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Nathan groaned under the slab .He chuckled as he lifted the mass over his him and set it to one side." No plan survives contact with the enemy"

He slid back against the wall and winced.He saw the spike of stonr in his leg and winced."Damnit nopt now gotta go on.He noted the Good Captainand guardsmen he shielded are safe.

"No victory or lesson is won without pain"

He grabed the spike and yanked it out.

I had thought all of those were lost when you humans fought amoungst yoursleves, they were being retired around the time you replaced them with those first marines, not as deadly but easier to replace....

Kruger looked up at the Eldar from tending to Pater's wounds. "What is it?" He snapped. He was on edge.

"A Golem I believe"

NAthan took a bandage out and worked on his leg."As The Deth Jester said .they were replaced by Space Marine Legions.... created from the Da of the Primarchs"

Kruger muttered a few verses of the Litany of the Emperor under his breath. What other heresies had the renegade Mechanicus cult uncovered? Just then, his vox crackled into life.
"This is Command. We are holding our positions against the Heretics but require additional forces on the eastern front. Can anyone comply?"

"This is Inquisitor Kruger- We've sustained heavy casualties and require a medical Evac immediately. We have a few able-bodied soldiers who could assist."

"I will arrange it immediately. Now, if you can move your troops to..." He detailed some coordinates.

As Kruger put the vox unit down, he ehard the sound of rapid footsteps nearby. The already-tense occupants of the collapsed building - those that could still move anyway - snapped there weapons up, but relaxed again when the familiar form of Inquisitor Adivan's power armour, one shoulder-plate caved in completely,, followed by the two Naval troopers lugging a rocket launcher between them. One of them had a blood-soaked wrapped around his head; the other seemed unharmed aside from scratches.

"So, this is what caused all that trouble, is it? I think I saw it once, right before you people called in that bombardment. I tell you, a Land Speeder never moved as fast as we did when we heard it was coming. It was convenient, though; we ran into a group of those heretics trying to move a Leman Russ Executioner forwards under cover. We put a stop to that in fairly short order, but I think there were more tanks coming when the shells started falling. I doubt there are any fragments larger than fist-size left now.

"So... how goes the rest of the battle?"

"Appearently we are holding ground against the Heretics, but need more troops to shore up the eastern front. We're waiting for an airlift. Care to join us?"

"Certainly. One of my men will require medical attention, but I'm fine, and I still have plenty of ammo left. You might find that missile launcher useful, too."

"All units, this is Gix. We can hold out for a while, but not forever. What's your status? Status of the archaeotech? Any word on my man Chou?" An edge of worry is audible in the young inquisitor's voice. Silence for a moment, as the inquisitor composes himself. When he speaks again his voice is strong and sure. "All available batteries, fire mission ordered for Mechanicus Temple. Anti-personel and stun gas only. Two volleys from all available guns. Fire when ready."

A moment latter the sky is hammered by the distant thunder of discharging guns. Rounds begin to fall, a brief shower of shells that burst into flowers of dark smoke as burst charges trigger around the Mechanicus temple. Fragments and steel balls lash exposed flesh, armour, and hardened ferrocrete, obliterating the decorative works of generations of artisans. Some of the clouds disperse, others spread and sink. Most of the servitors and soldiers had protection from the gas. Most of them. Others that did not or had their gear ruined by the lethal hail either succomed or fell back.

"Gix, this is Kruger. The Abomination is destroyed; The Borean rifles are decimated and the Commissar is wounded, as is my Interrogator, Pater Novum. We have various other wounded. I-" Kruger broke off. He hated doing this. "I think your man is dead. The Abomination was standing over a corpse which was holding an Inferno pistol."

The inquisitor's soft, but steady. "Yes, that's Chou. I- . . . he . . . .good work The artillery's bought us time and hopefully helped with the confusion inside. Bring up reinforcements. Too many good men and women have died for us to waste their sacrifice. May the God-Emperor, who knows more about sacrifice than we can imagine, watch over those who have sacrificed their most precious possession in his service and judge with mercy their failings."

"We're on the move. I need a pickup at my current coordinates for the wounded." He said as hie finished dressing Pater's head wound.

Just then, a medical lifter roared into view, it's turbines deafening all those near it. "Forget that last request, Inquisitor." Kruger sighed, relieved.

The hatch opened and a squad of trooper reserves filed out, while medical servitors took Prius, Pater and Nathan onboard. "I'm afraid we can't take anyone who can still walk and shoot," said the medical officer, looking at Adivan's trooper. We can't take Xenos, either. He glared at the Kroot and Tau. "They'll have to make it back to the base on their own."

Kruger nodded and split the wounded troopers and Xenos off into their own squad, who trooped back to the rear lines.

"After you, Inquisitor Adivan."

Gix watched the Guard reinforcements trickle in. Heavy weapons teams situated themselve behind barriers facing the windows that looked out onto the Mechanicus Temple. Other squads were being organized by Hethor, who was tyrannizing Guard officers in the way only veteran sergeants with Inquistional authority can. Assault squads formed up.

