Taros Campaign - Battle of the Governor’s Palace: The Avenging Sons' strike cruiser Proxima Justus disengaged its Warp-Drives and plunged back into real-space just beyond the Taros system. It immediately came to battle-stations and made best course for Taros. Most Imperial planets have some form of systems defence, and Taros was no different. It could call upon its network of surface-to-orbit missiles and a single squadron of three system defence monitors. It was a force incapable of matching a heavily armed and armoured Space Marine strike cruiser, and although the Monitors were given orders to engage the approaching Space Marines, all three ship crews refused the order and mutinied rather than face almost certain destruction. The Space Marine's reputation travelled before them, and the Proxima Justus’ approach to Taros was unimpeded. Once in orbit, the only threat to the Proxima Justus would be the missile silos. These would take some time to target, prepare and launch. Upon arrival in orbit, the Avenging Sons, however, would already be ready to launch Drop Pods. After launching and planetfall, the Strike Cruiser and her escort would withdraw to stand off Taros at a safer distance whilst the ground assault was completed. It would only move in again when required.The Proxima Justus swept into position in low orbit and Captain Armaros gave the order to launch the first Drop Pod wave before boarding his own Drop Pod to lead the second wave, which followed close behind the first. The launch operation went like clockwork. One after another the Drop Pods sped away from the Strike Cruiser, burnt through the atmosphere and plunged down, retro-thrusters reorientating each pod towards its pre-programmed landing coordinates. The first pod to land was the Deathwind, aimed directly at the Governor's residence and loaded with a lethal cargo of missiles to sweep the area with indiscriminate fire. As it opened fire, the four blocking Tactical squads would be landing and disembarking to take up their defensive positions.From the inner courtyard in front of Governor Aulis' residence the sky above was streaked with fiery comet trails as the Drop Pods burnt through the atmosphere. The distant roar of engines and rushing wind grew louder. Then came a sudden hissing roar as the retro jets went into a full burn to slow the final descent of the rapidly approaching Drop Pods. Next came a ground-shaking impact which shattered nearby windows and created a rising plume of thick dust. Through the dust the distinctive shape of a Drop Pod, sitting upright in the courtyard, could just be made out. A brief moment's silence and stillness followed before the electronic servo-whine of the locking bolts disengaging and the ramps starting to fall. Stunned onlookers watched as the dust cleared to reveal the Deathwind Drop Pod's lethal contents.The courtyard became an inferno as rapid firing missiles sprayed out in all directions. A cacophony of explosions shook the palace, one after another, pulverizing masonry and sending onlookers fleeing for cover. The bombardment was brief but intense, turning the courtyard into a smoking hell of shrapnel and flames. This was only the beginning. Amidst the sudden missile attack the fiery con-trails of the second wave of Drop Pods had not been noticed by anyone. Having discharged its missiles, the Deathwind pod fell silent, but the roar of retro-engines again filled the sky. With a crashing, jarring impact, the Drop Pods landed one after another, split open like the petals of a deadly flower to disgorge squads of power-armoured giants, moving with purpose through the dust, smoke and flames. The battle for the Governor's Palace had begun in earnest. The initial attack stunned the defenders. The residence building was guarded by a single squad on sentry duty, and they had borne the brunt of the firepower. Several of those caught in the open had been killed, their bodies tossed through the air like ragged dolls to lie broken upon the courtyard's now rubble-strewn floor. The Palace garrison was already responding to the attack, gathering weapons and running from their barracks buildings to meet the attackers head on.Captain Armaros issued commands over his helmet comm-link and moved towards the target building. Ahead of him the Assault squads were running, Bolt Pistols drawn, Chainsword and Frag Grenades held ready to assault the building entrance. The distinctive bark and thunder-clap explosion of Boltgun shells could already be heard. The sentry squad survivors attempted to return fire, Lasguns flashing with little effect. Those guards that stood their ground to defend the entrance to the palace residence died screaming as the Avenging Sons Assault squads mercilessly tore through them, leaving their victims as little more than bloody offal. Melta-charges destroyed the armoured doors, and through the explosion leapt the Assault squads. After viewing the scenes outside nobody inside had the metal to stand and fight. All fled rather than faces the notorious 'Angels of Death'.Captain Armaros and his squads swept through the Governor's residence, room by room, throwing fragmentation grenades and clearing rooms with bursts of Bolt Pistol fire. The training doctrines were second nature. Any who did not escape fast enough were cut down. Eventually the lead squads crashed into an inner council chamber where a group of officials and guards had sought sanctuary. The guards opened fire, more in desperation and self-defence than in any hope of victory. This was it, Governor Aulis must be amongst them. From outside the chamber doorway, as Lasgun fire flashed by, Armaros activated his Teleport Homer. The signal was received on board the Proxima Justus. In the on-board teleport chamber, five heavily armoured Terminators awaited the summons. Each was armed with a Storm Bolter and Power Fist, except for one man carrying a Assault Cannon and Veteran Sergeant Foras with the squad Chainfist, a Power Weapon capable of cutting through just about any material. The titanic energies of the teleporter made the room throb with power. Lightning flashed and arced across the room as the Tech-Priests made their final adjustments and issued fervent prayers to the spirit of the ancient machine. The prayers did not fail. In a blinding flash of white light, the Terminator squad vanished, briefly being cast across the Warp before reappearing amidst crackling lightning in the council chamber far below.The firefight was over in a fraction of a second. The Assault Cannon whirred into life, raking the room with a storm of shells which tore up the desks and walls. Storm Bolter fire joined the slaughter, blazing explosive rounds into the officials and guards. As the smoke cleared, none were left standing. The Planetary Governor was dead. Captain Armaros ordered Apothecary Actium to cross-check DNA samples from the party with Orders Famulous records of the House Aulis genetic codes. It was information the Administratum had provided at the beginning of the mission, and the test would confirm the mission was complete. Meanwhile, the Assault squads and Terminators deployed into holding positions against those who were arriving too late to save their commander. Apothecary Actium set about his task, using his Narthecium and checking the ragged, bloody bodies one by one. All failed the genetic matching test. Actium informed his Captain that Planetary Governor Aulis was not amongst the dead. He must have escaped, or by some ill-fortune never have been there at all. Captain Armaros cursed, and issued the code word ‘Malevolent’ over the comm-net – mission objective failed, prepare to go to phase 2.