"Put yourself at his mercy, clever, especially since he'd be a fool to lay a finger on you."
Iago looks puzzled for a moment, Not worried about the man attacking us. There's no reason to think that he would. He's not insane, nor irrational. Make no mistake, nothing he's done so far has been wrong. He's protecting his people and he wants what's best for them. We arrived a few hours ago and damn near literally held him up as a sacrifice to the Orks. We've given him no reason to think we're here for his benefit, except for a few words, and we turned everyone here against him. He has no incentive to want to help us.
He pauses as another group of politicians makes their way over. McKie stoically gives curt, but polite, greetings to each, then carries on as they walk away, If we bring him to the ship, he'll just see it as another attack, not a willingness to work with him. He's the single most knowledgeable person on this planet concerning it's defenses and capabilities. There's no reason to go out of our way to make him an enemy and we've given him no reason to trust us.
"You're right McKie, sometimes, when an "enemy" does not take the bait, it is best to withdraw and come up with a new plan.
While I doubt it, the man has pride in spades, being as isolated as he is now may make him prefer to become a reluctant ally rather than fight every subsequent battle uphill from now on.
Politically that is..."
Silas nods at his advisers' words. He turns to Navis and whispers:
"Navis, get your 'consultants' out there. I want a complete dossier on those two ready before we resume any further advance."
"Forewarned is forearmed. Or, if we make it a encircling strike, four armed, hah!"
Silas raises his glass to his advisers, "Gentlemen and lady, here's to an endeavor worthy of remembrance."
The dance was a little lacklustre of an affair despite the fine music and enthusiasm from the middle nobility in particular. The words of House Tyr and the various high-ranking dignitaries, in particular the tenseness now surrounding General Remi Dante and Commander Reynolds was palpable.
Finding himself to be actually quite engaged in the dancing, Trien actually began to have quite a good time. He was, for a brief time, the centre of attention on the dance floor and his mask certainly helped to make him a subject of curiosity as older dignitaries and their wifes sent their daughters to dance with the agile stranger and ascertain just who the man behind the mask was.
Inevitably though, the tension in the room with the clear political conflict and impending invasion, took its toll on morale. The dancing died down, a short time after most of the important nobility and senior officers had already left; first amongst them Dante himself, and Tech-Priest Hadron Shard.
Commander Orran Reynolds approached McKie, apparently having carefully chosen a moment where he could speak to him alone. Reynolds was a man in his autumn years, well into his fifties at least. He had spoken very little in the entire event and even now he spoke quietly and in a taciturn manner, although not without authority.
Commander McKie. The General and I would like to invite you and Varius Kavro to tour the Bulwark. Will you attend us? The shuttle is due to leave... presently.
The man expressed "you" and "Varius Kavro" quite specifically. While it was unspoken, it was obvious that bringing anybody else along would further damage relations with the General.
__________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Governor Kapak had found Silas Tyr and the other senior officers and the large Governor clapped Silas heartily on the back. At this point, the room was sparse enough that the Governor could speak freely.
A fine show, a fine show indeed, Silas, gentlemen! I just had a most positive talk with Lady Orleans. You will no doubt have some hard bartering ahead of you with that one, but it sounds like she is amenable, even if her desires no doubt wish to weaken the Ecclesiarchy in some manner...
I kept an eye on all of you throughout the proceeds. From what I could see, it all looks like plain sailing from here- other than General Dante of course.
"My thoughts exactly, governor. Perhaps we can discuss more on the subject in a more private surrounding."
"Oh and your speech was inspiring, governor."
Iago's typical scowl is replaced by a composed, respectful visage. Of course, Commander Reynolds. We'd both be honored.
He looks around the room briefly in order to spot Varius and Silas. waving to Varius in order to call him over. Looking back to Commander Reynolds, he responds, One moment and I'll inform the Lord-Captain of our departure. He activates his micro-bead.
Lord-Captain, Commander McKie. Mr. Kavro and I have been invited to tour the Bulwark. We'll be leaving shortly. He waits a moment for a response, and, assuming there is no objection, turns back to Commander Reynolds with a nod.
When Varius approaches, , McKie nods to him and says, Mr. Kavro, we have been invited to tour the Bulwark. I didn't think you'd object. He smiles slightly.
Silas excuses himself from the governor before replying to Iago: "Don't make any offers we are not prepared to deliver, Commander. Though you can always say you have to check with me first." Silas sends over the microbead.
"My thoughts exactly, governor. Perhaps we can discuss more on the subject in a more private surrounding."
"Oh and your speech was inspiring, governor."
"Come now, we have nothing to hide here in my palace!"
Kapak did not look impressed at Silas hastily excusing himself to chat on his microbead and raised an eyebrow at the man's crew.
"Sorry about that governor. I didn't want to bother you with my House's internal affairs hehehe. But Navis is correct. Commander Iago will be leaving the party."
"But as to the matter I wanted to discuss with you, I want to keep that between us."
"Don't worry, Navis is and has always been a paragon of discretion."
"I take it that this is my cue to make myself scares Lord Captain?"
Ludicus bows respectfully to both the captain and the governor before fading into the immediate background, close enough to intercede if someone bothers the meeting between Captain and governor.
"Governor, if you have anything on the General... something that would make him pliable, now would be the time to tell me about it. He is proving a very difficult and uncooperative fellow. We don't want to have a showdown of who should lead Damaris' defense. You are Damaris' leader and my House is your hand in this."
