I think it's just that three fifths of our current force is the scout company and the tactical marine reserve companies. Once we fill out the line companies and get the assault marine company we'll probably see them more.
Loyalty is its own Reward (A Traitor Legion Chapter Master Quest)
- Thread starter ThunderOwl
- Start date
Will be mentioned next post.
Thing is that I want to focus down the Reductor Saboteurs and the remaining Sanctus Assassin next turn. Those bastards are definitely Astartes tier, but we don't have the forces available to guard everywhere they can hit to cause severe damage. Since they will almost certainly be on the offensive next turn, that means we'd probably be mostly on the defensive.
Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
I think that half a dozen squads plus most of our notables going on the hunt for them will be enough to prevent that to be honest. The Genestealer Cult has the initiative right now and a lot of disposable meat for the grinder, we'd be getting way more bang for our buck if we started going for the eyeballs. Besides, once this palace stuff is done that'll free up a fair number of non-Astartes forces too.
Was reading up on the Siege of Cthonia which had interesting things about loyalist Thousand Sons aiding the Imperial Fist garrison that recruited Cthonians into their ranks before the inevitable but leaving survivors.
Makes me wonder if despite the secret of the Mist Shrikes, there's the possibility of other chapters with similar secrets but without the deus ex machina of their warp drives malfunctioning but still making it to the present by claiming descent from loyalist legions excluding the Blood Ravens.
Makes me wonder if despite the secret of the Mist Shrikes, there's the possibility of other chapters with similar secrets but without the deus ex machina of their warp drives malfunctioning but still making it to the present by claiming descent from loyalist legions excluding the Blood Ravens.
- Location
- A Pit Of My Own Making
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Unfortunately, it has a decent chance of freeing up a fair number of GC forces as well, given their skill at retreating. As such we should still put a significant chunk of people on protecting our Middle Hive holdings. I'm not exactly eager to take a gut wound in exchange for a chance to go for the eyeballs more than we already would be. If nothing else, an attack that important will involve some significant hero unit support. We probably won't be lucky enough to get a shot at the Patriarch, but I think a Magus would be reasonable. Maybe a Primus if we're really lucky (or unlucky I suppose).
Also, when you say "half a dozen squads a most of our notables on the hunt", I assume you mean splitting them up and having them guard each individual target. I don't think placing them all on Assassinate Cult Leaders would work, since that feels more like a rear line assassination option, which does admittedly have its own appeal.
Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
Oh no, I meant those being used for a combination of killing Cult leaders, destroying Cult resources, and hanging out where we know the Reductor Saboteurs and the last Sanctus Assassin will be in order to kill them. There's not too many major figures among the Cultists, so we'll be able to do all of this at once. Then, after these are taken out, we can strike at the Patriarch while the Cult is in disarray. After all, they do not yet know that we know where it is.
TL;DR
We have all these advantages, let us use them.
Okay, then we have a problem. I had assumed that those were just for the Reductors and Sanctus. From this turn's results we know that two Squads are capable of fighting on even footing with these agents. I absolutely despise fighting on even footing, especially since we probably aren't going to be getting intel like this again anytime soon, so I figured adding a notable or two to each team would be enough to cinch it. However, I definitely think your current plan is spreading us far too thin.
Moreover, I believe you are significantly underestimating the number of hero units our foes have. Seriously, I'd be overjoyed if there's only nine or ten. We know about the existence of six, and three others (the Patriarch, Magus, and Primus) can be reasonably assumed to be givens. Then there's the "maybes". The Cult has no shortage of Aberrants, which suggests the existence of a Biophagus, and if they're built up enough to have a Clamavus, I have to assume a Nexos is possible as well. That's a sizable number before adding the less likely candidates (in roughly descending order of likelihood: Locuses, additional Kelermorphs, Jackal Alphuses).
On the plus side, if we can wipe out the leadership, the local PDF and Guard should hopefully be able to handle mopping up without further intervention on our part. It's just getting to that point will be a pain and a half.
Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
I think it'll be fine since this will only happen after the palace battle is over, and both a Clamavus and a Kelemorph are there and open for being killed, so that's potentially 2 more dead right there, plus whoever else gets murked in the next update. The Cultists have invested a massive amount of resources into that particular operation, so I wouldn't doubt that there will be more of their notables to eliminate. And keep in mind that these
Are only 2 actions. So putting, say, Severus on Sabotage and Grigori and Valzadai on Assassinate plus 3-ish Squads for each of them, should be good enough, no? And it still leaves the likes of Karark Zel and Riona to fight off the assassins
- Location
- Asia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
And I finally get here, after slight hiatus from reading. Wow...some of those rolls were shite. But could be much worse. Kinda funny with Arbiter immediately dying.
Lezoan Campaign 2.5
Outside the Lord Sector´s Palace.
If there is a word that the Mist Shrikes won´t use to describe Claudius Spatha, that is grim. The terran marine is known in the Fortress-Monastery for his casual demeanor and a wit that tries its utmost to be as sharp as his blade. However, no other description fit his mood better at that moment than grim, as he stares at his sworn charge.
"General Mörner." Chapter Master Severus' voice shows a perfect composure, but after three decades watching the older marine´s back, Claudius could see the slight tension on his shoulders. "An enemy detachment is currently in the palace. We will enter the palace and secure the Lord Sector, are you in position to direct some of your men to assist us?" He doesn't hear the general's response, but the tension in his superior´s shoulders doesn't fade in the slightest. "And who´s in command of the Arbites?" Mörner's answer to that question makes him clench his finger around his chainglaive. "Understood. I'll send my forces to help hold the line, do whatever you can to push the mutants back." The Chapter Master cuts communications and addresses the marines and Sisters of Battle around him. "The Caroleans cannot divert forces to our position. The death of Marshall Teodorico has been accompanied by the demise of his immediate subordinates, and the Guard General is hard pressed both to reorganize the Arbites and keep the mutants from regaining lost ground." He turns towards the sergeant of the Tactical Marines. "Iure, take your squad and the Rhino and stiffen the Guard´s line. Prioritize taking down the enemy elites." The squad quickly enters the Rhino, and they are about to close the door when Palatine Riona speaks up.
"Repentia Superior Abigail, Sister Superior Mary, accompany the marines and provide support." Her two subordinates look displeased, but they obey their orders, and run behind the Rhino as it departs. Instead of ordering them to move as Spatha expects, the Chapter Master calls the Thunderhawk providing support.
"Plauto, get you men onto the Thunderhawk and position yourselves atop the palace. When we reach the foe, I´ll tell you their location and you will fall upon them from above. Blast your way through if needed." The Assault Marines embark on the Thunderhawk, and as the attack craft takes off the Chapter Master moves deeper into the palace, Spatha and the rest of the Honor Guard matching his pace and the Devastator Squad and the sisters close behind.
As they traverse the wide and luxurious corridors of the palace, the Chapter Champion grows uneasy. His first vision had been the clearest he's ever had, and the eidetic memory of an Astartes allows him to compare everything he sees with what he watched years ago. There are plenty of similarities with his visions, in the pattern of which the bodies of both defenders and attackers lay on the floor, on the scorch marks and bullet holes in the walls, the hastily erected and broken barricades and in the rubble that occasionally litters or blocks the way, forcing the group to take detours through paths he has already foreseen. However there are enough divergences for him to not take his vision as certain. The most important of them is that in his vision that only the Chapter Master and the Honor Guard were present, without the forces that now accompany them, but there are also more mutant bodies than there were in his vision.
After a quarter of an hour of running through hallways, they reach the throne room. The sizable doors are blasted off their hinges, and most of the tastelessly gaudy decorations and statues have either been destroyed or torn from their places to use as improvised cover. His hearts immediately soar with relief when instead of a dead Lord Sector and an horde of lingering cultists, they find the Genestealer Cultists engaged in vicious combat against the remains of the PDF regiment guarding the palace and the Lord Sector personal guard, and while the cultist have the upper hand, the defender struggle fiercely, fighting and dying without taking one step back.
Just as they are about to enter the fray, there is a flicker of movement as something jumps from the huge chandelier in the ceiling. Time seems to slow down as the purple form of a Genestealer cuts through the air, launched on a path towards the Chapter Master with knife-sized claws ready to tear him asunder. Severus doesn´t notice the approaching threat, but his brothers in the Honor Guard do. Numa, faithful stalwart Numa, is the fastest to react, tackling the Chapter Master aside just as the xeno killing machine impacts him. The claws punch through the ceramite breastplate with the ease of a power weapon cutting through parchment, transhuman blood flowing in great streams from the resulting wounds.
"The Emperor prote.." They hear Numa whisper before the Genestealer rips his claws in a violent motion, tearing his body in half. Before the thing can do anything else, Claudius is upon him, forcing the creature to step back in order to avoid a slash that would have split its head in half. Severus and the others make use of his intervention to move away from the beast and intervene in the wider battle. The genestealer makes an attempt to follow them, but another swing from Spatha forces it to desist.
"You´re facing me, you hideous wretch." He snarls as he takes Numa´s power sword in his off-hand, his eyes never leaving his opponents form. "I shall decorate Numa´s sarcophagus with what few pieces I´ll leave from your corpse."
The only warning Claudius has is a slight twitch in the Genestealer bulbous head before the creature attacks him with a flurry of swipes from its claws, the second pair of more human-like hands trying to grasp or grapple him in order to restrain him. The Champion´s dual wielded swords become a blur of blue energy as they parry each blow, moving with a speed that no mortal man could possibly match. Each attempt by the creature to restrain him fails, the marine moving out of the way before the Genestealer can get a grip.
After almost a minute of uninterrupted attacks the creature´s offensive starts to falter, and Spatha makes use of it to go on the offensive. Now the xeno is the one that is forced to parry and dodge as the Mist Shrikes swings and stabs at the Genestealer, the edge of his blades missing the Tyranid chitinous exterior by a hair´s breadth. With a hiss of what one could interpret as frustration on a human the monster forgoes his own defense and tries to bite Spatha´s head off. The champion moves his head backwards, and the creature's sharp teeth miss his face by the thinnest of margins, instead ripping most of the "beak" of his faceplate in a shower of sparks and shredded cables.
Spatha kicks at its chest, forcing it to back away a few steps. That distance is increased when an explosion echoes through the ceiling, breaking the chains holding the chandelier and forcing both of them to frantically leap away from each other, lest they be crushed by the falling source of illumination.
Claudius makes use of the pause to take off his now malfunctioning helmet, a noxious mix of smells of blood, feces, gunpowder and ozone making cringe his nose in disgust as it hits him. Ignoring how his eyes hurt in the brightly lit room he takes a quick glance around, the focus required to keep up with the xeno stopping him from taking notice of his surroundings before.
