LOYALIST FORCES
1. Exorcist Space Marines (Farseer G)
2. Star Phantom Space Marines (Cmdr Ryanbo)
3. Raptor Space Marines (Squad Ldr WH)
4. Imperial Swords Space Marines (Me)
SECESSIONIST FORCES
1. Astral Claws Space Marines (Chaos Lord SJ)
2. Mantis Warriors Space Marines (Cmdr WK)
3. Badab Mercenaries (Chaos Lord SJ)
4. Rogue Assassin Agent (Chaos Lord SJ)
With the Secessionist in retreat, the Loyalist forces seized the opportunity to advance closer to the Badab system. As Loyalist strike cruisers dropped out of the warp, Maelstorm Warder's Orbital Defense Platforms soon powered up their weapons. Wasting no time, Loyalist assault crafts rush towards the Command Space Station controlling all the Defense Platforms.
Within moments, Loyalist forces breached the outer perimeter and made it to the command center.
Their mission is protect the data nodes giving the introduced computer virus time to reprogram the Defense Platform's IFF. This would turn the Orbital Defense Platforms against the Maelstrom Warders instead.
As soon as the virus was introduced to the systems, all bulkhead doors were shut and locked from both sides. While this is happening, the mercenary defenders aboard the Command Station mobilize to retake the station from the Loyalist forces. Outside the station, Maelstrom Warder flotilla arrived to engage the Loyalist vessels. From the surface of the planet, Astral Claws sent more Space Marines to reinforce the defender in the Space Station. This time they are joined by Mantis Warriors Space Marines arriving from their assault crafts hidden amongst the flotilla.
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| Pirates and Mercenaries in the service of the Tyrant advanced towards Loyalist position |
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| Loyalist Forces guarding the control nodes. Awaiting the chance... |
With only one way into the main control room, the defenders advanced towards the bulkhead doors. Loyalist forces entrenched inside the control room bide their time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike at the approaching Secessionist forces.
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| Enemy at the gates! |
Without a warning, the Rogue Assassin descended in front of a control node located at the Northwestern section of level. Wasting no time, the Assassins fired his Existus pistol at the control node. Unfortunately for the Assassin, the computer virus also activated the control node's defense mechanisms and a force field sprung up deflecting the Turbo-Penetrator round.
The Raptor Dreadnought guarding the control node immediately swung into action. Assault cannon rounds and missles filled the corridor and within moments, only a bloody mess is left where the Assassin once stood.
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| Loyalist forces moving to intercept |
Using their Auspexes and sensors, Loyalist forces detect Secessionist forces encroaching upon their position. Intending to catch the enemy by surprise, Loyalist forces moved into position to intercept. The Star Phantom Centurions unleash a torrent of Graviton blasts at the bulkhead door, the micro gravity wells that formed at the bulkhead ripped it apart in short notice.
With the bulkhead out of the way, Loyalist forces ripped into the mercenaries. Imperial Swords Dreadnought first douse the secessionist forces with holy promethium before finishing off stranglers with assault cannons. Meanwhile Exorcist Space Marines fire salvos of graviton blasts at the Mantis warrior.
Despite this, the secessionist forces were too numerous and could not be easily dissuaded from destroying the control nodes.
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| Mantis Warrior reinforcements arrive from the boarding craft. |
As the battle is raging on, various elements of reinforcements make their way towards the level where control node is located. The Mantis Warriors arrive en-mass to aid in the assault.
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| Olive Green vs Wasabi Green |
Determined to take out the isolated control node at the far end, Mantis Warrior bikes swerve around and hurtle towards it. Raptors contemptor dreadnought and Raptors Tactical Space Marine Squad stood between them and their objective. The two forces clashed but it was too much for the Mantis Warrior Bikes. The Dreadnought alone poured out firepower so tremendous that even Bikes's armors were not able to withstand.
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| Secessionist forces return fire at the Loyalist. |
At the front-line, autocannon rounds ricochet off the thick armor of the Imperial Swords Dreadnought. One round managed to punch through the armor, although not enough to destroy it, the impact sent the Dreadnought reeling for a bit. As the Dreadnought tried to regain balance, a mercenary closed in and fired his Melta gun. The thermal lance melted through the armor and ignited the fuel canister causing the Dreadnought to explode in flames.
