Archibald doesn't reveal his position by firing. He doubts his las weapon will do much anyway. In stead he maintains communications and makes sure his teams are all working well together.
Bravo, FIRE. Alpha, Charlie STANDBY! Hold fast, servants of the Emperor! Let HIS glory shine in our shots and burn in our HEARTS!
The beast seems surprised, perhaps it did not truly expect you to put up such a fight?
It finds itself on the back foot (or claw) at any rate, and even backs up a step or two, raising it's blade to shield it's head momentarily.
That is where the brother makes his own move, charging forward, both weapons drawn.
While momentarily distracted, the beast appears to sense his attack, and swings it's massive blade down to block the strike the brother aims with his sword.
That does leave the beast open for a strike with the axe, and as it connects, the beast shrieks in what starts out as pain but quickly changes to rage.
With a swing of the giant gun, the beast almost manages to spear the brother with the bayonet.
Either way, it flings him several meters into the air and away.
Despite this, something has changed, you sense a note of...nervousness in the beast now.
The aura of dread and power is diminished.
Somehow, you know that you CAN win this now, the beast has lost some of it's protection.
"Patience is to offer the God Emperor time to show you HIS plan. There eit is right in the cross hair of your scopes. Fire!"
Pen: 4
Replace one one with a 6 from the DOS for a total of 18x, Pen: 4
Archibald switches the fire rates into high gear. Alpha AND Charlie, FIRE! Bravo, cover! The incoming barrage, including multiple heavy weapons, suddenly lights both flanks of the monster up. Without having to worry about the now flying Brother-Captain, they try to bring down the monster as fast as possible.
Well then... time to hurt this thing!
Iota switches from the pinning "fire in its general direction" pattern over to the "you know what? This gun can HURT" fire pattern and stitches three "blossoms" of boltshell explosions over his arm and chest
As you pour firepower into the beast, you grow even more sure that things have changed.
There is an air of confusion to it's movements, and uncertainty that was not present before.
You do not know HOW you know it, but you are sure of the fact, the beast knows fear now.
Somehow, you just KNOW that it's experiencing true pain for the first time, and it's shaken.
Imagine having gone through millennia, knowing that any wounds it takes will heal, only to find out that all of a sudden, this is no longer the case.
Still, it's not done yet, and it begins to fire back.
However, due to one of it's arms being badly damaged by the magos bolter, as well as Heinrichs precision shot, it's return salvo is not as accurate as it could be.
It does still reap some casualties amongst your men...
One of it's right arms now hangs uselessly at it's side, part of it's lower jaw is blown off, and it's torso is pockmarked by craters.
It's still not done however...
Never change a working approach...
Iotas personal boltgun continues to roar, dishing out the rage of the Omnissiah to the unholy beast desecrating the technological marvel of a ship they still find themselves in. And so craters start to appear - the first one dead center on its fat rotten torso, the next halfway towards its shoulder, on the shoulder and lastly smashing into one of its ugly eyeholes.
The hit almost towards the shoulder but not quite seems especially devastating, blowing not just a huge chunk out of it but seeming to tear into something wet and squishy... someting... important to it perhaps?
Archibald continues to ditrct his squads, trying to keep the monster from focusing it's attention on a clear primary threat
Alpha, cover. All Heavies, FIRE! Pour it on him!
"Eradicate thy for, oh holy bolter, blessed instrument of HIS servants, proof of HIS fierce power and will to demolish the unworthy."
= 14x, Pen:4
You are driving the beast back now!
It's taking a massive beating from your hail of shells.
This is truly how mankind excels, by bolter shells...
Another one of it's arms now hangs uselessly, and it seems like it can no longer raise it's sword.
Apparently, it's enough, and the beast starts to turn, clearly intending to flee.
But your fire is relentless, with great wounds opening up on it's torso, and now also it's back.
Still, it might be a good idea to start firing low, lest the beast manages to make it's escape despite how badly wounded it is.
Archibald immediately recognizes its intent. ALL UNITS: 'Nades out! Blast it's legs! Heavy weapons, priority target: legs. Stop its escape!
While it is not lost on Iota that it would make sense to aim for the legs he has had no training on how to actually do that and still be effective so he keeps up the pain and hopes the others cover the whole slowing it down parts for him.
And it seems his weapon understands his purpose and it too hungers to dish out retribution on the vile defiler of ancient technology running away from them.
