40K/Inquisitor RPG. The Line of Damnation.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-08 12:01am

Lord Vonrilyental stepped back. "Commodore Novdalorin will continue with next part of the briefing.

Lena stepped foreward. "Thank you, Lord Inquisitor. Every available ship has been conscripted to transport troops to Cyrus Gamma. That there is only two days distance, under good conditions, between the systems means that we can land several reinforcing waves, suppossing the enemy's defences are taken care off."

"And they are potentially quite formidable. A large number of the hives are armed to repel attack from space, although we do not know if the enemy has captured the defences intact. We do know that astropathic communication has been cut off, possibly as the result of the archenemy's waprcraft. We also know that fleet elements of the archenemy have been active in the subsector. It is reasonable to suppose that they will be present in force."

"Accordingly, I will command the task force from the bridge of the Emperor class battleship Sword of Glory. The illustrious Captain Shanan of the Mars class battlecruiser Divine Retribution, will be second in command of the task force. The Dauntless class light cruiser Fencer will complete our cruiser element. The Cobra class destroyers of Pilium Squadron, who recently distinguished themselves at Zelnar Prime, will form a fast attack element. Completing the task force will be Glaive Squadron, compossed of the Sword class frigates Viper, Poniard, and Viscious. They will be tasked with defending the transports, several of which possess formidable arnaments in their own right.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 12:47am

Nathan listened patiently to Lena speak.He knew that casualties would be horrendous even with the new weapons.The rock plan had major drawbacks one being a time delay but the others seemed to like it ...he was outvoted by his peers so ket them learn.

He already knew the covert op part of the pln so he gazed at the other people at the table seeing how they were taking it .His eyes shot back to the podium when General Carniss steped forward to detail the ground assault.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 12:48am

This was the part that truly interested Prius. The Sword would be in the first wave, working to secure the LZ for the follow-on units. It promised to be dangerous, brutal work. Past that, the survivors would be R&Red until the headhunting missions began.

Assuming there were any survivors, of course. He leaned forward, watching the images flash by.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-08 01:23am

Carnis made a move to step foreward when Novdalorin resumed speaking. The general stepped back to allow the commodore to continue. "After we have secured the space around Cyrus Gamma the ground work is mostly the business of our Imperial Guard colleagues. How we deploy will be determined by local conditions, principly the state of space defences and priority areas as determined by the guard."

"There has been some discussion of orbital bombardment, including the possibility of redirecting a large asteroid." Her eyes briefly flickered over Inquisitor Talstrem. "While the decision about what methods to use remains at the discretion of the Inquisition, I would like to point out we do not know the state of local defences or the enemy's strength on the ground. Any decision made at this point is premature."

She took a deep breath. "Having said that, if the enemy possess strong defences bombardment by asteroid while engaging ground based defences with long range fire from fleet elements is the most promising option. Hopefully, such extreme measures will not be necessary." She stepped back, looking away from Nathan.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 01:38am

Damn it, barring either an entirely easy walk-through victory or a complete planetary contamination requiring exterminatus, the meteor bombardment plan was simply the quickest and most effective means of eliminating the center of enemy resistance. Sentimentality be damned, this had to be done. Prius silently fumed at the weak knees he was seeing evidence of as Carnis stepped forward to speak.

"Our ability to plan the ground invasion is highly tenuous at the moment. Nevertheless, assuming we are able to breach the spaceborne defenses and orbital defenses reasonably intact, the following units will be the first dispatched to the ground. Pathfinding functions will be the responsibility of the Emperor's Sword and the Legio Xenos, with rapid follow-on by the Huntsmen as well as the Skittarii regiment and attached support units," 'Attached support units' referring to the Iron Men, although so far as Carnis knew they were advanced combat servitors of the AM.

