To Plunder The Stars Themselves, Episode III

[Necronaut]

He watched as Orphiel stood in front of the advancing column of first company veterans, all bearers of the Crux Terminatus and its accompanying armaments, and supporting fire-teams. Cutlass was severely out-matched. The terminators came to a grinding halt as Orphiel placed his helm on the floor and started saying… something to them. It was difficult to make out even as close as he was. He caught snippets of High Gothic, but only fragments here or there, not enough to make any coherent or recognizable phrases in his mind.

Some sort of ritual greeting…?

The response by the obsidian skull-faced giant however was quite shocking; Vesalius watched on with eyes as dark as the chaplain’s armor as the strike-force’s leader calmly, almost casually, executed the wizened old human traveling with them. He wasn’t entirely sure, but if he had to guess it was likely the inquisitor who had been hounding them recently. Now this was certainly an interesting turn of events. The chaplain gestured with his crozius at the rest of the marines under his command and the advancing tide of ceramite resumed its inexorable march, parting around the sable-mantled terminator and Orphiel. Vesalius scowled down the nose of his pointed helm and toggled the ammunition selector on his boltgun for the armor penetrating rounds. It would be a simple matter to drill a burst of adamantium-tipped bolts into Orphiel’s unguarded back and skull at this range while he parlayed with the chaplain, but he did not raise the boltgun to his cheek. The moment had passed; perhaps the moment had never presented itself. In either event, his doom stalked towards him.

Damnation.

But what game was Orphiel playing at? It didn’t matter now – any attempt to be made on the lives of anyone present would be foolhardy at best. He didn’t doubt that he could lead the lot of them on a merry chase throughout the ship, but to what end? Sixteen against one, or sixteen against six were still grim odds, particularly in the cramped confines of a ship, even one as large as this.

 

Although… if he could divert part of their forces away for a time, the rest of the Cutlass might actually stand a chance. A slim chance, but a chance nonetheless. He detested fighting from a defensive position anyway. It was not altruism that guided his hand next, but cold pragmatism. There were none within the sector, to his knowledge, who could match his ability to sow confusion and disappear without a trace. His gimlet eyes narrowed to slits and his scarred lips turned into an ever-deepening scowl.

There was nothing for it.

Nested in his hiding place, he brought his boltgun to its firing position against his pauldron and chambered an armor penetrating round.

 

No remorse, no fear, no mercy. We strike from the shadows!

 

 

Initiative:

Initiative: 1d10 9

9 (d10) + Ag6 = 15

 

Vesalius is still in solo-mode. Declaring Overwatch (semi-auto burst) to cover the entrance to the room; holding fire until the invading Tactical Squad crosses the threshhold (let’s avoid attracting the ire of the terminators for now ;) ). Declaring Overwatch should take his full surprise round action?

Edited July 13, 2022 by Necronaut

[Machine God]

+Killteam Cutlass vox may be compromised, switch to agreed channel+ said Draak.

You're on your own Swordsman. If you're dead Cutlass comes first.

Draak voxxed Svelk.

+++Soon it will be time for action. Wait for our Heavy Bolters to sing before you gut them Svelk, it would be inefficient to clip your wings+++

+Decimus and I will be at the sides targeting Bulkhead Three. Brynjarr bolter fire on targets that you wish from behind your Breacher's Shield. Odysseus behind us to protect us with his Psychic Shield+ said Draak.

+We are the Iron Gods, different but forged through trials of fire. You are all as Strong as Me, We are the strength of the entirety of Cutlass. We shall stand against anything thrown at us and we will prevail. Like a mighty bastion we shall withstand the hail of shot like the stout cliff weathers the stormy tide. We are Iron!+

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God
typo's

[Black Cohort]

initiative = 8 + 3

Decimus tapped out a response in a series of long and short static bursts on the private channel, in one of humanity's oldest codes  “ . _ pause _._. Pause _._ long pause _ _. Pause _ _ _ pause _ _ _ pause _.. Long pause …. Pause .._ pause _. Pause _”

he moved forward a few paces and readied a volley when the foe revealed themselves.

