"This traitor is either mocking us or completely insane. He wears the corrupted armor of a traitor legion, but thinks he is doing the emperor's work. We shouldn't allow this mockery to continue", Temujin levels his weapon against the captured chaos space marine.
The Marine simply stares bravely into the barrel of the gun.
As brother quickly decides that the threat is worth the risk, he sends comm message to his commander to update him, knowing that text wouldn't convey the uncertainty and warning that his voice could.
I've accessed the shuttle bay and the warp gate is closed. An Alpha legion marine left giving directions to the remaining Hyrdra soldiers and an officer, its sorcery ended when he stepped back through it. The marines are to fight until death, kill a group of hostages here, and are to leave the governor to his own agenda. Also the marines' rations have been poisoned and they will all die soon, one way or another. Lastly, the marine spoke of a Beast being here, and the damage it would leave in its wake. Whatever that is, its not here. I'm going to attempt to rescue the hostages and gather information once I've dealt with the soldiers here. May the Emperor protect.
Brother Korbin having been remained concealed decides to target the leader before orders can be given, hoping the ensuing chaos and persistent darkness will provide him with enough advantage to overcome the scores of Hydra soldiers before any of the prisoners could be harmed.
Brother Korbin remembers the the missile he still carries, but knows there isn't enough time now, he must take aim and shoot quickly.
Full action aim with called shot: Head (-10),then full action Full auto.
BS 65, +30 Surprised, +10 Short Range, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor, +10 Aim
13 DOS
Stalker Rounds, -30 to test hearing and only at half range possible, -2 Damage.
Solo Mode: +2 Penetration from Surprise attacks.
+3 7 Pen
Tearing quality,
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
+3 7 Pen
8 Hits total
Edit: 3 possible RF
RF 1 Confirm BS:
+3 7 Pen
RF 2 Confirm BS:
+3 7 Pen
RF 3 Confirm BS:
+3 7 Pen
Total Damage: 149 +77 Penetration= 226 X over 8 hits with 3 RF confirmed.
Sardus looks at the marine and listens carefully, shortly after brother Temujin speaks his mind Sardus receives a message from Korbin. After listening to the short file he shares it with his brothers, so they may hear first hand. Afterwards, he opens a private comm, so the traitor may not hear them.
What if it is some kind of hive mind or singular consciousness. They all seem to lead the Hydra and speak with one voice to them. Regardless, this soldier's life is forfeit, we should extract his gene seed for examination later. Morgan could you please see to his gene seed once Temujin is done.
With that Sardus turns to leave his brothers to work. He first records a message to Korbin, ordering him to meet up after the hostages have been rescued and update with any intel as he comes across it. Good job on the security systems. Requesting backup and exfil at your position near the shuttle bays.
Afterwards he records an update for the Watch Captain Hiro.
+++Warp gate closed, Korbin attempting hostage rescue for further intel in the shuttle bays. We have full security control of the palace defenses and security, turrets will not fire on our forces, only the rebels. Shields are under our control, sending necessary security codes for access and air space clearance. Requesting assistance and exfil of hostages for full debrief and quarantine. Intel suggest a powerful daemon or some other foul beast has been let loose here, we are in pursuit of the governor still and will hunt down this beast once the governors status is secured. Where is that damn librarian at? Did his pod get destroyed? Try to route him to the shuttle bays if possible. Lastly, the remaining Hydra soldiers have been poisoned, they will die soon, but that doesn't mean the won't die fighting first. Whatever they came for they got or did, now they've left and we're here to deal with the consequences and figure out their next step. Sardus out.+++
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Apothecary Morgan makes sure to deal with the Traitor Marine before saying anything.
"Know that the Emperor will prevail in the end Marine whatever you serve."
Morgan then places his bolter pistol against the man's temple and pulls the trigger granting the warrior the Emperor's Peace. Then Morgan begins harvesting the gene-seed of the two dead Alpha Legion warriors.
After having completed his duty as an Apothecary for now Morgan rejoins the conversation.
"I doubt a hive mind or singular consciousness, the Alpha Legion is known for their misdirection techniques, and this may have simply been a part of it."
Korbin's rounds shred the officer into a fine mist of blood, flesh and bone shrapnel, nearly atomizing him in a destructive flurry.
Hiro sends an acknowledgement of Sardus's message.
"Inquisition Stormtroopers and support are being dispatched, will reach the manor soon."
As their commanding Officer is blown apart the Hydra Warriors raise their weapons and desperately look around to find the source of the attack.
