To Recover the Past... [OW/DW] IC Thread

[Karack Blackstone]

You open your eyes within a hallway, the lights slowly brightening, letting you see the ornate tapestries strewn reverentially from the two walls on either side of you. As your eyes adjust, the hallway finally becomes lit to optimal; as you glance around, the door five meters in front of you clicks once, then twice. As the double blast doors open, one vertically, the other horizontally, the door itself finally hisses softly open.

 

Inside the newly revealed chamber beyond the door, awaits a large and intricately carved wooden table of unknown make; seated behind the desk, placing a dataslate to her right, your left, the female Inquisitor Janica Tyrantbreaker gestures for you to enter her chamber.

 

After moving the Astartes frame that is yourself into said chamber, the door hisses softly closed behind you; the blast doors sound like they just sealed you in, too. A standard looking briefing room, a cursory glance reveals; after returning your gaze to the Inquisitor, she motions for you to take a seat in the armaplas chair specifically made so that an Astartes may sit, even in Power Armor.

 

"Thank you for coming; I'm sorry about the way you were ... deposited, before my chambers. It had to be done. This is a very secret mission, and a very importantly short amount of time we may have to work within, to accomplish what we need to do. I assume you have questions; so, to ease your curious mind, I can only say this: if you take on this Mission, Space Marine, you will be on a task that I do not even know how to help you broach the subject with your fellow Astartes."

 

This is the speech each of you heard before the Inquisitor slid you the dataslate; it sounds important. It feels important; are you up to the task? The only way to find out is to read the dataslate and face a possible mind-wipe of what you read if you choose to not take this mission. Will your honor and oath to duty allow, or prevent, your decision?

 

"Tell me, Astartes: how do you feel about restoring the Imperium's technological might, it's ability to make the sacred war machines of the Adeptus Astartes, and to restore the glory that is Mankind's to its rightful place, upon the Crown of He Who Sits Upon The Throne?"

 

She then hands you a dataslate...

[Boudan]

“Do as you are commanded. Bring no dishonor to our name.”  The last words spoken to Gallan by his Chapter Master echoed in his mind.  He would prove himself, again.  The Imperium's watchers would bear witness his chapter's loyalty to the Emperor.

 

Gallan took the dataslate from the Inquisitor, careful to avoid damaging it with his armored hands.  He began to read the mission brief.

[Karack Blackstone]

As Gallan takes the data slate for further inspection, the screen changes over to a retinal scan user view; he is seeing his own face, and then, a laser line quickly flashes into his real eye. After a briefly annoying laser beam reading the inside of his eye, the data slate chirps out:

 

"Retinal scan complete: subject, Gallan. No detectable taint levels; approximate mental damage, zero. Opening secured files..."

 

The image, now thankfully clear after the retinal scan, shows three rotating images:

 

1 - Fellblade

2 - Spartan / Typhon Hull

3 - Mk. III "Iron" Armor

 

"Astartes, please do your best to recover anything and everything you can, of these items, and anything else deemed worthy of the use of the Imperium," the data slate again mechanically intones to you.

 

After giving you a further chance to investigate the information of what little the Imperium has on these and other STC, artifact pieces of each, and the little understanding and knowledge contained therein, you are free to respond however you wish.

 

((This information is repeated for each of the other PC's; please keep in mind, until the Squad meets, this is individual for now.))

[Boudan]

Gallan stared at the rotating images, remembering.

 

He had seen pic-capture of the Salamander Chapter's Fellblade 'Anvil of Retribution' during the Badab conflict.  He saw the ancient machine's overwhelming power as a symbol of that war's inevitable outcome.

 

Of the Typhon, he knew almost nothing.  A legend of dusty banners, none Gallan knew were alive when those machines were commonplace.  Perhaps one of the First Founding still possessed such a tool; of the Blood Angels, he was confident they had none.  Gallan had spent several years in their presence, at their vehement and unyielding insistence.  His own body had grown a portion of the Lamenters gene-seed that was now in his progenitor chapter's care.  The Blood Angels did not display their relics openly, but their collective interest in history and artistic expression said enough.

