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Prologue:
Over six months ago, Inquisitor Kalistradi arrived on
Avalos chasing rumours of Genestealer infestation and
several reported sightings of a Space Hulk on the edge of the
system. After months of secret investigation, she discovered
that Genestealers had indeed taken residence on Avalos,
concentrated in the world’s primary city—Lordsholm. Without
the means to purge the infestation herself, and fearing the local
authorities had already been compromised, she sent a coded
astropathic communication to Watch Fortress Erioch issuing a
formal request for aid from the Deathwatch in exterminating a
Genestealer infestation on the world of Avalos. After reviewing
the evidence and assessing the threat of a Tyranid presence in
the Avalos system, the Watch Captain considered the danger
serious enough to dispatch a Kill-team.
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Your journey to the Avalos system aboard the Imperial
Sword Class Frigate Valiant was swift. During the voyage, you
remained mostly apart from the rest of the crew, who in turn kept
their distance, overawed to have not one, but several members of
the legendary Adeptus Astartes aboard their ship. Your only real
contact was with its commander, Captain Galrite Haltreme, as
he gave you updates on the vessel’s progress and assurances that
you would reach Avalos as quickly as his crew could manage.
Two hours ago, your vessel entered the Avalos system and
began its journey toward the primary bio-sphere. A scan of the
system revealed only dust and silence.
47 minutes ago, your vessel came within vox range of Avalos
and the captain attempted to raise local Imperial authorities,
only to met with static and white noise.
18 minutes ago, the Valiant entered orbit above Avalos.
Almost immediately a swarm of Tyranid kraken emerged from
behind the world’s primary moon, descending on the frigate and
taking its crew by surprise. Even as the Valiant burned under a
barrage of bio-plasma and pyro-spores, your Kill-team managed
to reach a drop pod and prep for launch. In a final act of duty,
Captain Haltreme opened the hanger doors and fired your pod
down toward the planet below. Moments later, the frigate’s hull
buckled and broke under the jaws of the kraken.
6 minutes ago, your pod screamed down though Avalos’
atmosphere, leaving a trail of fire across the sky while inside
you endured the brutal gravity as only your enhanced bodies are
capable of. Still kilometres above the surface of the world your
pod’s rudimentary guidance locked on to an Astartes transponder
and in a brief burst of retro rockets changed direction to follow its
pulsing signal.
Scant seconds later you made planetfall, and with
a deafening crack of thunder your pod slammed into the ground
throwing dust and debris high into the air. Almost immediately
your harness released and the pod’s doors were flung open.
Emerging from your pod, you appear to have landed through
the roof of an Imperial chapel, crashing down in the midst of
pews, tiles, and statues. Through the hole made by your drop pod,
your can see that it is a dark rainy night, water pouring down
onto your armoured forms. Through shattered doors, you can see
Lordsholm, an ancient and crumbling city, soaked in rain and
ablaze with uncontrolled fires, stretching off in all directions.
Nearby, the crack of weapons fire and thump of explosions
announces a battle in progress.
Viluf gripped the Heavy Bolter tight as he pushed his way out of the Pod, moving forward slowly, scanning the area with a cursory glance. He frowned, tilting back his head and taking a deep breath in through his nose, before growling and moving forward, towards the door.
He stopped a few steps out of the door and enticed his weapon to life, stating out in to the streets keeping his eyes peeled for any danger.
"Well I'd say we have jus seconds before we are swarmed so... Orders, Little Boy Blue?" He addressed the Ultramarine casually, but he knew he had been the best choice for the job.
As the drop pod screams towards the earth, Einar watches the frigate's death as data fragments scrolling through the drop pod's onboard computer and says a silent prayer to the machine spirit of his power armour, now lost to space. Although he preferred the carapace and duracloth of his Scout armour, it had kept him safe on many missions.
Feeling the landing more than his brothers in their full armour, Einar rolled his shoulders to loosen them as he stepped clear of the pod, his senses already straining to read the signs and spore of the night.
Readying his bolter, Einar takes up a sentry position on the most vulnerable side.
"My wolf-brother is right, they will have seen that, we need to move now and quietly."
Gaius emerges from the pod and "feels" the water pouring down his armour. He looks around quickly, and answers the Space Wolf.
-I am not here to give orders, Brother Viluf, but to coordinate.- He uses a neutral tone. -If you ask me, though, I'd say we might want to find where that Astartes signal was coming from. There might be brothers in danger - or a trap. We should figure out. Maybe you and Brother Einar can be of great help using your acute wolf senses.
Viluf glanced over at the Tactical Marine before grinning and tightening his grip on the bolter. "Aye I think me and Einar can help you out there!"