Not even remaining out of cover long enough to see the officer fall, Korbin is back up, in the chaos and confusion firing into the horde with his storm bolter without even aiming.
Full Action: Full Auto (regular rounds)
BS 65, +30 Surprised, +10 Short Range, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor, +30 Horde Size
7 DOS
8 hits: (2d10+5 X, Pen 7 (5+2 Penetration from Solo Mode Ability)
Replace 2 with 9(Tearing) =24
Replace the 1, with 7 (My DOS) =22
Once again, while they are still confused, he takes advantage of the situation, switching to explosive rounds and focusing on the men near the hostages, trying to create a buffer zone and protecting them by isolating them from the Hydra soldiers.
If they are lost, then all of this is in vain.
Korbin leans out of cover once again and unleashes a volley of bolts, this time explosive, decimating the hydra soldiers caught in the blasts.
Full Action Full Auto fire:
BS 65, +30 Surprised, +10 Short Range, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor, +30 Horde Size
+10 DOS
8 Hits, each with Blast (2), (-2dmg/pen for each shot)Potential for 16 hits vs Horde if each shot damage is enough. 2d10+3, Pen 3
Replace a 1 with 10, had a higher DOS, but I'll just add 10. =17 damage total.
Tearing:
BS
BS
Switch 10 DOS for 1, =19 damage total
The Hydra Warriors reel as many of their members are dismembered by the fire lancing from the darkness. Finally figuring out where the shots are coming from many of them open fire, their lasguns making a distinct snap hiss noise as bright red ribbons of light seek their attacker. They shout curses and try to coordinate their attacks with each other but, disciplined as they are, they are struggling under the savage assault.
After killing the defiant Legionnaire and retrieving the traitors' gene seed, the group of loyal Marines hear once again the strange grinding/crashing noises in the distance, followed by a deep throated roar. Still, the strange echoing qualities of the palace make it impossible to pinpoint exactly where these strange sounds come from.
Korbin takes a shot to his head while in cover, but it's not enough to harm him.
He leans back out and lays down another volley of fire into the remaining mass of soldiers.
Full Action: Full Auto (regular rounds)
BS 65, +10 Short Range, +20 Full Auto, +10 Motion Predictor, +30 Horde Size
8 DOS
8 Hits:
Pen 5 **Replace 1 with 8 from DOS
Pen 5
Pen 5
Pen 5
Pen 5
Pen 5
Pen 5 **Replace 2 with 3 from Tearing.
Pen 5
Tearing:
Confirm RF:
Pen 5
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Brother Sardus hears the roar and instantly re-focuses on the task at hand. The alpha legion, warp gate, and foul beasts were secondary objectives. Right now he wanted to reach the Governor but it seems like he would have more obstacles in his way by the sound of it. Readying his weapons and moving with caution, he orders his men to move out.
Same formation. Move out. Sounds like that beast may come to us. Saves me the trouble of hunting it down. I only pray its not some foul warp creature, my witcher bolts may not be enough. Nevertheless, it shall not keep us from the Governor. Onward brothers, remember our Oath!
Disciplined as they are Korbin is just too much for the Hydra Warriors, he moves through the shadows, raining hell down upon the soldiers, scything through their numbers like an actual Angel of Death.
Warriors that have been raised from babes to kill watch as their life long friends are dismembered by powerfully explosive bolt rounds.
They break, but this is a mistake, with nowhere to go Korbin is like the Wrath of the Emperor made manifest, and few escape.
As the Kill-Team moves out they make their way with great speed towards the Governor's location. The Halls get even more opulent as they travel and they encounter several squads of Hydra Warriors as they go, but cut through these soldiers without even slowing.
Arriving just outside the Star Tower the Kill-Team suddenly halts as they come upon a terrible scene.
Scattered around a devastated waiting room, where much of the finery and funiture of the area has been exploded, scorched, smashed and generally destroyed, lies the corpses of nine Marines of the Dark Angels Chapter.
They have been slain with terrific violence, some are almost intact though they have suffered great wounds while some are lying in almost completely dismembered piles of body parts, but the one injury they all have in common is that they have been decapitated...and the heads are missing.
Apothecary Morgan seethes with anger at the sight, but he cannot ignore that his first mission is to see if he can recover the Progenoid glands of the Dark Angels. He quickly travels over to the bodies and begins checking the necks and chest cavities for any glands he can recover.
Unfortunately many of the Progenoid glands, especially those located in the neck, have been destroyed, still, Morgan manages to recover half a dozen.
