Siege of Hive Cogger

The Siege of Hive Cogger was an Imperial response to a pair of Chaos Cults gaining control of a major Hive and declaring session from the Imperium. The initial landing force consisted of the Inquisitor who was investigating the cults as well as his war-band. As the conflicted increased more resources landed to support the Inquisition. Inquisitor Randall had at his disposal a warband of Storm Troopers and Grey Knights in limited numbers. The sheer Scale of the Hive had him at a standstill. Only the Especially large Penal Legion's troops and the quality troopers of the warband kept the war from failing from Imperial favor.

Several Months of street fight found the 487th land and join the war. Finally in the final push was supported by the 85th Scions.

Landing of Lunar Venatorii at Hive Cogger
Down in a large Devourer Dropship, the 487th Regiment landed as a whole. Quiet this landing was not, and the Regiment moved its array of animals. The roar of Wyrms and engines could be heard as well as the neighs of horses. Over Two thousand men and women disembarked off the transport. The Various variations of Turoxes and Chimeras, rolled off the ramps as the beast masters calmed and gave over their charges to the riders. Motorcycles of all sorts high tailed down the ramps around the others. Each Company and Battalion moved into a battle line formation. Several of the Chimeras looked odd with extra antennas.

The cultist's vox communications started going in and out as static flooded the air waves. This regiment knew its business even as disorganized it looked to outsiders. There was yipping and yelling as people rode to their designated spots. Over a Hundreds of Horses, Wyrms, Bikes, Buggies, and Sentinels made up this Calvary regiment. Everyone was wearing a dizzing array of leathers and Carapace armor. The coloration was Dusty reds and charcoal blacks in a variety of different patterns. They all wore patches of a roaring Panther head. Almost before the regiment was completely formed a Flight of Wyrms took off to enter the hive. Their job was reconnaissance and maybe a little bit of dropping bombs. The horses were the next to leave, and these left in total silence. They left in squads to approach the city by stealth, they were to hit points all along the walls of the hive. This was to be a multi front battle. The lightest of the army was taking the furthest points. They were going to appear to be a much larger force and they were already pretty big. Only the Command Salamanders and their escort bikes were left of these companies as they rolled out.

The next leaving was a great split of forces as what looked like two full battalions of Buggies, Sentinels, Motorcycles, and Salamanders Split to either side of the hive with their orders. They we to hunt down and cut supply line and wreck any resistance. This hive will be subjugated to the Imperium. They were going to use every trick in the book to do so. 1st Battalion went left while 2nd Battalion went right. They moved in a kind of synchronized movement that spoke of deep planning. They were to be a siege force.

The last to move out was Fourth Battalion. These were the Chimeras of War. Four of the five companies moved out as one mass towards the center of the hive and the main entry way. They were heavily armed and ready to be in the thickest fighting. This was the Armored Calvary section. Armed with Multilasers, Autocannons, Heavy bolters, and Storm Bolters, they prepared to shred any resistance. Any may face one of these forces but all fighting like they were makes it hard to form a solid line against them.

The ones that were left behind immediately started building a basecamp in case of a long siege. These were the medics, the engiseers, and all the support troops. They could fight but their purpose was to make their fighting arm more effective.

Immediately upon reaching the city 3rd and 4th Battalions ran afoul of the traitors to the Imperium. The narrow passages of the Hive provided only so many avenues of attack and the enemy was prepared. Immediately the Chimeras came under heavy fire and small groups of isolated horse troops were disappearing. The Regiment had grown too confident that they were facing the normal disorganized rabble of civilian cultists. But it turned out that a clever man might be leading them. Several have died or disappeared. Even a couple of Chimeras have been damaged to the point of retreat.

It was chaos of warfare that ensued though that was ironic on who was causing that. It was if the entire hive was attacking them. Missiles and bullets flew everywhere. Several Companies and platoons became isolated and had to retreat on their own, taking casualties. Guardsmen and women were not only getting injuries but dying and having to be left behind as they retreated to open other paths. The wyrms unfortunately didn't see how well placed the barricades were nor spotted the cultists who were wearing dark enough clothing to blend into the dusk attack.