 

What if his brothers had possessed these weapons while they faced the Tyranid threat? What if these machines could be built again en masse?  The mandate of humanity could be prosecuted in a manner unseen in 10,000 years.  To return such a prize to the Emperor would bring great honor to his brothers' names.

 

He looked up from data slate, meeting the eyes of the Inquisitor: "Where do we begin?"

[Skinrider]

Igorot knew the Inquisition did not waste their time on anything less than vitally important matters. He had waged war alongside them in The Ghoul Stars for decades and so knew this would put his skills to the test.

 

He greeted the Inquisitor and bowed his head "Inquisitor" and took the dataslate

 

The items listed were all from before the founding of his chapter, but he had heard of them. He knew their wars in The Ghoul Stars would greatly benefit from a Spartan Assault Tank, as it was now their Land Raiders were precious to them, but depositing 25 brothers in the enemy's midst would be game changing. The Typhon similarly would increase their firepower immensely.

 

As with the Fellblade, it was similar to the Baneblades the Inquisition sometimes brought, but even more massive and powerful. To be able to manufacture this could change the face of war. Adding this power to the Imperial Knights that usually accompanied them you could lay waste to battlefields.

 

The Mk.3 Iron Armor was rare in his chapter, even rarer than his own Mk.4. It would perhaps not be as great a change to the face of was as the other 2, but some actions would benefit from it.

 

"These are from before The Great War, these are marvels of the Imperium from when the Emperor himself waged war. If there is any chance to recover this knowledge into the fold of the Imperium you may direct me as you will. Please detail the campaign briefing, do we wage war as a chapter or a combination of chapters? or is this a campaign of strike teams and operatives?" 

[Black Cohort]

A third astartes arrives a few moments after the others. He is wearing simple chapter robes at this point. He is of Phersian decent and on the small side for an astartes. His left hand is obviously a well-crafted bionic. He has a look to him of knowing far more than his wishes to of the galaxy.

 

"well meet brothers." he pauses looking towards the inquisitor and nodding "Inquisitor. I am brother Irad Farsight of the Immortal Guard."

 

Irad's metallic hand involuntarily twitches as he picks of the datadataslate. The items it showed precious beyond the lives of his entire chapter.

 

There is a quiver in his voice as he speaks again "Does our target have STCs for these items? An STC of one of these would warrant the risking of entire chapters to recover. Such wonders have not been made since the Emperor walked the stars."

[Slips]

The Iron Snake walked into the Chamber in full Power Armor, each footstep thumping on the metal flooring, helmet off, crooked under his left arm revealing a scarred face - acid burns probably - short black hair, aquiline features and eyes a deep sea-green.

 

He glances at the chair offered and remains standing at attention, looking down at her. Nodding to the Inquisitor that he would remain as such for the duration of their meeting, he listened to what she had to say and, once finished, reads the dataslate handed to him.

 

By the Emperor... he thought as he saw what this mission entailed. "I assume, Inquisitor, that it is no coincidence that I have been chosen for this task. It rarely is." Placing the dataslate back onto her desk,"You know my heritage. We are second founding. We have Legion Roots and even have a few examples of what you're trying to recover." He states, motioning to his armoured greaves," It is a forgone conclusion that I will accept to take part in this. So lets skip the pleasantries and get to it. The longer we wait, the more likely it is our enemies will find these relics."

 

"As to your second question, I would relish to see the day where the Imperium was brought back to the height of its power. We have records dating back to the Scouring and even then compared to now, we have lost much. In that, we are of one mind, Inquisitor."

 

"I assume that you have a plan already set in motion for how we're to recover these Relics?"

[Karack Blackstone]

"Greetings, For The Emperor; I am Janica," is her response to each of you as you individually enter. Within her chamber, which does indeed host five Astartes seats of the kind mentioned in the OP, she kindly extends her hand to each of you, requesting back her dataslates, for reasons clearly not known to you as of yet.

