The Servo-Skull-Magos does something which looks as if he has lost its antigrav hoover field for a split second.
You have to wonder whether he just attempt to nod eagerly? Or is it actually a she?
Is that even a question applicable to a floating metal cased skull trailing a collection of spinal cords, hoses, tiny mechadendrites and cables after itself...?
"Your observation, while fairly obvious, is very true, Specialist MacGyver of the Imperial Guard.
If indeed we succeed in this withdrawal and the data you were instrumental in securing proves to be as important as my short probes suggest, then, oh yes, then there can be no doubt that you and everyone here has proven their worth as a remarkable-if-tiny gear in the great machinery of the Omnissiah.
And we will treat you as such."
Liam buckles a little, finding it more than a little awkward to walk, carrying a big gun AND offering support to a woman just barely capable of fighting of catatonia at this stage.
To distract himself, he begins to talk, offering simple words of encouragement to Cecil (and himself at this point), pointing out how close they are, how they are almost out of it now.
And of course, not forgetting to point out how well they've done overall.
"People died, but we lived. it's time we made sure of it."
MacGuyver can only manage a nod in response to the servo skull. Treating us as a member of the AdMech. Wonderful. he barely supresses a shudder.
3dof
5dof
Ikrit is delighted to be surrounded by his kin again and not entirely surprised by their religious fervour, albeit through the cross hairs he has seen the priests work. However he didn't see the power of the rosarius and he did see the astartes at work and so is less sure.
Moving up close to the priest, Ikrit tugs on his robes to gain his attention, bringing him down to a height for a more private conversation. [b]"Father, my brethren see you asss more than just His representative in this place of evil yes yes. We will ssserve him however we are able, but do not throw their livesss in vain, for they will follow you to the worst depths of thisss hell and beyond. Lead on and save my brethren, father.
His point made, Ikrit gets moving again, but the hard combat on top of a life of never enough has sapped his strength and he struggles to keep up.
Kenneth is still unsure what just happened but he has the presence of mind to notice that the astartes are getting ready to leave.
The words of... advice? From one of the ratlings don't help much. He can figure out that he was probably used by his majesty in some way - and seeing how Sergeant Seth and the ratlings with him survived it was probably something rather effective - but what it might have been eludes him. Still there are more pressing matters.
And so he turns to address his crowd:
"It seems I had the priviledge to be used as conduit of his majesties will. I would like to hear what exactly happened later but right now we need to keep up with the lords astartes so we do not waste the gift his majesty bestowed upon us."
Mac plunges off after the Astartes and radios back, <<I'll let you guys know the route! Follow as fast as you can!>>
Your scout quickly fades out of sight and leaves the beaten and battered remains of no less than four infiltration squads behind. Of which not even one combined squad remains. Then there are the twenty-some ratlings that made it out. Three of which steady Sgt. Seth by now, who seems practically delirious and close to collapse.
But needs must and you feel the need for urgency by no uncertain terms, given the steady reports from MacGyver about how fast the Astartes advance.
Then, soon after your scout reported about getting down a flight of stairs, there is a detonation from below and close-by...
... But MacGyver quickly radios in, confirming a booby trapped corridor. The Astartes cleared it - apparently by simply walking through it.
It takes you a few minutes to all get down the pretty steep and uneven stairs, then entering the corridor he spoke off - which is a chipped, pockmarked and in places blackened business you are very happy to not have been in when things got interesting.
After this incident, it is smooth "sailing" until you enter a big hall, with the familiar and very welcome sight of one of those local tube stations. Quite kess welcome is the sight of several dozen dismembered servitors strewn about the place. From the looks of the Astartes and the color of the blood and oil drenching the place, this was done recently. Like in the last minute. A quick glance at MacGyver, who looks a bit green around the nose, pretty much confirms what happened here:
Astartes don't take chances. And if your very hands strike like sledgehammers, most things look like nails...
