"Keep in mind that they might be able to teleport BEHIND the barricade. So they should be build to provide overlapping fields of fire, even if they attack from behind. But lets press on as fast as possible. We should not let them dictate our moves, Brothers."
Pyros issues the orders and a team from the rear base moves up to carry back materials for fortifications. The squad helps but time only allows for more advice and less demonstration. The tech priest will handle the explosives. The squad reunites back at the t intersection. Are they ready to continue?
Varryl takes scans but its a little late to be detecting anything significant at first glance, instead, he focuses on gathering as much scans as he can, for review and comparison later.
Lucian stands ready as the fortifications are set up by the Mechanicus personnel, quietly studying their surroundings for potential threats.
Ulrich returns to the point position, ready to advance at Pyros' orders.
Taking his position in the marching order.
"Right, onward then."
Ulrich leads the way down the left corridor, senses alert and using the Auspex.
Xing replies to Lucian, Too much for any one soul to bear... In my mind I glimpsed a great battle, Marines and machines similar to those fighting the Tyranid as allies. I do not know what to make of it yet.
Xing carries on as ordered, maintaining the fog for their own protection.
"I knew a Blood Angel who fought in that battle you mentioned , Brother Librarian. He was full of regret and nearly insane as he confessed to me. I should have asked more, but then it was just a poor Brother who has finally broke under the strain of hundreds of years of endless war."
The team moves carefully about 100m and they get a Vox text transmission on an unsecured channel:
There are more, please eliminate them if you are strong enough.
After, there is no response to any of your replies or questions. The corridor lights do illuminate until you reach another intersection, the right side path is illuminated by the soft green glow that has been reacting to your movements. The left path remains dark.
Ulrich watches the left path closely, listening and sniffing the air.
Lucian moves along the corridor with the rest of the Kill-Team, remaining at the back to guard their rear. The illumination of the lights that seems to track with the squad's movement remains unnerving.
The left corridor looks empty for as far as you can see, while the entirety of the right corridor has been lit for the team, extending further than before you received.
Extending further than before you got the Vox message. The corridor towards the right, fully illuminated about 200m with a door at the end, looking like the previous door you encountered, only larger.
Opening a private squad channel, Pyros speaks to the squad. "Brother Varryl can you track the source of that transmission? As it happens to be our intent, it matters little that we act on it, but after the daemon and the friendly psychic message I received earlier, I am unsure. I will see if I can engage them."
Replying to the vox message, Pyros sends the following. "Identify yourself! Are you controlling these lights?"
Shortly after the message was receives and the leader reacted, the skull-helmeted Chaplain turns to the kill-team."Team, do not let yourself get distracted. Push on. Demon's words and physic messaged from people with uncertain motivations must not influence us. We have a Emperor given duty to fulfill! If Brother Varryl can pinpoint the sender: Good we'll see who tries to influence us. If not: Just press on. There are most likely more abominations to kill. Reread the oaths we took before departure. Ignorance can be shield, so let us use it! There is no clear choice which path to take, so lets take any of them! Should I go ahead as discussed Brother Leader?"
The words of the Chaplain are fiery and strong with some urgency mixed in.
Without response from his brothers hails on the Vox, Xing ignores the plea for now. Whomever it is, our goals are aligned. . Tread carefully brothers, for they are surely guiding us towards conflict. Atleast now we are ready and more prepared for whatever we may face. Let us continue towards the right, that door should provide more answers.
"Brother Ulrich, please scout the darkened tunnel, but remain within sight. I want to be sure we aren't being lead away from something. Then we will move down the light tunnel."
"It will be done." Ulrich moves cautiously into to the darkened tunnel, senses alert for any sign of danger, with Auspex glowing softly in his hand.
Ulrich moves down the unlit corridor for 60m and finds nothing, the path continues onward as far as you can see. Neither your senses or auspex can detect anything. Outside the fog, you find it difficult to see your team at the intersection, but they remain.
The other passage is lit up, and as the marines approach the large door, it opens. This chamber is unlike the last, and its more of a great hall than construction facility. It has more color and art, though xenos, it is not without beauty and distinction. When the doors open, the room is lit up and you can hear something, but can't initially see anything. There are two levels, a throne in the middle of the room, surrounded by four ebony pillars that rise up, each crested with emerald green stones, flawless craftsmanship, invisible edges, seemingly grown in place instead of built.
It's a large chamber about 100m wide, circular from what you can see from the doorway. The second level balcony that hangs above is hidden by a solid ebony barrier that prevents you from seeing more, though it too is lit.
On the way to the throne room Deleos is muttering quiet prayers over the vox, not loud enough to disturb the sharp senses of the team but loud enough for his Brothers to feel the comfort of the well-known prayers of protection, duty and brotherhood.
As they enter the big room, he takes a good look at the craftsmanship of everything for the love for artistic craftsmanship flows deep in the blood of the Sons of Sanguinius. That side of him seems impressed, while the deeply-bred hatred against all things of Xeno origin is repulsed by the sight.
+++ Checking the balcony for enemies +++
Engaging his winged jump pack, he quickly jumps to the upper level, checking the balcony for possible foes.