The fall of the chandelier had been caused by their thunderhawk using all of its missiles to open a hole through the roof. From there the squad of Assault Marines falls upon the foe with the strength of an artillery barrage, multiple cultists being grounded into mincemeat by the impact of half a ton of ceramite at high velocity. Unfazed by their landing, they proceed to cut a bloody swathe through all enemies that come into their reach. Their arrival adds another element of confusion to the fighting, which has degenerated into a chaotic brawl, pockets of both Imperials and Cultists clashing in melee as a constant stream of cultists arrive disorganized at the chamber. One of such pockets is the Chapter Master and his entourage, the chapter banner raised in defiance as they lay waste to those that dare approach them.
A few cultists try to kill Spatha as he studies his surroundings, thinking him too distracted to notice them. A thought that is proven false as the champion beheads them with a lazy swipe of his blades. As soon as the last body hits the ground the Genestealer pounces at him.
Spatha and the Genestealer resume their deathly dance of strikes and evasion. The power swords in Spatha´s hands could pierce through the chitinous carapace of the xeno, and his power armor offered little to no protection against the beast claws. As such, the fight is a contest of speed and precision, where the first one to make a mistake would fall.
Spying an opening in his foe guard Claudius stabs at it´s side with the sword in his left hand, only to realize it is a trap once he´s already committed to the thrust. The Genestealer bats the swordpoint aside with one of his claws, and then brings onto the arm holding it. A ragged scream of pain and anger burst forth from his lips, the talons severing the limb at the shoulder. His arm falls to the floor, still holding Numa´s sword, a constant flow of blood falling from his stump as the Larraman cells in his bloodstream work to stem it. The now one-handed champion of the Mist Shrikes barely manages to deflect a killing blow from the beast, parrying an upwards slash, before moving out of the path of a sideways swing from the creature's other clawed arm. However, it is now the xeno who is overextended, which Claudius capitalizes by cutting into the alien torso. Unfortunately, while debilitating, the champion was moving backwards as it was dealt, so it lacks the depth it needs to be a mortal injury.
The genestealer jumps backward to avoid a follow-up, casting a wary look at their surroundings. Without leaving it out of his sight, Claudius does the same. The situation has ended in the Imperials favour, with the few remaining cultists quickly perishing under the guns and blades of those loyal to the Emperor. The Genestealer flees, leaping from one corner to another in an erratic pattern. It does not avail him, for a volkite beam punches through the creatures head, leaving only a cauterized stump in it´s neck. Turning his head towards the direction of the shoot, he sees the Chapter Master holstering his Volkite Serpenta, before addressing one of the Lord Sectors guard.
"Bring the Lord Sector here, if he´s in a state fit for transportation." The guard nods and leaves through one of the doors beside the throne. Severus then walks towards him, his boots and those of the Honor Guard uncaringly stepping on the corpses of the various cultists. Even if they did care to avoid walking over them, the room filled with corpses to such a level that they formed a carpet of spilt blood and torn flesh. Most of the bodies belong to either the mutants or the PDF, but he can see the prone armored forms of some of his battle-brothers and the Sisters of Battle.
"You're wounded Spatha." Comments Severus as he looks at the stump.
The champion shrugs. "I can still fight Chapter Master."
"That doen´t mean you should." Points out Garum. "You´ve lost an arm."
"Give me five minutes to look around and I´ll find it." Quips Claudius. He can feel the unimpressed stares that Thrax and Alesios level at him, Lepidus and Martellus chuckling briefly at the comment.
"Numa´s dead and you´re making jokes." Disgust drips out of Julius' words. Spatha briefly regained humor dissapears as he glares at the other Honor Guard.
"The fact that I don´t share the rod you got logged in your backside doesn´t mean I don´t mourn him." Julius takes a step towards Spatha but Severus places a hand on his chestplate before he can take another.
"If you wish to fight, do so against the ones that killed Numa instead of each other." Severus admonishes them, making both of them relent. Shortly after the door where the guard left opens, and the Lord Sector strides into his throne room, holding a saber with a painfully amateurish grip. The man, who has grown a carefully groomed beard and mustache since Spatha last saw him, pales at the sight of the abattoir that his throne room has become. Severus, alongside Spatha and the others, move towards him.
"Chapter Master Severus, I must thank you for your prompt assistance." Lord Cartagena´s greeting is delivered with a guarded expression, one that briefly confuses Spatha before he recalls that the Chapter Master is supposed to be at odds with him.
"Despite our differences, Lord Sector, it is my duty to safeguard the loyal subjects of the Emperor. Besides, we would have been hard pressed to reach you without the support of our fellow servants of the Emperor, such as the Sisters of the Order of the Thorned Spear." Upon hearing the Chapter Master response Palatine Riona, who´s nearby, briefly makes the sign of the Aquila before resuming her efforts to dislodge her power spear from the column where it's stuck, having impaled an Abominant with it.
"Of course." The man then looks down, and pokes the detached head of one of the mutants with his foot. "I see that you've slain the leader of the assault." To Claudius the head looks no different to that of the other mutants but the others do recognize the face.
"It is unfortunate that we couldn´t capture him for interrogation, but it's good that my Honor Guard was thorough in gunning him down." Lepidus pats his bolter fondly at Severus' words and both Alesios and Garum reload their own.
One of Cartagena´s guards approaches at that moment with a grim expression. "Lord Sector, Chapter Master, I´ve got news to report from outside the palace."
>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<
Vespera, battle-brother of the 5th squad of the Mist Shrikes 3rd Company, curses at in the chapter´s battle-chant as an Aberrant rushes at him with a Power Pick at the exact same moment his Heavy Bolter jams on him. His hand rushes towards the handle of the combat knife, but before he can so much as draw it the alien-tainted thing catches twenty lasbolts to the face and falls dead. He gives a brief nod of thanks to the two Caroleans who fired the shots, clears the jam, and resumes firing at anything that moves at the end of the street he's standing in. He then spies movement out of the corner of his eye in one of the buildings at his left, and the gunner of the Leman Russ beside him does so too, lobbing a shell at the ground level which detonates in fire, shrapnel and shredded body parts.
Vespera grimaces behind his helmet. The enemy was getting ever closer to their position despite how many of them they killed. His squad had been forced to spread themselves all over the battlefield to provide support when General Mörner had been injured by that "bandolero" who had killed the Arbites Marshall. Of course the general is actually competent and his subordinates were spread out around his men instead of clustered around him, so the command chain holds firm. The Rhino and the Sisters of Battle had done the same, but despite their assistance and superiority in material and training of the Imperial forces the enemy was taking ground. They´re numbers are seemingly endless, and unlike the forces of chaos they don´t just charge at them, instead using their numbers to steadily pressure them in all fronts and preventing them for reinforcing each other.
His HUD informs of one of his squadmates approaching from one of the sidestreets, and he quickly relays it to the nearby guardsmen to avoid friendly fire. Severus, no relation to the Chapter Master, reaches his side, his power armor dented, scratched and covered in dust.
"Severus, weren't you supposed to be with Sergeant Iure?!" He asks without looking at him or pulling his finger off the trigger, shouting over the rapid fire of bolt shells.
The namesake of their superior starts firing his own bolter, killing a mutant with a missile launcher. "Iure´s dead! That bastard with three arms ambushed him and then ran away before we could avenge him!"
Vespera feels the urge to scream in anger at the news. Iure had been their sergeant since the beginning of the chapter and someone he considered a good friend. Instead he channels his hatred into the enemy in front of him, firing a burst at a cluster of advancing Acolytes, the high caliber rounds ignoring their cover and reducing the foes to sprays of blood and viscera. Autogun runs ping on his armor in response, as threatening to him as teardrops. "Do you have any idea of who the rest of the front is doing?" He asks as he draws a bead on the ones that were shooting at him.
"Vox is still jammed." Answers Severus "You try to use it and some weird whisper start sounding in your mind. It does work against us but regular humans who hear it either fall dead or turn against us." He then searches for an officer of the nearby Caroleans, and after a second finds a captain with a broken helmet and blood running through his face. "Captain, shift some of your men to the left flank, the arbitrators have lost ground there and the enemy will move to flank us."
"You heard the Astartes, 9th platoon with me!" The captain in question immediately does as he asked. Vespera doesn´t see them leave, unwilling to take his attention away from the fighting.
Step by step, they are pushed back by the mass of cultists. He has fired his gun without pause, to the point that the recoil no longer registers to his senses. Beside him Severus is down to his last magazine, choosing his targets carefully to do the most damage with every pull of the trigger. The Caroleans' reputation is proven true, the men of the snowy world taking a toll in blood for each of their own that falls. Each position and barricade that the Cult retakes is done so at a staggering cost in manpower and vehicles, streets and interiors liberally adorned with burnt metal and pools of blood.
But they are still pushed back.
Vespera can see that they have lost. It pains him to admit it but they have lost. The enemy seems to know it too, as the jamming of the vox is lifted so that they can all hear the panicked shouting of the Arbites as they abandon all semblance of discipline and flee. The Mist Shrike wishes that Marshall Teodorico was still alive, so that he could rip his head out of his shoulders himself. So much bluster only for them to fail to show any of the skill and discipline that the enforcers of Imperial Law are supposed to have.
The foe's attempt at inspiring panic backfires. It might have worked on lesser forces, but Space Marines know no fear and the Caroleans are one of the best guardsmen in the sector. As such, the clearing of communications works in their favor, allowing them to coordinate an ordered retreat towards the Palace. No panicked rush to safety, no uncoordinated stampede, no fearful mob that makes for easy prey for their pursuers. While fast, the Caroleans fall back in good order, the rearguard rotating and providing covering fire, the more eager mutants that try the odds dying to well aimed volleys of las fire. Once they reach the palace gate, the Imperial forces hunker down, fending off waves of mutants and vehicles until the last of their forces is refuged under the safety of the gate. Then they man the walls, and the Genestealer cult, unwilling to try the odds at a fortified assault, goes back to their previous positions.
Once behind the safety of their fortifications. Vespera takes stock of their forces. Most of his squad is there, alongside the Rhino and Tomb-Captain Sertorius, although the dreadnought frame looks damaged, the arm with the Combat claw hanging limp. A sizable amount of Caroleans and their armored support are there, clustering the receiving courtyard to the point that it is uncomfortable to stand there. By contrast, there are barely any arbitrators, and no Sisters of Battle. Apparently the last of them refused to retreat and perished to the last.
His attention is taken away from the assembled survivors as the Chapter Master walks towards him, accompanied by the Lord Sector and the Palatine. Vespera immediately falls to one knee, his head bowed.
"Chapter Master, we have failed you." The words taste bitter in his lips. Their chapter is young, but they´ve always accomplished their assigned objectives, until now, when the first failure has ocurred during his watch.
