But it's funny. And she absolutely deserves some payback for killing off our poor Katerina. Plus, it's easier to play off "We're keeping an eye on you" as pettiness and spite than "We actually consider you a serious threat" and helps keep her attention away from any informants who might be keeping an eye on who visits her patsies.
Loyalty is its own Reward (A Traitor Legion Chapter Master Quest)
- Thread starter ThunderOwl
- Start date
Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
I guess. Personally I would have just gone for the blunt "You got a friend of the Chapter killed so fuck you, you don't get any courtesy from us anymore." since I feel like the incompetent/sarcastic routine can only get you so far. But I guess it's not too big a deal either way so...
[X] Plan DECAPITATIIOOOOOOON
I'll give it till tomorrow, and if no one else has objected to it then, I'll slide it in. If others don't like it, I'll leave it out. We can always do the Verbal Macrocannon routine if she pushes back too hard.
[X] Plan DECAPITATIIOOOOOOON
I'd be fine sending some marines to act as a bodyguard detail to mess with her but actually ordering them to mess with her is going a bit to far. Also she might just reject our marines company.* Or have our marines killed off by "accident" or something.
*She's a Inquisitor she can do that.
*She's a Inquisitor she can do that.
To be fair, most Inquisitors are dedicated to acting in what they think are the best interests of the Imperium. It's just that what they consider the best interests of the Imperium all too often differs from the actual best interests of the Imperium.
[X] Plan DECAPITATIIOOOOOOON
[X] Plan DECAPITATIIOOOOOOON
I see our Marines being cruel, and deriving enjoyment from being cruel. With just a smidge of coaching they would absolutely be willing and able to put on airs for a bit to screw with an enemy of the Chapter.
And the point of it is this; Mitsuhide derives a lot of her power from being a big scary Inquisitor no one has the guts to oppose.
One of the best methods of kicking the social legs out from under tyrants in all history is public mockery. No one, noble or otherwise, wants to make a deal with someone who publicly looks like an idiot. And a large band of heavily-armored Astartes are exactly the people who can do that and get away with it.
But I'll try to meet you halfway. How does this sound?
---[] Make sure to assign enough Marines as "Bodyguards" to Mitsuhide that she can't just shake them off or tell them to go away. Coordinate with Interrogator Carvalho to put on the best display of "inter-Inquisitor rivalry" we can get away with, and be prepared to mention to whoever Mitushide is speaking to that Astartes bodyguards are an unfortunate necessity since the inability of Mitsuhide to properly communicate vital information to others in the face of heretical xenos opposition got poor Adept Katerina killed. Severus will help give the Marines involved some coaching as to how to phrase it properly.
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Noroboro
Consistency is key and I’m consistently tired :)
- Location
- Canada
This kinda falls flat when we're at the whims of another Inquisitor, Abraham Harker, and his branch of the Inquisition. I understand what your getting at but still, it doesn't feel appropriate or fitting for our Marines to be acting like this.
One tyrant at a time. We're playing Traitor-lineage Astartes, we knew going in that making any serious impact for the better was going to be a long, slow process. If enough voters were even inclined to push that way in the first place, which is up in the air.
Real talk though; I'm generally not going to bash on people for voting what entertains them, entertainment is why we're here after all (unless it egregiously sacrifices sense for flash, but that's not really been a notable problem yet), but personally I literally could not give a single flying one for what any given action "feels appropriate", and I am baffled at people who cast votes based on that.
What "feels appropriate" is the QM's job to accept or veto at their discretion. Our purpose here is to give ideas/inspiration and help work out the mechanics.
I want to screw Mitsuhide over as hard as possible without actually starting a fight. Explicitly messing with her attempts to diplomance the nobility remaining in the spires seems a feasible way to do that.
But whatever. I've said enough on the topic and I know Thunderowl reads this regularly, so if (s)he wants we'll get some comical fuckery in the relevant updates. I'll leave the extra order out of the plan.
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Noroboro
Consistency is key and I’m consistently tired :)
- Location
- Canada
Dude, what? I'm still voting for the plan, its just that I personally don't think its fitting for our chapter, we haven't really seen all that much joking from our marines. It will not affect my vote nor will it cause me to not enjoy the next update as much as it would. I'll drop this as well but I was just sharing my thoughts and opinion.
[X] Plan DECAPITATIIOOOOOOON
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I hope we do more to make the galaxy a better place to live instead of just safer. I always like trying to make awful situation slightly less awful over time. I for instance I really like how our aspirants need to work together in order to pass (or at least massively increase their chances) instead of just having death matches solo hunts or duels. It creates more comradery and leads to warriors that have a greater capacity for empathy.
I hope we do more stuff like that at least when it's within our power to do so.
Lezoan Campaign 6
PDF Headquarters, Upper Hive
An officer must be composed in all situations. It is important that they hold all emotions in check, maintain a carefully stern expression and project an aura of discipline and control.
This imposition of her rank is the only thing that prevents Marshall Silvia Burgos from skipping through the corridor with a smile on her face. She had done it. From a member of a cadet branch of a minor house she had risen through the ranks and had finally achieved the position of Marshall. Despite the mockery and disbelief of her family, the scorn of her peers and the obstacles placed by her superiors, she had done it. The pin on her breast felt like the Emperor´s approval, and the looks on the faces of her family when she had revealed just how far she was now above them will be a memory to treasure until her dying day.
Still, there was work to be done before she could enjoy the fruits of her efforts. A reminder of that are the squad of Astartes trailing behind her as she moves to the command room. She had been escorted one by one before, back when she had just been the PDF liaison in the council, and now that she's the Marshall a different squad has been assigned to assist her. Their armors are different, less decorated, which she appreciates as most of the things painted on them are not pleasant to look at, and all of them except their sergeant have a silver leaf on their chestplate. Apart from that, they mostly act the same way. Whenever she tries to engage them in conversation their responses are curt, yet polite, and every time a sycophant or overbearing noble or guildsman attempts to approach her without her remit they drive them away with hands on bolters. It has been pleasant for her in truth.
As they reach her office, Silvia immediately sits on her desk, tackling the mountain of dataslates and parchments that are piled upon it with the grim determination of doing something that must be done. Despite having pushed back the cultist to the underhive, and the transport issues that prevented the PDF regiments from chasing them, there still is plenty of paperwork to be processes, reports to be read and orders to be issued, regarding both the garrison duties against potential sabotage and fighting the insurrectionists in the noble houses. Including her former superior Silvestre. Taking into account who was escorting her she had never said it out loud, but she couldn't help but mourn him, who he had been if not what he is now. Silvestre might not have been the most competent of leaders, but he had taken a shine to her, and pat of the reason she had gone so far was his continued backing and support. It had been a tough blow to learn that he had fallen for the heretical lies of the xeno-worshiping mutants.
Her line of thought is interrupted when her leg bumps involuntarily against something under her desk. Burgos frowns in confusion, as she doesn't remember stashing anything under it. She gets off her chair and kneels to look at it, revealing a mass of wires and chemical containers that form an improvised explosive.
"There´s a bomb under the desk!" She shouts as she stands up in a hurry. The marines in her escort react immediately, with the sergeant in the red-stripe helmet grabbing her and running away as another one turns over the desk and starts working on defusing the explosive. The marine runs at great speed, and plenty of troopers and support personnel look with surprise, awe and in some cases ignorant mirth at the sight of a sprinting Angel of Death with their superior officer hoisted over his pauldron. After a few minutes the space marine stops suddenly, taking a gauntlet to his helmet and causing Burgos to grab onto the pauldron lest she be thrown due to inertia.
"The bomb has been deactivated." Reports the Space Marine as he carefully pries the marshall of his shoulder and lowers her to the ground. "I´ve ordered my squad to comb the area for the Saboteur, and I would suggest you order the garrison to do the same." Burgos straightens the wrinkles on her uniform before doing as it is suggested, thinking that at least being carried by a space marine like a satchel makes for an interesting story.