After the theatrics of the toasts, Varius spent the latter half of the evening observing. The dancing in particular drew his fascination. Others in the Priesthood of Mars se the mortal form of flesh and muscle as inferior, and yet, watching the myriad of bodies gracefully twist and float about the floor before me I see only the magnificent workings of highly refined biological machines, developed through thousands of years of evolutions. These specimens have barely been refined or trained in any legitimate manner. Now, if the bone structure, musculature, ligament flexibility and tensile strength, cognitive processing, sensory organs, and the like could all be improved, imagine the possibilities...
What was that?
Turning the volume up on his microbead, he received the missive from the commander and promptly responded. I will be over to accompany you momentarily
Crossing the large chamber he arrives at McKie and Commander Reynolds. At McKie's words his cheeks outside the edge of his respirator pinch, as though suggesting a smile. "Indeed, not an opportunity I would pass up in five lifetimes. Commander Reynolds, you do us both honor with your invitation to tour your extra-planetary orbital defense station. Such emplacements are often engineered at more interior planets, I am curious to see one so far removed from the Heart of the Imperium, though logic would indeed indicate that it would serve a far greater purpose here than there. Am I correct in assuming that the core development of the facility was executed by the adeptus mechanicus? How long has it been in service? What kind of armament does it support? How many separate power sources sustain its systems? Does it have any fascinating archaeotechnology?" It is clear to anyone listening that the explorator is excited to tour the Bulwark.
Commander McKie and Enginseer Prime swiftly departed with Commander Reynolds, being fast-tracked onto an orbital shuttle to reach the mighty Bulwark. The grey-haired career voidsman seemed far more at ease as he barked orders to workers en-route, clearly more comfortable now he was approaching his element once more. Obviously not a talkative man, he moved briskly to a shuttle that was landing on the governor's personal landing pads even as he and the House Tyr representatives arrived. He did make some curt responses to Kavro's questions as he walked though, his knowledge, pride and passion for the Bulwark leaking through and making him a little more talkative, his grunts gradually becoming longer sentences as Kavro coaxed him.
"Damaris mined that moon. Four centuries. When it ran out of ore, we re-purposed it. Hadron Shard led the effort some fifty years ago. Its been in service all that time. More of an inhibitor- pirates won't come anywhere within range of its firing arcs. Don't think we've fired in thirty years or more. Doesn't mean much though; its the heart of our flotilla and acts as a repair depot too. The crew are drilled thrice-weekly. No archeotech. Two layers of void-shields and more armor than most cruisers- turrets scattered at every angle, dual macrocannon batteries every 90 degrees with a keel-mounted Ryza Pattern Plasma Battery and a special "gift" from Lady Orleans; a Titanforge Lance. No maneuverability- but its only really vulnerable to a massed assault, an invasion, or torpedo's outranging its weapons. Even without engines, i'd wager on the Bulwark against three Luna class cruisers."
"We'll ascend in short order- the General is very busy preparing for war and has gone on ahead of us" he said flatly, opening up the shuttle passenger bay door expectantly, clearly intending to fly the two passengers to the Bulwark personally.
Entering the shuttle, McKie and Kavro began to ascend up into orbit towards the re-purposed moon; rapidly leaving micro-bead range as the starship rapidly ascended.
_______________________________________________________________________
Governor Kapak nodded in appreciation of Silas' words, but raised a fat finger and wagged it as he lectured the Rogue Trader in a friendly manner.
"General Dante has always been a truly capable minister. He keeps our Planetary Defence Force in top form. He is said to be utterly incorruptible and zealous in pursuit of his own personal interpretation of justice. To answer you plainly, my dear Silas, I have nothing on him. I've asked you to build bridges between the various factions here, not sabotage our most capable General. He is not an easy man, but he is utterly vital to our defense efforts here. Any plan that damages his position and renders him... incapable of command, will do more harm than good. Dante, Orleans, Locke- the three consist of a triumvirate. Your main task, as outsiders and a neutral party, is to have them work together. I believe Locke and Orleans are convinced to follow your lead. Dante however... I only hope your officers fare better with him than you and I have done, Silas. Even great men... cannot always achieve victory."
The Governor was clearly weary from the conversation and merrymaking and his body language made it obvious the conversation would likely not last much longer.
It occurs to you that an accurate map of Damaris would surely get you up to speed and help you plan on how to defend the city.
Impressive. Very impressive. That's quite a bit of firepower. With a disciplined crew, you could handle a significant fleet. With support? I wouldn't want to be facing it.
With a good-natured smile, McKie turns to Reynolds, If you were an Ork, Commander, how would you attack the Bulwark? McKie's tone is light, but it's clear he's now in his element when talking of War.
Ludicus ponders the possibilities a little, but as an old military man, he decides to see if he can get an escort to see the outskirts of the city, and find out a little about how it has been fortified and such.
Irena will stay reasonably close to Lord-Captain Tyr, her skills as a medic or a preacher of little value until the injuries start.
[dice=Common Law (War) TN50]d100
Impressive. Very impressive. That's quite a bit of firepower. With a disciplined crew, you could handle a significant fleet. With support? I wouldn't want to be facing it.
With a good-natured smile, McKie turns to Reynolds, If you were an Ork, Commander, how would you attack the Bulwark? McKie's tone is light, but it's clear he's now in his element when talking of War.
[dice=Charm TN30]d100
Reynolds thought on McKie's words for so long, that the Commander actually began to lose faith that Reynolds would answer him. It was not until the shuttle was already flying towards the moon that an answer came from the pilot.
