the door opened with a hiss.
They entered a large, beautifully decorated hall lined with columns. The hall stretched many stories up and on the other side there were giant windows, equally tall. It seemed the place had remained mostly unscathed. Some distance away, a single figure was prancing around a table.
''I have no shield...'' he seemed to say, as the cyborgs creeped closer. The man didn't seem to recognize them, but the cyborgs now knew who he was, wearing a crown of laurel and a decorated toga.
''I have no shield. Arcus! Where is my shield?'' he said to the walls. The walls contained a few traces of gunshots, probably from the pistol Emperor Agricola was holding. He now noticed the cyborgs.
''You...'' he said delusionally and raised his weapon, causing the cyborgs to do the same.
''Do you realize these walls contain enough equipment to vaporize you all in a nanosecond?'' he said, with a failing voice. Based on his earlier rant, one could tell he was bluffing, or that the aforementioned gadgets were offline, along with his supposed shield.
''Arcus! Kill them!''
Nothing happened.
''ARCUS! KILL THEM!!! NOW!!!!''
Still nothing.
''So it has come to this. They will send you to do the dirty work.'' he said, slightly lowering his pistol. ''Not a single shred of dignity in them. Traitors, all of them. Lanius, Agamemnon, all of them!''
Suddenly, a blue force field was projected between the cyborgs and the Emperor.
''Hah! You will die now!'' he said in elation as the cyborgs were figuring out what to do. They fired at the shield ferociously, but it didn't seem to give in.
A huge shard from the window behind them all dropped off and shattered, causing the emperor to brace himself. A man equipped with a jetpack descended down behind the emperor.
''Who....'' he started.
By now the cyborgs would have noticed that the man was actually carrying a particle rifle commonly issued to Federal troopers. In fact, the man was a Federal trooper or at least looked like one, excluding the jetpack device. He ignored whatever the cyborgs were trying to tell him in Francian. Closer look of him revealed that the trooper flickered slightly when he was moving.
The emperor's elation had turned into dismay.
''What's the meaning of this?!'' he said, reaching for his pistol.
''You die now, capitalist scum.'' the man said in Francian.
Fulcrum Five pulled the trigger. The particle beam went through the emperor and destroyed his heart, hitting the barrier between him and the cyborgs. Not saying a word or bothering to check what the cyborgs were doing, he confirmed that the Emperor was dead. Then he turned his back to the Federals, unloaded his camouflage and lifted off through the window. They might have gotten a glance of his holographic camouflage unloading as he exited the hall. As Fulcrum Five was safely outside, the forcefield was deactivated.
Oct 15 12 8:41 AM
Oct 15 12 8:54 AM
The Empires fall to dust, every single one of them
and the names of the rulers will be forgotten in the abyss of void.
The systems will fall, great words die before being spoken
and only a solitary gust of wind is left to scour the ruins.
The image of the red flag flying over the palace with their emperor dead inside would be forever burned to the collective memory of the Imperium. Some took it with Aresian stubborness, not even flinching. Others wept for their empire. Others, as it seemed, caused a spike in the suicide rates of the planet, that lasted for a few days. However strong the forces on the planet might be, they were demoralized. The news of the death of the Emperor made it even more so.
The army continued to fight in the area near the Imperial palace and elsewhere in the Imperium, yet the loss of both the palace and the emperor seemed only herald peace negotiations. That is, if the enemy would agree to them.
With no Emperor, the Curia's position was in peril and an inmidiate peace was required. Therefore, an envoy was sent to the Federation to seek cease fire and to hear their terms. Some prominent commanders of the military objected, yet it was them the Curia feared and thus they went forward to the invaders, asking for peace to give them time to once again consolidate their power and elect a new emperor.
Oct 15 12 9:17 AM