 

"We begin in the Enciladus III system, located within the outer Jericho Reach; within that system there is an ancient Manufactorum that once possibly made some of the most advanced systems for all of the Imperium's finest war machines, amongst them two of our targets on the list."

 

She sighs softly, and smiles warmly; each of you does feel more welcome now, as there is the simple fact that this mission, if successful, could change the face of many war fronts that Mankind faces now, and possibly, if reports are to be believed, will soon, as there is as of the start of this year, it being a mere five days after the First of 001.M42, for a total of six days in, the threat of a Tyranid invasion fleet heading towards the galaxy, threatening all of it and its inhabitants.

 

"I clearly need you to remain quiet, if not silent, about the mission and its objectives as you head about the station. I have a Space Marine Strike Cruiser ready to take you out to the outer Reach and into the Enciladus III system therein. The plan to recover these Relics, their STC's, and the few possibly salvageable pieces of each of these fine works of The Emperor, is to send you in to secure the facility, and then, with the aid of those aboard the aforementioned Strike Cruiser, do what you can to secretly recover as much as you possibly can, and, if need be, destroy what you must."

 

She seems slightly smaller for a moment; it's one of those reluctant poses, that shows you she's not happy about this next statement, however, as her words register, her reluctance appears to be about preventing anything salvageable ending up in the hands of the Enemy, the one force that cannot get their hands on anything, it seems.

 

"I don't like the idea, however, if you are unable to recover anything, be it part, STC fragment, armor panel, et cetera, melta it with extreme prejudice; it cannot fall into the hands of our Enemy. I know it's not an ideal situation, however, I'd rather recover you, and what we can, and leave the rest as slag. I ... again, don't like the idea. So, please, do your best? The honor of your Chapters is clearly something that can only benefit from this series of missions."

 

She gets slightly more comfortable in her chair.

 

"Anything else you each have questions on, thus far? I realize time is of the essence, so, do please ask now, as there is a set of meltaguns awaiting you in the Armory, as well as a Multi-Melta of Astartes make. I'm taking a big chance with you each taking those, so, by all means, do please bring them back, minus whatever ammo you need to use on this mission?"

 

She looks at each of you, giving you the chance to ask any further questions, as well as, making sure that things are as clear as they can be.

 

"A substantial amount of Requisition has been set aside for you for the mission; please choose what you see fit to best complete the mission. If you wish a full briefing of the world, it is a former paradise world; sadly, in the fighting that followed the Heresy, it was apparently virus bombed. Unlike most worlds, the plants mutated into a vicious, similar to Catachan environment. Any time you might have fighting alongside that Regiment may prove very useful to you."

 

"Otherwise, the facility is on a former grand plain, with the occasional mountain; each appears to be a former volcano, of some sort. As the area is very rich in mineral deposits, as is the world, the volcano comment appears accurate in this file, that each of you will receive a copy of on dataslate."

 

She then hands you a different dataslate, one each; it's the same data that she just mentioned, showing you a world covered in dense jungle, with small paths between the growth. There is a very real chance that a Scout may greatly aid you, in many ways; the dataslate does mention that you may request additional Battle Brothers from within the Deathwatch for this mission. After further reading, the dataslate's info clearly states that once they are on this mission, however, they are in for the long term.

 

"Please feel free to request anyone else for this mission, unless you feel the four of you are able to prosecute this action without further assistance."

[Black Cohort]

"You say this is a death world. Are we to expect threats other than native creatures? I assume this is a deathwatch strike cruiser? Why do we not call on local astartes chapters for aid in such a critical mission?"

[Boudan]

Gallan observed his companions with interest: he had rarely interacted with Astartes imbued with other genetic legacies, at least in a peaceful capacity. To witness the mannerisms of three different chapters at once was an uncommon event.