The Samaritans of the Support Company immediately rushed out to save who they could. The cries and screams of the injured could be heard as rescue operations occurred.

This would not be the end of the regiment though. The first forces pulled back but made way to find new routes of attack. Colonel Errmanno himself called off further attacking until other routes were found. They caused some damage but not much and definitely not enough.

" You Slackers. Is this how the best Calvary unit in the Imperium performs. Retrieve your wounded get back here and then attack again but this time use your damn heads," Colonel Errmanno Raven was an overly large man, but his bellow was loud especially over the vox. He was of average height and a slim build, though he was defined in his musculature from years of hard training as Guardsmen. He rose through the ranks as a survivor, and he made sure his men were intelligent, independent, dependable soldiers that could survive as well. He knew not all would make it but some and if he did his job right most will. His high fade cut hair bristled with sweat from his earlier attentions of taking care of his own beast, not an easy task. He was originally a Wyrm rider himself and still was, with a beast that he raised and hatched himself. He had a reputation for being an analyst and being courageous when called upon. His leathers were well worn and only the Dark Green outline of the Black Panther patch denoted his rank above the rest of the regiment. Another thing odd about him was his connections to the Forgeworld that supplied his men with equipment. His Brother was a Magos there, and his brother supplied him with a piece of equipment that usually go to Skitarii to ride into battle with to protect him, A Taser Lance. Otherwise he was equipped fair average for a Colonel, Including a Ceres Pattern Bolt pistol, Light Power Armor, Mordian pattern power sword, and an array other devices and weapons.. He also had bionics but that wasn't apparent to the naked eye so much as his brother did him well at getting his brother the best he could offer. That was one of the reasons his regiment was chose to escort a Forgeworld Expeditionary Fleet. He had them trained on their homeworld in the same sector, where these beasts roamed and only the best could tame one.

The war council was quite informal it had all the usual members Commissar Alenko, Captain Kid, Captain Athenar, Warden Hoffman, Paladin Utilitarius, and Justicar Freeman who had only recently returned from his mission at Drake’s point. Randall wore his black carapace armor with the holy seal of the inquisition on its breast over that he wore a tattered black trench coat. Randall Spoke only semi formally “To be blunt progress has been much slower than I like, these heretics are proving to be a stubborn lot. However I just received news that should turn the tides of war in our favor. A regiment of imperial guardsmen has by some miracle of the Emperor has made planet fall around the Hive.” “Who are they.” Asked Kid. Randall stole a glance at his paper and replied “The 487th Lunar Venatorii Panther Calvary. Wyrm riders.” Alenko spoke “We could definitely use the extra men, but I would advise caution this place can corrupt.” Randall nodded “My thoughts the same, that is why I am sending Captain Kid to make contact with their commander to ensure there is nothing to fear from them.” Kid disliked the idea of being taken away from the battle to play diplomat but she would not complain. The Captain nodded to the inquisitor and Randall concluded “Excellent make ready we will make our final push soon.”

Captain Kid blocked the glare of the sun with her armored wrist. This was the first time in weeks she had been out of the hive. After a few minutes of her eyes adjusting she could now see the world in more clarity. In the distance she could see the Venatorii camp, though the lodging was temporary it must have been a massive undertaking due to its scale. Began the long walk from the stairs that exited the hive to crionian earth below.

Kid had walked for nearly twenty minutes when she saw a trio of riders coming. It was not long before the wyrmsmen were upon Kid, the trio blitz around the storm trooper and encircled her. The three creatures looked menacing, two were black scaled with red scales that accented the flanks of their long bodies. The third rider was mounted atop a deep blue beast who’s hide was marked with freckles of white.

