The Lux Imperator cut through the Empyrean like a blade, swiftly and with no regard as to what it crossed. The destroyer was making good time to its destination, since the warp had turned to a comparative calm in the last few months.
Deep inside the ship, a most illustrious meeting took place. Brother Angrael, of the Flesh Tearers was a veteran brother of the Deathwatch. Hero of the Imperium. Personal friend to two inquisitors. And simply not least the commander sworn to end the troubles of the triplet systems, as they were commonly called. Large even for a space marine, his black armor covered with mementos of engagements won and wounds sustained. His face was almost unrecognizable as human, merely a thin whisp of skin stretched over bone, a mess of burn scards with only the merest hints of a nose, ears and lips. His left eye was an ominous red cybernetic, while his right one was merely an empty socket.
With him, a full twenty brethren of the Deathwatch stood. The accomplished "Saguine Brotherhood", and the enigmatic "Cryptguard" were chosen for this mission alongside your "Sacramentum Vis".
Angrael looked severel. "Welcome my brothers. We have much to discuss. As you know, the systems we are heading to are all valuable. Valuable and under attack. We have now been able to determine two of the threats we will face. With a motion, a primitive hologram filled the air. "Andrais is under assault by Eldar raiders. These pirates have outmaneuvered the PDF and stationed imperial guard forces several times, each time taking slaves and critical supplies. We suspect them to have a base somewhere in the system. One of our teams will deploy to coordinate with Major Cymbial. Another swift motion replaced the system schematic with a picture displaying an aging woman in an imperial guard uniform. There was nothing beautiful about her. Heavily scarred and with the right half of her head replaced by cybernetic augments, she could probably have passed for a servitor, if she put her mind to it. "The purpose of this deployment is twofold. You are to protect a purposefully underdefended target, in the hopes of drawing the pirates out. After breaking their speartip, follow any clues uncovered and neutralize their staging area. This mission requires speed, discretion and no small amount of stealth.
Another motion, and the display changed to the ocean world of Tekor Prime. "The situation on Tekor is dire as well. Tekor is governed by a council of the five major settlements, overseen by governeur Hanz Miser." A portrait of an aging, hawk-like aristocrat intograted into the system display. Then, three of the settlements turned red. "A faction of three settlements decided to abandon the emperors light, and throw in their lot with the abomible Tau. These xenos have been sending "diplomats" for the better part of a century. We thought their advances soundly rejected, but it seems they fell on fertile soil with some of the subaltern structure. Civil war and heresy are rampant in Tekor. The xenos are out to abuse that weakness. A scouting vessel is already in system, and unloading troops to aid the rebels. Our mission is again twofold - behead the uprising by eliminating the renegade councilmen, and capture or destroy the xenos vessel."
A shadow fell across the face of brother Angrael. "We have lost all astropathic contact with the Parsai system two hours ago. No messages were received, no sent messages confirmed since that time. Requests for aid have specified a mutant uprising in one of the dockyards, with significant infrastructure damage. Inquisitor Helzkann of the Ordo Malleus was en-route to the system. We have failed to reach him, or his entourage. Therefore, objectives are unknown, but likely include battle with the great enemy."
Crisis mounts upon crisis. What fire should be put out first my brothers?
"All of them, brother" Angrael replied with a cold smile. One team will depart once we reach the system and travel to the planet via thunderhawk. The lux imperator will depart again for Tekor. We will deploy a second thunderhawk with another kill team, and then head to Parsai.
Venulf shifted his huge frame slightly as the briefing took place. He watched the scenarios with the keen mind of a brother trained to patience, yet he yearned to close with the enemies of the Emperor and destroy them with his fury.
As the name of the great enemy was invoked, the Space Wolf bared his long canines. Here was a foe his chapter hated above all others. Here was a true test of his strength and his faith.
"I say we travel to Parsai. Where the enemy gathers we need to retaliate with haste, lest its corruption seep so far that nothing is left open to us but annihilation of those involved."
Already his second heart was beginning to beat a little faster in anticipation of the battles to come.
