The inside of the drop pod was dark and drab unlike so much else in the Salamanders armory, especially for the Iron Lords whose ornate weaponry was famous even amongst the rest of the chapter. The Pods had not yet released, and he and his command squad sat in utter silence and trepidation, waiting for the sirens to announce the approaching launch. A city embroiled in conflict on the border of the Eldar's holdings had been selected as the drop point, PDF there were engaged in a losing attempt to re-take the city against a far superior Eldar force... soon the tides would change in a wave of cleansing flame thought Arash, squeezing the hilt of his blade harder.

Veteran Sergeant Hasou turned to his captain, always good at noting when his old friend was in distress, "[color=1a7b30]Do you fear it is them Arash?[/color]", he asked tentatively. The captain shook his head, "[color=ed1c24]I fear nothing Hasou, I pray to the Emperor and Vulkan that it is them... I require vengeance still.[/color]", Hasou nodded and seemed about to say something, but was interrupted by the warning claxons announcing they were above the drop site. The massive ramps sealed shut, and in a few more moments... the pod was fired.

[hr]

Hurtling through the void towards the planet below started as it always did, relatively smooth as there was no atmosphere. Even as the guiding engines fired to keep the pod on target the ride was largely smooth... until it hit the atmosphere. Suddenly the pod shook violently, rattling thick Astarte bones and armor as it plumeted downwards. The Salamanders within, only now raised their voices. A hymn of Nocturne was begun, its verses picked up by the occupants. Their loud, booming voices heard over their vox channel, only to be joined by the hymns of their brothers in other pods as they fell and shook.

The reverse thrusters firing felt like a load of brick smashing into their bodies. The desperate whine of the engines sounded throughout the air, splitting it in a symphony of screaming air and vaporised oxygen. Even still they sang their hymns, booming voices over vox sounded loud, proud and unafraid of the approaching earth. They only stopped with the collision.

[hr]

"FALL BACK!", the colonel screamed, pushing past his mmen to get to the Tauros APC. The myriad PDF soldiers were frantically scrambling over eachother, trying to run from the scything shots of the eldar who mercilewssly cut them down... well most of the PDF ran. A few platoons held strong, a man with a long face pulled into a scowl with a scar down the front right of his face. 'M-major should w-', the major scoffed and turned to look the trooper straight in the eye, "[color=6ecff6]If you don't return fire Private you will be dead. If not by those xenos then by me now FIRE![/color]", he ordered, looking to the rapidly encroaching Eldar... it looked like today he woulld finally meet the Emperor. Then the whining, screeching sound of air being split was heard above them, and the Major looked skywards and smiled. The flaming pods plummeted so rapidly to the ground he didn't have time to announce it before they crashed into the ground, cracking concrete and plasteel like it was wood. "[color=6ecff6]The Emperor hasn't abandoned us yet men![/color]"

[hr]

All of a sudden the titanic mmomentum all came to a halt at once. Even for Space Marines trained to do this it was jarring. Bones shook violently and ears rang for a moment before Marine biology compensated, no dizzyness or nausea present. At the same moment as the Marines recovered the large planks smashed into the splintered floor, and the violent occupants were disgorged unto the world. Captain Arash hefted his mighty blade as it scremed to life, flames hot as a sun sprouting from the blade as he shouted a warcry, "[color=ed1c24][b]Into the Fires of battle, unto the anvil of war![/b][/color]", and was answered by the company, '[color=39b54a][i][b]For the Emperor and his people![/b][/i][/color]', and forward the Iron Lords charged.