 

[Black Cohort]

 His body preparing for the worst combat he had seen in years.  His mind flashing through past events in a flash.

It was day 10 and the tide had finally slowed but not stopped, perhaps all the orks were finally planetside.  Not that it had helped many of his brothers, for all the glory of a few days ago, the chapter now resembled the most ragged band of outcast renegade astartes that Decimus had ever fought or heard of.  Armour half repaired, vehicles that had served the chapter for centuries had been cannibalized for parts.  One entire company gone, others mere shadows of what they had started this campaign with.  Relics, both weapons and armour lost forever beneath a tide of ork flesh.

Veterans of unnumbered campaigns had been pulled down by weight of numbers, and novices had accomplished feats that would normally make them the centre of a new entry in the chapter’s roll of heroes only to be cut down moments later in the next wave of greenskins.  

They had retreated to within the hive, having bought time for the mortals to prepare the defenses.  For the moment at least, the chapter had split down into squads, of which there were far fewer at full strength than before, scattered across the hive to stiffen mortal resolve.  The remains of the 8th company and a few vanguard squads ready to plug any major breakthroughs.  His squad was in a bastion with most of a fire support company of guard, breaking up attacks before they reached the walls.  Ammunition was beginning the run low, and not enough aerial assets remained to spare any for supply runs.  The paint on his armour had dulled from lack of repair and the chainsword he had strapped to his leg had been claimed from the corpse of one of his brothers.  His previous blade had cracked on the spine of a nob he had practically cut in two.

The vox either was jammed or filled with constant traffic as squad leaders reported the constant slow retreat.  It seemed not an hour went by without news of another brother fallen to some horror or another.  

Rumours had begun to spread that a few of the surviving scouts had been dropped past the front battle lines and were investigating something.  Whatever it was had to be bad if the officers were willing to risk the scouts.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He wasn’t sure what day it was, all but the most essential functions of his power armour had been shut down days ago.  His Catalepsean Node kept him barely functioning, he didn’t know how any mortal was still on their feet.  Sergeants had started ordering brothers to get real sleep; and Vesnius hadn’t woken, there wasn’t the equipment to determine if he had simply slipped into a sus-an sleep or had simply died.

Another wave of orks was coming, and the barricade he was defending would have had his 10th company sergeant in fits.  His heavy bolter only had a few bursts left, so his pistol would have to do for this rabble.  A inch thick rebar with at least 10 pounds of ferrocrete on the bloody, business end of his current melee weapon, it would claim a few more lives before he had to find another weapon.

A mortal warrior, a factory foreman when Decimus had first come across him, now a veteran of a score of the most bloody engagements Decimus had ever seen was rousing the dozen humans manning this position.

His pistol had just begun to spit death when a voice he had not heard in what seemed like a lifetime overwhelmed the jamming.

+All brothers assemble at rally point Omega, Apocalypse level target identified, data packets inbound.  May the Emperor guide our hands.+

What the hell is a Gargant?

[Lysimachus]

Surprise Round Summary:

Vesalius: Full: Set Overwatch (SAB). Vesalius begins Round 1 Concealed (can choose map location after the enemy enters).
Draak: Free: Contribute 1FP to add 1CP, now on 7. Full: Activate Strongpoint Squad Mode at a cost of 3CP, 4 Remaining. Nominate Odysseus as Centre (I'll assume Odysseus rejoins Squad Mode at this point?)
Decimus: Full: Set Overwatch (FAB)
Svelk: Set Demo Charge. Magbooted to ceiling above Bulkhead Door to right.
Brynjarr: Full: Set Overwatch (SAB)
Odysseus: Full: Activate Force Dome

Beren doesn't seem to be around right now. So we can get the fight started, I have taken the liberty of rolling Initiative for him and placing him on the map. Would someone like to pick a grid square on the map to place Svelk's Demo Charge - maybe @Mazer Rackham, as you aren't involved in the Structured side of things at the moment? If you pick a square, post it in a Spoiler so I can't see, to be revealed if/when an enemy passes over it?

