Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Just outside the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:21:30]
Brother Caledonii, grizzled veteran that he is, can understand the wisdom in the techmarine's words. It is not surprising to him that he failed to see this stratagem, as it was one that put him in the least jeopardy, safe near the bunker under the aegis of the defense turrets.
A place he is not accustomed to being.
He had thought to protect the wounded Space Wolf, but he now understands convincing the headstrong Son of Russ to remain behind is likely pointless and would waste valuable time. At least with the advantage of his jump-pack he may be able to withdraw in haste with the Black Templar in tow should matters go awry.
Nodding his somewhat reluctant assent, he settles into the leeward side of the bunker, checking the load on his bolter, finding the range to the Comm Uplink Array along the iron sight. If it means his death here, he is ready, and the vile xenos will meet a fusillade that will cull many of their number before the Emperor claims him to his bosom.
Brother Hrothgar and Brother Emeric bound off through the deep snow, the doom-borealis of the Tyranid approach giving an unreal, violet cast to everything along the southern horizon. The Space Wolf keeps his eyes on the rising tor just ahead, watching the fluttering wings of the roosting 'Nids while Brother Emeric makes minute adjustments to the powerful vox-caster with each stride.
Leaving Brother Caledonii as bait for the trap, I follow the Space Wolf as he races through the snow and ice and nimbly leaps up the cliff-side approach to the Com-Tower. Moments later we near the top of the plateau and I flash a hand-signal to Hrothgar to take cover.
We hunker beneath an outcropping of rock to hide us from Tyranids flying overhead.
With the internal vox I signal to Caledonii: <<<Execute.>>>
Seeing how jaded my Battle Brothers have become I have sympathy for the man. Shivering and alone, he hasn't had the benefit of the military training of the Emperor's Elite or the Guardsmen to harden his resolve. I can't keep quiet anymore. We still are humanities protectors after all.
"Not all of us agree with Brother Decius's view of Mercy."
I lift my hand up to the heavens to show my faith to the Emperor.
"Faith in the Emperor will bring you solace."
Inspire, Will Power Test, Unfettered (1d100=16)
I invoke my ability to inspire to bring up the man's and the Guardsmen's morale. For fear is as great an enemy as the Xenos.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Outside the Comm Uplink Tower
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:18:51]
Brother Emeric speaks the signal and then risks a glance back at the dark shadow marking the outline of the Security Bunker. Brother Caledonii does not hesitate one iota, and Hrothgar believes the veteran Storm Warden would have fired even if it meant facing the entirety of the Tyranid host alone. His bolter explodes with a burst of fire, strobing light from the muzzle-flash illuminating him briefly against the curving wall of the structure like a black ghost against the stark white snow.
His aim is true, and one of the barb-winged monstrosities is torn asunder, wiped from a vox-vane like a swatted insect in a splash of steaming fluid. A true marksman, his second burst slays another, and then the xenos take flight as one, their leathery wings flapping chaotically as they surge into the cold air. They circle upward like a blurring cyclone of burnt orange and black wings, colliding with one another and swooping in every direction before rapidly coalescing into some semblance of an organized flock. Brothers Hrothgar and Emeric watch as they fly out wide of the tor before circling back in the direction of the continuous fire. With a series of keening shrieks, they dive for their prey leaving the Comm Uplink Tower behind.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Xi-Omega-1
Overturned Excavator, Outskirts of the Southern Plateau
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:26:34]
The frostbitten adept ceases his stammering and gets fully to his feet when the Dark Angel raises his gauntlet to the slate-gray skies. The Librarian's soothing words cause many of the Karlack 2nd to turn around from their exhausted march, their eyes remaining riveted on Brother Vex. Even Commissar Sander stops in his tracks on the ascending ridgeline and pauses to watch as the sole survivor of the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 compound walks toward the marine. It is hard for Brother Vex to discern the shifting tapestry of emotions the bedraggled refugee's expression shows; overwhelming relief, almost religious awe, and perhaps, hope.
There is something else, as well.
Roge Halis grins amiably, his weathered lips already cracked and split, too dessicated to weep the blood such wounds should cause.
