Korbin takes the time to assess what he sees outside the gates and above. More concerned with what is outside than inside he takes stock of the defenses remaining and assess any imminent threats posed by the outside forces gathering.
Attempting to patch into the local vox network now, re-routing signal to our squad, trying to establish a stable connection.
Apothecary Morgan follows behind the space wolves reloading his weapons for the coming conflict. As Apothecary Morgan sees the Daemon getting ready to flee he Focuses on directing everyone to use Luthar as their strongpoint.
"RAAAAAGH"
Overcome by his past experiences, the beast rises too quickly for Othair to resist and he charges back into the fray against the daemon.
1dos
Outside the Installation (was in transit)
"From what we heard earlier there was trouble, I'll see what I can find out." Shar Quinn responds.
The marines successfully make contact with their brothers inside.
Korbin patches the network and also examines the base, the three walled defense with its turrets and soldiers seems as solid as it can be given the circumstances and the breach in one wall to your left is plugged by the base's sole Leman Russ battle tank.
Everything appears ready but the Tyranids aren't far off, the first wave will likely hit the wall within a half an hour.
The Installation
Olar blocks Luthar's flail attack, spinning on his heel and striking it aside with a flourish.
"Back so soon? I don't know why Tzeentch favors you, you think with your fists, not your heads. You're true heroes, not cowardly plotters, I can tell. Your violence honors my God."
Othair tears into the Daemon once more and as gore fountains from his wounds his entire form flickers, the damage done to him in your last encounter still not healed.
Laughing he directs his attacks at both Luthar and Othair, raining down a glowing flurry of bronze colored streaking blows.
As Brother Xing's whip wraps itself around the Daemons head tearing into its flesh with it's inscribed Kraken teeth, he feels the Daemon taking damage and he channels the last of his willpower and all of his runes energy into a "killing force."
Free Action Opposed WP test, Push level PR10:
WP 60, Deed +10, +50(10x5PR bonus) (130) 11 DOS
Each DOS (is opposed, so my DOS over him) deals 1d10 dmg bypassing armor and toughness of target.
Psy Phenom -10:
Distorted Reflections: Mirrors and other reflective surfaces within 5d10 metres of the psyker distort or shatter.
As they enter the compound and get no reply from their vox hails Sardus has a gut feeling that something has gone wrong.
We need to get to the device now Inquisitor Shar, my squad is not replying to hails. he says to his squad, or what was left of it.
As soon as they can, he gets out and makes his way to the facility entrance and down towards the device control room as fast as his armor will carry him.
Can either of you see if you can get me any video feeds he says to Shar and Korbin as they make their way out of the Chimera and deeper into the facility.
As he listens to Sardus' orders he takes a moment to provide his assessment of the defenses and incoming Tyranids.
The Tyranid swarm will be upon us within the hour, the defenses look strong, but I worry about the breach and the Russ defending it. We are running out of time and the lack of vox comms worries me as well...We may need to consider other options Inquisitor, perhaps I can be of use when we access the device chamber.....I will try to patch into any video feeds I can, but witout authorization codes the encryption could be difficult to break...Inquisitor, do you mind? he says, hoping she would provide the codes necessary or have them patched in manually by a technician in the facility.
Afterwards, he follows Sardus to the lower levels, trying his best not to get left behind.
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Krak munition loaded, legionaire. You may fire when ready.
Aterro acknowledges the voice in his helmet, waiting for the machine spirit to signal target acquisition. Once the helmet gives the welcoming beep, he losses the missile.
"May you find Peace at last."
vs (95 + 20(size?)=(115) = 2DoS, -10 to Dodge
= 29 PEN:10
RF attack: vs (95 + 20(size?)=(115) = 7DoS, -10 to Dodge
= 41 PEN:10
Apothecary Morgan moves forward into the fight swinging his thunder hammer at the daemon if it remains standing.
The Installation
The Exalted Bloodthirster has no sneering comment this time as Luthar decapitates the beast with his force flail and the monster's body is ripped apart by a krak missile and a tremendous blow from a thunder hammer.
The Daemon's mocking laughter isn't even present as it fades away in boiling crimson smoke, dissipating back to the angry hells that spawned it.
