- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
Not really? We've paid for it rather hard. Gotten more than a few looks for the way we did things, to the point we used Gene-slaves (Or whatever they're called) to get our Geneseed back to useful levels.
Glory or Death: Chapter Master Quest [42k]
Uxion
The Slightly Less Depressed
- Location
- Personal Hell
Wait, when?
DarthThrawn
Bloody Eldar
Even so:
Exorcists = direct descendants of Grey Knights
Crimson Crusaders = from an entirely separate gene-seed lineage
Now, I'm not saying that Exorcists > Crusaders (the Exorcists don't appear to have enough characterization to be better than much of anything), but which one gets to be considered more closely related is quite clear.
Also, what's this Harlequin talk? The implication I'm getting here is that Harlequins go through some sort of more extreme possession/exorcism thing, but I can't find anything at all related to that. Now, if you meant the Solitaires specifically, that's a different matter, but I don't think they generally wind up soulless intentionally.
- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
Shortly before Krumpburny if I remember right.
Solitaires are, or at least used to be, those who half-passed the Final Trial given to all Harlequins. Get possessed by a Daemon, and then throw off the possession on your own. Solitaires 'passed' in that they managed to do so, but 'failed' as in doing so they cast out their own souls as well.
And quite, technically speaking the Exorcists are Discount Knights. That wasn't my case though
Cornuthaum
Be kind to each other.
- Location
- Austria
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's a common joke between Swordo and myself that the Crimson Crusaders are indeed the closest thing to Great Crusade-style Ultramarines you can get in spirit while still being exemplars of Sanguinius' blood.
- Location
- Singapore
Well for one he actually follows the Codex, which is more than a lot of Space Marines can say.
For another, he's very much an advocate of OMNITACTICAL BATTLE HYDRA. Which is why I'm also debating the possibility of having the Chapter reform into having 9 Battle Companies (and 1 Veterans Company) instead of having 5 Battle Companies and 4 Reserve Companies.
- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
Honestly, that seems to be the way we've been deploying them anyway? Or at least the way our MO has me wanting to deploy them. So having that leap be made doesn't seem like that big of a stretch.
Turn 32 (221-225.M42): Orky Empires Pt. 1
- Location
- Singapore
Turn 32: Orky Empires
+Date: 221-225.M42+
+Thought of the Day: "Do not let the frailty of mankind hold you back. Let it inspire you to greater heights, to reach beyond your station, as we reached beyond Terra so long ago." -Malcador the Sigillite (attr.)+
The Chamber Crimson is dimly lit, as is tradition when the Captains gather for a meeting. All of them wear hoods over their heads that obscure their features with long shadows, barely illuminated only by the candle each of them hold before them. The Chambers are sparse, with half the Chapter on deployment or Crusade and their Chapter Master absent for reasons of his own. That leaves the first of their brethren in command, as it should be.
"By my right as Regent of Karanda, I call this meeting to order." Quarto looks to each of his Brother-Captains - and the term has never been truer - and tries to wonder if his younger self would believe the leaps and bounds they have made over a century and a half. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Captain Jantorus for his success in defeating a daemonic incursion, short-lived as it were, and with minimal casualties."
There was brief applause. Cato bows, and Quarto knows his brother is only thinking about how he could have done better. "If only one of our honored Sanguinary Priests were present, brothers. We might not have lost so much gene-seed. And the number of wounded alone… It shames me to admit it, but the 2nd Company must retire from active duty, at least for the year."
The 7th Captain chuckles across the table, and leans forward with his easy grin lit by the candlelight. "Only you would be so critical of yourself after such a success against impossible odds, Cato. The one who should be reflecting on himself is me."
"The defense of the Seraphim Vault was broken after Lord Incarael died, brother. That you held at all was--"
"Enough." His voice alone was power enough to halt the tangent, and Quarto thanks the Emperor for his gift of a powerful voice and the skill to use it. The Serfs must thank the Emperor too, for they do not have to clean out dents in the floor from when he slams the Aquila Aurum for emphasis. "Baal is long past us, brother. It affects us, but it will not define us. We, as Space Marines, will define us." The Regent looks to Kallis, Quintor and Macharius, and knows that they all have reports to share as well.