 

The Inquisitor's briefing had raised questions in Gallan's mind. What sort of plants require a full compliment of melta weapons? Something more sinister must guard Enciladus III, else why was the manufactorum ever abandoned?

 

Gallan listened to the Astartes named Farsight. He thought the Librarian's vision was well-sighted on this briefing. Why not cover the entire planet with Imperial forces?

 

“Perhaps there are additional members of the Watch available to assist us in this task? A brother with special training in scouting such a death world would be invaluable. Other interests must be aware of this facility and may be waiting already.”

[Slips]

"A Techmarine would be on the top of our list of Priorities. While recovering any physical pieces as well as destroying them would pose no challenge to us, less so with melta weapons, recovering any esoteria will be much more challenging a task for us to complete."

 

Apollus glances around the room at the three other marines. While he recognizes the Scion of Sanguinius, the other two, one a Witch, are in a Livery he does not recognize. Despite that, he nods in respect to each one in turn. For while he may not know much of their Chapter, to have been hand picked by an Inquisitor means they are formidable indeed.

 

Turning to Irad "I assume that the reason why a Chapter or Company hasn't been called to action is because there's something else at play."

 

Turning back to the Inquisitor "It is not my place to ask, Lady, but just why are we just mobilizing such a relatively small force for relics of such import?"

[Skinrider]

Brother Igorot returns the nod from the Iron Snake

 

"I agree with my Iron Snake brother, a techmarine would be invaluable to our campaign. Perhaps a team of death world scouts could accompany us, or an astartes scout if possible"

 

"I wonder as my brothers on the nature of our deployment, what is the expected opposition? Are we dealing with rogue elements of the Mechanicus, heretics or xenos? and what are their numbers"

 

Igorot hoped it wasn't the mechanical men, all living things feared something and he could take advantage of that. But the mechanicus turned men into unfeeling machines, incapable of fear.

[Karack Blackstone]

"Whilst I respect and wish I could move entire Chapters to protect these relics, there is the unforeseen consequences such an action would cause, up to and including other such Relics and items becoming the targets of the Enemy. We may find only a portion of what is out there, due to our own over-reaching towards the objective short term, rather than long term."

 

As she looks between them all, she does observe:

 

"I will see to it that a Scout and a Tech-Marine are each an option on the mission."

 

She offers towards them a dataslate; on it, is a requisition form for four Melta class weapons, in pistol, gun, and multi-melta designs. Also, it includes the 60 requisition each will receive, including the two add-on Astartes that have yet to be transfered.

 

"Expected opposition is unknown, at this time; although, the Enemy and Dark Eldar have been sighted in the region. The plants on that world can at least do some damage if left unattended to; thus the melta weapons and ammo."

 

"Based on limited scans of vessels that have attempted to scout the area, there is some possible Eldar activity on the world, near the poles; I do know the facility is not near there, however, it may be near an Aspect Warrior temple of the Striking Scorpions type. Your transport will go in low and fast, preferably dropping you off quickly; pickup or resupply is going to possibly bring the enemy there down on you. I know you know what to do, just realize please, the stealth level this mission might as well be."

 

"I will continue to hear out any other issues you each wish to raise; just please consider the long term perspective for the use of full Astartes Chapters. There are consequences of moving such massive forces, and that tends to be inclusive of the Enemy and other foes finding out what we seek."

[Slips]

"So be it, Inquisitor. I do not assume to know of any extraneous circumstances that would make acquiring even a Company of Space Marines difficult. And to recall Marines from an Active Warzone? Even I would not dare attempt to."

 

Apollus takes the Dataslate and quickly glances over the information before passing it on.

 

"Dark Eldar, you say? It has been some time since I've faced any personally but they are a constant plague in the Reef Stars. The Striking Scorpions should be a worthy foe but I would rather avoid having a planet full of Eldar converging on our location with such a small strike force."

 

"However, a Question, Inquisitor, if we're to conduct these missions with as much Stealth as possible, would it be possible for us to requisition Stalker Bolters and Shells alongside Cameleolines and Stummers to mask us as best we can?"

