Outlastian Campaign

Herein lies the official Imperium report on the Cardinal Archivists Astartes Chapter, and their contribution to the Outlastian campaign. In particular, their unorthodox, if highly efficient method of quelling the Xenos threat. Please note that this report consists mainly of previously classified reports from a number of Imperial agencies, notably: the Ordo Xenos, Adeptus Mechanicus, the official Blood Angels field report, and briefly, the Ordo Hereticus.

May this recount of events serve to enlighten others as to this most *unique* of Astartes Chapters.

### Abstract

The planet of Outlastia, located in the Segmentum Tempestus, was a moderate agri-world, sustaining a population upwards to 20 million, and producing seed-stock, grain, and other basic supplies for the sector. Being of little over-all importance, it was the surprise target of an Ork Waaagh! The PDF held out notably on the eastern hemisphere, abandoning the western and southern continents in order to preserve the evacuated population on the built-up eastern continent. The sharp ravines and sudden storm squalls of this geography were instrumental in delaying the Ork advance until such time as the Blood Angels Astartes Chapter arrived in force.

It is worth noting at this juncture, that despite the Blood Angels' fearsome battle reputation, they were hard-pressed to hold the Ork advance. While having a cruiser in orbit, the Blood Angels either met their match with the Xenos, or failed to bring their full weight to bear. The Blood Angels have not met this line of questioning favorably, and seem ill-disposed to even recognize the incident.

### Events Following the Arrival of the Cardinal Archivists

Upon the unannounced arrival of the Battle Barge *Lobsters*, the Chapter in question engaged the occupying Ork forces in a series of hit-and-run attacks, drawing their forces towards a valley to the south-west of the remaining Outlastian strongholds. In most of the reports gleaned from the PDF, the Archivists showed great aptitude at close-range combat, repeatedly drawing the Ork forces into pre-arranged shelling zones. Strangely, most of the heavy vehicles and artillery used by this Chapter seemed to be Great Crusade or Horus Heresy era. Follow-up investigation by the Adeptus Mechanicus were evidently instigated, but has either made no headway, or been quietly abandoned.

According to reports and memos by the Outlastian government and PDF, the Cardinal Archivists Chapter gained near-instant popularity among the citizenry. This has been attributed to their initial relief supply drops, which, according to one upstanding citizen, consisted almost entirely of, "beer, corn-chips, and steak". The exact source of these supplies has never been located, and is assumed to be privileged information among the Chapter. Nevertheless, the surviving population of Outlastia was roused by these donations, and cheered on the Chapter for the remainder of the campaign. Considering the desperate conditions at the Outlastian hold-outs at this stage in the invasion, this is not hard to understand.

### Inter-Chapter Rivalry, and Battle at Reverb Valley

In all engagements where Blood Angels Marines were present, the Archivists evidently ignored the other chapter, either shunning their presence, or - according to divisive field reports - accusing the Blood Angels Astartes of vampirism, and offering up PDF members as alternative "blood-filled happy meals". These reports, while consistent in their number, have never been substantiated by any party. As few Blood Angels Astartes commanders made it off Outlastia, this has not had a noticeable effect on Chapter relations, which remain polite, if distant.

The Cardinal Archivists counter-offensive came to a head less than a standard month after their arrival. Having reduced all Ork encampments and troop movements outside of the central 'cluster', the Chapter engaged in one the most peculiar war-time strategies ever devised. Please note that the initial reports were met with incredulity, and were it not for the presence of some impartial members of the Ordo Xenos, and the official complaint by the Adeptus Mechanicus, none of the versions of events that here follow would be credited, and their authors subject to severe scrutiny. Nevertheless, the following events seem to be accurate, despite their outlandish nature.

On the morning of what would be the last major engagement of the war, Chapter Assault Bikes attacked the southern flank of the remaining, central, Ork encampment. Despite heavy shelling and orbital bombardment, the Orks numbered upwards of 75,000, according to a low-ball estimate. After firing off a number of incendiary weapons, and shouting obscenities, (reference note: being a fungal species, Orks do not possess nor engage in, many of the asserted biological peculiarities, nor activities.) the Assault Bikes wheeled into retreat. With little additional motivation, the largest part of the Ork army, including it's lead Warboss, gave chase, continually driven forward by a hail of ammunition. Rumor indicates that a well-placed shot may have injured the chief Warboss, who then instigated a full charge of the Ork forces.