"I shall begin on the report I compiled, then, with many thanks to Captain Quintor and the 9th Company for their own patrol records." Kallis is a strange one amongst them. He possesses a loathing for the Imperium's wastefulness of human life that Quarto has seen in few others. That fire to protect human life, even at personal cost, is rare in these dark days. But Quarto admits, he sometimes doubts if it means Kallis will do his duty even in spite of the massive sacrifice. Will he do what he must, or will he be bowed by the cost in blood?
"Well." Quarto takes one last glance at the report and sets it aside. Eldar, in Tarsus? Greenskins, reacting to their liberation of Camledor? That world is the probable first objective of any Waaagh, so it is fortunate that Forge World Zeus currently as Titans stationed there, but… "Excellent work, Kallis. This has been enlightening. Now, we shall go over the updates on our own Chapter, and report on our own affairs before we decide on a course of action."
"Should we recall the 3rd Company?" Quintor asks.
"Perhaps. I shall consider it. But the Sword of Hatred must also be stopped." Quarto notes that Xavian is brooding - no, deep in thought - on his own throne of the Master of Recruits. Likely planning something, no doubt. Fair. He shall come see him in his own time. "But we are Space Marines. We have five Companies present, as well as the Warhawks. We shall safeguard this Sector, and its secrets.
----
"Captain, if I am to be frank and forthright?"
Damien grins, in between scrapes on the whetstone. Power sword or not, it is poor form not to keep your blade sharp. "You always are, Achilles. What is the problem?"
Aboard the Furious Angel, the Company Champion of the Blades of Karanda, the 3rd Company, looks at his Captain like they are both youths, brawling in the annex before the Imperial Palace, being selected for gene-bonding with the blood of Sanguinius all over again. "As far as I am aware, Captain, we have been charged to find the Sword of Hatred."
"Our mission is to find and kill him, yes, though that will most likely be a Chapter effort," the Captain nods.
"And his most likely location is within the Eye of Terror."
"Near or within where the Inquisition believes the Black Legion fleet masses, yes." They have all gone over the pict-captures from the Arms of Azeman by this point, and Damien has conferred with the Blood Angels Librarius on this matter, after he ferried Quarto over for his gathering. All signs point to the warlord Lord Asterion saw through the gateway to be the Despoiler himself. Combined with the sheer number of Black Legion forces committed to the War for Baal, and all the pieces come together.
Not for nothing is it called the 14th Black Crusade, and Abbadon's attempt at ridding the Galaxy of the Blood Angels for good. He failed, but the Blood Angels will be licking their wounds for quite some times, and who but he knows the number of secondary raids and objectives he succeeded at in this time...
"Thus, our mission charges us with entering the Eye of Terror and navigating it without losing our minds and loyalties," Achilles surmises.
"Yes."
"...Without an Epistolary to inform us of even the most rudimentary of paths."
Damien laughs. Damien Cybereon laughs the laugh that he has not laughed since Baal burned. He laughs like they laughed during the centennial feast. He laughs like a maniac, more than ever aware of the world he lives in. "We do not need the talents of an Epistolary, brother!" He taps the Alatus Cadere on his chest for emphasis. "We have faith, and we have duty! That is sufficient! And for the rest, there is fire."
"A flamer is not an adequate replacement for a Librarian, Captain."
"Cato would disagree, Achilles."
Deep in the core of his being, Champion Achilles Gygax curses the fire-obsessed Pyromancer of the 2nd Company. The Shield of Karanda does not need to be like the storm shield that the Captain wields with the Crimson Flame.
It dawns on the Champion that his Captain is becoming more and more liberal with his flames, what with wielding a power sword that has a flamer and a storm shield that has an internal flamer. But then, it dawns on the Champion that his Captain has been liberal with flame ever since he was a juve. "Very well, Captain. Shall I inform the Shipmaster to set course for Cadia?"
"No, not yet." Damien tents his fingers and leans forward into his lap. "To locate the Sword, we must locate the Fleet. And to do that, we must track or kill a traitor warband."
"Aye, so we rampage across the Segmentum Obscurus?"
"Like we've done so far, yes." He nods. "Astute observation, Achilles."
"I learn from the burned, my Captain, the 'Angel of Fire'."
