To Plunder The Stars Themselves, Episode III

[Black Cohort]

+How long will it take to get to get sunlight engines online? We likely out mass their entire fleet, is it time to ram?+

[Lysimachus]

Achard grimaces in frustrated anger and thumps a heavy fist against the arm of the Command Throne, but does not argue with Vesalius' logic. Holger looks uneasily from the Captain to the Astartes. He answers Decimus first.

"Uncertain. As with most things about this vessel, the reactor seems extremely advanced. It is building power reserves at a much higher rate than I would have thought possible. But I would estimate that it will still take several days to fire up any of the drive systems."

"My lords, I fear that using the Vorax may not be possible. We can activate or deactivate them… but I think changing their target protocols would require reprogramming the individual doctrina wafers that are inserted into each Automata? That task would require a Legio Cybernetica Datasmith. It is far beyond my ability. If we reactivate them, they will attack all of us."

He holds his hands out helplessly to Vesalius.

"Furthermore, the language is gone. Fully deleted, as promised, my lord. It was added to the cogitators by the Xhorians when the Pride was gifted to the Legion, and now it is removed."

"But otherwise it's a good plan, perhaps we can use the weapons in storage and set traps as you suggested? We only need to hold out long enou…?"

The little spy is interrupted by a tech-adept's yell.

"Picters are up, now in range at extreme magnification!"

This latest repair suddenly brings an image of the approaching flotilla to the wide bank of main viewer screens. As they close from the northwest, you at first see only their port sides. After the death of the Dagger Thrust, it is no surprise to see they bear the colours of a loyal Chapter of the Astartes.

Each ship is coloured bone, bright against the black of the void, and proudly displays a winged skull.

Then the vessels bank and come about to bring their heading directly eastwards towards you. Their starboard sides become visible, revealing a contrasting halved dark green. Perhaps some of you know these markings.

One of you almost certainly does.

***

Orphiel:

So similar and yet so different. Halved bone and green. The colours of the Angels of Redemption. A brother Chapter of the Dark Angels' Second Founding, they have a reputation as particularly fervent, intense hunters of the Fallen.

***

 

[Machine God]

 

Int 44 +0 (Common Lore: Iron Gods) = 44. Result: 05, Pass 3DoS

 

 

A hidden tale awoke in Draak's mind. A memory from when he was separated from Eisen and he had to make his Legend. A second-hand fragment of a tale of the Iron Gods legend passed on. A tale about Talek Varn.

The mind of an Astartes is a steel trap guarding its secrets, information is power.

The colours of the ships, something simple. Combat markers unfold in the mind before they get to the action of explosive doing.

The secret language known by the Surgeon.

The sword worn by the Swordsman.

+Descendants of the First Legion+ mused Draak. +Come to enact revenge upon The Tyrant outside his domain and his trap for Them. What do you think Orphiel?+

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God
Retain mystery

[Mazer Rackham]

Orphiel's silence lasted a little longer, allowing the stew of panic around him, the desperation of traitors and even Holger's calm frayed at the edges.  The sight of his cousins made everything somehow...satisfying.

Even so, he knew what was coming.  The halved livery of the deadliest hunters of traitors, even more so than the Kin of Caliban.

The Hunter class torpedo destroyers and the Strike Cruiser - a massive slab of adamantium, laminated in thick ceramite.  Bombardment cannons that would tear even the Pride apart in a few salvos.  Beyond that, he suspected that unless this zone fell under the patrol route of the Angels of Redemption, they were likely tipped off by the Inquisitor.  It made sense - the faster, heavily armoured vessels would serve as brutal hounds in the chase.

They would make a mockery of Vesalius' plan, striking from the shadows only worked when there were shadows.

As a chandler, Orphiel knew how that light would spill, reveal the fanged terror lurking in the corners, right before bolter fire tore them all to sticky gobbets. He couldn't recall the Pride having shields up. Not that it mattered. A boarding party of Ravenwing assaulters would fix that. He could have laughed then, but he did not.  Impotent silence filled the bridge, stealing hope from mortal and Astartes alike. A prize denied, and hope of escape a secondary endeavour. Orphiel sighed as his vox opened, carrying it into the quiet of the bridge as he responded to the Ironclad.