Then I can move us into Round 1!

 

 

Edit: Apologies, I can't seem to get it to just show the pic... nope... stupid thing!

Edit edit: HA ha!! Got it! Though I don't know how Vesalius got a B on the Key, will fix by the Round 1 pic!

Edited July 15, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

BOMB!

Spoiler

I choose the red and white hazard tile in the bottom right sector of the map.

7 Squares from the right, and 7 squares up.  Lucky number 7...

KABOOM!

ACHTUNG KIMOSABE!

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Round 1:

The Angels of Redemption units pour through the portal. First come the two halves of the Tactical Squad, hugging the meagre cover of the bulkheads on either side of the wide corridor. Then between them the veterans of the 1st Company stride forth, bulling proudly down the centre, more slowly but without any fear of whatever pitiful resistance you might offer them.

As they spy you waiting, they begin to raise their weapons… but the first strike will be yours!

 

Kill-Team Cohesion: 4

Initiative Order:
[ ] Vesalius | (SOLO) | Ag6+9=15 | WOUNDS 20/20 | FATE 1/4
[ ] Draak | (SQUAD) | Ag4+10=14 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 1/2
[ ] Tactical A | (SQUAD) | Ag4+7=11 | WOUNDS suffered: Sgt 1: 00, Bro 2: 00, Bro 3: 00, Bro 4: 00, Bro 5: 00
[ ] Decimus | (SQUAD) | Ag3+8=11 | WOUNDS 19/23 | FATE 3/3
[ ] Svelk | (SQUAD) | Ag4+6=10 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 2/3
[ ] Brynjarr | (SQUAD) | AG4+5=9 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 2/4
[ ] Odysseus | (SQUAD) | Ag5+3=8 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 2/4
[ ] Terminator A | (SQUAD) | Ag2+6=8 | WOUNDS suffered:
Sgt 1: 00, Vet 2: 00, Vet 3: 00, Vet 4: 00, Vet 5: 00
[ ] Tactical B | (SQUAD) | Ag4+2=6 | WOUNDS suffered:
Bro 6: 00, Bro 7: 00, Bro 8: 00, Bro 9: 00, Bro 0: 00

Ambush:
Those who used their Surprise Round Actions to set Overwatch - Vesalius, Decimus, Brynjarr - may make these Attacks first (feel free to go in whatever order you like!)

Svelk (Mazer!): If any of the Enemy Characters have passed over the grid square of where you placed the Demo Charge (draw a straight line between their current location and the centre point of the right-hand doorway), please reveal its location. The first one to pass through it will be hit, along with any others in Range at that moment.

Then we will move into normal Initiative order for Round 1.

Enemies:
Tactical Squad Equipment:
Power Armour, Bolter with Kraken Penetrator Ammo, Bolt Pistol, Combat Knife, 3 Frag and Krak Grenades.
Bone 1: Sgt replaces Bolter with Power Sword and Bolt Pistol with Plasma Pistol.
Bone 3: Gunner replaces Bolter with Plasma Gun.
Green 9: Gunner replaces Bolter with Multi-melta.

Terminator Squad Equipment:
Indomitus TDA, Stormbolter with Kraken Penetrator Ammo, Power Fist.
Red 1: Vt Sgt, replaces Power Fist with Power Sword.
Red 2: Gunner replaces Stormbolter with Heavy Flamer.
Red 3: Replaces Power Fist with Chain Fist.

Each Combat Squad is in Squad Mode and will act at the same Initiative step.
 

Edited July 15, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

Tactical Marine Number 7.

KABOOM!

GM ONLY:

Spoiler

Well played, GM, well played. 

 

[Necronaut]

Vesalius waited, lurking in the shadows like a primeval hunter of old Terra. The terminators thundered into the chamber, weapons drawn and tracking the movements of Cutlass, and the bone-and-green tactical squad followed behind them in a loose formation. A tense moment occurred when the renegades and the Emperor's Finest came face-to-face, a deep breath before the chaos and tumult of battle. 

