"I'll attempt to lead a second team," the judge agreed slowly. "Is there anything else you need? Our resources are stretched, but we might be able to help."
Lug bows his head to the Judge. "We appear to have replenished our supplies, and are ready to go. Good luck on your mission, Judge."
Erkan considers their course of action. "I can only think of two things you might be able to spare - the first would be a data-slate with maps of the Hive, to help us move about. The second would be any more explosives - melta bombs, krak grenades, tube charges - to help destroy the dropship. Given its trans-atmospheric assault role, I have to imagine it is pretty heavily armoured."
"I concur with the notion of destroying the jammer" says Heironymous, snapping out of his fuge state. "Apologies for my mental absence, apparently some upgrades are in order. I would be honoured to join members of the Inquisition of the Omnisiah in this mission. I second Vaughan's request Judge, these corrupted Machine Spirits seem... resiliant. Some heavier weaponry would be most useful."
"A demo pack can be provided, yes." He nodded to a Arbite, who went up to the arms locker to retrieve one. The explanation on how to use it was simple, the blessing written on the timer in Low Gothic. The timer was a simple dial chrono that was spun for the duration before it exploded.
"If that is all..." The Judge moved to the basement, opening a service hatch into the tunnel network. There was an impressive number of locks. "The second team is being prepared. The Emperor be with you all."
The service tunnels are much like most underhive tunnels. About 5ft wide with various panels covered in purity seals and prayer scrolls.
Aenarius requisitioned himself a krak grenade, one never knew when one would be needed.
Heironymous grabs any remaining charge packs, and a shotgun and some shells if any remain. The shotgun looks ludicrously big in his small frame, especially with the lascarbine, las pistol and staff dangling from his enhancement-supported form.
Lothar keeps his lasgun in hand and keeps an eye out for ambushes and booby traps, in his experience improvised ones often got set up in urban conflicts... bad enough to die to one, worse to be caught by one set up to hamper the enemy. "Tech Priest what did you mean by join members of the Inquisition? Were you made privy to information we were not, if it was intentional and to be with held very well."
"Corporal Laetus and Brother Vaughan have revealed themselves as members of the Ordo Malleus, which, unless my language capacitators have been knocked loose, makes them members of the Inquisition?" Heironymous replies slightly scathingly.
"Ordo Malleus?" He gives the techpriest a dubious look.
"Corporal Lug, he thinks your Ordo Malleus thing is part of the Inquisition. Someone's been spinning tall tales I'd warrant." He enjoys a heart felt notion as the silly situation the techpriest has gotten himself into.
Biters supplying me with weapons, I could get used to this. Being with this lot opens doors. The special ammo for me? Excellent.
"I can handle the demo pack. It looks straight enough."
If left to his own devices, he'll leave twelve shotgun shells for Hieronymous, while taking the autogun ammo and the rest of the shells. His acquisitions disappear into various folded over pockets and his battered old backpack. The shotgun is in his hands, with the Armageddon slung over his large back. He falls into line around the middle of the group, listening intently to the discussion involving matters Inquisition.
1 demo pack
1 krak grenade
1 frag grenade
30 manstopper rounds in 2 magazines
100 autogun rounds in 6.6 magazines
1 pump=action shotgun
12 shells
3 blazer shells
Leaving 12 shells for Hieronymous
"I am happy to scout ahead, I will keep in contact." he says taping his ear with the Micro-Bead.
He pulls a device from a holster on his left boot and with a flick of the wrist it extends into a hand crossbow. He ducks low and proceeds into the tunnel thumbing on the Photo visors once he leaves the lighted region.
Moving Quietly, watching for traps and ambushes, with heightened senses (Sight).
Lug nods to Praetus. "Don't get yourself killed," he murmurs as Praetus moves off silently. He turns to look at the rest of the group. "Good to go?"
"Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3."
Vasyl ensures that all the others can hear him loud and clear over their microbeads. Whatever the tech priests had to say back in Volg, he knew the technomat prayers as well as any who trod the way of Old Ironskull.
Tunnel fighting. Does this lot know how to do it?
"Tunnel fighting gets vicious, and traps and cracking structures can be even worse. If you see something that looks suspect, stop and give warning to me or the tech-priest."
"Just to make you all aware. I was shot outside, and that light armor I was wearing didn't really do the trick. Give me a minute to get this wound treated, and I'll be ready to go."
He takes the demo charge from the Arbite, "Judge Kalaphas, thank you for this weapon, it will surely aid us in the Emperor's work. I pray that your men walk with His Blessing, and both our missions are successful."