Severa approached the young inquisitor. "Chou is dead," he said softly. "I gave him permission to hang back because this wasn't his kind of fight. The archaeotech, it killed him anyway. He was too close, you see." His voice cracked. "He was watching our backs. I gave him the inferno pistol, so in situations like this, he would have a weapon with enough punch. And now he's dead."

Severa said nothing. What could she say? Better men than Chou had died this day? It was true, but it was no comfort. Jolan had a soft part in his heart for the heretical athiest, who denied the Emperor but had served his dream better than most could ever aspire too. "He knew the risks, Jolan. So do they," she said gesturing to the soldiers of the Imperial Guard. A leader must lead, no matter what the cost. As the Emperor does."

"Thank you," he said. You are right, of course. Get them ready to move on my word. Link auspex calculated positions of remaining gun batteries." He activated his vox. "All batteries this is Gix. All fire missions are held. Ultima priority to following mission. Four volleys. First and third, anti-personal. Second and fourth volley blind, smoke if unavailable. Begin volley on my mark."

He turned towards the gathered platoons. He held his force rod high, a gold embossed batton of eboy. "Soldiers of the Imperial Guard! We have suffered loses this day, but we have not lost the chance for victory! We can seize the moment now and take it! We can end this battle and bring the Emperor's judgment upon those who have caused! Are you with me?"

They roared back, a voiceless cry of exultation. Gix triggered his vox. "Begin fire mission." As the guns began to fire, Gix unleashed his gathered rage and grief. Blasts of hellfire flew from his force rod and struck the suspected gun emplacements. Flash heated stone exploded and metal ran like blood. Shells raked the Temple's exterior, a deadly hail. "STORM!"

With a roar the guardsmen surged forth. Smoke wreathed the Temple, obscuring fire. Gix gathered the last of his strength. A telekinetic blow struck the Temple doors. The doors held. The bars and locks shattered. Caughing blood the inquisitor slumpled. Severa caught him and one of her troopers grabbed his other side. "Forward," he rasped half staggering ahead.

"Forward!" she cried as she carried the inquisitor into the smoke towards the great edifice of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Novadlorian humoured the inquisitor with her as best she could, “I’m sure it was a long time ago by my standards – you know what that thing is?”

The voice of the temple’s owner cackled. “The Imperium is old techpriest-s. And it isn’t venerably ancient, it is simply obsolete…” it trailed off, “we have re-discovered much, things they would not accept. They must be disposed of in order for the rebirth of the Golden Age to begin. That has always been our aim, to tolerate them until we could do better… Now we can do better…”

The Iron Man twitched, and from somewhere deep inside it, a hissing, rasping sound emerged from its ‘mouth’ almost like the chocked laughter of a dying madman. It moved once more, glaring at the eldar. For a moment, it spoke, backup mind running it, “Think,” it said, its voice cold and unfeeling, its gothic archaic, “I am the last you do. A fool you are. I am the first of…” It had levelled its gun once more, but in that moment a stab of silver and blue cut into its head, and the thing lay still at least. Lena twisted the power sword’s sabre blade and pulled it out of the smoking wound it had created, boot against its ruined head, “Talkative for an abomination, no?” she asked.

Behind her a carapace armoured comm. officer started calling out the queue for medievac treatment, with the injured Pater at the top, of course.

Xyng was intriuged despite herself. "What have you discovered that can do better?"

Kruger's team joined the charge for the Temple. It was one of the oldest military tactics known. Carpe Jugulum; Go for the throat. Of course, in doing so you have to reveal your own...

As the massed forces of the Imperium charged for the doors to the MAchine God's temple, Adivan paused briefly. He had felt something. Scanning the temple rooftops, he reached out with his mind, seeking it.

There.

Though it was hidden by the clouds of smoke and shattered masonry, he could see it in his mind: a Techpriest, two Servitors, and half a dozen Servitors hauling heavy guns into position to fire down at the attackers. Adivan grimaced, and stuck his hand out toward the two Guardsmen who had commandeered his rocket launcher.

"Give that here. Now."

Awkwardly hefting it over his shoulder, he fired, and one of the few Melta-missiles he had managed to obtain howled toward the MEchanicus fire-team. It struck the Techpriest and the plasma cannon he was blessing dead-on, reducing both to clouds of vapour; an instant later, the cannons ammo supplies detonated, and the entire position vanished in a pillar of white flame. Lowering the rocket launcher, the Inquisitor probed again. Nothing. Satisfied, he handed the weapon back to the two Guardsmen, and ran for the doors, his power-sword humming into life as he went.

The closer they got to the Shrine doors, the heavier the resistance. Kruger was a whirling dervish, slicing Skitarii apart with his chainsword and emptying Hellgun rounds into another. The Kroot also excelled at these close quarters, slicing Servitors up like butter. Every second counted, for they didn't know what Heretical madness was taking place within...