As the last of the Blood God's Champion fades away a odd peace settles over the scene, the lack of the Daemon's aura of anger and violence making the warp corrupted bottom of the elevator shaft seem as pleasant and peaceful as a flowery green meadow on a warm summer's day in comparison.
The Installation (groups unified now)
"Of course Korbin, I trust you completely now." Shar Quinn says using her Rosette to unlock all the base's mainframe controls and even opens the archives to the Techmarine.
As Korbin remotely patches in and synchronizes with the system the group arrives at the top of the shaft and, looking down through the torn opening, sees their fellow Deathwatch members at the base of the shaft looking like they were just sent through a meat grinder.
Once inside Korbin thanks the inquisitor for the codes and trust. He couldn't say the same of her, his suspicion and intention all along to gather Intel on the devices hadn't changed. With the codes it would be much easier, now he needed a distraction to find some free time to unlink and transfer all he could of the research and results being done here, the temptation of knowledge was the last remaining weakness of his flesh, but one any techmarine or tech priest of Mars delicately maintained.
I believe they will survive he says to his squad before moving down the shaft to access what he could and ascertain the status of the device. Will the limiter significantly speed up the time needed to shut off the device? he asks the inquisitor.
As the daemon is destroyed, Othair's rage lifts and he powers down his chainfist. "Well done brother, that is most definitely saga worthy and I could certainly murder a horn of mjod right now. " Turning to brother Aterro he apologises "I am sorry brother, I had intended to follow your plan, but the beast inside overcame me."
Sensing the others approach, Othair raises his flamer only to lower it as the scent reaches him. "Well met brothers, I fear you have arrived late to this particular party, but we could use your help with the device. I don't understand the malificarum, but it appears to be leaking."
Well met marines, the gods of Chaos are not match for the Emperor's finest. Let us see what we can do about the device, we have brought the limiter from the outpost and had our own daemons to deal with, hopefully we can secure the device and get off this doomed rock. The Tyranids are swarming and will be upon us within the hour, let us make haste and determine the risk of more threats....I fear we will soon need to divide again to protect the installation if the Inquisitor does not have good news.
He then motions for the team to move down the shaft and make their way to the malificarum.
"Follow me." The Inquisitor instructs as she makes it to the base of the shaft. Leading the marines you can see the pain in her eyes as she travels through the ruins of her labs with you and sees the slaughtered remains of her staff.
"The Orb is all we can recover then." She says, accounting for the lack of skilled workers now her retinue has been slain.
"We will have to just build the rest of the machine again elsewhere."
Entering the room with the device you see the brass orb still glows with powerful warp energies.
"Time to use the failsafe, hold onto your butts." The Inquisitor says as she takes out the Skull and presses the activation rune.
As the Skull is activated and the dark soullessness of the pariah unleashed a shocking oppression fills the air. A normal pariah creates a sense of unease as well as blocking the powers of the warp but this being was an Alpha level untouchable, Shar Quinn bends over and loses her lunch as not only are her powers momentarily severed but her very soul is pressed down weightily by the psychic blankness of the limiter.
The fiery orb instantly goes cold, becoming a simple inert ball of rune inscribed brass in the aura of blankness. After a moment Shar Quinn deactivates the Skull but the orb remains dead. She approaches and picks it up.
"Tyranids are on their way but we have time for a debriefing and some planning, tell me, what has happened here, and was there really an Imperial Assassin attacking earlier?"
With such little natural psychic connection, Othair is unaffected by the sudden lack of warp energy.
"Tyranids, yeesss. I was late to the party last time myself. As to this, we came down found a daemon, Russ saved us and then we killed it. Oh and there was something involving some Eldar that I don't understand. Try my wolf brother for that."
Shar Quinn smiles at Othair's brief summation.
"That's a good start, any additional insights, Luthar?"
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After dealing with the Daemon Luthar lets out a roaring howl of victory over the Blood God's champion. He knew the violence might of honored the God as the creature claimed, but he chose to believe instead, that it was a necessary evil and the brutality of the final assault was nature taking its coarse. The wolves were hunters and they preyed on larger beasts together. This one was maintaining the purity of their lands and not about food, but none the less just as important to the delicate balance of nature and the Imperium.
As they finish and Luthar see's his brothers and the Inquisitor once again he is joyed by their safe return and excited about their retrieval of the limiter and its potential powers.
