"Inquisitor Reykholt has recently passed word to us about some information that he intercepted. The pompous fool expects us to heel and obey his every whim, but this time he might have a point. It seems a Choir of Astropaths has foreseen a grave disaster striking the world of Solace. More importantly, this disaster involves xenos—possibly multiple breeds of the foul creatures. The good news, though, is that if we can recover the Halo of Providence, it may be enough to stop the disaster. That artefact is aboard a lost Imperial ship, the Ardent Crown. The divination also indicates that the vessel is going to arrive in the Solace system shortly—after hundreds of years trapped in the Warp. You confront the xenos and stop whatever tragic fate they intend for Solace."
Watch Captain Hrolf Fangtaker bares his fangs, "Are there any questions, so far?"
Viluf pushed away from the wall, where he had been lounging throughout the briefing and stepped forward, looking around slowly. "Aye I have a question. We recover the Halo of Providence then we extract, or do you want us to leave the ship with a bit of a... bang? We got any way to over tax the core, maybe blow the thing back to the warp from whence it came? Or is there a ship in close proximity to do just that?"
Both sets of Brother Dozeph's arms remain clasped tight to his torso as he awaits Fangtaker's response.
A synthetic voice raises his own query. "What do we know of the artefact and the ship?"
An unprompted grin crosses Athalos's face at Viluf's understated humour. Often, to become an Astartes is to completely divorce oneself from one's humanity... but jokes affirm a Marine's connection to his human heritage. Humanity, the true sacred life-form in the entire galaxy, must be preserved from the Xenos filth who would defile it.
"Solace will never fall so long as any one of us breathes a defiant breath," hisses Athalos from his seat. His fist gradually, reluctantly uncurls. "But as Brother Dozeph asked, what do we know of the Ardent Crown? What type of vessel is it? How was it lost?"
Einar steps forward quietly and asks in an apparently timid fashion.
'uhumm Further to the questions of my eer battle brothers, do we have any indication of the type of xenos that we may meet onboard?"
"Aye, the Ardent Crown is a Cobra-class frigate in the service of the Inquisition and obviously, we would like to recover her and not just the Halo of Providence. But if it comes to a choice between the Halo and the Ardent Crown, the Halo takes precedence. "
"As to how the vessel was lost, let us say the Inquisition will get back to us on that one." Hrolf Fangtaker's lips curl in restrained amusement.
"Eldar involvement is suspected."
"And I will have a data slate on Solace for you all to read."
"Now seeing as there is quite a number of Rout on this team, please be advised that the last bearer of Halo was one of our brothers, Ulf Second-Sight. If he is still alive then rescue him along with other Imperials. If not then, I would dearly love it if his legacy is recovered."
"I understand that the preservation of a Wolf's legacy is the domain of the Wolf Priests in your Chapter. I apologize for being an outsider in this most sacred of duties. If we do not discover him alive and crushing a squad's worth of Eldar skulls, you have my word that Ulf Second-Sight's legacy shall be preserved."
"We will recover him or his legacy and the lanky xenos will pay either way."
+5BS for this mission
"Aye, we will bring him back if he is alive. No Wolf left behind!" Viluf grinned and patted Einar on the back as he spoke. 'What it must be like in the Warp!'
For Viluf
Viluf frowns, scratching his beard in thought. "If this hood is as powerful as I recall, this thing is going to be hotly contested. If it comes to it and we can not retrieve it, do we have a green light to destroy it to keep it out of the enemies hands?"
"Sadly, the Inquisition insists that the Halo must be recovered at all costs."
"Aye, noted." Viluf sighed, but kept his opinion to himself. 'Translation - Bring it back or don't f#~~ing come back. Russ be good!'
"Gather your gear. A ship awaits to take you to meet the Ardent Crown."
Viluf nods to the Captain and snaps off a quick salute, before turning and making his way from the Command area. He waited outside of the door, far enough away from the Captain to be out of earshot, so he could speak to the rest of the Fireteam. 'We ain't figured who is gonna lead this mission yet, probably best we do that before we head out!' He leaned against the wall, waiting for the rest to follow him out.
The quiet techmarine falls in with his new brothers, and says, "We are all strangers, who has led before? I would decide this quick so I can look over our wargear again."
Dozeph offers no obeisance to the Captain as he departs. Crossing the gathered killteam he pauses.
"This crises is a direct result of a son of Russ' weakness. Let a son of Russ redeem him."
