Planet Fall

As the Chaos forces begin to land at strategic points the imperial guard of the 197^th Venrian ‘Helghosts’ Armoured Company dig in and prepare defensive lines in hopes of slowing the chaos progression until reinforcements arrive. General Haxtes Tarkov, was tipped off that Alastair himself would be leading the initial assault on a beachhead that would clear the way for the larger landing forces. Tarkov quickly assembled what he could to defend this point. With little to no cover and the the bulk of his armored forces not yet deployed, Tarkov brings up his command team and a platoon of his finest guardsmen to meet the khorne lord. Tarkov's men were supported by but only 3 earthshaker cannons and few small teams of heavy weapons. Wasting no time Tarkov rushed to prepare his men before the chaos could arrive.

Tarkov's forces
Company Command 50
4 Plasma Guns 60
Tarkov 100
PowerWeapon 10
5 Stormtoopers 85
Platoon Command 30
2 Infantry Squads 100

Heavy Weapon Team 80
4 Autocannons 20
Heavy Weapon Team 80
4 Heavy Bolters 40
3 Earthshaker Cannons 375
3 Enclosed Crew compartments 15
Total 985
As the sun sets Tarkov's men dig into the trenches and prepare for the worst

Introduction

2998999.M41

Location: Segmentum Obscurus

Though of the day: Heresy grows from idleness

The Great Crusade, marked the era of a new age for humanity. Mighty armies marched forth in the name of the Emperor with awes-aspiring machines of war were churned out by many forge worlds. This was before the dark times, before The Heresy. Many forge worlds produced and array of different technological wonders, few became as highly regarded and praised for craftsmanship as the forge world Caminus VII.

Caminus VII was the rarest jewel amongst other forge worlds. The planet itself was a mechanized work of art that many Imperial scholars flocked to delve into its secrets of success that even rivalled the Mars forge world. The forge world produced many machines including the famed Emperor Class Titans to the deadly weapons of death wielded by Space marine Legions. As such rumours spread like wildfire that tech adepts of Caminus VII had many of the ever sought out Standard Template Constructs that gave them the capability to produce so many machines of high quality and craftsmanship.

The Emperor himself blessed Caminus VII and looked forward to the bright future the forge world has ahead of itself. Unfortunately such a fate was not to be for this beloved planet. Out of nowhere a massive warpstorm manifested itself near Caminus VII and its system. The entire Caminus system was engulfed; the sudden and violent appearance of the warpstorm prevented any such evacuation to be done, millions perished. The Caminus VII disappeared off face of the galaxy only leaving a deadly warpstorm that has been ravaging on for thousands of years. The exact date of this has been lost but many Imperial scholars speculate it was roughly a few months before the Istvaan V drop site massacre. Perhaps it was an ill omen of the many horrible things to come.

Roughly a few years after the 13^th Black Crusade the warpstorm surrounding the Caminus system suddenly disappeared what was thought of the system being entirely lost reappeared again. Imperial Inquisition and tech adept survey teams immediately scanned the system for any taint of chaos. Surprisingly the system was free of the taint of chaos. Even more shocking was that Caminus VII was found with its entire factories still intact. Perhaps this was a blessing from the Emperor, a chance to churn out the once proud and mighty imperial army the Emperor had led to victory.

However this amazing find did not go unnoticed, nearby fresh from his recent victory Alastair of the Blood Skulls stumbled upon the Caminus system, a system once thought to be lost. As if guided by the mighty god Khorne himself his flagship arrived to Caminus VII. He knew this planet was aforge world during the Great Crusade from old imperial records and it would be crawling with technological wonders to better kill his enemies and spill their blood in the name of Khorne.

Alastair’s troops made planetfall on Caminus VII and immediately made contact with Imperial survey teams. His troops slaughtered them to a man who barely escaped to warn the inquisition teams. Immediately a message was sent out for support nearby, the 197^th Venrian ‘Helghosts’ Armoured Company commanded by General Haxtes Tarkov responded. Without hesitation Tarkov launched a massive armoured counter attack that sent Alastair’s troops reeling. Alastair being more of cunning commander than a mindless killing machine launched systematic counter attacks after another. It has become a stalemate for several months over the precious factories of Caminus VII. Alastair then proceeded to blockade supply lines to Tarkov’s troops. With supplies running low Tarkov’s command staff sent out a distress signal, praying for a miracle.

Fresh from decimating a black legion stronghold a detachment of the Phoenix Legion’s second company led by Captain Ravion Severus intercepts the 197^th’s distress beacon for support. Captain Severus immediately diverts their strike cruiser Indomitable Light towards the coordinates of Caminus VII, shocked to find out the once lost forge world has reappeared and the warpstorm has disappeared.

written by: peter lee

artwork by: Joseph Luong