at least 2 DoS, maybe 3 if I use duct tape.
MacVyger proceeds to gather all of the grenades and strap them to explody parts of the bike in a way that the Enginseer probably shouldn't look at too closely...
Pete does his best to secure the steering of the bikes in place so they generally go where they are aimed. If they cannot be "reliably" manipulated in that way, he'll strap the bikes together to make a more stable platform and go for one BIG boom instead of two "smaller" booms.
"Thats about what I wanted to hear. We're going to meet up with the incoming vehicles and convert the Chimera.
As soon as the tech is ready we're sending in the bikes as diversion. We'll load them with all the grenades we have left to make a nice big distraction, then we'll go in with everything else, straight for the cable while smoking up the area between us. Won't stop the orks from coming probably, but the worm most likely won't care about us while we're hidden.
Now just one more thing. Once we got the cable down and connected, can you actually blow up the Rokk from here or do you have a way to start things at the first node? Say.. having instructed the Troopers there how to hit the start switch for you?
We're not waiting around for you make the trip back while under fire from the worm thing."
Anatoly nods in response to the Commissar, "Yes, sir. I foresaw potential need and can operate Margret's link from here through vox net. It must be actively controlled in case of anomaly or necessary last minute adjustment. I also control severing charge from here. Too much depend on destroying Rokk."
Aurius, as more intelligent and important discussions are occuring around him, will just look around for any hostiles but will otherwise busy himself with keeping the area secure.
Both tech-affine members of the squad starts to prepare tech-stuff at a feverish speed once the decision is made. Instinctively you take quite a few steps back as MacVyger starts to rig one grenade after the other to the fuel tanks of the Ork machines with a couple of layers of duc tape and (lots of) wires connecting their detonators - while whistling.
Most of you are observing the battle down below and are equally disturbed and amazed at the tenacity of both the Orks (who are loosing one small vehicle after the other) and the worm (who soaks up a simply ridiculous amount of punishment).
Finally, you can make out the rumbling of approaching, heavy tracked vehicles from behind and a quick check reveals that it is indeed Lt. Harker with the Fist and Angelus that are meeting up with you at last. Both vehicles clearly have seen heavy combat recently, their armor plates peppered with small arm impacts and scorched from flames. Fist in particular features a nearly head-sized area in ita front armor that must be the scar of a direct rocket hit. It has nearly blasted through, but the Emperor was with the Lieutenant and the armor held.
After arriving, Lt. Harker appears atop his tank and quickly heads over to the Commissar, hand waving him away from the rank&file, loudly requesting: "So what is the plan for engagement, you came up with, Commissar?
An attack at that cluster... of madness ahead seems dangerous and beyond our limited capabilities, no?"
Once you are out of earshot and you probably have told him about the plan, he will lower his voice and rumbles on.
"I have filed a report for the Commissariat.
It concerns the crew of Angelus. They were actively hindering the progress of our retreat here and were singularly to blame for the loss of the Sentinel and its pilot as well as near mutiny during our wait at the forward position.
If the situation wouldn't be as severe as it is, I would request immediate summary execution, but for now ... Please transmit this report to the Commissariat such that their failings are known even if we die today."
Despite a heroic effort, it is clear for you that the Lieutenant is simmering with anger and ... revenge?
Shortly after the arrival of the other remaining squad, they dismount their Chimera and approach Bolus, seeking his leadership and approval.
The area quickly fills with talking and lamenting of all sorts...
Hidden behind the wall of talking and reciting, one of the squad is approaching you, clearly some kind of nonofficial leader - maybe the one you have exchanged messages with.
"Father! It is good to be in your inspiring presence again.
The long wait, these foul creatures in our sights, was an arduous test of our dedication and duty.
We seek to engage the foe with you leading the charge, rather than other ... less Emperor blessed ... soldier."
He (and those around, covering your exchange) beams at you with a feverish expression in their eyes.
I REALLY suspect the Emperor is too busy to listen to that lot...
But if you should be paying attention to this area in space at this particular time, I wouldn't say no to being placed as far away from that bunch of t!*+s as possible.