The vast chamber seems to be some kind of xenos throne room or audience chamber and the obviously non-human design makes Lucian uncomfortable just looking at it.
"It is unlikely that this chamber is unguarded. Be cautious," he advises as he scans the room for danger
Ulrich returns to the intersection, Lori padding quietly at his side. Having scouted as far as he could without losing sight of the others, he makes his report as he goes, "Brother Pyros, I found nothing at the limit of contact with the squad save more hallway running straight away from us."
Xing moves forward cautiously, at the entrance to the door he looks and listens for any signs of movement.
Awareness vs 75
Pyros thanks Ulrich on his return and leads the squad down the corridor to the entrance to the large room. As Deleos, impetuously jets off to the balcony, Pyros shakes his head almost imperceptibly. "Well if they are here, they now know we are here! Ulrich, our left flank, Xing, our right. Vartas, cover us. Varryl take the centre and go wherever the threat is greatest." With orders given, Pyros draws his Hammer and activates the power fields on both it and his shield. Readied he strides towards the throne. "Show yourself, we know you are here"
3dof
Ulrich peels off the the left, moving cautiously and alert for any enemies.
Initiative:
Varryl Initiative:
Deleos 16
Xing 15
Varryl 12+
Pyros 12
Ulrich 10
Vartas 9
Enemy Horde 1st Level
Enemy Horde Balcony
Deleos jumps above to the balcony in search of enemies. As he scans he can see the throne room in its entirety. The ceiling is an intricate star map of known space by the looks of it. The balcony is littered with more of the same machines you previously encountered, and as the team enters, their attention turns.
As the team on the first floor enters and spreads out, they notice more of the machines they previously encountered appearing into sight, a flash of red light easy to see for anyone paying attention. They immediately take charge and rush the squad with frightening speed.
Deleos plays with activation controller of his jump pack, weapons held at the ready, their power fields already activated.
"More enemies in the upper level. Shall I engage them or support the team against the group on the lower level?"
The sudden appearance of more flesh-wrapped xeno-machine creatures stirs Lucian into action. His heavy bolter feed spins up to speed and his targeting matrix prioritises each creature as they rush toward the Kill-Team. Within a short second, a burst of bolt shells erupts from his weapon as Lucian moves backwards slowly in order to maintain his firing position against the oncoming tide of xeno-forms.
Is there a way to collapse the balcony on our enemy?
v 70 5 dos
Varryl moves to the front firing his tecxorcism Gun into the mass.
Short range, mag 30, burst
v 100
shocking crits cause haywire
8 pen 4
11 pen 4
13 pen 4
Reaction Torch
Pen 4
20m + hits
ROUND 1:
Deleos 16 delay, half action remaining
Xing 15
Varryl 12+ Fires Weapons
Pyros 12
Ulrich 10
Vartas 9 Fires Weapon and moves
Enemy Horde 1st Level
Enemy Horde Balcony
Vartas begins spraying bolts into the horde of attackers, laying waste to dozens, as they are unable to withstand the power of his heavy bolter.
Varryl quickly considers if they could bring down the balcony, but the sheer size and support of it, in addition to the unknown composition and strength of the construction materials, leaves him with little hope. He turns his weapons to focus on the horde and fires his tecxorcism gun but it only brings down one. As they near, he unleashes his mechandrite and fires a burst of flame, killing those nearest to him.
Balcony Horde: Pen 4
Pen 4
Lightning Attacks vs all:
Deleos
1 Hit: Balcony Horde: Pen 4
Xing
3 hits, 1 has pen 8: Pen 4
Varryl
2 hits, both have pen 8
Pyros
1 hit Pen 4
Ulrich
3 hits, 1 has pen 8 Pen 4
Vartas
3 hits, 1 has pen 8 Pen 4
Lori:
1 hit, pen 8: Pen 4
The enemy rushes in, savaging Ulrich viciously. He howls his rage and pain back in their faces as he brings his bolt pistol to bear, Beside him, Lori snarls and attacks the enemy.
Wounds: 9/23
Bolt Pistol: 11/14
Plasma Gun: 25/30
Storm Bolter: 50/60 Kraken, 60/60 Vengeance, 60/60 Witch
Through the golden sphere blocking the numerous attacks of the mob of abominations, the skull helmeted marine seems to stare down at his foes - immobile for quite some time, just withering away the blows of the enemy before suddenly spinning into the mass, stowing the Crozius away with lightning speed to heft the glowing hammer with both hands.
E -> additional hit
"Crush them and watch for them to repair. Brother Deleos if you can hold the horde up there while we destroy these then do. If you will be swarmed then help us remove this horde from the equation, I leave it up to you."
With that, Pyros charges into the grd floor horde, swinging his Hammer in a huge crushing blow and shouting. "Into the fires of battle"
5dos =4 hits
pen 15
4dof
As the horde of Flayed ones swarm over him, there blows manage to avoid the forcefield of his shield and tear at his armour instead.
The claws of the xeno horrors somehow manage to slip through the protective plates of the relic armour Lucian wears, and he feels his blood flow across his black carapace.
