The Planet Zaraphen, an empty planet, was suddenly beset by war. At this, Eight Armies raced to control it. It's wealth of resources, and it's strategic location, would ensure an advantage to whoever could call it their own. That is why General Currant was sent here at the head of 3 regiments of the Emperors Imperial Guardsmen. Looking out from the observation port on the command deck of his flagship The Dominion, he could see very little worth from up here. The planet had little in the way of vegetation or water to colour it's surface beyond the tan shade of dust. However his orders had stated there was significant mineral reserves below the surface as well as lost archives and vaults containing ancient relics and knowledge long forgotten by the Imperium. Zaraphen was also to be the staging ground for a new series of offensives to push back the encroaching xenos and allow the Imperium at large to breath a little easier.

"Sir, we have reached the optimal release point. Shall we begin the landing operations?" Commander Felix Bough, the true master of the ship, inquired from his command station. Currant gave his pistol a squeeze before turning sharply about to address the Commander.

"Yes Commander. Give the order to begin landing. I want to have my command post set up planet side in the next hour. I will retire to prepare. I leave the fleet in your capable hands Mr. Bough." The commander saluted as the general left the deck and proceeded down an elevator to his quarters.

He had refused to take the Captains quarters as was his right and instead set up in a lower officers bunk so as to not disrupt the routine of the Commander. Such oversights in regulation were how he kept things running smoothly in his command. Pomp and ceremony were mere hindrances when there was a war to fight. Inside the room, his aide had already packed his gear into two large duffel bags and left them on his cot. Hefting one over his shoulder and carrying the other he set off towards the flight deck. He had to refuse help several times from deckhands and soldiers. He believed in carrying his own burden whenever possible.

On the flight deck there appeared to be chaos. Servitors with heavy equipment rushed past soldiers running to their Shark Assault craft. Fuel lines ran past carts loaded with ammunition. Racks of missiles swung by on massive cranes over top of Leman Russ tanks as they rolled into specialized landers. The General waded through the activity towards a green and gold trimmed craft where his aide, Lieutenant Savro took his bags from him to be stowed away.

"Good morning sir. The landing is going to schedule as we speak. We should be launching in fifteen minutes."

"Very good Mr. Savro." Currant placed his hands on the railing and watched with contained amazement at the activity of the deck. Down the line of the massive launch bays, Sharks were rocketing through the atmosphere shields separating the pressurized ship from the hard vacuum of space. Past the shimmering blue fields he could only make out the glint of drive engines firing, sending thousands of Imperial soldiers to the surface. Soon it would be his turn to follow them into the impending battle.

His current intelligence told of a possible Ork presence on the surface already. Eldar technology had been reported as well. The Adeptus Astartes were due to make an appearance to secure the relics on the planet. Surely the forces of Chaos sensed the powers of such items as well and in his gut he felt he should expect them. A parsec over was the expanding territory of Tau space. Surely an Imperial presence here would draw their attention. The fleet along with a Space Marine battle barge would own the space around the planet so any battles would likely be fought on the surface. For this he felt grateful. He was a commander on the ground and a battle in space would see him largely pushed to the sideline to allow Commander Bough to do what he did best. He breathed deep of the recycled air just before the command lander lit up it's drives and took off with several G's of acceleration into the void.

The large "Roks" that the Orks used as ships alongside their Hulks, littered the Jamjarr Forest like the plague they were, most of the Ork Fleet still in space to defend the drop zone. When there, Warlord Nargul Shakzod quickly rounded up the Feral Orks, and merged them into his army. The Waaagh! had come to Zaraphen, and it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. The Warlord would have his Stronghold built like it should. Nice and Orky, and well defended. When it was finished, he'd give a long speech to his Orks, generating several cries of "WAAAGH!" and "Orks! Orks! Orks! Orks! Orks!". He was smart for an Ork though. He split parts of his army into several groups, each group doing what they did best. Each of the fragment groups took place around the Forest Stronghold, readying for attack when it arrived. The rest of Nargul's Boyz went off to start capturing new land and making it Orky. Assaulting their Stronghold would be an arduous task for whoever tried.

Elsewhere, under the Karakov Desert, the Necrons, ancient death machines, rose. They set up their Stronghold, in their Catacombs. Being in such a place, it was downright impossible to destroy it by conventional means. After it was done, they'd rise up to the surface, and start their deathless march, The Necron Lord leading them. They'd slaughter any that got in their way.

Lastly, the Tau flung themselves from the edges of the Warp, and arrived near the Planet. They quickly got their Strike Team on the ground, to establish the Colony. The Air Caste piloted the Tau Warfleet to beware an engagement with Imperial Fleets, who were right nearby. The Earth Caste quickly finished the City in hours, and the Fire Caste readied themselves, the finest of the Tau Warriors, and the finest auxilleries they could muster. The city was fixed, and a powerful Stronghold made. The Tau immediately set out on marches to obtain and secure more land, Shas'O T'roi (or Commander Artflower) and High Ethereal Aun'Va stayed in the City to prepare.

Over his helm's vox came, "Brother-Captain, we are now in orbit round the planet Zaraphen." "Acknowledged," replied Brother Captain Gaisirc Vandal. He then voxs Veteran-Sargent Kronos, "Brother Kronos prepare the brothers we are deploying to Camp Victory within the hour. I want them in the launch deck in fifteen minutes." The reply came immediately, "Already on it Brother-Captain." Vandal thinks, Kronos always thinking ahead of my orders. I could not ask for a better Veteran-Sargent. He heads goes across his room and picks up his weapons, and heads for the launch deck. On his way there he encounters Apothecary Marcion. Together they went down three decks to the launch bay. Upon their arrival Captain Vandal is pleased to note that the Rhinos and Predator tanks where already prepared and the last of his marines where climbing aboard their Thunderhawks. As he climbs aboard the command Thunderhawk he open voxs, " Remember that the Emperor protects." With that the Thunderhawks launch into the void of space.