-Assasination of Marshall Silvia Burgos prevented.
-SC for next bomb defusal is lowered by 1, Reductus Sabouteur Agility roll have -1 dice this turn.
Imperial Navy Headquarters, Upper Levels
"....Taking into account the position of House Silvestre spire, in case they manage to get forces off orbit, the best vectors of interception are here, here and here." Lord Admiral Hanno Adherbal points at three different places in an hololithic representation of the planet. Mikhail sees the nearby officers agree readily to words, and despite the sycophantic nature of most of those agreements, there is no flaw that the marine can discern in the old officers' orders. "If their pilots are skilled enough to avoid our vessels, the closest warp-route for them to reach is the one that goes to Gadir, so the Heretic´s Bane will be stationed in the Manderville point in order to shoot down the approaching aircraft. The rest of the fleet will.."
A sound registers in Mikhail sense, coming from down below, prompting him to unlatch the bolter from the mag-lock in his legs. The words die in the Lord Admiral throat as Mikhail moves and without another word empties his bolter´s magazine on the floor. The assembled Navy officers scatter in a panic, fragments of the floor flying all around them, as they duck for cover. Before anyone can berate or inquire about the marine's sudden bout of aggression, the marine leaves in a hurry, the pounding sound of power-armored feet.
Mikhail doesn´t care that he has startled the mortals. He had seen the saboteur through the holes his rounds have made, having squeezed through the ventilation going beneath the floor, presumably in order to plant an explosive. Quickly descending to the lower level, he reaches the place just beneath the meeting room. A trail of red-purplish blood goes from the exit of a ventilation shaft to the floor, before trailing off into one of the corridors. Following it, Mikhail finds the saboteur, blood dripping from a nasty wound in his leg. He turns around and tries to level a pistol at him, but before he can do so Mikhail is upon him, stabbing his combat knife deep into his torso.
"I don´t know if you were the one responsible or if it was the other one that killed my brothers." States the marine quietly as he drags the knife across his stomach, the saboteur ineffectively trying to get away as the marine uses his other hand to keep him in place. "But I promise myself to strangle the one responsible with his own entrails, and I am a marine of my word."
When some of the officers reach Mikhail position, escorted by a group of armsmen, there are a few of them that promptly lose their lunch at seeing what he has done to the saboteur.
-Reductus Saboteur eliminated. Assassination attempt on Lord Admiral Hanno Adherbal prevented.
Administratum Offices, Upper Levels
Beltran Trastámara de Olivares, recently promoted Head of the Adeptus Administratum in the Aetelian Sector. dearly wishes to be anywhere else instead of here in his office. A small part of it is the fact that the previous occupant of the room had an awful taste in decoration, that with all the clashing colors and overwrought decorations. The main reason for his distress however, are the nine Angels of Death taking most of the space in the room. Most of them are helmeted, and the one who isn´t shows a irritated expression, a mechadendrite in his back opening and closing at a regular pattern that is making Beltran nervous.
"Adept Trastámara, I find it surprising that there is a convenient lack of blueprints regarding the Nobility spires." Comments the marine in a tone that makes it clear that he suspects Beltran has something to do with that. "It is something that puts under great strain our campaign against the enemies of the Imperium, and I don´t need to explain to you the disastrous consequences it would have if the Genestealers manage to spread to new worlds."
"My most sincere apologies for the lack of data Milords. Unfortunately most noble houses are reluctant to give away anything that might compromise their security, especially since a significant part of personnel involved in the Administratum here either is part of or had it´s learning sponsored by one of the noble houses." The marine´s eyes narrowed into slits upon hearing his response, indicating he doesn´t place much stock in his explanation. Which is bad for Beltran, as he is being completely honest. Tusting the layout to their personal living spaces to the care of someone who most probably won´t belong to your house is regarded by most nobles as completely foolish, and the few times a house has done so the information was false or outdated by several centuries.
The marine takes a small step forward, and it takes all of the Adepts' composure not to cower behind his desk. There is something in his stance, a sense of predatory anticipation that makes his hairs stand, the subconscious knowledge that at any second the being in front of him could slaughter him with the same ease he signs on a document.
"If that is true, it is shameful behavior from the noble houses." Beltran is ready to scream that it is the truth, but the Marine hasn´t stopped speaking, his tone softens somewhat. "We are all here working for the good of the Imperium, so no matter who you feel indebted to, it is in our best interest to work together." It takes him a moment to parse through what he means, until he recalls that the Inquisitor had informed him that she was feuding with a chapter of Space Marines. Which meant that the Space Marine here thought that he was obstructing their mission under her orders. Sure they had agreed on him using his new position to aid her in her designs, but this wasn´t the case!
"I can assure you milord, I am at your disposal, yet the information you requiere is not available in our archives!" He pleads with the Marine, which holds Beltran´s gaze for a moment that seems to stretch for ages before he speaks again.
"I see. Then our business here is over, have a good day Adept." With that all of the marines depart, leaving Beltran alone to control his hammering heart.
God-Emperor almighty, what has he gotten himself into?
-No information gained regarding the layout of the Nobility spires.
House Maeror Estate, Upper Level
As you and your bodyguards arrive at the Estate of House Maeror, you take view of the garden that has been planted behind the walls of the Estate. In the space allocated to the myriad of trees, bushes and flowers one could perfectly build two or three hab-blocks, a statement of power and wealth on part of the Navigator house with how precious space is on a hive-world, especially one as populous as Lezo. The company of Zatloczony Rifle, men and women with the look of hard-bitten gangers that you ́re so familiar with, have been forced to remain outside by the security forces of house Maeror, so they have instead taken positions on the approaches to the palace. The only sounds as you move through the garden is that of your boots crunching the paved path to the Estate proper and your power armor whirring. The only change as you enter the state proper is the addition of the hundred footsteps of the various servants and menials, all of them working in complete silence. The remaining members of your Honor Guard do not quarrel or bicker like they used to, which is in a way ironic since the two members that have died were the most quiet out of all of them. That they are so affected by the dead of their peers is what proves that, despite all their promise and skill, they are still young. You´ve lost enough brothers that, while you still mourn the death of those you cared about, it doesn´t have a bearing on the way you behave or act. For what you´ve seen in other marines, they will also adjust better as more of them die.
While that´s useful from a pragmatic perspective, you can´t judge it´s value from a personal one.
Instead of a hall, you´re given directions to an auditorium, from which the sound of music can be heard. You´re not particularly cultured so you cannot give an accurate opinion as to the quality of the performance as someone like Catilina could, but the sounds are painful to your enhanced hearing, strident and discordant. The gate of the Auditorium is guarded by a group of enforcers with uniforms colored in the black and purple of House Maeror, who let you pass without a word and silently stop your Honor Guard. Thrax and the others look ready to protest, but one look from you keeps them in place, even if their tense stances make the Navigator guards cast uneasy glances at them.
The door opens and as you walker past the empty seats of gold and velvet, you spot the source of the music. Playing the… "piano" you think it is called, an instrument you recall from the few times you were invited to the IIIrd legion performances back during the discovery of your Primarch, sits a middle-aged woman, her frame hidden by the embroidered, bulky clothes. The hands that touched the keys were twisted, fingers tilted in a manner that r that made the fingers move in clumsy, erratic ways. She plays the last screechy notes, and stands up to look at you. A shaven scalp and dark skin frame a face with bulging eyes and scales going down the bridge of her nose. Her third eye was hidden by an expensive silk cloth tied around her head, and as you get closer she looks at you with a proud expression, cranking her head so that she may look at your face. At a few steps stands a servant, hands clasp firmly behind his back as he addresses you.
"You have the honor of being in the presence of Navigator Cornelia Maeror, Exalted Representative of his Excellency Priscus Maeror, Novator of House Maeror, in the Aetelian Sector. Despite the suddenness of your request, you have been granted a short audience. State your business."
You dip your head slightly. "I appreciate it, representative. I came to ask for the Warp routes Inquisitor Mitsuhide received from you recently."
