015.M36
Feeros System - Feeros Sector
Segmentum Ultima
Feeros Magna, the sector capital for the Feeros Sector, a shining beacon of authority and governance within the southern region. It's massive hive city spires pierce the planet atmosphere, dominating the skies above the city and casting long shadows over the bustling city below. Among them, the space elevator is the most striking. A colossal structure that connected the hive city directly to the spaceport in the void above.
Once alive with the vibrant activity of merchant ships and trade vessels, the transport ships now fill the dock, ferrying supplies and reinforcements to systems under siege by the Orks while unloading vital resources from other systems in the same sector.
The Planetary Defence Force (PDF), under the order of the sector governor, work tirelessly in fortifying the spaceport and the hive city. They build bunkers, walls and gun emplacements in preparation to deter any Orks incursions.
Meanwhile, in the wild land, under the order of Departmento Munitorum, the newly formed Feeros Guards regiments train for war. As the request for help only got a grim reply, no reinforcements will arrive for the next 200 years. With no other options and not wanting to lose an entire sector to Xenos, the sector governor was tasked by the Departmento with raising Astra Militarum regiments from the planet's population and the PDF to destroy the Orks and reclaim the lost systems in the Emperor's name.
The only fortunate news was the arrival of supplies from the Departmento Munitorum to Feeros Magna for the newly raised regiments. Since the regiments used the same standard equipment as the PDF, the supplies included vehicles and heavy weapons such as Chimera transports and plasma guns prove a great boon for the regiments and the future of the campaign. In addition to these resources, Commissars from the Officio Prefectus also arrived, ready to enforce discipline and inspire unwavering loyalty among the troops.
At the highest point of the spire stands a grand palace, adorned with towering banners bearing the golden Aquila of the Imperium and the heraldry of the sector governor's dynasty. While there are many statues build around and on the spire, many depicting past and current governors in regal poses, while some depict the Angel of Death, the space marine standing as silent guardians.
Inside one of the largest and most adorned chamber, two men can be seen inside. One sitting on a throne, his large belly barely concealed beneath his luxurious clothing adorned with golden trims and intricate embroidery. His fingers, heavy with rings, tapped nervously on the armrest as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Standing before him was a lean and fit young man, he also wore fine clothing but with a layer of carapace armor overlaid his attire. In his hand, he held a dataslate, its screen active and glowing faintly as he read all the data being display on the screen.
"Any news on the Astarte arrival?" The sector governor ask and if you look closely, there are some sweat coming down from his temple.
The man looked up from the dataslate, meeting the governor's gaze. "The latest update says the Ultramarines and the Doom Eagles are expected in two days. The Howling Griffons will arrive tomorrow." He replied in a calm, formal tone.
"Good, good," the governor said, nodding as a relieved smile spread across his face. "What's the status of the Crimson Fists? Did they require anything from us?"
"As for now, there are no request from them." The young man replied. "They only send battle reports and scout reports to us."
The Crimson Fists were a proud successor chapter of the Imperial Fists, created during the illustrious Second Founding. As a Crusade Chapter, much like the Black Templars, they were always on the move, answering the Imperium's call to arms wherever needed. Among the chapters that responded to the sector's distress call, they were the fastest to arrive, bringing a force of 320 Astartes.
Upon reaching Feeros Magna, they stayed only three days, just enough time to gather intelligence on the situation and allow their forces a brief rest. They then moved out to reinforce the embattled three systems, bringing much-needed hope and strength to the war effort.
Braethon System, contain only one feudal world with another two dead worlds. Due to the sector governor early warning and preparation, the defences for the world have been increase significantly. All the unimportant cities and towns are to be raze to the ground and all PDF will focus on the world capital and the other important cities.
The sector governor have also assigned 10 PDF regiments from Feeros Magna, which now reformed as Feeros Guard regiments to further reinforce the world. All this preparation successful in stopping the Orks advance and let the world hold until relief force arrived.