Adivan lost count of the number of rounds he expended in that massed charge; Metalstorm and Infero rounds into massed groups of Skitarii, Hellfire rounds into Servitors, and the occasional Melta blast to evaporate enemy heavy weapons. For all that, there was surprisingly little blood on him; those he hacked apart with his power sword were instantly cauterised, while those his bolter shredded were far enough away to avoid more than a few droplets reaching him. He seemed almost ina trance as he fought, effortlessly sidestepping enemy rockets and plasma bolts and delivering swift vengeance upon the attacker. His powers had failed him before, but, Emperor willing, they would not do so now.

Dispose of the Imperium....
"That is no mean feat you speak of. The Machine God must have blessed you with a truly impressive find if you believe you can do it." Now came the hard part, "May I see it? I'm afraid the rest of our order is completely in the dark about this matter. That's why I'm here, in fact."

An explosion, either an unusually heavy or accurate hit, shuddered through the building.

"If you have found something it should be published. There is a remote but real possibility that this location will be destroyed. It would be a terrible shame if this knowledge were to be lost."

The voice sounded thoughtful, "Yes. But do not worry, I have made plans so that even should the fools inflict exterminatus upon this world, the sacred knowledge we have uncovered here will be preserved."

A door slid open in front of the techpriests, and the hulking metal figures of two more Iron Men strode out of the lift, one armed with something resembling the neural shredders used by the callidus, another bore a lascannon scale lasrifle as if it were a toy. They ignored the two techpriests, striding, accompanied by a small phalanx of Skitarii, at a respectful distance of course, toward the entrance where the organics had decided to charge. "Now they will learn," said the voice, "what folly it is to throw meat against steel. Come, honoured guests, and see the constructor we have built..."

Cait looked at his damaged board, it still had power, though it's stearing would be difficult, still if more of those machines were being rebuilt it would be dangerous, and his weapons were inadaquate for the foes they were facing now, a kiss could only harm creatures of flesh and blood, and even with standard rather then bioexplosive ammo, a shrieker was ineffective, still the skattari began hugging down for more cover when one of the monkeigh "Preatorians" exploded the remaining biological side turning the cyber gear into a large fragmentation bomb.

move take a shot, move take a shot, the sniping would have been more demoralizing to any but the machine fanatics. activating his flip belt as he jumped and landed again he barely avoided a sinkhole caused by the damage looking down at the passages below he realized something...

The Mon-Keigh Allies were not sufficiantly protected against pop up attacks from the networks of the underhives, two assualting the main gate would be a waste of firepower. looking at the dimunitive mon-keigh tau and kroot, a cruel smile formed, along with a plan.

"Greatings Tau you see the complex below us, it leads deeper into the nest of the enemy, small groups with effective weapontry, can tear at their bowels, and bring them down faster then assualting the hardened armour. If you will accompany me, I shall allow you the use of my skyboard for transpoting your wounded?

"human, you expect me to betray you, so I shall warn you at this time, of the danger though you will not believe me until it is too late. You are woefully ill protected, the hives extend below you, not just at the surface. the temple has tendrils reaching out arteries, to cut, and otherways in and out besides the front gate."

Of course the mon-keigh did not listen, it was the pity of being a teacher at heart that the lesson for the day would not be learned until after much pain and death. Turning back to the other "allies", I shall return shortly, my wargear is in appropreate for the plan ahead.

placing on of the wounded on his board, then he vanished.

hours later, Nathan saw the Eldar looking down on him, the shrieker had been replaced with a light starcannon (allowed weapon sub under harliquin rules), wicked looking close combat cutting blades had replaced the kiss and small shruiken weapons, (rives), "my normal weapons would have been scuicidal, and my masque was a good trade. Besides human 'I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep'"

Nathan smiled and grimaced at the same time: Frost?
yes, human your kind lost his works when earth was sundered, only the black liberary has any of your old poetry now.

Hethor locked the new drum into place and leveled his heavy stubber. The smoke, ir decoys, and jamming had allowed the Imperial Guard to reach the gates with almost no loses, but here the defenders had put up stiff resistance. Blood, oil, and less identifiable fluids leaked all over the steps. The front line had pushed open the doors and then been raked by fire from the interior. A viscious firefight was brewing at door. The armour piercing rounds in his stubber should help push the results in the right direction.

Severa knelt by the wall. Her Naval Security troops were now acting as Gix's bodyguard. The inquisitor was slumped against the wall, being attended by a medicae. " Prognosis?"

"He'll be fine ma'am. The bleeding is minor. With adequate rest and fluid replacement-"

"Then got on with it." She keyed her vox. "This is Lieutenant Valens acting for Inquisitor Jolan Gix. We have succeeded in gaining the Ad Mech
entrance. We are through the door, but encountering stiff resistance."

Then, as if from nowhere, with a loud pop of teleporters in action, the Iron Men arrived in the centre of the attacking formation, mere blazes of metallic body and of death...