"Jealousy only fans my flames, Achilles," Damien grins.
----
It is impressive, really. The sheer number of Space Marines that the Swordbreaker Crusade has managed to gather, to convince to lend their swords in this effort to liberate the Albo Cluster and undo the Night of the Thousand Knives. Forces from the Silver Guard, Iron Snakes, White Scars, Silver Masks, even members of the Unforgiven have lent themselves to the effort, not to mention the billions of guardsmen and entire Titan Legions.
As always, the target is hardened and supported by traitor marines. The Blood Pact, perennial thorn in the side of Segmentum Pacificus, remains a difficult challenge as it always has, since its foundation centuries ago. Chaos fleet actions harry the Imperial advance, even crippling the Retribution-Class Battleship Gloriae Mementori. But the advance is only slowed, not stopped. All proceeds according to the timetable.
The Crimson Crusaders have themselves been instrumental in several operations. As Sons of Sanguinius, they excel at the forefront of battle, and the Angel's youngest have not disappointed. Even without the aid of the Titan Legions, who themselves were diverted to war against their brethren on the Forge World of Actis-2, they successfully broke open the Fortress World of Phosphene with minor injuries, and no fatalities to speak of. The Alae Ardens served especially well in this regard, as did their Terminators.
The Crusade proceeds smoothly, and on schedule.
----
Training goes well for the Angels of Kysboth. Bolstered by ranks from the Crimson Crusaders 6th Company, regarded with pride as some of the Chapter's most veteran Space Marines, the Lamenters reborn are given instruction in tactics and history that Athanas himself could never provide, not in just five years. The once-Reclusiarch counts his blessings every time they muster for prayer, for he knows the Angel smiles upon him, and has blessed him with compassionate peers, selfless even in this time of need.
He must repay his debts. He must. The Lamenters must not remain a Chapter known only to suffer and survive by the handouts of others. He must reclaim their honor, and become a Chapter worthy of the Angel. Of his will and compassion, and of his endurance. Now, during battle practice, while the Crimson Crusaders impart the knowledge of what it means to be a Blood Angel, what it means to harness their rage into holy retribution, Athanas speaks with Pathor.
Or, more precisely, Pathor speaks to him. "Lord Athanas, how fares your day?"
"You know, Captain. We duelled not hours ago in the cages." They went twelve bouts, six armed with training swords and unarmored, three in armor and with their power weapons inert, and three in power armor, and barehanded. As they had to do, on that accursed world of Stonehaven. Neither of them has spoken of that time to the other, but the connection is stronger than words. They are brothers, of blood and of scars. "I must thank you again, Captain. Your assistance is very much appreciated."
"Thank my Regent, Chapter Master. I would not be here had he not authorised it, and he would not have authorised it had my Chapter Master not imparted to him the importance of brotherhood." He breathes, breath low. "Brotherhood. It is a strange thing to feel again, after my time there."
And here it comes, Athanas thinks. The time they speak of Stonehaven. When Pathor was a mere Sergeant of the Angels Resplendent, and he was Zephyral, last Reclusiarch of the Lamenters. The Last Lamenter, who saw the Flaw finally seize Malakim Phoros in its talons, and steal his sanity and will from him. "You are stronger man than I, Pathor. I could not have lasted eighty years on a tainted world that was once mine."
"The Angel endured, and so shall I." He exhales, breath long and drawn out. "They all live, you know?"
"Hm?"
"My brothers, of Squad Quantum. The last of the Angels Resplendent. They all live."
Athanas blinks. "That is… very impressive, Captain." There does not exist a Chapter in the Imperium that does not know how the Blood Angels bleed themselves as readily as they shed the blood of others, some as a result of self-sacrificial sentiment, others because they've long lost themselves to their hate, Flaw or not. And the Crimson Crusaders seem to exemplify that as much as they exemplify the Angel's jocularity. Glory or Death, indeed.
"Some of my men came to me during prayer," the Captain says casually, while two of his Crusaders demonstrate the use of a blade in simulated combat. The meaty clang of their blades are like a bell, ringing ceaselessly. "They might consider staying on. To serve as Veterans, advisors to your young Captains."