Vespera hears a brief hiss as the Chapter Master removes his helmet. "Look at me Vespera." He raises his head. The older marine face is set in a scowl, but he can see that his eyes hold no recrimination. "We have not failed until the last of us is dead. Now go back to your men. Take stock on how many remains, if any of you need medical assistance and how much ammunition you have left. Dismissed Sergeant."
Surprised by his sudden promotion, Vespera merely nods and walks away.
Situation: The Primus of the Cult has been eliminated, alongside a Purestrain Genestealer, saving the life of the Lord-Sector. While the palace is secure, the Imperial relief force has failed in breaking the Siege and is now taking refuge in the Palace, although they managed to deplete the forces of the besiegers.
Choose your next action:
-[] Punch through the Encirclement: While the Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor still surrounds the palace, a concentrated push by the remaining forces might penetrate their lines and allow you to reagroup with the rest of Imperial forces, taking the Lord Sector with you.
-[] Extraction by Air: Using your Thunderhawk, you can extract the Lord Sector, delivering him to safety even if it will leave the rest besieged in the Palace. (Contest between the Thundehawk and the Cultist anti-air troops at the beginning of Phase 3)
-[] Sneaking through the Underground: Taking a page from the cult's own attempt, you might try to sneak the Lord Sector alongside a Mist Shrike escort through the sewers.
-[] Hold the Fort: Don´t take risks, defend the Palace and wait for relief from the rest of the Imperial Forces.
-[] Write-in:
Quadrant 726, Middle Levels.
The members of the Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor give their all for the war-effort and the eventual liberation of Lezo from the grasp of the tyranny of Terra and deliver into the embrace of the True Emperor, who had incarnated Himself in Lezo in a new form, holy and perfect. They are His chosen, molded in His image and in accordance to His design, and they would be the inhabitants of His chosen paradise once He sent His true Angels to remold this word.
Decades have been spent in preparation for this moment. Lezo is the capital of the Sector and headquarters to the Imperial Navy, it´s defenses among the greatest of the Sector. War equipment had been either stolen or built in secret. Their numbers bolstered by rapid breeding and subtle yet aggressive expansion. Agents grown, trained and tested in the darkness on the underhive. Spies influenced or placed in all the Imperial institutions they could, some in high ranking positions. Potential whistleblowers murdered or subverted. All seem well at hand for His plans, with the Imperials distracted and a weak and ineffectual Lord Sector. There had been a scare when the Lord Sector had seemingly taken an interest in the Underhive, but the lack of success, their efforts in hiding themselves and the work of their higher ranking infiltrators had ensured that nothing had come out of it.
When everything was ready, the Holy Uprising was launched. They had swept across the Underhive and the Middle Levels and put both the PDF and the Arbites on the defensive. The Lord Sector sieged in his palace, and the scattering of their cells in friendly ships had ensured that the Navy Squadron guarding the system scattered across the sector.
It was a failure.
The Lord Sector should have been dead or given His blessing. What few gangs remained in the Underhive have rallied in zealous, heretical madness. The Middle Levels are a contested war zone instead of completely secured. The PDF regiments not under their embrace stand in defiance, organized and ready. A passing Guard Regiment had it´s departure delayed and now strengthened the opposition. And worst of all an astropathic message had been sent, bringing onto His chosen world both more Guard Regiments and the False Angels of the Imperium.
The holy mission of the True Emperor is at risk, and no effort must be spared to guarantee it's coming. Reinforcements, foodstuffs, medicines, ammo, weapons, spare parts and fuel are gathered and sent to the Middle Levels, to either supply the forces fighting against the Guard, or to travel upwards to the besiegers of the palace.
Then attacks start to come out of the shadows, striking hard and fast and fleeing before the faithful can retaliate. Food and medicine are poisoned, the brave brood of the Emperor falling to the same things that are supposed to keep them alive. Depots and roads are bombed, slowing to a crawl the mobilization of reinforcements. Fuel caches and ammo stashes explode in fiery detonations, making their guns and vehicles useless. And through it all the forces of the True Emperor are left flailing impotently, unable to deliver righteous retribution on the False Angels harassing them as they slip from their reach like sand in between one fingers.
The true faithful are undeterred, laboring to the point of exhaustion to replenish what has been lost, while promising unending suffering to the monstrous demons that call themselves Mist Shrikes.
-Cultist supplies and forces in the Middle levels reduced considerably. Bonus to fighting in the Middle Levels.
El Desguace, Middle Levels
His chapter might be here to save the planet from xeno-tainted mutants, but as Karark Zel walks through the carcasses of what once were proud examples of the Omnissiah´s grace, he feels the urge of tearing the augmentations off every single engineseer assigned to the Lezoan PDF. When he had inquire as to how put his knowledge to use during his assignment in the PDF armories, a bored quartermaster had suggested a place called "El Desguace." He had given him his thanks and departed, only to find out once he arrived there that the name was the Lezoan word for scrapyard. Apparently, what the local tech-adepts determine is too damaged for repairs is just dumped here to rust.
Mounds of vehicles had been piled together in a careless manner, and would collapse onto anyone who pulled at them without proper care. Most of them were now useless after countless years of wear and tear, but he could see some who could have been brought back to functionality if they had been given the proper attention in a timely manner. The fact that the local Mechanicum is so wasteful with the sacred machines fills him with rage, the squad escorting him having chosen to remain at a respectful distance to avoid disturbing him.
Still, now that he's here he could save some of the fruits of the forges from ignominious decadence. Already he had restored some Chimeras that had been placed there recently, and he was now delving deeper into the scrapyard in hopes of finding either more engines in good enough condition, or spare parts that he can use.
He stops once he spies a brief spot of beige in between the dull gray of the PDF pattern and the reddish tint of rust. Something is buried there, and with the assistance of his escort they bring it into the open after a few hours of careful effort. What is revealed makes him smile in wonder and satisfaction.
Painted a now dirty beige and with a faded emblem of a brown horse, a Land Raider stands before them. It presents extensive damage, with the whole left side of the armor plating destroyed, the engine pierced in various places and the tracks presenting various links missing, but it might still be salvageable. With some trepidation, he commences the rituals to communicate with the warmachine´s machine spirit, hoping that it is still active, and hopefully in a somewhat cooperative mood.
He doesn´t feel anything for a moment, but before he can mourn the demise of the Land Raider´s soul, he notices something. It is an extremely faint pulse, barely perceivable by his mind, but it is there. The spirit machine is still present, weakened and furious beyond what paltry and imprecise words can express for centuries of neglect and disrepair, but it is there. With as much speed as proper procedure allows, the Master of the Forge stops his communion with the tank and starts to bark orders at the squad that accompanies him, after which he starts to examine the damage to the Land Raider in detail.
This gift of the Omnissiah needs plenty of work before it can be restored to it´s full glory. And a new coat of paint.
-11 Chimeras repaired and added to the PDF forces.
-1 Gravely damaged Land Raider salvaged for the chapter.
Other Reports from the Non-taken actions:
Fighting in the Middle Levels: While the 365th Clearwater Fortunates initially lost ground against the Genestealer cult, the actions of the Mist Shrikes and Yamunan Gravekeepers allowed the 94th Zaloctzony Rifles to mount a widely successful counter-attack, retaking lost territory and reducing the cult positions in the Middle levels to just the closest levels to the Underhive, and the areas they need to support the siege of the Governor Palace. Further advance was stalled by enemy ambushes and sabotage of the supply convoys.
Garrison the Administratum officers: Despite the vigilance of the PDF companies garrisoning the building, an assassin snuck in and murdered Adept Katerina Kalivnova. The death of the Head of the Adeptus Administratum will cause problems in the whole sector, but on the shorter term it has put a greater strain on the logistical issues in the deployment of the PDF and Guard forces due to the personal focus she was giving to them.
Inquisitor Mitsuhide and her Stormtroopers have returned from their own exploration of the Underhive. They have shared information on other strongholds in the Underhive, one of which currently hosts the cult Magus.
If there is a word that the Mist Shrikes won´t use to describe Claudius Spatha, that is grim. The terran marine is known in the Fortress-Monastery for his casual demeanor and a wit that tries its utmost to be as sharp as his blade. However, no other description fit his mood better at that moment than grim, as he stares at his sworn charge.
"General Mörner." Chapter Master Severus' voice shows a perfect composure, but after three decades watching the older marine´s back, Claudius could see the slight tension on his shoulders. "An enemy detachment is currently in the palace. We will enter the palace and secure the Lord Sector, are you in position to direct some of your men to assist us?" He doesn't hear the general's response, but the tension in his superior´s shoulders doesn't fade in the slightest. "And who´s in command of the Arbites?" Mörner's answer to that question makes him clench his finger around his chainglaive. "Understood. I'll send my forces to help hold the line, do whatever you can to push the mutants back." The Chapter Master cuts communications and addresses the marines and Sisters of Battle around him. "The Caroleans cannot divert forces to our position. The death of Marshall Teodorico has been accompanied by the demise of his immediate subordinates, and the Guard General is hard pressed both to reorganize the Arbites and keep the mutants from regaining lost ground." He turns towards the sergeant of the Tactical Marines. "Iure, take your squad and the Rhino and stiffen the Guard´s line. Prioritize taking down the enemy elites." The squad quickly enters the Rhino, and they are about to close the door when Palatine Riona speaks up.
"Repentia Superior Abigail, Sister Superior Mary, accompany the marines and provide support." Her two subordinates look displeased, but they obey their orders, and run behind the Rhino as it departs. Instead of ordering them to move as Spatha expects, the Chapter Master calls the Thunderhawk providing support.
"Plauto, get you men onto the Thunderhawk and position yourselves atop the palace. When we reach the foe, I´ll tell you their location and you will fall upon them from above. Blast your way through if needed." The Assault Marines embark on the Thunderhawk, and as the attack craft takes off the Chapter Master moves deeper into the palace, Spatha and the rest of the Honor Guard matching his pace and the Devastator Squad and the sisters close behind.
As they traverse the wide and luxurious corridors of the palace, the Chapter Champion grows uneasy. His first vision had been the clearest he's ever had, and the eidetic memory of an Astartes allows him to compare everything he sees with what he watched years ago. There are plenty of similarities with his visions, in the pattern of which the bodies of both defenders and attackers lay on the floor, on the scorch marks and bullet holes in the walls, the hastily erected and broken barricades and in the rubble that occasionally litters or blocks the way, forcing the group to take detours through paths he has already foreseen. However there are enough divergences for him to not take his vision as certain. The most important of them is that in his vision that only the Chapter Master and the Honor Guard were present, without the forces that now accompany them, but there are also more mutant bodies than there were in his vision.