Keying his armour mike to open a channel just to Viluf.
" Viluf please don't make me work with this idiot, I may end up shoving his 'weakness' somewhere unpleasant"
Viluf tightend his fists till he could feel his Power Armour creak. He dialled in to the signal that he and Einar alone shared, before replying. "Make you work with him? I might make you hold him while I use his face as a speed bag but no... He won't lead us. He is right however, in so far as a Wolf needs to lead this pacK!"
A thoughtful look crosses Athalos's face as he considers Braggi's words, scrutinizing his body language and cadences his voice. He gives an wide smile. "Who of us has led before? I suspect you have, Brother Braggi! When one of our brother-sergeants falls, often it is one of our specialist brethren who takes command. In a galaxy as lethal as ours, I know I have been forced to assume that mantle far, far too often."
Athalos gives an approving nod to Viluf. There was no need to question whether Viluf had commanded before... his ferocious, primal charisma made that self-evident. His thunderous determination mirrored the single-minded zeal of the Templars.
"Any of us can lead this squad with fury and zeal," Athalos states firmly. "Viluf, Braggi, Einar... and yes, even Dozeph... any one of us would lead our brethren to exterminate the Xenos, save Solace, and discover Ulf's fate."
He hammers his fist against his silver tabard, the skull and rosette of the Inquistion proudly displayed in its center. "Whoever we were in our Chapter before, now we are Deathwatch. I care not whether you are Templar, Iron Hand, or Space Wolf... I have seen all of our chapters massacre the Emperor's enemies on a thousand worlds! Brothers, we shall do here again! Together!"
Athalos stares into each Marine's eyes in turn, proud of the fire he saw within each. "Nonetheless, the Sons of Russ fight as a pack. Tell us which leader will enable you to best bring the Emperor's fury to his enemies. Whomever your choice, it is ever the duty of the Apothecarion to support you."
Viluf stands silent as the Apothecary speaks. He watches the man, weighing him up as he continues his speech. He had not been sure at the start, something had felt off, something smelled wrong, but that was quickly changing. He was, he realized, growing to like Athalos and, if they lived long enough, may even call him friend one day. There was a drive and a power behind his words that made them almost poetic. He would have been a good leader, on any other mission. But for today...
"We are Deathwatch this is true, but there is something more at work here than the mission. This is a job for the Wolves." He gave Dozeph a flat stare.
"Our honor has just been called in to question, all because of one Wolf. So we will answer. A Wolf leads this team, I lead this team. Today. When we return from this mission, when we come back, with the artifact and the lost Wolf, then we will talk Athalos, you and I. You deserve the respect of a Leader but today, on this mission, the Wolves will answer. And we thank you for your support, and you too Dozeph!"
He looks to the Apothecary, and says, "The priests of Fenris are pulled from their packs for their special roles, and we are not formally a part of the chain of command. If I am in charge of an operation, there are likely none left for me to lead."
He nods after Viluf's speech, and then silently heads to the armoury.
As Braggi walks away, Viluf pats him on the shoulder, before following. "Let's move. We have gear to check and an artifact to rescue!" He grinned, prowling down the hallway with deadly grace, despite his hulking size.
Unable to resist the urge to deop back to watch out for his Wolf brother's back, Einar questions himself as to whether it is this lack of trust even in his fellow Astartes, that is why he has never been able to fit in.
Dozeph offers no comment, only a blank gaze as the others preach their candidacy. He lingers a moment, observing how the Wolves cluster together. Automatics and explosives would prove devastating against them.
Falling into step behind them Dozeph keeps at least ten paces in between.
A pity at not achieving command for this mission... Command brings prestige. Prestige brings influence. Influence brings me the Inquisitor who murdered my father. Athalos was a skilled liar and criminal in his past life... as he had exchanged shoulder-slaps with Viluf, only an immaculate facade of eagerness and determination lay upon his features. He betrayed none of the thoughts beneath.
He had meant what he had said to Viluf, though: regardless of his own quest for vengeance, the Kill-Team would always come first for the Apothecary. As he walked beside his brothers towards the armory, he knew he would perform any action necessary to protect them.
You all board the Thunderhawk that delivers you to your ship, The Will of Adamant, a strike frigate.
You spend a 2 uneventful weeks in the warp. Then the ship arrives at the Solace system and you spend a few more days travelling to Solace via sublight thrusters.