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"This feels like the beginning of an epic saga. A small band of warriors racing against time to find the fortress that only exists in legend. Ready to defend the poor villagers against the overwhelming hordes that are poised to destroy them. Yeess I like it, it will make for a strong drinking story. All we need now is a long forgotten relic weapon in the fortress and it will be complete!"
It takes a few minutes to fly to the second site while the team processes the new information they had received and messages were relayed to imperial command.
As you are landing you receive a message from imperial command. "This is Interrogator Astisov, your message has been received. PDF, Guard and Arbite forces are concentrated around anti-orbital facilities near capital, will hold as long as prudent. Mechanicus assets minimal, mostly on orbital facility and in capital. Minimal capacity to dissipate forces."
"Aye, Brother Ulf. It does sound like it. Make sure to live to tell the tale one day. Now let us head out. We have a base to recover!
Pilot, make sure to cover the Thunderhawk with branches and the like while we are away."
Via Vox: "Acknowledges, Interrogator. This is Deathwatch Squad leader Micrastur on special mission in the southern jungles. We will assist in the defense of this world as soon as our primary mission is fulfilled. Prepare your men for assault by Tau and their auxiliary forces like the Kroot. Micrastur out."
After exiting the Thunderhawk for the second time on this planet, he checks their surrounding again for possible danger using the scope of his sniper rifle - after the previous encounter with the camo-lizards with special care.
"Seems clear, Brothers. Let us go and fulfill our duty."
If possible, Averruncus will spend most of this extensive free time in the ship library, reviewing old books and data-crypts, to collect and memorize (thanks to his astartes eidetic memory) all available informations about Kalinas history (especially everything even remotely connected to xenos or chaos), geography, flora and fauna, government organization and proeminent figures, and legends.
If possible, Averruncus will spend most of this extensive free time in the ship library, reviewing old books and data-crypts, to collect and memorize (thanks to his astartes eidetic memory) all available informations about Kalinas history (especially everything even remotely connected to xenos or chaos), geography, flora and fauna, government organization and proeminent figures, and legends.
The arbites have approximately 200 officers, all trained to deal with large scale riots, gang suppression and urban conflict.
An imperial guard battalion of approximately 800 soldiers is stationed on the planet, they have an armoured company, a scout company (mix of sentinels and light infantry), artillery company and several infantry companies.
The PDF is large, but badly trained an under-equipped. Most of it's members do a two year stint then are reservists working as farmers outside of a week's training a year. They are by far the largest force, but take time to mobilize and have basically no armour, APCs or heavy weapons.
The Mechanicus has a couple squads of skitari and a few combat servitors.
The inquisitor has a couple cells of acolytes.
A few of the wealthiest may maintain a few household guards that are between the Guard and PDF in effectiveness but are probably equipped to the level of guard vets.
On leaving the Thunderhawk, Ulf scans the surroundings and brings his gun to bear.
5dos
"I'm not getting caught out this time!"
Scorpelio follows the Longfangs lead and scans the area for any threats. The idea that there are more of those reptiles skulking about doesn't sit well with him.
6 DoS
"Indeed, we cannot afford to be slowed down by the native fauna."
Nothing seems to block you reaching the second target. Your scans quickly determine a main entrance into the overgrown tower. It appears that the door is sealed from the inside. The walls and door are all made of a black adamantine alloy.
Beside the door is some kind of console, about the size of a large tablet.
Seeing the console, Scorpelio brusquely walks towards it and assess its current state. If it is workable, he will first attempt inputting standard Adeptus Astartes clearance codes to see if he can get the doors to open; either his own Chapter Specific ones, his Techmarine ones or any Deathwatch ones he'd have maybe even all of them if he can.
If those don't work, he'll attempt to appease the Consoles Machine Spirits and supplicate it to open the door so he may gain access to the station so that he may bring it back into honorable service within the Watch so that it may provide unto us, the Emperor's Angels of Death, the necessary means to repulse a foul Tau invasion upon one of His domains.
As he does so he calls out to the team over the vox "Cover me, Brothers, I have no idea if I'll be able to get past these doors with ease and if I am unable to, then we'd best be prepared for any automated countermeasures."
Despite his codes and clearances, the machine spirit guarding the door does not seem willing to stand aside. You can hear the faint sound of an alarm activating inside the station along with the phrase. "Prime guardian awakening, Prime guardian awakening, Emperor have mercy on the souls of those who trespass."
"Sounds like your prophecy is about to turn true, Brother Librarian!
Fall back Brother and find cover, something will come through this door and it will not welcome us."
"Brother, you are right to prepare for an attack, however it would be logical to assume that with the time involved, the likely guardian is a dreadnought. As we do not know how old this facility is or when it became dormant it may not be aware of some of the younger chapters. Therefore as a son of Russ, I will talk to it, we may wear a different colour now, but he will know us. Let us hope he is not a son of the Lion."