The lead rider spoke from atop his blue steed “State your name and business here.” Kid replied examining the fearsome mounts “My name is Captain Amanda Kid, emissary for Inquisitor Garrett Randall.” The rider dismounted Kid could see by his patch he was a sergeant. The sergeant offered Kid his hand and spoke as the two shook “My name is sergeant Jacob Holiday, it’s a pleasure to meet you mam.” Kid spoke griping the sergeant’s fist “Well met sergeant, how much further is your camp, I will need to speak with your commander.” Holiday replied “Not but another ten minutes walk on foot. I will accompany you.” The sergeant looked over to one of his subordinates and spoke “Take Azula here and inform Colonel Raven he has company.” The rider pounded his fist to his chest and the three wyrms and two riders were off.

As the sergeant said it was only a ten-minute walk to the camp. Kid saw the hastily built stables that would temporarily house the dragon-kin mounts, they walked by tables where groups of men played cards and drank, they passed patrols of riders overseeing the camps welfare. At the center of the camp was a tent much larger than the rest. Holiday looked over to Kid and spoke “Before you head in I’m afraid I will need to confiscate your side arm.” Reluctantly Kid relinquished the hot shot las pistol. Holiday continued “And that knife in your boot.” Kid removed the nine-inch blade and handed it to the sergeant. Holiday smiled “You can head right on in.”

Kid entered the tent, it was lit only by a few candles. She examined the holdings and noticed it to be a bit on the simpler. She saw the colonel facing away from her looking in the mirror. The man’s neck and checks were covered in shaving cream and in the colonel’s left hand was a straight razor. The colonel spoke friendly but didn’t turn to Kid “Captain, I thank you for your presence.” Kid spoke “Colonel Raven, the honor is mine. We appreciate your sudden arrival; it is a gift from the Emperor.” Raven wiped the shaving cream away with a rag and spoke “A high praise madam, however I think the Emperor could do a whole lot better than our humble regiment.” Kid smiled “Regardless we are glad to have your support.” Raven gestured to a table and some chairs and spoke “Sit, I reckon we have much to discuss.” Kid sat and began recounting the war for Cogger Hive.

In the time Kid spoke Raven had lit a cigar. The colonel had seen the taint of chaos before, he knows what horrors it may have on the minds of men. Raven spoke “Captain I know what the effects the arch enemy might have on my men, should any of them succumb we know what must be done.” Kid spoke “I have lost dozens of men to the taint, it is never easy but it must be done.” By this point Kid was comfortable in allowing the Venatorii to assist them. Kid spoke “We are planning a final push against the heretics, your men will prove invaluable. We can discuss this further at our forward camp.” Raven grinned we will have our camped pack by night fall, we will join you shortly there after.” Raven called outside the tent. “Holiday” the sergeant shortly appeared. “You and your men are heading out with the captain.” The sergeant pounded his fist to his chest. Kid bowed her head to Raven and exited the tent.

The inquisitorial war council was well underway.

Warden Hoffman slammed his fist to the table, “We have the heretics corned let us advance up the center and crush them with are superior force.” Colonel Raven shook his head “Advancing up the center would be a mistake; our enemy has had plenty of time to dig them selves in charging head first would be a slaughter.” Warden Hoffman laughed “My charges would lead the way, I bet they’re eager for some retribution after the stunt those heretics attempted to pull last night.” Captain Kid spoke “I’m with Hoffman on this, advancing up the center would be the quickest path to victory.” Commissar Alenko added “We don’t need to throw everything we have into a center charge, we should split our forces and flank our enemy.” Randall seemed intrigued “You have a plan Commissar?” Jethro nodded “Of sorts.”

The commissar leaned over the table where a map of the upper hive sat. He placed a line of black tokens on the map and reached for more as he began to speak. “Our enemy is sending everything they have to prevent us from advancing. As Warden Hoffman said the bulk of our force will advance up the middle as the enemy would expect. All of our heavy armor up front” Jethro set down the tokens representing the penal legion and inquisitorial storm troopers. “What our enemy won’t be expecting is to be hit from their flanks.” Alenko sat the token that represented the Venatorii forces on the left flank while he placed the token that represented the grey knights on the right flank. “Raven’s men mounted atop their wyrms should be easily able to break through the cultists line on the left, while Captain Athenar’s task force would be small enough to slip through and reek havoc on the right.” Alenko put more tokens representing Raven’s men behind the line of black tiles. Once Raven’s men are through they will fan out behind the enemy preventing their escape. Then the center and right forces will push forward and we will have our foe in a full route.”