As the plasma gunner passed directly in front of Vesalius's position, he took the initiative to shatter that pregnant silence by drilling a fusillade of adamantine-tipped, mass-reactive micro-warheads directly into the unsuspecting battle-brother's cuirass at near point-blank range. 

 

 

Overwatch (SAB) vs Plasma Gunner #3

BS45 + 10 (short range) + 10 (SAB) - 20 (Overwatch) = 55 45

Overwatch (Semi-Auto Burst): 1d100 33

33: success with 2 1 DoS (0 bonus hit)

Hit location: Body

 

Kraken magazine: 18/24 rounds remaining

 

Boltgun w/ Kraken Rounds: 1d10+9X, Pen8, tearing

Hit 1:

Bolter Damage: 2#1d10 4 6

4 6 (d10) + 9 = 15 damage, Pen 8

Hit 2:

Bolter Damage: 2#1d10 2 2

2 2 (d10) + 9 = 11 damage, Pen 8

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by Necronaut

[Lysimachus]

Round 1 Summary:

Pre-Initiative Order Attacks.

Demo Charge hits Green 7 (and I think Green 6 would have been moving close enough to be caught in the 3m blast)
Dam: 3d10+2
Green 7: 7+2+9+2 = 20 - TB8 - AV8 = 4 Wounds suffered.
Green 6: 3+10!+5+2+4(RF) = 24 - TB8 - AV8 = 8 Wounds suffered.

Overwatch Actions:
Vesalius SAB at Bone 3, 1 Hit.
(I'm not allowing the Angel a Dodge here, as Vesalius was hidden, although obviously firing his bolter will now have revealed his location)
Dam: 15 - TB8 - AV2(10-Pen8) = 5 Wounds suffered.

Brynjarr SAB at Bone 3. (Post below)
Dodge Ag40, Roll: 32, Success! 1 Hit Dodged.
2 Hits:
1: Dam 19 - TB8 - AV6(10-Pen4) = 5 Wounds suffered.
2: Dam 16 - TB8 - AV6(10-Pen4) = 2 Wounds suffered.
Now at 12 Wounds suffered total.

Decimus: FAB at Bone 3. 1 Hit.

Dam 22 - TB8 - AV3(8-Pen5) = 11 Wounds suffered. Now at 23 Wounds suffered total.

Then we're back to the regular Initiative order.

[ ] Vesalius
[ ] Draak

Edited July 17, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Trokair]

As the Terminators and Tacticals advanced into view an explosion caught several of them, the ambush had started. Moments later a marine on the other side of the formation staggered out of formation for a moment. Spying his weapon Brynjarr let loose, a plasma gun was a dangerous weapon to be left alone.

Spoiler

SAB at Bone 3
BS: 48 + 10 (Short Range) + 10 (SAB) – 20 (Overwatch) =48
D100: 05, Hit, 4DoS (2 extra hits)
Location: 50  Body
Damage 1D10 (Tearing) + 9 +2 (Might Shot) at Pen 4
Hit 1: (8,4) 8 + 9 +2 = 19 at Pen 4
Hit 2: (3,5) 5 + 9 +2 = 16 at Pen 4
Hit 3: (4,4) 4 + 9 +2 = 15 at Pen 4

 

[Black Cohort]

caught off guard by their speed only a single round slams into the marine carrying the piasma weapon

BS 53 + 20 FA ‒20 overwatch + 10 half range =63   roll= 59   damage = 1d10+14 =8+14 = 22 damage   5 pen

 

[Necronaut]

Emerging from his hiding place amongst stacked crates and other detritus from a long-forgotten era, Vesalius continued firing upon the plasma gunner as he started to back-pedal away from the tactical squad, hell-bent on eliminating the weapons specialist before the others turned their attention upon him. It was do-or-die. 

