"Dark Angel, is it harder now for you to use your powers?" Hrothgar asks, seeing as the presence of the tyranids did hamper his powers.
"The psychic fog of the hive mind has only limited my telepathic capability. The Lictor's remains attest to the fact that my offensive capacity is still a viable assest at this time."
"Then try contacting the others. The tyranids' nearness will be confirmed by any difficulty you may experience." Hrothgar suggests.
"You miss understand Hrothgar. It is not the proximity of the enemy that drowns out my ability, but the sure vastness of it. The enormity of a trillion times a trillion minds all bent on the one single thought. Consume. I can pick out the minds of those I am familiar with like yourself over a short distance, but to single out a lone mind from the sea of thoughts of the hive mind I can not."
Brother Sepheren approaches the Space Wolf in the midst of he and Brother Vex's rather metaphysical dialogue, and examines the sizable rent in the Brother Hrothgar's pauldron that was inflicted by the lictor.
"If I may..."
He pries apart the seam slightly before inserting his narthecium and administering high-potency contraseptics and a topical anesthetizer.
"There is little that can done for this wound, Brother, it is a grievious one. You are lucky, a few centimeters to one side and you would not be debating with the Dark Angel at all."
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Sixty meters South/Southeast of the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Emeric's Chrono Reading: [3:28:52]
Brother Caledonii peers into the ragged rent in the tundra in front of him, gauging the depth of the hole to be roughly two meters before hitting an uneven bottom covered in loose, frozen chunks of churned permafrost. It then seems to curve slightly to the west from this point in the direction of the security bunker. It would be a tight fit, but it is possible he could navigate it if he chose to do so.
The techmarine probes the immediate vicinity with his auger array, drawing closer to Brother Caledonii to examine the hole from a closer proximity, but detects no discernible bio-readings. Still, he cannot be completely confident that the device can pierce the almost rock-hard ground beneath his feet. This raises the troubling thought of what exactly could dig through the unyielding tundra.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
IInside the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Quintus' Chrono Reading: [3:29:16]
While bantering with Brother Hrothgar, the Librarian conducts a thorough sweep of the bunker interior, overturning fallen cabinets, opening those weapons lockers that are still closed, and physically forcing those that are locked. Other than some more riot guns, stores of emergency rations, and spare hazardous environment garb, there is no sign of anything else out of the ordinary.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Sixty meters South/Southeast of the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Emeric's Chrono Reading: [3:28:52]
"By the way it looks it would be a tight fit and traversing it would be slow going. Do you want me to close it?"
"By the way it looks it would be a tight fit and traversing it would be slow going. Do you want me to close it?"
"Allow me, Brother Caledonii." Using my servo-arm, I collapse the mouth of the tunnel and rake it closed. Since I can lift a Rhino APC on its side to make tread repairs, it is easy enough to find a rock the size of a fast-attack bike and drag and drop it where the opening once was.
We then make our way to the bunker entrance.
<<Brother Hrothgar, entering your visual field.>>
"I see you, Emeric."
"You miss understand Hrothgar. It is not the proximity of the enemy that drowns out my ability, but the sure vastness of it. The enormity of a trillion times a trillion minds all bent on the one single thought. Consume. I can pick out the minds of those I am familiar with like yourself over a short distance, but to single out a lone mind from the sea of thoughts of the hive mind I can not."
"My thanks for illuminating this humble reaver of Fenris."
"There is little that can done for this wound, Brother, it is a grievious one. You are lucky, a few centimeters to one side and you would not be debating with the Dark Angel at all."
"Quit being gloomy, Apothecary. One might think you are scaring me."
"My thanks for illuminating this humble reaver of Fenris."
"No thanks is required Hrothgar just doing ones duty..."
Humble, and Fenris in the same sentence. Never knew they were capable of sarcasm.
"I recommend we head toward the motor pool next since its on our way toward central control. If we are fortunate we may even find a vehicle to help us cover more ground quickly."
"Let us do that. "
The bunker team emerges from the doorway into the sleeting storm. I have questions:
"Any clues here of the Magos?"
"How did you gain entrance to the bunker-complex?"
"Are there cogitation systems to investigate before we head north?"