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You have done well to follow the order of your superiors. Bolus nods at them Verily we are the Emperor's tools to be used as he sees fit. Sometimes we are the shield, sometimes we are the plow, and sometimes we are honored to be the Sword. Bolus tone changes and becomes more fierce But do not presume to know what the Emperor wishes at any moment. His ways are beyond our limited abilities to understand him. He demands that we be willing to die in his name. Whether we are sent into the teeth of the enemy to do so is for him to decide. Not any of us. Bolus swats away their desire to charge with theological disdain. It may be the Emperor wishes you to live for many years and raise a new generation of soldiers who know their duty as well as you do. You will Humble yourselves for your presumption that you would know who is Blessed by the Master of Mankind Who is not! Recite the Imperial Hymn 100 times. And focus on the verse
Exalt the Immortal Emperor
For His Strict Guidance
By rebelling against his Strict Guidance. You Fail to Exalt him. Exalt him now with your prayers!
Bolus stares down the crew until they perform the prayer to his satisfaction. If they do then he nods.
But your fervor is glorious to behold! And pleasing to Him! I will speak to the Commissar on your behalf. Stay here and I will return with his orders, and yea we will follow them as if the words came from the Master of Terra Himself!
Bolus strides to the Commissar on the other side of the encampment. Commissar! I have spoken with some of the crew of the Angelus. They are willing to die for the Emperor. Praise be. I understand that our purpose here is to... attack the Xenos with... electricity. I judge that the men and women of the Angelus may be best used in service of this objective as a... distraction. I judge them to be fine berserkers and I will volunteer to guarantee that their wrath is pointed in a manner that best guarantees the success of the rest of us. Bolus gives the Commissar a pointed look Verily a flamer cannot be used to parry an attack any more than a shield can be used to scourge the heretic.
We're sending in the zealous druggies as a shield while we do the real work?
This plan has the approval of the self proclaimed only sane man in this outfit!
"I appreciate your report Leutenant but I believe now is not the time for long distance calls.
Instead, let me take you into confidence what I have inferred about your... charges. While I wasn't personally informed I am quite sure the Commissariat is well and aware of the problematic nature of the regiment in question. It is a... boon from their homeworld to be quite a bit religous and overzelous, to the point of it being a problem.
Naturally they were not palmed off on you for you to babysit a bunch of wannabe Sororitas in mens clothes. Someone up the chain of command seems to have quite the trust in you. Trust to handle those fools and trust you will find a way to use them for the benefit of the imperium. And if you ask me that trust is very well merrited. You brought us here through all hardships, be it flying ork contraptions or religous nutjobs and we stand here ready to fulfill the mission given to use thanks to your leadship.
Now, I said to find a way to use them but I believe to "use them up" is more approiate term at this point. They will be used to draw fire in this engagement and I won't expect many of them to live. Think of it as the same principal as a penal legion. Die with honor and earn redemption rather than staining the honor of their regiment and their homeworld."
The Commissar smiles at the last comparison the Priest made.
"Father if you survive this I'll introduce you to an old friend of mine from the schola days who went on to become an arbites. He'll be able to show you what a shield can do to a face if said face is obstructing the emperors laws.
Anyway to the point.
I appreciate your offer to lead them to ensure they will be of use but I fear even a holy man such as yourself has only one life to give for the Emperor and I believe your volunteering to be the enginseers shield while working on the cable is of higher priority. If he is shot down from there then everything else we do here today is for nought.
Instruct them about your vital role and ask them to attack the orks and the xenos monster from the left flank, while we go for the objective on the right flank.
I would appreciate it if they spread out. We don't have a vehicle for them to dodge the worms spit attack, so they will last longer that way. But this is a suicide assignment and it is up to their own judgement how much honor they wish to bring to their regiment, their homeworld, and thus to his divine majesty. Every second they survive is a second closer to the completion of the mission and the defense of his majesties domain."
Once again, the words of the 'holy man' fall upon fertile soil and the men (and women) milling around the priest fall upon their knees and start a feverish, fervent prayer session unlike anything you have witnessed on Serenus. The leader is producing a whip-like instrument from his backpack and starts to flagellate himself, each time the whip bite into the flesh of his back, the volume of his prayer increases. Until the point where his sermon is clearly audible even over the sound of the idling vehicles and the close-by firefight.
The others follow his prayer, intoning the choral with similar fervor, while passing an expensive looking flask around from with every soldier takes a deep gulp after having it raised towards the heavens and intoning the same choral.
From the circling flask, a sharp aroma waves over to you.
A mix of alcohol, unknown spices and some other smells you would rather associate with a laboratory than a ritual drink.
The Lieutenant nods several times throughout your talk and seems to finally be able to reinforce his iron will again - which clearly has eroded during the last days.
