A full broadside from the two Lunar-class cruisers tore through the void, macro-shells and lance fire smashing into the last of the Orks' crude vessels. The ramshackle ship broke apart in a chain of secondary explosions, its wreckage tumbling silently into the darkness.
The battle was over.
Wreckage from nearly twenty Ork warships drifted across the engagement zone. Of those, only two were large enough to be classified as cruisers. The rest had been little more than escorts and improvised hulks.
Yet this was not the warfleet Atharion had been warned of.
Not the armada described in the reports delivered to him and the war council.
Atharion stood at the observation viewport on the bridge of the Eternal Vigilance, his thunder hammer resting against the deck as he studied the aftermath.
"So," he said at last, his voice low, "where is the warfleet you reported?"
On the tactical table, hololithic of an Astarte from the Dark Knights, or more precisely, a member from the reconnaissance squad.
There are almost twenty reconnaissance squads that operating within the Ork Empire of Octarius, gathering information before even the Crusade have begin.
"According to the last transmission from 3rd squad, we suspected they are moving towards west."
"West?" Atharion murmured, his brow furrowing. "They are retreating?"
That made little sense. Orks will not withdraw from any battle they can find—unless the Warboss leading them have died or there's something else is happening.
"That was our initial assessment as well, my lord," the scout replied. "However, we have since received a transmission from the 16th Reconnaissance Squad."
Atharion straightened.
"And?"
"Their report provides clarification," the Astartes said. "The Orks are not retreating."
A pause.
"They are massing."
Atharion's expression darkened. "Where are they heading?"
The hololithic display shifted, stellar charts flaring into view as a single system was highlighted.
"Ryza," the scout said. "And not only the warfleet, my lord. Large numbers of Ork forces are converging on the system."
Ryza, one of the most important forge world that exist within the Imperium. They most famous for its plasma weapons and laser weapons and vehicles mounted with them, such as the feared Leman Russ Executioner, which only they capable of producing and the Stormblade Super Heavy Tank, which is designed by them.
The forge world also the home of Legio Cruisius, also know as the Warmonger. A Legio that known as planners and forward thinkers, renowned even among the logical Mechanicum. The first to study Titan vs. Titan combat. They also have a long-standing reputation as savage city-breakers and world burners.
While Ryza is a normal forge world like the others, the forge world and the worlds around it have almost all plunge into war due to the two Ork Waaagh!s — Waaagh! Grax and Waaagh! Rarguts attack Ryza and the surrounding worlds in M41. And just as situation can't be worse, the creation of the Great Rift also resulted the forge world to be invaded by hordes of Daemons. This made Ryza not only classified as a forge world, but also a war world.
"There's should be a reason why the Orks are moving towards Ryza." Atharion said. "So, is there's something happen on Ryza, or in Octarius itself?"
"We're unsure." The Astarte said while slightly shaking his head. "But we suspected that there's a Warboss leading the charge towards the forge world."
"Another Warboss?" Atharion asked. "What of the Overfiend? Do we have any confirmation of its status?"
The Astartes shook his head.
"No, my lord," he replied. "There has been no sign of the Overfiend since our first reconnaissance teams began operations. Not on Octarius, and not on any of the key worlds."
Atharion's expression darkened.
"Then the only conclusion is that the Overfiend himself is leading the attack on Ryza," he said. "There is no other explanation."
He turned his gaze back to the projection.
"Continue your mission. Locate the Overfiend if you can, and inform me immediately if any Ork warfleet moves toward Heilbronn."
"Yes, my lord," the Astartes replied, bowing his head slightly. "We will not fail you."
The hololithic image flickered and vanished.
Atharion exhaled slowly.
This was not how he had planned things. Fewer Orks in this system was a blessing—but if Ryza faced the Overfiend, or even one of his greatest Warbosses, the Forge World might not be able to hold on its own.
"Inform the Dread Chamber," Atharion said to Viktor. "They will handle the Ork extermination in this system."
"Alone?" Viktor asked.
"Yes," Atharion answered flatly.
Viktor nodded. "Understood, my lord. I will inform the Grand Master at once."