+In thirty-seven, point nought-nine seconds, we will be within Teleporter Strike range.+ He didn't add that was maximum range.  Keeping secrets was the name of the game, after all, as was leverage. He stared out into the black, he'd seen the hololith, and there was little more to regard. He continued speaking by rote, addressing the room.

+At that point, there will be a Terminator assault on this bridge. Once secured, this vessel will be taken in tow and scoured from top to bottom.+

+There will be no hiding from them, Vesalius. They will take their time, and enjoy the hunt.+ As you do, he didn't add.

Orphiel turned around fully, gracing each member of the team with a long glance, he smiled as he told the last. +I think, Mighty Draak, we are all going to die. Screaming.+

Edited July 9, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

+In thirty-seven point nought-nine seconds, we will be within Teleporter range.+ Orphiel answered over the vox and his eternal helmet speakers, addressing the room.

+At that point, there will be a Terminator assault on this bridge. Once secured, this vessel will be taken in tow and scoured from top to bottom.+

+There will be no hiding from them, Vesalius. They will take their time, and enjoy the hunt.+

Orphiel turned around fully, gracing each member of the team with a long glance. +I think, Mighty Draak, we are all going to die. Screaming.+

 

A frank and open exchange of information, Draak thought. He was glad that his Chapter had removed his second set of gene-seed before he had set out on his mission. 

The encounter with the Vorax had been fun, but...

 

Power Armour versus Tactical Dreadnought Armour? 

 

~No doubt we can take some with us, Eisen!~

 

+And They Shall Know No Fear!+ Draak laughed, +Only in Death does Duty End!+

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God
Clarity

[Necronaut]

At the shocking sight displayed by the long-range augurs and Orphiel's own portent of doom, Vesalius's mind raced, reaching its own grim calculus in seconds. He nodded in agreement with his colleague's dire assessment.

+Well what now, Orphiel? Shall we form up in single-file for processing and summary execution?+

He turned to look at the view-screen, taking in the halved bone and green livery rendered against void-black. The winged death's head. 1st Legion. 

+How many will they send? Terminators? Support squads? We still might raid the armory and arm ourselves with melta weapons…?+

He let the question hang in the air like the noose tightening around their throats.

Edited July 9, 2022 by Necronaut

[Mazer Rackham]

Orphiel let Draak's outburst and bold refusal fill the bridge. It was appropriate given the circumstances. Some of the assembled Space Marines seemed to heed it, perking up. He however, did not.

The Carrion-crow was more direct.

+How many will they send? Terminators? Support squads? We still might raid the armory and arm ourselves with melta weapons…?+

How to satisfy it without giving away hard-won knowledge? How long had these men been apart from their Chapters, not to know how an Astartes Hunter-Cadre worked? Then again, who alive but Kin knew the terrible, dark vengeance of the Dark Angels Legion? He had to steer away from what he knew, what he suspected - that the Inquisitor was the one who spilled enough breadcrumbs to have the Angelus Redemptoria come screaming out of the dark.

He would have that bastard, if only to keep the secret.

Orphiel shrugged again, auto-reactive plates adding a flat, slow clap to the gesture. +It will be Terminators, a Battle Company.+ And everything else on top. +Prepare as you will, Vesalius.+

How serendipitous that the Carrion-crow's forebear here believed so strongly in Justice. It had arrived. Orphiel sensed the threads of an idea, gently pulled at them. Holger and Achard had worked through the schematics of the vessel, and the adjacent room contained what he needed. Let the others prepare or shout defiance in case it didn't work. He turned to the Tyrant's Spy.

+Attend me.+

Paenitentiam agite! Cras enim morieris! - Repent! For tomorrow - you die!

It was time for confession.

[Lysimachus]

Holger looks at Orphiel for a moment. Suspicion vies with something else… could it be hope? …then he nods and moves towards the ante-chamber.

"Of course, my lord Orphiel."
 

[Mazer Rackham]

GM Only:

Spoiler

As man and Astartes stepped through to the Captain's private communication suite, Orphiel waited until the door closed before speaking. +Mr Holger.+ Orphiel's manner was cold, concise. +I will not mince words. We are both agents, and I doubt we fool each other.+

He allowed that to sink in.

