Athenee Moran's page

The lower bunk has part of a sheet and some spare uniform items hanging down from above, giving some small semblance of privacy to its occupant when she sleeps. Athenee isn't asleep, though she sits wrapped in a blanket, her back to the wall. She is slow to respond to Kaminsky's greeting, and by the time she does look up Zora has turned back to give him a reproving glare. That doesn't stop Athenee though, and with a dreamy smile she sheds the blanket and comes to her feet.

"I shouldn't - but sure, why not?" Glancing back at her friend she gave her the same smile and a little shake of her head. "Don't worry Zora, I'll be fine. If I'm not back by the briefing, bring our packs there?" Then back to Kaminsky, ration pack in hand. "Well, shall we? Actually I'm scared half to death. I've never been off world before now, and from what I hear it's going to be very different down there to Mordion."

Ready when everyone else is.

Back in the barracks Zora is idly sharpening her combat knife, legs hanging over the end of her bunk as she watches the galaxy go by. In this particular case, that means she sees the rest of the platoon come drifting back into the barracks at their own pace. For months now - years for some of them - this big echoing room has been the closest thing any of them have had to a home, but tomorrow they would leave it for more exotic sights. Would many of them ever make it back? She eyes the wall over the bunk thoughtfully, casts a surreptitious look around the room and leans across the thin mattress to make her mark on the world.

Seizing the moment, Athenee picks up a pair of each - stowing one set of goggles and respirator inside her tunic and carrying the others casually by her side as she and her friend stroll back to their barracks. By the time they are called to the regimental briefing, they will both make sure they have all their kit - and their mounts are ready for battle.

At this rate they'll just drop the entire regimental briefing room, she reflects wryly.

With Zora covering her back, Athenee bends over the bodies of the fallen and slips one of the local combat knives away into her uniform. She can tell she's hardly alone in this, but instead of picking up a grenade or an autogun she takes the time to search about their persons for anything concealed, valuable or possibly tradeable.

Awareness vs 14+20+10+10: 1d100 ⇒ 45

1 Fate spent

Athenee feints again with her knife, lashing out in a wide shallow slash that her opponent evades with contemptuous ease; only to find himself staring over the barrel of a leveled laspistol at two lethally focused hazel eyes.

With a single flash of light the fight is over, and she looks around to check on Zora.

We can do that ;)

Get well soon!

Should we bother keeping on making combat rolls, or assume all our blows strike home until the confrontation with Kelliber is over?

Dodge WS attack vs 56: 1d100 ⇒ 49

Athenee is barely aware of Zora's close fight to her left; she was busy enough leaping back just past the raking blade of the tall pale man before her. This was the first alien she had ever seen, and she stared up at him in a mixture of fear and hatred.

But she had a knife too, and feinted a slash at his arm before firing off another short burst in semi-automatic mode, at point blank range. As the two of them move in melee her accuracy is nothing to write home about, but can he avoid both the shots, with her blade weaving and slicing toward him as well?

Feint (opposed WS): 1d100 ⇒ 31 <-If she beats him, he can't dodge or parry
Standard Attack vs 35+10+30-20: 1d100 ⇒ 47

Leg shot: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Does Dodge need to be trained to roll it against our unmodified Agility?

Even with the searing rain of lasfire the hard angry core of the Telumen charge is still bearing down on them, and Athenee has been schooled better than to allow herself to be caught out that way. Drill Sergeant Briggs would have had a field day if she'd chanced that - and he hadn't been left behind on Mordion. Dropping her carbine to hang loosely from her torso, she drew her longknife and pistol and laid down a pair of searing shots at the foe who comes closest to her, fastes,

Laspistol forms vs 35+30: 1d100 ⇒ 20

Headshot, 1 of 2: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Headshot, 2 of 2: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Athenee coughs twice harshly and squeezes shut her eyes; when she re-opens them they seem to be starting to focus better and she makes out the looming shapes of the Telum advance. Without wasting time standing, she scoops up her las carbine and fires a semi-automatic burst at the closest of them before he can strike at her - or her squadmates. Two streaks of light sear through the foggy shadows at the Teluman looking directly over her, illuminating her tight smile. "Come down to my level, if you dare!"