"I'm all muddied up but I'd say we should head for that fighting. See if we can't get a sit-rep from some friendlies!"
"Understood, follow me then, but keep your distance, you are all too noisy. Viluf, I will leave trail sign."
Stowing his bolter and drawing his pistol and chainsword, Einar moves off in the direction of the battle.
4dos
3dos
His skills in this area are obvious as he melts away.
"Hunt well little brother!" Viluf nodded, saluting the man with fist to heart, before beginning to count slowly. When he hit 20, he began to follow, keeping an eye out for Einars signs.
Eridas was the last to emerge from his pod, taking with him his staff and makign sure it was undamaged. He watched the two Space Wolves head out ahead, noting the sounds of distant battle. Looking to Gaius, he said "Come Brother Gaius. Let us follow after the Wolves. We cannot coordinate an attack from here. And with what we were told, genestealers are a threat not to be taken lightly." With that, he takes off after the pair at a trot.
Gaius follows the Space Wolves from afar, Bolter in hand, ready in case an unexpected hazard appears.
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For Einar
Outside of the chapel your pod crashed into, you notice the las bolts and solid shot flying between the loyalists and the rebels.
You (rolled several degrees of success on his awareness) can see that the kill team can be pivotal in turning the tide of battle.
The entire kill team knows that the Astartes transponder their pod detected coming in is located beyond the fighting lines.
Broadcasting on the squad channel, Einar sends a pict-capture of the battle ahead of him.
"We are in a position to turn this fight, but I cannot see the best strategy, thoughts?"
Erias sees the transmission appear in the corner of his view, giving it a good looking over before speaking across their secure channel, giving his thoughts. "The Rebels are wholly focused on fighting their enemy. They will be distracted if we come in and crush their flank."
-Sounds good to me. Let's do it.
The falling rain washed across the archaic set of power armour, turning his crimson robes a dark, haunting red. His ceramite plates had required no repainting upon beginning the Long Watch, the hallowed colours of the Consecrators aligning with those of his new duty. Following the others out of the drop pod, his archaic power armour moving smoothly across his ruined cathedral, Reinald took stock of everyone's current condition. Five brethren, two bearing the Canis Helix, two others the clean line of Guilliman, the last... I must prepare to care for each...
Falling into formation with the others, Reinald readies his bolter, and looks to his brethren. "May the Emperor guide us. Let us be on with it."
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1d100
For Gaius Cornelius
Outside the battle is raging without abatement and casualties are mounting.
-From this perspective, and taking the information we have into account and due to the fact that we don't have the full reports at our disposition, I'd say our choices are either wiping them all out somehow or try to approach their leaders and terminating them.- Gaius pauses for a second. -I'd say the second option is more likely to be successful. What's more, we might be able to convince some rebel cells to fight for us against the infestation once their leaders are finished.
"Well My sniper rifle can help with the leaders and looking at the map, I can see just the right spot, in that upper floor there. How about Viluf joins me with his heavy bolter to target obvious threats and the three of you sweep in on their flank with close range fire?
4 dos
Viluf grins, and nods, before beginning to move as quietly as he can, towards the suggested spot. "You always invite me to the nicest places Brother Einar. I am touched. We will make sure you three do not get overrun yes?"
-If you can use that heavy bolter as you can use your nose, I'm sure we'll have no problem with the cover fire.
"Send me in with the front lines. I may be a Librarian, but my power does more than protect Battle-Brothers from the dangers of the warp." says Eridas, readying his staff and checking the magazine of the bolter installed in the arm of his power armor. Cycling through each type before settling on Heavy Bolter rounds.
Reinald listens to the proposals his battle brothers offer. Looking directly at the two bearers of the Canis Helix, he responds, "I did not realize the Wolves of Fenris were always so ready to go run and hide from the front line. Don't worry, the Sons of the Lion do not shy from a foe..."
After but a moment's pause, and a nod of respect to the Space Wolves , he continues, "The layered assault makes sense, and the elevated position could prove beneficial for control of the field. That said, Viluf, your Heavy Bolter fired on the move would be an intimidating sight for our foes. Combined with a frontal assault and sniper fire from an unknown position, we may be more successful in delivering the mighty hammer of the emperor."
-Well, then- says Gaius to all -You Wolves go give them Hell. Brother Eridas, Brother Reinald and I will strike them hopefully by surprise. You all know what to do, Brothers - let's do it right for the Emperor and for Humankind.
Gaius puts a hand on Brother Eridas' plated shoulder.
-I'm sure you'll do great. I'll be right behind you, don't hesitate to call for assistance if you feel our coordination is lacking.
Then to all once more.