"To what end?" This time it is the representative who speaks, her tone waspish and voice raspy, making an effort to look down on you despite how much you loom over here."
"The system those routes lead to is quarantined by decree of the Emperor Himself…."
The navigator interrupts you with a dismissive way of her hand. "Per agreements between the Holy Ordos and House Maeror she has the right to such information. You do not." She snaps her bent fingers, and the servant leaves.
You hold your burgeoning annoyance in check. "That is correct. Nevertheless, we got information that Mitsuhide shared those routes with a Space Marine chapter, who aren´t supposed to know them. As such, we require those routes in order to erect a quarantine around the nearby systems and intercept them."
The navigator outright sneers at your words. "Inquisitor Mitsuhide warned me that her rivals in the Inquisition would attempt to besmirch her honor. Hadn´t expected that they would use Space Marine as patsies, but I guess there isn´t much I can expect of your wits, if you´re fooled by Inquisitorial power plays."
It is a good thing that your Honor Guard remains outside, because you aren´t sure that they would have appreciated the representative words. You´ve talked to plenty of Navigators and while they are a proud lot they have never spoken to you with such impudence. Then again, those in the vessels of your chapters are merely of the rank and file, and those back in the VIIIth Legion knew better than to tempt the annoyance of the legionnaires. As one of your previous colleagues had said, "They only need the third eye to navigate."
Still, as much as her disrespect irks you, it would be unwise to offend the representative of the House that holds almost a monopoly of all the Navigators on the Sector. Keeping that in mind, you don´t let your tone reflect your feelings. "Regardless of the impression you might have of myself, we have proof that in the future someone will attempt to land in the system. I must reiterate my request."
There is a minute or so when the navigator stares intently at your face, before she eventually looks away and shrugs. "If you insist I can do you such a favor. Of course, I will inform the Inquisitor of it, so that the both of you might coordinate in your safeguarding of the system." The servant returns, carrying a goblet in a tray. Merir takes the goblet with some difficulty, spilling part of its contents onto the floor. "Now leave, for I have other matters to attend to."
With a short "By your leave, you depart. As you exit the auditorium and reunite with your Honor Guard, you ponder how the situation may develop, and how you can guard the system in a manner that can render most the knowledge of your presence.
-You have obtained the coordinates and Warp routes that go into Sanction. Mitsuhide knows that you have such knowledge.
House Silvestre Spire, Upper levels.
In Sergeant Plauto experience, there were two usual reactions mortals have to the arrival of Astartes. Awe and wonder if they are Imperial, and fear and panic if they were foes of the Imperium, which was mixed with a strange eagerness in the case of Chaos worshippers. As such the annoyance that flared in the Inquisitor's face when she saw them approach before she forcibly put a more neutral expression had been interesting to witness. The nobles the Inquisitor had been talking to quickly scatter at their arrival, going back to where their household troops were maintaining a perimeter outside the traitor house Silvestre´s Spire.. Lieutenant Raetia takes the lead, only to be stopped as a member of the Inquisitors retinue. His size even greater than a Space Marine, and with an odor nauseous enough to be perceived through their helmet filters, an Ogryn points an active Power Maul at the Lieutenant. Behind him the other members of Mitsuhide´s retinue, a psyker, a woman in carapace armor, and a man with a carmine coat over his flak armor, tense and grasp their weapons, only to stand down as the Inquisitor raises her hand.
"Benkei, stop." The ogryn looks back at her master, before stepping back with a grunt and deactivating his weapon. She then fixes the Lieutenant with a glare, whose posture tells Plauto how little he cares about it.. "What business do you have with me, Space Marine?"
"Chapter Master Severus has ordered us to follow you during the assault of the spire." Informs Raetia.
The inquisitor shares a glance with the psyker, waiting for him to shake his head before returning his attention to Raetia. Outside her sight, Plauto notices how some members of 3-1 shift their bolters slightly after that. The man in the coat and flak armor does, and his hand drifts to the hilt of his power sword, while the other twirls his graying mustache.
"While I appreciate your assistance, it is completely unnecessary. My retinue, the stormtroopers and myself are more than enough to see to my safety." The Inquisitor says eventually, the polite tone betrayed by the way she´s glaring at Raetia.
"I do not doubt it." Answers Raetia diplomatically. "Nevertheless my orders are to follow you in the assault and we shall do so."
"And if I order you to leave?" Challenges Mitsuhide, getting a shrug of Raetia´s shoulder in response.
"We aren´t obligated to obey you, so nothing would change." Mitsuhide remains silent as she keeps glaring at him, before finally letting out a sigh and rubbing her temples.
"Fine. I suppose you´re already briefed on how we plan to storm the palace?"
"We have been." Replies Raetia confidently. Plauto stops paying attention to the conversation and opens a comlink to what remains of his squad.
"You know our orders. Our priority is securing the spire and preventing the cultist for escaping off-world, but keep an eye out for the Inquisitor and her subordinates. If they do anything that isn´t killing mutants, I want you to report it to me, understood?"
All of them respond in the affirmative, and so Plauto prepares himself for the coming fray.
The plan for the assault had been simple. Without the data necessary to accomplish a proper infiltration and the times constraints of preventing an evacuation, their plan is reduced to a direct assault, with the Mist Shrikes and the combined armored element of the Imperial forces to breach through the lower levels of the spire, before spreading out to find and secure the different landing platforms in the spire. The initial assault goes according to plan, Plauto and his Assault marines lead the charge alongside the Razorback, while the Devastators of 3-10 stay close to the Inquisitor´s retinue and the Tacticals spread out to provide spear points to the accompanying Fortunates and Riflemen. It was as they cleared out the upper levels that their advance slowed down.
Plauto roars as his chainsword splits a trooper clad in the heraldry of House Silvestre in half, his bolt pistol clicking empty after he shoots at a group of Neophytes manning a multilaser. Once more the fighting takes place in wide, luxurious corridors, statements of wealth and power sullied by soot, blood and viscera. And just like the fighting in the Lord Sector palace, Plauto seriously considers that the cult is deploying whole levels of the underhive in each engagement. For every servant of the Emperor present there are at least six or more mutants, and recognizing the Mist Shrikes as their greatest threat, they were doing everything that they could to bring them down. Case in point, an Acolyte lunges at him with a primed satchel charge, forcing the terran to drop his pistol in order to bat the leaping body aside. It explodes as it falls amidst the fighting foes, killing both guardsmen and its own allies. At his side one of his Assault Marines is pinned by ten or so cultists grabbing onto his armor, and by the time he´s removed most of them one brings a mining drill onto his neck, breaking through the relatively weaker armor and decapitating him. Plauto avenges him by thrusting his chainswords into the killer's chest, before removing the corpse from the weapon with a kick.
The sergeant takes a brief look backwards as he activates his jump pack to avoid another suicide bomber. The Imperial advance, while reduced to a crawl, is not stopped, as the armored vehicles prove to be a significant advantage for the attackers that the mutants cannot contest easily. The Zatloczony rifles are doing a decent job at pressing deeper into the spire, advancing with grit despite the rising casualties. The Fortunates are, ironically, not so lucky, with many of their Cadian-style troopers lying dead on the floor. Slightly behind them, the members of 3-9 are fending off a flanking attack that had come out of a seemingly cleared corridor, the Devastators forced to engage in melee due to their close proximity. Plauto sees their sergeant fall with a knife in the eye-lense, only for another marine to avenge him by crushing his killer´s head with a heavy bolter.
As for the Inquisitor they were supposed to be watching over, her and her retinue are handling themselves better than he had expected. Mitsuhide proves to be a deft hand with her Eviscerator, each thrust and slash of the two-handed sword claiming a life. Her psyker is throwing lightning at each cluster of foes that he discerns, leaning on his staff as he does so. The woman with the bolter fires in a short, controlled burst, and the Ogryn proves to be a living wall that the cultist cannot overcome, his shield, maul and body pulping flesh and bone. The man in the coat is a whirlwind of steel and energy, his power sword flashing in an out of view as he wields it with a skill beyond Plauto´s own, much to his chagrin. The stormtroopers that accompany them are slightly far ahead, providing a core of skilled veterans that the guard can take inspiration from and rally to.