+I know you hold no fear of me so I will not threaten you. However, unless you do precisely as I say, you will likely die quickly in the coming attack and will be unable to present this ship to Talek Varn.+

He pointed at the relay communicator set into a broad, oak-topped desk. +Open a tight-beam channel to the Astartes ship, and then leave the rest to me.+

Orphiel quickly doffed his helmet, placing it carefully onto the desk. There were maybe twenty-four seconds left before the boarding parties came.

He watched Varn's spy work, then took command of the console.

"Incipe."

++ PARATUS ++

IDENT: Angelus Absolutio Astartes Astra

CODEREF: BK-106//GATTACA 1-1-2(3)//Rh-IXb-63ALEPH-SIGMA.

MESSAGE BEGINS:

Callsign: EQUES UMBRA 106.

Mission: [CLASSIFIED ONGOING ACTION]

OPORD Init: Ad-Hoc unit Angelus Absolutio Errantor (Genome verification provided) Under Captain Admiel, 3^rd Company.

Origin ID: Inner Circle [Auth Append]

DISCRETIUM ABSOLUTIO MANDATAMUS.

Response Encode: Gamma-Kappa 015//Tight-band. [COMMAND RES ONLY]

 

He waited for the response, drumming fingers in a featherlight tattoo.  He'd risked genuine codes to avert disaster, and possibly gain some small advantage.

If weapon impacts or bolt rounds started flying in the next eighteen seconds, he'd know the answer.

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Orphiel and Holger:
 

The Strike Cruiser hangs silently for several moments, then the vox crackles in response. The voice is sonorous, stern, commanding. Oddly, the answer is short and simple, given in plain Low Gothic.

+++You will stand down and await our arrival.+++

 

 

Edited July 9, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

All:
Without making any contact with your newly working vox, the Strike Cruiser moves into position off the Pride's starboard flank, just outside of weapons battery range. The escorts spread out to cover you from every possible angle, but likewise stay out of harm's way. They must be able to detect the growing power signature coming from your reactor and are acting with appropriate caution.

"Do we have any weapons yet?" Achard growls, his tone a mixture of worry and impatient, hateful rage.

"They're coming, Captain, they're coming! A few more minutes!"

"It won't be soon enough."

The Angels' commander has obviously realised the same thing. The Strike Cruiser's forward torpedo tubes fire one after another, spitting out a pair of projectiles. This time, no one has any doubt that they are of the boarding variant. Behind them, your picters can see hangar doors being opened and a pair of landing craft being disgorged. Thunderhawk Gunships. Much slower than the torpedoes, but carrying even more Astartes warriors. Between these various transports, you can calculate that you could potentially soon be sharing the Pride with more than three quarters of a full Company of Astartes!

***

Edited July 9, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Necronaut]

Of course Vesalius knew the answer to his query before he asked it, but he posed the question regardless, holding out a forlorn hope he was somehow wrong. The stark reality of an Astartes boarding action generally differed little from chapter to chapter, regardless of their underlying battle philosophy. Shock and awe, capture and control, no quarter offered or given. No half measures. He grunted at Orphiel's response and moved away to stare at the long-range augur reports for a time before speaking again. 

+Well I for one do not intend to go out lying down. I intend to make them pay dearly for every inch they take if we are to suffer for the Tyrant's vainglory.+

 

[Machine God]

+Killteam Cutlass - Weapons and Munitions check, sound off!+ ordered Draak.

[Necronaut]

He muttered an archaic call-to-arms in the ancient battle-cant to himself, "Viris colratha dath sethicara tesh dasovallian. Solruthis veh za jass!"

Sons of our father, stand in midnight clad. We bring the night!

He could only wonder at the layered meaning of the words. A mystery for another time. Time to die.

 

+Should I survive this debacle, I will ensure each of your gene-seeds are recovered so that your legacy of infamy might live on. I stand ready with bolter and chainsword.+

 

Hey, he said the name of the website!

 

[Lysimachus]

It seems certain all is lost. The torpedoes are about to strike home against the starboard flank. The Thunderhawks are still some distance behind, but it will only be a matter of minutes before they arrive.

Then out to the east, not far beyond the Pride's port side, a single contact suddenly appears on the hololith.

Another.

Another.