-May the Emperor guide our hands.
Viluf turned to stare at the Apothecary before grinning. "'Viluf did you accidentally shoot the Apothecary?' No Captain, I did not. It was the enemy. I swear!" he gripped his bolter tightly, before nodding.
"Aye what you say makes sense. The way I see it we should not leave Einar alone however. Having the enemy sneak up on our Scout ain't the best way to keep him alive. And we work well together. If one of yeh has the range ability over me however yeh can go with him instead. Just know he is intolerable after awhile!" He laughed, spitting through his teeth.
"I can provide the cover fer ya from that angle, give me a better coverage of the area. I'll gun em down!"
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Moving back from his vantage point, Einar returns to his wolf brother.
"Come, we go this way!"
And heads off to the vantage point.
Then on the squad link he voxes through " Gaius, Eridas, head 400m forward and 100m to your left following the hab wall and you will reach an optimum attack point. Wait for our signal."
Locating themselves in the upper floor of a habitation block, Einar sets up his sniper rifle on a table set slightly back from the window. Once Viluf is in position he voxes the others, "In position firing in 3"
Aiming quickly on any obvious officers, NCOs or heavy weapons crews, Einar opens up.
But his breathing is not yet settled and the shot goes wide.
Gaius takes his position and rehisters where his Brothers are. He might have to take control of the situation should things go wrong. Fow now, the assault just begins, and he has some work to do.
-For the Emperor!
2 DoF (if no other modifier) = 1 extra hit
=> 10
=>
=> => 29+9=38 Pen 4
=> 10
=> => 14+9=23 Pen 4
After vaporising one of the rebels and killing another, Gaius turns his head to the Brother Librarian an nods, tryin to infuse some confidence on him.
-Do the will of the Emperor, Brother.
"Glory to the Emperor's Finest!" cries out Eridas as he charges towards the fray with Reinald and Gaius, unleashing a burst of fire from his arm-mounted Bolter.
= 1 DoS
= Right Arm
Viluf makes a point of keeping Einar in his peripherals, as he moves forward, sighting down the heavy bolter at the gathered rebels, before unleashing a devastating hail of fire.
"Ughhh... that f!!&ing Dark Angel will never let us live this down you know?"
Reinald's fingers wrap calmly around the pistol grip of his bolter. Leveling it toward the enemy forces, he feels the familiar lines of the weapon fall comfortably into his hands. The weapon is a Mk IIIa, an older pattern common among the Fallen, especially the Consecrators. Uttering a silent prayer to the machine-spirit of the weapon, he unleashes a burst of fire at the enemy forces. "May the Emperor claim the faithless."
[ooc]6+9= 15, pen 4
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Your opening salvo killed off some of the rebels. But that only served to increase their aggression and provide them with a target: you. Hear vox chatter directing rebels to concentrate fire on you. Displays in your helmet provide you with real-time satellite images of your predicament. Like the horns of a bull the rebels are moving to gore the loyalists and you.
Gaius stands firm and deeply believes in his Brothers' capability of routing the rebel army, but even so, tries to direct the battle in the Emperor's favour. He connects his vox to the loyalist HQ's frequency.
<This is Brother Gaius from the Deathwatch. We are now in command of this World's defences. Follow our instructions carefully. When the rebels split their attention to face us, push them to restrict their ground. Use all your heavy weapons. I repeat - push the rebels when they divide. Do you copy, Avalos?>
Then fires some bolter bursts and keeps supporting his Brothers.
-Let us keep raining the Emperor's death on them! Resist, Brothers! They don't stand a chance against our combined effort! Einar, Viluf! Is that fire support coming? Russ will be proud of you!
2 DoS. At your discretion, I might spend a FP to add one more DoS if you deem it necessary.
As the horde shifts its intentions toward the kill-team, Reinald will continue to press forward and move into cover provided by one of the nearby damaged buildings while continuing to lay down fire on the rebel forces.
Seeing the futility of trying to hit individuals in such a mass, Einar switches to his bolter and more rapid fire.
Einar snaps off several rounds into the mass of what were once men.
Viluf growled, swinging his weapon down towards the rebels again, setting off another burst of explosive fire.
Throwing back his head, the huge Wolf howled with righteous fury as he mowed down the nonbeliever.
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"By Dorn's Mighty Hand, I smite you, foul xenos!!!" Lightning bolts spring from Eridas' right hand, burning all that stand before him.
Loyalist forces who witness it cheer.
But their happiness is short-lived and the rebel forces retaliates with equal if not greater impact. Rockets explode and loyalists are hurled everywhere.
The vox scream: "Deathwatch! Deathwatch! Do you receive us? Over."