After a quarter of an hour of running through hallways, they reach the throne room. The sizable doors are blasted off their hinges, and most of the tastelessly gaudy decorations and statues have either been destroyed or torn from their places to use as improvised cover. His hearts immediately soar with relief when instead of a dead Lord Sector and an horde of lingering cultists, they find the Genestealer Cultists engaged in vicious combat against the remains of the PDF regiment guarding the palace and the Lord Sector personal guard, and while the cultist have the upper hand, the defender struggle fiercely, fighting and dying without taking one step back.
Purestrain Genestealer Agility roll 8d10= 8, 5, 4, 6, 6, 7, 3, 4= 4 Successes
Severus Perception roll 7d10= 5, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 7= 2 Successes
Honor Guard Perception roll 6d10= 4, 4, 6, 2, 10, 10= 5 Successes
1d7= 7
Numa Servilius Agility roll 6d10 (SC 3)= 5, 5, 6, 4, 9, 3= 2 Successes
Numa Servilius Toughness roll 5d10 (SC 4)= 3, 6, 9, 3, 8= 3 Successes
Severus Perception roll 7d10= 5, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 7= 2 Successes
Honor Guard Perception roll 6d10= 4, 4, 6, 2, 10, 10= 5 Successes
1d7= 7
Numa Servilius Agility roll 6d10 (SC 3)= 5, 5, 6, 4, 9, 3= 2 Successes
Numa Servilius Toughness roll 5d10 (SC 4)= 3, 6, 9, 3, 8= 3 Successes
Just as they are about to enter the fray, there is a flicker of movement as something jumps from the huge chandelier in the ceiling. Time seems to slow down as the purple form of a Genestealer cuts through the air, launched on a path towards the Chapter Master with knife-sized claws ready to tear him asunder. Severus doesn´t notice the approaching threat, but his brothers in the Honor Guard do. Numa, faithful stalwart Numa, is the fastest to react, tackling the Chapter Master aside just as the xeno killing machine impacts him. The claws punch through the ceramite breastplate with the ease of a power weapon cutting through parchment, transhuman blood flowing in great streams from the resulting wounds.
"The Emperor prote.." They hear Numa whisper before the Genestealer rips his claws in a violent motion, tearing his body in half. Before the thing can do anything else, Claudius is upon him, forcing the creature to step back in order to avoid a slash that would have split its head in half. Severus and the others make use of his intervention to move away from the beast and intervene in the wider battle. The genestealer makes an attempt to follow them, but another swing from Spatha forces it to desist.
"You´re facing me, you hideous wretch." He snarls as he takes Numa´s power sword in his off-hand, his eyes never leaving his opponents form. "I shall decorate Numa´s sarcophagus with what few pieces I´ll leave from your corpse."
Imperial Forces:
-Mist Shrikes:
–Chapter Master Severus (Artificer Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Master-Crafted Chainglaive, Master-Crafter Volkite Serpenta.)
–Honor Guard (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Chainglaives, 4 Power Swords)
–Champion Claudius Spatha (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolt Pistol, Power Swords)
–Techmarine Husnik (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolter, Mechadendrites)
–Squads 3-7 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
–Squads 3-9 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 2 Plasma Guns, 2 Melta Guns)
-Order of the Thorned Spear:
–Palatine Ríona (Sororitas Power Armor, Hand Flamer, Power Spear)
–1 Squads of Retributors (Sororitas Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers)
--2 Penitent Engines.
-Lezoan PDF:
–Platoon of the Lord Sector Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hellguns)
–PDF Company (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
VS
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor
-Pure strain Genestealer
-Abominant
-Genestealer Primus (Carapace Armor, Needle Pistol, Bonesword)
-Mob of Aberrants (Power Picks, Power Slegehammer)
-Regiment of Brood Brothers (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers, Flamers)
-Horde of Neophyte Hybrids (Regular Clothing, Autoguns, Blasting Charges)
-Horde of Neophyte Acolytes (Robes, Autopistols, Hand Flamers, Heavy Rock saws, Heavy rock drills)
Successes needed for Imperial Victory: 30
Successes needed for Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor: 30
-Mist Shrikes:
–Chapter Master Severus (Artificer Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Master-Crafted Chainglaive, Master-Crafter Volkite Serpenta.)
–Honor Guard (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Chainglaives, 4 Power Swords)
–Champion Claudius Spatha (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolt Pistol, Power Swords)
–Techmarine Husnik (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolter, Mechadendrites)
–Squads 3-7 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
–Squads 3-9 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 2 Plasma Guns, 2 Melta Guns)
-Order of the Thorned Spear:
–Palatine Ríona (Sororitas Power Armor, Hand Flamer, Power Spear)
–1 Squads of Retributors (Sororitas Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers)
--2 Penitent Engines.
-Lezoan PDF:
–Platoon of the Lord Sector Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hellguns)
–PDF Company (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
VS
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor
-Pure strain Genestealer
-Abominant
-Genestealer Primus (Carapace Armor, Needle Pistol, Bonesword)
-Mob of Aberrants (Power Picks, Power Slegehammer)
-Regiment of Brood Brothers (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers, Flamers)
-Horde of Neophyte Hybrids (Regular Clothing, Autoguns, Blasting Charges)
-Horde of Neophyte Acolytes (Robes, Autopistols, Hand Flamers, Heavy Rock saws, Heavy rock drills)
Successes needed for Imperial Victory: 30
Successes needed for Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor: 30
Severus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 10, 9, 1, 6, 10, 2= 4 Successes
Techmarine Husnik Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 5, 5, 9= 1 Success
Honor Guard Weapon Skill roll 5d10= 3, 5, 5, 10, 8= 3 Successes
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 6, 9, 7, 8= 4 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 4, 7, 1, 4= 0 Successes
Palatine Ríona Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 8, 2, 10, 6= 4 Successes
Retributors Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 1, 9, 3= 0 Successes
Penitent Engines rolls 2d10= 9, 9= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 6= 1 Success
PDF Company Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Genestealer Primus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 7, 8, 5, 10, 9, 5= 5 Successes
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 5, 2, 8, 1, 9, 3= 1 Success
Aberrants Strength roll 4d10= 5, 3, 6, 9= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 9, 5= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 5, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 5, 7= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 3, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 1=0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Imperials=19/31
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 12/33
Techmarine Husnik Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 5, 5, 9= 1 Success
Honor Guard Weapon Skill roll 5d10= 3, 5, 5, 10, 8= 3 Successes
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 6, 9, 7, 8= 4 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 4, 7, 1, 4= 0 Successes
Palatine Ríona Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 8, 2, 10, 6= 4 Successes
Retributors Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 1, 9, 3= 0 Successes
Penitent Engines rolls 2d10= 9, 9= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 6= 1 Success
PDF Company Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Genestealer Primus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 7, 8, 5, 10, 9, 5= 5 Successes
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 5, 2, 8, 1, 9, 3= 1 Success
Aberrants Strength roll 4d10= 5, 3, 6, 9= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 9, 5= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 5, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 5, 7= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 3, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 1=0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Imperials=19/31
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 12/33
Claudius Spatha Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 7, 3, 9, 9, 4, 10= 5 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 9, 5, 5, 10, 3, 7, 9= 5 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 9, 5, 5, 10, 3, 7, 9= 5 Successes
The only warning Claudius has is a slight twitch in the Genestealer bulbous head before the creature attacks him with a flurry of swipes from its claws, the second pair of more human-like hands trying to grasp or grapple him in order to restrain him. The Champion´s dual wielded swords become a blur of blue energy as they parry each blow, moving with a speed that no mortal man could possibly match. Each attempt by the creature to restrain him fails, the marine moving out of the way before the Genestealer can get a grip.
After almost a minute of uninterrupted attacks the creature´s offensive starts to falter, and Spatha makes use of it to go on the offensive. Now the xeno is the one that is forced to parry and dodge as the Mist Shrikes swings and stabs at the Genestealer, the edge of his blades missing the Tyranid chitinous exterior by a hair´s breadth. With a hiss of what one could interpret as frustration on a human the monster forgoes his own defense and tries to bite Spatha´s head off. The champion moves his head backwards, and the creature's sharp teeth miss his face by the thinnest of margins, instead ripping most of the "beak" of his faceplate in a shower of sparks and shredded cables.
Spatha kicks at its chest, forcing it to back away a few steps. That distance is increased when an explosion echoes through the ceiling, breaking the chains holding the chandelier and forcing both of them to frantically leap away from each other, lest they be crushed by the falling source of illumination.
Claudius makes use of the pause to take off his now malfunctioning helmet, a noxious mix of smells of blood, feces, gunpowder and ozone making cringe his nose in disgust as it hits him. Ignoring how his eyes hurt in the brightly lit room he takes a quick glance around, the focus required to keep up with the xeno stopping him from taking notice of his surroundings before.
The fall of the chandelier had been caused by their thunderhawk using all of its missiles to open a hole through the roof. From there the squad of Assault Marines falls upon the foe with the strength of an artillery barrage, multiple cultists being grounded into mincemeat by the impact of half a ton of ceramite at high velocity. Unfazed by their landing, they proceed to cut a bloody swathe through all enemies that come into their reach. Their arrival adds another element of confusion to the fighting, which has degenerated into a chaotic brawl, pockets of both Imperials and Cultists clashing in melee as a constant stream of cultists arrive disorganized at the chamber. One of such pockets is the Chapter Master and his entourage, the chapter banner raised in defiance as they lay waste to those that dare approach them.
A few cultists try to kill Spatha as he studies his surroundings, thinking him too distracted to notice them. A thought that is proven false as the champion beheads them with a lazy swipe of his blades. As soon as the last body hits the ground the Genestealer pounces at him.
