[DW] Blackthorn/Swordhand: Episode III - The Sundered House

[Commissar Molotov]

ROUND 13 BEGINS

 

Tyber:

Free Action: Spend a Fate Point to heal D10 Wounds: 10

Full Action: Defensive Stance

 

Vorr:

Full Action: Reload Missile Launcher

 

Tyrant Overlord:

Full Action: Charge Tyber

WS81(+10 Charge): 21 (HIT)

Tyber attempts to Dodge (AG48+20) = 66 (PASS)

 

Yeng:

Half Action: Move towards Montesa's body

Strength Test (S67): 22 (PASS)

Half Move to drag Montesa out of harm's way

Edited January 18, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Commissar Molotov]

Greysight:

Full Action: Reload Bolter

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[A.T.]

Again the xenos turned from the challenge with eyes only for the most immediate target with each limb moving as if imbued with its own mind dedicated to the task. Efficient to the point of detriment, a flaw in its behaviour that could be exploited.

 

Too many Astartes had fallen already however and the opportunity to act on this weakness was narrowing. Atratus rushed forward this time feinting towards the overlord before striking at the lesser beast that flanked it, pushing the assault rather than falling away.

 

Calling to the kill team "the creatures speed is borne of reaction, not strategy. Attack as the blows fall and it will hinder itself"

 

Furious Assault - this time at the guard

D100 to hit = 67 (plus many bonuses)

Damage = 10 4 1 9 plus righteous fury 7

=46 damage, Pen 7

 

Assassin strike 84 - fail, so Atratus is getting stuck in this round

 

Dual lightning attack

95 66 81 44 = three hits and a miss

Damage rolls 10/9 1/9 8/1 (righteous fury 3)

=29 damage, 25 damage, and 24 damage (each at Pen 3)

 

Atratus will call for one of his team-mates to activate tactical spacing, and will add cohesion to the pool if required for it

[Mazer Rackham]

Akkad couldn't recall the young Marine saying so much at once.

 

It didn't mean he was wrong.  The way in which a Cetaceania calf was harried by Spearfish, the Marines would strike and fade, spending the force, robbing the attacks of power only to hit nothing.

 

Akkad's Actions:

Free Action: Stops sustaining Strongpoint

Free Action: Initiate Squad Mode Delta - Tactical Spacing (1 Cohesion spent).

Akkad will donate his Reaction to the SQD pool.

 

+Footwork, Ahu, show the beast how well you dance.+

 

MR.

[Commissar Molotov]

Atratus:

Free Action: Call Furious Charge

 

>>Atratus makes a Charge Move against Tyrant Guard 2

HITS on 67, inflicting 46 Damage, Pen 7

Tyrant Guard attempts to Dodge on AG30: 88 (FAIL)

Tyrant Guard has TB18 and Armour 10(3) = 25 Damage Inflicted (now at 37 Damage)

FAILS Assassin Strike Move

 

>>Solastion makes a Standard Attack against Tyrant Guard 2

WS56(+10 Frenzy)(+20 Size)(+10 Outnumbered) = WS96: 1 (HIT)

Chainsword does 1D10+3(+13SB)(+1 Frenzy) = 10(RF:9)+17 = 36 Damage, Pen 3

Tyrant Guard has TB18 and Armour 10(7) = 11 Damage Inflicted (now at 45 Wounds and -3 Critical Rending to the Legs)

Target suffers 1 level of Fatigue and is now suffering from Blood Loss.