 

 

Full Action: Semi-Auto Burst vs Bone #3

BS45 + 10 (SAB) + 10 (Short Range) = 65

Semi-auto Burst: 1d100 2

02: success with 6 DoS (3 hits total)

Hit location(s): Right arm, right arm, body

 

 15/24 rounds remaining in Kraken magazine

 

Boltgun w/ Kraken Rounds: 1d10+9X, Pen8, tearing

Hit 1: Bolter Damage: 2#1d10 5 6

5 6 (d10) + 9 = 15 damage, Pen 8

Hit 2: Bolter Damage: 2#1d10 9 1

9 1 (d10) + 9 = 18 damage, Pen 8

Hit 3: Bolter Damage: 2#1d10 2 5

2 5 (d10) + 9 = 14 damage, Pen 8

 

Vesalius moves 6m (Ag bonus, unsure if hulking modifies this further) around the corner to be out of direct line-of-sight with the other hostiles (armor history: Bring Death from Afar).

Let's consult those critical damage tables, baby! Gimme the gore!

 

Edited July 17, 2022 by Necronaut

[Machine God]

Draak being a Devastator knew his weapons.

Always take down the biggest threat or attempt to, thought Draak. He knew about their protection.

~Grendel strike true through the field!~ Draak said as he aimed and fired.

 

 

 

 

Full Action: SAB Vs Red 2 - Terminator with Heavy Flamer

S 52 +20 (FAB) +10 (Motion Detector) +10 (Short Range) = 92. Result: 00, Fail - Jam.  Force Point Re-Roll. Result: 21, Pass 8DoS

1D10 +12 +2 (Mighty Shot), Pen 5, Tearing.

Hit #1 - Right Arm: (3, 10 +8 RF) 18 + 14 = 32 - 10 AV (15 -5) - 8 (TGH Bonus) = 14 Damage.

Hit #2 - Body: (9, 6) 9 + 14 = 23 - 18 (10 AV + TGH) = 5 Damage.

Hit #3 - Head: (7, 3) 7 + 14 = 21 - 18 (10 AV + TGH) = 3 Damage.

Hit #4 - Body (4, 10 +3 RF) 13 + 14 = 27 - 18 (10 AV + TGH) = 9 Damage.

Hit #5 - Left Arm: (7, 5) 7 + 14 = 21 - 18 (10 AV + TGH) = 3 Damage.

Hit #6 - Right Arm: (3, 4) 4 + 14 = 18 - 18 (10 AV + TGH) = 0 Damage.

Draak unleashed Grendel against the Heavy Flamer Terminator and hoped to get through his power field.

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God

[Lysimachus]

Round 1 Summary:

[x] Vesalius: SAB at Bone 3. Plasma Gunner is toast!

[x] Draak: FAB at Red 2
6 Hits.
Forcefield Rolls: 27, 84, 16, 57, 45, 32
Hits 1-3 go through.
-AV9(14-Pen5) -TB10
1: 32 - 19 = 13 Wounds suffered.
2: 23 - 19 = 4 Wounds suffered.
3: 18 - 19 = 0 Wounds suffered.
17 Wounds suffered in total.

 

The Tactical Squad specialist is hammered by accurate bolter fire, first from one direction, then another, then the first again! His power armour is simply unable to cope with the torrent and he drops to the floor. First blood goes to you.

Then Grendel barks out its own hail of shells, aimed squarely at the closest of the mighty Terminators. Almost any other target would be torn apart instantly, but the monstrous warsuit turns its shoulder into the flood and weathers the attack.

The Angels, stern and determined to pay you back for these losses, continue their unrelenting advance.

 

[x] Tactical A:
Free Action: Bone 5 calls for Bolter Assault at a cost of 3CP, 3 Remaining.
Bone 5 moves to west corner of first doorway (to maintain Support Range between whole Combat Squad).
Bone 1 and 2 move west 15m.
Bone 4 moves west to within 3m of Vesalius.
Bone 2 throws Krak Grenade at Draak.
BS45, Roll: 41, Hit!
Dodge?
Bone 1 throws Krak Grenade at Brynjarr.
BS50, Roll: 28, Hit!
Dodge?
Bone 4 fires Bolter at Vesalius.
BS45 +30(Point Blank) = 75, Roll: 52, Hit!
Dodge?
Bone 5 fires Bolter at Decimus.
BS45, Roll: 93, Miss!