As they move back into the facility with the Inquisitor, he is very curious about the device and when she attempts to deactivate the device by activating runes on the limiter Luthar feels the weight of black hole sucking his very essence away. He is puzzled by this, as most Rune Priest do not believe their power derives from the Warp, and eventually just blocks it from his mind, concentrating on the history and stories past down by his chapter and forefathers. He would indeed be adding to the tales when and if he ever returned to Fenris.
WP 60, +10 Deed, -20 Device (50) Failure
The devices effects prove to be too much and as he struggles to grasp what is happening to him it shakes the foundations of all he as ever learned and been taught, his connection to the warp is greater than he imagined, but he refused to believe his powers were derived from there. Luthar kneels in anguish and screams in frustration and anger.
Luthar nearly lashes out at the device and the Inquisitor but contrains himself in the presence of his squad, he had faultered enough that day, and he would need deeper reflection to understand all he has seen and learned. As the questions arise and his pack explains what happened, he grits through his teeth and replies, not holding back his disdain for the device or the witches warp sorcery.
That device brought us to another world where we witnessed an ancient Genocide of Eldar, all fighting for some mantle of power. They slaughtered each other in close combat before the cities defenses fired munitions destroying all before us, at which point we appeared back here and dealt with the BloodThirster, which nearly killed us in our initial assault. Only after regrouping and hunting as a pack were we able to overcome it's strenght and power. I am glad that cursed device is deactivated, I still have half a mind to crush it here and now. he says with as much anger and respect he can muster for the interaction. Afterwards he walks away needing time to reflect on this great ordeal and clear his mind for the battle to come.
Shar Quinn looks uncomfortable with what Luthar reveals, though specifically what bothers her, be it the warp travel, the Eldar and their Mantle, the Daemon, or Luthar's desire to smash the device you are not sure.
Uriel, standing to one side with the last remaining Divine Eagle steps forward and in a tired voice tells the marines about the adventures, and losses, of their trip to recover the Limiter.
Finishing his detailed account with a half heard soft sigh the marine steps back, his weathered face almost looking overwhelmed by sadness at the recounting of his brothers' deaths.
Is this a flaw in the spirit of the Eagles? Does grief carry greater weight than the joy of battle and victory in their minds or is Uriel simply a sentimental marine?
Standing victorious Apothecary Morgan had little to say about the defeat of the daemon. He looked over at the wolves celebrating the daemon's death as if they hadn't almost lost the instillation, and he slightly shakes his head. They had come close to disaster, but Apothecary Morgan supposed that he couldn't fault the wolves for their celebrations he knew that many Storm Wardens would also just start celebrating. Following behind the inquisitor Apothecary Morgan watches with interest as she pulls out the fail-safe. He was glad to see that several Divine Eagles were left, and that his other companions were still alive. Then she activated the device.
Apothecary Morgan nearly fell over sickened by the concentrated power of a pariah. He felt his very soul begin fading away from him as it continued its assault. Standing there for a few moments Apothecary Morgan couldn't help but also somehow feel relieved that the warp taint was being prevented from touching him, and he nearly felt sick again as the pariah feeling ended. At the question of the Inquisitor Apothecary Morgan just added on a bit to the report.
"Yes, there was an Imperial Assassin here, but it was dealt with and it exploded so no evidence remains of it."
Apothecary Morgan wanted to say more, but he had more pressing matters with the Divine Eagles. As Uriel seemed almost overwhelmed by his losses Apothecary Morgan steped forward and offered some words of encouragement.
"They died doing the Emperor's work, and no marine can ask for a greater end. We must all die one day the only thing that matters is that we die true to our Emperor. They were brave Marines and their names and deeds shall live on as long as we do. They will not be forgotten, and they will have revenge after this mission is over. You have my oath as an Apothecary and Storm Warden I will see it done."
Shar Quinn looks distraught. "Only the High Lords of Terra and Inquisitors with great clout can unleash an Imperial Assassin. What was it's mission? ...and who sent it I wonder...?"
Uriel looks over at Morgan. "Thank you, brother. Though we Divine Eagles are rare amongst the Astartes as we believe the Emperor to be a true God rather than a father figure and believe faithful souls join him in a glorious afterlife I still feel great pain at the death of my brothers." He straightens his back and stands tall.
"But we live and die for the Emperor, as you said Morgan. Only in death does duty end and there is much I must do before my duty is discharged."
