+++EMPERORS CHILDREN COMPANY DEFEATED AT COTÁN SPACEPORT+++
+++IMPERIAL FISTS VICTORIOUS+++
+++HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON THE ENEMY+++
Emperor’s Children vs Imperial Fists – The beginning of the rout?
Eidolon was in a foul mood. He, with a small skirmish force, had been ordered by the Crimson King into the peaks of the mountains to scout the Cottan Spaceport. While the verticality of the terrain presented no problems to the Astartes, carrying their wargear up and over cliffs was not a challenge due to their power armour and enhancements, it was not the hills that Eidolon resented.
He and his men, the self-proclaimed “finest warriors of the Warmaster’s Forces” had been ordered to march on foot far from the bulk of the fighting at the Manufactorum and Armorium to merely scout for other, more inferior, forces. Eidolon’s second in command, Primus Medicae Peliel was equally displeased though neither were voicing their anger openly.
The roar of void-craft entering the atmosphere interrupted Eidolon’s internal monologue of loathing. They were easily identifiable as an Imperial Fist Sokar Pattern Stormbird and Thunderhawk Transporter as they roared overhead. Grav-chutes bloomed as the Stormbird disgorged its cargo over Eidolon’s position, two imperial fist veteran squads hurled themselves from the side access hatches, their chutes blooming as they fell clear from the monstrous craft. Simultaneously two Legion ancients made their descent from the rear of the Stormbird, a contemptor pattern and a Leviathan siege dreadnought stepped from their transport. A shimmering haze surrounded them as they fell, streaking across the cold blue sky like earthbound meteorites, the thin atmosphere offering little resistance to their fall. Their chutes flared as they impacted, dust and snow bloomed out around them.
Eidolon and his men launched themselves forwards, their jump packs igniting, belching flame and smoke as their armoured frames flew towards the yellow lines of the Imperial Fists. Medicae Peliel brought up the left flank of their line with his squad of Kakophoni, the audible static buzz of their Sonic Weaponry carrying through the thin atmosphere as their capacitors charged.
The buzz was drowned out as the missile launcher armed support squad on their right opened up. 9 krak missiles arced lazily across the open ground between the two opposing forces, impacting on the armour of several of the Imperial Fists. A pink mist bloomed out from where several of the Fists stood, their armour offered little protection to the anti-tank missiles. As their remains crumpled, the Kakophoni opened fire. A crescendo of noise rang out from their sonic weapons, a low hum building up to a blood boiling wail as visible pulses of soundwaves rang out. Eidolon allowed himself a smile, the noise of battle was upon them. As the soundwaves impacted, marines dropped. Those in front were torn limb from limb by the percussive waves of noise, those near them faired little better. Some dropped to their knees as blood seeped from the seals of their armour. The power of the sonic weapons ruptured blood vessels and tore arteries within their bodies. Blood gushed through every orifice of those affected, a flood too great to be stemmed by the biological augments of the Astartes until they bled dry or drowned in their own fluid as their lungs filled.
Unaffected by the audiological assault of the kakophoni, The armour of the fists moved forward to meet the infantry of the IIIrd legion. A golden yellow Land Raider rumbled forwards accompanied by the Contemptor and Leviathan Dreadnoughts. They in kind to the opening shots of the Emperor's children, autocannon rounds, lascannons and volkite beams spat from their weapons dealing death with every hit.
Around Eidolon men fell, claret blood leaking out into the pale white snow from their wounds as they breathed their last. One man triggered his jump pack as he fell, jets of ice blue flame propelled his lifeless corpse tumbling across the battlefield head over heels until he impacted against a building with a wet crunch as his thrusters died out. Eidolon bit his tongue as he continued his bounding leaps forwards, cursing himself for being drawn into such a fruitless engagement. His Sire, Fulgrim, would be most displeased at the imperfection he had shown. He knew he had to continue with their assault, either to save face or to ensure no one was left to relay this tale to his Primarch.
Eidolon ordered his men onward and they clashed with the Fists’ Contemptor. Ancient Lukus, it's pilot, was a veteran of the purging of the Thunder Warriors and his experience was unmatched by any of brethren. The weapons of the assault marines had little impact of the armoured shell of Ancient Lukus as their chain swords did little but scratch at the paint, their teeth failing to find purchase. Eidolon’s second-in-command, sergeant Berik lept forward in an attempt to place a melta bomb on Lukus’ sarcophagus but was caught mid-air by the veteran Contemptor. Eidolon looked away as the dreadnought closed his fist but could not escape the bionically-enhanced scream that followed as the Sergeant was crushed. The scream rose in volume and pitch as Lukus squeezed his fist until it was abruptly cut off. Berik’s severed legs fell to the ground followed by his mangled torso. Plates of purple ceramite and entrails were left hanging from Lukus’ fist as he swung again. Three more marines died as they were sent flying by the dreadnought.
Sensing the opportunity, the Imperial Fists pushed the assault. Their Leviathan charged down the Kakophoni, its volkites and storm cannon downing several of them. Medicae Peliel was knocked back by a falling warrior. Regaining his balance he began sawing through the stricken astartes’ armour with his bladed narthecium. Despite the augmentation the Kakophoni had undergone, their Progenoid glands were still valuable geneseed. The Leviathan Dreadnought pressed his attack, pushing through their lines towards Peliel. A crushing stomp ended his attempt at recovering geneseed as his patient was ground into the snow by the foot of the Leviathan as it turned to face him. “You are next” boomed a crackling voice from the vox-casters in the dreadnoughts casing as the drill arm swung towards him.
Peliel ducked this clumsy swipe and ran. He had to put distance between himself and this machine of death while some Kakophoni remained to hold the dreadnought’s attention. Storm cannon shells impacted the ground around him as he ran. He heard the noise of the sonic weapons die out and looked back as he fled. He saw the remainder of his squad massacred by the blood-stained dreadnought, its yellow plates tinted a mucky crimson as it stamped the life from any marines still able to move.
He ran and did not look back, only breaking stride to bound down slopes. Despite the blood pounding in his ears and the tinnitus from being near the Sonic Weaponry, Peliel heard a roar of jets and knew it was the end. He slowed to a jog and then to a shuffle as he heard his assassin land. He drew his weapon and took a calming breath. While he would run from certain death, he would not die without a fight.
“I am Primus Medicae Peliel of the Third Legion, I will not kneel to an executioner’s bl..”
“Enough Peliel” Eidolon interrupted.
Peliel spun on his heel to see his captain standing behind him and dropped his chain sword to his side.
“You will never speak of this again” Eidolon warned, weighing his Thunder Hammer in his gauntlet.
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