Just going to pause there for Dodge rolls…
 

Edited July 17, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Machine God]

Draak intent on following his fall of shot, is targeted by one of the Angels of Redemption.

A Krak Grenade hits his right pauldron and explodes.

Draak and Eisen weather the blow.

 

AGL 44 = 44. Result: 88, Failure 4DoF

Krak Grenade: 3D10 +6, Pen 6 Vs 5 AV (11 AV - 6 Pen) + TGH 8

[Lysimachus]

Round 1 Summary Cont.

Damage Rolls:

Krak Grenade at Draak:
3d10+4 Pen6
7+4+10+4 = 25 - AV19(11+14-Pen6) -TB8 = 0 Wounds suffered.
Bolter at Vesalius:
1d10+9 Tearing Pen8
(2,4) +9 = 13 - TB8 - AV0(7-Pen8) = 5 Wounds suffered.
Krak Grenade at Brynjarr:
3d10+4 Pen6
6+7+1+4 = 18 - AV17(9+14-Pen6) -TB10 = 0 Wounds suffered.

I assumed Brynjarr will probably use his Dodge, but I figured it might save time to just roll the Damage as well and see what happened? No harm done, but I would assume Dodge was used?

Tac A Regular Actions:
Bone 1:
Run (up to 30m) to be Engaged with Draak.

Bone 2:
Free Action: Switch to Bolt Pistol and Combat Knife
Run (up to 30m) to be Engaged with Draak.

Bone 4:
SAB at Vesalius (good guess!)
BS45 +10(SAB) +30(Point Blank) = 85, Roll: 57, Hit with 2DoS. 2 Hits.
Dodge?

Bone 5: Move north 5m to within 3m of Vesalius.
Bolter shot at Vesalius.
BS45 +30(Point Blank) = 75, Roll: 94, Miss!

Map at this point:

[ ] Decimus
[ ] Svelk
[ ] Brynjarr
[ ] Odysseus

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

Orphiel:

Even as you hear the first sounds of battle erupt behind you, Narakiel steps closer and answers softly.

"You misunderstand our purpose here."

The zealot's lip curls contemptuously.

"I am fully aware of everything you have said. I know about your beloved Master Admiel and what he discovered, and his 'choices' and his 'reasons' and his 'pragmatic approach'. Our paths crossed several months ago, when the Hidden Brotherhood of your Chapter sought the counsel of the Inner Circle at the Rock. I was also present, after my Company fought beside the Dark Angels 5th in the Phrandine Campaign. As a member of the First Legion's Reclusiam, Admiel confided in me about the… arrangement … he had made with Talek Varn."

The sneer quickly becomes a scowl.

"I immediately demanded that a Judiciary Conclave of the Unforgiven be convened. This call was attended by no less than eight Grand Masters, including myself, Ezekiel and Sammael of the Dark Angels Inner Circle and your own Master-Castellan Moddren of the Angels of Absolution Hidden Brotherhood. Their decision was clear. Your Captain was censured for his 'choices' in the Solios Nebula."

"We do not make compacts with traitors. We do not require or want their help to accomplish what must be accomplished. It is our burden and no one else's. Admiel was wrong to listen, wrong to accept the Iron Gods' foul bargain and wrong to leave you in that vile place… just as you were wrong to stay."

The High Interrogator is spitting the words out in disgust, his voice cold steel, growing harder and harder.

"The Unforgiven will wipe out Varn and his filthy nest at the appropriate time. But until that day comes, he and all his followers are as nothing to us."

He grimaces, his voice dropping back to a calm, almost sorrowful tone, but one no less certain of its own righteousness.

"Admiel tried to argue his innocence, but when he saw that our judgement would not be swayed, he requested the trial-by-combat of the Lion's Challenge. Even as you just did. But it is already settled, Orphiel. The Challenge in this matter is fought and won. I bested Admiel myself. I proved his guilt… and by doing so, I proved yours as well."