Athanas is speechless. His expression, eyes wide, is all Pathor needs to smile lightly. "The decision lies with Asterion, or failing that it lies with my Regent. I only wished to inform you of this. These are my most trusted of brothers, Chapter Master."
"I am honored and humbled," Athanas says, still shocked. "But I must refuse. The debt we owe is already too great."
"As I said, Chapter Master. The decision lies with Aurelius Asterion. But," Pathor says, his lips thinly creased," You are mistaken."
"Enlighten me, brother."
"As you just said, we are brothers. There is no debt you owe me but the debt of brotherhood, and I to you. And it is a debt I bear gratefully."
The Chapter Master nods. What more is there to say?
----
Another half-decade cycle begins, and the Crimson Crusaders begin recruitment once again. Here, on the Carmine Dream, the Sanguinary Priests not assigned to a Company go about the Sector, to their four worlds, and continue recruitment. And as it so happens, it was deemed expedient to bring the 2nd Company with them, seeing as it was not fit for service.
Their new Sanguinary Priest must finish up his duties with the new blood before joining his new post, after all.
"There, Sergeant." Sanguinary Priest Vega finishes up with his surgery and clamps the flesh back together with staples. "Shallow breaths for now, Sergeant, until your chest is healed. Otherwise, your new lung might overcompensate and split your ribs open."
"Charming, brother." The servitors retreat from the theatre, save for the one who offers Darmus an analgesic, which he refuses. He went the entire operation without analgesics, and he will heal without analgesics. Let the pain be a lesson: Do not be a fool, and only prepare one contingency, easily countered, against a daemonic foe.
"I suppose that leaves me the rest of this excursion to waste my time?" The Vanguard asks. He stands up, quickly clothed by serfs, and walks beside the Sanguinary Priest. The surgical theatre folds away behind them, to be cleaned and cleaned again.
"You may assist in the rites, if you like. Perhaps the aspirants will be inspired by your presence. It is not often that the new blood sees one who hails from our Chapter's Founding."
"They may turn to their Captains for that," he scoffs. Darmus wants to be healed, and he wants to return to the war. That is his place, and it is a duty he is very good at.
"Come now, Darmus. Why so dour?" Isidor appears beside him, like some manner of ghost, and pushes a nutri-bar into his hands. "Come, come! Rest, and let the Emperor heal you!"
Darmus smirks. Emperor above, he was growing fond of Isidor's antics. "I suppose this means your procedure is complete?"
"Indeed! But yours?"
He pulls at the lip of his robe, revealing fresh scars that are already patching over. Vega suppressed his body's functions, such that they will not reject his new organ outright. That has, obviously, impeded the healing function some. "A new multi-lung, for an old hand at war."
Isidor nods. "That would be your first procedure, I suppose. And your second?"
Darmus frowns. His other organs healed from their internal damage. The only one that was impossibly crippled was his third lung. He checks his second heart, just to make sure nothing was out of place. "I do not have one scheduled. Should I?"
"Of course!" Isidor exclaims. "How else will you install your third heart?"
"What third heart?"
"The one you stole from the Pariah!"
"I will cut you."
Vega suppresses a chuckle. He fails.
Darmus twitches. All of him, at once. Like a single muscle. Oh, vengeance will be oh-so-sweet.
