338.M36
Sigma-Ulstari
"By my estimation, we can hold for no more than three more days," reported Temur Khan of the White Scars' 8th Brotherhood through the hololith. "After that, we'll begin losing control of most of the planet's territories."
"The same goes for us," said the Captain of the Mantis Warriors' 5th Company, his image flickering beside the Khan's. "We can probably hold a little longer, but our auspex shows more Orks inbound. I wouldn't place much faith in our current lines holding beyond that."
"I understand," Agrippan replied gravely. "We'll organize reinforcements for both of your positions. I'll dispatch detachments from the Mortifactors and Eagle Warriors, along with ten regiments of Ultramar Auxilia to support your lines."
"Is there anything else you require?" Atharion interjected swiftly, sensing that both commanders were preparing to return to the front. "I can provide Land Raiders, Rhinos, Predators, or Land Speeders if needed — as well as fresh suits of power armour, weaponry, and their respective munitions."
Hearing this, both of them requested a large number of Land Speeder Tornado and Typhoon, plus the munitions for bolter and flamer weaponry which they can use to fight as they intended, launching attack through speed, precision and relentless assault just like Jaghatai teaches them.
As both commanders expressed their thanks, their hololithic projections flickered and dissolved, leaving only the faint afterimage of their forms lingering above the dais.
The strategium fell silent for a moment, broken only by the hum of the hololithic projectors. Leaving the Astarte officers and mortal officers around the holo table, preparing for their own meeting.
"With Mortifactors and Eagle Warriors gone, we need to better plan our next move." Captain Gaius from Novamarines 2nd Company said. "And with more warbands coming, we have no firm information with how the Overfiend will react to this invasion."
Agrippan nodded. "Indeed, but luckily, the Orks have overextended themselves." The projection begin to show where most of the Orks are. "Still, their numbers still able to overwhelmed us if we're not careful enough." He stop before turning towards the High Princeps from Legio Argentum Fulgur and Legio Praesagius. "Even when we have Titans on our side."
"How about we separate to two forces?" Atharion suggested. "We advance on two front and regroup with White Scars and Mantis Warriors, then we will begin a push into the Orks conquer region."
As Atharion talk, the projection also begin it's change. Twin blue lines snaked outward from Sigma-Ulstari, connected with the White Scars and Mantis Warriors. Then, both lines swept through clusters of green-marked worlds, their color shifting to blue as the simulation displayed the planned reconquest.
And at its end, is the world serving as the Heilbronn Sub-Sector capital, a vital industrial and hive world that had once supplied vast quantities of munitions, armor, and manpower to the Astra Militarum Regiments and PDF forces battling to hold back the Orks. Its fall had crippled Imperial logistics across the region, hastening the greenskin advance.
As the hololithic map rotated, the strategium filled with the low murmur of debate. Officers and commanders exchanged terse assessments and projections, their voices cutting through the rhythmic pulse of cogitator engines. Many argued that dividing the crusade's strength was too great a risk — a single misstep could see one war host overwhelmed by the Orks' sheer numbers. Yet others warned that advancing as a single, massive host would draw every nearby warband into a single, disastrous confrontation, bogging the crusade down in a slow and attritional campaign.
The discussion stretched on, voices rising and falling in turn, until finally consensus was reached. The plan — though perilous — was accepted. The crusade would divide its might.
First War Host will march under Chapter Master Agrippan. It will include Ultramarine and Novamarines, 35 Camelarion Auxilia Infantry Regiments, 20 Camelarion Auxilia Armored Regiments and 10 Camelarion Auxilia Artillery Regiments. They further supported by the 4 Macrocaldes from Gantz and Konor with Titans from Legio Praesagius.
Second War Host will march under Supreme Grand Master Atharion. It will include Dark Knights, 30 Camelarion Auxilia Infantry Regiments, 20 Camelarion Auxilia Armored Regiments and 10 Camelarion Auxilia Artillery Regiments. They further supported by the 4 Macrocaldes from Thoros and Titans from Legio Argentum Fulgur.
The First War Host would advance along a front with fewer Ork warbands, driving a spearhead through the greenskin lines to link up with the White Scars and Mortifactors. The Second War Host, facing heavier concentrations of Orks, would push through the eastern regions to regroup with the Mantis Warriors and Eagle Warriors.
Once both fronts were stabilized, the twin war hosts would begin their final march toward the Heilbronn sub-sector capital, liberating as many worlds as possible along the way. This strategy ensured that a secure and stable supply line could reach the capital world—vital not only for sustaining the Crusade but also for providing the resources necessary to rebuild the reclaimed worlds and restore them to their intended purpose.
The Fabricator-General of Sigma-Ulstari had offered to deploy his Skitarii Legions to accompany the Crusade. However, given that Sigma-Ulstari was the nearest Forge World capable of supplying and providing early reconstruction aid to the liberated planets, both Agrippan and Atharion declined the offer. Instead, the Fabricator-General was granted priority rights to the raw materials recovered from reconquered worlds, on the condition that his forges continue to supply the Crusade and aid in the rebuilding efforts.
As the two War Hosts departed the system, four Ultramar Auxilia Regiments and ten Camelarion Auxilia Infantry Regiments were assigned to garrison duty. Their charge was to defend the Sigma-Ulstari System and to secure each newly reclaimed world alongside Mechanicus Cohorts from the Forge World—ensuring that none would fall to the Orks again.
===
The SU-09 and SU-76 Systems lay within the Heilbronn Sub-Sector, forming the bulwark between the raging Ork Empire and the Imperium's holdings in the Pankallis Sub-sector. Now, both systems were locked in desperate defense — the White Scars and Mantis Warriors fighting savagely to prevent the greenskin tide from breaching any farther inward.