 

>>Varvost makes a Standard Attack against Tyrant Guard 2

WS72(+10 Frenzy)(+10 Hunter of Aliens)(+30 Size)(-10 Prone) = WS112: 94 (HIT)

Chainaxe does 1D10+3(+SB10)(+1 Frenzy)(+2 Hunter of Aliens) with Tearing and Flesh Render: 9 (25 Damage)

Tyrant Guard has TB18 and Armour 10(7) = 0 Damage Inflicted

 

FURIOUS CHARGE ENDS

 

Atratus' actions:

Dual Lightning Attack (4 Attacks) against Tyrant Guard 2

3 Hits, resolving against TB18 and Armour 10(7)

Hit 1: 29 Damage (reduced to 4)

Hit 2: 25 Damage (reduced to 0)

Hit 3: 24 Damage (reduced to 0)

4 Damage inflicted (taking the Tyrant Guard to -8, Rending against the 66: BODY)

Target must immediately take a Challenging Toughness test or die (T60): 51 (PASS)

Tyrant guard loses 1D10 Toughness: 9 (now at Toughness 51, and TB15)

Tyrant guard suffers 1D10 levels of Fatigue: 1

Tyrant guard suffers Blood Loss

 

Free Action: Donate Fate Point to Kill-Team cohesion (now at 2)

 

Akkad:

Free Action: Stop Sustaining Strongpoint

Full Action: Initiate Tactical Spacing Defensive Mode.

 

Sabaan:

Full Action: Reload Bolter

Free Action: Donate 2 Fate Points to Kill-Team cohesion (now at 4)

 

Varvost:

Full Action: All Out Attack against Tyrant Guard 2

WS72(+10 Frenzy)(+10 Hunter of Aliens)(+30 Size)(+10 Outnumbered)(-10 Prone) = WS122: 43 (HIT)

Chain-Axe does 1D10+16 Damage, Pen 3: 7 (23 Damage)

TB15 and Armour 10(7) reduce this to 1 Damage (Critical -9 to the 34 (BODY))

Tyrant Guard 2 is DEAD.

 

Solastion:

Full Action: Charge Tyrant Overlord

WS56(+10 Charge)(+10 Frenzy)(+30 Size) = 116: 96 (HIT)

Chainsword does 1D10+17 Damage: 6 (23 Damage)

TB18 and Armour 10(7) reduce this to 0 Damage.

Free Action: Donate 1 to Cohesion (now at 5)

 

Teralil:

Full Action: Charge Tyrant Overlord

WS45(+10 Charge)(+30 Size) = WS85: 90 (MISS)

Free Action: Donate 1 to Cohesion (now at 6)

 

ROUND 13 ENDS

Edited January 19, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Steel Company]

Tyber heard the call for tactical spacing and it took him a moment to recall what that meant, cross referencing it against the tactics of his home chapter. All while he did this he side stepped about blow from the command beast.

 

 

Free action:

Cohesion test to join squad mode:

 

TN: 6

Cohesion test: 1d10 3 pass

 

Continued Defensive stance

 

Dodge

 

TN: 68 (AGI 48, +20 Dodge)

dodge +20: 1d100 31 Pass with 3 DoS

 

Dodge

 

TN: 68 (AGI 48, +20 Dodge)

dodge +20: 1d100 51 Pass 1 DoS

 

Will spend extra reactions as needed.

 

If WP roll is needed:

 

TN: 55 (Will power 45, +10 Toe to Toe)

WP roll: 1d100 69 fail by 1 DoS

 

If ‘killed’ will burn a fate point to not die.

 

[Commissar Molotov]

ROUND 14 BEGINS

 

Tyber:

Free Action: Cohesion Test (6): 3 (PASS)

Tyber enters Squad Mode

 

Full Action: Defensive Stance

 

 

Vorr:

Half Action: Aim (+10)

Half Action: Standard Attack with Krak Missile against Tyrant Overlord

BS58(+10 Aim)(+30 Size)(-20 Target in Combat) = BS78: 93 (MISS)

 

Tyrant Overlord:

Full Action: Lighting Attack (with Multiple Arms)

Attacks resolve at WS81

 

Attack 1 (Bonesword, against Teralil): 90 (MISS)

Attack 2 (Bonesword, against Solastion): 99 (MISS?!)

Attack 3 (Bonesword, against Tyber): 92 (MISS? - I need a new dice roller!)