Severus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 4, 9, 9, 10, 5, 9= 5 Successes
Techmarine Husnik Toughness roll 4d10 (SC 2)= 2, 4, 5, 6= 1 Success
Honor Guard Weapon Skill roll 5d10= 6, 4, 6, 3, 9= 3 Successes
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 3, 3, 3, 3= 0 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 7, 6, 7 8= 4 Successes
Palatine Ríona Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 7, 6, 1, 3= 1 Success
Retributors Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 6, 3, 6= 2 Successes
Penitent Engines rolls 2d10= 8, 8= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 4= 1 Success
PDF Company Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Genestealer Primus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 3, 1, 4, 7, 8, 4= 1 Success
Abominant Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 4)= 3, 10, 9, 9, 1, 4= 3 Successes
Aberrants Strength roll 4d10= 7, 1, 6, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 7, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 7, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Success
Imperials=19+18=37/32
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 12+12=24/33
Imperial Victory
Techmarine Husnik Toughness roll 4d10 (SC 2)= 2, 4, 5, 6= 1 Success
Honor Guard Weapon Skill roll 5d10= 6, 4, 6, 3, 9= 3 Successes
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 3, 3, 3, 3= 0 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 7, 6, 7 8= 4 Successes
Palatine Ríona Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 7, 6, 1, 3= 1 Success
Retributors Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 6, 3, 6= 2 Successes
Penitent Engines rolls 2d10= 8, 8= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 4= 1 Success
PDF Company Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Genestealer Primus Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 3, 1, 4, 7, 8, 4= 1 Success
Abominant Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 4)= 3, 10, 9, 9, 1, 4= 3 Successes
Aberrants Strength roll 4d10= 7, 1, 6, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 7, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic skill roll 2d10= 7, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Success
Imperials=19+18=37/32
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 12+12=24/33
Imperial Victory
Claudius Spatha Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 2, 2, 2, 8, 4, 7= 2 Successes
Claudius Spatha Toughness roll 4d10 (SC 4)= 10, 2, 9, 7= 4 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 3, 1, 2, 8, 5, 7, 10= 3 Successes
Claudius Spatha Toughness roll 4d10 (SC 4)= 10, 2, 9, 7= 4 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 3, 1, 2, 8, 5, 7, 10= 3 Successes
Claudius Spatha Weapon Skill roll 6d10= 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2= 2 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 1, 6, 5, 1, 5, 4, 9= 0 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Toughness roll 7d10 (SC 4)= 6, 6, 8, 6, 1, 1, 10= 4 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Strength roll 7d10= 1, 6, 5, 1, 5, 4, 9= 0 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Toughness roll 7d10 (SC 4)= 6, 6, 8, 6, 1, 1, 10= 4 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Willpower roll 5d10 (SC 4)= 9, 5, 10, 6, 3= 4 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Agility roll 8d10= 4, 3, 2, 6, 7, 2, 2, 7= 3 Successes
Genestealer Primus Agility roll 5d10= 2, 8, 7, 2, 3= 2 Successes
Severus Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 6, 8, 10, 9, 8= 6 Successes, Critical Success
Honor Guard Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 9, 7, 10, 2, 8= 5 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 8, 3, 3, 8= 2 Successes
Purestrain Genestealer Agility roll 8d10= 4, 3, 2, 6, 7, 2, 2, 7= 3 Successes
Genestealer Primus Agility roll 5d10= 2, 8, 7, 2, 3= 2 Successes
Severus Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 6, 8, 10, 9, 8= 6 Successes, Critical Success
Honor Guard Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 9, 7, 10, 2, 8= 5 Successes
3-9 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 8, 3, 3, 8= 2 Successes
Spatha and the Genestealer resume their deathly dance of strikes and evasion. The power swords in Spatha´s hands could pierce through the chitinous carapace of the xeno, and his power armor offered little to no protection against the beast claws. As such, the fight is a contest of speed and precision, where the first one to make a mistake would fall.
Spying an opening in his foe guard Claudius stabs at it´s side with the sword in his left hand, only to realize it is a trap once he´s already committed to the thrust. The Genestealer bats the swordpoint aside with one of his claws, and then brings onto the arm holding it. A ragged scream of pain and anger burst forth from his lips, the talons severing the limb at the shoulder. His arm falls to the floor, still holding Numa´s sword, a constant flow of blood falling from his stump as the Larraman cells in his bloodstream work to stem it. The now one-handed champion of the Mist Shrikes barely manages to deflect a killing blow from the beast, parrying an upwards slash, before moving out of the path of a sideways swing from the creature's other clawed arm. However, it is now the xeno who is overextended, which Claudius capitalizes by cutting into the alien torso. Unfortunately, while debilitating, the champion was moving backwards as it was dealt, so it lacks the depth it needs to be a mortal injury.
The genestealer jumps backward to avoid a follow-up, casting a wary look at their surroundings. Without leaving it out of his sight, Claudius does the same. The situation has ended in the Imperials favour, with the few remaining cultists quickly perishing under the guns and blades of those loyal to the Emperor. The Genestealer flees, leaping from one corner to another in an erratic pattern. It does not avail him, for a volkite beam punches through the creatures head, leaving only a cauterized stump in it´s neck. Turning his head towards the direction of the shoot, he sees the Chapter Master holstering his Volkite Serpenta, before addressing one of the Lord Sectors guard.
"Bring the Lord Sector here, if he´s in a state fit for transportation." The guard nods and leaves through one of the doors beside the throne. Severus then walks towards him, his boots and those of the Honor Guard uncaringly stepping on the corpses of the various cultists. Even if they did care to avoid walking over them, the room filled with corpses to such a level that they formed a carpet of spilt blood and torn flesh. Most of the bodies belong to either the mutants or the PDF, but he can see the prone armored forms of some of his battle-brothers and the Sisters of Battle.
"You're wounded Spatha." Comments Severus as he looks at the stump.
The champion shrugs. "I can still fight Chapter Master."
"That doen´t mean you should." Points out Garum. "You´ve lost an arm."
"Give me five minutes to look around and I´ll find it." Quips Claudius. He can feel the unimpressed stares that Thrax and Alesios level at him, Lepidus and Martellus chuckling briefly at the comment.
"Numa´s dead and you´re making jokes." Disgust drips out of Julius' words. Spatha briefly regained humor dissapears as he glares at the other Honor Guard.
"The fact that I don´t share the rod you got logged in your backside doesn´t mean I don´t mourn him." Julius takes a step towards Spatha but Severus places a hand on his chestplate before he can take another.
"If you wish to fight, do so against the ones that killed Numa instead of each other." Severus admonishes them, making both of them relent. Shortly after the door where the guard left opens, and the Lord Sector strides into his throne room, holding a saber with a painfully amateurish grip. The man, who has grown a carefully groomed beard and mustache since Spatha last saw him, pales at the sight of the abattoir that his throne room has become. Severus, alongside Spatha and the others, move towards him.
"Chapter Master Severus, I must thank you for your prompt assistance." Lord Cartagena´s greeting is delivered with a guarded expression, one that briefly confuses Spatha before he recalls that the Chapter Master is supposed to be at odds with him.
"Despite our differences, Lord Sector, it is my duty to safeguard the loyal subjects of the Emperor. Besides, we would have been hard pressed to reach you without the support of our fellow servants of the Emperor, such as the Sisters of the Order of the Thorned Spear." Upon hearing the Chapter Master response Palatine Riona, who´s nearby, briefly makes the sign of the Aquila before resuming her efforts to dislodge her power spear from the column where it's stuck, having impaled an Abominant with it.
"Of course." The man then looks down, and pokes the detached head of one of the mutants with his foot. "I see that you've slain the leader of the assault." To Claudius the head looks no different to that of the other mutants but the others do recognize the face.
"It is unfortunate that we couldn´t capture him for interrogation, but it's good that my Honor Guard was thorough in gunning him down." Lepidus pats his bolter fondly at Severus' words and both Alesios and Garum reload their own.
One of Cartagena´s guards approaches at that moment with a grim expression. "Lord Sector, Chapter Master, I´ve got news to report from outside the palace."
>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<
Arbitrators 1 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 4, 6= 1 Success
Arbitrators 2 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 8, 4= 1 Success
Arbitrators 3 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 8, 8= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 1, 4= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
3rd Company Fellowship roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 5, 5, 6, 1=0 Successes
Order of the Thorned Spear roll 3d10 (SC 3)= 6, 2, 10= 3 Successes
Arbitrators 2 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 8, 4= 1 Success
Arbitrators 3 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 8, 8= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 1)= 1, 4= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
3rd Company Fellowship roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 5, 5, 6, 1=0 Successes
Order of the Thorned Spear roll 3d10 (SC 3)= 6, 2, 10= 3 Successes
Imperial Successes needed increased by 20
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Successes needed decreased by 20
Tomb-Captain Sertorius Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 8, 4, 7, 6= 3 Successes
3-5 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 6, 8, 1, 1= 0 Successes
Rhino roll 4d10= 7, 9, 9, 2= 3 Successes
Sisters of Battle Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 10, 4, 3= 2 Successes
Repentias Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 6, 4, 1= 0 Successes
General Möerner Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
General Möerner Toughness roll 2d10 (SC 2)=8, 9= 2 Successes
Carolean Guard 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Carolean Guard 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 10, 7= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Carolean Guard 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 2, 7= 1 Success
Carolean Guard 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 9= 0 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 3, 10= 2 Successes
Leman Russ 2 roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Leman Russ Vanquisher roll 2d10= 5, 7= 1 Success
Leman Russ Vanquisher 2 roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 10, 8= 3 Successes, Critical Successes
Successes needed decreased by 1
Guard Chimeras 3 roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 4 roll 2d10= 8, 4= 1 Successes
Arbitrators 1 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 2 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 3 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 8= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 1 roll 2d10= 10, 7= 3 Successes
Succesess needed decreased by 1
Arbitrators Chimera 2 roll 2d10= 4, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 3 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 4 roll 2d10= 2, 7= 1 Success
Clamavus Fellowship roll 5d10= 9, 3, 7, 2, 10= 4 Successes
Kelemorph Curro Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 4, 10, 10, 9, 1= 4 Successes
Abominant Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 3)= 10, 7, 8, 10, 7, 5= 8 Successes, critical Success
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 6, 6, 8, 2, 7, 5= 5 Successes
Aberrant Strength roll 4d10= 8, 1, 3, 5= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 10= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 3= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 7= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 10= 2 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 8, 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 8, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
I.E.Ds 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
I.E.Ds 2 roll 2d10= 7, 6= 2 Successes
Cult Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 9, 6= 2 Successes
Cult Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 3, 6= 1 Success
Achilles Ridgerunners 1 roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Achilles Ridgerunners 2 roll 2d10= 6, 3= 1 Success
Goliaths 1 roll 2d10= 6, 2= 1 Success
Goliaths 2 roll 2d10= 7, 8= 2 Successes
Imperials= 65+27=92/120
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 33+34=77/79
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Successes needed decreased by 20
Tomb-Captain Sertorius Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 8, 4, 7, 6= 3 Successes
3-5 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 6, 8, 1, 1= 0 Successes
Rhino roll 4d10= 7, 9, 9, 2= 3 Successes
Sisters of Battle Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 10, 4, 3= 2 Successes
Repentias Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 6, 4, 1= 0 Successes
General Möerner Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
General Möerner Toughness roll 2d10 (SC 2)=8, 9= 2 Successes
Carolean Guard 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Carolean Guard 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 10, 7= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Carolean Guard 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 2, 7= 1 Success
Carolean Guard 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 9= 0 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 3, 10= 2 Successes
Leman Russ 2 roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Leman Russ Vanquisher roll 2d10= 5, 7= 1 Success
Leman Russ Vanquisher 2 roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 10, 8= 3 Successes, Critical Successes
Successes needed decreased by 1
Guard Chimeras 3 roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Guard Chimeras 4 roll 2d10= 8, 4= 1 Successes
Arbitrators 1 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 8, 1= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 2 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 3 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 8= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 1 roll 2d10= 10, 7= 3 Successes
Succesess needed decreased by 1
Arbitrators Chimera 2 roll 2d10= 4, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 3 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 4 roll 2d10= 2, 7= 1 Success
Clamavus Fellowship roll 5d10= 9, 3, 7, 2, 10= 4 Successes
Kelemorph Curro Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 4, 10, 10, 9, 1= 4 Successes
Abominant Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 3)= 10, 7, 8, 10, 7, 5= 8 Successes, critical Success
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 6, 6, 8, 2, 7, 5= 5 Successes
Aberrant Strength roll 4d10= 8, 1, 3, 5= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 10= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 3= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 7= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 10= 2 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 8, 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 8, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
I.E.Ds 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
I.E.Ds 2 roll 2d10= 7, 6= 2 Successes
Cult Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 9, 6= 2 Successes
Cult Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 3, 6= 1 Success
Achilles Ridgerunners 1 roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Achilles Ridgerunners 2 roll 2d10= 6, 3= 1 Success
Goliaths 1 roll 2d10= 6, 2= 1 Success
Goliaths 2 roll 2d10= 7, 8= 2 Successes
Imperials= 65+27=92/120
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 33+34=77/79
Vespera, battle-brother of the 5th squad of the Mist Shrikes 3rd Company, curses at in the chapter´s battle-chant as an Aberrant rushes at him with a Power Pick at the exact same moment his Heavy Bolter jams on him. His hand rushes towards the handle of the combat knife, but before he can so much as draw it the alien-tainted thing catches twenty lasbolts to the face and falls dead. He gives a brief nod of thanks to the two Caroleans who fired the shots, clears the jam, and resumes firing at anything that moves at the end of the street he's standing in. He then spies movement out of the corner of his eye in one of the buildings at his left, and the gunner of the Leman Russ beside him does so too, lobbing a shell at the ground level which detonates in fire, shrapnel and shredded body parts.
