At the urging of Saint Celestine and Gerhard, the human forces and their Ynnari allies moved through the Atheron Mountains. Events were unfolding rapidly, like a large waterfall, and the pilgrims did not have the luxury of time. Whether it was this fact or something about Gerhard, the Imperial survivors seemed to see him in the same position as Saint Celestine. There was some form of trust, especially from the Black Templars, which was veeerrry strange, if one knew about them.
Cadia had fallen, but even more concerning, based on the intensity with which he pursued his shattered foes and his knowledge of their intended destination, the Despoiler knew something about their mission, and he had made sure that the forces to welcome them were heavily bolstered.
From the heights of the plateau, a wide, packed-earth roadway descended the mountainside. It was broad enough for several Baneblade Tanks to pass side by side and angled not too steeply downward between the mountain peaks.
The entire length of the roadway was lined with ancient stone supports, atop which stood stone statues of robed figures unmistakably Space Marines. Lit braziers in the statues' hands released streams of fragrance and smoke, while heaps of devotional offerings and prayer papers were piled at their feet.
As they travelled, the Celestinians and Ynnari kept their weapons ready and their eyes fixed warily on the horizon. All except Gerhard. He was rather enjoying himself and the first planet, apart from his own, where he had been born.
He looked at everything, used [Observe] on all things, and learned more about those around him and the planet itself. It was good that he was here, as it allowed him to get access to one of the two final most essential resources he would need to improve his armoury further.
He could feel the presence of Chaos on the planet and in the air. He was hurrying along, understanding the Wraithbone and already knew how to grow it, which he would do as soon as he got some time.
His most important project was about to produce its first set.
After thinking about it, Gerhard had settled for being a mixture between Iron Man, Doomslayer and Doctor Doom. He was as technologically adept as he was going to be in the fields of magic and Warp usage. So Doom was indeed a good title for him.
Any day now... any day.
.
They made their way through occasional wrecked tanks and scattered corpses, some belonging to the human Defence Auxilia and others to traitorous Chaos cultists. The bodies appeared to have fallen just hours earlier, with their blood still coagulating around them and local insects just beginning to start their meal.
Nevertheless, the pilgrims saw no signs of living beings along the road, whether loyalist or enemy. Archmagos Cawl reassured his comrades that they were travelling in a favourable direction, heading towards a large urban centre and, if his vox-thieves and the local cartographic data were accurate, the Ultramarines' fortification overlooking it.
Gerhard agreed to that, as his auspex feeds told him the same story, but much clearer and in more detail.
The extraordinary allies spoke little as they walked forward. Instead, they listened to the howling of the wind as it moved through the stony cracks of the mountain, the crunch of their armoured feet on the dry earth, and the distant, very familiar sounds of battle carried to them from far away.
Those sounds grew suddenly louder as the road curved around the high flank of the mountain.
Ahead, less than a mile away, a ferrocrete bastion loomed over the roadway, built into the mountainside itself.
The stylised upside-down omega of the Ultramarines was proudly depicted on the structure's large wall, and twin Icarus Stormcannon arrays swivelled back and forth atop its battlements, their barrels rotating at high speeds as they fired into the sky.
But what were they targeting?
The barrage of shots targeted a swarm of Heldrake Daemon Engines. The draconic war machines flew high and circled, diving down to spew chaos flames across the bastion's ramparts before flying away again with almost mocking roars and then doing it all over again.
One of the Heldrakes noticed the small group of pilgrims and broke off, turning toward them.
"Heldrake! Get to battle stations! Everyone spread out and seek cover inside the Imperial bastion!!" Marshal Amalrich was the first to react.
The Imperial Knights of House Taranis swiftly overtook the men and women running on the ground, their pilots urging their mechanical constructs into a fast run.
Brrooom---Brrooom---
The massive war engines shook the ground as they advanced, their guns slowly swivelling skyward, aiming for the daemon engines that had noticed them, thanks to the rather large war machines.
One of the Knights carried an Icarus Stormcannon array atop its broad carapace, and as the Heldrake descended into firing range, the massive walker construct unleashed its fire.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-
Gatling cannons and heavy stubbers joined the barrage, filling the air with a storm of projectiles that ripped the wing off the approaching Daemon Engine, sending it spinning down and detonating against the mountainside.
BOOOM--!!
One of the roaring Heldrakes was blown apart outright as it turned around to attack the pilgrims, while the third broke off its assault and rushed away into the clear blue skies, quickly increasing its speed until it was barely more than a distant speck.
But Gerhard wasn't going to let anything get away.
"Do you have it?" he asked.
H: > Affirmative.
"Then bring it down."
SCHHH---BOOOOOMM---
The typical sound of the Mana Baneblade Cannon firing could be heard, followed by a ridiculously fast shell zooming into the sky. The miniature rocket sped upward and out of everyone's field of vision.
Despite not seeing anything, no one took their eyes off of it, somehow trusting Gerhard's capabilities and that of his creation. And indeed, a few seconds afterwards, an explosion could be heard and even seen in the sky.
But not only that. A minute later, the few remains of the Heldrake sizzled down on the ground. Gerhard smiled as he got the notification for killing the Daemon Engine.
The Knights came to a halt, their weapons ticking as they cooled, unlike Gustav's weapons, which hadn't even gotten very warm yet, and the rest of the group quickly caught up with them.
...
Moments later, the armoured, large doorway of the Ultramarine bastion hissed as its pressure locks disengaged. The heavy door swung open, and a trio of Ultramarines battle-brothers emerged with their bolters raised.
