After your morning ritual and the prayer to the God Emperor is played via vox-casters throughout the Pious Immolation, you and your kill-team are called onto the Command Deck.
The Watch Captain exchanged the sign of the Aquila with you, and begins to speak right away. This is the world of Grangold. It doesn't look like much, and in truth it isn't much. The atmosphere is toxic to the point of being lethal to humans, and few mutants can survive here either. What this planet does have is a long standing shrine to St. Drusus. Long standing due to the vigil kept by two Ironclad Dreadnoughts of the Iron Hands chapter that have remained here since the Angevin crusade.
Watch Captain Enoch takes a moment to look you all over and then continues. Your mission is two parts. I will brief you on the first part, then I will let Sister Vesta brief you. The first part of the mission is to bring needed repairs to these stalwart brothers and convince them it is time to join us. They have been in the Service of the Calixian Conclave and we would now like to bring them under the jurisdiction of the Deathwatch. I have documentation from Scintilla and from Iron Father Vorsk for you to present to them. Once on board they will be given full honors including Imperial Laurels and once they complete hypno-indoctrination, membership into the Deathwatch. Sister Vesta you may proceed.
Thank you Brother Enoch. I am Sister Vesta, as your Watch Captain has told you. My order honors the memory of St. Drusus and performs an annual memorial visit to all of the Shines to St. Drusus. Sadly, this planet no longer can sustain human life, so we can not pay our respects. We would like you to recover the sarcophagus of the unknown hero that is kept at the shrine. It was blessed by St. Drusus himself and is a powerful relic, one we can use against our enemies, and with us it will be preserved. You will be given this Cherubim. It possess the codes to enter the catacombs of the shrine to obtain the sarcophagus. May the God Emperor be with you.
Primary Mission Sustain and Recruit Dreadnoughts
Secondary Mission Recover sarcophagus of unknown hero
Tertiary Mission Discover cause of increased toxicity of planet
After rolling his eyes at the prayer to the 'God' Emperor. The Emperor is but a Man, a very powerful man, but a man non-the-less. Once on the Command Deck he stands at attention his helm mag-clamped to his hip."Brother Gaius reporting in."
The double blast doors of the Command deck hiss irritably as they retract into their housings. The Astartes nods to the Watch Captain and enters swiftly. He wears a robe of cream colored velvet with a scarlet interior. A scarlet rope wraps around his waist and is tied into a knot. Inside the hood of his robe you see his helmet is white, as is his left kneepad, which also displays the prime helix. His right glove is oversized to accomodate a built-in narthecium and reductor. His right shoulderpad is black, with a single white wing grasping a sword.
Apothecary Brother Eremiel, reporting as ordered.
"Brother Valerio León reporting in for duty. I am happy to be of service."
As the blast doors part, the astartes walks very measured and prescise towards the Watch Captain and Adepta Sorotia. His features are almost completely hidden by his dark hood, blue glows where his eyes would be. His armor holds no heraldry, just the black of the Deathwatch. He slowly gives a nod of acknowledgement to the Captain and Sister. " Brother-Librarian Tellemachus reporting in for service to the Emperor" He slowly nods respectfully to his fellow battle-brothers and thinks over the briefing.
"Also do we have access to recent maps of the Surface to aid us?"
" Sister, What of the sarcophagus? Would the toxicity be potent enough to wear it down? Do we know its been affected?"
The Footsteps of Drusus pilgrimage is performed every year. This is the first Year we have not been able to pay our respects. The toxic gas seems to block our imagery, but the two Angels of Death spoke to us upon arriving in the system. They seemed functional. Their was mention of mutants attempting to enter the shrine, but it is in a well defended position and the degenerates were short work for the chosen of the Emperor.
The Watch Captain nods in agreement with the Sister's assessment as she continues The Sarcophagus should be preserved, but once you open the catacombs I am unsure. Time will be of the essence I fear.
"So we are to assume these catacombs are likely to collapse at any time?"
Not collapse, but once you open them the toxins will set in, and likely destroy that which we are trying to save if you do not extract it in time. The shrine is very well built into the side of a mountain. During the Angevin Crusade the Astartes of the Iron Hands built it as a stronghold and it held against traitorous armaments. I do not believe you need fear collapse.
The Watch Captain clarifies.
"Very well, I am eager to begin" Tellemachus replies to the Watch Captain.
Tellemachus attempts to remember specific chapter Iron hands tradition and culture. However his mind clouds him at the moment.
"So all maps are a year old."
Standing among his Comrades for this mission he looks around then thinking of the situation speaks back up."What are we looking at in terms of Ground to Orbit Comms? Any Interference or is it fairly clear? If we need a Hot Extraction would we be able to reliably call for it or will we have to wait for a set Rendezvous?"
Brother Eremiel looks down and shakes his head silently.
Brother-Librarian Tellemachus turns to his kill-team and studies each of them before saying "Brothers, are you ready to put the Emperor's Will into motion?"