Vespera grimaces behind his helmet. The enemy was getting ever closer to their position despite how many of them they killed. His squad had been forced to spread themselves all over the battlefield to provide support when General Mörner had been injured by that "bandolero" who had killed the Arbites Marshall. Of course the general is actually competent and his subordinates were spread out around his men instead of clustered around him, so the command chain holds firm. The Rhino and the Sisters of Battle had done the same, but despite their assistance and superiority in material and training of the Imperial forces the enemy was taking ground. They´re numbers are seemingly endless, and unlike the forces of chaos they don´t just charge at them, instead using their numbers to steadily pressure them in all fronts and preventing them for reinforcing each other.
His HUD informs of one of his squadmates approaching from one of the sidestreets, and he quickly relays it to the nearby guardsmen to avoid friendly fire. Severus, no relation to the Chapter Master, reaches his side, his power armor dented, scratched and covered in dust.
"Severus, weren't you supposed to be with Sergeant Iure?!" He asks without looking at him or pulling his finger off the trigger, shouting over the rapid fire of bolt shells.
The namesake of their superior starts firing his own bolter, killing a mutant with a missile launcher. "Iure´s dead! That bastard with three arms ambushed him and then ran away before we could avenge him!"
Vespera feels the urge to scream in anger at the news. Iure had been their sergeant since the beginning of the chapter and someone he considered a good friend. Instead he channels his hatred into the enemy in front of him, firing a burst at a cluster of advancing Acolytes, the high caliber rounds ignoring their cover and reducing the foes to sprays of blood and viscera. Autogun runs ping on his armor in response, as threatening to him as teardrops. "Do you have any idea of who the rest of the front is doing?" He asks as he draws a bead on the ones that were shooting at him.
"Vox is still jammed." Answers Severus "You try to use it and some weird whisper start sounding in your mind. It does work against us but regular humans who hear it either fall dead or turn against us." He then searches for an officer of the nearby Caroleans, and after a second finds a captain with a broken helmet and blood running through his face. "Captain, shift some of your men to the left flank, the arbitrators have lost ground there and the enemy will move to flank us."
"You heard the Astartes, 9th platoon with me!" The captain in question immediately does as he asked. Vespera doesn´t see them leave, unwilling to take his attention away from the fighting.
Tomb-Captain Sertorius Chassis integrity roll 1d100 (DC 40)= 60
Tomb-Captain Sertorius Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 9, 10, 5, 6= 4 Successes
3-5 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 9, 4, 4= 1 Success
Rhino roll 4d10= 6, 7, 2, 6= 3 Successes
Sisters of Battle Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 7, 3, 4= 1 Success
Repentias Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 3, 2, 2= 0 Successes
Carolean Guard 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Carolean Guard 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 3 ,6= 1 Success
Carolean Guard 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 9= 2 Successes
Carolean Guard 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 7, 2= 1 Successes
Leman Russ 2 roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Leman Russ Vanquisher roll 2d10= 6, 9= 2 Successes
Leman Russ Vanquisher 2 roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Guard Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 10, 8= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Guard Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 5, 10= 2 Successes
Guard Chimeras 3 roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Guard Chimeras 4 roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 1 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 5= 1 Success
Arbitrators 2 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 5, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 3 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 3, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 1 roll 2d10= 4, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 2 roll 2d10= 10, 9= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Arbitrators Chimera 3 roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 4 roll 2d10= 1, 10= 1 Success
Clamavus Fellowship roll 5d10= 8, 6, 8, 5, 3= 3 Successes
Kelemorph Curro Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 7, 2, 3, 5, 6= 2 Successes
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 4, 1, 5 , 7, 10, 7= 3 Successes
Aberrant Strength roll 4d10= 8, 6, 1, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 4= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 8= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 6= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 3= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 7= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 2, 5= 0 Successes
I.E.Ds 1 roll 2d10= 8, 4= 1 Success
I.E.Ds 2 roll 2d10= 4, 6= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 2, 4= 0 Successes
Achilles Ridgerunners 1 roll 2d10= 8, 5= 1 Success
Achilles Ridgerunners 2 roll 2d10= 10, 2= 2 Successes
Goliaths 1 roll 2d10= 7, 7= 2 Successes
Goliaths 2 roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Imperials= 92+37= 129/119
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 77+29= 106/81
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Victory
Tomb-Captain Sertorius Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 9, 10, 5, 6= 4 Successes
3-5 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 9, 4, 4= 1 Success
Rhino roll 4d10= 6, 7, 2, 6= 3 Successes
Sisters of Battle Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 7, 3, 4= 1 Success
Repentias Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 3, 2, 2= 0 Successes
Carolean Guard 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 10= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Carolean Guard 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 3 ,6= 1 Success
Carolean Guard 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 9= 2 Successes
Carolean Guard 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 7, 2= 1 Successes
Leman Russ 2 roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Leman Russ Vanquisher roll 2d10= 6, 9= 2 Successes
Leman Russ Vanquisher 2 roll 2d10= 1, 2= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Guard Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 10, 8= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Guard Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 5, 10= 2 Successes
Guard Chimeras 3 roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Guard Chimeras 4 roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 1 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 6, 5= 1 Success
Arbitrators 2 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 5, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators 3 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators 4 Weapon Skill roll 2d10= 3, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 1 roll 2d10= 4, 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 2 roll 2d10= 10, 9= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed decreased by 1
Arbitrators Chimera 3 roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Arbitrators Chimera 4 roll 2d10= 1, 10= 1 Success
Clamavus Fellowship roll 5d10= 8, 6, 8, 5, 3= 3 Successes
Kelemorph Curro Ballistic Skill roll 5d10= 7, 2, 3, 5, 6= 2 Successes
Abominant Strength roll 6d10= 4, 1, 5 , 7, 10, 7= 3 Successes
Aberrant Strength roll 4d10= 8, 6, 1, 2= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 1 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 4= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 2 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 8= 1 Success
Brood Brothers 3 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 6= 2 Successes
Brood Brothers 4 Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic Skill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 3= 0 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 7= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Acolyte Hybrids 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 1 Success
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 2, 5= 0 Successes
I.E.Ds 1 roll 2d10= 8, 4= 1 Success
I.E.Ds 2 roll 2d10= 4, 6= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1 roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 2 roll 2d10= 2, 4= 0 Successes
Achilles Ridgerunners 1 roll 2d10= 8, 5= 1 Success
Achilles Ridgerunners 2 roll 2d10= 10, 2= 2 Successes
Goliaths 1 roll 2d10= 7, 7= 2 Successes
Goliaths 2 roll 2d10= 6, 6= 2 Successes
Imperials= 92+37= 129/119
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 77+29= 106/81
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Victory
Mist Shrikes
Direction of the retreat= To the palace
Tomb-Captain Sertorius 1d100-30(Ponderous)= 82-30= 52
Rhino 1d100= 43
3-5 Agility roll 6d10= 4, 4, 10, 3, 9, 1=2 Successes
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 4, 1, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 48-10=38
Achilles Ridgerunners 1d100+20 (Very Fast)= 15+20= 35
Order of the Thorned Spear
Sisters of Battle Intelligence roll 2d10 (SC 2)= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
The Squad of Sisters of Battle do not retreat. They also convince some Caroleans and Arbites to disobey their own retreat orders.
23rd Carolean Guard
Carolean Guard Willpower roll 3d10 (SC 1)= 1, 4, 7= 0 Successes
Military traditions re-roll 3d10 (SC 1)= 7, 2, 10= 3 Successes.
Caroleans fall back in good order.
Direction 1d2= 1 To The Palace
Carolean Guard Agility roll 2d10= 8, 3= 1 Success
Guard Chimeras 1d100= 90
Leman russ 1d100-10(Slow)= 80-10= 70
Leman russ vanquishers 1d100-20(Very slow)= 73-20=53
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 4, 9, 3= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1d100= 71
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 13-10=3
Achilles Ridgerunners 1d100+20 (Very Fast)= 55+20=75
Arbites
Arbitrators Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 2)= 5, 5= 0 Successes
Arbitrators rout.
Direction= Scattered
Arbitrators Agility roll 2-1(Routing)d10= 1d10= 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimeras 1d100-15(Routing)= 35-15=20
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 7, 5, 4= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1d100= 21
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 89-10= 79
Direction of the retreat= To the palace
Tomb-Captain Sertorius 1d100-30(Ponderous)= 82-30= 52
Rhino 1d100= 43
3-5 Agility roll 6d10= 4, 4, 10, 3, 9, 1=2 Successes
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 4, 1, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 48-10=38
Achilles Ridgerunners 1d100+20 (Very Fast)= 15+20= 35
Order of the Thorned Spear
Sisters of Battle Intelligence roll 2d10 (SC 2)= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
The Squad of Sisters of Battle do not retreat. They also convince some Caroleans and Arbites to disobey their own retreat orders.