Luthar looks to Uriel and the reality of death changes his focus momentarily.
Your brothers have met their maker and watch over us now with the Emperor, let us honor them in their final resting place and rid this planet of as many Xenos possible before we depart.
With the fight still in him remaining the rune priest prepares himself mentally for the coming swarm and stands ready to leave the depths of the facility and return to the surface where he may make his last stand, however temporary, on this doomed world.
The group makes its way to Command, where Matteus, the Colonel and Shar's female aid wait in addition to the support staff.
"So we have a bit of an issue." Matteus says as the group arrives.
"The teleportation pad, even with the homing device, is going to need to be reset every time it is used. The Shadow in the Warp from the Tyranid creatures is blotting out everything." He sighs.
"Basically we can send five individuals and their equipment through at a time, than after an hour we can send another five, etc. There are three hundred and twenty one non combat staff in this Installation plus another one hundred and twenty fighting men, as well as you marines and the Inquisitor and her staff. The Hive Swarms are closing in, we can't save every one, that's a fact."
Shar Quinn turns to the Deathwatch Marines. "Any suggestions on who should go first?" She asks.
The Inquisitor should make those decisions before she departs with the limiter in the first teleport. We will make sure to defend the facility for as long as possible and then extract ourselves as time and circumstances allow. I will attempt to increase the efficiency and frequency of the teleporter. I should get to work and see what is possible.
Korbin accesses what information he can of the teleporter and takes a look to see what can be improved, even if only temporary.
Shar Quinn nods. "I and my remaining staff members first, getting the device and limiter to safety, then save as many of the noncombat staff as you will. The Stormtroopers know their duty and will fight to the death, when you have nothing left or are too wounded to continue fighting, follow us through the teleporter Deathwatch."
Moving to the dank teleport chamber Shar Quinn and her aid with her three remaining staff get on the runic platform and once the machine has charged up vanish in a flash of bright blue light.
"You are in complete command of this entire Installation Deathwatch, do what you can. The Emperor protects." Are her last words as she vanishes.
The Tech-Priest running the teleporter chimes; "The Inquisitor has successfully arrived upon the battle barge, teleportation realignment beginning."
Maybe this is the fight to the end that Russ has been saving me far
"Well if the xenos will be here soon we had better be ready, I am no tactician but we have some here. I would suggest that with my flamer and chainfist I would be best placed out our weakest spot, or where the field of fire is narrowest and combat most likely."
Othair will then set about patching the rents in his armour, clearing the teeth of his chainfist and reloading his flamer.
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As the tactical quagmire is uttered out loud, Attero shakes his head, and the fugue that had plagued him since the seeing the senseless slaughter of the Eldar planet begins to lift.
His first order of business is to patch into a Priority-level comm-line, linking any and all remaining officer-level non-comms and Stormtroopers.
Once everyone is patched in, he first asks for the over-arcing data on the installation's assets and tactical lines, such as the Stormtroopers remaining, what heavy weapons are about, and the strong and weak points of the installation.
Then he asks for any intel on when the next wave of Xenos might arrive.
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Aterro tasks his muse to create a 3D wire-frame of the installation, with highlighted RFIDs of usable assets: Trooper squads, weapon installations, armories, etc.
Over the group-comm, he lays out the order of the day. "Gentlemen, the Inquisitor has left the installation. This is the greatest accomplishment that we could have hoped for, so all of you may consider your mission accomplished. You stand tall in the eyes of the Emperor.
And now the Emperor has seen fit to place in front of us a glorious puzzle as we pursue our secondary mission; that is, extraction. To fully recover all available personnel assets from the installation, we are looking at approximately an eighty-hour time-frame. And if we can't secure that, priorities will need to be assigned.
But that is the thought of failure, which matters not since we will hold this installation against any Xeno horde that wishes to crash against us like the ever-yielding wave upon the eternal rock!
The first priority is to get as many spy-drones in the air to spot nearby hordes, if not already done so.
We need all available staff not queued for extraction within the next three hours to report to an armory for equipping. Stromtrooper leaders now have direct command over all non-combat staff.
All armed personnel (Stormtroopers and armed non-com) are to report to observation posts or staging areas around the installation for maximum eyes-on fields of vision. We want to be ready for them.
