[Dan296]

The message was sent to Terra, and within a week the High Lords replied. “Only once has a crusade against the xenos known as ‘Tyranids’ been carried out successfully. However, crusades against these ‘Tau’ have been successful and often. It is our opinion that such a task is of the utmost importance to the future protection of the imperium. The Baetica Crusade is approved. The Adeptus Terra have promised five imperial guard regiments of your own discretion, along with sufficient supplies for as long as needed. Any Adeptus Astarte chapters are welcome to join you. Three Ordos Xenos Deathwatch teams are being dispatched to your position. The Officio Assasinorum regrets to say that no operatives are available at this time. Battlefleet Ultima forces are available in a limited quantity. Thought of the day: “Listen not to the alien, Look not upon the alien, Speak not unto the alien.”
Malekai and Arca, the inquisitors who were given temporary command of the crusade, soon went about requisitioning troops for the grand crusade. They already had under their command the Ardent Soul and 500 Inquisitorial Storm Troopers. Five Imperial guard regiments were soon taken into their command. The Sratonian Armoured Regiment under Colonal Balle, and the Parak VII Hive Gangers under Captain Yusuf. The two remaining regiments volenteered to join. The Calth 2nd and Quintairn 9th were from Ultramar, but were joined by a portion of Ultramarines under Brother-Seargant Lukas. Lukas had command of all Ultramar troops. The final imperial force to join were some old friends, that would never forgive Malekai for not inviting them.
“Chapter Master! It is good to see you again!” said Malekai. “The same to you, Malekai. How long since Ilano, Eight years? Not long for us but long enough.” Chapter Master Certo. “And my lady Katrina, Cannoness! I am glad that the Ardent Soul could join us. Truly the Emperor is on our side.”
“Certo…have you not heard as to why this crusade was started?” Said Katrina, no longer smiling.
“Not the full story, just that the Baetica system was overrun by Tau and that there are also signs of a Tyranid Splinter fleet. Why?”
“The Ardent Soul was stationed on Baetica. Inquisitor Malekai’s fortress was on one of its moons. We barely escaped the Tau invasion alive. It was we who warned the Imperium.”
“Come Certo, we will say the full story to the gathered commanders later. We must discuss the war plans.”

The Baetica Crusade was underway. Setting off from the Cardinal world of Okassis. Katrina looked out of the Sentry’s observation deck to look at the magnificence of the gathered imperial war fleet. 14 transport vessels, in which the five guard regiments were housed, along with their tanks, scouts, command vessels, and most of their supplies. Then the Dark Redemption, the Battle Barge of the Revilers and two strike cruisers followed right behind the Sentry. In the black Astartes fleet were most of the first company and much of the third company, veterans of Ilano Primus and thousands of other conflicts. They were also housing a veteran warrior that Katrina knew well. Venerable-brother Mortimer had demanded that he be taken along, and Certo gladly gave him a place.
The Ultramarines were more fleet heavy, with four strike cruisers. Though their total ground forces were less then a quarter of the second companies total strength, the ones under Seargant Lukas were the ones most heavily trained in boarding actions and could be counted on to possibly take the fight to the heart of the Tyranid fleet. They knew that the Tyranids had to be destroyed in space before they could be beaten on land. Battlefleet Ultima had given much of their current forces, including one Emperor class battleship, seven Falchion cruisers, and more then forty Dauntless class light cruisers and sword escorts. The silent heroes of any imperial war effort followed behind the war fleet, dozens mass produced Adeptus Terra supply ships and tanker ships. They contained everything from lasguns, grenades of all shapes and sizes, tank shells of all shapes and sizes, food, water, fuel, bolt shells, lascannon charges, everything that the crusade could ever need was in there. and soon they would need it all.