Tanaka gulped as the Imperator-class battleship, Emperor's Wrath, pulled up in orbit over the world of Alcazar Prime. For some reason, he was reminded of Alaric Prime, but that would be another story to tell...one that took place 10,000 years in the future involving a myriad of Knight Houses, Cadian Shock Troops and Militarum Tempestus squads and the Space Wolves against both the Red Waaagh! and Khorne Daemons.
For now, though, he had to focus on the task at hand.
"Our task is to crack that fortress world open?"
"That's right, Sir Tanaka."
Beside him, his ever-loyal squire, Suzuki did a salute before nodding grimly. He glanced through the viewing gallery, the armorglass displaying the grime-colored planet in all of its dusty glory.
"The Primarch, Lord Rogal Dorn, has made his orders clear. We are to rush for Holy Terra to defend it from the archtraitor's forces. However, in order to do so, we must open up a route through the Barbican Front. Should we leave Alcazar Prime and its surrounding sector uncontested, the Warmaster's forces will be able to fall back upon here after they have been broken upon the defenses of Terra."
"You seem pretty optimistic, Sir Suzuki," Tanaka remarked. The squire raised an eyebrow, and the Seneschal sighed wearily. "You're already assuming Horus Lupercal will lose."
"Of course he will. Nothing can defeat the Emperor. Lord Dorn will surely crush the archtraitor's forces. Have you seen Holy Terra? Nothing can break the palace's defenses. Of that I'm certain."
Tanaka chose not to argue, instead eyeing the orbital plates that formed a metallic ring around the planet. They were currently surrounded by various legion ships, the strike cruisers and battle barges of the Legiones Astartes having moved out to capture the space platforms and disable their lance arrays and torpedo launchers. Even from this distance, he could see swarms of thunderhawks and stormbirds descending upon the gleaming structures like wasps. Crimson light illuminated the void as anti-air turrets opened up, and several of the gunships vanished in explosions. Worse, gunmetal-gray interceptors raced from the surface to pick off the reeling transports, ensuring that the Loyalists paid for their descent in blood. More of the thunderhawks came apart, flaming shrapnel crashing upon the artificial atmosphere of the orbital stations and reducing entire gun batteries to debris.
Losing so many legionnaires in such a short span of time...Tanaka couldn't begin to imagine how dire the situation must be for the commanders to recklessly throw away their lives for such an endeavor. Such circumstances were unthinkable during the early days of the Great Crusade, where even a single legionnary was the equal of an entire company of mortal soldiers. He swallowed, clenching his fist.
"The IV Legion has garrisoned this world well. Alcazar Prime will not be an easy prize."
"The Iron Warriors are known siege masters, second only to the Imperial Fists."
Inwardly, Tanaka was sure that Perturabo would hotly contest that claim, but he agreed. His loyalties lay with the Emperor, and thus he favored the Praetorian over any treacherous primarchs. Particularly one who was known for his bitter and dour nature, sacrificing even his sons to the attritional grind of siege warfare. In contrast, Rogal Dorn had struck a noble figure, splendid in his golden armor.
"You know, Alcazar Prime used to be garrisoned by the Imperial Fists," Tanaka said conversationally. He eyed the yellow thunderhawks and stormbirds in particular, the black gauntlet visible across their hulls. Suzuki blinked in surprise.
"I had no idea."
"Yes. During the early years of the Great Crusade, the Imperial Fists brought Alcazar Prime to the Imperium's fold, but they had to leave shortly after that, to launch a crusade further toward the Occluda Noctis. The Night Crusade. After they succeeded in conquering the systems in Noctis, the Dark Angels returned to garrison the world for a time...but left the world for reasons unknown. Eventually, a detachment of Iron Warriors settled down and turned it into a fortress, making use of the structures that the VII Legion constructed."
It was no wonder the Imperial Fists had launched in force, determined to retake what used to belong to them. No doubt their primarch had viewed the departure of his legion as a mistake, and wished to make amends by seizing it from the sons of his treacherous brother.
"And now they are using the Imperial Fists' defenses against us."
"If they haven't torn them down already and replaced them with their own." Tanaka paused and considered. "From military intelligence, they haven't. As vast as the enmity between the IV and the VII Legions are, they are practical. They have no reason to demolish perfectly usable orbital batteries and walls when they can make use of them."
The lenses of his glasses glinted as the loyalist fleet began orbital bombardment. Crimson lances struck like thunder, raining fire upon the battered surface of Alcazar Prime. Sand turned into glass from the immense temperatures, and huge swathes of wilderness were erased. Even so, void shields stood strong against the relentless bombardment and the batteries were already replying with volleys of their own. Emperor's Wrath reeled as she took a direct hit, the lance dissipating against her shimmering void shields.
"We won't be able to crack them with orbital bombardment, huh?" Tanaka closed his eyes and sighed. "And Lord Dorn wishes to capture this world intact...so that we can use it to block the Warmaster's route of escape should he fail to conquer Terra."
"Do you really think the Emperor and the Praetorian will fall, sire?" Suzuki shook his head in disgust, probably scorning his Seneschal's pessimism.
"...hopefully not," Tanaka muttered, though he couldn't shake off an ominous feeling. However the battle on Terra turned out, he would need to complete his task here, and then rejoin the muster of defenses in the homeworld of humanity. Every victory counted.
"My lord. I bring instructions from the strategium."
A scribe scurried forward, his trembling hands raised to display the parchment in his hands. Tanaka took one look at it, recognizing the orders scribbled upon the withered material, and he nodded.
"Let us go, Sir Suzuki," he said as he wheeled around and marched toward the launch bays of Emperor's Wrath. "Our lance is to descend and help crack open the fortresses below. We will be escorting our brothers and sisters in the Titan Legions. Make ready for war. The Knights of House Yato shall ride."
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