Any static-defensive assets (i.e. landmines or sentry drones) are to be deployed.
Section commanders now have absolute authority over their assigned areas, answerable only to the Deathwatch.
Our lives belong to the Emperor. Let us not waste them here.
The Emperor protects."
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"Matteus, I entrust to you to compile the list of what order the personnel will extract. Make a note not to include the Deathwatch until the end. If Brother Othair is made to leave before he's killed enough, we'll never hear the end of it."
Colonel, since the latest reports expect a wave of Xenos here in less than half an hour, we need every hand able to hold a lasgun at a window or firing port.
Uriel, in acknowledgement of your glory and sacrifice, you will be given the honor of holding the weak-point and ensuring the last Leman Russ comes to no harm. Be vigilant, as that will no doubt be hardest hit, but in all likelihood a few of us will join you there."
"Brother Aterro, are you suggesting I have a problem again? Don't make me come over there and teach you some manners!
Come Uriel, that seems a fine place to stand if that is where the fighting will be thickest. You shoot them and I will burn them and when that runs out we will just have to stomp on their heads. After all he is probably right."
Korbin examines and takes a minute to get to know who he is working with and assess their abilities. His plan surely couldn't work alone and if he were to achieve optimal efficiency he would need the other tech priests and lab personal to assist him willingly. He needed to see what could be done to improve the recharge or push the capacity to transport more at a time. Even if it were pushing the equipment they didn't need to worry about long term usage or repairs. How can I increase the power during recharge and widen the teleportation field?
Korbin observes their actions and begins accessing data he was just given codes too. Looking carefully at the available equipment the STC design and usable spare parts from the labs as well as any additional information that may not of been handed over. He takes a note of the armory and quickly does the match to see how many of the forces could be armed, after which he pushes those numbers and conclusion by VOX to his team, including the best ammo count he could calculate roughly. Later he would devote some time into doing the numbers and calculating a possible number of Tyranids vs our forces taking into consideration the types and likely frequency of the larger xenos versus our munitions and ammo supplies and quality of our own troopers, with a small added percentage to the lab workers with a constantly diminishing pool of personal that are leaving and dying.To factor in the death rates would deduce or time needed, that is logic that his hard to followhe says idly to himself, seemingly unaware of how cold his logic really was.
When and if they were able to begin improvements or tweaking the machine Korbin would keep a close watch on the people around him, ever mindful of mistakes that could be made, meaning damaging the machine or upsetting of the machine spirits.
For the task of analyzing the numbers and measuring their odds and constantly diminishing time frame to return all the people left would help him determine how far to push the equipment and for how long it could be sustained and repeated. It would be a delicate task but he was confident the cogitators available here would make short work of the task once fed the correct data to run simulations and numbers on.
Extended Action Tech Use:
Tech-Use, +20 (INT ) Talented (+10),+10 MIU, +10 EQ Bionic Arm, +10 Combi-tool. (125) vs :
4 DOS
6 DOS
11 DOS
Korbin's fine manipulation of the machines and constant stream of data flowing from his MIU to multiple cogitators, his "Jaws of Intellect" guide his body with agile and his strength nearly limitless as he makes use of every shortcut he could, transporting and arranging equipment, connecting additional power and wires, soothing machine spirits as he awakened them and spoke to them to make a final glorious stand in the name of the Ommnisiah. Born and bred for this exact task and moment his skills as Forgemaster Techmarine of the Raven Guard would mean the difference in the life and death of the base and his and his squad's gene-seed. While they had officially succeeded in their main objective, Korbin had no plans to die on this rock. Motivated with a selfishness to preserve his own uniqueness and that of his battle brothers he readied himself for the eventuality that he made need to use the detonation codes, but only as a last resort and final sacrifice. He had brought this question and concern up at the beginning of the mission and knew the basic math beforehand. Not everyone would make it off this rock, logic dictated the most valuable be transported first. I will not be among the lasthe says to himself with such conviction that he dare not speak it to his brothers, but nearly more to convince himself his logic is just and sometimes honor and brotherhood must be put aside for the greater good.