Plauto takes note of all of this in the seconds that he´s airborne, before the burst from his jump pack ends and gravity makes him land. Making use of his experience as an Assault Marine, he directs his descent so as to land on top of an enemy heavy weapons team, destroying the weapon and crushing one of the troopers manning it.
As he kills the rest of them, a rumble shakes the spire, the extensive lighting flickering before the halls descend into darkness for a brief moment. Then the emergency lights activate, covering the battle with a dim red light.
A comlink activates in his helmet shortly after that. "Pulcro from 3-1 reporting, Lieutenant Raetia is dead, enemy detonated the spire´s main generator while we were securing it. Both my squad and 3-2 have suffered extensive casualties."
Plauto doesn´t allow himself be affected by the news, as the fighting intensifies and the outcome of the battle is balanced on a knife´s edge.
And then the balance turns to their favor.
The Genestealer cult starts to lose ground at an exponential rate, its seemingly endless supply of bolter fodder drying to a trickle before stopping. Having to spit their forces to cover all the points of advance of the servants of the Imperium, after having them further reduced due to the need of preparing an evacuation, allows them to maintain the numerical advantage they need to keep the pressure for long, and in equal footing the training, equipment and experience are what determines the outcome of the fight.
And none have more experience, better equipment and more taxing training that the Mist Shrikes. Galvanized by their losses, the midnight-clad marines of Luctus gain a second wind fueled by cold, focused hatred. Their advance to the landing pads is beyond the cult´s ability to contest, especially when backed by the sons and daughters of Lezo, Clearwater and Zatloczony. Hall by hall, room by room, all who stand against them fall under the guns and blades of the Astartes and their allies, their torn and rend bodies crushed under their boots as they move on. By the time they reach the evacuation transports, the cultists are desperately trying to take off, abandoning in their haste the majority of their supplies and members. It does not avail them, for between the rockets and missiles of the invaders and the interception of the Navy none manage to flee Lezo orbit.
That is not to say that their victory is not costly. The cultists and mutants struggle with the determination and ferocity they´ve always had, and plenty of guardsmen lay down their lives fighting against them, the Fortunate companies especially. Out of the two companies they sent to secure the Spire, only a few squads live to see it conquered, having lost a significant amount of their effectives bringing down the traitor Silvestre and the head of his House, the latter of which showed an outstanding level of skill with a lasgun, especially coming from a traitorous noble.
Plauto sighs softly as he removes the teeth of his chainswords, the chain itself showing signs of damage from its continued use. His eyes track the Inquisitor and her retinue as she leaves the spire. The woman had tried to access the solar of the Lord of House Silvestre, but he had been entertained avoiding his vigilance of her actions long enough for one of the members of 3-9 to arrive first, search the room for anything of strategic value, which he hadn´t found and then "accidentally" discharge his plasma gun inside.
The sergeant turns to leave too, accompanied by his remaining brothers. The bitter fighting of the spire had reduced his squad and 3-9 further, and both Lieutenant Raetia and most of 3-1 had perished in the explosion of the generator.
Still, Lives are the Emperor´s currency, and this time it had been well-spent
-House Silvestre Spire secured, Cult forces prevented from fleeing off-world.
-Inquisitor Mitsuhide blocked from interacting with loyal nobles or obtaining intel from House Silvestre
-14 Marines slain, 28 Progenoids recovered.
Q.M notes: Soooo I´m back.
Apologies for having you all waiting without saying anything, but Real Life, douchebag that it is, has had me very busy these past...two, three weeks? Anyway, now I can´t get back into writing and the regular schedule of chapter per week will be continued.
Also, some of you might have noticed that the Informational is not updated. It will be done when the campaign ends.
Glad to be back and hope you enjoy the chapter
7-10 Perception Roll 5d10=2, 7, 3, 9, 3= 2 Successes
PDF Troopers Perception Roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Reductus Saboteur Agility roll 6d10= 7, 3, 1, 10, 7, 4= 3 Successes
7-10 Intelligence roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 10, 10, 9, 10= 7 Successes, Critical Success.
PDF Troopers Perception Roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Reductus Saboteur Agility roll 6d10= 7, 3, 1, 10, 7, 4= 3 Successes
7-10 Intelligence roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 10, 10, 9, 10= 7 Successes, Critical Success.
An officer must be composed in all situations. It is important that they hold all emotions in check, maintain a carefully stern expression and project an aura of discipline and control.
This imposition of her rank is the only thing that prevents Marshall Silvia Burgos from skipping through the corridor with a smile on her face. She had done it. From a member of a cadet branch of a minor house she had risen through the ranks and had finally achieved the position of Marshall. Despite the mockery and disbelief of her family, the scorn of her peers and the obstacles placed by her superiors, she had done it. The pin on her breast felt like the Emperor´s approval, and the looks on the faces of her family when she had revealed just how far she was now above them will be a memory to treasure until her dying day.
Still, there was work to be done before she could enjoy the fruits of her efforts. A reminder of that are the squad of Astartes trailing behind her as she moves to the command room. She had been escorted one by one before, back when she had just been the PDF liaison in the council, and now that she's the Marshall a different squad has been assigned to assist her. Their armors are different, less decorated, which she appreciates as most of the things painted on them are not pleasant to look at, and all of them except their sergeant have a silver leaf on their chestplate. Apart from that, they mostly act the same way. Whenever she tries to engage them in conversation their responses are curt, yet polite, and every time a sycophant or overbearing noble or guildsman attempts to approach her without her remit they drive them away with hands on bolters. It has been pleasant for her in truth.
As they reach her office, Silvia immediately sits on her desk, tackling the mountain of dataslates and parchments that are piled upon it with the grim determination of doing something that must be done. Despite having pushed back the cultist to the underhive, and the transport issues that prevented the PDF regiments from chasing them, there still is plenty of paperwork to be processes, reports to be read and orders to be issued, regarding both the garrison duties against potential sabotage and fighting the insurrectionists in the noble houses. Including her former superior Silvestre. Taking into account who was escorting her she had never said it out loud, but she couldn't help but mourn him, who he had been if not what he is now. Silvestre might not have been the most competent of leaders, but he had taken a shine to her, and pat of the reason she had gone so far was his continued backing and support. It had been a tough blow to learn that he had fallen for the heretical lies of the xeno-worshiping mutants.
Her line of thought is interrupted when her leg bumps involuntarily against something under her desk. Burgos frowns in confusion, as she doesn't remember stashing anything under it. She gets off her chair and kneels to look at it, revealing a mass of wires and chemical containers that form an improvised explosive.
"There´s a bomb under the desk!" She shouts as she stands up in a hurry. The marines in her escort react immediately, with the sergeant in the red-stripe helmet grabbing her and running away as another one turns over the desk and starts working on defusing the explosive. The marine runs at great speed, and plenty of troopers and support personnel look with surprise, awe and in some cases ignorant mirth at the sight of a sprinting Angel of Death with their superior officer hoisted over his pauldron. After a few minutes the space marine stops suddenly, taking a gauntlet to his helmet and causing Burgos to grab onto the pauldron lest she be thrown due to inertia.
"The bomb has been deactivated." Reports the Space Marine as he carefully pries the marshall of his shoulder and lowers her to the ground. "I´ve ordered my squad to comb the area for the Saboteur, and I would suggest you order the garrison to do the same." Burgos straightens the wrinkles on her uniform before doing as it is suggested, thinking that at least being carried by a space marine like a satchel makes for an interesting story.
-Assasination of Marshall Silvia Burgos prevented.
-SC for next bomb defusal is lowered by 1, Reductus Sabouteur Agility roll have -1 dice this turn.