"I am not especially acquainted with Ork tactics. From what I know of them though... if it were I, I would use the strength of numbers to my advantage. Swarm the bulwark with too many ships, no matter the cost. I would attack the moon station with more vessels than the Bulwark and system flotilla fleet could handle, from a single angle; in order to minimize casualties. All with the intention of boarding and occupying it. Even if the Ork could not work the guns... they would negate our greatest weapon against planetary invasion."
Iago nods as he listens, I believe...you are exactly right. Orks tend to rush everything directly. The front of their ships are impossibly well armored. I expect that they may even use smaller ships as shields, pushing them ahead. Choosing a single path of assault will mitigate the Bulwark's firepower.
He leans back in his seat as they travel, We'll have our hands full with this defense. But at least we know where to start.
_______________________________________________________________________
Commander McKie and Varius Kavro continued to fly towards the former moon in the shuttle. Suitable docking codes were provided by Commander Reynolds, who seemed to have become a little less cold. While they waited for code verification and began the process of landing on the gigantic orbital platform, he gave a full history and background of the location.
Nestled in the bosom of a hollowed-out moon in orbit above Damaris, the Bulwark is the centre of Damaris’ Orbital Defence Forces. Mined for centuries by the Damaran colonists, the ore deposits were eventually depleted and the planetary government was left with a seemingly useless hollow shell in an unstable orbit around their world. Unsure what to do with it, Damaris initially used it to store mining ships and the remains of the ancient colony ship used to settle the planet. As the years passed and Damaris’ ship-building industry expanded, the moon slowly became a fully operational space station. The moon was moved to a higher orbit with massive plasma drives. The interior spaces were expanded and sectioned into hangars, dry-docks, slips, housing, and hundreds of kilometres of corridors. Defensive emplacements were erected on the surface, and they slowly accumulated a motley but potent mix of augur arrays, auspex systems, and the sort of macrocannon and lance batteries typically found on the larger classes of Imperial warships. Today, the Bulwark houses the small defence flotilla within its massive docks. Along with the ships and crews there are tens of thousands of soldiers, pilots, customs officials, government and military functionaries housed among its blasted rock and twisting corridors. A hub of trade as well as a military port, there is a bustling commercial centre adjoining the civilian docks where Rogue Traders mix with voidmen, scoundrels, and Chartist Captains in an environment rich with rumour, commerce, and potential violence. While small, the commercial centre offers all the amenities that a voidman ashore expects; money lenders, drinking establishments, brothels, fighting pits, and all manner of unseemly entertainment.
Commander Reynolds and the pair were met with all of the respect warranted by both the Bulwark's Commander and esteemed guests from a Rogue Trader dynasty. A full company of well-trained naval soldiers met the shuttle and marched as an honour guard while Reynolds continued to point out small details of the bulwark. Reynolds had apparently landed close to the meeting point with General Dante, because after only a short ten minute walk the pair were led into a small conference room. The General was sat alone and as the trio entered, the stationed guards moved aside the chamber; leaving only General Dante, several armed servo skulls, the table itself, a jug of water with four glasses and four chairs in the otherwise sparse chamber.
You came Dante said in a flat tone. I am still not entirely sure what to make of you and your dynasty. Your lord comes from a respected house, but is young- and speaks of sacrifice from a life of vaunted decadence. I am comfortable admitting that I still feel I am best suited to lead our defense, despite House Tyr's charm offensive. I am not misled or blinded by pride, McKie, Kavro. All that I do is for love of my planet and people. Silas Tyr makes me nervous. His talk of sacrifice- this is not some skirmish in a holy crusade, to throw good men away in order to win glory. This is our last stand, if the reports of the Orks numbers are half of that estimated.
Reynolds poured water for everybody and sat down opposite Dante, leaving McKie and Kavro to sit opposite one another on the oval table. This had the effect of creating an almost conspiratorial table of four, rather than a classic negotiating position of two sides facing one another.
___________________________________________________________________________
While the pair were flying to the Bulwark and meeting General Dante in a less formal setting, the other senior officers of the House of Tyr were not idle. Having been driven back to the villa in a luxury car by Jorun, the group got settled in at their governor granted home. The competent aide had ensured that the villa could serve as something of a command centre. Date-sheets were available in abundance, along with extensive maps and archives to get the group up to speed with the planet.
Ludicus, along with any that wished to join him, were given a personal aide and driver and had left to tour the city and examine the outer defenses in person. Navis was set up at an already busy desk nearby, delicate electronic equipment set up in order to monitor vox chatter.
Unfortunately, your assistants have failed to get much of interest on the vox nets. It has apparently taken them quite some time to get the equipment set up. They report that the atmosphere of the city seems tense, but there is an undertone of resolute optimism, especially in light of the additional, powerful Rogue Trader vessels that had recently arrived in the past couple of weeks.
This left the remainder of the senior officers to pore over the map of the city that they had begun their night looking at. Obviously, the outer walls, split for simplicity into north, south, east west, were Damaris' greatest strength. In theory though- the group agreed that as long as the governor's palace and the near-impregnable bunker underneath it held, the war could still go on. They also agreed that any "inner" locations behind the walls were likely not vulnerable to a main assault until at least one of the walls was breached.
Jorun was also in attendance, ready to lend his considerable local knowledge.
_______________________________________________________________________
Ludicus and anyone accompanying him drove through the streets of Damaris. This early on with the news of an impending invasion, life had not yet changed much. Locals went about their business and the city was as much alive at night as it had been in the afternoon when House Tyr had arrived.
