Thus Did The Imperium of Mankind Fight There

Part 16 An Unexpected Way of Meeting

The convoy with the Cthonian Chimera in the lead, the abhuman Testudo in the center and the Solar Auxilia and Astartes Dracosan in the rear moved into the surrounding woodland of the hill. Following a wide worn-down dirt path and using a map made from the aerial footage of the reconnaissance planes, they navigated through the dense forest.

{Dracosan}

{Testudo}

"Lieutenant, where are we going first?" Sergeant Felix asked her commanding officer.

Looking at the map, Minerva replied, "There is a village on the other side of this forest to the east, that will be our first destination."

After a half hour of driving, the convoy neared the edge of the forest when the auspexes picked up a large flying mass.

Private Fen Luken who was operating the scanner called out, "Ma'am, auspex is picking up something big flying up ahead."

After considering her options for a moment, she ordered, "Stop the convoy and have everyone on high alert."

Following her orders, the convoy stopped, and all weapons were primed. Minerva opened the turret hatch of the Chimera and climbed out. Taking out her magnoculars, she scanned the skies ahead, before seeing something she never thought she'd lay eyes on.

"By the throne, it's a Throne damned dragon!"

To the front right of the convoy, 150 feet away, was a massive red flying lizard. It was the size of a five-story tall building with massive wings. The creature seemed to be searching for something in the forest.

"Sergeant, do we have any intel on dragons on this planet?" she questioned.

Her noncom replied, "Yes ma'am, they're called Flame Dragons by the locals and are the apex predators of the planet. Exact levels of physical durability are unknown, but they do have a fire breath that can cook the crew of a tank if they don't activate the NBC protection systems in time."

Looking in the direction the dragon was flying, she saw something in between the trees.

"It's flying towards a village in the forest!" Minerva exclaimed. 

Sergeant Felix examined the map and asked in confusion, "But there's no settlement marked here."

Minerva rebuked, "The flyboys must have missed it in all the foliage. Doesn't matter, we've got to help them! Order the Dracosan to the front of the convoy to drive through those trees, have our Chimera follow up behind and the Testudo in the rear, let's go!"

With that, the vehicles in the convoy maneuvered into their new positions and drove towards the fire-breathing dragon and Emperor willing, not their demise.

Forest Elf Village

Tuka was playing with some of the younger children in the village during another peaceful day like any other. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the temperature was just right. Everything was well, until her father came, desperately running into the village crying out.

"Everyone hide! A flame dragon is coming! Warriors to arms!"

The day which had gone so well descended into chaos. Women and children attempted to find safety, running in heedless panic. The warriors prepared to face the fire dragon, now coming into sight from the village.

Once the monster was in range, it unleashed its fire upon the elves. Tuka herself would've been caught in the flames had her father not grabbed her in time. Most of the warriors were killed within moments of the dragon's arrival. The women and children were hiding in whatever intact shelters remained and soon it seemed death would come for them all. That was until they were saved by people they'd never seen before.

Imperial's POV

The Dracosan came plowing out of the tree line with its heavy armor and entered the small settlement. The Chimera and Testudo were right behind, following the path it'd cleared through the vegetation. 

Upon seeing the monstrosity burning down the village Minerva gave the only sensible order she could.

"All forces, show this xenos beast the Emperor's wrath!"

The vehicles opened up with their multi-lasers while the infantry used the side-mounted lasguns to pepper the giant creature. The relatively light weapons fire had little effect on the thick scales of the beast and the heavier weapons in the hulls of the transports couldn't be elevated high enough to engage the monster.

Just as the dragon was about to turn and incinerate the minuscule force, the Night Lords disembarked from the Dracosan and flew into the air atop their jump packs. Using their maneuverability, the Space Marines evaded the beast's fire and replied with their bolt pistols to distract the threat. 

This allowed the pair of Solar Auxilia equipped with meltaguns to attack the monster, their sealed void armor protecting them from the still-burning woods.

The pinpoint blasts from the meltas effortlessly cut through the dragon's hide and the beast roared in pain. However, the dragon began to fly higher, away from the source of its pain and the effective reach of the short-range weapons. 

The Night Lords attempted to close the distance but were forced back by the dragon's fire breath. Humanity in the 30th millennium has many weapons in its arsenal though, and some were invented long before mankind even made the first humble lasgun.

"Lock the hunter-killer missile on target and fire when ready!" Minerva screamed over the cacophony of weapons' fire. (If you got something big trying to kill you just do what anyone would, launch a rocket at the problem.)

The Chimera launched its turret-mounted anti-armor weapon at the impossible-to-miss enormous flying lizard. The guided projectile hit the beast straight on the side of the head at virtually point-blank range, just missing its brain, but leaving its skull visible and taking out one of its eyes. 

The wounded behemoth roared in pain one last time before flying off, the Night Lords choosing not to pursue as their jump packs were not designed for sustained flight.

Author's note: Space Marine jump packs aren't meant to make an Astartes a flying machine, but as its name suggests, for short jumps and precision insertion.

With the enemy retreating, the Marines landed, and the mortal soldiers exited their transports. Looking around, Minerva saw people sticking their heads out of their cover with their eyes wide and their jaws almost touching the ground as they beheld those who'd thwarted the legendary Flame Dragon.

What Minerva noticed most about those they'd saved though, were their clearly inhuman ears. For a second, she thought they were Eldar, but then dismissed that possibility as they looked more...human by comparison. Were they some kind of as of yet undiscovered abhuman strain? It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing she'd seen today.

Deciding to take a calculated risk and trusting in her reliable flak armor to protect her against whatever primitive weapons these tribespeople wielded, she stepped out into the open and spoke.

"Uhm, hey there, who are you all? We saw the big flying dragon and went to where it was heading!" (Because going towards danger makes sense, but then again, that's what everyone does in Warhammer.)

And so, first contact was made between the civilians of Falmart and the forces of Imperium, just not how either side would have preferred.

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