Heironymous, now that the way is clear of heretics, rushes up tobthe cockpit to assist with the destruction - or repurposing - of the jammer.
"Halt! Do not smash anything yet, we may have use for it.
Heironymous looks for a way to switch the jammer to blocking the communications of the heretics instead.
It's possible to do so - the jammer works by scrambling vox communications with scrap code, leaving a tiny number of channels open, and rotating those channels at set points. It would be possible to change those, sending the correct ones to Imperial hands and blocking the heretics communications.
The problem lays in keeping it blocked. As this vessel, and it's machine spirits, are as deeply tainted as there traitor masters it's unlikely they'll be a way to stop the heretics from reversing the procedure. And it's clear enough that there are far, far too many to stop from boarding. A single squad of the tainted Astrates could retake it, and there is significantly more than one squad attacking the cathedral.
It is not, however, impossible to find some way to stop them from doing so...
Realizing the oft-silent techpriest has suddenly leapt up and charged across to the dropship, Erkan curses silently. "What's the situation? Are the demotions planted? We have not drawn any new attention, but we should not tarry long. The accursed heretics of the fallen chapters wage their assault on the cathedral, but it would only take one to notice us."
As he says this, Erkan scans the area for any potential threats getting out...
"Demo charge planted. Wait, aren't there weapons on this thing? Can't we just shoot some traitors before blowing this up?"
Makes it easier to get out of here in one piece.
There are weapons on the transport, primarily point defence weapons to fight against ground assault or to aid in securing a hot drop zone. They can be examined and controlled from the control deck lecterns.
Praetus looks over his shoulder, anxious to redeem himself for his poor showing. "Citizen Vasyl, will you watch my back?"
He waits for the hiver to re-load before keying the Cargo Bay door.
"Sure thing! And tech-priest, fancy giving me a hand up here? There might be weapons worth firing at the traitors."
Reload. Manstoppers again. Just in case.
Vasyl will move to a position where he can overwatch while Praetus opens the cargo bay door.
Praetus closes his eyes for a moment of Prayer, then keys open the door and charges in.
The cargo hold appears to be an obscene growing house of some kind. Plants, trees and flowers of all kinds from her, covering every surface, leaving only small, choked passages through the greenery. But as with everything touched by chaos, it seems...wrong. The flowers and blooms look like they're dying even as they bud, the vines have bruise-like patches across them.
Something slithers, deep within.
Shotgun at the ready, Aenarius brought up the rear. It wasn’t the most glorious of positions, but if any traitors came from behind they would be in for a lethal surprise.
Aenarius notes the most recent attack has been forced back for a moment, the Traitors unable to breach the barricades the Sisters have made.
Hearing the conversation within the drop ship over his microbead, Erkan curses. "Emperor's Throne, lads, make sure the demolitions are set and get out of there. Trying to activate the weapons will only draw more resistance toward us, and may ultimately cause our mission to fail. We need to restore the communication lines for this city's defense. Stick to our Sacred Charge. Once it's done, then we can direct our wrath upon the heretics."
Heironymous sighs, then says "Very well, I shall assist Mr Zima in planting the charges and we shall withdraw."
"Gotcha, Erkan. Let's just be ready to do extra damage in case the first bomb isn't enough."
Failure isn't an option. Not if I want to stay in the good books.
Lothar maintains his vigil, ready to strike down any of the other traitors if they become aware of his allies.
”The first traitor push is being forced back by the sisters’ defesnses. Let’s get these set so we can hold these gains.” For the first time there was hope in his voice.
Between Hierynmous and Vasyl they decided that the simplest method was to plant the explosives in the command lecturns, destroying them and the connections to the device. It will have the added bonus of reducing much of the command deck to ruins.
Vasyl eyes up the lecturns.
This will go up nicely.
It only takes Praetus a moment to determine there is little to be gained from hacking into the mass in the cargo hold. He closes the door and backs to the exit ramp waiting for his companions before leaving.
The door to the cargo bay warps under the sudden of...something...from within moments after Praetus closes it. Whether it is able to be opened is debatable, and whether it is worth it is definitely...unlikely.
As the lecturns are rigged with explosives, anyone observing the enemy will see that several now under strength squads of Traitors - somewhere around thirty in total - are beggining to pull back, likely to regroup and re-arm.
