Chapter 20: Pincer Attack
"Fuck! Were you able to get out the message?!" the Vice-Captain of the Star Hunters asked as he stood aboard the bridge of their Great Company's flagship. A missile had barely missed them and sent vibrations throughout the ship.
"We've called out and the 2nd Legion has responded. They are sending two of their Chapter Fleets but I'm not sure how long it will be until they arrive," the captain of the ship replied, her voice steady, even in such difficult times
This Chapter of the Star Hunters had been screwed by fate. They were attempting to bring a world under the subjugation of the Imperium when everything went wrong.
The rulers of the planet refused and attacked the Astartes on the ground, not respecting the parley. And to make matters worse, their fleet which was located around a nearby planet was caught by surprise as the enemy fleet and their allies ambushed them.
Though the main fleet was able to retreat, they were unwilling to simply leave due to their pride.
The Star Hunters were the outsiders among the Legions. They usually operated very independently within the Legion itself but especially amongst outsiders. One should have never relied on Star Hunters to provide reinforcements or ask for help. Both were rare occasions that had happened only twice, including their current situation.
So for two weeks, they had been battling the enemy fleet, all over the system. They had to use their ships for hit-and-run tactics but they were far from effective due to being low on supplies and munitions. Every shot of theirs had to be carefully calculated.
"Fuck! Have the Imperial Navy act as a blockade. We'll fire through the gaps!" the Astartes Vice-Captain ordered ruthlessly.
Most Astartes Fleets were accompanied by Imperial Navy fleets. These fleets belonged to a different branch of the Imperium and usually obeyed the orders of their most senior officer but they were often kid-, recruited by other forces to assist in their missions.
He knew that they couldn't afford to lose their Astartes and was having the Imperial Navy act as sacrifices. A single Astartes was worth more than an entire one of their ships in his eyes.
The captain nodded and was about to relay the order when they saw a massive, purple portal open in the distance. They saw a massive Gloriana ship emerge from the rift followed by 2 Chapter Fleets.
They had been traveling for 3 days through the Warp, stuck viewing all the horrors that were within.
As soon as they emerged from the portal the escort vessels moved away from the larger ships and began to quickly close the gap, the Swords absorbing the little fire that they were taking due to the suddenness of their arrival while the Cobras were following close behind them.
Once they got in range, the Cobras moved from behind the Swords and unleashed a wave of torpedoes that bypassed the void shields of the enemy vessels, crashing into their hulls and detonating.
While the escort vessels were moving closer, the cruisers and battleships were turning to their sides so they could unleash hell on the enemy force.
"Ready to fire on your command," Spencer reported back to Baldur, ready to let the rebels know what it meant to attack an Imperial Fleet.
"Fire," Baldur ordered coldly.
"This is Admiral Gilmore of the Grey Knights. All ships are to open fire!"
There was a sudden flash as countless Lances and Macrocannons unleashed hell. Beams of energy, artillery shells, and massive packets of plasma were all fired from the Grey Knight fleet.
It was not just the Grey Knights who opened fire. The Imperial Navy and Star Hunter ships had been put through the wringer and wanted their get back.
The moment they saw that the Grey Knights emerged from the Warp, they began to reposition their ships, no longer showing their backs to the defenders but turning to their sides to fire their broadside weapons.
Their ships let loose with everything they had, forcing the attackers to be overwhelmed by the intense firepower. The void shields that they had been so proud of were overwhelmed by the attacks from both sides, unable to hold on to the sudden attacks. Their hulls couldn't handle the pressure either and were soon breached.
With a single volley, half of the enemy fleet had been destroyed while most of the survivors were crippled. Few of their ships could be said to be in working condition.
"Your Majesty. The enemy is surrendering. What are your orders?" the communications officer asked
Baldur didn't answer immediately. He looked toward the enemy fleet and tapped his fingers on the arm of his seat. The entire bridge was silent, none of them wanting to break his train of thought.
The members of the Star Hunter and the enemy fleet were also concerned. The Star Chasers knew that they were before a Primarch and a larger fleet that had come to their aid. Even if they did not want to accept the enemy's surrender, they would have no choice if Baldur agreed.
As for the enemy fleet, they were worried about the opposite. They knew how the Imperium treated those who went against it.
After a few minutes, Baldur finally spoke up.
"We were ordered to ensure the survival of our allies. Now that their fleet is crippled, we don't need to do anything else nor do I care about them. Let the Star Hunter be the ones to decide their fate," Baldur washed his hands of the matter. Whether they lived to died was not his concern. He was simply there to save the Imperium fleet and his Vth brother's sons. As long as he did that, then what happened after had nothing to do with him.
The communication officer heard this and passed it over short-range communication to the rest of the Grey Knight Fleet and to the other two fleets.
When the other fleets heard this, they all knew what Baldur was doing. They were decreeing that the enemy fleet could be executed.
Without hesitation, the Imperial Navy and Star Hunters fired all of their Lances and Macrocannons at the fleet that had surrendered. After being tortured for two weeks and with the fate of their Captain and Astartes unknown, they wanted to unleash hell on those who had been causing them so much trouble.
It took several rounds since they did not have the same numbers as the Grey Knights' fleet but they were able to finish off the defending fleet.
"Thank you, Lord Primarch. The Vth Legion shall remember this favor," the vice-captain reached out to the Invictus over the comms, wanting to express his gratitude.
Part of him wanted to ask for the Grey Knights to assist with the invasion but he knew that he had already disgraced his Legion enough by asking for assistance in the first place. He knew that he had to handle the rest.
"I'll take it up with my Vth brother when we find him," Baldur told them, showing that he viewed them as allies because they were sons of his brother and to not take the favor so seriously.
The Grey Knight Fleet stayed in the system for another week while the Star Hunters performed their invasion. They did not interfere, simply watching. Even when the Star Hunters began an orbital bombardment, their communications remained silent.
After a week of no more enemy ships emerging, Baldur ordered his fleet to retreat back to Feluc. Their job was officially done.
Weekly Power Status
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