***

 

[Machine God]

Draak aided by the Kine Shield, now finds himself locked in melee. 

He reaches back with his left hand and grasps Grond. 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Machine God
typo

[Mazer Rackham]

Orphiel let out a long, slow sigh before gently taking his helmet in his hands and donning it, pressing it down with a click and hiss of pressure. Another sigh.

Both disappointed.

The disappointment covered his grief at the loss of Admiel, at the revelations. It was done now. Absolutio in Mortis, In Extremis Profundi.

+Master...+ he replied at length.

He stood, ignoring Zachariah's Steel, leaving between them. He fixed the Chaplain with a level stare, his armour's senses and war spirit burning with electrical sting, as the killer within it met the murderer within him.

+...It is you who misunderstands my purpose here.+

The words fell, the silence replacing them taut.

[Necronaut]

The hammer blow from the armor piercing bolt drove the wind from his lungs and slammed him backwards into the plasteel wall. Red runes danced across his vision indicating where the round had detonated after penetrating his left pauldron. Moderate trauma to deltoid and bicep, broken clavicle, broken humerus. The exit wound was impressive as well, and the wall was slick with blood and ceramite fragments. He staggered back a step, attempting to ignore the stabbing pain in his shoulder. Wasting little time, the bone and green Angel, and one of his recently arrived brothers, fired upon the apothecary again at point blank range, but Vesalius had anticipated such aggression and threw himself out of the way, landing and rolling on the deck before coming back to his feet in a low crouch as mass-reactive rounds drove into the plasteel structural plates where he had just been standing. The further self-inflicted blow to his shoulder caused stars to dance on his vision, but he did not lose his composure. 

 

He had succeeded at drawing the bastards in, that much was clear.

 

Vesalius snarled into his helm and gritted his teeth as cooling combat stimulants and analgesics released into his blood stream. He was already in motion…

 

 

Dodge

Ag63

Dodge: 1d100 29

29: success with 3 DoS (all shots avoided from #4)

 

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Necronaut
Misread hit location, rewrote to fit better.

[Lysimachus]

Orphiel:

Narakiel notices you standing, but seems entirely unconcerned, unthreatened by either your words or actions. He continues to look down at you from the greater height of his Terminator warplate, turning his attention from your former Master's sins… to your own.

"Thus was the burden of finding you then laid upon me by my peers in the Conclave. And well that they did, for your recent actions have utterly vindicated our judgement! By working beside these renegades, you have drawn the eye of the Inquisition down upon you, and potentially from there to the secrets of the First Legion! Fool! Going about robed and bearing a blade that is self-evidently of our Brotherhood? Why not carry a great placard reading 'DARK ANGEL' as well?!"

"Fortunately, Von Lombart put out a call for Astartes aid to prevent your Iron Gods from finding and taking this vessel, and we were able to insert ourselves into his task force. Certainly we will take the ship and put it to a nobler purpose than the one Varn intends… but do not doubt that our priority here is you, Orphiel."

"I have seen the footage recovered by Von Lombart's investigators. Cynarae Dormus. Viorda Prime. Viorda Secundus. Your new 'friends' were skilled in their attempts to conceal these crimes, but not skilled enough!"

"You have openly engaged in piracy, theft, attacks against Imperial facilities and the murder of loyal servants of the Emperor! If such actions result in the capture of one of our traitorous brethren - and they can be kept hidden - then so be it, they were necessary and it was worth the price! But have you caught any Fallen in these past months, Orphiel?!"

Fenix' voice has been rising with growing fury, but now it suddenly drops back to a tone of quiet, icy judgement. His eyes burn with blackest paranoia, an all-consuming mistrust that some would say is the true birthright of the sons of the Lion.

"You have acted against the interests of the First Legion. You have been corrupted by your associations and can no longer be trusted to bear our secrets. At my insistence, and with the agreement of Chapter Master Moddren and the Supreme Grand Master, your former name, your battle honours, the very fact that you ever existed at all, have been expunged from the rolls of the Angels of Absolution."