The augurs gradually append classifications to the newly arriving contacts. A Gladius Frigate. Two Firestorms and a Viper Destroyer. A Strike Cruiser. At Achard's order, several of the bridge viewers change to display the feeds from the picters along the port flank. These ships are not painted in the colours of any loyalist force, but rather in the same mismatched grey and red as your own warplate.

The Iron Gods are here!

Having been told by the Dagger's Astropath that the Pride was located on the furthest eastern edge of the system has enabled them to drop out of the warp in exactly the right place, beyond the Mandeville Point but still almost on top of the ships already present!

They translate in battle formation and race forward at breakneck speed. In what feels like a matter of seconds, they sweep over, under or around the Pride to engage the wide-spread enemy fleet!

It is a moment that none of you will quickly forget.

***

[Machine God]

"Iron Gods!" roared Draak to raise the morale of Captain Achard and the mortal crew. Draak grasping Grond swept it out as he motioned to everyone on the Bridge. As if at the flick of a switch his voice calmed as he spoke further.

"We are saved. Captain Achard, Mister Holger the words spoken just now by Orphiel weren't a lie this time. If there is any way to shield this bridge it would help to deter a Teleport Assault. Six vessels versus Five, it will be a shooting and torpedo battle. Those Hunter's are mean vessels. If you will excuse me I have tactics to discuss with Killteam Cutlass."

+So fellow Killers, we have a reprieve. We still have two boarding torpedoes inbound for the starboard flank, followed by two thunderhawk's but we don't know where they are headed exactly+ stated Draak, +Svelk and Brynjarr you are both Voiders, where would you land the birds?+

+Orphiel, perchance are your Kin fervent enough to ram the Bridge with thunderhawk's?+

+Odysseus can your powers transport us within the ship so that we can intercept the first boarders?+

+Impress me with your answers, we have much to plan!+

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God
typo

[Mazer Rackham]

24 minutes ago, Machine God said:

"We are saved. Captain Achard, Mister Holger the words spoken just now by Orphiel weren't a lie this time..."

++++

+Orphiel, perchance are your Kin fervent enough to ram the Bridge with thunderhawk's?+

Pressing on his helm before re-entering the bridge, Orphiel joined the excited Astartes, rapidly assessing the vast shift in situation.

Draak was hustling the Team for answers, and Orphiel managed to catch the Ironclad midway through a less than endearing proclamation. Fighting the urge to rub an armoured gauntlet down his casque, he was just grateful the visage of the chisel-nosed helm hid the resulting grimace.

Orphiel merely closed his eyes and sighed into his osmotic gill, until Draak addressed him directly.

+No,+ he replied flatly, opening his eyes again. The Redemptoria would have to be desperate to smash in the bridge with a Thunderhawk assault - it would be a hollow victory to slay the command cadre and destroy the means of controlling the ship.

He looked across at Holger, slowly turning his head to meet the man's carefully too-blank expression.

[Trokair]

Brynjarr brought up an external schematic of the Pride and marked several locations for all to see.

• Their original entrance point, for it would be obvious to the newcomers that there had been activity there.
• Two locations aft near secondary cooling exhausts for the engines, as there likely would be access doors for repair and inspection purpose nearby, and an attack might also find way to the engineering complex from there.
• Several sounding weapons emplacements, as the turrets, if inactive, could represent a way in, by necessity they were likely to be less armoured and thus an opening in the otherwise reinforced hull.  
• Lastly he marked the base of the bridge tower and the primary sensor complex, valuable targets both.

“They may well land elsewhere, but any of these points I would consider if I were to try and board the vessel. Svelk, anywhere else come to mind?”

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by Trokair

[Lysimachus]

Monstrous kilometre-long vessels begin the vast, deadly, complex dance of void combat; moving, turning and rolling in an attempt to bring their weapons batteries and lances to bear on the point where they think the enemy will be seconds or even minutes later. The Imperial Shipmasters have been caught flat footed, out of formation, but they are Astartes-trained and rally quickly. The battle is joined in deadly earnest and the first volleys of bright plasma fire burn their way across the darkness of space.

In the silence on the bridge, one of the tech-adepts calls out.

"Captain, we established a temporary connection to transfer power to the point defence systems on the starboard side, but the conduit we used burned out. They might have enough for a few shots?"