Eventually driving out of the southern gate, Ludicus et al. stepped out of the luxury car and looked up at the walls from the outside, before quickly rising to the top of them to closely examine the defences.
The walls themselves are roughly 30 metres thick and 30 metres high with bunkers and storerooms inside of them—tapering towards the top until they are about 10 metres thick. The walls are lined with battlements and walkways for troops and munitions. The defensive emplacements themselves are spaced out at uneven intervals ranging from a few hundred metres to over a few kilometres. Each emplacement houses a half dozen heavy bolter and autocannon emplacements, two twinlinked lascannon sentry turrets, and a trio of artillery pieces (either long-range Earthshaker cannons, the shorter-range Medusa siege mortars or Bombard artillery pieces).
Casting a critical eye over the guns, Ludicus could tell that they were not well maintained and inquiring of a nearby member of Damaris' levy led to the soldier stating that the walls had never of Damaris had never truly been tested "since installation- some three centuries ago they tell me, Sir".
While inspecting the outskirts of the city, Ludicus also noted various satellite settlements and villages outside of the city walls. These had obviously not yet been evacuated but would hold little of value to the Ork threat. However, some industrial and planetary infrastructure had overgrown the city's walls and existed outside of the walls. While they would be difficult locations to hold, their destruction and looting would set Damaris back many years in terms of recovery.
After the socialising dies down, Trien decides it's time to get something useful done. After seeing a small group of his crew leave with Reynolds, presumably to talk something military, he thought he could at least try his best to contribute to the effort, after all it was his skin on the line if they failed.
He tried to think of a good course of action to follow
Triens head was still spinning slightly from his drinking contest and no action was immediately forthcoming, so he decided to appropriate some transport and a tour of what war machines they might have on the planets surface. He approached one of the waiters who was walking back to the kitchens with an empty plate. He cleared his throat and tried to say in his least raspy voice as possible.
"erm excuse me..err..man...yes. I require transport immediately, please can you take me to your..erm...cannons?
The waiter obviously did not expect to be addressed, less so by what he could only assume was a nobleman or high ranking imperial official in an ornate mask. Nevertheless, the professional servant regained his composure swiftly.
"If one refers to the macrocannons of the Bulwark, our orbital space station, a shuttle could be organised forthwith. Perhaps sir means the city's defenses upon the walls? I shall have a car prepared immediately.
Trien was driven from the governor's palace and past the second largest building in the city- the Shrine to Saint Drusus, situated very close to the palace in the centre of the city and namesake of the planet.
Separated from the gubernatorial palace by a broad stretch of parkland, the Shrine stands as a counterpoint to the opulence and luxury of the palace. As befits the shrine of a martial saint and a leader of men, it seems more fortress than cathedral. With its thick stone walls and armoured bastions covered in bas-reliefs telling the story of the life and death of the eponymous saint, it has a foreboding, militant air about it.
Trien was also driven past the Levy training field, where he witnessed what seemed to be a large militia. The military facility and the outlying fields seemed to be the place where much of Damaris' Planetary Defence Force (PDF) were trained and housed.
Eventually arriving at the west wall, an initial tour led Trien to much the same conclusions at first glance that Ludicus had made , although the navigator did not know the weapons employed upon the walls nearly as well. He stared out from atop the wall onto the lush plains that no doubt had fed the city for centuries of peace and prosperity, imaging the Orks utterly trampling the fields in their wake, likely devastating the farmland for centuries more. With agriculture on his mind, it did not take Trien long to start to feel the familiar hunger that had been the price for his abilities that his affinity with the Warp had granted him.
Hmmm...if the governor is willing, we could strip these outlying habitats of as much value as possible, and then mine them, creating a dangerous gauntlet for the Orcs to run.
Ludicus then turns his attention to the soldiers before him, casting a critical eye over the equipment and apparent readiness of the men.
"Soldier, let me see your kit."
Holding out a hand, he waits for the soldier to hand over his gun for inspection.
He then makes 4 more such spot checks on random troops along the wall, trying to get a feel for how well the troops are taking care of their kit and the general state of readiness.
Any soldier who passes his critical stare gets a brief nod of acknowledgment, each soldier who fails wets a long cold stare in disapproval.
"Tell me, He addresses his escort, these factories, what are they used for?"
Place a few bombs here and here, sacrifice every building that is not critical...
Snipers on key locations, yes that's the ticket.
I don't think we can do more than slow them down, buy us some time. BUT, if we hit them hard enough here, and then bait them somewhere else, we may be able to get them into two traps in a row, that may rattle them, just a little.
We came. Commander McKie responds and takes his seat. I understand your reservations, General. I could tell you that the Lord-Captain, while young, is an expert in warfare and has seen his fair share of battle. I could tell you that his Officers are among the finest you'll ever see. I could tell you that House Tyr has invested so much into your planet that, if it falls, so does the House. But we both know none of that matters, nor will it sway you.
McKie leans forward with his hand interlaced on the table in front of him, What matters is the survival of this planet, and how we accomplish that. Some have the impression that you're interested in power and blinded by pride. That's not what I see. I see a man desperate to save his planet, and who recognizes what's coming.
McKie pauses for a moment, then continues, I don't say this to flatter you. I've seen enough soldiers in your position. And you don't get to where I am without being able to take the measure of a man. The Commander looks around briefly at the surrounding station. From them and those that serve under them.