Heinrich momentarily closes his eyes as the blizzard of fire is licking at the monster's heels, then increases the magnification of his precision bolter's scope with a quick utter of the Rite of Focus.
After a rapid search, he finds the lump that is the monster's front knee.
It is difficult to keep this small target in his sight but slowly he is getting the measure of its movements...
Whatever the beasts plan, it cannot stand up against sustained firepower. Especially not since it showed you it's back.
Smaller explosions from bolter weapons are joined by larger ones caused by grenades and rockets.
The beast stumbles, recovers, stumbles again...and then begins to topple.
As it goes down, Archibald notices that the hatchet used by the brother-captain has landed at his feet.
Somehow, he knows, that this needs to end permanently, by separating the head of the beast from it's body, using a holy weapon...
Archibald knows on little more than instinct what must be done. Cut off the head, and the snake dies. He's an uncomfortable number of meters up, but the monster is tall.
He takes the hatchet in a strong fist and determination flares in his veins. Symbols have power. He knows this. As a commander there are times to lead from above and there are times to lead from the front. Time for a paradigm shift.
He keys his direct line to Heinrich, whom he knows is lining up a shot. His voice sounds cold as steel and hard as ceremite even to his own ears.
Take the shot.
Then he jumps. As Heinrich's shot streaks in from the side, he freefalls onto the monster's head, ax held high, and hits it like a lightning bolt form heaven! For the Emperor!
Never taking his aim off the beast's head as it stumbles, Heinrich hesitates for a moment, as his Captain picks up the supposedly holy weapon, clearly intent on finishing the job the old way.
Then his com crackles and he hears Archibald's command.
<< As you will, my Captain >>, he responds, a heartbeat before pulling the trigger.
It's blood, it's brutal, and it's not nearly as pretty or dramatic as Archibald probably would have liked, but it works.
It's only half a head that eventually is parted from the neck, after having been hit repeatedly with bolter shells, but it's still a trophy to hold aloft.
And when Archibald does hoist it high, it's meet with deafening cheers that echo through the room and bounce of the walls.
Maybe it's only your imagination, but everything truly DOES feel just a bit lighter now.
The oppressive sense of danger and despair is fading fast.
There is a marked note of triumph and hope int he air now.
<< Praise be, it is over.
The light prevailed this day.
Glory to Lord Captain Thunderblossom!
Glory to the Golden Throne and Holy Terra! >>
He tries to get a vox dispatch from their landing craft back to the sun, speculating that it might work now after the abomination's dispatchment.
Archibald revels in the victory, savroing the sweet lifting of dread and darkness. How he loved this! But he can't guards get too soft. There's still things that need doing.
As the cheers fade just a little, he orders the men closest to the Brother-Captain's trajectory to find him. Hopefully their best source of information about this ship didn't just get slapped into the warp.
Several things happens at once.
Heinrich is informed that there is still a lot of static when attempting long-range vox with the ship, but it seems to slowly be clearing up.
Archibald's command to find the brother-captain is soon answered.
"Lord Captain, we've located the...uh...brother-captain, and the father is seeing to him now, but he says it doesn't look good.
He's...there is a brief pause as if the speaker is listening to a report, suffered deep lacerations that runs from his right hip to his left collar bone, has several broken ribs, a collapsed lung and has lost a lot of blood."
In addition, in the middle of the room, the friendly virtual assistant, human to computer interface, appears.
"Greetings brother-captain Thunderblossom.
Reporting...
Several none vital systems are coming online...
Life support systems at 89% efficiency and rising...
Main power supply 67% efficiency and rising...
Switching from emergency power to main power...
Automated cleansing systems online, initiating purge of hostile programs from system...
Estimated time before full reclamation of systems...6 standard hours...
Further systems analysis underway."
In addition, your vox systems is almost overloaded with simultaneous reports from your various outposts, all reporting a sudden break in hostilities, as the enemy units seems to all but disintegrate all of a sudden.
Archibald responds to his crew first, Good copy. Stabilize him as best you can and ready him for transport. We need to get him back to base camp.
Iota, this area is yours. Make sure we didn't hit anything important, please.
Heinrich, Fall Back to the bridge and see if you can make heads or tails out of it as the ship's systems come back online.
I'm going back to base to get a handle on our new situation.
Once everyone starts moving but before he leaves he goes to Iota to fill him in on what the interface is saying and translate any questions he has for the system.
Iota first turns to his tech adepts
"The danger to our lives is over. Now begins your duty to the machine. Start by compiling a damage report on this room. Use your own disgression but do not hesitate to consult me if the systems are too archaic. Now go."