BS 35+30: 1d100 ⇒ 38 - 2 additional degrees of success mean two hits to target, in its right leg (which makes sense given where she's shooting from).

Target's right leg: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
(Same) target's right leg: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Such as it is. I'll wake up in the next round, by my count.

Zora dashes forward to Liam's side, takes Moran's other shoulder and helps him tow her back behind the metal crate. There she covers him, her las gun flashing out fire as she tries to keep the enemy back long enough for a grenade - and for her friend to recover enough to defend herself.

By the looks of her Athenee isn't quite there yet; propped against the wall, her eyes are wide and staring while smoke-stains spread over her cheek to occlude much of her face. She seems to be largely unaware of the situation, including the fiery rhetoric from the Teluman champion or the impending charge.

Toughness vs 13: 1d100 ⇒ 18

Closer than I expected actually.

One moment Athenee is carefully detaching the triggers from the charge beneath the pale body blocking the intersection, the next the world turns blue and her body flips backwards into a wall. The stunned form of Trooper Moran slides down the wall to form a limp pile on the floor, smoking slightly. Fortunately it didn't strike her hard enough to break bone, but it's safe to say she's going to be sore when she wakes up and won't be leading the way down the side passage to get behind the enemy any time soon.

On the other hand, the intersection is open. Maybe the Eyes of the Emperor were upon her?

"Cover me Zora!"

Gauging the situation up ahead with another glance around the corner, Athenee dashes forward as her friend aims threateningly down the corridor ahead. Strangely from the flow of the fight, Trooper Moran finds herself some ways ahead of the point and keeps low as she approaches the booby trapped body and begins trying to defuse the trap.

Tech-Use to Defuse vs 47: 1d100 ⇒ 61

Where they go is up to the Sarge, making sure they're free to go there falls to one of the tech-adept among them. Without Gregori, that probably means it's her job.

Uh oh.

Survival: 1d100 ⇒ 10

Doing her best to cover Kaminsky's advance, Athenee moves up rapidly behind him and across the passageway, crouching behind a metal supply crate some 15 metres from the earlier Telumen position. The enemy's fire actually seems to be slacking off after the Sarge's grenade, and she can see the bodies littered around the intersection.

She peers closely at them. Wasn't... isn't that a... "Careful of the bodies, boys and girls - I think the filth have trapped them."

It's fine, hope the tests come back good for you.

Awareness: 1d100 ⇒ 46

"I can't help you hook up some Astartes, but we'll do what we can." Both women lean out of cover, Zora ducking across to the other side of the corridor. They're far enough up the passageway that they're outside the weird blue smoke, and Athenee raises her carbine to her shoulder and pans it slowly across the corridor, keeping an eye out for enemies as she watches over Alex's advance.

Overwatch. Will fire at the first enemy on she sees in her view area on SAB, prioritizing enemies trying to attack Alex, then Zora, then herself. Pre-rolled attacks are below.

BS vs 45: 1d100 ⇒ 51
BS vs 45: 1d100 ⇒ 58

So I'd miss both shots - unless some of the fallen enemy get back up, in which case I have +10 and hit them with one shot - but any enemy would still need to make a pinning check. Hopefully their rolls are as bad as mine!

"Think we're deep enough now?", he says, as he arrives at the cover.

"I think so," Athenee gives him a strained smile and nods back to where the grenades are arcing down toward where they were a short dash ago. "Ask me again if we aren't half-fried in the next few seconds." She should look out and make sure the others are running. She should check and make sure they're safe... but right now? She's in the nook, and Zora and Alex are there with her.

That will do for now, until they start going off.

Stun! Stun! Stun! Get to cover!" Warning given, Athenee suits deed to words and runs - forward, deciding that she's already too far forward to make it back to safety. It's her turn to tug Zora after her as they keep their heads down and sprint under the ominously glowing blue arcs, turning left and diving through the open hatch some 30 meters from the Telumen squad, her friend close behind.