He hit a button, causing multiple sites to flash across the display. "As of now, these are the areas we have selected for primary options as landing zones, based on ease of entry, likely enemy presence, and mobility options once the beachhead is secured. The forces already embarked have received new unit designators that they will employ on the vox channels, serving to exaggerate our size as much as possible as part of our efforts to decieve the enemy. Our goal will be to maintain maximum maneuverability, avoiding set-piece battles as much as possible while our special operations units locate and eliminate enemy leaders. Are there any questions so far?"

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 01:43am

"How do you plan to insert the hunter killer teams General ?" Nathan asked.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 01:50am

"That will entirely depend on a number of factors. Proximity of enemy commanders to our chose area of operations, status of our naval forces and capacity for said forces to cover insertions and so forth. Our provisional plans involve overland travel for targets in close proximity, and suborbital insertions or orbital insertions for more distant targets," Carnis answered.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 01:57am

Nathan nodded at the Generals comments" Thank you "

He looked over at Lena quickly and slightly arched an eyebrow at her .He noted she had a concerned look on her face.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 02:02am

"Are there any other questions?" the general asked, looking around once more. He wasn't terribly sold on the plan, it had far too many 'ifs' and 'assumings' in it to satisfy him, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances.

It would have to be enough.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-01-08 01:15pm

"Yes, it seems to me that we're hoping for a lot of things to go our way. Do we have any contingency if we encountered a full flegded defense? Needless to say it seems entirely possible."

Varian looked around.

"And furthermore, it seems we ought to prepare for the worst. It's possible that Chaos has a greater foot hold than we think. Certainly ritual suicide seems to indicate a wide and deep hold of the population of this sector. We might need to consider issues Sanctus Exterminus."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 01:30pm

"I think thaqt this is an excellent outline of what we will be doing." Nathan said to Varian.

"Yes it is a hope for the best plan but we at least have some leeway if the fan gets hit to maneuver around."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-01-08 01:34pm

"We certainly need to provide for a worst case. I know that planning vary depending on circumstance but we have to be prepared so far as we can. This is a grave matter and we can all imagine the price of failure."

Varian shrugged.

"I'm no Lord Militant. " He said. "Any word on the Astares. Or Grey Knights? Surely a combat drop for some kill teams would not be out of line."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 01:47pm

"Again we have no idea of the lay of the land and well as you have said we must pan for the worst.... that being we recieve no astartes aid till long after this rebellion is put down. We must work with what we have and it has been a........while since I took part in a planetary assault"

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-01-08 02:00pm

"Indeed, morbid though the thought might be we may just have to bury the enemy under Guard dead. Or just Exterminatus."

Again, Varian shrugged and looked rather sad.

"My greater concern is what manner of Chaos filth might be unleased. Surely the suicide was meant for something. I can only fear they have awaken some greater warp-horror. Daemons of all manner, traitor-astares, who knows. All are possible, all have been done. I guess we have to just pray that the Emperor is not too busy."

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 02:09pm

"If the world is more heavily saturated with the influence of the Archenemy, then the exterminatus might well be in order," Prius agreed. "It is an option preserved in the planning."

Carnis nodded. "If possible we extract what troops we can before that. What we have assembled here is something that normally takes months and more to plan and put together, but the extreme urgency of the situation overall has forced us to move quickly. It is my understanding that entreaties have been made to the Astartes for their assistance in this matter, but failing that we must forge ahead as best we can."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 02:21pm

"Actully it could have been much worse or it may be even worse later on.We have no idea how much of the archeotech the enemy managed to get there hands on and well...I know of ONE way they can use it to trully make this sector a cause for concern throughout the Empire"

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-01-08 02:34pm

"Great, just what we need. More bad news...." Varian mumbled under his breath. Speaking up he said "Is there anything you can tell us so that we might counter it?"

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 02:41pm

Prius prepares to deliver a righteous statement as to only needing the greatness of the Emperor, but he catches Nathan's eye and keeps his mouth shut.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-08 02:56pm

"We are hampered in our planning by the lack of communication with Cyrus Gamma," responded Lord Vonrilyental. "Our planning at the moment is based on educated guesses and will be revised appropriately upon reaching Cyrus Gamma."