Attack 4 (Bonesword, against Tyber): 72 (HIT)

Tyber Dodges successfully on 31

Attack 5 (Lashwhip, against Tyber): 11 (HIT)

Tyber Dodges successfully on 51

 

 

Yeng:

Full Action: Medicae on Montesa

INT54(+10 Medicae)(+20 Narthecium) = INT84: 34 (PASS)

Montesa is alive - and stabilised!

[Commissar Molotov]

Greysight:

Semi-Auto Burst against Tyrant Overlord

BS55(+10 Range)(+10SAB)(+10 Motion Predictor)(+30 Size)(-20 Target in Combat) = BS95: 66 (HIT, 2DoS) - 1 Additional

Hits resolve at 1D10+13 against TB18 and Armour 10(0)

Hit 1: 10(RF:6)+13 = 29 Damage (reduced to 11)

Hit 2: 4+13 = 17 Damage (reduced to 0)

11 Damage Sustained (142 Total)

[A.T.]

Atratus allowed himself a moment of grim satisfaction as the xenos was pushed back by the fresh assault, no longer facing the attacks of individual astartes but instead the combined force of the Deathwatch with each bolt and blow struck in aid of another, the kill team standing as one.

 

Charging forward the Raptor timed the fall of his blade with Greysights attack, matching his movements to that of his brothers as they fell into a pattern of relentless strikes and feints as they circled the overlord seeking any opening for a killing blow.

 

Charge the overlord

D100 to hit = 19 = hit

 

3d10 tearing + 16 = 1 10 5 8 + fury 8

 =47 damage, Pen 3   (to the leg... again)

 

Assassin stike = 97 = fail, remain in combat

 

- Atratus is still listed as in solo? Don't know if that is out of date or not, just in case roll for squad up = 2

[Commissar Molotov]

GM: As far as I know all Marines are in Squad except for Vorr (who is out of range) and Greysight (who is benefiting from Bolter Mastery by being solo.)

 

Atratus:

Full Action: Charge Overlord

WS roll: 19 (HIT)

47 Damage, Pen 3 against TB18 and Armour 10(7): 22 Damage Inflicted (164 Total)

Assassin Strike: 97 (FAIL)

[Mazer Rackham]

Akkad watched as the leader-beast was effectively set upon by most of the Squad.  They tore and lunged at the remaining enemies, blade, chainsword and bolt shell.  Of all the enemies he had faced in combat, so few had died so hard.  He added to it.

 

Akkad's Actions:

Free Action: Sustain SQD.

Full Action: Full Auto Burst at Overlord

BS 52 +10(Range) +20(FAB) +30(Size) -20(CQB) = 92

D100: 60 PASS plus 3 DoS (4 Hits)

Damage: 1D10 (2D10 Tearing) +12 (Dam) +2 (MShot) at Pen 8 (Kraken)

Hit 1 (Head): 21

Hit 2 (Head): 24 (RF 10) (RF 9) = 43

Hit 3 (Arm 1D10 L/R - 4 Left 1D10 U/L - 3 Upper): 22

Hit 4 (Body): 22

 

Hits: 4

Total Damage: 130

 

<AMMUNITION CRITICAL>

 

One more burst, then the weapon was empty.

 

EDIT: Calcs corrected, prose added.

 

MR.

Edited January 19, 2021 by Mazer Rackham

[apologist]

Roaring both with pain and frustration, Yeng drew his blood-slicked hands back from Montesa.

"We didn't lose you before – and I won't lose you now!"

 

His hands were trembling with hyperadrenalin and fatigue. Crouched over his injured battle-brother, and surrounded by a misama of death and gore, Yeng cursed the monsters still standing, with all the vengeance he could muster.

[Commissar Molotov]

Yeng:

The ceramite of your gauntleted fingers is chipped from hand-to-hand combat; where the black and silver flakes away, you have now received a fresh coating of the Librarian's rich life-blood. It seems like a sick cosmic joke that you find yourself here once again - in the belly of the beast, tending to the prostrate form of the Librarian. Here is where you lost Echion, Jor, Alderax and Cathar. Brothers all.