He turned and left the bridge.
Dread Chamber, the formation that comprised of Astartes that draw from all the companies, except 1st and 10th. After going into battle for many time, some of them have become too cold, almost to the level of the traitors.
This resulting Atharion to pull them out and create the Dread Chamber, one that he draw inspiration from the Dark Angels' Dreading. Those assign to the chamber are equip with weaponry that purely to unleash destruction and death.
The weaponry that they have access to are the plasma burners, plasma incinerators and phosphex grenades. They also have missile launcher that can be loaded with phosphex missiles.
Other than the normal Astarte, the chamber currently also have 5 Contemptor Dreadnoughts. And while the Astartes still have their mind intact, these warriors have completely loss their, reducing them into mad machine that attack anything they see.
Because of the nature of the chamber's creation, Atharion appointed a member of the Chaplaincy—specifically the Reclusiarch—to serve as its Grand Master and overseer. His duty was to ensure the warriors' sanity remained intact after each deployment.
And if one of them lost himself completely—
The Reclusiarch would end it before the madness could spread.
Now, with the situation changing too rapidly to allow hesitation, Atharion refused to waste time on two strategically insignificant systems.
After issuing his orders to the Dread Chamber, he turned his full attention to reorganizing the War Host for the reconquest of the Heilbronn System.
Barely seven months after the Crusade had begun, Atharion arrived at their primary objective.
The Heilbronn System consisted of four worlds. At its heart lay Heilbronn Primus, a heavily populated and industrialized world that served as the sub-sector capital. The remaining three planets were also habitable, each supporting vital agri-domes, manufactoria, and population centers that fed and sustained the wider region.
This mean, the Orks within this system will be the strongest that the War Host will face since the start of the Crusade.
After all, from what the reconnaissance squads have successfully gather, each worlds not only have a large numbers of 'Ard Boyz, heavy vehicles and walkers. Other than these, the Ork also have many Stompas and a significant numbers of Gargants on each worlds.
Because of this, Atharion was forced to proceed with caution. Each world had to be taken one at a time, ensuring losses in manpower and war matériel were kept to a minimum.
Five months of relentless warfare followed.
World by world, the Ork presence was broken. When the First War Host finally arrived to reinforce the campaign, the final assault on Heilbronn itself could at last be planned—and executed.
===
339.M36
Heilbronn - Zone-Tertius
"I'm glad to see you and your Legio here, Princeps Mankata." Atharion said to the Princeps Maximus of the Legio Solaria.
Legio Solaria, also known as the Imperial Hunters is a all-women Legio with only the few numbers of male acting as Tech-Priests and Servitors.
The Legio was founded by the Knight World Noble Mohana Mankata VI in the early Great Crusade after she was denied the right to pilot a Knight suit on her homeworld of Procon VI, despite winning a horseriding competition to decide future Knights. But, her skill impressed the Mechanicum, and she exiled herself to become the founder of a new Titan Legion with their aid. The Legion became known for its embrace of emotions, hit-and-run tactics and humanity - putting it at odds with the rest of the cold and ruthless Mechanicum.
Legio Solaria have the forge world Tigrus as their home, but since Tigrus overrun by an Ork Waaagh! in M35, they have become a Legio without a home, roaming around the Imperium as almost a crusading Legio, fighting where they're most needed.
Now, hearing what happening at Octarius, the highest leader of the Legio Solaria that survive, Princeps Maximus Mankata have bring what's left of their once mighty Legio here.
Once powerful Legio, they now only able to field 10 Warlord, 9 Reavers and 12 Warhounds.
Yet even diminished, the Imperial Hunters remained deadly.
Their arrival was timely for both War Hosts. Legio Argentum Fulgur and Legio Praesagius had suffered significant damage during the campaigns on the outer worlds. Engagements with Ork Gargants had left 3 Warlords, 5 Reavers, and 3 Warhounds of Legio Argentum Fulgur, as well as 2 Reavers and 3 Warhounds of Legio Praesagius, in need of extensive repairs.
With Legio Solaria's arrival, the balance of god-machines was restored.