At the moment, the rails upon which the cylindrical transport tubes reside, are empty - beside one, which is slowly moving along the rails inside the station.
From the way the Astartes are arranged and looking at each other, you guess they are having a private vox conference. Probably deciding the order of departure, considering one such tube would never fit the lot of you. From your way in, you could guess that at most ten people would fit in. Maybe a bit more of the locals. The marines might get into one together as well. The big Magi would need one each however, unless they all can change their appearances as drastic as the tank-Magi (now floating skull-and-spine).
MacGuyver looks incredibly relieved to see you all. Thank the Emperor, you made it! he still struggles to catch his breath and looks just as ready to fall over as the rest of you.
I hope my directions were helpful? Or did youall just follow the destruction left by our Emperor's mighty Angels?
MacGyver, feeling pretty bad himself, realizes soon that his companions are really at their last breath.
Downcast eyes, heavy, rough breathing, sweat soaked uniforms, most with splatters of blood, gore and other even more disgusting bits on it.
As they have milled in, most just slump against the wall or each other, seeking nothing more than a few moments of rest.
Basically at the same instant, the Astartes end their private discussion and announce:
"Withdrawal via magtube must happen in five stages due to insufficient capacity of a single tube.
The first tube shall carry the most important cargo.
That means:
Magos-Strategus-Dominus Astramos Phi,
Magos-Tacticus Hexa-Beta,
Bother Sergeant Sextus,
Ministorum-Militant Kenneth Medland and Sergeant Hektor Seth will board the first tube right now, bringing with them the data cores of this installation."
He points at the once-tank-now-fancy-creepy-servo-skull, then the bulky Magos with the superheavy energy gun, then himself, then Seth and Kenneth and lastly at a bundle of advanced techy gubbins dangling from his hip - which after a brief look, appear to be the central pieces of the BUGs you were issued with to exload whatever important data back in the hald-corrupted memcore room...
MacGuyver can't fight off the knot in his stomach. Hold the line. Again. With the last of whatever they had left. Still, arguing with Astartes wasn't something he was prepared to even consider.
Very well, my lord's he then approaches Sgt Seth and Kenneth. Looks like you two are the lucky ones. Get out of here, and pass out whatever you got left. We're gonna need it. I could use any grenades you got, specifically.
As you get close to the sergeant, who is actually face-down on the floor beside a knot of ratlings, you cannot shake a feeling of dread.
Is he even moving anymore?
Was his skin that pale before?
When has he lost his weapons?
MacGuyver kneels beside the Sargent and gently checks him over.
MacGuyver checks his pulse. Nothing. The Sarge is dead. Suddenly he jerks up and his neck twists unnaturally as a too wide maw of black teeth come for MacGuyver's face! The Scout's reflexes save him again and he flinches out of the way. Half a step back is all he needs to pull his stub pistol and put several shots between the former NCO's eyes.
He stands there for a moment just trying to breathe and come to grips with what just happened.
He then reports, Umm. My Lords. The good Sargent has passed to the Emperor's side. Whom do you designate as his replacement?
"Might I suggest trooper Cecil?
She is suffering from combat fatigue, and could benefit from being properly seen to.
...
She's earned a reprieve."
There is instant commotion as people scream-jumpbto their feet at the unexpected outbreak of lethal danger once again.
The Astartes leader half turns in as much of a casual gesture as a two-and-some meter tall armor clad transhuman can and seems to quickly scan over the remaining guardsman.
"Your Apothecary should be more vigilant, especially when facing the arch-enemy of pestilence and poison.
Corporal Simmins, you are next in line.
Get up and board. Now."
So much for that...
Cecil wasn't nearly as bad off as the Sergeant had been (hmm, that was two sergeants lost this mission) so all she needed now was rest.
Liam finds a good, defensible spot to set up his heavy bolter and guard the rear, and to keep Cecil safe as she lies down to rest.
"At least it means the missions will be done.