 

"Additionally, how are we to evacuate a vehicle the size of a Baneblade? A Spartan Chassis can fit underneath a Thunderhawk Transporter due to their relatively similar size to a Venerable Land Raider but a Fellblade would need a transporter of prodigious size if we're to recover it intact."

 

"Other than that, when do we ship out?"

[Black Cohort]

"with your permission Inquisitor I would consult the emperor's tarot before we depart. What question should I seek an answer too?"

 

While awaiting an answer Erad reaches for his tarot in one of the pockets on his robes and begins to prepare his mind for the event. A reading of the tarot is a relatively simple psychic ability, but it never paid to be overconfident where the warp was concerned.

[Skinrider]

Bowing his head to Irad Igorot says:

"If you don't mind me making a suggestion brother librarian; finding out who or what our opposition will be for this mission would be very helpful in making preparations as well as in our approach to the site."

[Boudan]

Gallan sat and said nothing.  What more could he offer the assembled? The particulars would be worked out, and at the appropriate time they would go.

 

He pondered for a moment the inferno pistol offered for requisition by the Inquisitor.  He had seen such a weapon before, during his stay with the Blood Angels at Baal.  They had demurred at his request to train with their chapter's cache of such tools - those artifacts could not be risked, even in a cousin's hand.

 

I hope to shoot it, at least once, Gallan thought.

 

Having had little meaningful interaction with the psykers of his chapter or others, the tarot cards brought forth by the Librarian were a mystery to Gallan.  He clenched his hands for a moment, before he realized that others might have noticed. He glanced again at the tarot, and then at the others in the room.  No one else seemed moved, at least outwardly, by the Librarian's channeling of the warp. Gallan was not against use of the warp per se, as any weapon that could be brought to bear in the name of the Emperor deserved at least some consideration.  

 

And in any event, Gallan thought, it would be objecting to a thing of which I have no knowledge.

 

But he remembered the stories shared by the veterans of his chapter, in those dark years of prison after Badab.  The warp was responsible for twisting and perverting the Enemy, or at least its astartes contingent.  The warp was responsible for trickling poisonous lies into the ear of Lufgt Huron, his Astral Claws, and indirectly, the Maelstrom Warders. The warp, through one medium or another, had trapped and tricked and tortured his chapter innumerable times in its oft-pained existence.  None of his chapter's librariam had objected to such characterization, as they were all dead.

 

Could a divination of the future really be true?

 

Gallan looked again at the Librarian and his tarot, but said nothing.

[Karack Blackstone]

"A Stormbird is currently undergoing final modification into a small yet dedicated transport for the Fellblade, in whole or in part, with its hull being blessed and outfitted with turbothrusters and a small yet powerful cloaking device. I understand the process is difficult, yet will produce a vehicle that should prove an excellent asset on this mission."

 

"Yes, a look into the Emperor's Tarot could prove most useful. Asking what the most numerous and then most dangerous foes might be could prove useful. As well, perhaps ask if that Aspect Warrior temple might prove an issue."

 

"The Melta weapons I speak of will each have three magazines base, as they are a special weapon and ammo can at times be very hard to get even for the Astartes. As far as you all and the weapons are concerned, the return is paramount, as this is a very much time based plan, that must execute fast and well, in order to be effective."

 

"I will send for Brothers Bursir and Madus; each are excellent Brothers within the Deathwatch. Their added skills should greatly aid this mission."

 

Janica reaches down, opening a drawer in her desk. From within, she pulls out two data slates, each dossiers on the two Astartes in question.

 

"There might also be a third person added to this team; I will inform you when I know more, and, do please keep this quiet."

[Black Cohort]

Irad walks over to Igorot then sits on the floor with his legs crossed.  "place your hand on my shoulder brother."  The psyker concentrates, gathering power for the reading.  His body stiffens as he lets the power of the warp flow through him, an unnatural light emanating from his eyes as he begins to shuffle the Tarot.  The temperature of the room drops a few degrees as power is drawn into the Librarian.  About a minute later he stops, his body relaxing as the power drains away.