Aspirants (TN 7-8): 209 Aspirants (14 Psykers)
S1 Neophytes (TN 7): 134 Candidates
89 Successful
- 89 Gene-Seed Used
S2 Neophytes (TN 7): 77 Candidates (incl. 2 Psykers)
34 Successful (incl. 1 Psyker)
- 33 Gene-Seed Lost
- 27 Gene-Seed Recovered (Chief Sanguinary Priest, Staffed Sanguinary (6 Priests))
Scout Trials: 23 Candidates (incl. 2 Psykers)
13 Graduates - 13 Gene-Seed Recovered
- 20 Gene-Seed Recovered from Failures
Total Scouts Recruited: 13
Total Gene-Seed Spent: 89
Total Gene-Seed Recovered: 60 (Net Loss 29)
Total Scouts: 64 (40 on Deployment)
Assignments:
1st Company Granted 3 Scouts (Total 5)
2nd Company Granted 5 Scouts (Total 5)
7th Company Granted 2 Scouts (Total 5)
8th Company Granted 3 Scouts (total 3)
Scouts Per Company Status:
1st: 5 Scouts
2nd: 5 Scouts
3rd: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
4th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
5th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
6th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
7th: 5 Scouts
8th: 3 Scouts
9th: 0 Scouts
S1 Neophytes (TN 7): 134 Candidates
89 Successful
- 89 Gene-Seed Used
S2 Neophytes (TN 7): 77 Candidates (incl. 2 Psykers)
34 Successful (incl. 1 Psyker)
- 33 Gene-Seed Lost
- 27 Gene-Seed Recovered (Chief Sanguinary Priest, Staffed Sanguinary (6 Priests))
Scout Trials: 23 Candidates (incl. 2 Psykers)
13 Graduates - 13 Gene-Seed Recovered
- 20 Gene-Seed Recovered from Failures
Total Scouts Recruited: 13
Total Gene-Seed Spent: 89
Total Gene-Seed Recovered: 60 (Net Loss 29)
Total Scouts: 64 (40 on Deployment)
Assignments:
1st Company Granted 3 Scouts (Total 5)
2nd Company Granted 5 Scouts (Total 5)
7th Company Granted 2 Scouts (Total 5)
8th Company Granted 3 Scouts (total 3)
Scouts Per Company Status:
1st: 5 Scouts
2nd: 5 Scouts
3rd: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
4th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
5th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
6th: 10 Scouts (Deployed)
7th: 5 Scouts
8th: 3 Scouts
9th: 0 Scouts
Special Orders:
- x1 Mk-IV 'Corvus' Power Armor (Sergeant Adrian Felas)
- x1 Force Weapon (Epistolary Faldrin Sacris)
- x1 Turbo Maximus-Pattern Megabolter (Sergeant Adrian Felas)
The Veterans:
- x1 Land Raider Phobos
1st Company: x7 Combi-Weapons (35 out of 500 BP Request Filled)
7th Company: x5 Rhinos (DS-2, Ar-2, PC-2)
8th Company: x5 Rhinos (DS-2. Ar-2, PC-2)
9th Company:
- x10 Plasma Cannons
- x10 Lascannons
- x5 Heavy Flamers
10th Company:
- x6 Turbo Maximus-Pattern Megabolters
- x1 Inferno Pistol (For Special Occasions)
- x1 Mk-IV 'Corvus' Power Armor (Sergeant Adrian Felas)
- x1 Force Weapon (Epistolary Faldrin Sacris)
- x1 Turbo Maximus-Pattern Megabolter (Sergeant Adrian Felas)
The Veterans:
- x1 Land Raider Phobos
1st Company: x7 Combi-Weapons (35 out of 500 BP Request Filled)
7th Company: x5 Rhinos (DS-2, Ar-2, PC-2)
8th Company: x5 Rhinos (DS-2. Ar-2, PC-2)
9th Company:
- x10 Plasma Cannons
- x10 Lascannons
- x5 Heavy Flamers
10th Company:
- x6 Turbo Maximus-Pattern Megabolters
- x1 Inferno Pistol (For Special Occasions)
----
It is good to have Cato around, Quarto thinks as he pours over the dispatch orders and the other minutiae of running a Chapter - a heavier burden than even he expected, and to think Lord Asterion had to teach them on top of everything in their earliest days - and while his mind drifts towards the threats in Subsector Galen. It is good to have his sharpened genius at the ready, to tackle any and all strategic challenges in their path, simulated or otherwise.
And he is not a bad conversationalist, either.
"So, what did the Inquisitor say?" The 2nd Captain knows that the Regent of Karanda spoke with him not long ago, mere months prior. It had been one of Lord Asterion's pet projects for quite some time, and something Quarto had wanted to see through to the end. The suggestion of seconding Crusaders to the Inquisition at large was a sound one, giving the Ordo Malleus the power they needed, without the problems of calling upon the Grey Knights for relatively minor incursions. Lord Reyynmann could only gain from such an arrangement.
Which is why he turned it down, apparently. "He said, 'young Quarto, your zeal for the Imperium is commendable. However, I have no need for the Crimson Clad to be seconded on long-term appointment, not on a regular basis, and individual brethren will be seconded as and when I see fit. The gesture is appreciated, but not necessary'."