"The Emperor, he'll protect us, won't he, mi'Lord Astartes?"
The majority of my attention is strained for what lies beyond concealed in the fog. Knowing we have precious little time before more and more elements of the Hive Mind finds its way to our position.
"The Emperor protects the soul as long as it is true to his faith."
"Faith in the Emperor will bring you solace.
As he turns around piercing Brother Vex with his gaze "Innocence proves nothing brother Vex" turning afterwards to face the Guardsmen
"Men of the Empire, whilst we draw breath, we stand. Whilst we stand, we fight. Whilst we fight, we prevail. Nothing shall stay our wrath" making a small pause to build some momentum "The blasphemy of the Tyranids is such that only one solution is acceptable. Extermination" raising his hand in the air and giving a battle cry "To admit defeat is to blaspheme against the Emperor" looking at the Commissar after saying those words.
After he is done with his speech he just looks around the perimeter chanting a litany.
Where there is uncertainty, I shall bring light
Where there is doubt, I shall sow faith
Where there is shame, I shall point atonement
Where there is rage, I shall show its course
My word in the soul shall be as my bolter in the field.
"Faith in the Emperor will bring you solace.As he turns around piercing Brother Vex with his gaze "Innocence proves nothing brother Vex" turning afterwards to face the Guardsmen
"I spoke not of innocence Brother Decius, but Faith."
Not looking at the Iron Snake, but past him into the fog. As it seems our point gets easily distracted.
Before the flying abominations fully disappear into the gloom, I roll out from underneath the outcropping expecting my Battle Brother to be on my heels. To my surprised dismay the Space Wolf's gaze follows the swarm, licking his lips in a feral snarl as another Tyranid is brought down by Caledonii's expert marksmanship.
"Hrothgar! There will be plenty more xenos to dispatch! Now use your jump pack to get us both to the tower!"
"Hang on tight!" Hrothgar tells Emeric as he grabs him and activates his jump pack full throttle, willing it to exceed its limits (burst of speed solo ability).
As he turns around piercing Brother Vex with his gaze "Innocence proves nothing brother Vex" turning afterwards to face the Guardsmen"Men of the Empire, whilst we draw breath, we stand. Whilst we stand, we fight. Whilst we fight, we prevail. Nothing shall stay our wrath" making a small pause to build some momentum "The blasphemy of the Tyranids is such that only one solution is acceptable. Extermination" raising his hand in the air and giving a battle cry "To admit defeat is to blaspheme against the Emperor" looking at the Commissar after saying those words.After he is done with his speech he just looks around the perimeter chanting a litany.
"The Xenos must die, I agree with that, but that is only part of our mission. We must leave this planet with the Magos. That means we do not fight to the last man, but fight as necessary to get off this planet intact. If you can not obey orders and do what must be done, then you are welcome to stay here and fight, but that means your geneseed will be lost to the devourers. Your choice, but make it now, we do not have time to argue."
I notice Brother Emeric stand and I let out another salvo to keep the eyes of the Tyranids on me.
After the shots are fired I grin as I see the two arc sky ward. I hope they can use that to get out as well.
"My choice was made already I am here to see this men live and leave this planet and I must do so, but I will kill as many of the Xenos as I can in the process of doing so. I suppose my zeal and thirst for avenging my comrades might have gotten the best of me, but it is only fair that I do my best to finish this mission"
"Duty must come first, so we are in agreement. Brother Vex let us go an keep clear the landing site."
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Outside the Comm Uplink Tower
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:18:21]
Brother Hrothgar engages his jump-pack, and so great is the resultant torque from the red-lined jets due to the acceleration necessary to compensate for the techmarine's considerable weight, that they rotate slowly in place as they ascend on a steep parabolic arc to the surface of the tor high above.
Landing with their backs to the tower, they watch as Brother Caledonii's tracers streak across the air, biting into the vast flock of screeching xenos. Knowing that every second matters, Brother Emeric charges past the bodies of the slain xenos and terminated servitors, and into the Comm Uplink Array. The Space Wolf follows close behind, watching the purple-black horizon with his weapons at the ready, the glowing red thrust nozzles on his jump-pack hissing as spatters of freezing condensation dribble down and strike them from the ice-rimed vox-spars of the Comm Tower.