At Vasyl's offer to handle the demolitions, he turns and passes it to him. Strangers made allies out of necessity, may the Emperor's will guide them... "Vasyl, was it? If you have skill with such matters, then I trust the device in your hands."
Surprised to hear the tech priest speak, who til now had been following them silently, Erkan turns to respond to the dialogue between the tech priest and the guardsman. "Corporal Bismarck, the tech priest speaks true. Corporal Laetus and myself serve in the retinue of an agent of the Ordo Malleus, which is in fact a branch of the most hallowed Inquisition. We only recently arrived on world, dispatched to investigate the presence of daemon cults. Clearly, we were a little late in arriving."
"Yes indeed. Brother Vaughan right?"
The demo pack is swiftly yet carefully stowed away in Vasyl's backpack.
Starting to look like they're not scragging around.
"So, how does it normally go down? With...daemon cults? And being in the Inquisition?"
Lothar looks genuinely surprised at what Erkan said. Could he be lying? No it would be one thing for a man to speak in ignoramce but another to bare face lie about the Inquisition. "Very good... thanks for clearing that up. If its just daemon cults and not daemons themselves my skill set can adjust. I once had to hold cordone on a proscribed cult while it was being purged, nasty business but we got the lot. Daemons on the other hand rewuire heroes of yore and specialists."
He trudges forward a few steps before adding "I once saw a screamer project plasma onto a sentinel and melt it so my skill set is fairly flexible."
Praetus, staying a short distance ahead of the rest of the team, quickly found that these tunnels seemed relatively unaffected by the fighting so far. Occasionally something would rattle the dust from the ceilings but there were no signs of the enemy as you moved beneath the square.
At least, not until you got close to your target. The tunnel split in two. Down one side was the path you were to take, and distant voices. Along the other, you recalled from the map in the precinct, was a passage around the area ahead and eventually leading down. It might be possible to move around the enemy, or set up a pincer movement...if you felt you could afford the time.
Anaerius went and looked for the arbites’ medics. While there were certainly others who certainly more injured than he, his wounds still needed bandaging and gauze. It wouldn’t do to go into combat with an open wound.
As they stalk through the tunnels, Erkan offers what little he can as a response to the rush of questions from Lothar and Vasyl. "Normal? I pray that my one major confrontation with a daemon was not the norm, though I know it is far more likely it will be but an spark compared to what the future may hold for me in this service. Since that fateful day, I have spent the last five years studying with a sect of the Ecclesiarchy that specializes in facing such horrors. I was only recently summoned by my liege to assist with the issues present here. And to your other point, if it's a daemon cult, they are likely trying to summon the horrors they follow. Now, let the Emperor strengthen your souls, for you do this righteous work in His name."
Standing before the split, he turns to the others, though his eyes seem to linger on the two guardsmen and the arbite. "Any thoughts? Do we push straight forward as one force, or try to come at the target from two directions?"
"I am pushing forward to get eyes on the targets, wait here I will return with information."
He reaches up and activates his Stummer before heading down the tunnel.
"Cultists in league with the inhuman lack the moral fortitude to stand against a resolute warrior in service to the Emperor."
It's quite clear from his body language that Lothar's estimation of Lug and Erkan has shot up remarkably. "Our numbers are small and I would humbly suggest we do not divide it without more information, let us see what secrets our new ally can pry from the enemy during his recon. I would make every lasbolt and thrust of the blade count."
Vasyl looks thoughtful, almost as if reminiscing.
"I am partial to pulling the classic 'flank and shank'. I found that gangers get confused if they can't immediately tell where they're being shot at from. But true, small numbers makes that riskier. I'm happy to wait for what Praetus has to say."
Ah, the flank and shank. The Swamp Heads never saw it coming. Good pay day.
"Civilian Vasyl has some... interesting skills, but I believe his 'flank and shank' plan is sound. A larger group of us carries out a distraction while one or two sneak up to the Jammer to plant the demo pack. However, it is contingent on the report of our scout."
Heironymous is clearly pleased to be working with the inquisition, for it seems to him that his brilliance is more likely to be recognised here.
Lug nods at the others' words. "Flanking the enemy is a sound idea, but as noted, we must wait for Praetus to return." He readies his weapon and peers down the tunnel. Let's hope he returns in one piece.
While the group waits for Praetus' return, Vasyl decides to switch loadouts on his main weapons. A clip of manstoppers into the Armageddon, and the three blazer shells ready in the shotgun, which he keeps in hand for now.
This could get messy fast. I need to be ready to hit hard straight away.