"Thank you, Commissar.
Your judgment is good and just.
You're a good man. And a good Commissar.
That combination is ... rare.
What a shame you ended up in this dirthole with such a low chance of survival..."
At this point the screaming-prayers back from the vehicles reaches a volume loud enough to be heard over here.
"... and with such crazy fools.
I'll ready the Fist's Crew and have the Enginseer calibrate our targeting matrix again.
We have only five rounds left after the diversion - we better make them count."
With that he turns back, quickly approaching 'his' tank.
His walk is clearly back to the former strict, military way you have become to associate with him.
Anatoly, not really being one for conversation and not wanting to take any longer in his exposed position atop the sentinel than absolutely necessary, climbs the outside of the machine until he is perched just below the level of its roof.
With the return of the Lieutenant from his 'strategic get-together' with Commissar Lind it is becoming clear for everyone that the final push is about start.
You all suddenly feel your nerves prickling upon this though.
Not only are you going to ride into an incalculable two-way (soon three-way) brawl of major proportions, no you actually do this to somehow blow up a massive, space-faring asteroid-ship that survived planetary entry and a crash that formed most part of the Canyon you passed on the way here.
Regardless of your feelings, the preparations continue and the final moment is finally there!
MacVyger rolls his explosive creation into its (final) start position ...
... and with a quick, well-trained move, uses the next-to-last of his tape to fixate the throttle of the machine.
ROOOOARRRRRR!
The Ork-Explosive-Tape-Creation speeds away and the three remaining vehicles let their engines jump to full power, filling the narrow Canyon with a sound not unlikely to some of the more feral beasts of your homeworld.
In spite of all his preparations MacVyger is feeling like this is a level of insanity he never aspired to, and he volunteered for explosives specialization! Charging into an Ork battle with a rock-eating megaworm with the hopes of blowing up a Rok and somehow surviving that very event... You can't make this stuff up.
But even still, his hands tremble slightly. He hasn't decided if it's fear or excitement yet.
The strain of the upcoming battle is exhausting to the priest, as is the stress of keeping the people of multiple worlds from murdering each other over their differing expressions of The Imperial Cult. Tremors go through Bolus' body as fatigue overcomes his soul. It is only through much personal discipline that he will be able to suppress it he fears.
Reroll through Unsakeable Faith Talent
Liam is unable to contain his sudden fear, brought on by a sudden and unexpected (if very logical) reminder of his own very real mortality.
In short order, he begins to display all the classic symptoms.
Sweaty hands that are shaking slightly, dry mouth, his face going pale and his eyes beginning to roam around nervously.
Fortunately, he is able to control his bodily functions beyond this, and does not make a fool out of himself beyond what is absolutely necessary under the circumstances.
Oh dear...
In true Mechanicus form, Anatoly simply calculates the odds of various actions succeeding, files the data away, and continues on with his tasks.
Aurius was excited. Up 'till this point the only real danger that made him truly worry was his close encounter with a Killa-Kan and the prospect of seeing such a vital mission through to its conclusion to unleash the full might of the Imperial Guard upon the unsuspecting Xenos that dared think they could claim an Imperial Hive from its rightful owners.
Bolus was selected to instruct 'his' squad about their part of the plan. Having problems with his feelings and nervousness, he half-feared that they would refuse to take such a suicidal mission upon them, despite their previous words. But the shine of excitement and eagerness in their faces, all but eradicated that fear. The only close moment is, as he told them that he would not accompany them, since his mission is a different one.
It may have turned against him in the end, if not for the Commissars pre-battle rallying speech.
The well known words about 'duty for the Emperor', 'to each his own battle' and 'final strike to slay the abominable Xeno threat in this area' are well placed and help you focus your mind to the task at hand.
Then the moment comes!
The double-explosive bike races ahead, the zealous decoy squad rushing in behind (screaming holy litanies at the top of their voices) and the three vehicle convoy moves down hill - still carefully due to the treacherous, louse terrain.
The favors of battle seems to shift towards the Orks as en exceedingly lucky shoota boy places a rocket right into the open mouth of the monstrous worm! The resulting explosion reduces a 1m portion of the giant maw to disintegrate in a shower of bloody gore and acid. The worm trashes around in obvious pain and convulses uncontrolled.
Oblivious to all the chaos around, the prepared double-bike roars along the valley, jumping over stones, crashing against other ork bikes, slightly altering course to the right after a particular violent bounce, passing the trashing Worm by a mere meter until it finally crashes against the far side of the triangular area ....
