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| COMMIT TO: Inquisition
Record 1555 624-2000
CROSS FILE: Inquisition of the Vindicators INPUT DATE: 3746914.M36 |
AUTHOR: Inquisitor
Ryjak
TRANSMITTER: Astropath Secundus Ariel RECEIVER: Astropath Prime Joshua |
| SUBJECT: War of Passage | THOUGHT: The majesty of the dance in the stars. |
Chaos spawn emerged from the gateway, sporadically at first, then with more and more frequency. The Marines of the 6th Company dispensed the Emperor's righteousness to the spawn, felling many at the steps of the gate. But the trickle became a flood, overwhelming the 6th Company's drop attempt. After suffering 82% casualties, the 6th Company retreated from the planet surface, and sent a general distress call, including footage of the chaos gate.
The 6th company's Strike Cruiser continued to pound the gate, depleting all of its munitions, but could only affect the chaos spawn emerging onto the planet. During the siege, a Chaos Fleet emerged from the far side of the planet and engaged the Marine ships. Outnumbered and outgunned, the 6th Company fought to the last. No record survived of the 6th’s final hour. In their memory, the Vindicators no longer have a 6th Company.
When Chapter Master Vulnar received the report, it is said he shed one hundred tears. With half of the Chapter currently engaged with determined aliens on the other side of the sector, Vulnar faced a difficult decision. He could either engage the Chaos spawn with half of the Chapter's might and little intelligence, or he could gather the whole chapter together to stamp out this cancer early, and leave half of the sector open to incursion. After hours of meditation and prayer, Master Vulnar informed his captains to gather 2 light years from the Helosis system, at Rally Point Gatekeeper.
Strike Cruiser Revelry was the first to arrive at Gatekeeper, 4 days ahead of schedule. Not wanting to wait, Captain Darius took his fleet into the system to gather intelligent and hit targets of opportunity. Revelry and its support craft arrived in system on 7713577.M36.
After warping in-system, long range sensors reveled a large fleet of 30-some ships in low orbit around Helosis VII, apparently sending personnel and equipment to the surface. Darius decided to make a quick pass of the planet with his fleet, with the intent of bombarding any ships that came in range and scanning the surface in detail, and to use the planet's gravity well to slingshot out of harms way.
As Revelry swept in, sensors showed enemy ships struggling against the gravity to block Darius’s force. Revelry plunged on, into, and through the blockade. The engagement was over almost as soon as it started, and left Darius with a third of his force gone, causing only minimal damage to the opposing force. But Revelry was now in perfect position to wreck havoc on whatever it encountered…
Revelry came right upon an orbital station in the final phases of construction. Launching everything they had, the Vindicators destroyed the station, the guarding battleship, and multiple transports and shuttles. As Revelry sped through the debris field, she dropped 20 scouts onto the planet before speeding on to relative safety. 30 hours after arriving in-system, Revelry re-entered warp space with vital intelligence.
Two days later the Vindicators mustered at RP Gatekeeper and began their most harrowing engagement. Their arrival in-system was greeted by the bulk of the Chaos fleet, which had predicted their entry point to within 30 light seconds. With little velocity from re-entry, the Vindicator fleet was effectively trapped. Vulnar commanded his marines to prepare to meet their Emperor's embrace.
The Traitor ships struck hard, sending Requiem adrift with no engines and disabling half of Retribution's launch tubes. Requiem was quickly boarded while the rest of the Vindicator fleet fought for its life. As the marine's determinedly faced their grim future, more vessels appeared nearby to strike the killing blow.
The Chaos ships were caught completely by surprise by the Eldar craft. The trap became a rout, as the Eldar smashed aside the Chaos fleet. Within minutes, several traitor ships were reduced to rubble, with the rest fleeing back into the warp. The Eldar informed the Vindicators that they needed to cleanse the planet in 3 days, or face annihilation. The Eldar disappeared.
With no opposition the Vindicators descended upon Helosis, taking advantage of the hole in the planet defense network Darius’s raid created. Surprisingly, as the fleet approached the planet, they received a communication from a team of scouts still on the surface. They reported they had been harrying the chaos spawn, but hadn't accomplished much. In fact, they reported that they had witnessed Eldar fighting against the enemy, but hadn't been able to make contact. The scouts had also discovered a network of catacombs beneath the surface, and that most of the activity was underground.
If you need to contact me Lord, send your transmission to Inquisitor Ryjak
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