Tactical Advance

Roll damage too Grigori; if you think there's any chance of hitting, it's worth putting the damage up in case the enemy doesn't dodge.

Awareness vs 14: 1d100 ⇒ 9 Astonishing, Success

Twitching her nose at the smell of ozone, Athenee peers carefully out around the line of the doorway. In the undercity, that tends to mean there's some huge piece of machinery threatening to overload - which might mean she would be sent in to stop it from making a seared crater. Here it might mean... something worse. Looking for the scent's origin, she takes careful aim at the Teluman who seems to be at greatest risk of unleashing it - whatever it is - on the squad and fires a swift pair of shots at him. Or her.

Aimed attack vs 55: 1d100 ⇒ 76 - miss
Standard attack vs 45: 1d100 ⇒ 33 - hit to body?
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

The first sears past, the second seems to slam home and Athenee slides back out of sight while Zora lays down a withering hail of fire.

Dodge: 1d100 ⇒ 34

There is a roar of fire from up the corridor, and the slender figure of Moran just manages to dive out of the way and into the shelter of the waiting doorway as a round skips off the bulkhead at chest-height and away into the distance. "Zora! Zora? Where the kraka are you?" Athenee peers around the corner and then ducks back into shelter as lasfire and autorounds criss-cross inches past her face. "Zora!?!"

A rush of movement and the large black-haired woman dives into the doorway behind her, driving her against the doorframe forward and leaving Athenee gasping for breath. Before she can stagger out into harm's way, Zora grabs her shoulder and tugs her back. "Now then little one, I know you're eager to get to grips with the enemy but that's what your gun is for; no need to get yourself fragged on your first day!"

Off-turn, I'll wait until the others have a chance to lay down fire.

Oh good! I'll wait to see what other people want to do before we react to incoming shots and respond in kind.

I notice we didn't get a chance to pick up our armor... or at least no one's said they've put it on yet.

Do we armor up in quarantine?

I've moved up to a door about 40 meters away from them (in my first move), so that might clear one of the others around where the rest of the squad is.

Fire's getting a little fierce!

I figured you'd deserve our loyalty, you seem like a good Sarge.

As long as Athenee doesn't completely lose her head given it's her first time in combat lol.

Don't mind most of us giving you immense personal loyalty I hope?

One moment they're advancing quickly towards the sound of combat, the next the fighting has come to them in a maelstrom of spitting fire. Zora and Athenee were a safe distance behind the vanguard, but now she is huddling within a doorway without any idea of where her comrade's gone. She knows she should be, she should be doing something, but all she can do is stare and huddle and pray, her thumb flicking the switch back and forth, back and forth.

"Fire back men, push them back with all you got, let them now no one f~@#s with the Night Ripper's"

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and lean out from cover and fire at the menacing figures behind the autoguns firing at them. Screaming out defiance as her carbine draws two searing lines from her doorway straight at them.

Las carbine 1 vs 35: 1d100 ⇒ 2
Las carbine 2 vs 35: 1d100 ⇒ 10

Fire filling her mind, Athenee dives out from her shelter and ahead to a service hatch some twelve feet down the corridor, intent on killing her demons once and for all.

Assuming no range modifiers and those two hit, that's one head hit and one right arm hit.

Right Arm: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 w 3 degrees of success
Head: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 w 2 degrees of success

Even so :)

Besides, Camael voted for that one first.

Let's say Killers, since I'm not sure any of us have actually been issued with knives :)

+1 for Kelliber's Killers or Kelliber's Knives

Agility Test: 1d100 ⇒ 33

The ship quakes, and Athenee snaps awake as she tumbles off her bunk and lands on her feet. It still takes a few moments before she comes completely to herself - shaking her head, looking around the room for something coming at her. Then Major Borivoj bursts through the door and abruptly it's on.