Aenarius looked at Vasyl juggling the two large weapons. He had tried that once before, and it was mightily uncomfortable. Still...he looked at the autogun with a hint of jealousy...it was good to have more capabilities. He took the moment to check over his own shotgun.
"So. Who is the flank, and who is the shank?"
Praetus creeps slowly forward. The vibration of the Stummer giving him a sense of calm he had been missing since the wall of the hive exploded.
...Oops
He gives a last minute prayer to the God Emperor
4 degrees of Success
Three enemy troopers, bloated and coated in vines, there armour bulging, stood next to the ladder leading up the plaza. The three were slowly rigging the ladder with explosives. Lasguns, coated in rust and mold, sat against the wall.
Praetus takes a step back. reaching up to activate his Micro-Bead
"I have spotted three heretics blocking progress, I feel they could be quietly dealt with, but I defer to your experience."
His hand is unconsciously moving towards his sword "Oblivion"
Hearing the voice in the microbead, Aenarius smiled. "Looks like we are going to have some action. I'd like to get in close for this. Vasyl, you should come with me. Our shotguns should clear them out quickly enough. Everyone else can cover us if we are spotted. Flank and shank, I believe you called it."
2 degrees of success
1 degreee of success
Vasyl grins.
"Yes indeed. I'm happy to get close and shank. With a shotgun."
Point-blank, surprise if lucky, and a spot of fire should do the trick.
Vasyl tries to sneak forward.
If the noise causes the Heretics to turn Praetus will charge the one closest to the Lasguns
Before the others can stomp away with their shotguns, Erkan holds up his hand and speaks abruptly. "Hold brothers, Praetus recommended quietly," as he points to their hefty shotguns.
Keying his microbead, "Praetus, clarify, are these traitors at the target, or obstructing the path that will lead us there? If the latter, I agree with blades before guns."
As he says this, Erkan shoulders his shotlas, and his hand drifts to the pommel of the hallowed blade hanging from his left hip.
"Brother Vaughan, I do not see the target, but we can not move past, they may possess more explosives as well"
Lothar draws his fine sword, the hilt has a silver filigree embellishing it. "If it's to be blades I will not be found wanting. If anyone lacks something suitable they can borrow my mono knife for dealing with this little group."
"Blades? Okay so."
Vasyl straps the shotgun on his back, then his right hand reaches into his cloak. It emerges dragging out a machete-sized blade that had been previously concealed.
Bolo knife. For the quiet, quiet kills.
Heironymous readies his laspistol in on hand and his auspex in the other. Hand-to-hand fighting is not his speciality, but ensuring that the group is not overcome by some environmental hazard or other warpy business is definitely within his skill-set.
Lug nods, drawing his monosword and laspistol.
Seeing the others drawing blade and pistol, he considers his sidearm then sighs. Keying his microbead, "Explosives? Please confirm." "Brothers, only fire those pistols as a last resort. Who knows how volatile those heretics' explosives are."
With his final warning, he drew Mendanion's Confession and looked at the blade for a moment. He had trained with it daily since Inquisitor Eliza had bestowed it to him upon his return to active service in the retinue. It was smaller than before, the handle shortened and rebalanced to counter the reshaped blade. It was still a formidable weapon, though no longer the mighty two-handed Messer it had once been. His mind went back to that day, five years before, and the moments that set him on this path. He saw the face of the creature. He saw his fallen brethren, both loyalist and heretic. He had not thought, only acted. Today, he would act again.
Three sets of eyes - tendrils of plants sprouting from tear ducts - focused on the noise Vasyl made. Without hesitation they began to turn...to the ladder, ignoring the guns.
Praetors runs at the Heretics, sword in hand, seemingly with no regard for his safety cutting them off from the ladder
Vasyl's boot dislodges a piece of rusted metal.
*crack* *CLANG*
Damn. Time to get stuck in. But I'll save my last sprint for closing that deadly last gap.
Vasyl will run forward, bolo knife in right hand.
Aenarius ran forward, sword in hand, keeping pace with Vasyl.
Lothar runs forward but his still wounded leg slows his advance but in his armour and with his sword in one hand he stands ready. No one could call Praetor a coward but his headlong charge into the enemy might not be called wise by some.
He'd get there as soon as he could.
Heironymous keeps behind the meat-shields, sweeping with his auspex and readying his laspistol.
"Surrender heretics, and your death will be swift!" he calls out.
The element of surprise blown, Brother Erkan breaks into a full run toward the traitor guard who are now being confronted by Praetus at the base of the ladder.
Full Action - Run, starting from A13, ending at S13.