The Fall of Canaris Prime

The Fall of Canaris Prime

1

The Guardsman ducked as the heavy round slammed into the plasteel barricade infront of him, he clutched his lasrifle closer to his chestplate as debris from the blast rained into the trench a wet slap followed by a strangled scream told him that a guardsman further up the trench had been hit. Almost drowned out by the sounds of gunfire and explosions he could barely hear the Commisar yelling his exhortations of bravery and faith in the Emperor, he rose up lifting his lasrifle to the firing slot in the barricade and squeezed off several shots at the enemy as they charged towards the Militarium gunline, as he was about to send another las shot out he froze his rifle lowered slowly as he seemed to suddenly be staring straight down the barrel of an enemy missile launcher, he whispered a quick prayer to the Emperor and closed his eyes as a missile jumped from the launcher and powered directly towards him.

                 He threw his headback as he was almost deafened as a gunship streaked low overhead the multi-lasers under each wing blazing red streaks across the sky, he felt relief wash through him as one burst from the multi-lasers clipped the missile and it spiralled out of control slamming into the ground sending a gout of earth and broken concrete into the air, the gunship continued on its course its lasers still firing, missiles streaking from its missile pods, explosions blossoming amidst the enemy ranks, troopers hurled every which way, the guardsman watching the gunship suddenly dropped his lasrifle and threw up his hands infront of his face as a blinding spear of blue/white light reached from towards the back of the enemy lines and speared the gunship, in a second that seemed to stretch on and on the gunship the beam and the guardsman froze but then the battlefield snapped back into focus as the beam cut out the gunship spun out of control and crashed to the ground shaking the entire trench, the guardsman grabbed up his lasrifle and stepped back upto the firing step.

2

The scene was bucolic, green fields spread across the valley broken intermitently with either rows of tall trees or meandering streams, occasional sounds of birdsong eminated from the trees while wild game ran across the grass. 

          The natural quiet was suddenly and rudely shattered by multiple sonic booms as heavy transports acompanied by sleek gunships slammed there way into the atmosphere, the wildlife scattered seeking shelter against the sudden ferocious assault.

             The first transport settled onto its landing legs in the middle of the largest open field its armoured sides shedding the entry heat in waves, with a clank of releasing bolts and the hiss of released pressure its front loading ramp dropped and the first of the blue armoured vehicles rolled forward and down the ramp whilst either side of the heavy tank a line of troops marched in step the heavy ceramite armour making their footfalls echo across the field, alongside the first transport a second followed by a third touched down disgorging more troops and tanks. Soon the field was filled with rank upon rank of blue armoured warriors and their war machines, techmarines and chapter serfs moved from warrior to warrior checking weapons, armour joints and power cables for any possible fault, at the same time skull helmed black armoured Chaplains moved among the warriors blessing weapons, bestowing oaths of moment and reciting the litanies of battle with warriors.

               As the last transport ticked away the heat from the atmospheric entry and the warriors arrayed upon the field completed there preperations a solitary black armoured warrior emerged from its hold, his boot strikes on the transports ramp sounding like hammerblows the scarred flesh of his face knarled with age, the gaze from his one natural eye was as cold as the void as he looked over the warriors arrayed before him moving with practiced speed and efficency mounting their ground transports, be they heavy armoured Land Raiders, lighter armoured Rhino's and Razorbacks or the more recent addition of the Impulsors, he took a deep breath reeking of heat scorched air and promethium fumes before shifting Infurnus, his custom combi flamer and climbing into the lead Rhino, with all the troops embarked the ground convoy sped away towards the front, while behind them the transports closed there hatches and one by one lifted off returning to the ship above.