Imperial Navy Headquarters, Upper Levels
Reductus Saboteur Agility roll 6-1= 5d10= 10, 9, 9, 4, 2= 4 Successes
Mikhail Perception roll 5d10= 9, 9, 9, 8, 2= 4 Successes
10-3 Perception roll 5d10= 7, 7, 1, 9, 2= 2 Successes
Mikhail Perception roll 5d10= 9, 9, 9, 8, 2= 4 Successes
10-3 Perception roll 5d10= 7, 7, 1, 9, 2= 2 Successes
Reductus Saboteur Agility roll 6-1= 5d10= 7, 6, 2, 5, 6= 3 Successes
Mikhail Agility roll 5d10= 6, 10, 9, 8, 7, 7= 6 Successes, Critical Success.
10-3 Agility roll 6d10= 2, 1, 8, 8, 4, 6=2 Successes
Mikhail Agility roll 5d10= 6, 10, 9, 8, 7, 7= 6 Successes, Critical Success.
10-3 Agility roll 6d10= 2, 1, 8, 8, 4, 6=2 Successes
"....Taking into account the position of House Silvestre spire, in case they manage to get forces off orbit, the best vectors of interception are here, here and here." Lord Admiral Hanno Adherbal points at three different places in an hololithic representation of the planet. Mikhail sees the nearby officers agree readily to words, and despite the sycophantic nature of most of those agreements, there is no flaw that the marine can discern in the old officers' orders. "If their pilots are skilled enough to avoid our vessels, the closest warp-route for them to reach is the one that goes to Gadir, so the Heretic´s Bane will be stationed in the Manderville point in order to shoot down the approaching aircraft. The rest of the fleet will.."
A sound registers in Mikhail sense, coming from down below, prompting him to unlatch the bolter from the mag-lock in his legs. The words die in the Lord Admiral throat as Mikhail moves and without another word empties his bolter´s magazine on the floor. The assembled Navy officers scatter in a panic, fragments of the floor flying all around them, as they duck for cover. Before anyone can berate or inquire about the marine's sudden bout of aggression, the marine leaves in a hurry, the pounding sound of power-armored feet.
Mikhail doesn´t care that he has startled the mortals. He had seen the saboteur through the holes his rounds have made, having squeezed through the ventilation going beneath the floor, presumably in order to plant an explosive. Quickly descending to the lower level, he reaches the place just beneath the meeting room. A trail of red-purplish blood goes from the exit of a ventilation shaft to the floor, before trailing off into one of the corridors. Following it, Mikhail finds the saboteur, blood dripping from a nasty wound in his leg. He turns around and tries to level a pistol at him, but before he can do so Mikhail is upon him, stabbing his combat knife deep into his torso.
"I don´t know if you were the one responsible or if it was the other one that killed my brothers." States the marine quietly as he drags the knife across his stomach, the saboteur ineffectively trying to get away as the marine uses his other hand to keep him in place. "But I promise myself to strangle the one responsible with his own entrails, and I am a marine of my word."
When some of the officers reach Mikhail position, escorted by a group of armsmen, there are a few of them that promptly lose their lunch at seeing what he has done to the saboteur.
-Reductus Saboteur eliminated. Assassination attempt on Lord Admiral Hanno Adherbal prevented.
Administratum Offices, Upper Levels
Siracusa Intelligence roll 5d10 (SC 3)= 1, 7, 10, 1, 6=2 Successes
U-3 Intelligence roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 2, 6, 4, 6= 2 Successes
Siracusa Perception roll 4d10= 9, 2, 5, 8= 2 Successes
U-3 Intelligence roll 4d10 (SC 3)= 2, 6, 4, 6= 2 Successes
Siracusa Perception roll 4d10= 9, 2, 5, 8= 2 Successes
Beltran Trastámara de Olivares, recently promoted Head of the Adeptus Administratum in the Aetelian Sector. dearly wishes to be anywhere else instead of here in his office. A small part of it is the fact that the previous occupant of the room had an awful taste in decoration, that with all the clashing colors and overwrought decorations. The main reason for his distress however, are the nine Angels of Death taking most of the space in the room. Most of them are helmeted, and the one who isn´t shows a irritated expression, a mechadendrite in his back opening and closing at a regular pattern that is making Beltran nervous.
"Adept Trastámara, I find it surprising that there is a convenient lack of blueprints regarding the Nobility spires." Comments the marine in a tone that makes it clear that he suspects Beltran has something to do with that. "It is something that puts under great strain our campaign against the enemies of the Imperium, and I don´t need to explain to you the disastrous consequences it would have if the Genestealers manage to spread to new worlds."
"My most sincere apologies for the lack of data Milords. Unfortunately most noble houses are reluctant to give away anything that might compromise their security, especially since a significant part of personnel involved in the Administratum here either is part of or had it´s learning sponsored by one of the noble houses." The marine´s eyes narrowed into slits upon hearing his response, indicating he doesn´t place much stock in his explanation. Which is bad for Beltran, as he is being completely honest. Tusting the layout to their personal living spaces to the care of someone who most probably won´t belong to your house is regarded by most nobles as completely foolish, and the few times a house has done so the information was false or outdated by several centuries.
The marine takes a small step forward, and it takes all of the Adepts' composure not to cower behind his desk. There is something in his stance, a sense of predatory anticipation that makes his hairs stand, the subconscious knowledge that at any second the being in front of him could slaughter him with the same ease he signs on a document.
"If that is true, it is shameful behavior from the noble houses." Beltran is ready to scream that it is the truth, but the Marine hasn´t stopped speaking, his tone softens somewhat. "We are all here working for the good of the Imperium, so no matter who you feel indebted to, it is in our best interest to work together." It takes him a moment to parse through what he means, until he recalls that the Inquisitor had informed him that she was feuding with a chapter of Space Marines. Which meant that the Space Marine here thought that he was obstructing their mission under her orders. Sure they had agreed on him using his new position to aid her in her designs, but this wasn´t the case!
"I can assure you milord, I am at your disposal, yet the information you requiere is not available in our archives!" He pleads with the Marine, which holds Beltran´s gaze for a moment that seems to stretch for ages before he speaks again.
"I see. Then our business here is over, have a good day Adept." With that all of the marines depart, leaving Beltran alone to control his hammering heart.
God-Emperor almighty, what has he gotten himself into?
-No information gained regarding the layout of the Nobility spires.
House Maeror Estate, Upper Level
Severus Fellowship roll 8+1=9d10= 10, 4, 3, 2, 8, 1, 1, 3, 4= 1 Success
Cornelia Maeror Willpower roll 7d10= 6, 5, 1, 1, 7, 3, 2= 0 Successes
Cornelia Maeror Willpower roll 7d10= 6, 5, 1, 1, 7, 3, 2= 0 Successes
As you and your bodyguards arrive at the Estate of House Maeror, you take view of the garden that has been planted behind the walls of the Estate. In the space allocated to the myriad of trees, bushes and flowers one could perfectly build two or three hab-blocks, a statement of power and wealth on part of the Navigator house with how precious space is on a hive-world, especially one as populous as Lezo. The company of Zatloczony Rifle, men and women with the look of hard-bitten gangers that you ́re so familiar with, have been forced to remain outside by the security forces of house Maeror, so they have instead taken positions on the approaches to the palace. The only sounds as you move through the garden is that of your boots crunching the paved path to the Estate proper and your power armor whirring. The only change as you enter the state proper is the addition of the hundred footsteps of the various servants and menials, all of them working in complete silence. The remaining members of your Honor Guard do not quarrel or bicker like they used to, which is in a way ironic since the two members that have died were the most quiet out of all of them. That they are so affected by the dead of their peers is what proves that, despite all their promise and skill, they are still young. You´ve lost enough brothers that, while you still mourn the death of those you cared about, it doesn´t have a bearing on the way you behave or act. For what you´ve seen in other marines, they will also adjust better as more of them die.
While that´s useful from a pragmatic perspective, you can´t judge it´s value from a personal one.
