A Time of Reaving IC

[Trokair]

Hadad

 

+++Spontaneous life fire exercises, Sir, to show our visiting brothers that years of garrison duty had not dulled our skills.  

 

Don’t know anything about the Faithfull Conveyor, are there reasons to believe something is wrong Sir? Would the Governor like Sergeant Chalbyth to request the visiting eighteenth Legion ship to catch up with and carry out an inspection of the Conveyor?

 

Sergeant Chalbyth hasn’t shared his social schedule with me, so I can’t speak for him, but I will remind him of the fete when I report to him. +++

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

In case it's required for someone to roll, Demo test on behalf of Ravyx:

Int54 +10(Assist from Kraith) +30(Easy) = 94, Roll: 79, 1DoS

(Hmmm… if Mazer has no objections I'd maybe spend Ravyx’ FP that he mentioned, for a reroll to try and get a few more DoS, just in case of enemy attempts to defuse?)

FP Reroll: 44, 5DoS (much better!)

Sharr watched thoughtfully as the pair of Raven Guard guerrillas worked to create and install an improvised explosive device within the electro-magno-stabiliser systems of the garrison's plasma generatorium. The destruction of these control systems should cause the fission reactor to rapidly overload and detonate. The resulting explosion would be… impressive. It would wipe the Iron Warriors stronghold utterly from the surface of Phastus.

 

Such a waste of whatever resources waited behind the Armoury door irritated the Breacher… but with any luck, it would not need to happen at all. If they could catch and scuttle the Conveyor, preventing the crew of the transport from revealing the Loyalists’ presence in this system, then perhaps they could return before the timer counted down and continue their salvage mission.

 

Finally the Apothecary and the Assault Marine stood, their technical and alchemical surgery completed. Elvrit gave a respectful nod at their talent, but didn't waste time on many words.

 

“The ‘hawk is two minutes out. Let's go.”

 

 

[Black Cohort]

+++Acknowledged.  Planetary command out.+++

 

The line from the director of planetary security is cut.

 

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

 

With the return of the thunderhawk, the time has come to return to the legion warship and chase down the fleeing transport.

 

The pilot has indicated that he noticed several PDF aircraft seemed to be operating in the area, but not sharing comms with him.

 

OOC: now would be the time to do any initial discussions/introductions with the new marine that arrived on the thunderhawk.

[Machine God]

Ashmon

 

When the Thunderhawk landed to pick up the landing party he introduced himself. He had already gained a brief on them by the Apothecary on the ship, but he always believed in first impressions.

 

Ashmon took off his helmet and talked.

 

"Greetings fellow survivors, I am Codicier Ashmon of the Iron Hands. We are off to take down the Death Guard conveyor and take tally. If you have any questions or concerns I shall answer them. We will need all the weapons we can bear against the Traitors!"

 

He was clad in black Mk IV armour, the warplate was still scuffed and scoured by the effects of the Istvaan sands. Affixed to his chapter pauldron was a blue tilt-plate and on his belt were a bunch of keys. He carried a boltgun and a sword was scabbarded at his belt.

 

His hair was cut short in an efficient buzz cut, but he sported a bushy red beard, his only visible bionic was his left hand.

 

 

 

 

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

Elvrit frowned balefully for a moment at the new arrival. Lord Manus had declared the Librarius disbanded after Nikea, its members returned to service as line legionaries, so the ‘Codicier’ had no authority to give orders to any of them.

 

However, at the same time he was glad to see that another of his Legion brethren had survived the traitors’ ambush, even if it was a psyker. He inclined his head in a comradely nod.

 

“Elvrit Sharr, Breacher, Clan Borragar.”

 

Could this Ashmon answer what had happened to the Primarch and his Morlock bodyguards? Once they were underway, he would find a quiet moment to ask the Librarian what he knew.

 

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

Bike secured, Arazakiel returned to his position in the cockpit, "Those below were a lost cause, we shall see if those before us fare any better". He turned from the pilot to the crafts displays as the last of the astartes boarded, "Questions can wait."

Edited May 20 by A.T.