It is too late to do anything about the torpedoes. They have already struck home into the Pride's starboard flank. But the Thunderhawks are still approaching, just beginning evasive manoeuvres to avoid stray explosions from the war that has materialised from nowhere above their heads. They are suddenly exposed, no longer protected by the mighty guns of their parent vessel.

Achard smiles coldly, vengeance in his heart.

"A few shots should be sufficient. Annihilate those landing craft."

Huge las turrets, like the multilasers you may have seen mounted on Imperial Guard Chimera transports but easily three times the size, target the two Thunderhawks. A hail of light beams, each one with the penetrative power of several lascannons, slash through the void towards the gunships.

The first is struck. A dozen las blasts punch through massively thick plate armour as if it were paper, setting off a blinding explosion that tears the fuselage apart. The pilot of the other lander manages to duck the fire from the first turret… but not the second. The Thunderhawk's port engine and wing are ripped away, sending the racing transport into a violent spin that ends in a massive impact against the Pride's metres-thick hull. Two mighty craft torn apart, their occupants almost certainly destroyed along with them. Potentially more than a Demi-Company of Astartes wiped out in a matter of a few seconds, assuming the transports were at full capacity. If so, it is a staggering loss that few Chapters could believe possible. The defence turrets sag, their power cells drained once more… but the damage has been done.

Out beyond the expanding ball of burning gas and wreckage that was the first 'hawk, the Angels of Redemption fleet continues its duel with the Iron Gods, the still unnamed Strike Cruiser now exchanging fire with the Avarice.

The Pride's vox crackles with an incoming message. It is the gruff voice of Talek Varn's Master Sergeant.

+++Hail and well met, brothers! It's a mighty prize you've discovered and no mistake! We'll be with you as soon as we've dealt with these stubborn sods. You've maybe seen they just put some men aboard your starboard side. That'll be their vanguard, the hardest bastards they've got. They outnumber you as well, but you'll have to handle them for a bit. Keep them out of the important sections… you know, anything that might go boom!+++

His raucous laugh is full of battle joy, adrenaline and endorphins clearly pumping through his genehanced body.

+++Lord Varn is getting some of the lads aboard his Thunderhawk. As soon as we can make ourselves a chance to swing back past, he'll be on his way to relieve you. Until then, hold them off! Ghoran out.+++

***

[A.T.]

Odysseus watched the movement of the voidships in silence. A battlebarge was far beyond any reasonable response for their actions so far, so large a force of astartes would not be commited for simple piracy or rumours of lost vessels, indeed such a force would be rare in defense of a world. Questions upon questions with few answers.

Turning to Draak, "I must have sight of the target, but I suggest we use this vessels size to our advantage. Seal the bulkheads, draw them into battle with the automations in isolated areas and engage those that stray too close to vital locations."

The next actions of the inquisitor and his allies would be telling. More targets, which would they choose...

[Necronaut]

+Holger, report,+ Vesalius snapped. +Where have the boarding parties landed?+

 

+I concur with Odysseus. Let us see if we can encourage the ship's hunter-killers to entertain our new guests for a while. We should be able to track their movements and stage a suitable ambush with ease. Guide them along the path closer to our choosing using the bulkheads.+

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by Necronaut

[Beren]

On 7/10/2022 at 12:49 AM, Trokair said:

Brynjarr brought up an external schematic of the Pride and marked several locations for all to see.

• Their original entrance point, for it would be obvious to the newcomers that there had been activity there.
• Two locations aft near secondary cooling exhausts for the engines, as there likely would be access doors for repair and inspection purpose nearby, and an attack might also find way to the engineering complex from there.
• Several sounding weapons emplacements, as the turrets, if inactive, could represent a way in, by necessity they were likely to be less armoured and thus an opening in the otherwise reinforced hull.  
• Lastly he marked the base of the bridge tower and the primary sensor complex, valuable targets both.

“They may well land elsewhere, but any of these points I would consider if I were to try and board the vessel. Svelk, anywhere else come to mind?”