Brother Emeric immediately makes his way over to the interface terminal and inputs his electro graft, uttering a silent prayer to the Omnissiah as he attaches unity-leads to the portable vox-caster, connecting it as well in earnest hope that the Comm Uplink Array will prove capable of amplifying the resultant signal.
Brother Emeric immediately makes his way over to the interface terminal and inputs his electro graft, uttering a silent prayer to the Omnissiah...
Capacitor and transistor
To you I meekly implore
Induction and electron flow
Through you transmissions go
Spirit, God, and Machine
Broadcast now is my plea
Proper litanies expressed, I place my hands on the communications terminal, toggle the switch, and transmit:
<<<Thunder's Word this Kill-Team Umbra. Primary objective: acquired. Secondary objective: acquired. Requesting Thunderhawk extraction. Zone coordinates: (76.24642395766811°, -94.21875°), Rendezvous: [0:08:00] to zero-hour. Confirm acknowledgment. Message repeats: Thunder's Word this Kill-Team Umbra. Primary objective: acquired. Secondary objective: acquired. Requesting Thunderhawk extraction...>>>
Allowing the transmission to cycle in an infinite loop, I then toggle for reception and pray to hear the frigate's reply.
"I trust all is well, brother. Shall we be off?"
"A moment, Brother Hrothgar. Something is wrong. The hive-mind is interfering with communications... Attempting to verify Thunderhawk in en route."
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Xi-Omega-1
South Plateau, Designated Extraction Zone
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:19:18]
Brother Syne stands vigilantly at the northern edge of the south plateau, looking back down the steeply sloping grade over the rough-hewn tracks of the hauler's passage toward the wreck of the Munitorum excavator, using its silhouette to mark range on this approach, sweeping his rifle along the newly established perimeter with a scout's eye for detail.
Brother Vex, the Iron Snake, and a detachment of the guardsmen aid each other with the positioning and arming of the Black Templar's cluster mines and the remaining anti-personnel munitions possessed by the Karlack 2nd, focusing their efforts along the southern approach, the obvious route of attack for the Devourer host. His eyes try to make out the spindly height of the Comm Tower from his present position, but the hanging mist has begun to ascend, contrary to all the atmospheric tendencies of this world, rising into the air as if some great inhalation had begun far above, the vapor darkening to a bruised color as it is drawn upward from ground level, further obscuring his view. At least the sleet and snow has stopped.
The Apothecary, Brother Sepheren, stands almost at attention near the Magos, his stillness mirrored in his bizarre companion's mechanical body. He still seems ill-at-ease being tasked with Vyakai, and his own gaze traces along Eli's salient, no doubt eager for the Templar to return and take charge of the tech-priest once again.
Brother Quintus and the commissar, Sander, direct the remaining guardsman at improvising makeshift fortifications and foxholes around the now idle cargo-8, itself being slowly converted into a metallic bunker of sorts by members of the Karlack 2nd, a half-dozen of the men hastily welding narrow gun-ports out of the trailer's sides. Halis, the Munitorum adept, tries to assist where he can, but the exhausted notary scribe can barely dent the hardened permafrost with the entrenching tool he has been given. As if sensing Brother Syne's eyes upon him, he gives the Dark Angel a quick glance, nervous and ashamed.
To the Dark Angel, a student of fatalism, it has all the desperate trappings of a last stand; the frantic preparation, the hoarse shouts and growing frustration, the looming specter of an insurmountable adversary drawing closer and closer. All concluding in their glorious deaths. A glory that will be confined to the footnotes in some Inquisitorial savant's sealed data-slates.
Where were the others?
Looking toward the horizon. I don't need to see Brother Syne's face to know what he is thinking. I take one final look over our defenes to make sure we are making the best use of our cover, and fields of fire.
"Brother Syne, I never asked which Company you hailed from?"
Hoping a bit of conversation will snap him from his gloom. A dangerous mindset that I have seen kill so many over Brother Marines.
Looking toward the horizon. I don't need to see Brother Syne's face to know what he is thinking. I take one final look over our defenes to make sure we are making the best use of our cover, and fields of fire.