Vaeros System, contain one hive world and one penal world with two dead worlds. Containing one of the four hive world for the sector, the strategic importance of the world are undisputed. The world is reinforce with Feeros Guard regiments, but also with the penal regiments raise with obedient criminals from the penal world with the promise of freedom and wealth.
However, the world itself have fall into anarchy. With the permission of sector governor and the Lord Marshall that overseeing the sector's Adeptus Arbites, the Arbites Marshall have abandoned the world to it's fate. With all the Arbites personals, they all retreated to the hive world to further bolster their defenses.
Theros System, contain only two industrial worlds that orbit a huge gas giant. Both worlds are task to harvest gasses from the giant and also to manufacture all kind of materials for the sector and it's neighbors. Because the strategics and economical importance of the worlds, each worlds are further reinforce with 45 regiments, primarily drawn from the PDF of worlds located in safe zone.
This three systems are located just south of the Feeros System. If any one of the system fall, then the sector capital will be under threat of Orks invasion. Protecting these systems was crucial to maintaining the sector's stability and ensuring the hive world's safety.
In response of this, the Crimson Fists forces under the command of Captain Gabriel Torvan of 3rd company have decided to separate his forces to hold off the Orks on three systems. The reasons he make this decision are because he know that there are at least three chapter, Ultramarine, Aurora Chapter and Howling Griffons have answer the sector governor call of help and were en route to the sector. With this information in hand, he aimed to hold the systems long enough for reinforcements to arrive, ensuring they did not fall to the Orks and strengthening the Orks further.
Captain Gabriel have assign the 6th company, with total of 100 Astarte to garrison the Braethon System, the 5th company, with total of 100 Astarte to reinforce the Vaeros System and he himself leading the 3rd company, with 100 Astarte and 20 Veterans from 1st company to reinforce the Theros System.
"Hmm?" The young man suddenly raised a hand to his ear, adjusting an earpiece. His face turned anxious as he listened intently. "What do you mean there's a fleet entering the system?" he asked sharply, tension evident in his voice.
The governor hearing this, stand abruptly from his throne. "What's happening? Are the Orks here?" he demanded, stepping toward the young man. His expression shifted from concern to panic.
"Why didn't the Crimson Fists warn us of any Orks breaking through their defenses?" the governor bellowed, his voice rising with a mix of rage and fear. "Gabriel promised us that no Orks would get past those systems!" His final words rang out as both an accusation and a desperate cry.
"What?!" the young man shouted, his voice cutting through the governor's frantic rant.
The sudden outburst silenced the room, drawing the governor's startled gaze.
The young man paused, listening intently to the voice on his earpiece. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smile crept onto his face, growing wider as he processed the information.
"Father!" The young man, son of the sector governor exclaimed, voice fill with excitement as he turn to his father. "It's not the Orks. It's the Ultramarines and the Doom Eagles! They've arrived earlier than expected!"
At the edge of the system, a fleet began to emerge from the warp, its arrival marked by a flash of distortion that gradually cleared, revealing the ships within. The formation consisted of two blue strike cruisers, their hulls gleaming with the symbol of the Ultramarines, and one silver strike cruiser, bearing the insignia of the Doom Eagles.
"Well, we arrive at last." Captain Marcus of 5th company of Ultramarine muttered as he look out the window from the bridge towards the hive world. "Inform Captain Trajan that we will stay at Feeros Magna for a short time. And I hope he can meet the sector governor with me now." He said to the Vox Master of his strike cruiser.
The Vox Master nodded quickly, his fingers already moving across the controls to transmit the message. As the strike cruisers move closer to the world, Master of Etherics suddenly shout from his station. "There's a fleet start exiting the warp at the west edge of the system."
The sudden exclamation from the Master of Etherics snapped Captain Marcus out of his thoughts. His hand instinctively gripped the armrest of his command throne, and he turned to face the station.