Sardus concurs with the orders given and agrees most delightedly to the snipers high above. However, he knew they would need a few additional men to keep the flying tyranid at bay while the snipers could focus on more valuable targets and those posing the most danger to our weakest spot. He would take pride in coordinating the defense with his chapters secrets knowing that in all likely hood most of them would die on this planet and they could know no greater glory than dieing at the side of Space Marine who leads them in the ways of his battle brothers, lifting their spirits and morale as they rain death upon the Emperors foes from afar. Raptors would recall this day, for Sardus fully intended to make it off this rock alive. He would assist and hold the line as long as possible, but eventually they would fall back into the building, creating a last stand and funneling the enemies into confined space so they could control the incursion and coordinate their ever diminishing capacity and strength. As they lost more and more left, fewer would be left to defend and to those few or many, who did remain their so that he and his brothers could escape, he would forever honor their memories and cherish their sacrifice. He would have more brothers to atone for as he knows the pain and difficulty of defeat. Against these impossible odds the hour of defeat was the only unanswered question. Winning was not an option and retreat the only move to make.
We shall make them pay. I will lead a squad of the best shooters and gather the best long range rifles to assist from the top and coordinate like true Raptors. We will also need some additional men to keep the flying tyranid off our six while we focus on the high value targets and those presenting the greatest threat to our men and defenses....Let us be clear, we are buying time here. Korbin may give us some good news, but the eventuality is we will not get everyone off. Many will die and some might be left behind. We should evacuate the most important and highest ranking personal and scientist, their knowledge is invaluable. Storm troopers shall be defending till the end, their company will know no greater glory than in protecting this base and its knowledge extracted.
He gathers the best men he can find, asking that they be given priority for munitions in the armory, and using the data sent from Korbin to coordinate the best possible distribution of weapons. He selects his men's weapons carefully and makes sure they are equipped with atleast a telescopic sight, fin tuning the adjustments for their ranges and coaching the men, using his equipments environmental and weather information to advise men on wind speed and direction, helping to hone their shots and decrease misses. They would focus as a unit on larger targets of highest value with most likely hood of penetration and crippling. Death was not a necessity, just slowing them down and crippling their forces while the men below held the line.
Once to the roof he spreads them out, assigning a civilian spotter to each, one of the smarter and observant ones who couldn't shoot but could be trusted to stand their ground at least for a while. They would have smaller arms if their were some to spare. He helped the men stabalize themselves and their weapons, obscure their firing position and find the best possible field of view to coordinate their protection and ability to fire together on larger single targets. He assigned a squad with shorter range weapons to guard their six but remain otherwise hidden until absolutely needed. He didn't want them or his snipers to be targets, keeping a low profile would be crucial to success as they shot deeper into enemy lines, masking their presence to the forward ranks that might be close enough to observe them.
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Aterro makes his way up top, mulling the current situation, the staff-lists present by Matteus and the conscription lists formed by the colonel. Just as he turned a corner, he was met by a cadre of white-coated scientists that held newly-issued lasguns in trembling hands.
One of them, a tall, lanky man with pinched glasses on his bird-like nose, approached him, blocking his way and addressing him.
"You...you have no right to do this, Space Marine! It's uncivilized to make men of learning stand next to common men-at-arms like some peasants plucked from the field! I demand you grant us leave to evacuate this instant! And I shall report your bigotry to your superiors at the first opportunity!"
The man jutted out his chin in a stance open haughtiness, giving off an air of bravado that no doubt won him many debates in the boardroom.
'Krak grenade loaded, Legionnaire. Launcher deployed.'
The metal tube grew like a tentacle from Aterro's shoulder, immediately achieving lock.
"Such cowardice in the face of the enemy smells of Heresy. And Heresy cannot be tolerated. I thank the Emperor that you have at least chosen to face me openly."
The launcher coughed once, the grenade hitting dead-center and creating a foot-long opening in the man's chest. His corpse collapsed bonelessly to the ground.
Aterro addressed his fellows behind him. "Such is the price of Heresy. Report to your firing positions. NOW!"
The board-room warriors scurried out of sight as fast as their legs could carry them.
Brother Aterro moved on, signalling the quartermaster that there was an available lasgun on this floor.
At the top he used his genetically-enhanced strength to maneuver the rubble into the best defensive formation he can, maximizing fields-of-fire and ease of cover.
All the while he keeps a full ear to the ongoing conversation, utilizing his impeccable knowledge of Command to nudge here and there where needed. Of course his brothers would have perfect control of their spheres of expertise, but the Stormtroopers would need help with the newly conscripted non-combats. Still, a few hundred lasguns would present such a weight of fire that even a Xeno hoard could not ignore.
