"Double-time then. "
Calculus runs alongside Brother Solar.
"Nothing yet on the auspex."
A quiet, clear note sounded in the marines' helmets as Brother Lanius flagged the Comms Uplink and the Security Bunker and the larger building south of the crash site as points of interest.
Stepping out of the shadows to join the rest of the squad, he took a moment to consider what he was going to say. A frown creased his brow as he found no easy way to explain it in five words or less. Still.
"Raziel and I will recon. Rendezvous at crash site."
"I was just about to suggest the same brother Lanius" Solar responds with a nod
"Maintain vox contact. We will be less than nine minutes behind you at all times."
Returning the nod, Lanius activated his jump pack and leapt away, hoping that Raziel would shortly follow.
The security bunker would be the first point of call- it was too close to their comrade's intended path to be left until later.
Raziel followed Lanius to the security bunker as well. Flamer and chainsword would be most useful in the close quarters, he knew from experience.
Logan joined his brothers in his squad making sure to take note of the land and trying to find any physical tracks that he could follow.
Quintus brought up the rear with the rest of the Marines on foot, keeping a wary eye on the surroundings. His experiences against Tyranids had taught him that enemies could come from any angle, even from the sky or below the ground.
The Assault Marines launch themselves in the gloom of Tantalus’ sky. As they race through the air, Brother Raziel gains a hand view of their objective area: the smoldering wreck of the shuttle, the rail yard, the security bunker, and the elevated position of the Comms Relay. He can also make out small dark shapes darting from shadow to shadow across the objective.
The flair of their engines, the Astartes make landfall. Surrounded by a razor-wire fence, on which are hung several notices warning that trespassers face death, stands a small armored bunker. Littered about the ground before it are the shredded remains of nightmarish bat-like creatures that you recognize as Tyranid Shrikes. The automated heavy bolters which crown the bunker’s roof, which probably caused their demise, now hang silent and deactivated. The bunker and its armored door appear intact.
Raziel activated his Vox to contact the rest of the squad. "There seems to be some activity near the objective, though I was too distant to see in detail. We have reached the security bunker. There are dead Tyranid Shrikes and apparently defunct automated defense. I am going to knock on the bunker door and see if there is anyone remaining inside," he said.
He stepped forward to the door and rapped his armored knuckles against it. "This is the Adeptus Astartes. Open the door in the name of the Emperor," he said.
Chainsword or a krak grenade? Lanius wondered, looking at the thick door and trying to work out how they could break through it if no response came. The krak would be faster, but louder. Either way forcing the door would ruin most of the defensive qualities of the place.
Either way he held little hope for finding any of the Emperor's allies inside. There would be far more tyranids outside if that were so.
"There seems to be some activity near the objective, though I was too distant to see in detail. We have reached the security bunker. There are dead Tyranid Shrikes and apparently defunct automated defence. I am going to knock on the bunker door and see if there is anyone remaining inside,"
The thudding sound of Solar's repeated footfalls echoes in the background of his response.
"Brother Calculus will be the best for dealing with the automated defences and getting through any locked doors. Proceed as you feel is best. I would suggest maintaining a low profile until we are all together."
Brother Raziel’s gauntlet clangs against the door, yet he is only met with silence. As Brother Lanius ponders how to open the bunker itself, the world appears eerily quiet. Out of the darkness prowl slathering beasts, intent on the utter destruction of the Angels of Death. Somehow a small group of the predators has closed distance and is within charge range of the Marines, while the others attempt to close the distance to their targets.
"Contact. Eight hormagaunts."
Lanius raised his flamer in his left and pulled at the trigger, bathing the closer group of monsters in thick gouts of intensely hot flame.
Without waiting to see the results, he moved towards them, chainsword growling angrily.
"There seems to be some activity near the objective, though I was too distant to see in detail. We have reached the security bunker. There are dead Tyranid Shrikes and apparently defunct automated defence. I am going to knock on the bunker door and see if there is anyone remaining inside,"The thudding sound of Solar's repeated footfalls echoes in the background of his response.
"Brother Calculus will be the best for dealing with the automated defences and getting through any locked doors. Proceed as you feel is best. I would suggest maintaining a low profile until we are all together."
"Affirmative, Brother Solar. Consider it done."
Nid 1: Dodge +10
Nid 2: Dodge +10
Nid 3: Dodge +10
Nid 4: Dodge +10
The Raven's cone of flame washes over the area where the ravenous beast once were. As the initial burst dies out, there are only two of the four that were actually hit.