23rd Carolean Guard
Carolean Guard Willpower roll 3d10 (SC 1)= 1, 4, 7= 0 Successes
Military traditions re-roll 3d10 (SC 1)= 7, 2, 10= 3 Successes.
Caroleans fall back in good order.
Direction 1d2= 1 To The Palace
Carolean Guard Agility roll 2d10= 8, 3= 1 Success
Guard Chimeras 1d100= 90
Leman russ 1d100-10(Slow)= 80-10= 70
Leman russ vanquishers 1d100-20(Very slow)= 73-20=53
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 4, 9, 3= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1d100= 71
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 13-10=3
Achilles Ridgerunners 1d100+20 (Very Fast)= 55+20=75
Arbites
Arbitrators Willpower roll 2d10 (SC 2)= 5, 5= 0 Successes
Arbitrators rout.
Direction= Scattered
Arbitrators Agility roll 2-1(Routing)d10= 1d10= 3= 0 Successes
Arbitrators Chimeras 1d100-15(Routing)= 35-15=20
Chasing Cultists Agility roll 3d10= 7, 5, 4= 1 Success
Cult Chimeras 1d100= 21
Goliath 1d100-10(Slow)= 89-10= 79
Step by step, they are pushed back by the mass of cultists. He has fired his gun without pause, to the point that the recoil no longer registers to his senses. Beside him Severus is down to his last magazine, choosing his targets carefully to do the most damage with every pull of the trigger. The Caroleans' reputation is proven true, the men of the snowy world taking a toll in blood for each of their own that falls. Each position and barricade that the Cult retakes is done so at a staggering cost in manpower and vehicles, streets and interiors liberally adorned with burnt metal and pools of blood.
But they are still pushed back.
Vespera can see that they have lost. It pains him to admit it but they have lost. The enemy seems to know it too, as the jamming of the vox is lifted so that they can all hear the panicked shouting of the Arbites as they abandon all semblance of discipline and flee. The Mist Shrike wishes that Marshall Teodorico was still alive, so that he could rip his head out of his shoulders himself. So much bluster only for them to fail to show any of the skill and discipline that the enforcers of Imperial Law are supposed to have.
The foe's attempt at inspiring panic backfires. It might have worked on lesser forces, but Space Marines know no fear and the Caroleans are one of the best guardsmen in the sector. As such, the clearing of communications works in their favor, allowing them to coordinate an ordered retreat towards the Palace. No panicked rush to safety, no uncoordinated stampede, no fearful mob that makes for easy prey for their pursuers. While fast, the Caroleans fall back in good order, the rearguard rotating and providing covering fire, the more eager mutants that try the odds dying to well aimed volleys of las fire. Once they reach the palace gate, the Imperial forces hunker down, fending off waves of mutants and vehicles until the last of their forces is refuged under the safety of the gate. Then they man the walls, and the Genestealer cult, unwilling to try the odds at a fortified assault, goes back to their previous positions.
Once behind the safety of their fortifications. Vespera takes stock of their forces. Most of his squad is there, alongside the Rhino and Tomb-Captain Sertorius, although the dreadnought frame looks damaged, the arm with the Combat claw hanging limp. A sizable amount of Caroleans and their armored support are there, clustering the receiving courtyard to the point that it is uncomfortable to stand there. By contrast, there are barely any arbitrators, and no Sisters of Battle. Apparently the last of them refused to retreat and perished to the last.
His attention is taken away from the assembled survivors as the Chapter Master walks towards him, accompanied by the Lord Sector and the Palatine. Vespera immediately falls to one knee, his head bowed.
"Chapter Master, we have failed you." The words taste bitter in his lips. Their chapter is young, but they´ve always accomplished their assigned objectives, until now, when the first failure has ocurred during his watch.
Vespera hears a brief hiss as the Chapter Master removes his helmet. "Look at me Vespera." He raises his head. The older marine face is set in a scowl, but he can see that his eyes hold no recrimination. "We have not failed until the last of us is dead. Now go back to your men. Take stock on how many remains, if any of you need medical assistance and how much ammunition you have left. Dismissed Sergeant."
Surprised by his sudden promotion, Vespera merely nods and walks away.
Techmarine Husnik Toughness roll 4d10 (SC 2)= 9, 1, 10, 3
Valzadai Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 2)= 7, 9, 4, 8, 1, 5= 2 Successes
3rd Company Toughness roll 4d10= 8, 10, 10, 6= 6 Successes, Critical Success.
Caroleans Toughness roll 3+1(Medicae corps)= 4d10= 10, 3, 5, 2= 2 Successes
Retributors Toughness roll 3d10= 3, 6, 3= 1 Success
Carolean Engineseers Intelligence roll 3d10= 8, 8, 7= 3 Successes
Valzadai Toughness roll 6d10 (SC 2)= 7, 9, 4, 8, 1, 5= 2 Successes
3rd Company Toughness roll 4d10= 8, 10, 10, 6= 6 Successes, Critical Success.
Caroleans Toughness roll 3+1(Medicae corps)= 4d10= 10, 3, 5, 2= 2 Successes
Retributors Toughness roll 3d10= 3, 6, 3= 1 Success
Carolean Engineseers Intelligence roll 3d10= 8, 8, 7= 3 Successes
Situation: The Primus of the Cult has been eliminated, alongside a Purestrain Genestealer, saving the life of the Lord-Sector. While the palace is secure, the Imperial relief force has failed in breaking the Siege and is now taking refuge in the Palace, although they managed to deplete the forces of the besiegers.
Mist Shrikes
–Chapter Master Severus (Artificer Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Master-Crafted Chainglaive, Master-Crafter Volkite Serpenta.)
–Chief Apothecary Valzadai (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword,) (Wounded)
–Honor Guard (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Chainglaives, 3 Power Swords)
–Champion Claudius Spatha (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolt Pistol, Power Swords)
–Techmarine Husnik (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolter, Mechadendrites) Wounded.
–Tomb-Captain Sertorius (Castaferrum-Pattern Dreadnought, Assault Cannon, Combat Claw.)
–5 Assault Marines (+3 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
–4 Devastator (+3 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 1 Plasma Guns, 2 Melta Guns)
-5 Tactical Marines (+2 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Bolters, 1 Heavy Bolter, 1 Plasma guns)
–1 Rhinos
–1 Thunderhawks
-Order of the Thorned Spear:
–Palatine Ríona (Sororitas Power Armor, Hand Flamer, Power Spear)
–3 Retributors (Sororitas Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers)
--2 Penitent Engines.
-Lezoan PDF:
–Half-Strenght Platoon of the Lord Sector Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hellguns)
–7 Regiments, 6 Companies of Lezoan PDF (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
-23d Carolean Guard:
–General Felix Mörner (Carapace Armor, Master-crafted Bolt Pistol, Power Sword.) (Wounded)
–Commissar (Carapace Armor, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword)
–7 Companies of Heavy Infantry (Carapace Armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers, Plasma guns)
–7 Leman Russ Vanquishers
–19 Leman Russ tanks
–42 Chimeras
-Arbites:
–125 Arbitrators (Carapace Armor, Shotguns, Supresion Shields, Shock Mauls, Grenade Launchers)
–6 Chimeras
–Chapter Master Severus (Artificer Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Master-Crafted Chainglaive, Master-Crafter Volkite Serpenta.)
–
–Honor Guard (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Chainglaives, 3 Power Swords)
–Champion Claudius Spatha (Prototype MK.VI "Corvus" Power Armor, Bolt Pistol, Power Swords)
–
–Tomb-Captain Sertorius (Castaferrum-Pattern Dreadnought, Assault Cannon, Combat Claw.)
–5 Assault Marines (+3 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
–4 Devastator (+3 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 1 Plasma Guns, 2 Melta Guns)
-5 Tactical Marines (+2 Wounded) (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Bolters, 1 Heavy Bolter, 1 Plasma guns)
–1 Rhinos
–1 Thunderhawks
-Order of the Thorned Spear:
–Palatine Ríona (Sororitas Power Armor, Hand Flamer, Power Spear)
–3 Retributors (Sororitas Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers)
--2 Penitent Engines.
-Lezoan PDF:
–Half-Strenght Platoon of the Lord Sector Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hellguns)
–7 Regiments, 6 Companies of Lezoan PDF (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
-23d Carolean Guard:
–General Felix Mörner (Carapace Armor, Master-crafted Bolt Pistol, Power Sword.) (Wounded)
–Commissar (Carapace Armor, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword)
–7 Companies of Heavy Infantry (Carapace Armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers, Plasma guns)
–7 Leman Russ Vanquishers
–19 Leman Russ tanks
–42 Chimeras
-Arbites:
–125 Arbitrators (Carapace Armor, Shotguns, Supresion Shields, Shock Mauls, Grenade Launchers)
–6 Chimeras
Choose your next action:
-[] Punch through the Encirclement: While the Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor still surrounds the palace, a concentrated push by the remaining forces might penetrate their lines and allow you to reagroup with the rest of Imperial forces, taking the Lord Sector with you.
-[] Extraction by Air: Using your Thunderhawk, you can extract the Lord Sector, delivering him to safety even if it will leave the rest besieged in the Palace. (Contest between the Thundehawk and the Cultist anti-air troops at the beginning of Phase 3)
-[] Sneaking through the Underground: Taking a page from the cult's own attempt, you might try to sneak the Lord Sector alongside a Mist Shrike escort through the sewers.
-[] Hold the Fort: Don´t take risks, defend the Palace and wait for relief from the rest of the Imperial Forces.
-[] Write-in:
Quadrant 726, Middle Levels.
3rd Company Agility 6d10= 10, 3, 8, 8, 5, 9= 6 Successes
Genestealer Cultists Perception rolls 3d10= 1, 3, 6= 0 Successes
Genestealer Agents Perception rolls 5d10= 3, 5, 7, 6, 10= 4 Successes
3rd Company Intelligence roll 4d10= 7, 9, 3, 4= 2 Success
Genestealer Cultists Perception rolls 3d10= 1, 3, 6= 0 Successes
Genestealer Agents Perception rolls 5d10= 3, 5, 7, 6, 10= 4 Successes
3rd Company Intelligence roll 4d10= 7, 9, 3, 4= 2 Success
The members of the Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor give their all for the war-effort and the eventual liberation of Lezo from the grasp of the tyranny of Terra and deliver into the embrace of the True Emperor, who had incarnated Himself in Lezo in a new form, holy and perfect. They are His chosen, molded in His image and in accordance to His design, and they would be the inhabitants of His chosen paradise once He sent His true Angels to remold this word.