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Inside the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Quintus' Chrono Reading: [3:23:19]
It takes but a few minutes for Brother Emeric to uproot and roll a pair of sizable boulders over the irregularly-shaped hole using the prodigious might of his servo-arm, but he completes the task efficiently, and with far less noise than the sky-watching Dark Angel would have expected for such a task. Satisfied that the pit is blocked, the trio make haste to the entry of the bunker, and are greeted by Brother Hrothgar, who is leaning forward with his elbows upon one knee, his leg upraised by the pile of burnt Tyranid corpses beneath his foot.
As Brother Quintus and Brother Vex confer about the Kill-team's next destination, the techmarine poses his queries, even while his eyes roam the ruined interior of the bunker. Grateful that a few of the pict-screen displays and loudly humming cogitators at the command console are still functioning, he strides over to the nearest and inputs his electro-graft.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Inside the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Quintus' Chrono Reading: [3:23:19]
I stride into the bunker and take up a position to look out the opposite direction then Hrothgar to keep the other flank covered. At this time I take the short clip out and replace it with a full one.
if yes
"Hail! How goes the hunt?" Hrothgar flicks his chainsword, cleaning it of tyranid ichor.
Without waiting for an answer, Hrothgar adds, "Good, Emeric, that you are now here. Yon machines inside have proven to be an enigma. Evidently, your expertise is needed."
Hrothgar looks at the recently repaired rent in his armor, "Oh this is but a scratch," he tells the others.
How were the tyranids able to operate Imperial technology? For the lictor was clearly the one that opened the door to the bunker. Then Hrothgar realizes something. The Kill Team has been herded to this one place. It is a trap!!!
With bolt pistol and chainsword, Hrothgar looks out, expecting the xenos horde.
Hrothgar suppresses any reaction to the pain emanating from his wound. It would be unseemly to show weakness. He recalls the words of Logan Grimnar: They will judge us by you. Hrothgar did not consider those words overly much until now.
Eli scans the sky as Emeric and Caledonii seal the burrow, then follows them as they approach the bunker. He is still several meters behind when they reach it.
"Well met Brother Hrothgar and a fine trophy. First xenos-blood to the bunker-team."
Grateful that a few of the pict-screen displays and loudly humming cogitators at the command console are still functioning, he strides over to the nearest and inputs his electro-graft.
Interesting. The doorway into the bunker appears to be operational. No note of forced entry. The copious gore and ichor that I stride through is either frozen or scorched.
Seeing Brother Quintus I report: "Brother-Leader, regretfully we have not discovered the whereabouts of the data-core. I was able to extract coded data from the communications tower. Currently running decryption protocols in a sub-routine and should have the data deciphered within the hour."
Seeing the librarian, I realize that I enjoyed a degree of thankfulness that we were separated during our foray to the Com-Tower. The neck on my hairs prick slightly and I wonder if that is the tang of the warp I sense in the air. Peering up, I see a xenos-claw clambered onto a stanchion. A massive purple-black blotch of guts and viscera stains the ceiling.
"Brother-Leader, Brother-Librarian, anything unusual that I should be made aware of? Was anyone here to let you in?"
Waiting for their answers, I move to the consoles. Signs of battle everywhere yet some of the Omnissiah's sacred machines cogitate still. Praise Him! I jack in my lead and allow the data to course through my cranium. "Machine-Spirit, illuminate me. Yield thy data. Knowledge is power. And with that power may we extract due vengeance upon thy foe."
Tech-Use (45) + Electro-Graft (10) + Ordinary Test (10) = 65
"Well met, indeed, battle-brother. A keg of fine Fenrisian ale is all that is needed to make this a very fine morning." Hrothgar replies to Emeric as he tries very hard not to scream his realization that they are all trapped, here at the bunker.
Perhaps that tunnel under this bunker is our way out. Or perhaps the tyranids will attack from that angle too.
"Brother-Leader, Brother-Librarian, anything unusual that I should be made aware of? Was anyone here to let you in?"
"I announced myself over the wall vox, and asked for entry. At which time the blast doors opened. Upon entering the only thing we found alive was the lictor. Brother Sepheren, and myself found that two of the men had anomalous injuries that could not be identified. Nor could a time of death be determined for anyone inside the bunker. Currently we have found no evidence the Magos has been inside this building. Was your search any more illuminating?"
"I announced myself over the wall vox, and asked for entry. At which time the blast doors opened. Upon entering the only thing we found alive was the lictor. Brother Sepheren, and myself found that two of the men had anomalous injuries that could not be identified. Nor could a time of death be determined for anyone inside the bunker. Currently we have found no evidence the Magos has been inside this building."