Athenee trots briskly through the ship, accepting a carbine and the extra charge packs in the Munitorum and automatically adjusting the weapon to overcharge. As Liam and Camael move off down the passageway, she waits until they're a full five feet off and inclines her head to Zora. The two of them set off down the passage in their wake, one sticking to either bulkhead to reduce notice.

Standard Regimental Kit includes a riding beast, you don't suppose...? Also, I'm still going for something with the Sarge's name. Maybe Kelliber's Crew, Squad Kelliber, Kelliber's Crooks or whatever

Giving Kaminsky a casual parting wave, Athenee turns back and makes tracks out of the Mechanicus chambers and toward where her platoon is quartered. The Adeptus can have a queer affinity for their machines, and while most folk would be uncomfortable in the tight and dimly lit quarters so close to the noisy ship's workings the Adeptus actually seemed to prefer it.

Making her way (somewhat indirectly) back to the long ranked dormitories, Athenee stepped through the door and past the first two troopers with a wild-shy glance back across one shoulder. Her den back on Mordion was rarely silent, but the sounds here were different and sometimes that got to her - reminding her powerfully just how far from home she was. Seventeen steps to the door, eyes down, moving with swift grace as she made a beeline for her bunk.

Everything seems to be fine with her walker, its refitted now, and she's just not ready for the other conversation just yet, so she flings a complicated glance across the Bay and then steps away from C-1139 and gives Alex a wry smile. "I can do that, Kaminsky. Right this way, mind the loadhaulers. Gillian would get upset with me if I turned her favorite psyker into a red smear on the decking." By the way she crinkles her nose and the laughter in her eyes she's not altogether serious about her callous attitude - though she does seem to have something on her mind.

She leads the cheerful man out of the maintenance bay proper and toward Gregori's lair, continuing the thread of their conversation. "Just the one seat I'm afraid, so it'd be a tight fit - and I'm not sure the Navy is ready for Sentinels striding their decks. Make it harder for them to look down their noses at us when we're ten feet in the air, you know?" She laughs briefly, ducks under a coil of power cabling and gestures to the door ahead of them. "Maybe when we're down, if you promise to keep the gribblies off us. Deal? He's in here I think."

Now free for the evening, Athenee made her way through the ship and down seven levels toward the Maintenance Hangar Bay, leaving Zora to her own amusements. Having double duties as a Rough Rider and a Sentinel pilot meant she tended to have less off duty time than most, and she always had to ensure that C-1139 was ready for deployment or Sergeant Jarsus would be all over her, tearing raw strips off her back or worse.

She can see half the members of 4th Platoon - the few, the damned, the outcast - strewn around the bay doing their own maintenance work but before she went to speak to any of them she went to visit her mighty two-legged steed, running her hands over its lines and looking around carefully for any damage or defects that might need her attention.

Tech-Use 47: 1d100 ⇒ 18 MoS 2

It's always the way, hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait. Athenee gives the corporal an apologetic half-smile and quickly works her way down the pages with two scrawled signatures that bear a passing resemblance to the name her Ministorum-raised mother cursed her with. Then she makes her escape, thanking the Emperor that today he's too busy to chat. You meet a lot of people as a requisitions clerk, and Phillip seems determined to find out every innermost secret they have.

Or maybe that's just me.

"Sarge, I've filled out my forms. Did you need me for anything else, or should I go and check on the Sentinel? Do you know if we're even likely to be using them down there? It sounds hellish."

Not sure, I didn't completely understand what you said. I'm not sure what everyone wants, so by my best understanding that was a squad roll but other people should ask for what they want. I wish the roll was better though...

Speak for yourself, lubejob - I've seen you eyeing off that shiny new cogitator up in the simularium! :3

Having been scavenging in the galley, Athenee catches up with her squad at the Armory just in time to hear Kaminsky's remarks and she gives him a rare unguarded smile. "You're all heart, Alex. And if I suppose I absolutely have to put old Sergeant Neillsen's training to work in a plant-filled hellhole with a hundred thousand murderous snipers I couldn't do better than sticking close to the one person who can tell me when to duck. Just stay out of my head, da rhe?" Sure it's not fair, but you hear some creepy stuff about psykers. Can't be too careful even when they're likeable instead of blank-eyed eldritch weapons.