 

One of the Divine Princes wrote about the definition of insanity, once: what was it, again?

 

The Librarian's armoured breastplate has been rent asunder by the Tyrant's bone-blade; the armoured and reinforced rib-cage has given away. Jagged splinters of ossmodula-hardened bone jut dangerously inward, but there are no fleshen lungs to puncture. This, at least, is a miracle of sorts. The bionic replacements you installed survive still, though their function is impeded.

 

The Librarian will live to fight and die another day.

 

Operating by the strobe-light of bolter-fire and the torches of your helm, you set to work.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Commissar Molotov]

Akkad:

Free Action: Sustain Tactical Spacing

Full Action: FAB against Overlord

BS52(+10 Range)(+20 FAB)(+30 Size)(-20 Target in Combat) = BS92: 60 (PASS) - 4 Hits

Hits resolve at 1D10+14, Pen 8 against TB18 and Armour 10(2)

 

Hit 1: 21 Damage (Reduced to 1)

Hit 2: 24 Damage (Reduced to 4)

Hit 3: 22 Damage (Reduced to 2)

Hit 4: 22 Damage (Reduced to 2)

9 Damage Inflicted (173 Total)

 

Sabaan:

Full Action: Semi-Auto Burst against Tyrant Overlord

BS56(+10 SAB)(+10 Range)(+30 Size) = BS106: 68 (HIT, 3DoS) - 1 Hit, plus 1 Additional

Bolter resolves at 1D10+9 against TB18 and Armour 10(0)

Hit 1: 9(RF:1) = 19: 1 Damage

Hit 2: 6 = 15: 0 Damage

1 Damage Inflicted (174 Total)

 

Varvost:

Varvost will attempt to Charge Tyrant Overlord

Varvost's movement is halved due to his missing leg

WS72(+20 Berserk Charge)(+10 Frenzy)(+10 Hunter of Aliens)(+30 Size)(+60 Max) = WS132: 28 (HIT)

Chain-axe does 1D10+17 with Tearing and Flesh Render: 10(RF:6) = 33 Damage

Tyrant Overlord reduces this by TB18 and Armour 10(7) = 8 Damage Inflicted

(180 Damage Inflicted, -2 Critical)

Overlord suffers 1 Level of Fatigue

 

Solastion:

All Out Attack against Overlord:

WS56(+10 Frenzy)(+20 AOA)(+30 Size) = WS116: 7 (HIT)

Chainsword does 1D10+17 Damage, Pen 3: 3 (20 Damage)

Tyrant Guard has TB18 and Armour 10(7) = 0 Damage Inflicted

 

Second All Out Attack: 42 (HIT)

1D10+17 Damage: 8 (25 Damage)

Tyrant Guard has TB18 and Armour 10(7) = 0 Damage Inflicted)

 

Teralil:

Half Action: Aim (+10)

Half Action: Standard Attack against Tyrant Overlord

WS41(+30 Size) = 71: 48 (HIT)

Breaching Auger does 2D10+11(+SB12), Pen 7: 10+11+12 = 33 Damage

Tyrant has TB18 and Armour 10(3) = 12 Damage Inflicted (-12 Critical)

 

ROUND 14 ENDS

 

ROUND 15 BEGINS

 

GM: Steel - please activate Killing Strike and describe how Tyber lets down his guard and ends the Tyrant's life!

[Steel Company]

Again the massive bone blade came down at him, with a slight side step and twist of his wrist Tyber deflected the weapon away from both himself and Yeng. As the blade bit into the material under his feet, Tyber saw the holes in the armor of the beast, chinks in the armour, a weakness.