"We still like one member. We have our requisitioned gear and they have been assigned. Brother Hallan I can't remember were you better in the Target Ranges or the Melee Cage?"
Coms are unreliable currently, but we believe that is likely due to the relay station's machine spirits being corrupted by the atmosphere. Brother Leon will have his work cut out for him, but it should not be an issue. Once you have secured the sarcophagus the Cherubim given to you will emit a beacon that our transporters will lock on too.
Watch Captain Enoch pauses for a moment then asks, Who shall lead the kill-team in this mission?
Brother Valerio León slowly nods his head, taking in all he has heard.
"There is only the Emperor; He is our shield and our protector. May we see victory today my Brothers."
"I suppose it shall be me. That is unless one of my Brothers wish to take command. And do you mean The Sarcophagus will be Teleported? If so is that safe?"
"I imagine that carries the risk of the Sarcophagus being lost to the warp or the perils of open space?" Tellemachus's resonating eyes flicker from behind his hood.
"Or do you mean a shuttle craft? And yes I am buying time for our final member to come in."
Tellemachus turns to walk away "I believe I've been briefed enough on the situation, until we depart I would like to prepare and rest my mind before. I will wait outside the command deck " The blast doors close slowly behind Tellemachus
"Perhaps it would be best for us all to prepare our gear and our resolves. Say we all meet in the Armoury to get our requisitioned gear for this Mission there we will distribute it to those that will make use of it."
When asking about the transportation of the Sarcophagus a guardsmen that has remained quiet as a piece of furniture until now, speaks up "We will be there once you give the word sir. Our Valkyries will do the job. Were that we could assist you in this, but even in a Valkyrie our time is limited on this planet."
The Watch Captain nods his head and says " That should cover all of it. Report to the quartermaster for your requisition for the mission. Brother Gaius here are the documents." He hands them to Brother Gaius and whispers in his ear
Thedius of the Hammers of Dorn arrived regretfully late.
"Brothers forgive my tardyness, it was necessary for me to complete donning my armour. I was listening via combead, as much as possible."
"Brother Gaius, you seem most suited to lead, in this situation as in most. May I suggest we requisition a capsule or some form of balm that will slow or stop the corrosive action of the atmosphere on the sarcophagus? Also would there so happen to be a senior member of the Iron hands chapter on board, who we may communicate with during the mission. We may need suggestions as to how to properly interact with their ancients."
Thedius knew well the suborn nature of his own chapter, and could only guess at the demeanour of a dreadnought of the infamously strong-willed Iron Hands.
"Tell me sister" Thedius turns to the Sororitas "Tell me more of the description of these mutants. Did they show signs of serious warp taint, in your opinion?"
Thedius avoids the gaze of the techmarine Valerio, ashamed of his lateness in the presence of a representative of his parent chapter.
We will have all needed equipment to extract the Sarcophagus successfully once the beacon is given master Astartes.
Tellemachus waits in the Armory for his battle-brothers. Arming and blessing his wargear.
He nods to the watch captain as he looks over at the Inquisitor who doesn't seem to notice the glare. It is well known Gaius and the Ecclesiarchy(spelling?) have no love lost between them. "Let us leave the commanders to their work and head to the Quartermaster."
Once in the halls of the ship Gaius calls to Brother Leon and takes him aside.
I secretly hand you the documents for the dreads."You might be the best to break this news to them. I will introduce us then give you a signal to inform them. Should they have gone insane or fallen to heresy...Gaius sighs."I want you to fall back to the main group and inform the ship. Hopefully I can draw their attention and follow after. If not then lead them in an attack that shall cripple the machines only enough to make reclaiming them and turning them back to the Righteous Path possible. After all they are to wise to be lost to us."
Valerio makes a sign of the Aquila as he leaves the room, nodding in turn to the commanders.
With that he nods and smiles to Brother Gaius as he turns to stride off towards the armory.
Thedius bows his head at the Colonel's words. He raps his fist against the chest of his armour in salute to all in the room
"So it will be done"
And leaves with his squad to see to his oaths and his wargear.
"I suppose I misspoke. I was meaning for you to fall back and lead this squad in a combined assault alongside the Cabal's Forces. I believe the Sisters would gladly join an assault."
You load into the Thunderhawk and as the door closes your Watch Captain looks on you all proudly May the Emperor guide you
Your pilot deftly avoids pockets of corrosive gas as he lands on a plateau just below the peak of the Shrine.
Overhead you can see the Dreadnoughts standing as sentries, corpses of recently slain mutants lay about the area. You see the relay station a few feet ahead. It looks to have been deliberately destroyed, by the amount of mutant corpses around it you do not need to guess who did it.
The Pilot looks back to you. We are receiving a message from the Dreadnoughts. I am patching into your combeads. Once you get the relay station up I can call the Stormravens in to collect the Dreadnoughts, and the Valkarie for the Sarcophagus.
*Static* Welcome Brothers...*static*...soon