Captain Athenar smiled “A classic hammer and anvil maneuver.” Captain Kid studied the map before confessing “I like it.” Hoffman nodded “It is acceptable, provided the Colonel’s men are up to the task.” The colonel nodded “No task too great.” Randall spoke “So we are settled, we strike in six hours ready your men.”

Battle of Salvation Plaza
The 487th flooded into the plaza in force, launching grenades and wild snap-fire to drive the cultists back. After hours of exchanging fire, the cultists retreated clumsily in the face of the advance, diving through boltholes and retreating through the maze of half-destroyed buildings which surrounded the plaza. Wyrms shrieked overhead, forcing the cultists to take cover in the ruins of their own barricades as the soldiers advanced.

"Bonemen!"

The cry came in the gap between shots, filling an eerie silence on the battlefield. There was no alarm in it, nor was there cheer. It was a statement, and it became a chant from within the buildings and beneath the streets.

"Bonemen! Bonemen! Bonemen!"

With a sudden chill, it became apparent that the cultists had not taken cover from the soldiers and wyrms. They were sworn to the Flayed Legion, veterans of the furious melee at theMaw, and would not be dislodged while living. They were taking cover from something far worse.

They stalked from the ruined buildings in perfect step, crushing debris and corpses with each footfall. Gleaming ivory forms lit by the strobe of incoming gunfire, towering monoliths with skull-like faces and slender limbs. They might have been ghouls had they ever lived, or statues had anyone deemed to call them art. But the long weapons hanging from their arms cared nothing for aesthetics or appearances as they raised them in a single, massed motion. The air grew still, as if the moon itself shied away from what was about to be unleashed.

The sky lit up in crackling amber, arcing in angry trails which reached out for tank, soldier, and beast alike with a tremendous roar.

The wyrms reacted first, animal instinct warning them a heartbeat before the machines released their fury. The lead wyrm took a blast across the chest, scales falling in a gentle powder to the ground below, but the beast turned hard and cleared the remaining bolts. The skies cleared, and the automatons brought the brilliant curtain of energy crashing down onto the soldiers massed in the street. Men vanished under the storm's fury in seconds, reduced to component particles in a frenzy of xenos firepower. The returning shots ricocheted harmlessly off of the machines' metal forms, and where the lasbolts melted away metal, it reformed anew seconds after. The machines, with their blank, glowing stares and perpetual death grimaces, seemed neither to notice nor care.

They took a single, precise step forward, and fired again.

Shouts rang out, commands of retreat and covering fire as the plaza was bathed in amber light once more. The line broke, melting back towards the fortifications at the city's edge, and the plaza was yielded to the Necron "bonemen" amidst the wild cheers of a hundred heretics.

Commissar Alennko walked up the boulevard. In the first hours of the attack they had encountered heavy cultists resistance, but soon enough that resistance had faded away. As they marched deeper behind enemy lines they encountered only stray pockets of cultists. Now they were met exclusively with silence. The only noise that was here was the sound of inquisitorial boots, and the grumble of imperial war machines. The sound was oddly foreign, though Alenko had heard all these sounds before, they melded ill with this place. Alenko knew he was the intruding on something unholy. It was not long before Raven’s men and the Grey knights caught up with the primary force.

Colonel Raven dismounted his wyrm and approached Alenko and Captain Athenar, as Athenar spoke “We met only limited resistance.” Raven added “Same on our end. Have the cultists fallen further back then we anticipated, perhaps to better fortify the citadel?” Alenko eyes widend as he realized their blunder, but before he could voice it Captain Kid’s voice came over the Vox. “We have movement.”

Kid watched the auspex from the cabin of the Malcador tank as dozens of blips approached from all sides. Soon the blips doubled in number and then again doubled.