Flicking his fire selector to Kraken rounds, Ulf takes position in direct sight of the main door, his bolter lowered in a non threatening manner and his helmet off. His gleaming armour in pristine condition shows his space wolf emblem on his right shoulder alongside the Deathwatch colours and his wolf pelt hangs down clearly marking his chapter allegiance.
"Aye, Wolf Brother, there are two of us here present who could draw their lineage back to the Legiones of Old But I doubt the Watch would leave such Venerable Brothers behind at a dormant station, to do so would be, to me, a slight upon their honor. I am of the opinion that these are either STC Automated Defense Turrets or Heavy Combat Servitors."
And Scorpelio quickly packs his Combi-Tool away and draws his Plasma Gun taking cover by the doorway if possible.
this synthetic voice mentioned about trespassing. If we don't enter, no ancient terror is gonna get out or this station. We still have to break in. I suggest you try another way to force ourselves in. Maybe plasma?
"The doors are made of Adamantine Brother Librarian my Plasma Gun is unlikely to work. Now, if nothing appears from these doors anytime soon, then I'll put the Breaching Augur I brought along for such an eventuality to good us" He replies flexing his Servo-Arm-Now-Breaching-Augur.
"I do not mean to do you or your chapter a disservice brother, these fangs, the pelt and the grey hair tend to make us stand out visually is all. Yes you may well be right about the servitors, but it depends on how this facility was lost or the reasons it was left dormant. I believe it is worth the risk for one of us, and may at least focus it's attention for a time. Perhaps you may be able to override it before something emerges. Brother Averruncus I would not be so sure about the definition of trespassing, it would depend on what it considers a violation of the station's territory."
"All good thoughts, Brothers. I will try to combine your thoughts. Ulf, take a position close to the door and use your sharp senses to give us a warning if something heavy comes towards the door. Brother Scorpelio, try to soothe the spirits of the station again - take your time if you need to - we will cover you in the meantime.
I would prefer to enter the station as the rightful owner, rather than as the brute conqueror or as a thief. We should definitely try to keep any damage to the station at an absolute minimum. Brother Librarian, please cover our Techmarine. I will also take a position near the door.
If everything fails, I will climb to the top of the station and search for another way in. Breaking through the main door will be our last resort."
"Aye, indeed Brother Wolf, you and yours definitely stand out more than we do especially in the colors of our Vigil. Were I in Chapter colors, however, I would think the situation reversed - at least at a distance. But, for now, we have tasks to perform."
"It shall be done, Brother Raptor."
As he starts working on the Door Panel, Scorpelio will start chanting in Techna-Lingua to appease the Machine Spirit as he attempts to coerce it to open the door and cease hostilities for we are Space Marines in the service to the Omnissiah and Emperor and are here to bring the station back online so we may repel a Xenos invasion.
vs 54 is 3 DoS (down to 2 DoS with the -10 from the test difficulty).
Averruncus stands a few meters away or brother Scorpelio, ready to lend him his arm ans his sword against any threat that could come out of that door.
Eventually the machine spirit relents and the door begins to open with a hiss, steam discharging as it retracts into the wall above.
Inside it is dark, what few ancient lumens still function flicker on and off at random casting shadows throughout the hallway. The hallway is wide enough for 2 dreadnoughts to walk side by side without touching each other or the walls, there would be at least 3 meters clearance above the dreadnoughts to the roof. Automated defenses sit in the walls and ceiling, but they seem to lack power or perhaps lack of maintenance has caused them to cease functioning.
The hallway stretches at least 30 meters into the tower before reaching another set of doors, it also appears to split, going left and right. No doors are on either side of the hallway.
As the gate opens before the team, Hawkeye pads the shoulder of the Techmarine. "Good work, Son of Dorn. I knew no spirit will resist your knowledge for long. Now lets ..." He is interrupted by the synthetic sound of the announcement mid-sentence. He quickly draws the large frame of the Assault Shotgun and loads a full mag of slug rounds into the weapon. While doing so he grimaces to the team: "Would have been to easy if we now were allowed to simply enter, would it not? Prepare for battle, Team!"
"Prime Guardian? That is a designation I've not encountered before..." Inhaling sharply, he continues" Quickly now brothers we must reach the Command and Control center for this station and shut down the automated defence systems as well as bring the primary power reactor back online if it isn't already."
And Scorpelio, plasma gun at the ready, follows the team lead down the hallway.
As the Raptor gets about half-way down the hallway, the double doors at the end start sliding open. You can feel the grinding of the ancient cogs and gears that are being asked to work for the first time in years.