Rounding into the Armory, she put on her best false smile and faced up to Corporal Phillip. "Hiya Corp, so you'll have heard we're dropping downworld soon. I was wondering if you could let me have a little something above and beyond standard kit, try to keep a few more of us alive? Say, a maintenance toolkit and a lascarbine?"

Logistics: 1d100 ⇒ 64

Fine, but I do want to get to the hangar bay at some point before we land. I have... um... business there. :p

I was trying to scrounge up rations and food in the kitchens... should I be back with everyone else heading for the armory?

Athenee nods her understanding, taps two fingers to her temple (far more casually than she would have on the mustering field) and wanders out of the squad room and down the long corridor to the regimental galley. Ship's ratings and guardsmen alike were bustling down the ship's arteries - more of the former to be sure as most squads were still in some kind of briefing, but enough troopers that the young hiver can blend in when she's of a mind to.

Keeping her eyes down and her face turned away, Athenee and Zora walk down the vast echoing chamber and into the chaos of the galley. There Athenee quells her nerves and starts to smile and charm her way around the room. "Hi people, what's doing? Excited about making orbit?"

"Roger that, Sarge. Want us to hit the mess and see if we can scrounge up some food or see about some spare parts from the hangar bay?" She'd probably head there at some point anyway before the drop, but it all depended on priorities. There weren't that many technically-minded folk in Kelliber's squad; but then, there wasn't much awfully technical about their mounts or the poor sods they were trained to stick them into.

Athenee just hoped someone else was making the trip into the armory. Some of that stuff was awfully restricted.

Athenee may be paranoid (but are you truly paranoid when everyone is out to get you?) but she files out of the great room oblivious, more concerned with sticking close to Sergeant Kelliber than to what else the briefing officer might have hidden up his sleeve. With Zora's more heavily muscled form helping to conceal her from the casual eye, she follows the rest of the squad toward its quarters.

Awareness Test: 1d100 ⇒ 41

The slight young trooper closed her eyes momentarily in a visible wince. God Emperor bless us we are dead. We are so kraka dead. The only thing that might help is- She peered around Zora's muscled shoulder and saw Sgt Flavia complaining loudly to her Captain, leaning well inside his personal space. Maybe we'll be insignificant enough the snipers won't bother with us. Leaning back, she smothered a small smile, with mixed success.

Lovely, kraking lovely.

However inadvertently, the briefing officer had addressed her first worries. Spiders, cacti, shock lizards and Fiarae, all of which were bound to take a heavy toll on the squad. But not her, not if she kept her eyes peeled and kept a watch on all sides. For now she kept her mouth shut, her arms crossed across the bottom of her ribs and simply absorbed the information.

Athenee threw a weary glance Giovanni's way, out of all likely proportion to her age and experience. Are enemy cavalry flora or fauna, I wonder? She was reluctant to speak up in front of all these people and risk drawing Sgt Flavia's glare, but in the end she had to ask.

"Are there any records of anything local that's likely to see our Stalkers as prey animals, sir?" It wasn't hugely likely that such a creature would survive the experience, but it could be inconvenient for the Stalker's rider.

Contrary to expectations, Athenee was actually one of the first Troopers in the Assimilarum; taking the last seat in the rear row, away on the left-hand side of the room where she could watch everyone come in. Still more remarkably, she actually seems to be keeping still; slouched against the wall with her eyes flicking restlessly from face to face.

Zora on the other hand seems thoroughly amused by her comrade's antics and watches her to the exclusion of all the rest of the room, at least until she spies Sergeant Kelliber heading down the front. She digs her elbow into Athenee's ribs, weathering her irritable glare with remarkable equanimity. "Eyes front, little one. If Sarge is here we're bound to find out what's the kraka soon."

Pretty sure that depends on your aptitudes, Radavel.

Some of them you might have both aptitudes, but others I looked at I didn't have any at all.