"The Earth is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal."
- Attributed to Ancient Terran Scholar and Remembrancer
000. M31; Civilized System, 23-56, 'Heruvian System'
The planet of 23-56 was a testament to the perseverance and ingenuity of humanity. The world had been separated and isolated from the rest of Galaxy for a good five thousand years by a particularly ferocious series of warp storms that would tear even the most heavily armored vessel of the Imperial Navy into scrap metal. Yet even with the warp so close to their home the people of 23-56, named '
Heruvia' by its local inhabitants would survive the trials and horrors of Old Night to develop an advanced civilization capable of exploiting their home system to its fullest potential and restoring Dark Age relics.
It was hoped by the 23rd Expeditionary Fleet that the system leaders would gladly throw their arms wide open and welcome their fleet into their home to ensure their compliance and peaceful integration to the Imperium where their technology and developed resources could be used to resupply the 23rd for further expeditions into space for the Great Crusade. Yet the masters of the 23rd would underestimate the arrogance of the '
Heruvian' who scoffed at the ridiculous notion of an Empire whose reach stretched across the stars and whose technology by their standards was inadequate to their own. This attitude and pace of compliance expected of the 23rd would result in a diplomatic incident escalated by both sides to accuse the other side of starting the conflict, thereby allowing them to break off negotiations.
The Fleet Master of the 23rd, Admiral Therebaq lu Coruze and a scion of a prestigious Jovian family deeply entrenched within the admiralty, felt that his martial honour was at stake would then order for fleet to destroy any void capable craft or weapon the Heruvians had to clear the way for the land invasion. Said land invasion would be led by Colonel Olyseus Sichan of House Hydera, son of a long line of Terran born military aristocrats that were among the first to swear fealty to the Emperor.
000. M31; Civilized World, 23-56, Named: 'Heruvia'; Colonel Olyseus Sichan of House Hydera
Colonel Olyseus should've known that the 'honor' of being the first in a planetary invasion was a load of groxshit. It's same kind of honor as when testing a new lasrifle while pointing the barrel to face directly to your eyes to see if it was working.
For the last few days his landings of been interrupted repeatedly by Heruvian skirmishers, his supply lines savaged by Heruvian guerillas and operatives, and his frontline forces decimated by Heruvian fort and barracks garrisons. Despite the training and experience of the 403rd Europa Elite Grenadiers they still struggled heavily against the technologically superior Heruvian forces, the Colonel order the scorching 1/4 of the Planets' forests to secure enough of a buffer zone for other regiments of the 23rd Expeditionary Fleet to land. The ash and cinder from the planet wide flames would help to obfuscate landing craft and the burning eat of the crimson flames would help to interfere with enemy scanning equipment.
Yet even after the landings and numerical superiority of the Imperial forces present on the surface there was a still what could only be considered a stalemate. The Heruvians had, much to the jealously of the Mechanicum forces attached to the 23rd Expeditionary Fleet, been to properly maintain and utilize several military STCs dated to the Dark Age of Technology. Colonel Olyseus had found that these advanced frames of tanks, heavy weapons, and individual infantry armor kits and lasrifles were superior to the weapons at the disposal of his forces. It hadnt helped that the Heruvians a massive complex of bunkers, fortresses, and citadels that surrounded the planetary capital and other strategic regions which were designed with extensive use of kill zones meant to utilize their most lethal weaponry in the most efficient manner. After extensive casualties and reports of deteriorating morale the Colonel would order all regiments to dig in and entrench themselves both to be prepared for a Heruvian counterattack and to begin a long siege.
The Colonel would later be preparing for his last charge after being caught unaware of a Heruvian assault during an inspection of the hastily built bunkers and trench networks near front. There, shrapnel artillery and lascanons tore through the soldiers and armored vehicles like a knife through butter. Heavy mortar shells would turn trench dugouts, trench lines, and concrete bunkers alike into smoldering craters.
Yet, moments for his charge, the Colonel would spot something moving through the sky. The movement was awe-inspiring as thousands of crimson streaks of flame would punch through the the clouds and barrel towards to barren wastelands where the enemy was believed to be coming from. While at feast the screaming streaks of fire were believed to be orbital ordinance of some kind, upon closer scrutiny however the Colonel would see distinctive colors and markings upon the craft and realized soon what they were ....
"Astartes", the infantry officer near him speaking the words he had thought. Indeed Astartes have arrived, and the long and grueling siege would soon be over before it had properly begun. Just before the Colonel could mutter his thanks under his breathe the loud noise of crackling static would bring their attention to the vox-officer.
"Do you c--" *static* "This is Capta---" *static* "of the ---" *static* "-- Legion!" "Who is the commanding officer here! Over!"
The Colonel would quickly grap the vox reciever and hold near his mouth and he barked a response back to the transmitter.
"This is Colonel Olyseus Sichan! I am commander of Imperial Army forces on this planet! I wasn't able to receive your identity could you repeat! Over!"
The officers nearby would tensely await a response from the transmitter until the static came back to life once more.
"This is Captain --"
Choose your legion:
-[] "Gostis Tylion of the Emperor´s Children 9th Company!"
+1 Weapon Skill, +1 Ballistic Skill
-[] "Verronder of the Iron Warriors 17th Company!"
+1 Ballistic Skill, +1 Toughness
-[] "Hrar of the Night Lords 11th Company!"
+1 Perception, +1 Agility
-[] "Drilos Sharrius of the World Eaters 15th Company!"
+1 Weapon Skill, +1 Agility
-[] "Matinos Simeon of the Death Guard 5th Company!"
+1 Toughness, +1 Willpower
-[] "Antasein Invica of the Thousand Sons 4th Fellowship!"
+1 Intelligence, +1 Willpower
-[] "Maklaidin of the Luna Wolves 14th Company!"
+1 Weapons Skill, +1 Fellowship
-[] "Alkost Suro of the Word Bearers!"
+1 Intelligence, +1 Fellowship
Whew that sure took a while to fully write and plan out! But thankfully I forced myself to finish what I had planned to do. I was heavily inspired by ThunderOwl's Loyalty is its own Reward quest. I really liked the quest as I thought that the concept of a traitor legionary stayed loyalists to be very interesting. I also noticed that there was a distinct lack of Horus Heresy quests currently, and I am currently listening to the Audio books I was inspired to do a quest about a Horus Heresy Traitor Legion Captain.
This is my first quest so I appreciate feedback and I will endeavor to improve the quest as much as I can.