The detonation shakes the ground, violently enough to be felt even inside the Chimera.
And it is quickly followed by several follow-up detonations as the emplacement that was near-hit, goes the exothermal way as well, collapsing a good 20m of the far-side wall.
Two Ork bikes close to the impact are peppered with fragments and their drivers topples from their rides. A buggy's driver fanatically dodges the worst of the fireball, only to crash into two bikes racing in from behind. The Orks just have enough time to get off their wrecked vehicles, before the thrashing body of the worm reduces their scrap-vehicles to just that: scrap. Pretty flat scrap.
Initiative:
Ordering:
Fist
Worm
Nutjobs
Orks
You
The Leeman Russ bares its teeth!
The frontal mounted lascannon blazes to life, slicing into the ork buggy ahead with a perfect hit, causing the contraption to erupt into a fireball.
The turret turns to face emplacement A and the ground shakes under the Battlecannon's roar! The HE round slams against the rock wall, two meters to the left of the target, chipping away a good chunk of rock from the wall but the emplacement seems to remain intact.
Having much less powerful weapons, the faithful soldiers of Squad Angelus rush along the Canyon walls as fast as their feet can carry them, bayonets readied and shouting their faithful warcries.
Bolus, eye twitching, marches forth to take his place with the front of the firing line. Firing where he's directed.
MacVyger runs Longleg into the arena at full speed and practically slides down the hill into the arena! He skids to a stop next to the power cable and keeps an eye out for anyone targeting them.
Liam, nervous and slightly unstable takes his place, having braced his gun and being ready.
Despite that, he dies not fire, instead his pride demands he line up a good shot, to make up for his slightly shaky hands.
Thanks to the unbreakable grip of his Omnissiah-blessed true-arm, Anatoly rides the walker until it comes to a stop below the cable. Climbing the rest of the way to the roof, Anatoly breaks out the auspex to get a closer, more accurate reading off the cable to try and determine where the best point to sever it would be. As he perches atop the Sentinel, his manipulator anchors him to the wall of the canyon.
With a veritable maelstrom of activity suddenly springing to life around him, Aurius sees Longleg and the Enginseer take off and, in a moment of trusting his gut, gets up out of the cover he was hiding behind and runs after Longleg towards the cable - they were the lynchpin of this plan succeeding and he felt he would be put to better use making sure that the enginseer did his job successfully.
The Commissar takes the command hatch of the Angelus Chimera. Seeing the bikes explode on the far wall he does a quick check on the gun emplacements further down the cable. Seeing the buggy explode he puts up a grim smile
So much for let them continue their fight without giving them a reason to direct their attention towards us.
"The Fist has shown how this is done - if you happen to have high explosive tank shells on you. For everyone else - let's show the Fist what a disciplined hail of needles can achieve!"
But his aim is not as good as his words for once and the lasbolt impacts on the ground several meters away from the bike.
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The push has started ... And in favor of the Imperials! Under massive fire from the gunports and with some support of the secondary weapons from Fist, one more bike (or rather its rider) falls.
As the two other combat sides first starts to acknowledge the appearance of a new enemy, the remainder of Battlegroup Gamme-13 has already reached its destination and Anatoly starts his work.
The cable is even thicker than the last one and a downright massive current is running through. For a couple of milliseconds you hesitate. Such a huge current may prove very dangerous, even for an enhanced follower of the machine god like Anatoly Dashkov!
Waving away the doubt, you activate tiny, mono-edged circular saw of the manipulator arm and near it to the cable ...
One blink of an eye after the little saw connects with the ork-leg-sized cable, many things are happening at once.
A blinding bright arc of blue pightning short-cuts through the manipulator arm, Anatolies Potentia Coil, down his left leg, through the Sentinel's power system and into the ground in a sparkling light show.
While the Enginseer is able to simple conduct the current through, even super-charge his energy supplies, the Sentinels fine systems are not as robust and shut down to prevent permanent damage.
This only leaves the Pilot of the Sentinel...
MacVyger is not spared any of the full effects and is thrown around in the operator seat in spasms as the electricity runs through him in several places at once until a particular violent one throws him off his seat and down from the Sentinel, his hair raised like spikes and slightly steaming - the air smells like ozone, burned hair and braised imperial guard uniform.
