Time of the Heresy: Into the depths

"Let them go, said Curze sadly. Now is not the time for us to kill our brothers."

"The phrasing you employed suggested to me that you have foreseen bloodshed. Is that the case?
Will there come such a time?" persisted Sevatar.

"I can tell you how you die, if you wish.' said Curze softly, a corpse-choked battlefield from whence all the glory has fled. 'Do you want to know? It is far, far from here, in the endless dark."

"No said Sevatar firmly. 'I do not want to know'

"Then never ask me questions like that again. said Curze 'Your question and mine are different , but you will like the answer to neither much."

Curze to Sevatar after an altercation with the Raven Guard, pre heresy.

Night Lords enter the lower levels.

Lord Baltar resumed command of the 8th's forces that would venture into the depths of Base 716. He split his forces into two groups. One would enter on the south, the other from the west. A foolish legion, like the 4th, would press a direct attack, not caring how any warriors they lost to accomplish the goal.

The 8th did not create fools, the Night Lords would quickly learn of the enemy units and their positions. Single out the strays and weak points in the enemy formation and hit them in force! That was the way of the 8th legion.

Iron Warrior army, southern view

The terror squad meets a second Iron Warrior squad.

The plan was set, a terror squad and veteran squad would hit the isolated Iron Warrior unit closest them. The contemptor was instructed to take the main hallway in the middle of the base.

While, Lord Baltar, a second veteran squad, and the Atramentar terminators went straight for Iron Warrior command.

The terror squad cut down their enemy target quickly and efficiently. It was in the Iron Warrior counter attack that even their apothecary couldn't save them. In the center hall the Night Lords twin kheres destroyed the Iron Warrior contemptor and secured the middle hallway. The only battle remaining was the Iron Warriors command and elite terminators...

Iron within, Iron without!

The two go at it for multiple turns.

The Iron Warrior leader was accompanied by several terminators and one of Perturabo's Iron Circle. A daunting task.

A fierce battle erupted as Night Lords veterans were joined by teleporting Atramentar and their lord, Praetor Baltar Garess. Plasma shots quickly struck down Iron Warrior terminators upon their arrival.

Both sides took losses as the two sides exchanged kills. The contemptor fired on the Iron Circle, while the veterans and the Atramentar destroyed the block of terminators. Then a decisive blow was struck as Baltar ultimately bested the Iron Warrior Warsmith in close combat. Victory! This floor of the complex belonged to the Night Lords.

Baltar mused as his men went about their business, looting the dead or the almost dead. He didn't like this, it was too easy. He had always respected the 4th legion, they were very cunning. Most of the legions underestimated them, called the Iron Warriors "ditch diggers". But Baltar underestimated no one. "I wonder if this whole thing was a trap."

Ave Dominus Nox.