 

"I am sorry brothers the skeins of fate will not be unwoven this night.  The future is in flux."

 

 

I rolled a 96 for my power check, which is an automatic failure.

[Slips]

"Worry not, Brother Librarian. The Warp is fickle and in service to the Enemy. To have them impede your attempts at divination comes not as a surprise to me when faced with a mission of import such as ours."

[Skinrider]

With his hand on brother Irads shoulder Igorot feels the chill through his ceramite fingertips. As the librarian reports seeing nothing of value Igorot responds:

 

"If you simply wanted to counsel us to be prepared for everything brother, you didn't need to be so theatrical about it" 

 

Igorot laughs and pats his brother on the shoulder

[Karack Blackstone]

Janica smiles slightly; the reasons of course are not known at this time, however, it remains to be seen if this was meant to be noticed, at all.

 

There is a knock at the door, and Wolf Scout Bursir is standing on the other side of the door, waiting in his Deathwatch Scout Carapace armor; a slightly smaller than average Space Marine, Bursir is nonetheless just as barrel-chested as most Astartes typically are, in general. He also seems to have something funny on his mind, or, he's getting ready to be friendly, despite only just meeting the others that will be sent upon this mission.

 

Bursir says,

 

"Hello, Brothers in arms. I am Bursir, of the Space Wolves. I await the chance to bring Glory to both the 'Watch and to our individual Chapters as well." He then enters and extends an armored gauntlet in greeting to each of the PC's. To the Inquisitor, he replies with,

 

"The Stormbird is nearly converted; as well, the craft to carry the Kill-Team needs to be selected. I do not personally recommend a Dreadnought for this mission, however, considering the situation, a Stormraven has been set aside for this mission, just in case. Stealth will likely be paramount; however, who is the leader, amongst the Kill-Team? Inquisitor Janica usually has the Team figure out who is to lead in the field. To that end, what say you, Brothers?"

 

Janica nods approvingly to the delivered message, awaiting the Kill-Team's response.

[Slips]

"Greetings, Son of Russ," Replies Apollus, reciprocating the gesture.

 

"A Stormbird? Hmm to put such a relic in its own right to the recovery of the Fellblade...I understand the grave import of this mission if that is the case."

 

He mulled over the new information. While a dreadnought is a mighty engine of war and destruction indeed, if this were truly a stealth mission, then an Ancient Brother would be of little help in that regard.

 

Still, a Stealth Mission...They weren't his own preferred missions, slinking behind enemy lines, hiding. He preferred to meet the enemy head on in glorious combat as befit a member of the Adeptus Astartes. But, he wasn't in charge so he wouldn't complain. Besides, the mission was a worthy and glorious one in its own right, he needn't complain.

 

"As for who shall lead us? I needn't put myself forward. I am but a Weapons Specialist and am content to perform that task."

[Black Cohort]

"Well met brother," Irad says to the space wolf as they clasp forearms. 

 

"Could we not place the dreadnought in a drop pod able to be immediately deployed if necessary?  I would offer my services as a team leader, I have some knowledge of technology."

[Skinrider]

Igorot grins as he sees the Space Wolf. A fine chapter, brutal warriors that demoralize their foes, brothers to his liking. In his own chapter Igorot is a member of the Spectral Wolves clan and bears a belt buckle with a wolf's head and his bolt pistol has the image of a wolf skull on it. He clasps forearms with him grinning and puts a bit of power into his grip, playfully testing his strength as the more clannish warriors do.

 

"Well met brother wolf, I look forward to hunting together"

 

As he listens to the librarian's idea he smiles

 

"Aye, dropping a dreadnought in our enemies' midst would certainly strike fear into their hearts. Perhaps we could bring a locator beacon? I second the nomination of brother Irad as a leader, he seems capable to me."