As the Second War Host advanced toward the SU-76 System — where the Mantis Warriors and Eagle Warriors continued their bitter struggle — Atharion had been forced to divide his forces. Grand Master Aldarion have been ordered to led his 4th Company and a small fleet detachment to destroy all the Warbands that slipped through the front.
While the main Ork horde was contained by the White Scars and Mantis Warriors, splinter warbands still managed to break through into the Pankallis, raiding mining colonies, agri-settlements, and even minor Forge enclaves. Each attack was brutal and seemingly directionless — yet together, they risked destabilizing the Second War Host supply corridor and the stability of the Sub-sector.
After going through the Warp for one standard Terran day, the Second War Host have finally arrived at their destination. SU-76 System contain three worlds with only one have the requirements to serve as a habital world, while the other two only serve as a mining world and have lease to the Mechanicum to harvest it's raw materials.
When the Orks break through the defensive line with the Sub-sector capital serving as it's heart, the governor of SU-76-A, the only habital world have requested the Forge World of Sigma-Ulstari to send it's military force to help in it's defense. And because of the two Mining Worlds are lease to them, the Forge World have send five Cohorts to reinforce the System.
Though in the face of the Orks attack, the System have fully embroil in war and destruction, with the two Mining Worlds fall just after five days of bloody fighting.
"Go! Go! Go! Move your legs if you don't want to die here uselessly!" The Sergeant bellowed as he fire his lasrifle at the Orks while his squad exiting the Valkyrie and stand beside him.
Around them, more squads disembarked from their Valkyries, fanning out across the blasted terrain and taking cover behind the wreckage of hab-blocks and craters. Precise bursts of las-fire cut through the smoke-filled air, forming a crimson curtain between the charging Orks and the Imperial lines. Greenskins fell by the dozens, but still they came, roaring and howling through the carnage.
Behind the frontlines, the skies thundered as hundreds of Devourer-class dropships descended through the choking atmosphere. One by one they landed in great plumes of dust, their ramps slamming down as waves of Guardsmen and tanks rolled out. Their livery was uniform—midnight black with silver trim—marking them as soldiers of the Camelarion Auxilia.
While the infantry regiments began reorganizing into their assigned formations, the armored columns were already on the move. Leman Russ Battle Tanks and Punisher variants rumbled out from the landing zone, their cannons roaring as they reinforced the Auxilia forces holding the perimeter. The ground trembled beneath their treads, each salvo carving deep wounds into the Ork advance.
As the infantry began their steady push outward, the skies above filled with Imperial aircraft. A Stormhawk screamed overhead, flanked by several Thunderhawks and Thunderbolt dropships, all heading westward.
Aboard the lead Stormbird, Supreme Grand Master Atharion stood amidst the rumble of the engines, surrounded by his Seraph Wardens. The Stormbird was bound for the embattled western front—where the Mantis Warriors, Eagle Warriors, and the remnants of the Imperial defense still fought to hold the line.
Though the reinforcements and supplies had arrived in time to save the Mantis Warriors from annihilation, a sudden surge in Ork activity across the system proved that the war was far from over. Dozens of new Warbands had entered the theater—fresh greenskin hordes pouring from the void and from the surface alike, drawn to the rising din of battle like moths to flame.
"Captain, what's your situation?" Atharion asked, his tone firm and composed as the hololithic projection of the Mantis Warriors' captain flickered erratically, distorted by interference from the ongoing battle. "I've landed my Auxilia to divert the Orks' attention from your position. I'm en route to your coordinates as we speak."
"We're holding the last manufactorum district—barely," the captain replied, his voice harsh and strained beneath the background roar of bolter fire, explosions, and the guttural bellows of Orks. His armor was blackened with soot and blood, the glow of flames reflecting off his emerald plate. "The Eagle Warriors are manning the western flank, taking the brunt of the Orks' assaults. The surviving Skitarii are still fighting effectively, but their numbers are dwindling. They've been cut off from supply for weeks, and their Magos Dominus was slain two days ago."
The captain paused, glancing aside as muffled voices barked reports and command sigils flashed in the air beside him. He turned away briefly, issuing orders to his sub-commanders before returning to the hololith.
"We can hold for a few more hours at most," he continued grimly. "Once the manufactorum falls, the Orks will have a direct path into the hab-spires and the orbital defense grid. If that happens—"
"It won't," Atharion interrupted, his voice cutting through the interference. "I'm twenty minutes from your position. Hold your ground. My Auxilia have already begun their assault on the Ork lines. Auspex readings confirm that a significant portion of the greenskin horde has been drawn away from your sector. The tide is turning, Captain. Final victory will be ours—as it always has been."
The captain exhaled, some of the tension in his stance easing. "Understood, Brother Atharion. I'll relay this to the Fire Hawks and Skitarii cohorts." He reached for his helmet, the red optics flaring to life as he locked it into place.
"The Emperor protects, brother."
"And He guides our blades," Atharion replied before the hololith dissolved into static, leaving only the rhythmic hum of the Stormbird's engines.
"My Lord, the Auxilia have fully engaged with the Orks." Viktor said with his usual mechanical distorted voice. "They also confirm multiple Ork convoys converging on their position — a large mechanized force, likely responding to the diversion."
"Good." Atharion nodded. "This mean that the diversion is a success. Signal the bomber wing to commence their mission, make sure the fighter squadrons are escorting them. I don't want to lose them on their very first battle."
"Your will." Viktor replied, his vox-grille hissing softly as he relayed the orders through the Stormbird's command relays.
Outside, the clouds split as the first wave of bombers descended toward the battlefield, their engines roaring like thunder. Moments later, fire bloomed across the distant horizon — the telltale mark of heavy ordnance striking true.