On the grounds near the keep, the two Hunter Tanks drove in. One was equipped with an Autocannon turret and two Heavy Bolters on the sides; the Destructor. The other was equipped with a Twin-linked Lascannon turret and two more Lascannons on the sides; the Annihilator.
"The Hunter Annihilator and Hunter Destructor are deployed and ready to begin their attack." said Pegalos. "Key targets are indicated on the tactical map. The Empress guide you to victory, Blood Phoenixes."
The icy terrain continued to crack and fall apart. Large ice spikes stuck out of the ground, and large pieces of the land broke from the surface and floated up into the air.
But the Hunter drivers were unfazed and continued with the mission at hoof. They drove along the path that was carved before them.
"Retribution to Hunter Annihilator: Discord armor ahead." Spike warned. "Use your Lascannon to cut them apart."
A Discord Hunter appeared, and both Hunter Tanks opened fire. The Annihilator melted the other tank's armor thanks to its anti-vehicular weaponry. When the defiled tank was destroyed, the Hunters moved on, but Spike called them again.
"Hunter Destructor: Discord Havocs are set up ahead of you." said Spike. "Their lascannons and missile launchers pose a serious threat. Use your Autocannon to eliminate them before they can cause serious damage."
The Hunter Destructor went in and blasted the Discord Marines to bloody pieces with the Autocannon, and its mounted Heavy Bolters shot at and tore them to shreds. A Disharmonaught came in to attack, but the Annihilator blasted it to scrap with the heat of its Lascannons.
When the traitor marines were slain, they advanced onto the next location and found a key position.
"Target in sight." One of the drivers reported.
"Excellent." said Pegalos, "Destroy all enemy fortifications."
Another Discord Hunter drove in and blasted the Destructor with lascannon fire, but the Annihilator approached and blasted the tank to smithereens. They then proceeded to attack the Discord Marines and their temple. They killed off the marines, and then razed the temple to burning charcoal.
"Target destroyed." One of the drivers said.
"Well done." said Pegalos. "Strike Force Fury: Launch attack!"
Far from the Hunters' position, a drop pod landed, and out came Captain Michael Pegalos himself and a squad of Pegasus Marines.
"Forward!" said Pegalos, "Today we regain the honor of our Chapter!"
Four more pods landed in the area, and squads of Scout, Tactical, and Devastator Pony Marines emerged and followed after Pegalos.
The Hunter Tanks drove up the stairs to the pods, and another pod landed near then. Out came Sergeants Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Unicorn Twilight Sparkle, Harmonaught Captain Goliath Nule, and Force Commander Hammerheart onto the battlefield.
"Commander Hammerheart, we should divert to support Captain Pegalos." Twilight suggested. "By eliminating the Dark Legion defenders, we can stem the tide of Blood Phoenix deaths."
Hammerheart and his siblings headed off along a different path from Pegalos, and found a large squad of Discord Pony Marines, who saw them as well.
"Blood Phoenixes!" One of the marines yelled. "Lord Skarsend was right! The loyalists are trying to outflank us!"
The Blood Phoenixes attacked the Discord Marines. Blood was spilled on both sides as loyalists and traitors alike fell to each others' bullets and blades. But the Celestial Pony Marines overcame the small army and moved on. However, something else watched the action unfold.
"Ho ho, what is this?" the voice of Nettor said in interest, "More Blood Phoenixes... You should visit with me. I have gifts for one and all." The daemon laughed.
Twilight felt a slight pain. "Ah... the daemon is here already..." She said.
"We are too late." said Rainbow Dash.
"No..." Twilight said, struggling to speak, "The daemon is manifest... but not yet free. He cannot yet leave the keep."
The Blood Phoenixes engaged another army of traitor marines, and Nettor broke into more laughter as he felt more Pony Marines die by the hooves of Discord. "Yes... come and feel Nurgle's embrace, Blood Phoenixes..." He shouted with jollity followed by a vocal vibration and more evil laughter.
Twilight realized what was going on. "The daemon feeds on our siblings' lives." She said, still struggling to talk.
The battle continued, and the Blood Phoenixes had to keep as little casualties as possible.
"Your Chapter Master imprisoned me!" Nettor said. "Now, I will destroy his Chapter, consume his sector, and rot away his entire reality."
"Commander Hammerheart, deploy your strike team and destroy that daemon." said Pegalos. "Everything depends on it."