I say Tekor Prime, the insidious curse of the tau is difficult to root out. Eldar pirates may be dangerous to individuals but they rarely conquer entire planets and the third location should already have an inquisitor on site to contain the situation until more forces can be deployed.
Elyas turned to the larger marine standing beside him. His eyes gazing on his space marine brother, evaluating, judging. Not a single emotion had crossed his face as they had been briefed but now seriousness burdened his voice as he spoke: "Space Wolf I think Man is better served by us following the Librarian's suggestion."
In truth he didn't care who they fought, he would gladly hunt the great enemy, but as soon as the Inquisition had been mentioned his inducted distrust had kicked in. So now the wretched alien would burn some by his hand some by his brothers. Brothers, it was strange using that concept regarding someone not of the Dark Angels, at least one of his squad mates where of his chapter, could the others be trusted?
Aetheros agrees and nods at Elyas, "I concur. According to our briefing, the tau have been present on Tekor Prime for a century, which means they have been planning this action for at least that long. Probably longer. For xenos, the tau exhibit patience and guile, and for them to act now indicates they believe they are in a position of strength. Brothers, I submit we should be the ones who show the craven tau, and their traitorous allies, the true meaning of strength."
We will crush the weakling Xenos and make the human traitors beg for the Emperor's mercy before the end.
"With our skills, a close-approach with overwhelming force would best serve us. I would recommend a hard-drop assault to determine the whereabouts and condition of the Inquisitor, boarding torpedos against the Tau, or the suggested decoy and counter-ambush against the Eldar. We will prevail no matter the task we select, of that I have no doubt."
Adalricus reads over the dispatches several times, bringing up the information on simultaneous panels and cross-referencing the various data-points as he examines them.
"I believe the most crucial mission lies with Inquisitor Helzkann. If he is unable to proceed with his mission, we must fulfill the original parameters. If he is proceeding apace, our intercession will only serve to strengthen his capabilities, and provide greater flexibility on the field. A fast-drop with Thunderhawk seems our best approach."
Tactics: Assault
Tactics: Recon & Stealth
"Brother Adalricus while I agree with you on how our squad should operate, we disagree on the critical mission. The Inquistor should be able to deal with the mutant threat in that system, but the foul xenos Tau have had years to infiltrate Tekor Prime and already have some assets in system. We need to destroy their foothold before they have a chance to establish themselves. The Imperial guard can handle most mutant uprisings."
Venulf nodded his head at each Marine in turn as they spoke. Even the Dark Angel had good points to make. Grudgingly he nodded his assent to the notion of tackling Tekor Prime first.
"If we're to take the Tau, then I agree with Adalricus' assessment. We take their ship first, close assault and boarding torpedos. Once we have that, the main force on the planets surface has no recourse to reinforcements, nor can the Xenos flee to their own systems before we can bring our might to bear."
He flexed the right arm of his suit reflexively. Despite almost 100 years in service to the emperor, the musculature of that arm still ached occasionally from the transformation caused by the Canis Helix. He needed to use it, and soon. It was the only way to help with the ache and bring his mind into focus.
Perhaps when the briefing was done and the mission decided, he and Adalricus would fight the ritual dual their chapters had completed since the days of the Primarchs themselves. Oh how he hoped it was so.
"Very well. If the Inquisitor is capable of executing the mission as stated, I yield the the judgement of my Brothers. Let us take the fury of the Throne to these heretical Tau."
The commander nodded. "I see you have decided. Very well. Me and my brethren will see to Parsai's troubles, and the Cryptguard will remain here on Andrais." The Astartes saluted in assent.
It seemed the "Cryptguard" kill-team was the larger of the two other teams, featuring five Astartes, while Angrael and his Sanguine Brotherhood stood only three veterans tall. The commander dismissed Angrael dismissed the two other kill-teams, and began to brief the Cryptguard in more detail.
One of the Brotherhood lagged slightly behind. A grizzled Astartes, whose armor wore the marks of the Black Templars. "Your first mission as brothers of the Deathwatch. It is a huge step. Are you ready?"
"I believe so, Brother."
Our team will be ready, Templar.