He then turns to Archibald and the Interface.
"Right. So Archibald, this is going to be a hassle but I suspect get the fastest way to get to know this technology is through this interface hologram. So I will need your extensive cooperation on this for now. But maybe we can make it less time consuming on your part. Try asking it how we can teach it a more modern language."
And thus the technological work starts - Iota will spend most of his time on the Interface, at least initialy with Archibald as translator. If things go exceptionally smoothly then they'll teach the interface gothic - for example by letting it interface with one of the servitors to glean the language from the speech center of its brain. If Iota determines at any point that this process is inefficient - meaning it will take longer to teach it the language than it takes for the work he needs it done right now then he'll switch to the actual work instead.
Either way at one point he will switch over to getting all the technical data from the interface he can. Meaning schematics of the ship, status reports, technical documents and so on. The rough intention he starts this work with is to find a way to get this ship not just online but preferrably removed from the Hulk.
Heinrich offers to also help with the translation effort, as his noble upbringing and officer training at one of the sectors finest navy scholam has left him with a solid grasp of both variants of the Gothic language...
But then asks Captain Thunderblossom:
"Permission to accompany the medevac group. Timing is critical and while I have a lot of trust in Lt. Freyd, I'd rather take responsibility for the timely evacuation of our wounded VIP.
Once back at the sun, I will establish a proper system scan as well as devise a fighter patrol and reconnaissance schedule. Do you want me to also start an escorted crew transfer via shuttles to get this ship operational?"
Archibald nods. Those were my thoughts as well. Proceed. The sooner I can get this ship separated from the rest of the hulk, the happier I'll be.
_____________________________________________
Bridge
____________________________________________
Archiblad finds himself in the most natural place for a rogue Trader, on the bridge.
The fact that the ship might not TECHNICALLY belong to his dynasty isn't a major factor at the moment.
Fining what seems to be the Captains chair, he notes again just how...UTILITARIAN it is in comparison to normal imperial craftsmanship.
No skulls, aquilas, gilt or anything ornamental.
It's a dull white colour, ivory perhaps.
Aesthetically, it looks like it has almost been carved out of a slab of marble (or ivory).
At the same time, it does look surprisingly comfortable in it's austerity.
Of course, part of that is the red velvet looking lining of the seat and back.
With most of the systems slowly coming online, there is a familiar hum of electricity coming from the various cogitator looking devices.
In the middle of the room "spark" is standing vigil.
_________________________________________________
Generator room
__________________________________________________
By now, the place is a hotbed of activity, as you have access to the systems, and "Spark" is proving remarkably useful now that you are able to communicate with it more easily thanks to the language matrix that has been uploaded.
"Spark" helpfully informs you that all systems are now at maximum capacity, baring repairs needing to be made in certain sectors.
______________________________________________________________
Hangar bay
_____________________________________________________________
Heinrich is overseeing the loading of the wounded, and finding it to be done with efficiency.
That is, until he suddenly hears the rustle of fabric, a metallic "Tzing" sound, followed by a frightened "Meep" that is quickly silenced.
As he turns around, he sees the Brother Captain sitting upright on his stretcher, one hand holding his blade to the throat of the medicae that was in the process of securing him.
Heinrich brain helpfully informs him that the Brother Captain isn't even SUPPOSED to HAVE the blade, since it was still with the Rogue Trader.
It then also notes that instead of a deep slash across his chest, there is instead an angry, puckered scar that looks at least a month or so old.
And he certainly has a very steady hand for someone supposedly having several fractured ribs and suffering from massive blood loss.
Heinrich immediately holds up his (empty) hands and goes:
"Halt! Everyone calm down. Brother-Captain, you were badly wounded in the fight and we are in the process of getting you to the apothecary of our ship."
Followed by a whispered vox dispatch to the captain:
<< VIP conscious, armed and confused in the bay. Seems to be doing much better than reported >>
Archibald doesn't sit yet. Instead, he checks with Spark. I need to clarify a few things, Spark. I hold the rank of Brother-Captain and have passed the test of the relic. What authority does that grant me. Is the ship mine as Brother-Captain Holt is injured? How does the chain of Authority work?
Followed by a whispered vox dispatch to the captain:
<< VIP conscious, armed and confused in the bay. Seems to be doing much better than reported >>
Especially as the Brother-Captain seems to have regained Consciousness.