It is an elevator of some kind, and standing inside is a dreadnought of an old and rare pattern. Taller than more standard dreadnoughts and with a more curved upper body, you can see that is has an assault cannon for a right arm, and a chainfist for the left. You can see that the right shoulder is painted white with a black maltese cross.
The dreadnought's speech gets louder as the doors open wider.
"I am wrath and ruIN, I BRING DEATH TO HIS FOES, I MARCH IN THE N
Hawkeye lowers his weapon - enough to be seen, not enough to be a hindrance in a fight.
Then he shouts towards the 'guardian':"Hail to the Emperor, Honoured one! We are Astartes and members of the Deathwatch fulfilling his will. This world is about to be attacked by the foul Xeno race named Tau. We are sent to reactivate this station and fight against the foul touch of the Xeno. Will you, honored one assist us at our duties?"
Over a secure vox channel to the team: "If we cannot convince him we will die a quick death. In that case: It was an honor to call you Brothers."
The voice of the Raptor is full of a gloom neither of you ever heard before and totally different to the voice he was talking to the guardian before, which was full of strength and purpose.
"Roger that. We share the same Genesire in Dorn so hopefully his internment has left him whole enough to recognize that." and Scorpelio faces the Ancient Dreadnought and whispers "Primarch-Progenitor, may your guidance fill me so we of your lineage may instead join forces to fight back the encroaching xenos." lowering his weapons and putting himself between him and the rest of his squad turning in such a way that his Bright Yellow Imperial Fist Icon be facing the Templar and shouts back:
"HAIL, ANCIENT AND VENERABLE COUSIN! SON OF DORN, THE PRAETORIAN OF TERRA! AND FELLOW ANGEL OF DEATH IN ETERNAL SERVICE TO THE EMPEROR OF MANKIND!" he greets the Adamantium Behemoth.
"I, FELLOW SON OF DORN UNDER THE BANNER OF THE IMPERIAL FISTS, AM HERE BY WRIT OF MY VIGIL WITH THE DEATHWATCH ALONGSIDE MY COMPANIONS TO RECLAIM THIS WATCH STATION AND TO BRING IT BACK INTO OPERATIONAL STATUS!" He States.
"TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE VENERABLE BROTHER FOR THE TAU ARE ASSAULTING THIS WORLD AND WE PLAN TO IMPEDE THEIR ATTEMPTS WHILE A FLEET OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY TRANSITS TO AID US IN THE DEFENCE OF THIS SYSTEM!"
"BY YOUR WILL WE SHALL DO ALL WE CAN TO BRING THIS STATION BACK ONLINE AND AWAKEN ANY BRETHREN YOU HAVE SERVING VIGIL ALONGSIDE YOU! AND TOGETHER WE SHALL FACE THE XENOS THREAT TOGETHER AND RIVERS OF THEIR BLOOD SHALL BE SPILT FOR THEIR CRIME OF ATTACKING A WORLD BELONGING TO THE IMPERIUM OF MAN!"
And, speech done, he remains in the same position but lowers his voice and whispers to his team over their internal vox network "It is out of my hands now, brothers, should my Venerable Cousin be intent upon our destruction, I'd be loathed to inflict any harm upon one so honored as to be interred within the mighty frame of a Contemptor as well as spill the blood of one of Dorns lineage. By the Omnissiah I pray that his internment hasn't affected him gravely yet..."
Ulf stands to attention his heavy bolter at the salute position, his armour gleaming in its pristine condition.
On the squad channel, Ulf pipes up.
"Have faith brothers, we have a son of Dorn amongst us and that is clearly more than chance. After all, with everything else that is not working, he may also be afflicted.
Another voice will only confuse matters, but brother Scorpio perhaps you could make a suggestion to him. Suggest that we retire outside the facility so that he can use the facilities long range sensors to scan local space, he will see the truth of our words. We are not dead yet."
"A good suggestion, Brother Ulf. Let's see how he reacts to this before continuing..." He says without so much as visibly moving.
Although he is reluctant to do so, the Librarian aligns his attitude to the rest of the squad, lowering his weapons. Yet, knowing his bolter to be of little use against such might opponent, he stands ready to unleash the fury of his mind on the dreadnought, should this one prove unable to recognize his allies.
The assault cannon was already whirling up to firing speed as the contemptor pivoted to get a better firing solution. But as the Tech-marine spoke the contemptor stopped, his weapon de-activiating.
"They are a young Xenos race by galactic standards, Venerable One, the reason as to why they were not exterminated upon discovery is a mystery even to me but, they are not to be taken lightly." And he breaths a sigh of relief over the teams comms.
"While they are unable to perform warp travel and are thus slow to respond to distant threats, their technology is otherwise as advanced as it is profane. Primarily focused on shooting and mobility, these blue, three-fingered and cloven footed Xenos make extensive alliances with other minor Xenos races to compensate for their low numbers."