That's what we do, we stand in line and die, so others can live...
It's the life of a guardsman."
Kenneth pants hard. Both his mental and physical limits have long since been reached and very much execeeded. He wants to board that train. But his duty nags him to stay. To tend to the morale for just a little longer.
He straightens and tries to pad off some off the dust on his tattered ministorum robes before addressing the lords Astartes.
"My Lords. I request to take the last tube. His majesties hope must stay with the fighting people for as long as possible"
Brother Sergeant Sextus of the Shield of the Omnissiah Adeptus Astartes chapter was just about to board the magrails tube which promised to finally bring him back to allied territory when the slightly singed priest speaks up to him.
The glare that he gives Kenneth is a mix of the frustration of a parent about the latest tantrum of their child, pure exasperation and something like honest admiration mixed in.
Probably.
No one here is an expert at reading facial expressions from a cracked and beaten power armor helmet.
"As you wish.
Nominate one other to take your place then.
You have exactly 47 seconds left before this tube launches."
And then he is stomping into the already crowded interior.
MacGuyver rushes over and grabs Cecil. Come on, Cecil. Time to go. I'll load for Liam.
The extra work of keeping up with the guard and astartes, Ikrit takes a while to recover his breath. Watching and listening, however allows him to see which way this is going and that along with his fellow ratlings he will be amongst the last to board.
simple fail
Making his best guesses of how to defend the area, Ikrit starts shouting in Ratling, trying to corral his fellows into forming a defence.
"Brothers and sssisterss, we will have to hold thisss possition for a time. Find cover if you can and bring your weapons to bear on our trails. You clawful, yes you 5, form ready for a charge if we need it yesss?
Cecil goes wide eyed and teary the.moment MacGyver starts to (gently-yet-determindedly) towards the tube (and away from Liam).
"Nononono, please *sob*.
I wanna stay with Li, please-no!"
She is not really putting up much if a fight mind you, she is not even actually struggling and even trodding along.
But she is sobbing and tearing all the while - although even that is getting weaker and weaker the closer you get her to the pod.
Liam turns and gives Cecil a small, tired smile.
"Don't worry about me Cecil, remember, I'm a thrice lucked bastard.
I'll see you again, and it will be before we both go to the golden throne.
Please, be safe..."
MacGuyver speaks to her in a low tone as he leads her on, Listen, We're about to be about neck deep in the churn down here and the best way for Liam to survive this is to have something to survive FOR. Namely you. Now, if you want to save his life, you go in this tube and you get safe.
She blinks hard, sniffs then nods in an awfully cute kind of way, like a little girl sent off to some remote relatives she barely knows, but keeps looking back at Liam repeatedly.
Until the door slides shut and she (and the others in pod 1) disappear behind blank and blind plasteel surface. Less than a minute later it has accelerated out if the station and presumably back towards safety.
MacGuyver doesn't waste time watching it go. He's already in scout mode mapping approaches and trying to find the best way to defend the transport platform.
- 3 DoS
MacGuyver reports back, Only other floor level entrances are to two single person ones on opposite sides here to our left and right. The entry we came through with it's 4-man plasteel door is the main access. We should be able to guard that. My main concern is that. He points up to an iron mesh overhead walkway that would be cramped even for ratlings. It runs at a slight diagonal across the entire room about six meters up from the ground. If foes get the upper hand up there, we loose, no doubt. I can see 5 or 6 hatches from here. We need a way to deny both the side doors and that upper walkway if we hope to hold this line.
My Lord Astartes, how do you wish us to deploy? MacGuyver says in deference to the clear battle masters here.
The addresses Astartes nods crisply, then replies in an even more unpleasant machine voice than his now absent Sergeant.
"Analysis confirmed.
Likelihood of frontal assault: 88.91 percent.
Likelihood of flanking attacks 34.32 percent but rising rapidly in case of a failed frontal attack.