"Brother Syne, I never asked which Company you hailed from?"
Hoping a bit of conversation will snap him from his gloom. A dangerous mindset that I have seen kill so many over Brother Marines.
Eli moves not an inch, but his vox-message reaches across the void dividing you.
"Tenth company."
His tone drips with darkness and death, horrible things have been left unspoken.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Outside the Comm Uplink Tower
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:17:41]
After what seems like an eternity to Brother Emeric, but in truth is only a little under a minutes time, a static-filled response, tinny and distant, is received over the vox-caster through the techmarine's jury-rigged umbilicus to the Comm Array.
<<<Kill-team Um, this is Thunder's Word actual, please re. Again, repeat coordinates for extraction, irming receipt of last transmission, objectives met, please repeat and/or confirm coordinates for extraction, coordinates received are: (7SHRSSHKKKKKKK5°), Rendezvous: [0:08:00] to zero-hour for Thunderhawk extraction. Again please con>>>
With a booming explosion that mitigates some of Emeric's worry, the Black Templar hears the automated heavy bolters atop the Security Bunker begin their withering fire upon the flock of 'Nids heading for Brother Caledonii.
Any further delay on the part of he or Brother Hrothgar could prove perilous to their chances to aid the Storm Warden in time.
"Brother, we must be quick, lest the Storm Warden hog all the glory all the way to the Allfather's banquet at the wolf-time, and leave no mead for us, eh."
Hrothgar preps his jump pack for an extended burn to the Storm Warden's position.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Xi-Omega-1
South Plateau, Designated Extraction Zone
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:15:08]
Commissar Sander sheathes his chainsword after cutting a sheet of metal salvaged from the cargo compartments of the tracked hauler for part of a makeshift revetment and then trudges through the deep snow toward where Brother Decius and Brother Quintus confer near the center of the designated extraction zone.
He seems unsure of whom to defer to, so instead diplomatically speaks to a neutral space between the two marines.
"Honored Astartes, we've completed what defensive measures were feasible given the resources available. Antipersonnel countermeasures have been placed at the perimeter of the plateau and selected chokepoints around the cargo-8, which has been fortified and modified with gunports to allow overlapping fields of fire in all directions. Our last piece of mobile field artillery, a mole mortar, has been assembled inside the hauler, the flooring dug up to allow for a firing angle. This variant has been modified by the Mechanicus to penetrate the native permafrost, but we've not had an opportunity to deploy it in the field as of yet."
He scans the sky, shading toward violet now, even here, but still clear enough with the storm ended that a tapestry of winking starlight can be seen overhead.
"We will honor your sacrifice for us, and fight to the last if need be. My men and I owe you our deepest gratitude for offering even this small hope that we will yet be delivered from our trials here on Tantalus."
"If there is anything further you require, the Karlack 2nd is at your command."
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Xi-Omega-1
South Plateau, Designated Extraction Zone
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:15:08]
<<<Kill-team Um, this is Thunder's Word actual, please re. Again, repeat coordinates for extraction, irming receipt of last transmission, objectives met, please repeat and/or confirm coordinates for extraction, coordinates received are: (7SHRSSHKKKKKKK5°), Rendezvous: [0:08:00] to zero-hour for Thunderhawk extraction. Again please con>>>
Despite my sworn devotion to the Machine God's holy apparatus, in a flash of frustration I wonder if driving a gauntleted fist through the control panel might improve my broadcast... No, better to try modulating the amplitude and provide maximum boost to the oscillator. I add additional energy from my potentia coil through my wrist electoo inductor.
"Brother, we must be quick, lest the Storm Warden hog all the glory all the way to the Allfather's banquet at the wolf-time, and leave no mead for us, eh."
"Aye, Brother, almost there. If you feel called, go. One more moment and I will follow."
What is this Space Wolf? On the brink of extinction either from xenos onslaught or Imperial viral bombs and the Marine can only think of food and drink...
*cogitating frequency multipliers...*
Eli moves not an inch, but his vox-message reaches across the void dividing you.
"Tenth company."
His tone drips with darkness and death, horrible things have been left unspoken.