The bottom line is that this planet is doomed. Lady Orleans will not follow you, but she will follow my Lord-Captain. Blitz will not follow you, but we need his ship. This planet only survives if we coordinate all the resources we have available. You need a man who will listen to the experts around him and who will get the best out of those under his command. If you believe nothing else I say about Lord-Captain Silas Tyr, believe this...He is that man.
Hmmm...if the governor is willing, we could strip these outlying habitats of as much value as possible, and then mine them, creating a dangerous gauntlet for the Orcs to run.
Ludicus then turns his attention to the soldiers before him, casting a critical eye over the equipment and apparent readiness of the men.
"Soldier, let me see your kit."
Holding out a hand, he waits for the soldier to hand over his gun for inspection.
1d100He then makes 4 more such spot checks on random troops along the wall, trying to get a feel for how well the troops are taking care of their kit and the general state of readiness.
Any soldier who passes his critical stare gets a brief nod of acknowledgment, each soldier who fails wets a long cold stare in disapproval.
For a moment it seemed that the first soldier was about to question the stranger's authority, but the man's hard tone, his bionics, fine clothing and the escort with him were obviously enough to convince him to comply.
All of his inspections passed with flying colors. The men of the PDF were well equipped and their kit was in good order.
His escort, a young bodyguard assigned to Ludicus, replied in response to the query-
"Much of the city's source of wealth is, unfortunately, outside of Damaris' walls, my lord. The various mines and refinery stations scattered around the city serve to maintain Damaris’ industrial economy. The majority of the mineral wealth pulled from the ground is sent back to the Imperium, but some of it is distributed throughout the Koronus Expanse with the aid of various Charter Captains and Rogue Traders. In addition, the industrial infrastructure includes munitions- bullets, power packs... most of this is inside the city's walls, but the war effort; and economic recovery of the planet, once the war is won- would be stronger if these places could be defended."
Looking over the locations with a keen tactical mind, Ludicus is sure he could implement the plans he was musing on to better defend the area- from what he knew of the Ork, blowing up the infrastructure would not set the menace back long enough to be worth the sacrifice.
_______________________________________________________________________
We came. Commander McKie responds and takes his seat. I understand your reservations, General. I could tell you that the Lord-Captain, while young, is an expert in warfare and has seen his fair share of battle. I could tell you that his Officers are among the finest you'll ever see. I could tell you that House Tyr has invested so much into your planet that, if it falls, so does the House. But we both know none of that matters, nor will it sway you.
McKie leans forward with his hand interlaced on the table in front of him, What matters is the survival of this planet, and how we accomplish that. Some have the impression that you're interested in power and blinded by pride. That's not what I see. I see a man desperate to save his planet, and who recognizes what's coming.
McKie pauses for a moment, then continues, I don't say this to flatter you. I've seen enough soldiers in your position. And you don't get to where I am without being able to take the measure of a man. The Commander looks around briefly at the surrounding station. From them and those that serve under them.
The bottom line is that this planet is doomed. Lady Orleans will not follow you, but she will follow my Lord-Captain. Blitz will not follow you, but we need his ship. This planet only survives if we coordinate all the resources we have available. You need a man who will listen to the experts around him and who will get the best out of those under his command. If you believe nothing else I say about Lord-Captain Silas Tyr, believe this...He is that man.
McKie's words seemed to hit the General with the force of a shock baton; perhaps the man had not been expecting such frankness and bluntness. His teeth clenched, his hand tightened into a fist and back; for a moment, it looked like the meeting might turn sour.
"Am I correct in my assumption that Locke has also fallen in line behind you? None of you can hope to prevail without the bulwark and our PDF. But I understand my position, McKie. Fall in line or the planet falls; although it would be remiss not to note that I hold the ace- my influence over the levy and the Bulwark will be a greater asset than Locke's ship- or Blitz's, or all of you together. I do appreciate your candor. I will return it in kind. I am willing to co-operate and offer my full support, expertise and advice to Silas Tyr. But I want something in return."
Dante glanced at Reynolds; and from the look on the other man's face, what the General said next was no surprise to him.
"Governor Kapak is an incompetent fool of a leader- more interested in chasing the prettiest wife at the ball or purchasing and abusing the most exotic drugs he can procure, than doing what is right for the planet. In truth, he was never meant for leadership or in line for it- only a tragic voidship accident put him quite suddenly at the helm."
The General sighed heavily.
"He's recently seemed to sober up and face the starkness of our reality; perhaps you have even found him quite impressive in the short time you have been here. This is, however, the first i've seen of it; and I fear it is temporary. We've had over five years of his Governorship; and it has been a period of increased delegation to his officials and ministers, who grow more corrupt and more daring every year under his laissez-faire hand. He is utterly ineffectual in wartime but sadly, he is a poor administrator in peace time too. Lady Orleans is quietly building a monopoly on trade here, getting the best of him in every negotiation. Economic growth has been slow and his policies continue to slowly turn the people of this planet against the nobility that govern them."
Dante laid his arms flat on the table, his palms facing up.
"He needs to be removed from his position of power- through legitimate means if possible, or non-legitimate means if I must. No doubt many would accuse me of opportunism, but I have no desire to shake the ship of state to that extent during a war. The impending invasion, has, though, opened my eyes; and I would have the support of both the military and most of the nobility. I have devoted my life in service to this planet- and I would truly be its servant, its peoples servant, were I to be its governor. I am no drunken fop; I would make this planet strong and grow its ambitions, its prosperity, its prestige."