Instead of a hall, you´re given directions to an auditorium, from which the sound of music can be heard. You´re not particularly cultured so you cannot give an accurate opinion as to the quality of the performance as someone like Catilina could, but the sounds are painful to your enhanced hearing, strident and discordant. The gate of the Auditorium is guarded by a group of enforcers with uniforms colored in the black and purple of House Maeror, who let you pass without a word and silently stop your Honor Guard. Thrax and the others look ready to protest, but one look from you keeps them in place, even if their tense stances make the Navigator guards cast uneasy glances at them.
The door opens and as you walker past the empty seats of gold and velvet, you spot the source of the music. Playing the… "piano" you think it is called, an instrument you recall from the few times you were invited to the IIIrd legion performances back during the discovery of your Primarch, sits a middle-aged woman, her frame hidden by the embroidered, bulky clothes. The hands that touched the keys were twisted, fingers tilted in a manner that r that made the fingers move in clumsy, erratic ways. She plays the last screechy notes, and stands up to look at you. A shaven scalp and dark skin frame a face with bulging eyes and scales going down the bridge of her nose. Her third eye was hidden by an expensive silk cloth tied around her head, and as you get closer she looks at you with a proud expression, cranking her head so that she may look at your face. At a few steps stands a servant, hands clasp firmly behind his back as he addresses you.
"You have the honor of being in the presence of Navigator Cornelia Maeror, Exalted Representative of his Excellency Priscus Maeror, Novator of House Maeror, in the Aetelian Sector. Despite the suddenness of your request, you have been granted a short audience. State your business."
You dip your head slightly. "I appreciate it, representative. I came to ask for the Warp routes Inquisitor Mitsuhide received from you recently."
"To what end?" This time it is the representative who speaks, her tone waspish and voice raspy, making an effort to look down on you despite how much you loom over here."
"The system those routes lead to is quarantined by decree of the Emperor Himself…."
The navigator interrupts you with a dismissive way of her hand. "Per agreements between the Holy Ordos and House Maeror she has the right to such information. You do not." She snaps her bent fingers, and the servant leaves.
You hold your burgeoning annoyance in check. "That is correct. Nevertheless, we got information that Mitsuhide shared those routes with a Space Marine chapter, who aren´t supposed to know them. As such, we require those routes in order to erect a quarantine around the nearby systems and intercept them."
The navigator outright sneers at your words. "Inquisitor Mitsuhide warned me that her rivals in the Inquisition would attempt to besmirch her honor. Hadn´t expected that they would use Space Marine as patsies, but I guess there isn´t much I can expect of your wits, if you´re fooled by Inquisitorial power plays."
It is a good thing that your Honor Guard remains outside, because you aren´t sure that they would have appreciated the representative words. You´ve talked to plenty of Navigators and while they are a proud lot they have never spoken to you with such impudence. Then again, those in the vessels of your chapters are merely of the rank and file, and those back in the VIIIth Legion knew better than to tempt the annoyance of the legionnaires. As one of your previous colleagues had said, "They only need the third eye to navigate."
Still, as much as her disrespect irks you, it would be unwise to offend the representative of the House that holds almost a monopoly of all the Navigators on the Sector. Keeping that in mind, you don´t let your tone reflect your feelings. "Regardless of the impression you might have of myself, we have proof that in the future someone will attempt to land in the system. I must reiterate my request."
There is a minute or so when the navigator stares intently at your face, before she eventually looks away and shrugs. "If you insist I can do you such a favor. Of course, I will inform the Inquisitor of it, so that the both of you might coordinate in your safeguarding of the system." The servant returns, carrying a goblet in a tray. Merir takes the goblet with some difficulty, spilling part of its contents onto the floor. "Now leave, for I have other matters to attend to."
With a short "By your leave, you depart. As you exit the auditorium and reunite with your Honor Guard, you ponder how the situation may develop, and how you can guard the system in a manner that can render most the knowledge of your presence.
-You have obtained the coordinates and Warp routes that go into Sanction. Mitsuhide knows that you have such knowledge.
House Silvestre Spire, Upper levels.
Imperial Forces:
-Mist Shrikes:
–Squads 3-1 and 3-2 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Heavy Bolters, 1 Plasma gun)
–Squad 3-7 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
--Squads 3-9 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 1 Plasma Guns, 1 Melta Guns)
–1 Razorback
-94th Zatloczony Rifles
–2 Companies of Line Infantry (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers.)
–3 Leman Russes
–5 Chimeras
-365th Clearwater Fortunates.
–2 Companies of Line Infantry (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers.)
–2 Leman Russes
–7 Chimeras
-Imperial Navy.
–2 Companies of Navy Armsmen (Flak armor, Shotguns, Lasguns)
-Inquisition
–Inquisitor Ayano Mitsuhide (Carapace Armor, Plasma Pistol, Eviscerator)
–Inquisitorial Retinue (Robes, Flak Armor, Carapace Armor, Bolter, Slab Shield, Force Staff, Power Sword. Power Maul)
-3 Squads of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasguns, Flamers, Plasma Guns, Melta Guns)
VS
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor
-Traitor Lord-General Marshall Manuel Silvestre (Flak Armor, Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol, Chainsword)
-Lord Pablo Silvestre, Head of House Silvestre (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasgun)
-Lord Silvestre Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasgun)
-House Silvestre Household Guards (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
-Company of Brood Brothers (Flak Armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers)
-Horde of Neophyte Hybrids (Regular Clothing, Autoguns, Blasting Charges)
-Horde of Neophyte Acolytes (Robes, Autopistols, Hand Flamers, Heavy Rock saws, Heavy rock drills)
-Defensive Emplacements (Multilasers, Heavy Stubbers, Missile Launchers)
Successes needed for Imperial Victory= 30
Successes needed for Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Escape= 40
-Mist Shrikes:
–Squads 3-1 and 3-2 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Bolters, 2 Heavy Bolters, 1 Plasma gun)
–Squad 3-7 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Jump Pack Bolt Pistols, Chainswords)
--Squads 3-9 (MK.VII "Aquila" Power Armor, Heavy Bolters, Missile Launchers, 1 Plasma Guns, 1 Melta Guns)
–1 Razorback
-94th Zatloczony Rifles
–2 Companies of Line Infantry (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers.)
–3 Leman Russes
–5 Chimeras
-365th Clearwater Fortunates.
–2 Companies of Line Infantry (Flak armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers.)
–2 Leman Russes
–7 Chimeras
-Imperial Navy.
–2 Companies of Navy Armsmen (Flak armor, Shotguns, Lasguns)
-Inquisition
–Inquisitor Ayano Mitsuhide (Carapace Armor, Plasma Pistol, Eviscerator)
–Inquisitorial Retinue (Robes, Flak Armor, Carapace Armor, Bolter, Slab Shield, Force Staff, Power Sword. Power Maul)
-3 Squads of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasguns, Flamers, Plasma Guns, Melta Guns)
VS
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor
-Traitor Lord-General Marshall Manuel Silvestre (Flak Armor, Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol, Chainsword)
-Lord Pablo Silvestre, Head of House Silvestre (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasgun)
-Lord Silvestre Personal Guard (Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasgun)
-House Silvestre Household Guards (Flak Armor, Lasguns)
-Company of Brood Brothers (Flak Armor, Lasguns, Missile Launchers)
-Horde of Neophyte Hybrids (Regular Clothing, Autoguns, Blasting Charges)
-Horde of Neophyte Acolytes (Robes, Autopistols, Hand Flamers, Heavy Rock saws, Heavy rock drills)
-Defensive Emplacements (Multilasers, Heavy Stubbers, Missile Launchers)
Successes needed for Imperial Victory= 30
Successes needed for Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor Escape= 40
In Sergeant Plauto experience, there were two usual reactions mortals have to the arrival of Astartes. Awe and wonder if they are Imperial, and fear and panic if they were foes of the Imperium, which was mixed with a strange eagerness in the case of Chaos worshippers. As such the annoyance that flared in the Inquisitor's face when she saw them approach before she forcibly put a more neutral expression had been interesting to witness. The nobles the Inquisitor had been talking to quickly scatter at their arrival, going back to where their household troops were maintaining a perimeter outside the traitor house Silvestre´s Spire.. Lieutenant Raetia takes the lead, only to be stopped as a member of the Inquisitors retinue. His size even greater than a Space Marine, and with an odor nauseous enough to be perceived through their helmet filters, an Ogryn points an active Power Maul at the Lieutenant. Behind him the other members of Mitsuhide´s retinue, a psyker, a woman in carapace armor, and a man with a carmine coat over his flak armor, tense and grasp their weapons, only to stand down as the Inquisitor raises her hand.