From Brother Syne's tone I get the sense he was a Veteran Sgt in care of initiates and lost one to many in his care. I ask no more questions as I feel they are barbs into his soul. If he wants to talk I will listen.
I take my assigned post and guard it at the best of my ability.
Awareness
With little else to lose, Brother Emeric restrains his brief flare of anger and methodically disables every fail-safe and overflow buffer on the Comm Uplink, diverting what energy he can spare from his internal reserves to further boost the signal in any way possible.
Brother Hrothgar watches, his attention split between the ministrations of the techmarine and the thundering chorus of bolter fire coming from the distant Security Bunker. He smells it in the air first, the heady, strident stench of their vile pheromones, carried aloft on the wind from the impossibly large host that even now moves inexorably toward them from the south. The sounds follow. A faint noise, as of rustling movement interspersed with a staccato clicking that grows louder and louder the longer they stand waiting. He dares not look beyond the southern slope, not knowing for certain if even his Astartes conditioning will hold resolute in the face of such an adversary as a million or more swarming Tyranid.
A low humming sound echoes through the tapering interior of the Comm Uplink Tower followed by the percussive noise of sequentially imploding vacuum tubes and the hissing buzz of overloading conduit. A burning stink of ozone fills the air as Brother Emeric broadcasts the transmission for a final time, the Black Templar raising his head to watch the multitude of tiny fires begin to ignite along the interior of the tower. He is reminded of the pyre-filled signal towers sometimes employed on feudal worlds, and he utters a brief prayer to the Emperor and the Omnissiah that his last resort has worked.
As the emergency lighting in the tower goes dark, followed by the dying hum of the interface panel, he closes his eyes, waiting, feeling Brother Hrothgar's imploring eyes upon his armored back.
The vox-caster crackles to life:
<<<Kill-team Umbra, this is Thunder's Word actual, Brother Pellas transmitting. Coordinates for exfiltration received, confirmation of cartographic data received and acknowledged: (76.24642395766811°, -94.21875°), Rendezvous recalculated: [00:04:00] to [-00:08:00], Thunderhawk Vengeful Lightning inbound to designated extraction zone as of this time.>>>
There is a momentary pause on the vox-caster, an uncharacteristic moment of hesitation from the venerable battle-brother in command of the ancient and decorated frigate, no doubt fighting its own desperate battle against the Devourer bio-ships in low orbit above.
<<<Long range astrographic auspex on the planet surface shows two primary prongs of the swarm's advance due to converge on your position in an estimated twelve minutes. Bio-signs cannot account for all hostile xenos organisms, but extrapolation yields an approximate range of 7.2 to 7.4 million entities. We'll only have one shot at this my brothers, go with haste, the Emperor Protects!>>>
I exult hearing Brother Pellas' vox-cast:
Praise Mars! Praise the Throne!
I yank out my electro-graft and electoo leads none too gently and am on my feet scrambling out of the Com-Tower. I see the Space Wolf ready to make another jump with his jet-pack. Despite his zealousness, he has waited and I am thankful for his patience.
"Confirmed, Brother Hrothgar, Thunderhawk inbound. Now we can hasten, lest your banquet table have empty seats!"
"Now you are speaking my language, brother."
Hrothgar fires the jump pack.
[ooc]Pilot (personal)[ooc]
"For Russ and the Allfather!"
The shells plink and clink atop one another as they pile up beside the Storm Warden, his weapon's barrel glowing hot with the sustained fire. His grim smile widens with each of the hideous creatures that plummet from the sky.
From our vantage point looking down the hill-side, I see the swarm converging upon the Security Bunker. Caledonii's gun belches death and several of the xenos disintegrate. As Hrothgar readies to make another jump, I cut loose with a barrage from my bolter using Kraken rounds.
My shots go well wide and it feels to me that one of the rounds misfired. Proper devotion to bolt-gun maintenance and the oath to my weapon appeases the gun's spirit, however, and it refuses to jam despite faulty ordnance.
As I quickly cogitate the swarm's strength, I hear the twin-linked bolters fire at the inbound gargoyles.