"The opening of the doors is unusual. Hypothesis: the Magos programed bunker security to be human-voice activated. It is not beyond his capabilities. I will examine security protocols and speed-access any pict-recordings to see what befell the crew here."
"Was your search any more illuminating?"
"We discovered nothing concrete, only circumstantial evidence. Upon arrival we found dead bodies of xenos invaders and conscript defenders arrayed in... pedantic fashion. Additionally the cogitation system was nigh invulnerable to penetration, indicating the hand of the Magos. Only bypassing it entirely enabled me to access desired data."
I continue to tap keys and cyber-sift the bunker's data-banks.
I nod at Emeric, and leave him to his duties. Hoping his hypothesis is accurate. I take up a guard position looking outside until the squad is ready to move out.
Hrothgar considers Emeric's hypothesis and finds it much too simple. A door answering to a mere human voice is a dangerous weakness what with a lot of humanity's wayward children turning to xenos and much worse. Moreso when we consider that a lot of machinery suffered damage.
Could it be the simple assertion of the Dark Angel that he is part of Deathwatch been the key?
Hrothgar fears that a simple door opening may be the clue to an ability of the tyranids yet unknown. That is they gain the abilities and memories of those they consume.
But I will remain silent on this point until we find more evidence to support my position.
"There were three waves of our foes. We stood fast and destroyed them. But we must expect more waves so let us go to the motor pool and go from there."
The Storm Warden adjusts his auto-senses to the near white-out above, but still cannot see any sign of the winged xenos.
Brother Syne, who has not stopped scanning the horizon for the shrikes since his contingent left the Comm Uplink tower, looks upward, noting that the Space Wolf is following his gaze as well. Barely visible, high above a walled, pre-fab compound a few hundred meters due north of them, both can just barely make out a circular formation of tiny, barbed, blackish blots in the glowering sky. They circle like harriers or scavenger birds. It is obvious that something other than your group has caught their attention.
The techmarine interprets the data feed as quickly it flows into his electro graft, extracting and prioritizing the intelligence until he is satisfied he has gleaned everything of use.
Firstly, the centralized security reports convey much of what is already fairly obvious to the Kill-team: that the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 complex came under attack by Tyranid organisms, vanguard xenos of Hive Splinter Fleet Dagon, who quickly overwhelmed what token resistance was presented by the Munitorum enforcers, servitor menials, and freed convict workforce. The pict captures and recorded security vox-relays tell a brutal, grisly recounting of the past several hours, and Brother Emeric archives them for future reference. According to the cogitators that are still operational, security throughout the main refinery complex has been compromised, with the majority of the defensive systems rendered inoperative and multiple secure bulkheads breached. It is much the same story for the other buildings in the complex, with the worker's blockhouses and penitent dormitories showing full life sustainer system failures and static-filled, black and white pict-snow on the live feeds. Data available from the Comm Uplink tower show it to be still functional, but two industrial servitors tasked with defending it are now showing as offline. It is clear from the access logs and the remote manipulation of the servitor's subroutines that Magos Vyakai was here, in the security bunker, just prior to the Comm Uplink tower, and that he overrode their assigned programming so that he might pass their defensive cordon.
Evidence from the internal security bunker pict-feeds show that as recently as three hours ago, four desperate-looking Munitorum enforcer survivors manned their stations here. The final, grainy, footage from the overseer's console feed shows an abrupt burst of rocky shrapnel spraying the room, followed by a massive barbed tendril whipping out from the foreground from somewhere off-screen to impale the back of one of the enforcer's heads. The last frame shows his counterpart, turning to face the threat, a look of abject terror writ across his face.
The techmarine interprets the data feed as quickly it flows into his electro graft, extracting and prioritizing the intelligence until he is satisfied he has gleaned everything of use.
Rapidly screening and archiving the violation of the Omnissiah's blessed refinery, I silently seethe. Abomination!
Over the microbead: "Battle-Brothers, confirmation that the Magos was here. He overrode security systems in order to bypass defenses to the com-tower and thus broadcast distress. Current whereabouts of the data-core and Magos unknown."
"There were three waves of our foes. We stood fast and destroyed them. But we must expect more waves so let us go to the motor pool and go from there."
"Ready for tactical deployment, Brother-Leader."
"Brothers, we may have found a lead to our missing magos. Scavenger birds due north appear to be attracted to something."