Aetheros' eyes gleam as he answers, "Aye, Brother. The Emperor has guided us all here to perform these deeds, and we shall not disappoint Him."
"Now that the theatre has been decided. What can you tell us about the enemy?"
Venulf frowned at the question, taking the time to think through the seriousness of the question. This was a veteran of the Death Company, someone who knew more about how this chapter and its idiosyncrasies worked than anyone in his new squad.
"I believe we're as ready as we can be, given the situation Honoured Brother. I have fought the Tau before, they are nought but strange creatures too reliant on their equipment to be true threats. Remove the technology advantage, and they fall like seal pups to the Ice Bear."
He smiled at the thought, remembering what he himself could do to an Ice Bear now he had taken part of the mighty Russ' own gene seed within himself. These Tau stood no chance.
Nikeides kept silent during the discussion, observing his brothers and pondering the situation.
He speaks softly when it's his turn to answer.
"I'm ready."
"You are confident, and experienced in your own chapters" The Black Templar replied, with a stony smile. "You will need to look beyond that. Each of you is an expert in a way of conducting battle, but already you have failed the first test."
His eyes held a brief challenge. "You have failed to ask questions. Three worlds, all of them important to the Imperium and the Deathwatch. All under attack from three different directions. How likely is this, in your estimates?"
He let the words sink in. "We know your particular enemy has long had designs. Still, The sheer synchronicity should trouble you." He nodded his head again, a strange gesture. "Brother Angrael made sure you got first choice of the missions this time precisely to see how you would act, what you would discuss. Do not expect such luxury in the future."
Shortly afterwards, the Cryptguard finished their briefing, and headed for the hangars to prepare for their departure. Angrael likewise exited the Briefing room, looking over his brother and the recent inductees. "Alexandr, have you initimidate the recruits again?", to which the Black Templar only replied with a steel-toothed smile.
Elyas had stayed silent, feeling no need to speak since he had accomplished what he wanted, someone else would aid the inquisitor. He found himself nodding slightly as Adalricus put forth his analysis, the words were wise. His interest centred on the veteran as he spoke, hoping for an insight into fighting the Tau, but interest turned to disdain as the Black Templar only seemed to mock them. However the Alexandr's point about regarding the coincidence peaked his interest, was this a greater plan from aliens? Impossible, the great enemy perhaps? More likely.
[I]"A few questions. First do we have any schematics or intel on the xenos scout ship? Second do we have maps of Tekor Prime? Last, do we know of any xenos auxiliaries working with the tau?"
After asking these questions Camael turns to his comrades, "if any one force is behind this series of attacks I would guess the Tau, they rarely work for others but are happy to use proxies to fight thier wars."
Aetheros stoically accepts the rebuke from the Templar. After all, the marine had served in Deathwatch and survived this long, not an easy feat.
Still, something bothered him. Eldar, tau, and the forces of chaos... in league together? Hearing Camael mention the tau, Aetheros looks up, "I do not know. The Templar may be right, there might be intent behind the timing of these attacks rather than random chance. But the tau as the instigators? Perhaps. Or perhaps there is another force behind even their movements. Either way, it seems we should try to recover information on the xenos if the opportunity presents itself."
"If that force is behind the movements of the tau, the eldar and the enemy, it must be something quite powerful."
Shaking his slightly Elyas can't believe what he hears, brothers believing that something would be behind two wretched alien attacks and a strike from the great enemy. If any of the enemies of man would be able to do such a thing it would be the ruinous powers. "If our brother Templar has no advice or insight we should wait for our briefing, brethren" he states in a firm voice.
After the Cryptguard had departed the Lux Imperator aboard one Thunderhawk gunship, the ship returned to the Warp as soon as it could, its engines propelling it through a temporary tear in the material world.
Again, the voyage through the immaterium proved easy, almost suspiciously so. The wildfires of savage emotions seemed to have cooled to embers. A day before their estimated arrival in Tekor.
Once again, the briefing room was cast in half-darkness, allowing the flickering images of the hololithic table to be seen better. Again, Brother Angrael stood close to the projector, and awaited the newly-formed Kill Team. This time, however, he was alone.