"If House Tyr will pledge me its support in my bid for governorship once... if... the war is won- I will promise my full co-operation today and until the war is won. What say you?"
_______________________________________________________________________
With Yosarni monitoring vox-traffic, Silas was left with Arannis and Irena to pore over the maps and make some initial assessments. Musing for a time, the Lord-Captain finally spoke.
"The walls of Damaris will, of course, have to be well defended, from the Ork's that break through our space defenses. Until any of the walls actually fall, the way I see it is that we have 8 key locations we must focus on and distribute the defense forces on."
"These are as follows-"
"Damaris City Walls (Plains West)"
"Damaris City Walls (Forge North)"
"Damaris City Walls (Main South)"
"Damaris City Walls (Sphinx East)"
"Outer Industrial Infrastructure"
"Outer Planetary Infrastructure"
"Shard’s Forge and Manufactoria"
"Levy Bunkers and Outposts"
"I can only assume Shard's forge has its own defenders; we must ascertain this though. According to the map, it is an island, which should make it a little easier to defend, although the Ork are certainly capable of building boats!"
"From what data Jorun has provided us, the outer industrial and planetary infrastructure surrounding the city have little to no defense in of themselves. We will have to assign companies to protect them or we'll lose them almost immediately. Whether thats an acceptable loss, i'm not yet sure; but its certainly an expensive one".
"The bunkers and levy outposts that are scattered around the city should not be easily given up. They are well designed for soldiers to defend and they provide relief by thinning the numbers assaulting the walls."
Musing for a little while and briefly asking Jorun some questions, Silas continued.
"I suppose we need to see if McKie and Kavro make any progress with that stubborn General Dante before we can sum up the entirety of our forces. I'll also need Locke, Orleans and Blitz to detail the forces they are committing. In addition to the battle on the planet, we also have the fighting in space to consider... Our priority for the morrow is to fully assess the forces we have at our disposal. Anything to add, hmm?"
Hmmm, if this was a short term campaign, I would turn the entire outer section into a vast bomb.
Sadly, we must also try and minimize loses of infrastructure as well as lives here, that makes our jobs a mite bit trickier.
"Take me further outside, I want to see the very outskirts of the outer section.
The Orcs will likely strike at those areas first, so it is there that one line of defence must be drawn, possibly not the first..."
While having a bodyguard with him as reassuring, Ludicus did nonetheless check his trusted sidearm, knowing that desperation might bring some fool out of hiding to try and make a quick score, enough to get off planet perhaps.
When we get back, I'll request a map of this area, to compare it with my observations.
Then I'll begin to compile lists of the best marksmen to post, the explosives we need to set the traps, where to barricade or even block access...
There is much to be done.
Before leaving he turns to the soldiers around him and motions for them to pay attention.
"Listen, when we fight the orcs, remember one thing, it is important to realize that a weapon with the stopping power to fell a man is turned on one of them, it requires additional firepower to succeed.
When you have the chance, split into groups of three, and each such group focus on taking down one orc at the time.
Do it fast enough and you won't be overwhelmed.
Pick your spots to fire from, bottleneck them at every possible point, get heavy weapons support if available, and have a clear route to fall back to secondary fire positions planned ahead of time.
Spread the word to all troops, and if a superior officer gives you grief, you tell him to take it up with me in person, Ludicus Marleno, master at arms for the house of Tyr!"
McKie cannot help but look amused, Far be it for a crewman of a Rogue Trader to chide another on opportunism.
He leans back in his seat, I am no master of negotiation, but I believe you overstate your advantage. The Bulwark and the PDF will fight no matter what is decided today. You will fight as best you can to save this planet. Unsupported, you will fail, but you will fight nonetheless.
The Commander frowns as he presses on, The more we work together, the better hope we have of success. We've managed to reel in all the resources that could leave, or choose not to fight. Your soldiers and voidsmen will fight and die for this planet, what we discuss here is how many.
With that said, I believe my Lord-Captain will be interested in your proposition. As I said earlier, much of House Tyr's fortune is now tied to this planet. A strong leader and stability would serve us well. Especially one willing to work with us as opposed to, say, another Rogue Trader. Suddenly even more serious, McKie adds, We will look into your claims about the Governor's suitability and failures. Personally, I have no doubts, but the Lord-Captain will want to do his due diligence.
While Commander McKie's expression remains hard, his tone softens ever so slightly, I'm confident that my Lord-Captain will consider your proposal and respond quickly. Once that matter is resolved we can move on to how to best defend this planet and keep as many of your soldiers and my voidsmen from dying in this coming war.
As Trien stood staring out to the fields, he felt his stomach grumble. His hand shot into his leather pouch on his side and came out empty, he needed to head back to get more meat soon or the guards would start to look tasty.
He turned to his escort
I think I have seen enough, these men that were being trained, have any of them seen much combat before? They seem to be doing a lot of training but even training can break down in the face of a charging orcish horde.
Ludicus was next taken to inspect the levy bunkers and outposts that were set up a little beyond the walls of Damaris. He found them to be well maintained. Situated around the main settlements and countryside, the Levy has established numerous bunkers and outposts in anticipation of an attack. Each of these bunkers is equipped with firing ports and turrets for heavy weapons, and has enough food and supplies to sustain a platoon of troops for several weeks if need be. Each bunker and outpost is connected to the city and to one another by a network of underground tunnels constructed centuries ago. This system allows the Levy defenders to move troops from one location to the next without exposing themselves to the enemy. Ludicus speculated that these positions would provide relief to the walls, although they would need to be continually manned by a solid unit of infantry who would expect steady losses.