Following Aenarius' warning, Erkan's scope is turned toward the retreating traitors. "Agents of the Emperor, the heretics that have been stalled by the mighty Sororitas are now falling back... this way. It would be wise to make sure that demo charge is rigged up, and get back here as soon as possible."
He's talking sense.
"You heard the man! It's time to go!"
Vasyl seizes his autogun and starts moving swiftly out towards the side door.
"Please cover us as we make our way back to you, this could get... messy..."
Heironymous readies his trusty lascarbine and follows Vasyl.
Lothar keeps lining up his shot, if they move to engage his withdrawing allies he will strike them down. "Ready at your word Lord." He wasn't entirely sure how best to address an agent of the Inquisition but Lord was respectful and showed deference.
Praetus follows the other two out of the carrier, he does his best to keep himself between the Tech Priest and the returning traitors.
There is no place for the weakwilled or hesitant. Only by firm action and resolute faith will mankind survive. No sacrifice is too great. No treachery too small.
Erkan's eye stays steadied downrange at the slowly retreating heretics. "We have you covered, how long until the explosives-" he stops rather abruptly upon realizing that the guardsman beside him just referred to him as 'Lord'. Emperor's Throne, does he think I am an Inquisitor? I need to set things clear, but only once we are back in a level of safety.
Continuing his previous statement, "How long until the explosives go up? I hope you set a short fuse, cause we have nearly two score of these accursed wretches coming."
Vasyl thinks back to the timer.
"I left enough time to get out quietly - just."
Unless the tech-priest adjusted it after, in which case Emperor knows how long we have. Oh well, no sense in worrying about it now. Move quietly - but steadily - to that side door, and let the others worry if they must.
Praetus looks over his shoulder, trying to judge the attention of teh retreating traitors.
The Traitors fail to spot Vasyl and Praetus.
As Hierynmous crosses, one of the Traitors looks over and sounds the alarm. They begin to form up.
Time to go.
"Once it goes, we go!"
When the alarm goes up Lothar doesn't hesitate and pulls the trigger but the shot is a little off. It still connects with the traitor but only a flesh wound to the leg.
Vasyl will run to cover. He will turn and start firing until the mission is confirmed a success and that anyone who is getting out has reached them.
Going back as failures would carry a shorter lifespan.
One traitor takes the shot to the knee, slowing him slightly, but the fire is all but ignored by the approaching soldiers. Instead, half begin to put down a barrage of cover fire, clearly aiming to keep you suppressed until the second half can advance into into effective firing range.
One traitor takes the shot to the knee, slowing him slightly, but the fire is all but ignored by the approaching soldiers. Instead, half begin to put down a barrage of cover fire, clearly aiming to keep you suppressed until the second half can advance into into effective firing range.
Lothar ducks fully into cover as a bullet whizzes just past his head.
Yeah, that's enough shooting back for now. The return fire is getting thick.
A true servant of the Emperor knows no fear!
what was that in the cargo hold?
As the Cohesive light flashes past Praetus, he dives behind a low wall.
Heironymous dives towards the manhole, crawling behind cover as much as possible.
"Some cover would be appreciated," he tersely says over the microbeads.
Several of the Acolytes were forced to crawl towards the sewers as the second rank moved up, the weapons of the first rank raised and ready to fire. Interestingly...they didn't add to the fire, the traitors holding fire, although there was no immediately obvious explanation as to why.
It did give you all a moment to reach the sewer entrance and either prepare to attack or depart.
[dice=Perception +10 = 37]1d100
"The traitors are out of ammunition! Smite them, for the Omnissiah!" Heironymous cries out as he raises his head above cover, unloading into the nearest traitors with his lascarbine.
Erkan reaches out of the manhole and grabs at his allies slowly crawling toward them, pulling them in to safety. Glancing back at the heretics as the tech priest cries out for battle, he spits back. "Magos, are you daft? They are carrying guns and outnumber us five to one, we need to fall back. Vasyl, where is the explosion?!"
Staying in cover Lothar stows his longlas and draws his deathlight lasgun readying it for action. "If the explosion doesn't take them out too we might have to deal with them. Repelling down under fire a lot more risky."