"Welcome, my brothers. We are about to enter Tekor, and will exit the warp at the jump-point designated 'Theta Eagle'." He motioned towards the hololithic display, which shifted to display a map of the small system. The jump-point was located above the ecliptic plane, about halfway between the two planets. "Our best intelligence shows a Tau frigate here." A red dot appeared orbiting the oceanic world. "We know the Tau already deployed some warriors and battlesuits to aid insurgent forces. We assume the bulk of their forces is still aboard."
The display shifted, and now displayed rough, incomplete schematics of the ship. It was somewhat shorter than the imperial Swords, but comparable in pure combat prowess. "The frigatte must be scuttled or otherwise neutralized. A direct assault may be satisfying, but is also an extremely high-risk approach." The display highlighted some critical systems - power generation, central air reprocessing, munition storage.
"Planetary control is contested right now. Planetary defense forces are cracking down on the rebel settlements, but the rebels are organized, and have struck the infrastructure of the loyal habitats." The ship returned to a mere blip on the map, as it cycled towards the planet. The five settlements were highlighted. These habitats were more akin to small hives, with a trade section close to the water surface, and a larger harvesting and manufacturing section close to the seafloor. Slowly, three of them turned red.
"Fighting a war of attrition against the rebels is likely both costly and fruitless. Behead the menace. The three rebel "Councilors", as they call themselves must be eliminated - but most central is a woman named Korrah Fei, who has been leading the "Deepaz Vil" habitat. She is the spokeswoman of the rebels, and by all appearances the Tau Liaison. She has accepted two xeno bodyguard. These Xeno seem to be Kroot mutants, with extraordinary size and precision.
"Your primary objectives are to eliminate both the Xeno ship, stopping any reinforcements, and Korrah Fei."
"What assets do the traitors have? Are they restricted to infantry or do they have armoured or aerial capabilities as well. What kind of numbers will we be facing? Do the traitors have access to orbital defences? There are likely alternate methods of accessing the enemies ship or eliminating it on planet, likely wi a higher probability of success."
"What do we know about the Xenos ship? Capabilities, personnel, shields? Potentially, could we capture the vessel, use its weaponry against the ground targets, and bring it down on the head of the survivors? Also, what do we know about the habitat or this Korrah Fei? Combat abilities? Other capabilities?"
Adalricus looks over all the data provided, sorting, searching, planning an assault already with the limited information available.
I am disturbed by the prospect of the traitor Korrah Fei going to ground in some bolt-hole. The threat of a Tau troop ship in orbit is foremost in my mind: but I toy with the idea of a quick, penetration raid to snatch up this foul heretic, and then destroying the vessel at our leisure. Angrael's suggestion of some 'hidden overseer' is also troubling. I'm sure that my brother tech-priests have diligently checked and re-checked their augur arrays for signs of hidden ships, and the strangely-sighted Astrophaths have not heard the damnable babble of cursed voices over the aether, so by what black means do they coordinate their treacheries?
He pauses thoughtfully.
Perhaps I presume too much, and if so I apologize: but I suggest that our team attempt to seize this traitor, before anything else; let us prick the beast in one extremity, and by its reaction gain some measure of its size and nature.
I believe the ship must be first. We need to stop the flow of troops and supplies to the planet. (Forbidden Lore: Xenos =38 I have a 44 in that skill) There Prime Etheral Prime is probably still on the ship. His fiery death will demorilize their entire army and the tau would probably orbital bombard an entire city for the "Greater Good" to kill us if we struck their human pawn.
"On the ship, they won't be able to use their armoured vehicles. We don't know the layout but I think we'll have the advantage in close quarters. But we have to keep in mind that if we kill their Ethereal, whoever and whatever it is, they could make some kind of death wish. At least that's what our brothers from the Raptors reported when they fought them "
Looking at his Chapter brother, Elyas nods at the initial statement, but stops as the techmarine suggests heading after the traitor first. "I disagree brother. If we strike at the ship, we'll trap the foul aliens on the planet and hunt them down." Turning to the Carcharodon librarian, he nods: "Wise words brother."