Despite the shocking side effects, the goal is met and the cable comes loos and falls to the ground, spraying sparks in every direction - from a very clear cut nevertheless!
In addition, the automatic fire from the remaining gun emplacements stops as well!
Orkish screaming fills the air, now that they are (well) aware of the new player in between them. Two buggies and four bikes turn course in your direction and dramatic shouting from the closest gun emplacement tells tales about the efforts the Orks in there are taking to make their guns work again. The battle is about to start in earnest!
The battle heats up with no side being the clear winner.
The worm comes gert, very close to dissolve another ork buggy, but its driver manages to pull of a physically questionable dodge just in the nick of time - which in turn throws off the aim of its gunners as well.
An Ork bike rushes right into squad Angelus, simply overriding one, shooting down another one, then in turn gets stabbed off his ride by two bayonets and only to get hacked and shot to pieces.
The battletank misses an approaching Trukk by a hairs breath (only to nail a bike behind it, which ceases to exist in any recognizable manner). The Trukk in turn overspeeds and is past the imperials in a roaring blink of an eye - leaving six shouting Ork behind. Whether this was a planned dismount or they actually just fell off is hard to tell. But one thing is certain: They are close. They are angry. And they start moving towards you, waving big, two handed choppas in your direction.
MacVyger lays on the ground burning. All he can think of is the machine shop back home. The smell of oil and the tangy scent of ozone as he and his friends built their latest contraption. It was heaven. This, well this was hell. He yelps and gasps invoulentarily as his body struggles to cope with the wallop he just got handed. He then slips into the sweet, sweet embrace of unconsciousness.
"Trooper down! Medic to the Operator! Small arms focus your fire on the orks in front of us!"
Half Aim +10
Single Shot +10
Laser Sight +10
Brace(Dedicated Firing position, Commander Seat) +15
= 82
If the orks are within the reach of his flamer Bolus drops his rifle and spreads a cone of flame in front of him to catch as many of the orks as possible.
Having lined up a good shot, Liam is jerked from his concentration by the order of the Commissar.
Well that's just great...but it's at least within my talents.
"I'm on it sir!"
Liam quickly begins to hoof it over to the downed operator.
Aurius starts to move to put himself between the medic and the incoming orks and fires off a quick single shot at the aforementioned greenskins.
E Damage, Pen 7
From atop the Sentinel, the thick cable secured in the iron clutch of his mechandrite, the Enginseer fires a bright-blue stream of crackling energy from the unique, mechandrite-mounted weapon - while starting to incorporate the prepared modification already!
Sadly the attack misses the target by a hands width - still causing some of the disgusting Xeno hair to turn into ash.
The hull-mounted heavy bolter opens up against the sudden appeared enemy but the gunner is clearly searching his aim, as the salvo is still slightly off.
With a clang the top hatch of the tank opens and Lt. Harker mans the pintle mounted Storm Bolter and sends a tight pack of explosive bolts into the tightly packed Orks - with great success!
13X, Pen 4
12X, Pen 4
13X, Pen 4
8X, Pen 4
Two bolts to the head causes one of the Orks () to loose focus and slow down considerably. The rest press on, despite several solid hits!
Both Aurius and Lind scores crippling hits against two Orks in the front rank, but both Orks press on!
Bolus lets loos with (holy) fire, catching four Orks in the firey-hot cone... but most of the Orks actually manage to evade the burning promethium with nimble moves that surprises everyone - probably including them. But even the one who is caught by the flames, presses on!
One of their numbers is clambering up the side of the battletank, two head directly towards the Sentinel (Anatoly, Liam, MacVyger) the others make for Bolus - their eyes (and in one case their whole body) burning with hatred.
Ork I: (burning), 1 fatigue
Ork II: @+4, useless arm , 1 fatigue
- 14-6=8 taken (Aurius)
Ork III:
Ork IV: @-2, 2xfatigue
- 13-6=7 taken
- 8-6=2 taken
- 14-6-6=2 taken (Lind)
Ork V:
Ork VI: @-1
- 13-6=7 taken
- 12-6=6 taken, -1crit (only half action)
vs Fire: 1-4
Seeing the monstrosities so close Lind gets out of the commanders seat and onto the top of the chimera, blazing away at the orks
This is about to get messy, better be ready to dodge.
BS 37
Semi Auto +0
Point Blank +30
= 67
"Driver! Chimera 2 meters forward! Connector to the techpriest, vehicle
between the orks and the downed operator!"