"Darmus will be displeased," Cato smirks.
"My words exactly," Quarto grins as well. "Alas, the Inquisitor already believes such an arrangement is already in play. Case in point: your Second Company and that swamp world… what was it… Javon?"
"Close enough," Cato shrugs. "Alas, you made a wasted trip."
"Not quite." The Regent of Karanda hands off a slate to his gene-brother, and taps on the runes for the hololith before them, revealing a local star map of Segmentum Obscurus. "The Inquisitor, marvelous man that he is, has… hinted that perhaps he has colleagues in the Inquisition who… hid the knowledge of traitor troop movements in the Ultima Segmentum."
Cato frowns. Quarto knows that face. The betrayal stings, doesn't it? "They wanted the Blood Angels to be caught off-guard."
"Or they thought we were prepared enough," the Regent proposes. "But monstrous nonetheless. He has been making inquiries of his own, and I believe Lord Dante has been contacted on this matter already. We are not to act until we have evidence, and only then will be march to Terra and demand a census."
"Or we could kill them ourselves," Cato suggests. "They are little more than heretics, and it is our merit."
"Once we find them, I shall make that our objective. But, other matters." He taps more runes, and the hololith zooms in on a particular segment of the Segmentum. A cluster close to Sector Tarsus, in fact. "Lord Reyynmann has information that suggests there is a derelict Battle Barge in this star system."
Cato glances at his own dataslate, and grimaces instantly. "Orks. Of course."
"Orks, Eldar, and other petty thieving xenos races are currently warring over the rights to the Barge - which is believed to be somewhere inside this asteroid belt. It is how the information came to us."Quarto tents his fingers, deep in thought. "There is the possibility the Traitor Legions will learn of this find as well, if they are not already aware."
"A recovery mission, then?" Cato hums in thought. "A single Company should be enough. I would propose the 8th. Hale has a wonderful knack for vanishing in the middle of a field, only to strike again in the middle of another melee. Imagine what he could do in the confines of a ship. And a detachment of Terminators, of course."
"Then we are agreed. Dispatch orders can wait." Cato dismisses the hololithic display and looks up. "Brother, what ails you?"
Captain Macharius, Master of Scouts, lands lightly on his feet, Mk-IV Plate barely making a sound. Helmet under his arm, he salutes his Regent and nods to Cato. "Brother, let me lead a strike mission into Galen."
"How did you know he was there?" Cato whispers to his brother.
"For the Master of the Watch, you are remarkably dull," Quarto smirks. "I will consider it, Macharius, but I want a plan. You know the rules."
"A plan and a contingency, and an escape plan if all else fails," Xavian recalls by rote. "Give me a Strike Escort, two at the most. I shall take all available scouts and embark on an assassination mission upon one of the ork warlords. With the death of another, they may be thrown into further disarray."
"Or they might harden into clearly delineated factions," Cato counters. Your choice of target will be important, brother. Killing the wrong ork will only strengthen them, and accelerate their plans for war. Do not go on this mission, Macharius. We need you here, teaching the Scouts."
"I have done my research, brother, and I have consulted the Librarians. I know my path." He turns to Quarto, still deep in thought. He says nothing, to give the man his thinking space.
Internally, Quarto Astorum's mind churns. This is a risky mission. Exceptionally so. But it may also have exceptional gains. With the death of the right Warboss, they could shatter the orks' hold over those worlds and launch a proper liberation crusade. But choose wrongly, and the balance of power will only tilt towards a Waaagh.
Including himself and the Scout Sergeants, Macharius has thirty men in total, of them twenty four Scout Marines. Felas will be part of the mission, of course. Any who survive will be assured of promotion, or become fine scouts themselves. And through this, Macharius will finally prove himself in the way he has always wanted. Through his own crucible, his personal Sortiarius or Baal.
Failure will be their doom. And it will be his mistake. Such is the mantle of command.