I accept your decision, though I point out that there is something unprecedented in what we face among these beleaguered worlds: I'm not a scholar of the annals as many of you are, as my calling is in the Adeptus Mechanicus, but even I know that the Tau and Eldar are not known to make common cause against the Imperium. We must use all of the wisdom provided to us by the Emperor if we are to prevail.
"The planet has an orbital defense network. Unfortunately, it is inoperable, due to its special layout. All firing decisions are issued by the government, from the central command in the capitol. There is a fallback meant to guard against treachery, though. This fallback means that if a majority of habitat controls reject a firing order, it is not executed. The same applies in the reverse as well, so the habitats cannot fire against a central veto." Angrael explained, and added. "Since the habitat landing platforms are defended rather heavily, there is not much air force or oversea ship traffic. Each hab maintains a small fleet of submersibles, which are acting as breach-craft."
The display returned the the Xeno ship. "The ship itself is well defended. We expect at least a company of troops still abort. Fire caste warriors, with a sizable detachment of Kroot. Fortunately, once you infiltrate the maintenance tunnels you should be able to evade their vehicles and heavy battlesuits. My suggestion for a direct assault would be boarding torpedoes close to this section." An aftern part of the ship came into zoom. "It is close to one of the central nodes of their sensory systems. If you could destroy these systems, you would be able to proceed from tunnel to corridor with them having to track you down in small squadrons."
Adalricus' suggestion to torn the Tau vessel against groundside targets gave the Flesh Tearer a grim smile "Tempting as that thought is... no. The crystal formations are very susceptible to environmental toxins. An orbital bombardment might ruin a century worth of crops. In fact, a high-priority secondary objective is to avoid major damage to the ecosphere."
As usual, the librarian stays silent for some time before speaking.
"Melta bombs to destroy the sensory systems and the plasma drive. Unpowered, the ship will be useless. Kraken bolts against the Tau, flamer or metalstorm bolts against the kroot.
Now.. how are we going to go from the ship to the ground to find Korrah Fei ? Do we know where she is ?"
"Could a boarding torpedo or assault craft be modified to survive entering atmosphere?"
Nikeides nods at Magnus.
"Caestus assault ram ?"
"I propose we board via torpedo, following a brief salvo from Lux Imperator. Use a Thunderhawk to draw attention towards the opposite side of the vessel and then both vessels withdraw. We strike fast, hard, and quiet, before commandeering one of the xenos landing craft and using that to make landfall.
I recomend at least one person take a missile launcher, just in case
I will requisition a flamer (10), a red dot laser sight for my bolter (10) and my bolt pistol (10), 4 clips of kraken rounds (30), a pair of demo charges (10), astartes magboots (3) and I will give my other 7 requistion to any brother that requires additional supplies.
Venulf frowned a little as the battle plan emerged around him.
"Can anyone here fly one of the Xenos vesserls, because if the answer to that is no, then we're flotsum in space. We also need to know where to land that is close to the secondary objective, the leader of the rebels."
He looked over the schematics again but couldn't get any better ideas. He was mostly skilled in recon and close combat. Hit hard and fast then get out. While much of his time had been in the fleet of this chapter, it was really about getting from place to place and the odd boarding action against the renegade marines in this section. Those were a different type of combat to this mission.
He decided to let the more experienced tacticians of his squad tackle the plan. He would do his bit when the enemy were in sight.
"If need be, we eat one of the xenos pilots, and allow its skills to become ours. If we can disable the vessel's defenses, we may be able to dock and disembark via Thunderhawk. I would prefer to keep that as 'Plan B', though."
Angrael gave the discussion on extraction tactics an approving nod. "We can deploy up to two thunderhawk gunships. They could hide behind the moon until needed, and extract you from the disabled Tau ship. Taking control of a Xeno landing ship is potentially adding an element of surprise, and allows you to bypass the surface-to-air defenses. Keep in mind that xeno machine spirits are said to be mean and uncooperative at the best of times."
He focussed on Venulf for a short moment. "Let me remind you - the rebel spokeswoman is a primary target of the operation. In order to restore order on Tekor with any kind of speed, she must be killed."