Brother Hrothgar narrows his eyes, squinting through the sideways-blowing sleet.
Those are no birds...
"Wait... those are no birds...."
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Rho-Upsilon-12
Just outside the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Security Bunker
241.817.M41
Brother Quintus'/Brother Emeric's Synchronized Chrono Readings: [3:17:49]
Their already keen vision aided by the ocular augmentation of their auto-senses, Kill-team Umbra assembles at the entrance to the Security Bunker, warily watching the circling shadows on the horizon pointed out by Brother's Hrothgar and Syne. Effortlessly reforming into a staggered skirmish formation, the space marines set off across the wind-blasted tundra for the dark, barely-glimpsed outline of the motor pool complex, roughly a kilometer to the north.
Hrothgar takes point.
Hrothgar takes point.
Eli takes up his familiar position as rearguard.
** spoiler omitted **Hrothgar takes point.
Hrothgar is wary and his senses strain to make sure that he covers everything.
I will take my previous position within the squad. Will continue to have my bolt pistol and force sword at the ready.
"Brother-Leader, I am able to rewire, rearm, and make active the bunker heaver-bolters but it will take approximately 10 minutes. I leave the decision with you as to whether it is worth the cost in time."
Hrothgar lopes ahead of the pack his chainsword and bolt pistol at the ready.
Tantalus Sub-Arctic Zone, Grid Zone Omicron-Upsilon-12
100 meters South/Southwest of the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 Motor Pool Compound
241.817.M41
Brother Quintus'/Brother Emeric's Synchronized Chrono Readings: [2:56:43]
Resuming their prior formation, the marines of Kill-team Umbra move at double-time over the rolling, mud-rutted permafrost of the Pyroclast-Gamma-9 complex, a mirror-like rime of ice forming on their pauldrons as they march into the teeth of the swirling blizzard. Visibility becomes worse and worse while the bruised-fruit discoloration of the southern sky grows more and more ominous.
Alternating advances at point, Brother Hrothgar and Brother Caledonii crest each rise with their senses honed for any sign of the Devourer's spawn. Occasionally, they pass the torn asunder bodies of Munitorum stragglers or the orange-garbed corpses of penitent laborers, but signs of the facilities personnel, dead or otherwise, are few and far between.
Moving at almost a loping run, the Space Wolf stops on a steeper rise that is somewhat higher than the others he has traversed and surveys the frozen landscape in all directions. Although the blinding snow makes it hard to see much, his keen nose detects the unmistakable smell of smoke and burning fuel blowing from the west, and the Son of Russ makes a mental note of the direction, believing it may be the site of the Magos' downed shuttle. Voxing this discovery to his brethren, he continues on.
Moving past Brother Hrothgar to take the next hundred meter leg at point, Brother Caledonii clambers into and out of a shallow gully filled with frozen meltwater, the scree-covered slopes on either side stained with the rainbow hues of industrial run-off. At the crest on the other side he drops to prone and gazes through the shearing sleet at a complex bordered by a three meter high rectangular wall of poured ferrocrete topped by razorwire and scaffolds supporting powerful lumen-gantries. Two large pre-fab structures dominate the inner yard, one clearly a vehicle hangar of some kind, the other more fortified and squat. A single large gate, wide enough for two rhinos to pass one another, dominates the western wall.
Several shrikes circle the compound at a lofty height above, perhaps three hundred meters or more in the sky, their barbed black wings gliding on the powerful winds.
"Flying xenos up ahead. They seem to circling prey. Perhaps our misplaced magos...."
Once the marines form up along the uneven ridge beside Brother Caledonii, they all watch through the freezing mist as the shrikes abruptly wheel about, turning in the sky in a choreographed manner eerily reminiscent of flocking avians, before rapidly winging their way to the west. Screeching loudly, they swoop low over the refinery complex as if answering a sudden, silent summons before disappearing from sight.
The broken, uneven terrain between your present position and the motor pool appears barren and empty, a snow-blanketed no-man's-land devoid of life. You do not need one of the Warmaster's Tacticae to tell you that any advance over the open terrain ahead would leave your Kill-team considerably exposed.
"Battle-Leader, a direct assault may be costly. How do you wish us to proceed?"
"The departure of the shrike is unlikely a tactical withdrawal or feint. These xenos are direct and brutal. They would have attacked had they seen us. We should move and move quickly."
"Let us go straight to the control center via the gateway using the pipes and ruins as cover."