"We should not delude ourselves. The population and industrial power of Cyrus Gamma is a huge asset to the Imperium and to any campaign to reassert control of the subsector. Exterminatus would be a disaster. Only an enemy presence that is impossible to dislodge would justify it."

"As for the Astartes, we still have recieved no answer. We cannot depend on their aid and we cannot wait indefinitely."

"We must act and we must act soon. As for the Black Legion, they have already attacked us and been defeated by forces lead by inquisitors sitting within this very room. The archeotech is ready to be deployed in substantial quantities. We have assets that the enemy does not and we will use them. What we do not have is time."

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-08 03:07pm

Nathan nodded "Well if no one objects I move we conclude this meeting so we can get underway.For as you have pointed out Lord Vonrilyental the one asset we lack is time and the longer we wait the more our enemy digs in "

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 03:07pm

Prius feels a stirring within him at the Inquisitor Lord's words. In less than three days, he will be leading the Sword into battle in a battle for the ages.

Blessed Emperor, I am but Your unworthy tool. Give me strength to work Your will upon the heathen, and to light the torch of Your wrath, that it may burn Your world clean of the touch of the heretic and the mutant.

Natural eye blazing, he made the sign of the aquila, practically quivering with eagerness.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-08 06:07pm

Vonrilyental nodded in Nathan's direction. "If there are no more questions or comments let us adjurn. May the Emperor watch over us and aid our holy endevour."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2005-01-08 06:31pm

The last of the troops were loaded into the vast fleet of transport ships surrounding the mighty star fort. It was a motley flotilla of navy ships, independent cargo haulers, rogue traders, Ecclesiarchy vessels, and even a Mechanicus forge vessel. Sword class frigates shepparded their charges as the Cobras of Pilium squadroned patrolled the inner system.

But an observer's eye would not be drawn to the transports, no matter how exotic their origin. Hanging in space were two mighty vessels, dwarfing all others. The Mars class Divine Retribution with its gun decks, lance turrets, launch bays, and mighty nova cannon had firepower which dwarfed a mere cruiser. It's battle hardened crew were ready to depart. They awaited only the arrival of Inquisitor Gix and the word to depart.

Mighty as the Divine Retribution was, the Sword of Glory dwarfed it. The Emperor class battleship lacked the Mar's armoured prow and nova cannon, possessing sensor probes and gun batteries in its place. Rank upon rank of gun batteries and launch bays lined it sides and gun turrets studded it's dorsal surface. Soon Lord Inquisitor Vonrilyental, Inquisitor Talstrem, and Commodore Novdalorin would arrive and the fleet would depart, lead by the Sword of Glory. Its crew was eager to prove themselves and test the might of their ship against the archenemy.

As for the other inquisitors, who could say? They went as they willed and covered their tracks. They would reveal themselves when they wished.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2005-01-08 06:45pm

Prius prowled the decks of the transport, flanked by Swordsman. They'd already had to defuse a couple of brawls as soldiers crammed by the dozens into berths that were designed to hold half their current occupancy had snapped under the tension.

The commissars and officers of the fleet were going to have a very long, hard couple of days keeping the troops sharp and away from sharp implements...

Behind him the cat trailed. It was already being identified as 'the Commissar's cat', as it seemed to have an uncanny ability to find him no matter where he was, planetside, at the station, or aboard ship.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2005-01-09 01:25am

Nathan walked along a corridor of the ship .A few hours more till they were underway.He had been invited to the Commodores office , more than likely to get his ass chewed out or something simular. 'Oh well.....I only do what I think is right'

He looked out a bay window to see a cobra slide past with a fighter escort.He was scared about the upcoming battle but knew enough to not allow it to show .The soldiers needed confidence in there superiors. Courage comes from the barrel of a gun...not show the men courage and they will emulate it.

He arrived at his destination and returned the guards salutes" The Commodore is waiting for you sir"