Decades have been spent in preparation for this moment. Lezo is the capital of the Sector and headquarters to the Imperial Navy, it´s defenses among the greatest of the Sector. War equipment had been either stolen or built in secret. Their numbers bolstered by rapid breeding and subtle yet aggressive expansion. Agents grown, trained and tested in the darkness on the underhive. Spies influenced or placed in all the Imperial institutions they could, some in high ranking positions. Potential whistleblowers murdered or subverted. All seem well at hand for His plans, with the Imperials distracted and a weak and ineffectual Lord Sector. There had been a scare when the Lord Sector had seemingly taken an interest in the Underhive, but the lack of success, their efforts in hiding themselves and the work of their higher ranking infiltrators had ensured that nothing had come out of it.
When everything was ready, the Holy Uprising was launched. They had swept across the Underhive and the Middle Levels and put both the PDF and the Arbites on the defensive. The Lord Sector sieged in his palace, and the scattering of their cells in friendly ships had ensured that the Navy Squadron guarding the system scattered across the sector.
It was a failure.
The Lord Sector should have been dead or given His blessing. What few gangs remained in the Underhive have rallied in zealous, heretical madness. The Middle Levels are a contested war zone instead of completely secured. The PDF regiments not under their embrace stand in defiance, organized and ready. A passing Guard Regiment had it´s departure delayed and now strengthened the opposition. And worst of all an astropathic message had been sent, bringing onto His chosen world both more Guard Regiments and the False Angels of the Imperium.
The holy mission of the True Emperor is at risk, and no effort must be spared to guarantee it's coming. Reinforcements, foodstuffs, medicines, ammo, weapons, spare parts and fuel are gathered and sent to the Middle Levels, to either supply the forces fighting against the Guard, or to travel upwards to the besiegers of the palace.
Then attacks start to come out of the shadows, striking hard and fast and fleeing before the faithful can retaliate. Food and medicine are poisoned, the brave brood of the Emperor falling to the same things that are supposed to keep them alive. Depots and roads are bombed, slowing to a crawl the mobilization of reinforcements. Fuel caches and ammo stashes explode in fiery detonations, making their guns and vehicles useless. And through it all the forces of the True Emperor are left flailing impotently, unable to deliver righteous retribution on the False Angels harassing them as they slip from their reach like sand in between one fingers.
The true faithful are undeterred, laboring to the point of exhaustion to replenish what has been lost, while promising unending suffering to the monstrous demons that call themselves Mist Shrikes.
-Cultist supplies and forces in the Middle levels reduced considerably. Bonus to fighting in the Middle Levels.
El Desguace, Middle Levels
Loot Type roll 1d4=3
Loot Quality 3d100= 22, 3, 90
Loot Quantity 1d100, 1d4= 11, 1
Karark Zel Intelligence roll 8d10 (SC 2)= 1, 2, 7, 3, 3, 10, 10, 3= 4 Successes
Karak Zel Intelligence roll 5d10 (SC 6)= 1, 10, 7, 5, 10, 9, 9, 7= 7 Successes
Loot Quality 3d100= 22, 3, 90
Loot Quantity 1d100, 1d4= 11, 1
Karark Zel Intelligence roll 8d10 (SC 2)= 1, 2, 7, 3, 3, 10, 10, 3= 4 Successes
Karak Zel Intelligence roll 5d10 (SC 6)= 1, 10, 7, 5, 10, 9, 9, 7= 7 Successes
His chapter might be here to save the planet from xeno-tainted mutants, but as Karark Zel walks through the carcasses of what once were proud examples of the Omnissiah´s grace, he feels the urge of tearing the augmentations off every single engineseer assigned to the Lezoan PDF. When he had inquire as to how put his knowledge to use during his assignment in the PDF armories, a bored quartermaster had suggested a place called "El Desguace." He had given him his thanks and departed, only to find out once he arrived there that the name was the Lezoan word for scrapyard. Apparently, what the local tech-adepts determine is too damaged for repairs is just dumped here to rust.
Mounds of vehicles had been piled together in a careless manner, and would collapse onto anyone who pulled at them without proper care. Most of them were now useless after countless years of wear and tear, but he could see some who could have been brought back to functionality if they had been given the proper attention in a timely manner. The fact that the local Mechanicum is so wasteful with the sacred machines fills him with rage, the squad escorting him having chosen to remain at a respectful distance to avoid disturbing him.
Still, now that he's here he could save some of the fruits of the forges from ignominious decadence. Already he had restored some Chimeras that had been placed there recently, and he was now delving deeper into the scrapyard in hopes of finding either more engines in good enough condition, or spare parts that he can use.
He stops once he spies a brief spot of beige in between the dull gray of the PDF pattern and the reddish tint of rust. Something is buried there, and with the assistance of his escort they bring it into the open after a few hours of careful effort. What is revealed makes him smile in wonder and satisfaction.
Painted a now dirty beige and with a faded emblem of a brown horse, a Land Raider stands before them. It presents extensive damage, with the whole left side of the armor plating destroyed, the engine pierced in various places and the tracks presenting various links missing, but it might still be salvageable. With some trepidation, he commences the rituals to communicate with the warmachine´s machine spirit, hoping that it is still active, and hopefully in a somewhat cooperative mood.
He doesn´t feel anything for a moment, but before he can mourn the demise of the Land Raider´s soul, he notices something. It is an extremely faint pulse, barely perceivable by his mind, but it is there. The spirit machine is still present, weakened and furious beyond what paltry and imprecise words can express for centuries of neglect and disrepair, but it is there. With as much speed as proper procedure allows, the Master of the Forge stops his communion with the tank and starts to bark orders at the squad that accompanies him, after which he starts to examine the damage to the Land Raider in detail.
This gift of the Omnissiah needs plenty of work before it can be restored to it´s full glory. And a new coat of paint.
-11 Chimeras repaired and added to the PDF forces.
-1 Gravely damaged Land Raider salvaged for the chapter.
Other Reports from the Non-taken actions:
Fighting in the Middle Levels: While the 365th Clearwater Fortunates initially lost ground against the Genestealer cult, the actions of the Mist Shrikes and Yamunan Gravekeepers allowed the 94th Zaloctzony Rifles to mount a widely successful counter-attack, retaking lost territory and reducing the cult positions in the Middle levels to just the closest levels to the Underhive, and the areas they need to support the siege of the Governor Palace. Further advance was stalled by enemy ambushes and sabotage of the supply convoys.
Garrison the Administratum officers: Despite the vigilance of the PDF companies garrisoning the building, an assassin snuck in and murdered Adept Katerina Kalivnova. The death of the Head of the Adeptus Administratum will cause problems in the whole sector, but on the shorter term it has put a greater strain on the logistical issues in the deployment of the PDF and Guard forces due to the personal focus she was giving to them.
Inquisitor Mitsuhide and her Stormtroopers have returned from their own exploration of the Underhive. They have shared information on other strongholds in the Underhive, one of which currently hosts the cult Magus.
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And that, fellow imperials, is a perfect demonstration of why a not-unified command structure is considered a bad thing.
Also, fucking bolter bitches. That is a LOT of good men and women killed because you spineless fuckers couldn't retreat properly. And yes, I do consider "death before dishonor" a form of cowardice unless you are dealing with memetic corruption like Chaos taint (or psionic/magic taint in other settings), which plays by somewhat different rules.
I like Sororitas as a rule, but holy shit these ladies demonstrated the downsides of that culture in excruciating detail here.
I'm glad Severus and Spatha survived, though reading the stats for that Genestealer gave me a holy shit moment.
EDIT: okay, now that the original ranting is done, a few other thoughts.
That death of our Admin friend is bad news, and a large part of the reason I wanted to garrison that area.
Land Raider is nice, but currently useless.
We're probably going to have to station a squad or two of our people on the planet long-term, because the Arbites got fucking annihilated and will be incapable of properly maintaining order for a while on their own. Mitsuhide will absolutely exploit that, among many others.
As for voting, we are badly reduced. I'm certain we can punch through, especially given how the rolls ended up with them only winning by the barest of margins, but whether or not we'd do it in a condition to be combat viable later is an open question.
Maybe there's some sabotage we can do?
Also, fucking bolter bitches. That is a LOT of good men and women killed because you spineless fuckers couldn't retreat properly. And yes, I do consider "death before dishonor" a form of cowardice unless you are dealing with memetic corruption like Chaos taint (or psionic/magic taint in other settings), which plays by somewhat different rules.
I like Sororitas as a rule, but holy shit these ladies demonstrated the downsides of that culture in excruciating detail here.
I'm glad Severus and Spatha survived, though reading the stats for that Genestealer gave me a holy shit moment.
EDIT: okay, now that the original ranting is done, a few other thoughts.
That death of our Admin friend is bad news, and a large part of the reason I wanted to garrison that area.
Land Raider is nice, but currently useless.
We're probably going to have to station a squad or two of our people on the planet long-term, because the Arbites got fucking annihilated and will be incapable of properly maintaining order for a while on their own. Mitsuhide will absolutely exploit that, among many others.
As for voting, we are badly reduced. I'm certain we can punch through, especially given how the rolls ended up with them only winning by the barest of margins, but whether or not we'd do it in a condition to be combat viable later is an open question.
Maybe there's some sabotage we can do?
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- Location
- yorkshire
That's a disaster
Not quite, but close - a disaster would have been either the Lord Sector getting killed, Severus getting killed, the General getting killed, or some combination of the three.
We technically achieved our primary objectives with this palace assault, though at a not-quite pyhrric cost. Now we need to get away with it.
- Location
- Germany
Tuturu Bitches!!!
View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-istquWjZ8M&pp=ygUTV2Fsa2luZyBvbiB1bHRyYW1hcg%3D%3D
Bringing this baby back to life is going to be glorious. Also, our infiltratoes carrying this shit hard. The few setbacks sting, but so far everything went as projected and with acceptable casualties.
What do though...
I'm for this here:
-[] Sneaking through the Underground:
Unless anyone comes up with a better option.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yeah, given their advantage in the siege, it was quite possible we will lose that part, at least only Arbiters got fucked up, we would need to recruit and train new ones anyway, given their highest ranking DIED in the first moments together with other high-ranking members.
Anyway, defence it the best for now...I think.
Anyway, defence it the best for now...I think.
yacov
Lurking and sometimes blurting
- Location
- Clogging a drain
PDF in the palace: "We are Halping!"
Either they are incredibly incompetent or are actually genestealers in disguise. Nah, if they were genestealers they would fail so hard they would aid the Imperials.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
How in the name of Him on terra did a PDF get a Land Raider and they dumped it in the trash?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
better ask tech priests that done something like that...
- Location
- USA
Never underestimate incompetence. Anyway damn wonder what a 100 would have gotten.