His speech was well received by the combat troops, who in truth had clearly never faced Xenos before.
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The escort was polite but brief in his response, as he glanced nervously around at nearby passerby's and soldiers.
I'm afraid to say much of the Levy is untested, although their drills are quite vigorous, one is told...
Trien arrived back at the villa to find most of the others studying maps of Damaris and Jorun beginning to give Tyr a breakdown of available forces.
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Kavro seemed a little uncomfortable and was content to let the forthright McKie do the talking. The expression on Dante's face, something of a grimace, seemed to confirm Iago's sense that the General did not truly have much wiggling room to negotiate. He eventually replied, a hint of defeat in his voice-
Very well. I would like your answer within three days time; for if I must, I will take matters regarding the planet's governorship into my own hands- and I will not wait for the invasion to conclude either way. Yes, the PDF would fight without me. But if it could be considered an orchestra, I am its best conductor and there are none other who could easily step in. You will find the effectiveness of the PDF severely limited, if I am not in control of it. This is not a threat; it is simply a fact. I am confident that your inquiries will back up my claims as to Kapak's suitability- and I can say without false modesty that if one was to look into my own claims of competence, one would not be disappointed. I will have a shuttle send you back to the surface. Thank you for attending us, McKie, Kavro.
As the night settled into Damaris, McKie and Kavro returned to find all of their companions had returned to the villa and were eagerly awaiting word on the General's meeting.
Unfortunately, you have gleaned little of value beyond surface reactions over the vox net. Some of the more established military and naval traffic is somewhat disdainful of House Tyr's arrogance but this chatter is usually harshly stopped by a superior officer. As for the people of Damaris, there is little more discernible than a sense of relief that more reinforcements have arrived. For the simple masses, even a single Rogue Trader vessel is viewed as a mighty flagship, the equal of a dozen system ships. Sadly, you doubt that any vessel docked except perhaps Locke's light cruiser commanded by a veteran Imperial Navy Officer like herself would actually be that valuable.
Looking over the defences, one thing came to the master at arms mind, and that was that the network could easily allow reinforcements to reach the bunkers, if one bunker fell then it could also allow the xeno filth access to the city through that route.
"Tell me, if one bunker is overrun, was will prevent the Xeno from using the network of tunnels to attack?
Are there demolition charges in place so that a tunnel can be collapsed to deny the enemy it's use?"
McKie remains stoic while the General speaks. Too much sympathy at this point would look forced. Gloating would be met with hostility. He kept his demeanor unreadable until breaking and frowning at the last moment.
Standing, McKie simply reponds, Commander. It's Commander McKie.
---
He travels in silence, responding to questions shortly, almost angrily.
Stupid. Why be arrogant when it gains us nothing. The Commander sighs inwardly, Hopefully the Lord-Captain will agree and Yosarni will be able to negotiate some good terms for us.
---
Upon their return, Commander McKie will give a complete brief concerning the General's offer, leaving the discussion of the Bulwark's capabilities to Kavro.
In my opinion, we should take the General's offer. Pending the details and confirmation of his story, of course. I'm sure Mr. Yosarni will be able to craft a deal where we can profit from this. It's a delicate situation. So you, nodding to Yosarni, and the Lord-Captain, are much better prepared to exploit the situation.
Agreed. If this planet survives, it will be useful to have connections here. Though our profit is connected to the planet, not necessarily the Governor. And even with what connection exists, I trust you'd be able to make similar contracts with the General.
McKie looks thoughtful, The issue here is really which would be better for us in the long term. If our initial observations hold, the Governor would be far easier to control. However, he won't make the planet as profitable to us, and his drug use makes him...unpredictable. He also has strong ties to Lady Orleans. With her head start, it'd be difficult to catch up.
On the other hand, the General, while less easy to control, will be ours. He has no love for Lady Orleans, and he can make Damaris stronger. And a fully developed, self-sufficient planet out here in the frontier is difficult to find. Almost unique. If it survives, having a hand in the local government will make it easier to form trade relations. I'm no financial expert, but that sounds good to me.
The bottom line is that currently, backing the Governor doesn't get us much. Backing the General, as long as he's successful and chooses an appropriate time, is profitable. We get his full support during the War and can advise him on when would be a good time to take over. I don't expect it will be difficult to convince him he needs to do it with as little of our direct or visible influence as possible. Damaris won't accept him if outsiders do his work for him. With that said, we'll need to work hard to make sure that he still needs us, and owes us.
I suggest we work on repairing our relationship with him. It will be useful to have be on good terms and have leverage. The Commander smiles slightly, But, that is your particular area of expertise, isn't it?
Inspecting the network of bunker tunnels, Ludicus found himself quite impressed. The tunnels were remotely seal-able as well as lined with demolition charges and even if a force were to try and force its way through to the city via the network, their numbers would be almost meaningless in the hundreds of bottlenecks. Without control of Inner Damaris itself, the tunnel network would be almost useless as an attack avenue for the Orks, but would prove invaluable in providing relief to the walls.
Ludicus' general impression is that despite their lack of combat testing, Damaris' forces had done everything in an extremely professional manner. With the lack of experienced men, it was clear to Ludicus that General Dante was an extremely canny tactician and organiser with exceptional attention to detail.
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Listening to Commander McKie's debrief inside the villa, Silas and his sister took in the situation for some time, the former seeming quite distracted and often gazing out of the window after the report was made, looking up at the stars. Without sufficient context of the forces at their disposal, the map of the city was of limited use, ultimately.