 

 

Full round action, multi attack at Overlord

 

TN: 74 (WS 54, -30 multi attack with Swift attack, +10 Ambidextrous, +10 TWWM, +30 Size)

 

Arming Sword attack

Melee attack, arming sword: 1d100 7 Hit, 6 DoS

 

Location: 70, body

 

Damage: 1D10+17 (1D10+5 weapon, +10 STR X2, +2 PA) Pen 3, Rending

amring sword damage: 1d10+17 27

RF Auto Confirm

RF dmg: 1d10 3

 

Damage: 30

 

Overlord:

Armor: 10 (7)

TB: 18

Damage: reduced to 5

 

Chainsword attack:

Chain Sword Melee attack: 1d100 2 hit, 7 DoS!

 

Location: 20, RA

 

Damage: 1D10+15 (1D10+3 Weapon, +10 STR X2, +2 PA) Pen 3 Tearing and Rending

Chain Sword Damage: 1d10+15 20

Chain Sword Damage, Tearing: 1d10+15 22

 

Damage: 22

 

Overlord:

Armor: 10 (7)

TB: 18

Damage: reduced to 0

 

Arming Sword Swift attack:

 

Melee attack, arming sword, swift attack: 1d100 58 Hit, 1 DoS

 

Location: 85, Right Leg

 

Damage: 1D10+17 (1D10+5 weapon, +10 STR X2, +2 PA) Pen 3, Rending

amring sword damage: 1d10+17 27

RF Auto Confrim

RF dmg: 1d10 2

 

Damge: 29

Overlord:

Armor: 10 (7)

TB: 18

Damage: reduced to 4

 

 

Dodge Roll as needed and will spend reactions from the pool as needed

 

WP rolls as needed

Burn fate point to live if needed

 

 

 

 

The first of the hammering blows landed from slightly behind and to the right, with all of his weight behind the attack, the right knee of the might beast faltered, driving it down to that knee. Continuing his swing Tyber noted that chunks of the natural armor of the beast tore free, cracks splintering the plates that remained. Wasting little time he drove forward with his chainsword, the motor hungry to bite into the beast, as the teeth dug in the angle of the strike was off slightly, causing the teeth to deflect harmlessly off of the hide. Giving a final grunt, Tyber brought around his arming sword in a wide arc to connect with the right leg of the beast, again putting his weight into the strike. As the blade hammered down on the leg plates of the beast, cracks formed in the plate before it gave way, allowing his blade to drive deep into the leg. To his surprise, the blade continued to pass through the meat and through the other side of the leg in a clean chop.

 

With the leg coming free form the beast, whatever fluids it had inside of it evacuated shortly after. As the light was leaving the eyes of the beast, Tyber looked into the eyes and wondered if the beast felt anything or if it has just been an avatar of the beast ship they were on. When the light was almost gone, Tyber lifted his arming sword, placing the tip directly at one of the eyes as he dropped his chainsword to place his left palm against the pommel of his arming sword. His eyes landing on the dog tags that had been wrapped into the hilt before he drove the blade into and out the other side of the skill of the beast as he said, +Your time is at an end.+

Edited January 20, 2021 by Steel Company

[Commissar Molotov]

STRUCTURED TIME ENDS; NARRATIVE TIME BEGINS

 

GM: With combat ended, there is a moment of peace. You have a moment to collect yourselves - please feel free to post or to put up narrative placeholders for later.

 

Spoilers: Montesa will be able to stand (with support) and will end the Bio-Ship's link to the Hive Mind with his Force Sword, severing the final pillar. Then the extraction will begin!

Edited January 20, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Mazer Rackham]

With a grunt, Akkad pulled himself free of the quagmire of alien guts and genhanced blood that clung to the disgusting organic matter that served as the ground.  Standing, he reflected that as once the Hive Mind plagued his own conscious, he now stood on some form of cognisant organ belonging to the enemy.

 

"You have Space Marines on the brain," he told it bitterly, looking at the fallen Invader.

 

He reloaded Cadence, the munitions monitoring icons restored to their, satisfied emerald hue.  He Reached around, sliding the heavy bolter to maglock against his backpack, more room there now thanks to the removal of the ammunition hoppers.  With a sigh matched by the snarky snap of broken circuitry, the Astral Claw marched across the intervening hellscape to squat beside the corpse of Rodrik Ghent.  The soot and burned propellant from so many bolt shells was lost in the sable-black skin of his power armour, but his biceps were grateful for the cessation of the constant vibrations of heavy support fire.

 

He gently laid his palm on Ghent's shoulder.  The 'Gentle' Apothecary had much work to do, and until such time as he could retrieve the Progenoids of this fallen warrior, the duty was clear.  Maelstrom Warder or no, Ghent had covered him.

 

A quick remark to Tyber about his victory was required, even in this moment, such an achievement was to be recognised..  ++You struck well Ahu, may your heroic victories be uncounted, and your roll of honour long.++

 

He turned back to the fallen Marine.  He scooped up the Invader's corpse and bore him over his left shoulder, to job awkward due to the imbalance of Ghent's missing legs, but a lighter burden to carry.  He wasn't going to leave anyone here - in this...place.

 

MR.

[Nineswords]

GHENT WAS DEAD, split in two by the humungous bulk of the tyranid warlord. The vivid memory of the Invader's armoured fist grasping the chainsword in one last act of defiance crept upon the Storm Son in the decades after; the very epitome of the species' resistance in a besieged, uncaring galaxy.

 

The final moments of that dread encounter wedded itself to Greysight's memories; privately shared with the brothers of the Deathwatch, witnessed by the unwelcome scrying of the Stormseers many years later during the dawn of another, darker age.

 

Freed by Vârvost's intervention, Greysight initiated his final assault upon the tyranids in tacit cooperation with Atratus, targeting the weakened warriors locked in furious combat with the remaining brothers of Blackthorn and Swordhand, using the blistering recoil of the Astral Claw's monstrous bolter to target and pick off the remaining hive guard.

 

One burst, one kill. A head popped open like a child's thumb pressing into an overripe lochee in the summer heat; a torso shredded before the mutagenic acid finished its deadly work.

 

Rodrik Ghent would be avenged.

 

The Crimson Fist, insensible with rage, charged the beast; the discharge of his prodigious abilities physically manifesting as crackling lightning. Sabaan too opened fire upon the overlord, his legs locked into a rictus on the spongy floor. The others, slaying the last of the chamber's guardians, began to run towards their leader.

 

Greysight targeted the warlord, and fired. The Storm Son was not entirely convinced his bolt rounds would make a difference, but it was enough to distract it, and earn Montesa and Vârvost a brief respite. Atratus fired upon it from afar, and the psychic roar of the wounded creature shook the entire ship, spoiling Vorr's aim at the remaining undamaged column of flesh.

 

At last, the Dragon of Caliban waded into the fray, the slab edge of the obsidian blade flashing in the gloom. The tyranid overlord shrieked at the loss of its leg, and it keeled over like a scuttled crustacean caught in a trap. It lashed out one last time at the Librarian, too weakened by the psychic assault to counter the physical attack.

 

'No!' shouted Greysight, his fury welling. His retaliatory burst shattered more of the overlord's armour plating. Yeng moved in quickly, trying to drag the Crimson Fist away from the fray, and the vacuum was filled by the remaining Space Marines closing in on the thrashing beast, like butchers culling a frenzied grox.

 

Rodrik Ghent would be avenged.

Edited January 22, 2021 by Nineswords

[Xin Ceithan]

+++++

The beast fell.

And for a moment everything, everyone seemed to hold their  breath. 6.43 ns passed before the  Iron Hand’s respirator returned to the  cycle. 

 

Poets  of word pow rights liked to  describe the calm after the such a feat, after the storm, when things died down. There was no real calm here. Even now the strange sounds of the alien mega form surrounding them prevailed, as it tried  to adapt, it’s neural functions now interrupted. Sabaan was no poet but he had plenty of experience witnessing the biological signs of an organism reaching it’s operational end. The thing was dying. But not quietly. Other sounds were there. The low hissing and occasional pop as the alchemical fire off the hellfire rounds  continued to make it’s  way through the flesh of the xenos corpses. The ever present buzz of their active power armour, a sound reassuringly technological in this Omnissiah damned organic hellscape. The  tearing and crunching sounds as the killteam moved into a defensive position, preparing for the final onslaught they were all expecting to follow the death of the officer bioform.

 

None came.

 

 

Sabaan remained at the site of his shame, still covering the prone Devastator, scanning, probing. The ping of the Augur array went out into the moist fog around them. The rune blinked. Again. Again.

 

No immediate threat.

 

The green grey rune blinked reassuringly. Only the the  yellow low probability threat indicators of his fellow Astarte  remained.  One of which had turned to a dull, ash grey also...

 

>>>Now. This has been quite messy. Sloppy even, one might say. At least you managed, not to drop the ship burning out of the sky with you in again<< There was a bit of ...disappointment to the ghost thought. Then, the chuckle. >>At least, not yet.<<

 

Reloading his bolt rifle, the Iron Hand  became aware of the Astral Claw rising next to him, the shift in the plate’s buzz  betraying  the movement before it actually happened. 

For a brief moment, Sabaan  found himself with the  unfamiliar consideration of offering, quite literally, a hand in support.  Nanoseconds ticked across another eternity of indecisiveness. Should / could he lend some support, and in extension some form of appreciation via this sort of physical contact to the weapon specialist? 

Or could be this be seen as a gesture of disrespect , implying that he thought the other Marine too weak to rise on his own? A gesture of weakness of his own? 

There was not enough data. It was all very confusing. 

The time passed. So did the moment. 

The Devastator was on his feet again, 

With a hiss, Sabaan  chose  to ignore the unfamiliar feeling and returned his attention to the situation in the neural cavern around him. . The kill team had prevailed. The will of the Omnissiah and the Emperor had been fulfilled. This phase of the mission had yet been successful. In any operation, casualties were to be expected, But Sabaan  was still taken aback by how long it had taken them to form up as a cohesive force and to achieve this objective. There was quite the need for improvement. On several levels. 

 

For now though, Sabaan chose  to deal with The emotional crisis he had just faced in a way fitting the descendants of the Gorgon. . He ignored it. There were duties to perform and they were still, literally, deep inside enemy territory. The mission came first.

Edited January 25, 2021 by Xin Ceithan

[Commissar Molotov]

“Wait.”

 

“Wait.”

 

“Help me stand,” the Librarian says.

 

How many times across the length and breadth of the Imperium have Apothecaries of the Astartes heard these words? How many Space Marines, whose over-engineered anatomies refused to acknowledge their mortal wounds, have spoken them?

 

“Is that a joke?” Varvost says, pushing a breath through gritted teeth. He looks down at his own leg, a shattered mess of bone, torn flesh and ceramite shards. He will require delicate micro-surgery - or bionic replacement.

 

“Help me stand,” Montesa says again.

 

Two of you move in, placing your hands under his arms and hauling the Crimson Fist to his feet. The rents and gouges in Montesa’s Mark IV armour are thick with clotted blood and coagulant sprays from Yeng’s pharmacopoeia.

 

After a moment, the Librarian moves forward, haltingly. You all know his wounds would kill a lesser man, even an Astartes warrior. His relic force sword, Mariana, comes to his hand, the swirling runes of psy-sensitive circuitry along its blade glowing with internal witch-fire. Before him, the final central pillar of the Synapse Chamber. The final connection between the bio-ship and the Hive Mind. It throbs with psychic power, strong enough that all of you feel the compulsion to avert your gaze.

 

Montesa takes step after step.

 

The psychic hood nestling between his shoulders crackles, psychic hoarfrost growing across his warplate.

 

He raises his sword, plunging it with both hands into the pillar. The blade pierces the chitinous armour plating with contemptuous ease. Behind his helm, Guillermo Montesa grits his teeth tighter, feeling as though his skull might split from the pressure swelling behind his eyes.

 

With decades of psychic discipline and conditioning, the Crimson Fist channels his agony and rage into a coruscating ball of hatred.

 

There is a crescendo of light, of noise, of heat that threatens to drown your helm’s auto-senses.

 

The crushing, palpable psychic weight of the Hive Mind dissipates almost instantly, like the pop of a bubble bursting. It is as though a barely-imperceptible sound has ceased, and only now do you know what silence is. Almost immediately the pink flesh cavern around you seems to turn a lifeless grey, spreading out around you all like a forest fire burning everything in its path. The ground shakes beneath you, a seismic shock that you know must be the death throes of a gargantuan creature beyond mortal reckoning.

 

The Bio-Ship is dead.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Steel Company]

Tyber moves to stand over Varvost before gripping him by the warplate, hauling him up as he says over open vox, +You mocked me at the start of this operation…+

 

He paused to give some weight in the air before adding, +Perhaps now, I have earned your respect.+

 

With those words spoken, Tyber adjusts how he is supporting Varvost so that he can help the wounded Astartes out of the cavern.

[Commissar Molotov]

“Hnf,” Varvost says, the sound somewhere between an exhalation and a grudging acknowledgement of the Dragon’s words. The Eradicator accepts the larger marine’s help, the foot of his mangled leg at entirely the wrong angle.

[Steel Company]

Tyber gives a throaty laugh while using his free hand to slap the chest of the Eradicator as he says, +I'll take it.+

[Reyner]

The Invader had died well, stoic and defiant to the end. Vorr let his backpack servo arm take his missile launcher and reload it and made a fist with his bionic hand and banged it to his breastplate in salute. He slowly assessed his own wounds and damage to his armour and decided it wasn't worth bothering Yeng about he had far more important injuries to repair than his. He was strangely disappointed he hadn't earned the right to receive any bionic replacements from their battle with the Tyrant but there may yet be chance to earn enhancement they still had to fight their way out after all.

 

Vorr walks past Akkad carrying his squad mate and gently touched the corpse and nodded his thanks to the Astral Claw. Hidden beneath his helmet Vorr smiled to himself. At the start of this mission he would have been aggressive towards a member of Blackthorn for daring to carry one of Swordhand when it wasn't their right to do so. But not now, not after this.

 

He saw Tyber helping Varvost to his feet or maybe just his foot Vorr wasn't sure if the Eradicator still had both his feet after his wounding. He nodded to the giant space marine and makes his way over to the body of the monster a snarl rumbling from his helmet then stops in front of its ruined head, the massive wound through the eye that had been the deathblow gawped up at him. With an angry growl Vorr begins kicking the teeth out of the Tyrants ruined face, again and again his boot rises crunching the daggers out of its skull. He then crouches down and collects a tooth for every member of the merged killteams.

 

++Rodrik Ghent was a Son of Dorn, I hear they practice the art of scrimshaw upon the bones of the fallen. I think it would be fitting that I attempt it on the teeth of the Xenos to honour his memory as well as others we have lost. The fallen shall forever be remembered as the Emperor's finest. ++

[A.T.]

Atratus dropped back as the overlord fell, exchanging the magazine in his rifle for a fresh one and scanning the walls for further attack unready to yet declare victory.

 

Nearby Yeng dragged Montesa to his feet, somehow still alive despite his wounds. The librarians purpose was soon clear and heralded the death of the xenos vessel in more ways than one - Atratus adjusted the his armours augers knowing that any Imperial vessel still in battle would fall upon the now defenseless beast without mercy.

 

Around him words were spoken of vengeance and martial pride. It was not the way of the Raptors to dwell on such things but after the uncertainty of Syndalla this battle was well fought, a fulfilment of the astartes purpose to defend the Imperium if only for a moment longer. Should any of them yet survive to escape this place he looked forward to the honour of standing beside them in battle once more.