"You… have… fallen."

The grim-faced, fiery-eyed Interrogator-Chaplain brooks no discussion of this horrifying verdict. He speaks again, his voice suddenly softening, a thin veneer of kindliness that is insufficient to hide the absolute suspicion beneath, or to distract from the way that he hefts the brutal looking Crozius.

"You should have stayed on your knees, child. Come, prove you are not beyond redemption with one final act of contrition. Die with some semblance of honour."

***

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

Orphiel couldn't resist the stabs of accusation, cutting at his soul, damnation poisoning each of them.

Innocens ego sum a sanguine eorum. I am innocent of their blood. Via ad inferos sternitur honeste. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

He buried the recriminations, buried the shame. It was time to do penance.

With a deft flick, his toecap rolled the pommel of Zachariah's Steel, flipping it up, where he caught it in his left palm, bringing his right onto the grip, and presenting it at guard. Mirth saved him from the bitter longing of separation he'd been forced to endure. Oh well, good things never happened to nice people. Then he couldn't stop. He laughed out loud, the vox amplifying it, robbing the warmth to make it cold and hard.

A blink click checked his datavault, replaying the Chaplain's words over and over, segmenting them, just as they had Degier's.

Now all he had to do was stall, find the vox channels, use his ciphers, plus a dash of Narakiel's voice, and call these zealots off.

You really didn't know my purpose did you? A Master Interrogator? You talk too much.

To add insult to injury, and infuriate the Chaplain more - to hurt him as much as Orphiel himself burned in agony.

+Very well. The Challenge of the Lion is given.+

His dataloop spooled, a private vox channel opned. ++Mr Holger?  Can you do anything with this?++

Never having moved his faceplate from Narakiel, he licked his lips.

+A turn of the blade, brother?+

[Lysimachus]

Nothing answers your vox message except crackling static. The High Interrogator smiles then, though it is not an expression with any warmth.

"I know every trick you have ever learned, fool. And the secrets of every piece of armour you wear. You will not aid your friends, nor they you."

He raises his Crozius into a guard position. You recognise the stance he takes. It is part of the combat forms of the Legion. Forms that you might use yourself. Everything you know about battle, everything you ever learned, is already known by this opponent.

"And you are not my brother, traitor," he continues. "You just proved it beyond all doubt when you chose to try and help them rather than accepting a clean, penitent death. Come then. Die as you have lived."

He is waiting for you to make the first move.

***
 

[A.T.]

The astartes charge was uncoordinated as some rushed ahead of the rest, compromising the advantage of numbers. It seemed ill disciplined and as Odysseus' eyes scanned those before him for a priority target none stood forth as primary. A second group, a distraction to hold them? Something was wrong here.

Summoning up the might of his psychic energies as he had so many times before Odysseus sought to end the battle in a single blow, but as lightning scorched the deck around him some of its energy seemed to be drawn away in a pattern of frost that leached at the eldritch fire. The angels were warded against the power of the witch, but as with any barrier such a defense could be eroded - with one arm forwards the psyker unleashed a blinding hail of energy to engulf the ranks of the approaching force.

 

...wards. Even before the flames and blinding light of the scourging had cleared Odysseus realised what had been missed. The inquisitor, hereticus, stubborn and headstrong beyond reason to have chased them here with such determination would have never remained passive in such an assault. Could he have been amongst those felled on the thunderhawk, or was he free aboard this vessel undetected?

 

(current strongpoint target - marine 9 - multimelta)

 

Half action - sustain
Half action - smite

Terminator 4 (push power) - roll to activate 69 (pass), automatic phenomena 22 (reduced to hoarfrost)

7m radius catches terminators 1, 3, 4, and 5, as well as tactical marines 7 and 9 (and possibly 8)

38 damage, pen 7  (rolls 9 10 9 5 1 3 1)
(if applicable - righteous fury 8)

As a free action he will nominate the multimelta guy as his strongpoint target (edited in after smite casulaties resolved)

Edited July 18, 2022 by A.T.