As he works on the bodies Morgan realizes all of the wounds have been inflicted with the same kind of weapon, maybe even the exact same weapon, a huge bladed weapon of some kind.
Temujin steps over the corpses carefully and without a comment, his heavy bolter trained at the surroundings he scans the area through his preysense sight.
Temujin sees nothing threatening in the room but spots foot prints in the Marines blood scattered around the room, they are huge, clawed, and vaguely human like.
The Marines hear the strange clanking and another roar issue from somewhere nearby.
The sound is close now, real close.
Temujin releases the ammunition belt from his heavy bolter and jams his magazine of hellfire rounds into the weapon instead. And checks his auspex.
Before Temujin even gets a chance to read his auspex the whole room violently shakes and its western wall explodes inward, scattering thick clouds of dust and rubble everywhere. Something moves through the hole in the wall, clanking and rumbling.
At first you think it must be whatever slew the Dark Angels, but this beast has no feet or blades. Its huge and boxy and as the dust clears a bit you see what it is!
A Predator Annihilator, painted a blue so dark it is almost black, has rammed it's way through the wall. It sports the iconography of the Alpha Legion and strange fleshy growths protrude from various points in its armored hull, making you suspect it has no living crew and is instead controlled by...something else.
Its turret mounted double barreled lascannon dips towards the floor and moves oddly up and down as it enters, giving you the bizarre impression of a hunting beast, sniffing the ground for the scent of prey.
Its turret snaps up and its sponson mounted heavy bolters swing forward as it blares an angry growl over its vox caster.
It has found its prey in the loyal battle brothers of squad Thannatos, and you realize that unlike the easily slain Hydra Warriors, this possessed battle tank is a real threat!
Apothecary Morgan reacts to the armored vehicle as expected as a Storm Wadern immediately moving around the left side of the vehicle as he pulls out a krak grenade and hurls the bomb at the back end of the vehicle knowing to target the weaker back rather than the armored front.
Morgan's krak grenade blasts a panel off the back of the Predator's lighter armored rear. It lets out an angry bellow in response.
Brother Sardus hadn't been expecting this. None the less, the solution would be the same. His missle launcher auto-feed chambers a Krak round and Brother Sardus aims it at the turret's weakest point. His targeting systems providing him just the right angle for the shot to have maximum penetration. He fires.
BS 65, +30 Size, +10 Short range, -10 Called Shot, +10 Targeter 4 DOS
Astartes Krak Missile 4d10+6 X 10 Blast (1)
Switch with 4 (DOS)
Total 25 X Pen 10, Blast 1
RF Confirm BS:
6 DOS
Total 33 X Pen 10, Blast 1
RF Auto confirmed:
Total 26 X Pen 10, Blast 1
Korbin cleans up the few remaining Hydra soldiers that hadn't deserted. He doesn't give chase, instead moving to secure the hostages and gather intel.
Sardus' missile drives into the armor just below the turret and explodes, doing great internal damage. The tank makes a pained sound as it shudders and black smoke billows from the wound.
As Korbin emerges from the darkness the Adept prisoners look upon him with gazes filled with a mixture of hope and terror, they do not speak, or even make the slightest noise, waiting to see if this phantom killer is friend or foe.
Naaman's drop pod landed widely off course, smashing into the palace itself.
Surrounded on all sides by Hydra Warriors in the library his drop pod landed in(after smashing through the ceiling) Naaman has only recently been able to slay the last of the encircling force and move to join his brethren.
His long range vox having been disrupted by the atmospheric conditions outside he has just come into range to contact his brothers.
Korbin emerges from the shadows with his weapons down and trying to look as non-threatening as possible for an Astartes. As he moves forward he scans the area making sure that the chaos marines had fully retreated. As he approaches he sends a comm to his commander.
+++Shuttle bay secure, chaos forces defeated and scattered. Hostages safe. What's the ETA on exfil? Will regroup ASAP. What is your status?+++
He then removes his helmet and speaks to the adepts.
Fear not loyal brothers of the Imperium. I am Forgemaster Korbin of the Deathwatch. You are safe for now. Quickly, arm yourselves and prepare to defend your own lives. If any of you have information that could help our forces now is the time to speak. We have air support on the way and they will take you to safety. Speak quickly, my brother's need my help.
Charm Fel 30 +5 Armor, +5 without helmet (I think that's right)
2 DOS
As he speaks he looks to them to aid them in freeing them from and bonds that may hinder their movement. He looks around to the scattered bodies and remains. Pick up what you can, for I may not be here next time to rescue you. Now you can defend yourselves and know that your enemy will not stop until you are dead. Remember that. Come, I will guide you as far as I can and leave you in a defensible position until help can arrive.