 

+++You've marked the obvious ones. There are others, but only those which might accessed is the objective was stealth rather than speed, and I doubt our visitors have any interest in taking their time.+++

 

Svelk drops from the ceiling, and rights himself, weapons drawn, glimmering in the light. Underneath his armour, his twin-hearts thump resoundingly, their surge flooding his ears. Eagerness floods through him, eagerness to hunt, yet marred by a sliver of doubt.

 

He has not faced other astartes in battle before.

[Lysimachus]

Achard uses the newly activated hololith to plot a three dimensional map of the Pride. Two glaring red dots amidst the green light show where the loyalists' transports have penetrated, midway along the starboard side. Who knows what forces the Angels have been able to put aboard?

One of the officers makes a report.

"Sir, we've already lost contact with several units that were near their point of ingress? It looks like they are moving aft, and quickly."

Achard nods.

"Follow the Astartes' orders. Lower all the emergency bulkheads in that part of the ship. Astartes, it is a good idea, but I doubt it will hold them for long… would you be stopped by a bulkhead?"

"We need to keep them out of the bridge and Engineerium. If I may suggest, one of the portals through the main structural bulkheads that divide the ship… perhaps this one here…" he highlights a location on the map perhaps three kilometres aft of the red dots "...might make a good defensive position for you to create a bottleneck before they can reach any key locations?"

Holger has moved to the bridge portal. Outside, almost a score of Vorax sit on the deck around the threshold. Each one of the massive Automata is totally dormant, long limbs folded up beneath its heavy carapace, a solid mass of metal and ceramite that now weighs at least three times that of a fully armoured Astartes. The Remembrancer looks dubiously from one of the once-deadly hulks over to the still unpowered and empty elevator shaft.

"How are we going to shift these things anywhere?" he mutters. "Do we have time? Maybe we'd be better off leaving them here as a final line of defence for the bridge, just in case you don't…"

He trails off, offering a weak grin in your direction.

***

[Machine God]

Holger had moved to the bridge portal. Outside, almost a score of Vorax sit on the deck around the threshold. Each one of the massive Automata is totally dormant, long limbs folded up beneath its heavy carapace, a solid heavy mass of metal and ceramite. The Remembrancer looks dubiously from one of the once-deadly hulks over to the still unpowered and empty elevator shaft.

"How are we going to shift these things anywhere?" he mutters. "Do we have time? Maybe we'd be better off leaving them here as a final line of defence for the bridge, just in case you don't…" Holger said, offering a weak grin in your direction.

 

Int 44 +10 (Tech Use +10) = 54. Result: 01, Pass 5DoS

"Holger if we don't survive and you turn the Vorax back on, they will still target you as Enemies. Look at the scratched blast door, you will die within minutes" said Draak.

"Consider?"

"One."

"Holger do we have fine control of the grav-plates yet? If we turn off the gravity these Vorax won't weigh anything. We could drag them into the lift-shaft and then move back out to the floor."

"If we have control of the grav-plates, we calculate that the shaft down to where we entered is X yards and these Vorax weigh about Three times an Astartes, we could work out how long at 1G it would take them to get there. Turn on Gravity they fall, turn it off again they stop. We could move them."

"Possibly it might take too long."

"Two."

"Are there other Vorax on the ship? If there are, then we fully Kill these ones and re-activate the others in other parts of the ship locked down behind Bulkheads. Sure we might meet them along the way on our journey to eliminate the other Astartes. War is risks, we have just added Vostroyan Roulette to the mix."

[Machine God]

"No this thinking will take too long" stated Draak, "We need action at our own initiative."

Draak moved over to the Hololith and pointed at Achards suggestion of a choke point. "Thanks Captain, the bulkhead doors have been dropped meaning the foe have to employ cutters, shears or chainfists and that will slow them down. We will utilise this chokepoint but it will be the fifth stand. You will have leave some of the bulkhead doors partially down, ajar as it were. Here, here, here and here." Draak pointed out four other locations in circular pattern.

"We will fight them and then drop back, Svelk can lay surprises to slow them down. We fight and then fade."

 

 

 

Int 44 +0 (Common Lore: Iron Gods) = 44. Result: 03, Pass 4DoS

 

 

"We could also message them over the ship vox when we are funnelling them and they are reluctant to follow, that we have information. What was Zacharius? What was the word Orphiel?"

"Anyway do this Achard, we must be off!

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God