"Benkei, stop." The ogryn looks back at her master, before stepping back with a grunt and deactivating his weapon. She then fixes the Lieutenant with a glare, whose posture tells Plauto how little he cares about it.. "What business do you have with me, Space Marine?"
"Chapter Master Severus has ordered us to follow you during the assault of the spire." Informs Raetia.
The inquisitor shares a glance with the psyker, waiting for him to shake his head before returning his attention to Raetia. Outside her sight, Plauto notices how some members of 3-1 shift their bolters slightly after that. The man in the coat and flak armor does, and his hand drifts to the hilt of his power sword, while the other twirls his graying mustache.
"While I appreciate your assistance, it is completely unnecessary. My retinue, the stormtroopers and myself are more than enough to see to my safety." The Inquisitor says eventually, the polite tone betrayed by the way she´s glaring at Raetia.
"I do not doubt it." Answers Raetia diplomatically. "Nevertheless my orders are to follow you in the assault and we shall do so."
"And if I order you to leave?" Challenges Mitsuhide, getting a shrug of Raetia´s shoulder in response.
"We aren´t obligated to obey you, so nothing would change." Mitsuhide remains silent as she keeps glaring at him, before finally letting out a sigh and rubbing her temples.
"Fine. I suppose you´re already briefed on how we plan to storm the palace?"
"We have been." Replies Raetia confidently. Plauto stops paying attention to the conversation and opens a comlink to what remains of his squad.
"You know our orders. Our priority is securing the spire and preventing the cultist for escaping off-world, but keep an eye out for the Inquisitor and her subordinates. If they do anything that isn´t killing mutants, I want you to report it to me, understood?"
All of them respond in the affirmative, and so Plauto prepares himself for the coming fray.
Tactical Marines Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 3, 4, 1, 4= 0 Successes, Critical Failure.
Successes needed increased by 1
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 9, 2, 4, 1= 0 Successes
3-10 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 8, 1, 2= 0 Successes
Razorback roll 4d10=10, 9, 8, 4= 4 Successes
Zatloczony Rifles Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 6, 8= 2 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 5, 8= 1 Success
Chimera roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Clearwater Fortunates Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Chimera roll 2d10= 7, 1= 0 Successes
Navy Armsmen Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes
Ayano Mitsuhide Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 7, 7, 6= 3 Successes
Inquisitorial Retinue Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 10, 3, 4, 5= 2 Successes
Stormtrooper Squads Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 3, 7, 3= 1 Successes
Manuel Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Pablo Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 7= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 2, 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Household Troops Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 8= 2 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 3= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Imperials= 15/31
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 9/41
Successes needed increased by 1
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 9, 2, 4, 1= 0 Successes
3-10 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 2, 8, 1, 2= 0 Successes
Razorback roll 4d10=10, 9, 8, 4= 4 Successes
Zatloczony Rifles Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 6, 8= 2 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 5, 8= 1 Success
Chimera roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Clearwater Fortunates Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 4= 0 Successes
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 10, 5= 2 Successes
Chimera roll 2d10= 7, 1= 0 Successes
Navy Armsmen Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 1, 5= 0 Successes
Ayano Mitsuhide Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 7, 7, 6= 3 Successes
Inquisitorial Retinue Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 10, 3, 4, 5= 2 Successes
Stormtrooper Squads Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 3, 7, 3= 1 Successes
Manuel Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 2, 8= 1 Success
Pablo Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 7= 2 Successes
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 2, 1, 5= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Household Troops Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 4= 0 Successes
Brood Brothers Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 8= 2 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 6= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 2 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 3 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Neophyte Hybrids 4 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 2= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 8= 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 3= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 3, 2= 0 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 1, 8= 0 Successes
Imperials= 15/31
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 9/41
The plan for the assault had been simple. Without the data necessary to accomplish a proper infiltration and the times constraints of preventing an evacuation, their plan is reduced to a direct assault, with the Mist Shrikes and the combined armored element of the Imperial forces to breach through the lower levels of the spire, before spreading out to find and secure the different landing platforms in the spire. The initial assault goes according to plan, Plauto and his Assault marines lead the charge alongside the Razorback, while the Devastators of 3-10 stay close to the Inquisitor´s retinue and the Tacticals spread out to provide spear points to the accompanying Fortunates and Riflemen. It was as they cleared out the upper levels that their advance slowed down.
Plauto roars as his chainsword splits a trooper clad in the heraldry of House Silvestre in half, his bolt pistol clicking empty after he shoots at a group of Neophytes manning a multilaser. Once more the fighting takes place in wide, luxurious corridors, statements of wealth and power sullied by soot, blood and viscera. And just like the fighting in the Lord Sector palace, Plauto seriously considers that the cult is deploying whole levels of the underhive in each engagement. For every servant of the Emperor present there are at least six or more mutants, and recognizing the Mist Shrikes as their greatest threat, they were doing everything that they could to bring them down. Case in point, an Acolyte lunges at him with a primed satchel charge, forcing the terran to drop his pistol in order to bat the leaping body aside. It explodes as it falls amidst the fighting foes, killing both guardsmen and its own allies. At his side one of his Assault Marines is pinned by ten or so cultists grabbing onto his armor, and by the time he´s removed most of them one brings a mining drill onto his neck, breaking through the relatively weaker armor and decapitating him. Plauto avenges him by thrusting his chainswords into the killer's chest, before removing the corpse from the weapon with a kick.
The sergeant takes a brief look backwards as he activates his jump pack to avoid another suicide bomber. The Imperial advance, while reduced to a crawl, is not stopped, as the armored vehicles prove to be a significant advantage for the attackers that the mutants cannot contest easily. The Zatloczony rifles are doing a decent job at pressing deeper into the spire, advancing with grit despite the rising casualties. The Fortunates are, ironically, not so lucky, with many of their Cadian-style troopers lying dead on the floor. Slightly behind them, the members of 3-9 are fending off a flanking attack that had come out of a seemingly cleared corridor, the Devastators forced to engage in melee due to their close proximity. Plauto sees their sergeant fall with a knife in the eye-lense, only for another marine to avenge him by crushing his killer´s head with a heavy bolter.
As for the Inquisitor they were supposed to be watching over, her and her retinue are handling themselves better than he had expected. Mitsuhide proves to be a deft hand with her Eviscerator, each thrust and slash of the two-handed sword claiming a life. Her psyker is throwing lightning at each cluster of foes that he discerns, leaning on his staff as he does so. The woman with the bolter fires in a short, controlled burst, and the Ogryn proves to be a living wall that the cultist cannot overcome, his shield, maul and body pulping flesh and bone. The man in the coat is a whirlwind of steel and energy, his power sword flashing in an out of view as he wields it with a skill beyond Plauto´s own, much to his chagrin. The stormtroopers that accompany them are slightly far ahead, providing a core of skilled veterans that the guard can take inspiration from and rally to.
Plauto takes note of all of this in the seconds that he´s airborne, before the burst from his jump pack ends and gravity makes him land. Making use of his experience as an Assault Marine, he directs his descent so as to land on top of an enemy heavy weapons team, destroying the weapon and crushing one of the troopers manning it.
As he kills the rest of them, a rumble shakes the spire, the extensive lighting flickering before the halls descend into darkness for a brief moment. Then the emergency lights activate, covering the battle with a dim red light.
