The convoy of the Cthonian Chimera in the lead, the abhuman Testudo in the center and the Solar Auxilia and Astartes Dracosan in the rear, moved into the surrounding woodland of the hill. Following a wide worn-down dirt path and using a map made from the aerial footage of the reconnaissance planes, they navigated through the dense forest.
{Dracosan}
{Dracosan} [https://img.wattpad.com/93eb7ed2b1acdf6b746ba59b933b1f02994408fe/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6f6d594e677534594441777164513d3d2d313336363937383838372e313737356530396466396135643762363837303337393939343333302e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
{Testudo}
Sergeant Juno Felix: Lieutenant, where are we going first? [https://img.wattpad.com/2ffeba782cfdd13036cbbfca80688b59b4bd6974/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f31716751747a4e7a63584c5f75773d3d2d313336363937383838372e313737356530626262343130346562323735333430343838303633302e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Sergeant Juno Felix: Lieutenant, where are we going first?
Looking at the map, Minerva replied.
Minerva Antioch: There is a village on the other side of this forest to the east, that will be our first destination.
After a half hour of driving, the convoy neared the edge of the forest when the auspexes picked up a large flying mass.
Private Fen Luken: Ma'am, vehicle auspex scanners are picking up something big flying up ahead.
Thinking of what to do for a moment, she ordered.
Minerva Antioch: Stop the convoy and have everyone on high alert.
Following her orders, the convoy stopped, and all weapons were primed. Minerva opened the turret hatch of the Chimera and climbed out. Taking out her magnoculars, she scanned the sky ahead, before seeing something she never thought she'd lay eyes on.
Minerva Antioch: By the throne, it's an Emperor damned dragon!
To the front right of the convoy, 150 feet away, was a massive red flying lizard. It was the size of a five-story tall building with massive wings. The creature appeared to be looking for something in the forest.
Minerva Antioch: Sergeant, do we have any intel on dragons on this planet?
Sergeant Juno Felix: Yes ma'am, they're called flame dragons by the locals and are the apex predators of the planet. Exact levels of physical durability are unknown, but they do have a fire breath that can cook the crew of a tank if they didn't activate the NBC protection systems in time.
Looking in the direction the dragon was flying, she saw something in between the trees.
Minerva Antioch: It's flying towards a village in the forest!
Sergeant Felix looked over the map and questioned.
Sergeant Juno Felix: But there's no settlement here marked on the map.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Minerva rebuked.
Minerva Antioch: The flyboys must have missed it in all the foliage, doesn't matter we got to help them! Order the Dracosan to the front of the convoy to drive through those trees, have our Chimera follow up behind and the Testudo placed in the rear, let's go!
With that, the vehicles in the convoy maneuvered into new positions and drove towards the fire breathing dragon and Emperor willing, not their demise.
Forest Elf Village
Tuka was playing with some of the younger children in the village during the seemingly peaceful day. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, the temperature was just right. Everything was well, until her father came, desperately running into the village.
Hodor Marceau: Everyone hide! A flame dragon is coming! Warriors to arms!
The day which had gone so well, descended into chaos. Women and children attempted to find safety, running in heedless panic. The warriors prepared to face the fire dragon, now coming into sight from the village.
Once the monster was in range, it unleashed its fire upon the elves. Tuka herself would have been caught in the flames had her father not grabbed her. Most of the warriors were killed within moments of the dragon's arrival. The women and children were hiding in whatever intact shelter remained and soon it seemed death would come for them all. That was, until they were saved by people they had never seen before.
Imperial's POV
The Dracosan came plowing out of the tree line with its heavy armor and entered the small settlement. The Chimera and Testudo were right behind, following the path it had cleared through the vegetation. Upon seeing the monstrosity burning down the village Minerva gave the only sensible order she could.
Minerva Antioch: All forces, show this xenos beast the wrath of the Emperor!
The vehicles opened up with their multi-lasers while the infantry used the side mounted lasguns to pepper the giant creature. The relatively light weapons fire had little effect on the thick scales of the beast and the heavier weapons in the hulls of the transports couldn't be elevated to engage the monster.
Just as the dragon was about to turn and incinerate the minuscule force, the Night Lords disembarked from the Dracosan and flew into the air atop their jump packs. Using their maneuverability, the Space Marines evaded the beast's fire and replied with their bolt pistols to distract the threat. This allowed the pair of Solar Auxilia equipped with meltaguns to attack the monster, their void armor protecting them from the still burning woods.
The pinpoint blasts from the meltas easily cut through the dragon's scales, however the dragon flew higher, away from the effective reach of the short-ranged weapons. The Night Lords attempted to close the distance but were forced back by the dragon's fire breath. Humanity in the 30th millennium has many weapons in its arsenal though, and some were invented long before mankind even made the first humble lasgun.
Minerva Antioch: Lock the hunter-killer missile on target and fire when ready. (If you got something big trying to kill you just do what anyone would, launch a rocket at the problem.)
The Chimera launched its turret mounted anti-armor weapon at the impossible to miss enormous flying lizard. The guided projectile hit the thing straight on the side of the head, just missing its brain, but leaving its skull visible and taking out one of its eyes. The wounded behemoth roared in pain before flying off, the Night Lords choosing not to pursue as their jump packs were not designed for sustained flight.
Author's note: Space Marine jump packs aren't meant to make an Astartes a flying machine, but as its name suggests, for short jumps and precision insertion.
With the enemy retreating, the Marines landed, and the mortal soldiers exited their transports. Looking around, Minerva saw people sticking their heads out of cover with their eyes wide and their jaws almost touching the ground as they beheld those who had thwarted the legendary flame dragon.
What Minerva noticed most about the ones they had saved though, were their clearly inhuman ears. For a second, she thought they were Eldar, but then dismissed that possibility as they looked more...human by comparison. Were they some kind of as of yet undiscovered abhuman strain? It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing she'd seen today.
Deciding to take a calculated risk and trusting in her reliable flak armor to protect her against whatever primitive weapons these tribes people used, she stepped out into the open and spoke.
Minerva Antioch: Uhm, hey there, who are you all? We saw the big flying dragon and went to where it was going. (Because going towards danger makes sense, but then again, that's what everyone does in warhammer.)
And so, first contact was made between the civilians of Falmart and the forces Imperium, just not how either side would have preferred.
Comments would be appreciated