Likelihood of approach via maintenance walkway: unknown.
Recommend action: disable walkway with heavy ordnance.
Battle plan: Distribute militia to flanks and hold front with main strength until the next pod arrives. Astartes and Adeptus Mechanicus elements will withdraw with the next pod.
Further tactics cannot be computed with adequate plausibility vector."
A$%*@*~...
Liam merely shakes his head, wondering how these Astartes could possibly claim to work on logic.
Let's REMOVE the most capable and skilled defenders, especially after the rest of us will have used as much ammo as possible.
MacGuyver nods. Of course they don't care about us. Why should they?
Anyone know how to use this melta gun to destroy that walkway? I was never trained in it.
A lot of blank stares meet that question.
Some of the ratlings begin to rise to their feet, mostly shakily, collect their ramshackle weaponry and start to shuffle towards the pointed-out side entrances.
Kenneth looks around him and sees that none is up to the task. Of course neither is he but standing up when his Majesty requires is exactly why he stayed after all.
"I am not trained but as I see it neither is everyone else. So let me take the task of destroying those walkways. May the meltas flame behave close to my hand flamers ray setting if he is willing."
So unless someone else speaks up about being trained in the weapon it will be Kenneth trying his best to get the walkway out of the way.
Ok, so where is the best kill zone to set up? Maximum area of denial.
Let's be tactical and not mess up so close to the end of it all.
Liam decides to make sure to live up to his role as Sentinel.
"Listen, if I take up position HERE, I can give good cover for all entry points possible.
However, that works best if the rest of you are scattered about.
That way I can funnel the enemy to be picked off by the rest of you.
The alternative is that I take a position over there by the door, which would offer good cover, but a lot less angle and flexibility, which means we'd have to ensure the enemy only comes from there."
MacGuyver sighs, but looks determined in spite of his utter exhaustion. No, it's beyond that now. He's running on running, pure adrenaline and emotion and momentum carrying him onward. We don't have the charges to collapse or block those side doors. I think a flexible defense is best. We don't know what's coming, so the more options we leave for ourselves. the better. Let this entire room be our kill box. But, that means watching where you're shooting, everyone! Discipline will win us this day!
You start to scatter around the area and quickly get into cover behind toppled cargo crates and heaps of sevitor-corpses.
The three remaining Space Marines just stand completely immobile right in the middle of the room and close to Liam, bolters held at the ready while the melee-focused magos has taken a position right beside the main entrance, apparently ready to mince-meat anything entering.
Kenneth meanwhile hefts the bulky melta and starts to work on the ends of the walkway.
He needs three shots to properly melt one end sufficiently, then starts to huff and puff his way over to the other end.
At this point, the Astartes suddenly start moving again.
They raise their bolters towards the main entrance in unison.
"Multiple Kill confirmed!"
MacGuyver squeezes off a single, beautiful shot, but it just doesn't have enough punch to put his target down. He then holsters the weapon and starts helping with the bolter's belt of ammo.
5dof
3dos
+4Per bonus
+4 per bonus
Having burrowed himself into a pile of rubbish close to the train line, Ikrit feels he can suitably cover the walkway and 2 of the 3 entrances. Preparing himself for this final holding battle and knowing that he and his fellow ratlings will likely be left to hold until the end, Ikrit is then distracted and so surprised by movement. Jumping at the surprise he nevertheless snaps back to focus quickly and hits one of the moving targets, straight through the heart. Ikrit's following yip of triumph and shake of his fist does little to maintain his hidden position.
Kenneth continues melt doors shut up top. So far it seems like treating this thing like a flamer in 'ray' mode is a decent way to handle it. But he can't forget about his duty to the troops morale: "We're at the end of a long day everyone! But it is HIS day! And we're going back having delivered HIS justice to these plague ridden abnominations! Keep it up for just a bit longer!"