Once the top was prepared as best he could, he tasked his own HUD to create a 360-dome.
"I shall observe the ground as I can, but I must needs watch the skies."
"And excellent work, Brother Korbin. What might have taken about a week you have cut to less than a day! Glory to the Techmarines! Glory to the Deathwatch!"
When the lead elements of the horde reach his maximum range of 1 kilometer, he begins sending frag missiles into the onrushing alien tide.
Korbin's success and work on the teleporter was worthy of praise, but there would be time later for pats on the back. Upon success and double checking his work he comms his team to inform them of his status and then continues working the simulations until they are complete. Upon which time he moves towards the weakened wall and takes up position ready to defend the wall, but close enough to return should the device malfuntion or the spirits faulter.
I have increased the teleportation capacity by 60% and decreased recharge time by 2/3rds. We may yet rescue everyone from this facility. I will make sure the weakened portion of the wall is held and make sure the telportation device remains at full capacity and 100% efficiancy.
I will take the fight to them and will bend the elements to my command. This planet still has much fight left and I will not abandon her in it's final hours. I shall bring down the mightiest of the xenos and go where I am needed most in our defenses. It has been an honor serving with you brothers, I pray we all see each other again whole on the other side.
Luthar begins his own rituals and spends time alone contemplating his actions. He heads outside to observe the storm of Tyranid approaching and lets the anger swell inside him. It would serve him well in the battle to come, but he would not make the same mistake as he did with the Daemon. He would try to cooperate with the forces and lead the men as best he could on the walls.
Arriving at the perimeter wall with Uriel, Othair gathers the nearby troopers close. " I am no skald and no commander, I am a killer, a hunter. I have no fancy words of encouragement for you or tactical advice. For tactical advice, look to this marine here,he is a commander of reknown. If you need an example of killing bugs, watch me and i will show you. We have just fought a daemon inside your establishment and we won, the Emperor even deigned to save me in order to fight in this battle, we cannot save this planet, but every bug we kill saves more of your colleagues and adds to your individual saga.So fight hard and die well!"
Then taking Uriel aside. "I am a warrior of fury I am not good at battle plans and tactics or motivation. You should guide these troops and follow orders from my fellow Deathwatch. Allow me to kill and point me in the right direction from time to time and i will keep this hole plugged."
Though the Tyranid wave is just the far edge of a far more massive swarm following some time behind the force is absolutely massive.
Hormagaunts and Termagaunts swarm out of the forests from horizon to horizon around the Installation, an endless carpet of roiling bodies and snapping fangs.
Towering above the boiling ocean of Xenos flesh Hive Warriors, dozens of them stalking in tight clusters of three, reinforce the titanic will of the alien Hive Mind, driving the lesser Xenoforms forward with iron-strong impulse.
Swarming from the skies like hellion bats Gargoyles form a whirlwind of fluttering wings and serpentine bodies, descending upon the Installation like locusts. In the far distance two Brood Mothers are framed as dark shadows against a lighting flash illuminated sky.
A Hive Tyrant, shielded by a flickering dome of psionic force projected from a trio of nearby floating brain-like Zoanthorpes surveys the battle field and bears it's fangs in a nearly smile like gesture of pleasure at seeing the trapped defenders of the Installation.
The most dangerous threat emerges from the forest, a group of four Carnifexs with different combat mutations begin to lumber forward at increasing speed towards the curtain wall of the base, living battering rams capable of driving straight through the thickest ceramite wall.
The storm above breaks, heavy rain sheeting down, as the alien horde gives a deep throated battle cry as one, sounding as though it were a single super predator of unimaginable size, and charges.
Charges terrifyingly fast.
The sheer size and numbers of the hordes block out the horizon and what little beauty of the planet remains before leaving, this only further hastens and steels Brother Luthar's resolve. As the swarms approach Luthar calls forth to the skies and once again summons living lightning that dances through the air shattering creatures in the soundless flashes of light. He maintains this dance while they are at a distance, taunting them to break their ranks and rush forward to greet the Wolf in melee combat.
