Editing The 13th Black Crusade (section)

===The Howling 119th's Last Ride===

The traitor Titans of the Legio Vulcanum continued their implacable advance, and princeps '''Malas Tiron''' was a veteran of the Long War. Thanks to a gift of the Dark Gods, his mind commanded the God-Machines directly, and the Titans moved as if part of one body. Nothing could close without getting utterly raped by death guns. Anything that did manage to somehow knock the void shields off of some of his units moved back and allowed the less-damaged Titans take their place in the battle line. Despite the defensive fire of the defenders, the legio came closer and closer to the walls of Kasr Kraf.

The Eastern defenses were saved once more through the efforts of the Howling 119th. With low munitions, the surviving Valkyries were deployed to intercept the Legio. With the skies above the Titans swarming with [[Helldrake]]s air support, the 119th were fully aware that it was a suicide mission. Days of observing Legio Vulcanum allowed them to deduce that if they could somehow take down the [[Warlord Titan]] ''Vessel of Damnation'', the others would fall as well.

The void shields of the Warlord faltered at the expense of the majority of the 119th, and by then they were out of munitions. With a prayer commending his soul to the Emperor, Strekka drove his Valkyrie hard into the traitor machine's helm. The ensuing explosion that marked his martyrdom could be seen from the ramparts, and the Warlord shuddered to a halt. Its slaved machines spent a precious few moments in confusion, which the defenders took advantage of and destroyed an enemy warhound.

Soldiers cheered, but those soon faded as the subordinate Titans seemed to have come to their senses, and recommenced their march. Only the Warlord remained unmoving for now, its head obscured by billowing black smoke.