"Inquisitorial Stormtroopers have been deployed, they are entering the manor from multiple vectors. Resistance is heavy in a few areas. The shuttle bay doors will begin to be breached by Stormtroopers soon and the evac start." Watch Captain Hiro replies.
The Adepts are silent and still fearful for a moment until one old Adept with a bald head and long beard stands and announces: "Do what the Astartes tells you, get on it, now."
The Adepts climb painfully to their feet and move quickly to obey Korbin's instruction.
"I am Adept Manan." The old man addresses Korbin. "And unfortunately I don't believe I know any actionable intelligence."
Why were you spared? Why would you be gathered here only to be ordered to die? It sounds rhetorical, and Korbin doesn't wait for a reply before continuing, It matters little, you will all be quarantined and debriefed. Perhaps you know more than you think, a piece to a much larger puzzle. One you cannot see, but one that is my team's responsibility to piece together.
Reinforcements will arrive soon, they are arriving through the shuttle bay doors, I suggest you find a defensible position with the wall to your back. I doubt the hydra will return, but I can not wait here to protect you.
With that Korbin chooses a path that is quickest, hoping to return to his squad and find answers. As he leaves, he comms Keeper Sardus to inform him of his return. He hasn't yet received a reply from his last hail and worries things could have gone terribly wrong. He picks up his pace and pushes himself to the limits, nearly fatiguing himself.
The Predator issues a malice filled growl and the barrels of its twin-linked lascannon glow blood red before unleashing their fury.
The tank targets Sardus with its primary weapon, the Marine who hurt it the worst and who it desires revenge against.
Sardus moves to the right of the tank after firing, seeing Morgan pressing the rear on the left flank. He was hoping to get its attention, and he did. Shortly after unleashing a devastating missile at the turret, it glows red in defiance, and unleashes revenge with its las cannons, which Sardus narrowly escapes.
Dodge AG 75 2 DOS
After recovering he aims his launcher again, this time firing for the same spot.
BS 65, +30 Size, +10 Short range, -10 Called Shot, +10 Targeter, +10 Aim
Astartes Krak Missile 4d10+6 X 10 Blast (1), Mighty Shot(+2 Dmg)
8DOS
Pen 10 (Replace 1 with 8 DOS)
Total=30 X Pen 10
After firing he opens a vox channel to Korbin and sends a recorded message. +++Engaging annihilator predator. Dark Angels ripped to shreds by large creature and decapitated. It sounds like its near our position, try to flank it, but do not engage alone. I've picked up the locator beacon of our Librarian, he's nearby. Sardus out.+++
Apothecary Morgan pulls out another grenade throws it at the back of the tank while still moving around it.
The beast angrily snorts as it misses and Sardus retorts with another anti-armor krak missile, blasting a ragged hole in its turret.
Autoloaders clack as they feed shells into the sponson mounted heavy bolters, arming them. The tank is about to get serious.
Morgan's krak grenade sails straight through the hole of the tank's previously lost armored panel and detonates inside, setting off a series of explosions that blasts holes in the tank from the inside out.
The tank releases an almost mournful wail from its vox casters as it shudders to a halt and its lascannons dip tiredly towards the ground.
The clanking, roaring beast is no more.
Korbin arrives in time to hear the wails and explosion of the enemy tank. He approaches cautiously though, not going directly to the team. Instead, thinking like a predator. Trying to make the hunter his prey. Whatever the large beast the marine and brother Sardus were referring too, was still unknown to Korbin. He approached and remained concealed checking with his auger, knowing that his brothers were being hunted and didn't want to give away his approach to the beast. Though he was not afraid of using bait, in this case, his brothers were already the bait. If he could use the beasts focus and catch it by suprise, perhaps they could avoid the fate of the the fallen Dark Angels.
As Korbin waits nearby the Marines who finished off the possessed tank take a moment to scan the area, but no additional threats emerge. The only sounds in the room are the crackling spatter of the small fires roasting the tank from within and the distant whine of massed las fire as the Stormtroopers battle the Hydra Warriors as they invade the manor.