"What do you mean? Another fleet?" Marcus asked, his tone sharp with curiosity and a tinge of concern. "We didn't hear that there are reinforcements "
The Master of Etherics, pale from the strain of monitoring the system's fluctuating energies, gestured toward the large display showing the system's space around Feeros Magna. "It's not just one ship, sir. A fleet... large one too. It's too early for any reinforcements to have arrived."
Captain Marcus narrowed his eyes, quickly assessing the situation. "Prepare the ship for possible engagement," he ordered. "Alert Captain Trajan as well. This could be the Orks trying to make their move early, or it could be something else entirely."
The Vox Master, still at his station, immediately relayed the message to Captain Trajan. Meanwhile, the crew on the bridge scrambled to prepare for possible combat.
Other than the Astarte fleet, Battlefleet Feerus that task with protecting the sector also response to the unknown fleet. Compose of two Mars Class Battlecruiser, three Lunar Class Cruiser. two Dictator Class Cruiser with three squadrons of Sword Class Frigate and another four squadrons of Cobra Class Destroyer.
While the fleet appeared sizeable on paper, its effectiveness was hampered by years of poor maintenance. Budget constraints, coupled with the sector's strategic insignificance, had left the ships in a state of disrepair. As a result, the battlefleet was smaller and less capable compared to others in more vital sectors.
As the Astarte ships and the battlefleet moving to intercept the unknown fleet, auspex scan finally pick up the ships that exiting the warp.
"Astarte ship?" Marcus mumur as he look at the ships picture, displaying the undisputed silhouettes of Space Marine vessels.
"It's not the Howling Griffons." The 1st sergeant of his company commented, standing beside his captain. "They should enter the system from the north."
Marcus nodded at this comment, as the Howling Griffons homeworld, Mancora is located to the north. "Identify their markings and heraldry immediately." He said.
As the images grew sharper and more detailed, Marcus carefully examined the ships. There were no signs of heretical markings, no profane sigils, and none of the dreaded eight-pointed star of Chaos.
"My lord, we've received identification codes from the fleet," an officer suddenly announced, breaking the tense silence. "They are the Dark Knights chapter, my lord."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, the name catching his attention. "The Dark Knights?" he murmured. A brief pause followed as the name hung in the air, unfamiliar yet intriguing. "Open a channel. Let's see what brings them to Feeros Magna."
As he waited for the connection to be established, Marcus began typing on the control panel of the holo-table, searching the archives for information on the Dark Knights chapter.
After a few seconds, the holo-table flickered, displaying the data retrieved from the ship's database. But the information is limited with only the Name, Progenitor Chapter, Founding and heraldry. A list of campaigns and battles the Dark Knights had participated in was also included, but much of it was either classified or redacted entirely, leaving only vague or limited references to their actions.
Unbeknownst to him, this lack of accessible data was intentional. Every piece of information regarding the Dark Knights had been meticulously curated and recorded by Nine and inputted into the Imperium archives by the 12 members. This ensured that any publicly available records about the chapter could be strictly controlled. By doing so, this effectively limited the knowledge enemies or even allies could learn about the chapter.
While the limited information slightly frustrated him, there's one information that catch his attention.
'Progenitor Chapter: Ultramarine'
He leaned closer to the holo-table, narrowing his eyes as he reread the entry. A frown crept across his face. To his knowledge, and by extension, the chapter's knowledge, there had been no information regarding a chapter being founded using their gene-seed.
While neither Terra nor Mars was obligated to inform the Ultramarines about such matters, they usually extended the courtesy of notifying the chapter or, at the very least, their emissary stationed on Terra. The absence of any such communication was unusual and troubling.
Marcus tapped the console thoughtfully, his expression darkening. This lack of transparency raised questions, questions he intended to ask once the situation allowed. For now, he would focus on understanding the Dark Knights' purpose in the system.
His thoughts were interrupted as the vox officer spoke up. "My lord, the connection is ready."
Marcus straightened, setting aside his unease about the Dark Knights. The matter of their origins and the lack of communication from Terra or Mars would have to wait.