Xing relinquishes the fog, the horde too close and lacking ranged attacks to make sustaining it worthwhile. While he easily maintains his warp walk ability, he darts forward and meets the horde's attack head on. His great force sword striking swiftly and easily into the ranks of the attacking horde.
Lightning Attack :
WS 63 +10 MC, +30 Size (103)vs
7DOS
8DOS
3 DOS
4 Hits From Lightning Attack and E type weapon, 8 additional from DOS? (Thats a lot of Damage...)
2 handed Great Force Sword: Melee 2d10+14+8 E Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Pen 10
Magnitude reduced by 12?
PR 45:
..of course its the 3rd with Pen 8, Dmg 24
While most of the attacks aren't able to penetrate Xing's defenses, one attack slips through and wounds him lightly, but he barely notices as the mechanical bodies pile up around him and his squad.
Varryl grabs hold of the final machine with his servoarms.
26 v 49 = 2dos
END OF ROUND 1:
The sheer devastation to the enemies on the lower level surpasses their regeneration ability. Flashes of red blink in and out as bodies disappear, leaving little more than fallen flesh and body parts of humans and xenos littering the floor.
Above Deleos drops 3 of the enemies, but they continue their assault, the fallen rising again, more flashes blinking brightly as they swarm Deleos.
ROUND 2:
Deleos 16
Xing 15
Varryl 12+
Pyros 12
Ulrich 10
Vartas 9
Enemy Horde 1st Level: Eliminated
Enemy Horde Balcony: Magnitude 20 ***SOAK: AP7, TB 8
There are some stair cases leading to the above balcony but it will take some speed and time to reach that level to engage the enemy. Also, you notice to more larger doors like the one you entered at opposite sides of the room.
The team gets another text transmission by Vox:
Their Lord is coming to you! It must be stopped! Then shortly afterwards, they get a secure transmission from Elijah at the base, its difficult to hear with the sound of explosions and metal crunching, servitors obviously firing and falling: They appeared out of no where, what are they, I can not hold this position, retreating... and then the vox message cuts out, Varryl instantly assuming the Vox relay set up through servo skulls had been compromised. Dante rushes towards the entrance and back the way you all came.
Varry: You may attempt to reroute one of your servitors to re-establish comms, though it will take some time.
Noticing the short work his brothers had done with the lower mob of enemies, Deleos quickly decides to reunite rather than continue alone, risking injuries or worse. Firing his jump pack, he disengages in the middle of the machines, like a starting rocket from a sea of metal and flesh.
"More enemies upstairs. Ready an overwatch, Brother Devastator. They will follow swiftly"
Pyros begins to call Deleos back as the messages come through, stopping as the chaplain falls back to their position.
" Brothers, our allies are in trouble and we have seen how these mechanoids can spring up. I suggest we move quickly to their aid, if these messages are true about their lord, I am sure he will come to us. Any thoughts?"
"The incoming messages suggest a wide, well co-ordinated attack. This cannot be coincidence. I fear that we have been drawn into a trap by these xenomechs," Lucian muses. "I agree with Brother Pyros, we should move to our fall back position to secure our exit from this complex. Without the Mechanicus' knowledge, we may never escape this place."
We will not make it in time, we must eliminate them here and now. They want to divide us or draw us away from here, do not fall into their trap. The survivors can rendezvous here....Facing whatever is coming will be best done here in an open space. Confined to the halls, we are weaker.
"Go now. If you do there may yet be survivors but if you wait we will be alone and without hope of resupply. I can hold them at the door until you return. And if their Master does manifest then I shall show them why Terra stands unbowed!"
Deleos is muttering under his breath as the new message-out-of-nowhere is received by the teams encrypted vox. Whoever is writing on our secure channel, may the Emperor have mercy on him the day my hammer and I meet him - or her - or whatever.
Half turned to the door they have come through, he asks for the final decision of their team leader:
"Shall I quickly follow the priest, Leader? It may be dangerous to split forces but it will also be dangerous to loose our footing and escape route."
As the kill team spends precious moments deciding what to do the doors you entered begin closing as Dante steps through in a sprint. Deleos with his jump pack may make a pilot - 10 test to make it through before the door closes, but will not see the horde appear to attack his brothers.
The horde above is moving and flashes around you reveal the abominations once again surrounding you. There appears to be more, but Deleos will never see them should he attempt to rush for the door, only a split second to decide.
Previous initiative stands, horde 40, none are in melee range, they will have to charge and you like wise for the first round.
After assessing the situation as thoroughly as possible - within a split seconds - Deleos fires his jump pack towards the quickly closing doors.
At first it seems like the armored giant will crash against the thick steel doors but as the angelic jump pack accelerates him ever faster, it is getting evident that he will make it through.
As he passes the closing door, a quick vox message comes through.
"Follow me quickly, Brothers! I will try to secure our escape route and reestablish communications ASAP. The Emperor protects!"
"Deleos, keep the door open. I will secure our rear," Lucian states over the vox as he turns to confront the oncoming horde. His heavy bolter roars as shells spit out towards the xeno-mechs.