As the gargoyle like fly into firing range and the marines and troopers are assaulted by all manners of ranged attacks Luthar summons a Dome of protection around himself, moving about the field as quickly as his armor would carry him, trying to prevent the deadliest of attacks. They needed to buy time and Luthar sometimes sacrificed his appetite for revenge to protect the men who would willingly die in their charge, but deserved to live and carry on their oaths and duties elsewhere.
Upon seeing the rushing Carnifexs he comms the team and calls out the nearest bringing his living lightning to bear down on it while he awaits his brothers to response. If need be he would wade into the coming tide of xenos and take on another Carnifex before it could reach the walls. Doing so might be suicide, but it was a better alternative and his anger, nearly frenzied at this point, would not let him walk away without revenge. While killing them all was impossible he would deny them their plans and victory for as long as possible.
Some enemies would make their way up onto the walls and Luthar slaughtered them with a flurry of attacks from his ancient rune staff, sometimes spilling lightning from the edges as he struck foes and briefly stood over their ashes and howled with triumph.
Other occassions where more than a few managed to break the lines he assaulted them with the flames, engulfing numerous enemies together and easily exstinguishing their xenos souls as they burned in agony and thrashed from the burns of his psychic energy.
Only when they became overwhelmed and the lines broken did he call forth spectral wolves to aid him in combat as he targeted the largest beasts and coordinated men to take out the most dangerous threats.
Tyranid bodies piled up, fell from the sky, layed stacked and piled on fallen troopers, the frenzy and mindlessness of the swarm was daunting, but Luthar's faith and devotion to his ancestors would give him the strength and will to survive. Luthar would not walk away unharmed, his selflessness would eventually be repaid in kind by the Tyranid horde.
As the tyranids break from the forest and out into the killing ground, Othair lets out a howl. Some of the nearby newly pressed 'soldiers' turn to run, but with a glare they quickly realise that the lesser threat is the tyranid horde. A spearhead of smaller xenos backed up by the huge Hive warriors aims for the Leman Russ and the hole it plugs. Uriel commands the stormtroopers and pressed 'soldiers' with the skill expected of an Astartes officer, masterfully coordinating the fire for maximum effect. Swathes of xenos are blasted into twitching mounds of chitin and alien muscle, some even trying to pull themselves forward with horrific injuries. Initially out of range Othair directs fire from the heavier elements of the force, suggesting targets for Brother Aterro and the Leman Russ's big guns.
Finally the first wave of the aliens close the gap and Othair puts his Flamer to use crisping the aliens and keeping the Leman Russ and the hole protected. As the weight of xenos keeps pushing forward, Othair's rage overcomes him and with a touch of his wolf teeth, he revs his chainfist and counter charges the xenos. He is quickly met by a trio of Hive warriors who stalk amongst their smaller kin. Surprised by the ferocity of Othair's attack, he is able to bring down the first with ease, his chainfist cutting through the aliens leg before being punched down through the warrior's head. The second and third pile blows against the outnumbered wolf who despite his parries has to take hits upon his venerable armour. However the machine spirit is strong in Othair's armour and despite the damage it holds and keeps Othair in the fight and able to counter attack with a vengeance. Surging forward he strikes off the arm of one of the warriors and in the respite that follows is able to tear out its chest, before finishing the third with a point blank sheet of flame which superheats the alien, so that it cooks in its exoskeleton. The blood frenzy upon him, Othair pushes forward into the horde, the concentrated volleys from behind him thinning as the Imperial forces are hot pressed by the gargoyles.
Seeing a worthy enemy in the Carnifexs even through the red fog, Othair advances on the nearest even as it heads for the wall. Ignoring the blows of the lesser xenos as they scratch across the ceramite of his armour, Othair is able to reach the xenos as it starts to ram the wall.
Screaming his unrecognisable challenge Othair draws its attention with some well placed blows. Turning, the Carnifex picks Othair up trying to use its four bladed arms to cut him into pieces. As the servo-motors in his arms and legs scream in protest as they resist, Othair is only freed by timely fire from the wall, but seeing his chance he grabs a krak grenade from his belt, shoving it into the beast's mouth he jumps clear as the carnifex's head explodes. The barrage of blows he receives on landing, bring Othair out of his frenzy, only long enough for him to see xenos swarming over the Leman Russ at which point he wades back into the fray, covered in alien gore, his wolf pelt torn and chemically burnt in places from the alien blood and his Armour rent and torn.