Gerhard used [Observe] on them.
Brother-Sergeant Marius – Lv.60
|HP: 9,430/12,500
|MP: 500
|A veteran Ultramarines sergeant, leading from the front with disciplined aggression and battlefield awareness.
STR: 115
VIT: 110
DEX: 75
Weapons:
| Bolter
| Chainsword
Traits:
| Veteran Leader
| +10% accuracy and reaction speed for nearby allies
---
Brother Cassian – Lv.58
|HP: 10,737/11,500
|MP: 450
|A heavy weapons specialist providing suppressive fire and anti-armour support.
STR: 110
VIT: 105
DEX: 60
Weapons:
| Heavy Bolter
| Bolt Pistol
Traits:
| Suppressive Fire
| Reduces enemy movement and accuracy under sustained fire
---
Terminator Brother Acastus – Lv.65
|HP: 14,920/20,000
|MP: 500
|A heavily armoured elite warrior clad in Tactical Dreadnought Armour, capable of absorbing massive punishment while delivering devastating close-range firepower.
STR: 145
VIT: 145
DEX: 45
Weapons:
| Storm Bolter
| -> Twin-linked, high rate of fire
| Power Fist
Traits:
| Tactical Dreadnought Armour
| +80% physical resistance
| +60% energy resistance
| Cannot be staggered by small arms fire
---
Gerhard smiled, seeing their stats rise just because they now had a name. Usually, a Space Marine sat at around 100 for his physical stats of STR and VIT. But Sergeant Marius and Cassian were above that. Gerhard had effectively interfered with cause and effect here, making them stronger simply by giving them a name.
The question now was whether they would keep this boost or let it go after he left. This was some Schrödinger's Cat-type shit, right there.
The Ultramarines advanced cautiously, keeping their weapons trained on the Eldar. Amplifying his voice through his vox grill, Sergeant Marius spoke first.
"Halt! You stand upon the soil of Laphis, of the realm of Ultramar. Name yourselves and your purpose. You carry the sigils of the Inquisition and the marks of a Living Saint, yet you walk in the company of Xenos. Explain this sight before our fire finds a target!"
Saint Celestine stepped forward, her wings unfurling slightly, radiating a warm, golden light that seemed to calm the heightened battle stances.
"There is no need for hostilities, sons of Guilliman. I am Celestine, and I walk the path the Emperor has set before me. This is no mere coincidence, but a divine pilgrimage ordained by the Master of Mankind Himself. We carry with us Archmagos Dominus, Belisarius Cawl and a relic of vital importance. We must reach the Lord of Ultramar without delay."
Inquisitor Greyfax stepped up beside her, her voice cold and sharp as was expected of an Inquisitor.
"I am Inquisitor Katarinya Greyfax of the Ordo Hereticus. While your suspicion is noted and, in any other hour, encouraged, these Xenos are a necessary evil for completing a task that outweighs local protocols."
If they had encountered a less rational or temperate Space Marines Chapter, tensions may have escalated into violence very quickly. For the Ultramarines, the combined presence of an Inquisitor and a Living Saint, despite their somewhat strained demeanour towards one another, was sufficient to counterbalance the presence of the Eldar at their side.
"You have arrived in a dark hour. A flight of Stormravens is already inbound to this coordinate to clear the skies of the Heldrake swarms. I will divert two of these gunships to transport your leadership. They will take you to the Strike Cruiser Sword of Honour."
The Living Saint smiled, appearing entirely unsurprised when the Ultramarines informed her about the arrival of Stormravens. These packs of Heldrakes were harassing the fortifications in the region and naturally had to be dealt with.
"However, we can only spare you two of the gunships, which will transport you to the Strike Cruiser Sword of Honour. Which will then carry you onwards to Macragge," Marius continued. "The Lord of Ultramar has returned to the Fortress of Hera, just days earlier. We will ensure your safe arrival there."
"We thank you for your help and shall not forget this," Celestine said.
.
While they awaited the incoming gunships, the pilgrims divided their forces. All of the Ynnari, except for Yvraine and the Visarch, returned to the Webway portal, leaving this world to spread the word of Ynnead among their people.
As a gesture of goodwill towards their Ultramarines hosts, Celestine requested that the Battle Sisters of Our Martyred Lady remain on Laphis and support them. Together with the Knights of House Taranis, they would place themselves at the disposal of the Ultramarines to assist in the ongoing defence of the planet.
But not only that. Gerhard even agreed to allow Gustav to remain on Laphis for the time being, until the Chaos forces were cleared. For this reason, he had Sera Vahl and Hans stay as well, remaining on the planet to help shorten the duration of all this.
They didn't really have a choice in the matter, as Gustav was far too big to be transported by the Stormravens. And since Gerhard didn't want anyone else 'controlling' or guiding Gustav, Hans had to stay there.
But he knew that it would be fine either way. If things still somewhat followed what he remembered, then all of Ultramar was under attack by Chaos forces and having Gustav here was a rather good thing, as they could set this world up as a temporary station for the future campaign.
The traitor forces had to be purged at some point. Naturally, they would start at the very centre, then move outwards. The Ultramarines, and especially their Primarch, were organised and logical people, unwilling to allow even a single world to fall into anyone else's hands.
They didn't have much choice right now, as the attacks were incredibly aggressive and coming from all sides, but they would hold for a long time and strike back with more and more precision as they adapt and improve. That was what it meant to go against the blue boys.
In a galaxy-spanning Imperium, logistics were overpowered. And honestly, Gerhard was happy to meet what may very well be the last remaining person capable of common sense and logical thinking.