Nid 1: AGI
Nid 4: AGI
The molten fuel manages to stick to one of the beasts, setting it fully aflame. The remaining beasts become enraged at the Marines attack.
The remorseless beasts hit by the torrent are thrown back nearly 10m. The Gaunts scream in equal amounts fury and agony. Their comrades sniff their hapless carapaces and choose their targets.
Raziel raises his chainsword. For the Emperor! For Sanguinius! Taste the wrath of the Adeptus Astartes, Xenos scum!" Raziel shouts as he charges against the two non-burned Hormogaunts.
The Blood Angel's chainblade screams through the air, tearing flesh and bone. While on of his strokes goes wide, the other slaughters the mindless wretch.
The remaining Hormagaunt attacks the Angelic warrior. Throwing itself into a relentless fury.
The Blood Angel's chainblade screams through the air, tearing flesh and bone. While on of his strokes goes wide, the other slaughters the mindless wretch.
The remaining Hormagaunt attacks the Angelic warrior. Throwing itself into a relentless fury.
The ferocity of the beast's attack does little to pierce the Marine's ceramite. The scything talons of the Tyrannid scrape the ebon paint from the armor. The horror circles his prey preparing to strike again.
The small pack that had been slowly moving slower charges across the open ground toward the pair of Astartes.
Confident that Brother Raziel could deal with the remaining beast, Lanius activated his jump pack again, landing in front of the other pack of beasts with practised ease, his flamer tracing a bead on the lead creature.
Once more he pulled the trigger, liberally dousing the area.
Hormagaunt 1 Dodge +10:
Hormagaunt 2 Dodge +10:
Hormagaunt 3 Dodge +10:
Hormagaunt 4 Dodge +10:
The Tyrannid creatures' lightning like reflexes spur them out of the gushing torrent of molten promethium. Hiss and snarling, their muscles flex and tighten preparing to vault themselves toward their antagonist.
Raziel was peripherally aware of Lanius taking flight and he saw the gout of flame pouring towards the second cluster of Hormagaunts, but he was focused on his enemy too much to see the result. He grinned behind his helmet as he put his all into attacking the Hormagaunt.
His chainsword bit eagerly into the Hormagaunt as it reared at him, carving two bloody swathes through the alien flesh.
Dodge +10:
The Hormagaunt manages to slip the first swing, however the Astarte's skill far exceeds the beast's instinct. Raziel's second blow tears into its left leg. Viscous fluid spray from the wound covering both the Marine and surrounding area in gore. Its body crumples into a heapen mass at Angel's boots.
Across the open ground the remaining group snarls and growls their revenge. The beasts charge the Raven as a group, coming at various angles.
Hormagaunt 1:
Hormagaunt 2:
Hormagaunt 3:
Hormagaunt 4:
Hormagaunt 1: Pen 3 (Toxic)
Hormagaunt 2: Pen 3 (Toxic)
The flamer hadn't worked quite as well as Lanius had planned. Still, he had his faith and more importantly his chainsword, which was all the Raven Guard needed.
Lanius easily stepped aside the careless swipes of two of the foul beasts, and glanced to see a third charging right at him.
Waiting until the creature was almost upon him, with ease he ducked under the razor sharp claws, and stood back up, chainsword whirring.
With a grunt he suddenly located the fourth of the beasts, which had just sliced a neat line along his ribs. Lanius's lighter armor hadn't been able to fully withstand the blow, and though Lanius felt no pain, he could feel the creatures toxins flowing into him.
Raziel saw Lanius disengage before he was overwhelmed, though he didn't appear seriously hurt. "Watch my back, Brother Lanius!" he said, and charged into the enemy throng, chainsword dripping gore.
Solar will hang back with N'Keln and watch for attack by others xenos.
Quintus rushes forward, chainsword at the ready.
Mere microseconds prior to Lanius activating his jump pack a Gaunt ruptures in a fountain of gore. The Marines of kill-team Vindicta acknowledge that the slaying bolt came from the Fireforged's rifle. The remaining Hormagaunts scream their blood lust as Brother Raziel launches himself into the fray once more. His chain blades throttle revved to maximum revolutions.
Dodge +10:
The ground falters underneath his target. The molecular edged blades obliterates under the fury of the son on Sanguinius. The remaining two xenos glare and growl for the flesh of the armored giants. The beasts gather their hatred and attack in a flurry of blows.
Hormagaunt 1 ,
Hormagaunt 4 ,