"Honestly, Ancient Cousin, the only reason they remain a thorn in our side is because they aren't big enough of a threat for us to devote the necessary resources to eradicating them; Orks, Eldar and the Great Enemy are magnitudes more worthy of opposition than these bottom feeders."
At this point the contemptor switches to a vox channel.
"Purging them must wait, the lower levels of this facility will be overrun with feral servitors, if they are not cleansed than this facility is useless to us. Unfortunately I cannot fit into many areas, opening the doors woke them as well as me. There is no way they have slept as long as they have with their minds intact."
"Then, Brother Ancient, we have our task for the current moment. If you are able to ascertain the status of your fellow Ancient who were posted here on Vigil alongside you while we clear the lower sections of the station, we shall reconvene later once our task is accomplished" And he finally relaxes to turn to the Raptor.
"It seems we have a task laid before us. What say you Squad Leader?"
"Then, Brother Ancient, we have our task for the current moment. If you are able to ascertain the status of your fellow Ancient who were posted here on Vigil alongside you while we clear the lower sections of the station, we shall reconvene later once our task is accomplished" And he finally relaxes to turn to the Raptor.
"It seems we have a task laid before us. What say you Squad Leader?"
"I was the only dreadnought here."
"In that case, I'm curious as to who the Secondary and Tertiary Guardians are. I assume that these Feral Servitors were one of these?"
"In that case, I'm curious as to who the Secondary and Tertiary Guardians are. I assume that these Feral Servitors were one of these?"
"Combat and regular servitors I believe. Too man the station's weapons and guard smaller passages."
The pale Raptor nods to the Marine with the yellow shoulder pad. "Of course we will help. It is our primary mission to secure this station after all. Lead the way, Honored one. Any Intel about the layout of the station and the kind of servitors we are to expect would be helpful."
"Aye ancient one a set of plans for this place would help us be thorough, and any information such as maintenance schedules may allow us to form a plan for the hunt. "
After a moment of though, the Raptor adds, to no one specific:"Is there a way to pull servitors to a specific location..? A prepared firebase with cover for us and open space for the servitors would be my preferred approach for that fight."
"If such is your plan, I volunteer to bait them and attract them in whatever killzone you see fit"
"Aye, funneling them all into tight confines would definitely work into our favor. I do, however, wish for us to conduct the cleansing in the isolated sub-basements wherein they currently reside or as closely as possible mainly to prevent any possible tech-corruption from spreading to the rest of the station."
"Aye Brothers, lets go down. Ancient one, would you guide us towards a large, empty place near them? We will need any time we can get to defend this world against the Tau. So lets quickly dispose this threat."
The dreadnought takes you down the elevator into the main part of the station. The best big area is where the training cages are, it is an area about 20meters by 15 meters with a 10 meter ceiling. You can hear the feral binary calls of the servitors in the hallways leading to the armoury, the forge, the hangers and the barracks.
"Hmm...Any of these rooms contain a veritable arsenal of wargear that may be of great use to us in the coming battles we're to engage in. Preventing any harm coming to these items should be our priority though, for all I know, they might have already been destroyed when these servitors."
"What say you, Brothers? Lure them out room by room down these hallways to the training room? Though I fear that any disruption would cause those in the other chambers to go berserk and to lash out."
"Well in that case, bring them all on at once, then their lashing out will be against us.
Turning to the Dreadnought: Ancient One, I salute you. I have for name Averruncus, Librarian of the Sons of Antaeus. What would be your name?
After he eventually provide an answer:
Ancient *insert name*, could you provide us with a rough map of the area, so that i can use the fittest itinerary to lure these mad servitors and bring them here?
"Oh, come on. My blood is up and we have no less than a Black Templar dreadnought amongst us, open the doors and let us end their misery on our blades and bolts."
It would seem that the feral creatures have made the decision for you and are coming this way. From what you sensors can tell 3 groups totaling a dozen servitors including 4 of the heavier combat variety are approaching from different hallways. Roughly directly in front of you, a hallway about 3 meters from the far wall and to your left and a hallway in the middle of the right wall. You have approximately 2 rounds before they can be engaged, it will take them 2 rounds after that to enter the chamber you are in.
"Well, it seems that they're forcing our hand Brothers: they come for us!"
"Team, get into cover and prepare overwatch fire. Averruncus, Ulf take one approach, Scorpelio with me. The ancient one will be the center of the line."
Hawkeye already slips into the cover of a nearby door frame, his slender build emphasized by the smaller scout armor is completely covered by the dark metal. Assault Shotgun ready for quick draw, bolter in the hand, the Raptor is ready to unleash death upon the mad machines.
Overwatch at one approach, semi-auto as soon as the first servitors appear: