To Plunder The Stars Themselves, Episode III

[Beren]

Squad Alpha:

 

As Svelk arced down towards the Sororitas, his axe-rake fell with him, attempting to sweep the warrior's leg out from under her. Instead it lodged, penetrating the armour. Using this to fix her in place, and giving her little time to react, Svelk shoved his bolt pistol against her armour.

 

Bolter Charge Attack:

BS43 + 20(Point Blank) = 63

d100: 74 (Fail)

[Machine God]

With his right arm Draak unleashes Grendels killing power against the last Sister of Battle still standing.

BS:52 +20 (Full Auto) +10 (Close Range) +5 (Traveller's Path) -20 (Shooting into Melee Combat) =67. Result: 76, Fail.

Fate Point Re-roll: 06, Pass 6 DoS. Hit location: Body.

Hit #1, 7 / 8 +12 -4 (AP9 - 5 Pen) - 4 (TGH Bonus) = 12 Damage.
Hit #2, 3 / 3 +12 -8 = 7 Damage

Hit #3, 3 / 9 +12 -8 = 13 Damage

Hit #4, 9 / 8. 9 +12 -8 = 13 Damage

Hit #5, 4 / 3. 4 +12 -8 = 8 Damage

Hit #6, 5 / 5 +12 -8 = 9 Damage

Edited October 18, 2021 by Machine God

[Lysimachus]

Round 3 Summary Cont:

 

++Bolter Assault Ends++

 

[x] Traveller: Charge Immolator, Hits!

11 Structural Integrity Suffered (now at 16).

 

[x] Odysseus: Reload.

 

[x] Draak:

FAB at Sister H, Miss!

FP Reroll to Hit. 6 Hits.

1 Dodged. 1 SoF Success. 37 Wounds Suffered. Sister H dies.

 

[ ] Vesalius:

 

[x] Ithan:

Charge 15m at Rhino (to reach Rear armour)

WS57 +10(Charge) +20(Enormous Target) +5(Traveller's Path) = 92, Roll: 59, Hit!

Dam 2d10+14 Pen10

10 (RF! Auto-confirms. Roll: +5) +8+14 = 37 - 10(AV20-Pen10) = 25 Structural Integrity Suffered, plus Result 2 on Vehicle Critical Hit table (Driver takes T Test or stunned for 1d5 Rounds) Roll: 65, Fail! 1d5 = Stunned for 3 Rounds. Rhino is out of the battle!

 

The odd, highly experimental grav-tool built into the support arm above Ithan Khor's power pack emits a low, nearly subsonic hum as he approaches the Sororitas transport. For a moment nothing changes. Then the rear ramp is torn open with a metallic squeal that sounds as though the vehicle's machine spirit is being slowly tortured. The wild Techmarine steps into the gap towards the startled driver, whirring chain-axe held ready.

 

[ ] Svelk:

 

[ ] Decimus:

 

Round 3 Ends.

 

[Lysimachus]

Squad Beta:

 

You gather on the edge of the abyss, looking down into the impenetrable blackness. Without the autosenses built into your battle plate, you cannot hope to pierce it.

 

You stand for a moment in silence. No words of recrimination or blame are spoken... though they may be thought. After a moment, one of your number shrugs and turns away. A loss, but hardly a great one. There are other lines of inquiry to be followed from the marketplace. A moment longer, and then the rest of the team turn to follow.

 

Suddenly, from the dark below, there is a hesitant, plaintive, muffled cry.

 

"My lords...? Are you there...? A little help...?"

 

***

[Commissar Molotov]

The Traveller, Round 4:

Free Action: Call for Bolter Assault

Krak Grenade against Immolator's rear

BS50(+30 Point Blank)(+20 Massive Target)=BS100: 15 (HIT)

Krak Grenade does 3D10+4, Pen 6: 4,2,7=17 Damage (reduced by Armour 20(14) to 3 Damage)

13 Damage Remaining

 

(After Bolter Assault)

 

Krak Grenade against Immolator's rear

BS50(+30 Point Blank)(+20 Massive Target)=BS100: 87 (HIT)

Krak Grenade does 3D10+4, Pen 6: 7,9,7=27 Damage (reduced by Armour 20(14) to 13 Damage)

0 Damage Remaining

 

The alien sword had carved through the armour-plate, leaving an edge that glowed with heat. The Traveller's hand went for a Krak Grenade, swiftly arming it and depositing within the tank. Let them try to escape now, he thought.

Edited October 21, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Lysimachus]

Squad Alpha:

 

+++STRUCTURED TIME ENDS+++

 

The final bolt shell has been loosed, in this battle at least. But fires continue to burn around the path of the Soroitas' battle tank and a haze of fyceline smoke rises across the whole street.

 

The team congregate by the Immolator's wreckage. You have a few moments to center yourselves, to bring your battle fury into check, to plan the next steps in your mission and perhaps to seek medical attention for the more grievous of your wounds.

 

The team's assault specialist is one of the last to gather. Svelk is clearly not happy.

 

***

 

I'm going to pause Alpha there to give a few minutes (a few days in RL) for everyone to post reactions to the fight, thoughts/discussions about your options for moving on to the Convent House,  or (as Mol mentioned) to give people a chance to go back and fill placeholders if they want. - Edit: and now to settle Svelk's disagreement with the Traveller!

 

It will also give me a bit of time to focus on Beta and hopefully balance up where we are in each team's storyline.

[Beren]

Squad Alpha:

 

The Sororitas slammed the back of her bolter down into Svelk's bolt pistol an instant before he fired, sending the shot into the dirt beneath their feet and shrapnel clattering off both their armoured legs.

 

Svelk felt a surge of irritation course through him at the waste of the specialist round, but before he could punish the battle sister for it she dissapeared in a furious hail of detonations that tore her away from his axe-rake and left her crumpled on the ground.

 

With new scorings and blood-splatters pattened across his armour, Svelk heard a series of larger caconophous eruptions from behind him.

 

He took a brief moment to inspect his axe-rake for any damage, then raised it a brief salute to the Devastator, Draak, who could summarilly eliminated his opponent. An unecessary expendititure perhaps, but he was hardly going to reject the help...

 

The assault marine turned and in an instant the choler that had gripped him earlier returned in full force, seething through his veins. He stormed towards their 'leader' who stood behind of the flaming wreck of a vehicle whose gunner he had summarilly eliminated either, throwing a venemous glance towards where a gaping rent was visible in the front of the other transport.

 

+++We had pulled its teeth. We could have pried it open at our leisure!+++

 

He makes swift, sweeping gestures towards the wreckage with his weapon while he vents at the Traveller.

 

+++So why is it now a flaming wreck! Why are we now an explosive less than we needed to be!+++

[Black Cohort]

Decimus responds to the other devastator, wondering how to support Svelk without undermining their commander.  Destroying the vehicles was a waste of resources, the Iron Gods could certainly find use for rhino hulls.

 

+Decimus here+

[Machine God]

Grendel had spoken to the last Sister of Battle about the futility of resistance to the will of the Omnissiah of Mars, Draak maintained overwatch. He watched the destruction of the vehicle's with scornful detachment and returned Svelk's salute with a slight nod of his helmet.

 

+Decimus here+

 

Draak answered over the vox as he climbed down from his eyrie and began to search the dead bodies. Draak was careful to appear helpful and keep away from the scene created by Svelk.

 

+Decimus nice shooting! The Sisters never got to fire their heavy weapons, so we can re-supply our backpacks from the heavy bolter ammunition and we now have a melta-gun too. We need to check the bodies for other war materials that may have not been destroyed, there's bound to be some grenades upon the Sisters and you can bet their leader had a power sword!+

[Black Cohort]

+Indeed, even their chainblades and bolters should be salvaged.  A shame both rhinos were destroyed.+

[Machine God]

Draak cautiously stepped behind Ithan and located a storage locker within the rear of the Rhino, looking for a fire extinguisher.

INT: 39 +10 (Tech Use) = 48. Result: 34, Pass 1 DoS

Having located the fire extinguisher, Draak promptly extinguished the fires within the Immolator. Through a rent in the inner wall leading to the drive compartment Draak could see the hysterical driver.

+A shame that both rhinos were destroyed+ said Decimus over the squad vox.

+No Decimus these Rhino hulls are robust and can be salvaged. That is if this one's driver doesn't resist and set off a melta or phosphorous charge first+

Draak answered as he entered the Immolator and shot the driver with his Bolt Pistol once in the back.

BS: 52 +30 (Point Blank Range) +5 (Traveller's Path) = 87. Result: 66, Pass, 2 DoS
Hit Location: Body.
10 (Righteous Fury) +7 +9 -5 (AP9 -4 Pen) -4 (TGH Bonus) = 17 Damage.

 

 

+Driver subdued. Rhino hulk salvageable+ uttered Draak as he exited the Immolator, dragging the unconscious driver with him.

(Edit: Typo)

Edited October 19, 2021 by Machine God

[Commissar Molotov]

The gesture that the Traveller makes towards Svelk is as close to a shrug as power armour will allow.

 

It strikes him as exceedingly unlikely that they would have been able to utilise the battle-sisters' vehicles to approach the convent. They will need to be rather more circumspect than that.

 

"Achard's crew will be able to salvage these vehicles for future use," the Traveller says. The alien blade remains low so as not to suggest a violent response, hissing sibilant white noise.

 

"The Sisters may well have called for reinforcements. We will need to prepare to leave this place soon."

Edited October 19, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Trokair]

Beta

 

“Working on it little one,” Brynjarr replied, leaning carefully over the edge to stare into the abyss. He had taken hold of one of the spotlights that had been nocked over in the fight and was combing the depth for any signs of Holger. “Any idea what you are holding onto, and how long you can stay there?”

 

Perception Test  to see if Brynjarr can spot Holger and any useful additional details

Per 40, D100: 16, Pass, 2 DoS (probably, assuming no significant negative modifiers)

 

While waiting for any reply from below Brynjar quietly spoke on the squad coms. +Radago, did you happen to see if the crane you passed was in any way operational?”

[Lysimachus]

Squad Beta:

 

The spotlights are simple affairs, lumens attached to frames or hung directly from walls and wired by long cables to a large box with a handle and crank and covered in the arcane symbols of the Mechanicus. These all seem to be more recent additions to the Site rather than original features, perhaps brought in by Razor or his cronies to provide light for some of their criminal activities?

 

Brynjarr picks up one of the lamps and directs the beam down into the pit and around its edges. The construction of the Hive floor is revealed, layers of shifting, broken rockcrete shot through with twisted, rusted plasteel reinforcements.

 

Almost fifty feet below your position, desperately clinging to a thin lattice of rebar and suddenly lit by the floodlight, is Holger! Below him the emptiness continues and its darkness consumes the light far before you can make out any sign of the bottom of the pit.

 

He squints up into the light, but does not make any further movement. Then he speaks, though his voice is muffled and sounds in some pain.

 

"Holding for now... but speed would be... good."

 

***

[Machine God]

Squad Alpha

 

Draak headed out towards the eastern edge of Rolling Rocks, still dragging the unconscious driver.

 

+Stormshroud, I'm heading out to provide overwatch and advance warning, I'm feeling hungry for some Sororitas vox frequencies. Sororitas reinforcements are bound to be here soon and Vesalius and Ithan may need to administer mending of wounds. It would be great if Toks could provide data about his escape route into the Convent+

 

At the edge of the settlement Draak located another eyrie and proceeded to watch the eastward approach road. The Sister of Battle was dead as her heavily bleeding body had stopped haemorrhaging, Draak took off the mortals helmet.

 

INT: 39 +10 (Tech Use) = 49. Result: 40, Pass

 

Draak examined the inside of the helmet for vox controls. Draak then took off his own helmet and the cold air of Viorda Secundus washed over him. Taking a hold of his combat blade in one hand and the body in the other Draak proceeded to cut the drivers skull open.

 

AGL: 44 +10 (STR Bonus) = 54. Result: 50, Pass

 

Draak then proceeded to eat the drivers brain whilst thinking about Sororitas vox frequencies.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Machine God

[Mazer Rackham]

Squad Beta:

 

Orphiel sized up the crane rigging for available cable length, and the location of the spool lock holding the heavy crane hook suspended.

 

Evaluate Test:

Intelligence 53

D100: 45 PASS, No DoS.

[Lysimachus]

@Orphiel: You can see that there is more than 100ft of steel cable wrapped around the spool at the base of the crane tower. The mechanism has been locked in place by rust, but the heavy duty wire itself seems, thus far, to have escaped major damage. It will simply require some 'assistance' to break the lock and free the cable for your use.

[Beren]

Squad Alpha:

Svelk's response is lead by a sharp and short gesture with the axe-rake, thrusting it momentarilly towards the Traveller as a gesture of contempt.

 

+++Salvage is good, stealing is better. Salvage still requires time, and expertise and parts. It should be done out of necessity, not extravagance.+++

 

His rebuttal left where it was, Svelk stalked away from his superior, surveying the remains for anything that might be of immediate use.

[Commissar Molotov]

Placeholder

 

The Traveller reflects that Svelk is not altogether wrong - and that against another foe, he might well have heeded the assault marine's words.

[Mazer Rackham]

Squad Beta:

 

Orphiel carefully stowed Argo in the rucksack, and snatched up a shotgun.  Robe billowing out behind him, he marched to one of the cranes, pumping the gun.  Shells sprang from the ejection port until the weapon was empty.  He lifted the firearm in a high grip, ready to slam the butt down in a thunderous blow on the release lever.

 

It was heavily rusted, but with enough force, once the latch was free, the spool would unwind in a torrent of flexing steel, dropping the crane hook like a plumb-line onto the floor of the Site.  Hopefully there wasn't more of the sinkhole underneath it.

 

He looked at Brynjarr and Radago, waiting, making sure they understood and were clear of the falling jib.

 

Then he brought the butt of the shotgun down, the ring of violence against the metal reverberating over the whole structure, shaking dust and iron oxide loose in a strange, red-hued snowfall.

 

Strength test:

We're in Narrative Time, so the rolls are just effect.

Str: 46

D100: 52 Fail, No DoF

 

The mechanism budged and creaked, the tower of the crane protesting the beating of it's gut.

 

D100: 97 Fail, 5 DoF

 

The stock of the shotgun cracked clean off the weapon, leaving nothing but a stub of battered wood.  It mattered not.  Now he would just beat the bastard mechanism with a metal club.

 

D100: 23 Pass, Plus 2 DoS (+ 2 DoS from Unnat Str = 4 DoS)

 

With a groan like a creature vomiting, the reel lurched, Orphiel tumbling backwards as the cable snatched the loom-lock, and the shotgun out of his hands and unspooled.

 

+Ware!+ he called, the Commbead protesting with edges of static, as the great hook descended with Damoclean momentum.  A giant mace in flaking yellow paint and orange rust came crashing to the floor, thudding a crater in the tiles, spitting them in ceramic shrapnel.

 

When the clouds of dust cleared, Orphiel looked up at the springing, twanging cables released from their pent up tension of decades, maybe centuries.

 

+Think we have enough?+

 

EDIT: Grammar/Tense/POV/Clarity.

Edited October 20, 2021 by Mazer Rackham

[Black Cohort]

+apothecary, I require your services before we engage further crazed women.+

[Trokair]

Beta

Having now found Holger below Brynjarr turned to see what they could do to pull the mortal out. Orphiel  had headed over to the derelict crane even before Radagohad answered, and judging from the robed marines prepration he had found something to work with.

 

Keeping clear of where the crane hook would come down if released, just in case the mechanism was faulty, Brynjarr circled round and into a position form where he thought he could assist.

 

Clangs from above made it clear that the mechanism must be beyond function and Orphiel was trying some percussive maintenance. Moment s later he clearly got results as a might crash threw up a cloud of dust. As it cleared Brynjarr could see the crane hook and coils of unwound cable resting there, with then end still reaching up towards the crane mechanism.

 

+Think we have enough?+

 

+As long as the cable is not rotten or rusted then yes that should be enough+ he voxed back over squad coms.

 

Dragging the hook and loose chain towards the edge Brynjarr got ready to lower the end, keeping a firm grip on the chain in case the end trailing upwards towards the crane mechanism came loose, it would not do to have it all go down into the abyss.

 

Once all three were ready he begun lowering the end.

 

“Watch out, we are lowering a cable for you.”

Edited October 20, 2021 by Trokair

[Lysimachus]

Squad Beta:

It is a simple matter for Brynjarr to drag the free end of the cable over to the edge of the pit. With a wide noose tied in it for Holger to position around his chest under his arms, you cast the heavy wire out over the precipice. After a few moments you feel a weak tug on the line and hear the Remembrancer call out his readiness. Then you begin to carefully draw the cable back up to your level. Even without your armour, the weight of one man is as nothing to three Astartes and in minutes he is within arm's reach.

You pull Holger up and he staggers forward and drops gratefully to his knees on 'solid' ground, white-faced - where it is not bruised and bloody. Though none of his injuries appear to be life-threatening, he has been badly beaten, and further battered by his slide down the side of the pit. The near plummet into oblivion also seems to have killed his usual glib confidence.

But the plucky mortal's mind is still on the mission. With slow, shaky, painful movements he reaches into a pocket and draws out a piece of poor quality printer paper. He mumbles through swollen lips.

"Managed to... pick the bastard's pocket earlier... while... he was asking questions... I think the fifth word... is 'the'."

Then the little spy slumps forward, pain and extreme stress finally overcoming his will to stay conscious. He is breathing, but out cold.

***

[Mazer Rackham]

Squad Beta:

 

Orphiel took one look at the note, then casually as he could tidied himself up.  He scooped up yet another shotgun, collecting as many shells as were rolling about as he could whilst the others studied the text.

 

As he worked, he thought.  Given that gangers were simple creatures, it was highly likely the note was addressed to the recipient Razor, and the signature was likely a henchman on behalf of the boss.  It was as he suspected, minnows working for the master.  It was always the same.  Even in prison facilities, there was a "Guv'nor" who ran the show, without whose permission nothing happened.

 

The words of a fat merchant echoed dimly in the back of his mind, his inner ear.

 

It didn't matter much to the rest.  The, to, them, them, they.

 

He wondered if Test was in there.  Brynjarr or S'ynek would figure it out, they were intelligent warriors.

 

Patterns were everything.  He pumped the shotgun, and advanced to the door the trio had entered through.  He smiled as he shook the dust off his robes, pulled his cowl straight with his free hand.  It was only fitting he should be at his best - and all his weapons hidden, if they were expecting company.

 

He just hoped he was wrong, but part of him couldn't wait to meet Dex.

Edited October 20, 2021 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

Brynjarr stared at the note, memorizing it and recalling long unused lesson on ciphers and code.

 

After some thought, and suggestions from the others as they where no doubt doing the same he declared:

“Based on the local variations of low gothic we heard in the marke  and a bit of guesswork I am mostly confident that the note says:

 

Razor,

Some  busybody  in  the market  asking  questions about  Lang.

Find  them. Find  out  why  they're  here and  who  sent  them.

Come  to  the  broken  vent once  you’ve  seen  them  jump.

Dex

 

“Or at least word close enough to that. Anybody hear or seen a large or obvious Broken Vent? There are no doubt many mundane ones around given the conditions here, but for it to serve as a meeting point it has to have some unique attribute.”

Edited October 20, 2021 by Trokair