Alenko uttered “It’s a trap.” Not a moment later hundreds of beasts emerged from their places of hiding. They came from buildings and sewers and every shadow lurked with a pair of twisted eyes. The creatures had no uniform nature to them save that each was horrific. Alenko looked to one razor teeth, horns, blades for arms and a single cyclopean eye.

The Imperials wasted no time firing at the foul chaos spawn, but the creatures wasted even less charging them. A storm trooper fired his las gun at the creature only to be charged and impaled by its scorpion like tail. A penal legionnaire drew his shiv and dashed for the nearest beast, with some luck he struck the beast and planted his blade in its skull. The prisoner’s victory was short lived as another equally horrid creature with the hands of a crustacean pried him in two. One of the beast charged for the tank that held captain Kid. With razor claws the hell spawn shredded open the Malcador’s armor side, its reward was a buck shot from Kid’s shot gun. Commissar Alenko linked to all voxs and ordered the retreat. A demented thing charged for the commissar but was cut off by a wyrm rider. The creature beheaded the wyrm with a swing of a rusted axe, the creature then lifted the rider over head with a tentacle. The rider squirmed and freed his left arm, with that he drew a grenade from his belt and detonated it killing both him and the beast.

The loyalists were in full retreat, though they disengaged their nightmare was far from through. A chimera struck a mine and blew the treads clear off. At this time a mob of cultists revealed themselves and attacked the fleeing Imperials. The Imperials had no choice but to continue to fight their way back to their base camp and fall victim to all the traps that lay in their path.

Prisoner 1597 fired at the enemy behind him whiled dashing forward, one carless step and the steel teeth clamp down. 1597 fell and screamed in agony as the bear trap dug into his flesh. 3434 saw his friend, he wouldn’t leave him like this. 1597 screamed in pain as 3434 attempted to pry the metal trap out of the flesh of his leg. It was no use not without the trap’s key, 3434 drew the hatchet he took from the 8591’s corpse. 1597 shouted “No don’t!” but 34 ignored his request, the hatchet came down on 1597 just below the knee cutting him to the bone. A second swing and 1597 was free. 34 lifted his friend over his shoulder and carried him to the where the rest of the fleeing convoy was fighting.

It was another hour of hellish fighting before the loyalist reached their camp. A dim bastion of hope in an ever darkening hell.

An emergency council was called all the members were wounded to some degree. The silence was heavy. Randall spoke “We have lost only a battle, but the war goes on. You all exemplified honor and bravery today and for that you should be proud. We can not let our enemies demoralize us, we must remain vigilant. I wish I had good news to offer you all, but I don’t.” another heavy silence fell before Randall spoke again “At approximately 1532 Crion time the planetary garrison of Dorn’s shield was assaulted. After a short battle that was a decisive victory in the defenders favor it was confirmed that the attacking force was dedicated to Chaos.” Captain Kid spoke “So that’s it than, everything we’ve done here has been for nothing.” Randall arose “Heresy must be completely purged from Crion now and forever. What we have done here is completely necessary. We can not allow heresy to have any foothold on Crion. So I will see every last these apostate scum dead, and once I am sure every one of these mutineers have ceased breathing I will send this damn hive to oblivion!” Randall regained his composure “Justicar Freeman I am sending you and your squad to assist in the purging of these scum, track them and destroy them by whatever means. When we are finished here we will join you in your hunt.” Freeman pounded his fist to his plate. Randall continued to speak “Rest now, you all earned it.” Silently the war council exited the Inquisitor’s tent, all except Commissar Alenko.

Randall spoke first “Its not your fault Jethro, you had no way of knowing.” Alenko spoke sadly “So many died, if we would have advanced up the center we might not have lost so many.” Randall spoke “Jethro you have two options. You can sit and wonder what you could have done better, wonder about how many men you could have saved so they could die somewhere else, wonder why the emperor let you fail. Or you you can get mad, plot your vengeance and fantasize about how you will make your enemy suffer at your hands. I only have room in my army for the second kind of man.” Alenko pondered on those words for a brief moment before standing to leave the tent.