With the Dreadnought out of the way, the Secessionist forces ripped into the Exorcist Bikes. The Exorcist Commander valiantly stood in the way of fire, using his Stormshield to protect his squad from the barrage of gunfire.
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| Mantis Warrior Librarian accompanied by his retinue |
Finally, commanding officers from both Loyalist and Secessionist appeared. As the loss of the commanding officers would prove disastrous for either side... both commanding officers took precaution and directed the flow of battle away from the front line.
Despite the Secessionist's attempts, they could not break through the solid defense of the Loyalist forces. The choke point also proved to be disadvantageous for the Secessionist as they lost many of their forces trying to push into the main control room.
However the Secessionist had more tricks up their sleeves. One level above, Renegade Marauders make their way to the section where the isolated control node is situated while the battle is raging below them. Once in position, they blow apart the floor and dropped right on top of the control node.
Wasting no time, the Marauders ripped into the control node and destroying it, the balance began to tip in the way of the Secessionist. The Marauders soon turn their attention on the Raptors Captain, the commanding officer of the Loyalist Forces.
Being the pragmatic lot that they are, the Raptors captain moved into cover while the Dreadnought once more stood in the way of the Secessionist. Once again the Contemptor Dreadnought made short work of anything that stood in his way.
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| Mantis Warrior valiantly sell their lives to accomplish the mission |
Elsewhere, Mantis Warrior scouts crawled their way through the air ducts and descended onto the control node deep within the control room. With great skill a Mantis Warrior scout managed to fire off a missle at the control node while dropping in. Unfortunately the Omnissiah was not with the Mantis Warrior Scouts. Krak Grenades and Krak Missles struck at the control node and bounced off, failing to explode.
Sensing the commotion, Loyalist forces rushed into the room to protect the control node. Star Phantom Scouts & Imperial Swords Tactical marines mercilessly gunned down the Mantis Warriors. A lone Mantis Warrior Scout survived the onslaught, bloodied but stoic, he was determined to complete the mission. Alas he was no match for the Star Phantom Captain who ruthlessly run him over with the bike.
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| Loyalist Forces getting into position |
Back at the choke point, Exorcist bikes move out from the control room, taking the fight to the enemy. The Exorcist Captain once again valiantly stood in the line of fire, protecting the Loyalist Forces behind him. However the Secessionist soon overwhelmed him with their firepower. With his artificer armor cracked and ruined, the Exorcist Captain finally fell from his bike.
Angered by the loss of their allied Captain, Star Phantom Centurions and Exorcist Bikers returned fire inflicting significant casualties on the Secessionists. Still this was not enough to deter the Secessionist.
The Imperial Swords tactical marines turned their attention on an advancing squad of mercenaries and opened fire. The super heated ball of plasma streamed towards the mercenaries and then in a bizarre fashion simply fizzled off in the air, causing no damage at all. While the rest of the mercenaries were cut down by boltguns, one survivor got through and blasted at the control node with his melta gun. This time round, no forcefield came into effect and control node blew up.
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| Protect the Commander! |
With two control nodes still operational, the Loyalist force still held an upper hand. The Secessionist realize that the only way to secure victory is to take out the Loyalist Commanding Officer. Mantis Warrior tactical marines in proximity made a beeline towards the Raptors Captain.
The ever pragmatic Raptors Captain moved further away from the front line, placing more distance between himself and the Secessionist forces trying to assassinate him. As the Mantis Warriors closed in, Raptor Tactical Squad and Dreadnought put themselves between the Raptors Captain and the Mantis Warriors closing in. Exorcist Scouts & Imperial Sword Scouts, leap into position from their hiding spots, forming an additional protective layer of meat shield around the Loyalist Commanding Officer.
While the battle rages inside the Space Station. Outside the Space Station, Loyalist & Secessionist vessels traded fire and attempted to out maneuver each other. With the installation of the virus completed, the Orbital Defense Platforms turn against the Secessionist Vessels.
Unable to withstand the withering fire from both the Loyalist fleet and Orbital Defense Platforms, the Secessionist flotilla disengaged from battle and retreated. Sensing that victory has slipped by, the Commander officer of the Secessionist called for the general retreat back to the boarding crafts. Those that did not make it were captured by the Loyalist.
With the Command Space Station firmly within their control, the Loyalist turn their gaze upon the planet. Soon, they will bring the fight to the door step of the Tyrant himself.
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