[] Kill Nommbitz, Goff Warboss of Krunchmoar (x0.9)
[] Kill Tanksmasha, Evil Sunz Warboss of Biggfeet (x0.8)
[] Kill Arrglebasta, Freeboota Kaptin and Warboss of Hottfuzz (x0.5)
[] Divide the teams, kill two of them simultaneously (which two?) (x1.2)
[] Divide the teams, kill all of them simultaneously
[] Kill none, this is not the time (x1.0)
Note: Macharius' Assets are as Follows:
- 24 Scout Marines
- 5 Scout Sergeants (incl. Felas)
- Captain Macharius
You may assign additional forces to him as you wish, but keep in mind that this is a Covert and Deniable operation. Loud assets, like Terminators and Land Raiders, will most assuredly be noticed. And notice will draw… attention.
- Location
- Alice Springs, Australia
I agree, particularly as he may be waiting for the other two to weaken each other before moving in to defeat them both
Xantalos
Turtle-Speed Writing
Given that he's explicitly said to be hanging back and harassing the two other ones but not committing, that's pretty much exactly what he's doing.
Hes probably the trickiest to find and kill though, we should consider what additional forces might be worth deploying to confirm the kill. Legendary Sniper and Librarian methinks.
- Location
- Singapore
...I just realised that a better update name would be Orkwork Empires.
Fuck.
Fuck.
- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
I want to say try for the Triple Kill. Send Xavian, an SS, and 6 Scouts after the Freeboota. Felas, an SS, and 6 Scouts after Tanksmasha, while Two SS and 12 Scouts go after Nommbitz. Xavian's skillset is, as noted in the update, rather useful in Boarding Actions while Felas' LBS will allow him to engage from outside the range of Biggfeet's Fancy Weaponry. Krunchmoar seems to enjoy their close quarters savagery more than most Orks, so that'll hopefully give the Scouts an edge when it comes to sneaking around on account of the Orks being more focused on the Cunning Brutality rather than Brutal Cunning.
- Location
- Singapore
Xavian's not the master of boarding, Cicero is. Xavian Macharius is 10th Captain and proposing the mission, Hale Cicero is the 8th Captain and not on the mission.
- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
Oooh, I mixed up my segments there. My bad! Thanks for the correction.
Deadly Snark
Tryhard As Fuck
Before we start talking about which one we should kill, if we should kill any of them at all, I think it would be a good idea to think about who we should not kill.
The way I see, we definitely do not want to kill only kill Nommbitz. The battleground is on his territory afterall, and that just means that with his death Tanksmasha can quickly take another planet + potentially more relatively quickly before a new boss rises from Krunchmoar and before Arrgleblasta can pick up his share. Meaning that the Ork Empire with the most advanced technology is going to be in a dominant position and the subsequent WAAGGGH will be a pain in the ass.
Killing both Tanksmasha and Nommbitz is also unacceptable because Arrgleblasta will still be alive, meaning that he can quickly amass a powerful freeboter armada/WAAAGGH. Something this Sector really has no need for giving the strain the Imperial Naval Elements have with the Dark Eldars already.
Killing only Arrgleblasta is also suboptimal in my view. Because that means that whoever wins on the contested World, either it be Tank or Nom, gets to essentially absorb their deceased Rivals's territories without much challenge. This I believe is the option that would led to the WAAAGHH the quickest. Which also means that killing anyone plus Arrgle Blasta faces the same issue.
Personally, I only see two plans that we could go for which won't result in the scenarios we wish to avoid:
1) Kill All the Leaders. Completely shatters the unity of the Ork Empires. It will take years for new leaders to emerge, and by then a large Imperial Force will probably be ready to crush them. Hardest thing to do, because well this shit is going to be hard enough with just one target on one planet, nevermind three targets on the planet and in the space surrounding it.
2) Kill only Tanksmasha. While Nommbitz might have "won" their fight, Krunchmoar does not get an extra planet, Tank was the attacker and him the defender afterall. Meaning that he does still have to recover his forces and then launch an actual assault on Bigfeet territory, so there is a chance that another Leader will arise in time and thus keep the stalemate going.
Arrgleblasta is the Wild Card here. He's one of those wily cunning as a fox type, so it is harder to predict what he would do. But for now, my assumption is that he could take 1 of 3 options. One, he tries to gank Nommbitz like how he originally planned to gank the winner of the fight. Two, he decides to swoop in and take Bigfeet territory before Nom can make a move thanks to his fleet being better. Three, he decides to take advantage of the fact that Nom is distracted and instead attacks Krunchmoar territories.