By the Lion's grace," Naaman cursed as the internal displays of the droppod showed that the damage from the anti-air defences had caused the durable machine to stray of the intended course. He braced for impact as the siren wailed its warning of impending impact. The whole craft shook as he slammed into the surface, but something was wrong he kept falling, being cast left and right he praised the machine for keeping him safe from the worst. Once it came to a rest the great doors slammed into the ground, freeing himself from the safety harness he made his way out of his transport. A quick glance told just how much he had strayed. He was inside the mansion, a library perhaps - that would explain the books. It would also explain the warriors of the great enemy circling around him. Taking a single step forward the librarian dug his foot into the rubble preparing to hold his ground. And so it begins, he thought as the black armour marine raised his left hand. The powers of warp causes the air to crackle as he ripped the across the veil and into reality. The conjured lightning leapt to his enemies freely and visited upon them a swift death. Those left saw the green shoulder plated with the white winged sword a he drew his own blade. Two great strides took him to his enemies and the dance of death began. The swirling patterns of his training caused the hood of his bone-coloured robe to fall to his shoulders revealing a slight oversized helmet of ancient design.
Once these enemies were no more Naaman focussed on his next takes finding squad Thanatos or what was left of it. Urging his machine's spirit to search for their vox-signatures he learned his magnificent companion had been damaged and its voice was limited to him only. "Then we must endure together," he calmed before voicing a short prayer and performing the rites of acceptance to please the angry red warnings displayed before him. Once again he let his mind flow to the warp, this time searching the palace for minds familiar to him once found, his thoughts gently touched theirs, "Brothers I am close and will join you soon."
Naaman entered the in time to see the grenade put an end to the heretical machine. "Well fought brothers," he congratulated linking up with his squad once more.
As Korbin realizes the beast is no longer near and is able to let his guard down a little and emerge from the shadows, he looks for less subtle signs that could give away its origin, path, or size as he moves to rejoin his brothers near the tank's wreckage.
Tracking Int 65 vs 4 DOS
After the tank is destroyed Sardus feels the Librarian before he arrives. As the Dark Angel approaches, Sardus comms him over open an open vox frequency for the team to hear. As he's about to begin speaking he also catches a glimpse of Korbin searching the area. While he stops to consider him for moment, he gathers his thoughts and speaks.
+++Nice of you to join us Brother Naaman, the Emperor heard my prayers and delivered you safely to us. There is some foul sorcery at work here and you're the only one we can depend on to guide us in matters of the Warp. Keep safe, you are important. Before you move you must be brought up to speed.+++ With that Sardus catches him up on what's happened so far and gives him the news of the beast and its work in the room where they stand. While recovery of the gene-seed of Naaman's fallen brother's is little consilation, he knows the brother's legacies will continue to live on through others bred from their genetics.
After filling in the Librarian with his kill-team, Keeper Sardus gathers the team to leave. He looks to his brothers nearby and asks, Any problems our Techmarine needs to handle? If not, Korbin, we're moving out, Morgan, you take point, followed by Naaman. Temujin and I will pick up the rear. Korbin you keep invisible and to our flank, I don't want to get ambushed. Let us make haste towards the governor.+++
As Korbin hears the comms he shifts his focus to his team and makes his way towards them. As they are getting ready to leave, Korbin returns the unused missile he borrowed by reloadin it into Sardus' launcher. He overlooks his brother's Armor and weapons, not knowing what they had faced and if anyone had been hit. It seems everyone was whole and most everyone's equipment was working, as far as he could tell. He would only inspect closer if his brother's asked.
Searching the area Korbin found the bloody footprints of whatever killed the Dark Angels leaving the area, as he followed the trail the monstrous footprints began to shrink in size and change shape until they looked like the bootprints of an Astartes, then the trail simply vanishes into thin air.
Apothecary Morgan pulls out his bolter and changes the clip to the Kraken Rounds so that whatever they faced when fighting the governor at least it would go down quickly.
As the team prepares Korbin shares what he found among the tracks.
I tracked the prints of the beast, they changed into astartes sized foot prints then simply vanished. I believe there is more to the governor than we thought.
Afterwards, when the team moves out, he moves ahead and away from the team, concealing himself and moving in silence, prepared to take action should something take the bait while on the way to the governor.
After Brother Korbin finishes describing the trail of tracks Sardus gives his spare pistol clip of Witcher Bolts to the Forgemaster while saying Take these now that we know what we are dealing with.
With that Sardus removes the Stalker clip from his bolter's fire selector and replaces it with a clip of vengeance rounds. He knew whatever they faced would be large enough to require such powerful munitions. he then makes a few adjustments on his Chapter trapping, a marksman combat sight. Close quarter combat meant he might "scatter" some of his shots and he communes more easily than before with his gears' machine spirits through his newly implanted MIU.