Conflict of Absolution

Battle Report.

Objectives:

Objectives (5) heavy support.

Imperial Guard: Protect the supply line and necessary operations at Lambda Cree Field

Black Templars: establish a covert base of operations for inbound Inquisition personnel. Secure the area.

Results: Black Templar suffered extreme lossses to heavy weapons fire during an ambush attack. All forces destroyed before Guard forces wewre able to surround Commander kurgan and his body guard. Edgerton sustained damage to his command Chimera, but 0 casualties.

"Routine, my forsaken ass!!!," Edgerton screamed into the comm, lo-stick ashes spewing into his field messenger's face. Gathering his effects, the Imperial commander reached the tent-fly before whipping back to rifle around in the communication officer's coatpockets, greedily seizing upon a flask and swilling its contents. This operation was going to require his personal oversight, and he'd be damned if he'd freeze off his orbs out there without finding another bottle.

Kurgan, Templar commander-ascendant, was no stranger to Nyx. His origins deleted, records would never reveal his personal attachment to the paradise of his birthplace. Short though they were, his earliest years were his fondest memories. WERE his fondest memories. None of those lingering sentiments would subvert his intentions, though, for this world, like many others before it, has come under the scrutiny of the Ordo Inquisition. Should he find the slightest taint of Chaos, flame and boltfire would be the only means of ensuring the planet, its people, and most importantly, its resources, would continue to serve the Imperium of man. His Astartes warriors were well aware that their presence on Nyx would be misconstrued by planetary officials as terminal refutation of their own control and all the usual panic that ensued would only fuel the presence of Chaos and the dark powers seeking refuge in the minds of the populace. Kurgan ordered his command-modified Razorback to halt. Pointing high and to the left, a rock promontory, blanketed in early snow would be ideal for the Devastators to provide cover fire. Sweeping his arm across the barely visible landscape, his men fell in line, each unit executing well-practised formations, quickly covering ground and taking up positions most suited for their combat roles. Rearguard Landspeeder Crux Umbrum, was awaiting orders, and would begin pacing a perimeter until the area was secured. Focusing his gene-enhanced eyes, Kurgan noted that Lambda Cree Field was in serious disrepair and would require a techno-Magus to suit the needs of his arriving guests. Strewn about were fuel canisters and military rations airdrop containers, all remnants from the the planet's early pioneers and terra-form crews. As the Razorbacks tracks began treading the fresh snow, he signaled a beacon for men from the first company to activate teleporters. Their Terminator armour suits would be quite handy for moving large equipment quickly.

Wraith had painstakingly assembled his armoured company for speed, maneuverability, and most of all, concealment. As the final stays were being tethered, he beamed proudly through cigar smoke, at the fresh row of armour, cloaked under cameleoline and packed with freshly fallen snow. Now to sit and wait for the servitors and their tech-magus handlers to arrive to figure out what was wrong with this antiquated oil field. Settling into the plush high-backed command chair in his specially tailored Chimera, Edgerton cleared his mind, opened the short-range comms channel and ordered his men at ease. A faint hum was nigh but silence as engines shut down and compartment generators switched on from 5 seperate tanks. A warbled message broke the serenity as the field-scout Sentinel walker reported movement in the distance opposite Cree Field. How in the Hell, and furthermore, why would a company of Astartes be footslogging out to this abandoned oil field? These last few weeks had brought ill-tidings about the crumbling relationship between Nyx and the emperor's chosen warriors. This fight was not manufactured in the minds of kind men. There would be answers for the crimes his men would commit this day, but for now, it would seem that resistance was necessary.

Kurgan's personal guard, comprised of men all recognized on the field of battle as well as tested in the art of diplomacy, were each hand-chosen by himself and his council to ensure his success on Nyx. He considered each man, his brothers, of course, but also his shield and his sword. As the hatches decompressed, an arc of light radiated throughout the compartment, followed rapidly by a growing pressure in his ears. The tank vibrated and ruptured, his men began pouring out without hesitation as metal panels lotussed underneath them. Not knowing the cause, Kurgan ordered his guard to hit dirt, using the transport's remains as cover from any unknown threat. Reports began pouring in from other units over his comm, enemy sightings concentrated in the distance beyond Lambda Cree. Suppressing laser fire careened off Templar armour and rockets dissolved a Stalker anti-aircrafts tanks armament, neutering it before it could return fire. From the distant hills, an Imperial flame tank, classification:HellHound, eschewed its camouflage tarping as it sped forth, opening fire with its heavy bolter before dousing a combat squad in highly volatile <fuel>, incinerating three of them in one burst. Snow-covered mounds rumbled to life and outlines formed around metallic edges as three chimera transports cautiously creeped forwards while men pouredfrom their rear hatches to take position around them. An artillery shell whistled overhead slamming to earth just short of his devastators just as they took position around an orbital lander on an over-looking mesa.

Terminators were en-route, but before they could intercept, Kurgan bellowed out coordinates for an orbital bombardment from his company starship,<name>, hoping it could strike down enemy armour, buying his men time to advance. Somebody was going to a lot of trouble to stop this operation and had stolen Imperial machines to do so. Yet worse still, the audacity and daring demonstrated by this rebel opponent belies an expertise in field command more than rivaling his own.