Brother Emeric cogitates quickly as he fires, noting the whirling shapes of the barb-winged xenos as they dive for the Security Bunker, calculating that there are dozens of the fiendish things.
Just then, the welcome sound of the heavy bolters erupting atop the Security Bunker sing a thunderous chorus to the Storm Warden, the vibration from the massive guns shaking snow from the building's roof so that it falls in small drifts around Brother Caledonii.
The heavy guns chew apart the screeching creatures, shredding them asunder with each deafening explosion, forcing them to wheel and spin in the air chaotically, their formation broken up into a flapping, darting cloud of enraged xenos, biting and snapping at the very air itself in their fury.
[ooc]OK, just checking for the posting later tonight, Rad:
Is Hrothgar using flight mode on the jump-pack or just making jumps?
Also:
Does Hrothgar intend to fly straight to the Security Bunker and land in support of Brother Caledonii, or are he and Brother Emeric going to attempt to fight the Gargoyles from the from the air?[ooc]
After several moments of flapping confusion, the Hive Mind reasserts itself, and the winged Tyranid swarm wheels as one again, diving sharply toward Brother Caledonii.
I grin as I see them coalesces into a tight grouping, as well as they are away from the needed tower. I flip the fire selector to the metal storm rounds and unleash hell again.
[ooc]Damage
For Rook
Brother Hrothgar continues his expert use of his jump pack by holding me aloft as I ready to cut loose again with more Kraken rounds. The sky is alight with bolter explosions and streaks of rocket exhaust. Most satisfying is the sight of numerous xenos plummeting to their death trailing smoke and fire, victims of Caledonii and the Bunker's combined battery.
Over the vox to Hrothgar, "Good, brother--steady now! We shall crush them in the cross-fire!"
I feel a thrill from my Astartes armor as the cross-hairs from Ferocitas' acquisition spirit dance from target to target. Easy, Ferocitas! I know!
Slowly I squeeze the trigger...
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Xi-Omega-1
South Plateau, Designated Extraction Zone
241.817.M41
Chrono Reading: [0:12:07]
The sound of weapon fire went ominously silent from the direction of the Comm Tower only a few short minutes ago, but for the rest of Kill-team Umbra, left awaiting the fate of their companions, that time has passed like an eternity. Brother Quintus and the others realized some time ago that even nearby vox transmissions within the perimeter of the extraction zone had become garbled and static-filled, no doubt another consequence of the atmospheric interference generated by the oncoming Tyranid host. Needless to say, there has been no response from Brother's Caledonii, Hrothgar, and Emeric.
The Librarian's psychically conditioned mind now feels as bruised as the darkening sky to the south, the shadow of the hive-mind almost overwhelming now, a gestalt pressure that causes his temples to throb in the confines of his helmet. Disturbing, instinctive, and animalistic impulses come unbidden to his thoughts, the bleed-over from the doom that even now surges toward them. Vex prays to his Primarch and the God Emperor now that the end will come soon, as even his Astartes endurance is flagging, Better to die in battle than from the poisoning madness of the Devourer's Voice.
Brother Decius, as satisfied as one can be with such improvised fortifications stands amongst the survivors of the Karlack 2nd, the resolute Commissar Sander at this side, awaiting what is to come. A deep calm, almost a serentity of sorts has settled over the Iron Snake, an acceptance that he may soon be among his beloved brothers of Radiates squad once again, dying with honor so that he would be absolved of communicating both their tragic loss, and the loss of their geneseed to his chapter.
Brother Syne hunkers down in his entrenchment on the elevated northern edge of the southern plateau, checking the horizon through his slender rifle's scope, his heavy bolter braced and ready, scanning for the first signs of vanguard organisms. He feels a slight, thudding tremor beneath his feet and narrows his eyes. Looking toward the Comm Tower first he sees no evidence of activity from Brother Caledonii's group. It seems likely now that they are lost. Checking over the revetments and barricades below, his eyes are drawn to the shored-up tracked hauler, but it does not appear as though the mole mortar has been test fired. In fact the seemingly fearless guardsmen have not budged an inch from their designated firing salients since the order was called by their commissar to make ready.
No, it came from somewhere else...