Frankly, I cannot say which way he will go. And while these should all result in roughly the same result in the end, that of Hotfuzz and Krunchmoar continuing to beat the shit out of each other. It could also result in more Hotfuzz ships hunting down Imperial targets, which adds to the issue with the Eldar.
The way I see, we definitely do not want to kill only kill Nommbitz. The battleground is on his territory afterall, and that just means that with his death Tanksmasha can quickly take another planet + potentially more relatively quickly before a new boss rises from Krunchmoar and before Arrgleblasta can pick up his share. Meaning that the Ork Empire with the most advanced technology is going to be in a dominant position and the subsequent WAAGGGH will be a pain in the ass.
Killing both Tanksmasha and Nommbitz is also unacceptable because Arrgleblasta will still be alive, meaning that he can quickly amass a powerful freeboter armada/WAAAGGH. Something this Sector really has no need for giving the strain the Imperial Naval Elements have with the Dark Eldars already.
Killing only Arrgleblasta is also suboptimal in my view. Because that means that whoever wins on the contested World, either it be Tank or Nom, gets to essentially absorb their deceased Rivals's territories without much challenge. This I believe is the option that would led to the WAAAGHH the quickest. Which also means that killing anyone plus Arrgle Blasta faces the same issue.
Personally, I only see two plans that we could go for which won't result in the scenarios we wish to avoid:
1) Kill All the Leaders. Completely shatters the unity of the Ork Empires. It will take years for new leaders to emerge, and by then a large Imperial Force will probably be ready to crush them. Hardest thing to do, because well this shit is going to be hard enough with just one target on one planet, nevermind three targets on the planet and in the space surrounding it.
2) Kill only Tanksmasha. While Nommbitz might have "won" their fight, Krunchmoar does not get an extra planet, Tank was the attacker and him the defender afterall. Meaning that he does still have to recover his forces and then launch an actual assault on Bigfeet territory, so there is a chance that another Leader will arise in time and thus keep the stalemate going.
Arrgleblasta is the Wild Card here. He's one of those wily cunning as a fox type, so it is harder to predict what he would do. But for now, my assumption is that he could take 1 of 3 options. One, he tries to gank Nommbitz like how he originally planned to gank the winner of the fight. Two, he decides to swoop in and take Bigfeet territory before Nom can make a move thanks to his fleet being better. Three, he decides to take advantage of the fact that Nom is distracted and instead attacks Krunchmoar territories.
Frankly, I cannot say which way he will go. And while these should all result in roughly the same result in the end, that of Hotfuzz and Krunchmoar continuing to beat the shit out of each other. It could also result in more Hotfuzz ships hunting down Imperial targets, which adds to the issue with the Eldar.
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I kind of want to send a strike team to capture the Heretek, or at least recover his brain and cortical implants intact enough for a trawl, that claims to be able to build Volkite weapons and loot his workshops. Volkite weapons would be nice to have against Tyranids and somewhat against Orks. Though we have too much on our plate to chase rumours of things that are not all that important.
- Location
- Singapore
1 Squad for each. You have 30 people, including your Captain and Felas. That's a total of 10 people per Ork Warboss.
Ork Warbosses are things that usually necessitate Terminator Squads getting dropped, mind you.
Whiskey Golf
Being of Editing & Technical Assistance
- Location
- Chained to my desk
This is the part where Macharius is going to wish Lord Rios was here because then while Lord Rios would order bolter drills for their mediocrity, he could also snipe a warboss from orbit with a lascannon.
- Location
- Wollongong, Australia
Well, Felas has made 1st Tier of Rios' Legendary BS so he should be able to make the shot. Though, @Swordomatic , you mentioned the further levels of it are sealed to Felas? Does that mean we need to send him off to Rios to allow him to get Tiers 2+?
- Location
- Singapore
It just means that Felas is only starting to reach the level of bullshit that Vergil is at. IIRC, Vergil is a superior sniper because his other two levels let him do shit like 'reroll to confirm critical hits' and 'free reroll to hit, automatically kill everyone unimportant'.