No more than three minutes have passed after you have settled in, nerves still tingling, the coming of the first wave is detected by the Astartes, who also open fire first before any of you can even see anything.
Rythmic, single-shot bolter fire punched trails of rocket-propelled trails through the main entryway.
And then they get in sight.
They are winged insects, reminiscent of flies but the size of a small child with iridescent chitinous armour, dripping mandibles and torn and shredded wings, which by now means should have been able to carry the bulky insects aloft.
The the collected return fire rip into the disordered, fast charge.
Liam's heavy bolter in particular is popping them in quick succession but the considerably less powerful solid rounds from MacGyver and those makeshift pattern the locals are using are having a harder time downing them.
All told, half a dozen of the zipping, droning worse-than-actual-bugs go down to coordinated fire on top of another four downed by the Astartes and one unlucky one passing by the Magos on a low trajectory and getting popped by a crushing mechadendrite like an overripe fruit.
Which leaves only two.
And only for few a moment. They continue their charge against the defenders but never get into actual close contact before getting sniped out of the air by combined fire from all sides.
A whooshing and grinding sound make many heads turn a few moments after the adrenaline shock has somewhat settled down again, heralding the approach of another cargo tube.
The Magos leaves his position near the doorway and heads towards the tube, announcing in a cold tone:
<< This one is bearing noospheric labels indicating a full load of minerals produced by the autominers deep in the planet's crust.
It will require manual exloading before we can use it to exfiltrate.
Considering the lack of servitors, manual labor will be required.
Once done, I shall board it, along with Adeptus Astartes units 271-Gamma and 272-Theta as well as no more than two unaugmented ones of your choice. >>
"I am not strong fight brothers, but I am observant, I stay on guard yess, yess? Perhaps my brethren can help shift the ore? Their weapons are poor compared to yours and we want biggest guns yess?"
Snuggling back into his spot of cover, Ikrit tries agin to hide, but there just isn't enough cover to put him out of sight.
3dof
The side of the cargo tube slides open and reveals a (mostly) neat stack of metal ingots - still emitting waves of heat which causes the surrounding air to flicker and waver like a disturbed fluid.
The Magos immediately starts scanning then let's out a series of beeps and whistles, seemingly directed at the Astartes.
Which remain immobile for a while then one nods, then turns and announces:
"This is pure adamantium, refined from the deepest core mining facilities of this world.
Enough to produce an entire company worth of power armor or the front armor of multiple squadrons of main battle tanks.
We will seize this prize even at the cost of delaying extraction.
By my estimates, there should be enough room for four guardsman or seven of the ... local abhumans. Both, Astartes and myself won't fit."
Liam sighs.
"I'll go, as a trained Medic, I can take Kira with me and keep her alive.
As the leader of the local Abhumans, she is likely to be able to provide us with potentially vital information about the goings on here, and liaise with the rest of them as well."
Jeff looks troubled at the cargo tube, then back towards the main entrance.
"I sure think it is way past time to go.
Do you hear bells tolling too, or am I going crazy at last?"
There is definitively the slow, mournful tolling of a bell in the far distance.
And there is also indistinguishable mumbling or maybe chanting too.
I don't hear it, but then again my ears are still ringing from the Knight exploding a few minutes ago. I want to stay and cover Kenneth. He's going to be the last train out, I just know it. Someone has to drag his holy backside back to base, might as well be me.
Everyone else who can fit, go now!
"I don't hear it, but I not stay and chase my tail. If you not going, then I go."
Kenneth is still busy up top, so he does not participate in the discussion.
MacGuyver approaches Kenneth at the front line. He says, Listen. We aren't going to hold here forever. Especially once the firepower of the Magi and the Astartes are gone. I propose we hold as long as it takes for them to withdraw, then leave out one of these side doors and go find a less dangerous train station. Or just hide and come back here after a few hours or once the crazy murder hereteks get bored and wander off. I think this is the only way we're going to make it out without significant risk of grisly death. What do you think?