"The honor is ours, Lord Atharion." Mankata said as she incline her head slightly. "I hope that you will assign a worthy battlefield for us."
"That I will." Atharion nodded as he begin to lead her towards the tactical table. "I have always wanted to see how the Imperial Hunters in action."
At the table, Atharion brought up a detailed hololithic map of Heilbronn Primus, zooming in on the capital hive—now a vast Ork stronghold. Gargant markers clustered around its core like tumors.
"According to our plan," Atharion said, "Chapter Master Agrippan and I will lead the main forces of our respective War Hosts in a pincer assault on the hive."
The display updated, showing two massive arrows closing in from opposite directions.
"Our intent is to force the Orks to split their strength," he continued, "drawing their Gargants and Stompas into the open. Once they commit, Legio Argentum Fulgur and Legio Praesagius will deal with them."
Atharion's gauntlet moved again. The map zoomed outward, highlighting a sprawling manufactorum complex on the other side of a mountain range.
"Your Legio," he said, turning to Mankata, "will lead the assault here."
The manufactorum district pulsed red on the display.
"Reconnaissance suggests the Orks have two Gargants that is fully operational, they are also onstructing new Gargants and Stompas there."
Atharion's voice hardened.
"You will support the attack group there to conquer the manufactorum district and destory all the Gargants there."
He paused, then met Mankata's gaze.
"Show us that the Imperial Hunters are still the same—swift, relentless, and merciless."
Heilbronn, as stated before, is a hive world. As both the capital of a sub-sector and a vital link in the regional defense line, the planet possesses vast manufactorum networks. These facilities produce enormous quantities of weapons, ammunition, and flak armour to supply the ever-growing ranks of the Planetary Defence Force. Several manufactorums are also capable of assembling Chimeras and limited numbers of Leman Russ battle tanks for local deployment.
This relentless industrial output has stripped the world of all natural water sources and vegetation. The environment has been poisoned by centuries of toxic discharge, worsened further by the devastation caused during repeated Ork invasions.
The planet's surface is divided by massive mountain ranges, naturally separating Heilbronn into three primary zones.
Zone Primus is a mining region, containing vast subterranean extraction networks and a single hive city that supports them.
Zone Secundus serves as the political and industrial heart of the world. It contains the capital hive and the primary manufactorum complexes. In addition to these, three other hive cities are located within the zone.
Zone Tertius is the main heavy industrial region. Three enormous manufactorum districts dominate the zone, alongside two additional hive cities built to serve the factories.
At present, Atharion and Chapter Master Agrippan have secured two of the smaller hive cities in Zone Secundus. These hives are now being used as staging grounds for the assault on the capital hive. Both commanders have committed the majority of their respective War Hosts to this operation. Their task is not only to engage the main Ork force, but also to draw its full attention, allowing other strike groups to complete their objectives elsewhere on the planet.
In addition to the main assault force, three secondary attack groups have been deployed to secure the rest of Heilbronn.
The second group, led by the Sons of Guilliman and supported by the Eagle Warriors and Novamarines, has been tasked with securing Zone Tertius. Their objective is to seize or destroy the manufactorum districts, denying the Orks the ability to produce war machines. They are supported by the one Tharos Macroblade and Legio Solaria.
The third group consists of the Mortifactors and five Camelarion Auxilia regiments. Their mission is to secure Zone Primus, purge the Orks from the underground mining networks, and deny them access to raw materials.
The final group is formed from the White Scars, Mantis Warriors, and Black Dragons, supported by ten Camelarion Auxilia tank regiments. They have no fixed zone of operation. Instead, they serve as a highly mobile strike force, deployed wherever the fighting is fiercest or where the greatest damage can be inflicted upon the Orks.
As columns of Chimeras and Leman Russ battle tanks rolled out from the captured hive cities and advanced toward the capital hive, the god-machines of Legio Argentum Fulgur began their march.
The ground trembled with each step of the Titans. When the lead Warlord sounded its war-horn, the Auxilia ranks erupted in cheers.
Many of them had fought alongside Titans before.
But even now, the sight still lifted their spirits.