Whatever the cause or method, the Chapter Assault Bikes managed to lead the bulk of the Xenos army into the mouth of a nearby narrow valley. The PDF are here credited with neutralizing the Ork air-forces, without which this unbelievable stunt could not have been pulled off. At the opposite end of the valley, the Chapter had set up a stage, using whatever amplifying equipment or sonic weaponry they could acquire. This includes, but is unlikely restricted to: PDF announcement vox-casters, military-grade vehicle-mounted speakers, Chaos Marine sonic weapons, and - according to an irrefutable complaint from the Adeptus Mechanicus, a fully functional Ordinatus.

How the Archivists managed to acquire said weaponry and equipment, never mind assemble it so close to a major Ork encampment, is the subject of much debate and musing. The Adeptus Mechanicus crew that served their massive Ordinatus weapon claimed they were alternately bribed, threatened, and cajoled into moving and adapting the weapon. As to the Heretek sonic weaponry, the Chapter openly admitted that they were Chaos weapons. This immediately instigated an Ordo Hereticus investigation, which was dropped just as quickly, the senior Inquisitor claiming time off for personal reasons, rumored to have been caused by the ebullient report of a Chapter Marine Captain, citing exactly how these weapons were seized from a Slaanesh-loyal Noise Marine contingent. The biological exactitude of this raid, in particular the fate of the Chaos Marines, may have been a factor in the Inquisitor's decision.

Whatever the means, the Orks were dumb-struck when, against all expectation, the stage began to emit music. Present on that stage, the Ordo Xenos confirms, were no less than the Chapter Lord and Lady, and a small group of their highest ranking Captains, likely their most trusted companions and advisers, playing a collection of Golden Age instruments. Using the networked sound equipment, the Chapter elite began to play a song of their own devising, emitted at earth-shaking volume. It is here that reports enter the realm of disbelief, and the fascinated Ordo Xenos Inquistors make their best contribution to this report. Despite their unbelievably over-whelming numerical advantage, and natural bloodlust, the Ork army assembled in the valley, with a natural push towards the stage. Awestruck, no Ork weaponry was fired, nor any offensive action taken for several minutes. The Chapter leaders played music through the most unspeakably powerful collection of amplifiers imaginable, and the Orks listened and jostled forward.

Once the band finished their first song, they launched immediately into a faster paced one, causing the Ork army to respond favorably. It is at this point that a large number of Ork rounds were fired, Gretchin were hurled into the air in huge numbers, and general violence broke out in the massed army. Strangely, none of this was directed towards the stage, which continued to play, unabated. Accelerating towards a joyful orgy of violence tens of thousands strong, the Orkish army consumed itself over the course of a short set of songs. After a rousing finale, including trombone and saxophone crescendos, the Chapter disappeared, apparently teleporting towards the Battle Barge *Lobsters*. Without the music evidently controlling their actions, the Orkish forces were stunned, possibly that they had been reduced to less than 10% of their number. The "mosh-pit" zone closest to the stage in particular, featured unspeakable carnage, including the lead Warboss, who engaged in a mutual head-butting to death with a large pack of Nobz. The remaining Orks were scythed from the field by a handful of Chapter squads, who, still having their hearing intact, eliminated the Orks piece-meal.

### Aftermath and Conclusion

It is the perspective of this report's authors, that these events, purely remarkable in Imperial history, may never be fully understood. The Archivists' astonishing strategies and accomplishments are likely not reproducible.

The return of the Ordinatus war-machine to the Adeptus Mechanicus was received with quiet astonishment and some outrage.

The Blood Angels Chapter, or those surviving the grueling campaign, were debriefed without incident, and left Outlastia without fanfare. As with all records of this incident, they were initially met with suspicion and accusations of falsehood. Hopefully, the findings of this commission will finally dispel the aura of disbelief that these and other recountings have encountered.

It is suggested by this commission, that due to the Cardinal Archivists Chapter's active status, all further investigations into other campaigns are to be given a degree of freedom from scrutiny. As with the Ordo Hereticus investigation cited above, the nature of the Chapter and its inestimable warriors leads to more confusion and disbelief than the initial query. As such, all further investigation and cross-record recountings are to be handled by this or another commission familiar with their work.