The Lord-Captain called an end to discussions quite promptly and announced his intention to get an early start for the morrow. Before slumbering, Yosarni made sure to make various requests for information on the forces that made up the planet's defense, both in terms of space and land warfare. He was given assurances by the agents of all parties that he would have full reports delivered to the villa by morning.
Always a light sleeper, you wake instantly as the door to your personal chamber begins to open. Suspecting the worst, you begin to reach for a weapon when Silas Tyr softly announces himself. He is fully equipped and armored and clearly leaving. He raises a hand and orders you to listen to what he has to say. He is carrying a huge sheaf of banded paperwork which he dumps onto your desk, before taking a seat.
"Commander Iago, my friend- your efforts have brought Locke into the fold and formed the triumvirate the Governor speaks of by forcing Dante to the table. We're on the verge of fielding a united force to defend this fine planet- and House Tyr is the one to lead its efforts! I am proud of your efforts and I am certain you can lead the dynasty to success in this endeavor. My sister and I... we have received a message from an old enemy. One I am now certain was behind the destruction of our lost flagship and the murder of my father. One that has followed us into this system and thrown down the gauntlet; I have received a duel challenge from one Rogue Trader to another and I will meet this man- a rival of my fathers from over seven decades ago. Governor Kapak has granted me the use of one of his personal star ships- its absence will not be noted in the battle to come, but it permits me to meet this challenge to our honor upon the ground my enemy has chosen- another planet in this star system. Irena is to act as my second... and I will not brook this insult, even in the circumstances of this coming war. This has not been an easy decision; but the competence of you and the other officers has convinced me."
Silas placed a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.
"You know that I have never lost a duel, my friend. Nevertheless- certain... legalities, have come to light. I have been outplayed; financially. Indirectly, our enemy controls much of our debts- exactly how much, I am uncertain. The necessary inquiry to ascertain the extent to which he has us over a barrel would take many months- if we fail in this endeavor though, I am certain his dynasty would absorb our own. We need the Damaris venture to succeed. Without a male heir of my own, my enemy may come to possess what is left of this House, should I fall. I cannot let this come to pass. I've spent the night consulting with Governor Kapak's personal arbitrator and its been agreed that the definition of "male heir" in the various contracts has been left loose enough that it does not differentiate between a natural heir and an adopted one. It is an unusual step, almost unheard of... but there must be a contingency in the case that I fall. Therefore, I must ask two things of you, McKie. Neither are going to be easy. Firstly... lead our dynasty if I do not return. This has been fully stipulated in the sealed, signed documents I leave here. I expect to come back to you with my enemy's head in a sack, but I must not let my confidence overwhelm the need for contingency. Secondly... I must ask you to become my adopted son, to bear the name Tyr and to act as my heir, until such time that I bear my own. If that latter event does not come to pass or ... I... expire... the dynasty passes to you and yours. I hope you understand the potential responsibility and difficulties that may lie ahead if this does come to pass. Will you embrace this responsibility and opportunity- and join my family?"
Silas held up a quill and produced two separate pages from the sheaf's of documents- one that stipulated you as his adopted son and another that placed you as his heir. The dynasty's Warrant of Trade also lay upon the desk, sealed in a transparent, airtight container.
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Wha...who?
It takes Iago a moment to visibly relax after he stops reaching for his weapon.
He's never come to my bunk before...something must be wrong.
Lord-Captain, the Commander says as he stands. He runs a hand through his silver hair and with a small sigh he comes fully awake.
Iago nods and sits without comment, following his Lord-Captain's commands. He listens intently, and starts to lean back in his seat as Silas continues, the full weight of the Captain's words feeling heavy upon the man's shoulders.
Lord-Captain... The Commander is obviously unsure what to say.
Lord-Captain, I...
What is there to say? He's obviously thought this through. And the Governor's arbitrator already knows. Even if I wanted to, there is no turning back now.
Iago Elias McKie stands and salutes his Lord-Captain, then offers his hand. It would be an honor.
The two sit and go over the formalities late into the night.
I'm not one for trophies, but when you bring this man's head back, we'll have to save it somehow. A message to those that would oppose House Tyr.
"Well now, I believe I've seen all I need to see at the moment.
We should probably return to base now, there is a lot of planning yet to be done.
Unless you have something you believe I should see first? Come on man, don't be shy!" Ludicus looks at the guide and gives him a toothy grin.
The next day, the group woke up at various points of the morning and convened early as per the Lord-Captain's instructions. However, the Rogue Trader and his sister were notably absent from the strategy table, although the reports Yosarni had requested were present along with a detailed map of Damaris City. Commander McKie cleared his throat in order to speak for the absent leader...
The Commander stands and looks around the room slowly.
The Lord-Captain has... The Commander frowns, thinking for a moment, Lord-Captain Silas Tyr is dealing with a matter related to his House. Some of you may be aware that House Tyr has several enemies, some more prominent than others. One, in particular has followed us here. In order to keep this enemy from interfering in our endeavor, the Lord-Captain has agreed to a duel. He shall return when he is finished.
There is...something else. Before the Lord-Captain departed I agreed to a request of his. To become his heir. It is a legal arrangement, one meant to secure the assets of the House against our enemies. When he has his own male offspring, my...claim...will pass.
His gaze scans the room again, his usual scowl returns.
If you have any questions, keep them brief. We have a War to plan.