The hunt for Nettor continued, but despite their efforts, Pony Marines were still falling to enemy fire. Nettor fed on their deaths, growing stronger with every soul.
"Delightful!" Nettor laughed.
Hammerheart's strike force trotted along a path that would take them to the keep, but another voice came through to them, all too familiar.
"I commend you on your persistence, Blood Phoenixes." said Skarsend. "Even faced with the betrayal of your sibling Hoovitus, you strive on. Such determination could accomplish a great deal, if backed by the powers of the Dark Gods. As it is, your stubborn nature only ensures your destruction."
Hammerheart and his siblings encountered a Discord Hunter, and attacked it with steely determination. When the Hunter was demolished, they moved on.
"You draw closer to your doom, Blood Phoenixes." said Skarsend as he approached them. "Surrender to the inevitable. Share in our glory!"
Hammerheart went in and attacked the Discord Lord. Rainbow Dash took to the sky and landed near them, engaging in melee as well. Applejack, Pinkie, and Twilight stayed back and blasted him with their weapons.
"It was left to me to manipulate Captain Pegalos into launching this attack." Skarsend explained as he clashed with Hammerheart. "Aroghent never understood the true grandeur of this plan, but you. You have played your parts very well, Blood Phoenixes."
Elsewhere, Pegalos's forces were being killed, and Nettor only grew stronger.
The daemon laughed. "All who die, die for the Plague Lord!" He laughed some more.
The battle against Skarsend was costing them dearly. Hammerheart had to finish him off quickly. Skarsend slashed at Hammerheart, but the Commander blocked the strike. He then grabbed Skarsend, picked him up over himself, threw him to the ground, and slammed his Thunder Hammer into his side.
Skarsend looked to the Pony Marines. "Well fought, Blood Phoenixes." He wheezed. "But while you battled me, how much stronger has Nettor become? Victory is still mine... siblings." He laughed before disappearing in a flash of Warp energies.
"Oh ho! Skarsend again proves to be a disappointment." said Nettor. "His refusal to accept death is an offense to Grandfather Nurgle. Still, he served his purpose."
Hammerheart continued on the path to the keep. The air grew rank with the stench of a million corpses as they drew closer. When they arrived, they could see the daemon in all its unholy form.
"Only a few more deaths, and I shall be free to consume the whole sector." said Nettor. "Your deaths will do nicely."
The Pony Marines came closer to the keep, and Nettor came waddling towards them. When he was ten feet from them, he started to repeatedly take in breaths. The Pony Marines got out of the way as a river of vomit rocketed out of his gaping maw. When Nettor finished puking, he took up his sword and went in to kill. Goliath, being the most durable of them all, drew Nettor's attention while the other Blood Phoenixes attacked. Two Disharmonaughts came into the fray. Hammerheart had Captain Nule deal with them while he combated against Nettor. The great daemon then proceeded to slash at Hammerheart, who easily dodged his slow swings.
Goliath clashed with one of the Disharmonaughts, but the other one engaged the Pony Marines. Blood Phoenixes were being killed by the Discord Mech's grappling limb and daemon fire, further strengthening Nettor's chance of escape.
"Ah! Such a feast of souls!" said Nettor. "I shall tear apart all your worlds!"
He started taking in more breaths, and the Pony Marines quickly evaded the vomit that erupted from his mouth. Goliath had destroyed the Disharmonaught he was fighting, and the Pony Marines miraculously destroyed the other that killed most of their siblings. They all returned their attentions to Nettor, who was so very close to freedom. But they weren't going to allow that to happen. Hammerheart was still striking at Nettor's girth, but the great daemon lifted his foot and stomped the ground, sending the Commander flying back a few feet. Goliath went in and struck at Nettor as well. The Blood Phoenixes unleashed all their Equestrial might and fury upon the festering freak of the Warp. Hammerheart went back in to attack. With more hits than can be counted, soon the daemon backed up and fell on his rear-end, blood exploded from his body in copious amounts.
"Ah..." Nettor moaned in defeat. "The victory is yours Blood Phoenixes. Death comes to all flesh, even that containing an essence as glorious as my own." Nettor's body exploded, his spine flew into the air and evaporated into Warp particles, but his voice still echoed to the Pony Marines. "Such is the way of Nurgle." He said. "But do not delude yourselves that your victory will last, little ponies. This prison cannot hold me forever. It is cracked and weakened, and its architect now feasts on Nurgle's rotted fruit. You and your pathetic Chapter will feel my hate again before long!"