A comlink activates in his helmet shortly after that. "Pulcro from 3-1 reporting, Lieutenant Raetia is dead, enemy detonated the spire´s main generator while we were securing it. Both my squad and 3-2 have suffered extensive casualties."
Plauto doesn´t allow himself be affected by the news, as the fighting intensifies and the outcome of the battle is balanced on a knife´s edge.
Tactical Marines Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 10, 3, 4, 9= 3 Successes
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 3, 10, 9, 1= 2 Successes
3-10 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 4, 6, 4, 9= 2 Successes
Razorback roll 4d10= 6, 1, 10, 5= 2 Successes
Zatloczony Rifles Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 9= 1 Success
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 3, 4=0 Successes
Chimera roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Clearwater Fortunates Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Chimera roll 2d10= 2, 10= 2 Successes
Navy Armsmen Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 5= 1 Success
Ayano Mitsuhide Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 6, 3, 3= 1 Successes
Inquisitorial Retinue Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 8, 2, 5, 7= 2 Successes
Stormtrooper Squads Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 1, 3, 9= 0 Successes
Manuel Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 9= 2 Successes
Pablo Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 10, 5= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 4, 6, 7= 2 Successes
Household Troops Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 5= 1 Success
Brood Brothers Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 5= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
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= 6 = 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 10= 2 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 9, 6= 2 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Imperials= 19+15=34/32
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 9+16= 21/39
3-7 Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 3, 10, 9, 1= 2 Successes
3-10 Ballistic Skill roll 4d10= 4, 6, 4, 9= 2 Successes
Razorback roll 4d10= 6, 1, 10, 5= 2 Successes
Zatloczony Rifles Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 5, 9= 1 Success
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 3, 4=0 Successes
Chimera roll 2d10= 4, 10= 2 Successes
Clearwater Fortunates Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 4, 1= 0 Successes, Critical Failure
Successes needed increased by 1
Leman Russ roll 2d10= 9, 4= 1 Success
Chimera roll 2d10= 2, 10= 2 Successes
Navy Armsmen Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 5= 1 Success
Ayano Mitsuhide Weapon Skill roll 3d10= 6, 3, 3= 1 Successes
Inquisitorial Retinue Weapon Skill roll 4d10= 8, 2, 5, 7= 2 Successes
Stormtrooper Squads Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 1, 3, 9= 0 Successes
Manuel Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 8, 9= 2 Successes
Pablo Silvestre Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 10, 5= 3 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Personal Guard Ballistic Skill roll 3d10= 4, 6, 7= 2 Successes
Household Troops Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 7, 5= 1 Success
Brood Brothers Ballistic Skill roll 2d10= 9, 5= 1 Success
Neophyte Hybrids 1 Ballistic SKill roll 1d10= 9= 1 Success
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= 6 = 1 Success
Neophyte Acolyte 1 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 2 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 4= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 3 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 5= 0 Successes
Neophyte Acolyte 4 Weapon Skill roll 1d10= 10= 2 Successes, Critical Success
Successes needed reduced by 1
Defensive Emplacements 1 roll 2d10= 9, 6= 2 Successes
Defensive Emplacements 2 roll 2d10= 1, 6= 0 Successes
Imperials= 19+15=34/32
Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor= 9+16= 21/39
3rd Company Toughness 4d10= 2, 6, 6, 8= 3 Success
And then the balance turns to their favor.
The Genestealer cult starts to lose ground at an exponential rate, its seemingly endless supply of bolter fodder drying to a trickle before stopping. Having to spit their forces to cover all the points of advance of the servants of the Imperium, after having them further reduced due to the need of preparing an evacuation, allows them to maintain the numerical advantage they need to keep the pressure for long, and in equal footing the training, equipment and experience are what determines the outcome of the fight.
And none have more experience, better equipment and more taxing training that the Mist Shrikes. Galvanized by their losses, the midnight-clad marines of Luctus gain a second wind fueled by cold, focused hatred. Their advance to the landing pads is beyond the cult´s ability to contest, especially when backed by the sons and daughters of Lezo, Clearwater and Zatloczony. Hall by hall, room by room, all who stand against them fall under the guns and blades of the Astartes and their allies, their torn and rend bodies crushed under their boots as they move on. By the time they reach the evacuation transports, the cultists are desperately trying to take off, abandoning in their haste the majority of their supplies and members. It does not avail them, for between the rockets and missiles of the invaders and the interception of the Navy none manage to flee Lezo orbit.
That is not to say that their victory is not costly. The cultists and mutants struggle with the determination and ferocity they´ve always had, and plenty of guardsmen lay down their lives fighting against them, the Fortunate companies especially. Out of the two companies they sent to secure the Spire, only a few squads live to see it conquered, having lost a significant amount of their effectives bringing down the traitor Silvestre and the head of his House, the latter of which showed an outstanding level of skill with a lasgun, especially coming from a traitorous noble.
Plauto sighs softly as he removes the teeth of his chainswords, the chain itself showing signs of damage from its continued use. His eyes track the Inquisitor and her retinue as she leaves the spire. The woman had tried to access the solar of the Lord of House Silvestre, but he had been entertained avoiding his vigilance of her actions long enough for one of the members of 3-9 to arrive first, search the room for anything of strategic value, which he hadn´t found and then "accidentally" discharge his plasma gun inside.
The sergeant turns to leave too, accompanied by his remaining brothers. The bitter fighting of the spire had reduced his squad and 3-9 further, and both Lieutenant Raetia and most of 3-1 had perished in the explosion of the generator.
Still, Lives are the Emperor´s currency, and this time it had been well-spent
-House Silvestre Spire secured, Cult forces prevented from fleeing off-world.
-Inquisitor Mitsuhide blocked from interacting with loyal nobles or obtaining intel from House Silvestre
-14 Marines slain, 28 Progenoids recovered.
Q.M notes: Soooo I´m back.
Apologies for having you all waiting without saying anything, but Real Life, douchebag that it is, has had me very busy these past...two, three weeks? Anyway, now I can´t get back into writing and the regular schedule of chapter per week will be continued.
Also, some of you might have noticed that the Informational is not updated. It will be done when the campaign ends.
Glad to be back and hope you enjoy the chapter
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Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
This is some comedy of errors type shit, good Lord.
- Location
- yorkshire
Yeah that were some really bad rolls
Both Severus and Cornelia, simultaneously after the encounter; WHO THE FUCK PUT ALL THIS EMPEROR-DAMNED SPAGHETTI IN MY POCKETS?!?!
At least we managed to prevent the assassins, and two assassins there means we don't have to worry about them in the latter half of the turn IIRC.
But holy shit, we're gonna have to get serious next turn doing heavy recruitment across as many worlds as we can, and probably do a bunch of gene-seed surrogates as well.
EDIT: 2 things for @ThunderOwl
One, I like the reference of a giant Ogryn with a club being called Benkei.
Two, going back to check I notice the plan listed in the "Vote Closed" post does not include several assigned PDF regiments to various locations. I think you've probably noticed and are using the actual plan, but I thought it worth mentioning since Cathedral of the First Saints, Supply Depots, and Armories don't show their assigned PDF regiments in the Vote Closed tab.
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Nicholas Brooks
Redeemer and Destroyer
- Location
- United States
And Mikhail got his vengeance. A very promising start for our first non-specialist notable in 5 turns.
Also I don't think we have a problem with Geneseed since we've been good on recovering progenoids from fallen brothers. It's more that we lack large numbers of boys to give it to... or at least we did, until we got a bunch of Braicam natives to implant
Glad you appreciate it. One of the things I enjoy in this quest is putting references and seeing which are the ones people notice.
I've been taking it into account.
yacov
Lurking and sometimes blurting
- Location
- Clogging a drain
Mikhail has had enough of these Emperor damned Reductus in these Emperor Blessed Spires!
No matter how charismatic, sometimes a Night Lord is going to Night Lord.
Good news! Space borne genestealers are an absolute pain for a Sector to have