[Trokair]

Hadad

 

Rejoining the others at the landing field he watched the exchange between Elvrit and the newly recovered Iron Hand.  He was weary of this Ashmon, and would reserve judgment for now.

 

The trappings of the Librarium that the Iron Hand wore could be keep sakes and remembrance from a time before the Edict of Nikaea, but that he had introduced himself as Codicier troubled Hadad. One who would break the Emperor’s command on one matter, would they break their oaths on others? He would have to trust him for now, for the others appeared to, but he did not like it.

 

 

Personal feelings aside, he spoke as he boarded the Thunderhawk.

 

“The Governor’s Planetary Command Office is weary of us, and I don’t think they bought the cover story I tried to smooth things over with. We may not have an easy time back down once we are back aboard the Darnok's Tribute.”

[Machine God]

Ashmon

 

He received a nod from the Breacher of Clan Borragar. 

 

"Ashmon Stormwalker, Clan Vurgaan!" 

 

The different Clans fought each other within the Legion as they had done as mortals. Strength through struggle, to weed out Weaknesses. Approved doctrine instigated by the... 

 

By the Primarch.

 

Even in thought he had to choke through the words. Still there was much hate at the weakness. 

 

"Yes. I know that you will ask me That Question. But you will not like its answer!"

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 04:53 PM by Machine God

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

The Breacher grimaced as the psyker introduced himself. All of the Iron Tenth were known as Stormwalkers. So did the use of this moniker as a personal epithet make Ashmon a non-Medusan, a Terran veteran…? Or did it instead refer in some way to the eldritch powers he could command? Before Nikea, Elvrit had certainly seen Astartes of the Librarius program hurling blasts of warp lightning at the foe, or rouse swirling tempests that shredded the enemies’ weak flesh. Could the warrior before him call upon such abilities?

 

Then Ashmon continued to speak, and Sharr immediately stepped closer and lowered his voice to a more private, though still intense, tone.

 

“Then I will ask it, brother,” he responded in a fierce rumble. “Do you know anything about how our Lord Primarch and the brethren of Clan Avernii were faring before we left the Istvaan system?”

 

 

Edited May 24 by Lysimachus

[Machine God]

Ashmon

 

“Do you know anything about how our Lord Primarch and the brethren of Clan Avernii were faring before we left the Istvaan system?” The Borragar said.

 

You mean you don't know? How could it not know? Even the Mars-sworn of the Ungavarr knew. I could tell that he suffered with it!

 

 

"How could you?" stuttered Ashmon incredulously. "Were you not assaulted by the Death Shriek? FERRUS MANUS is Dead, slain by Fulgrim. I was on planet, on the sands of Isstvan V when I and everyone of my Clan Brothers received the Death Shriek, even though we were far behind the Morlocks of Clan Avernii! We were there fighting elements of the Sons of Horus when the reinforcements attacked us and we were forced to withdraw in the rout."

 

Ashmon kept on placing his hand upon the flesh of his throat as even though the stigmata wound had long since healed, it itched every time he thought about what had happened.

 

He traced the outline of his Clan Symbol in emphasis. "We of Clan Vurgaan have ever felt close to the Primarch, the fires of Karaashi the Ice Pinnacle heat our blood."

 

"Perhaps you were further away? Or perhaps it affected me because of my abilities. It is something that I would not wish anyone to bear!"

 

Perhaps it affected me more because of my skills. Or my skills helped me to retained my sanity quicker.

 

"No I can not trust to hope. He is dead and the Morlocks of Clan Avernii would have sold their lives dearly!"

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 05:19 PM by Machine God
Clean up.

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

"It is only by the hubris of the warmaster that any could leave the surface alive while he held control of the vessels in orbit. That he and his kind choose to flaunt their treachery buys us time to spread warning, if the Emperor himself has not already heard this call to vengeance of which you speak."

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

The Iron Hands had always prided themselves on their ability to accept whatever was and adapt accordingly, to keep moving relentlessly forward. Elvrit had even boasted to himself about this steadfast quality after the Warmaster's forces had revealed their treachery. He had felt sure of his Legion's resilience and determination, certain that they would endure and prevail.

 

But…

 

How could one simply ‘adapt’ to… this?

 

What Ashmon had said was monstrous, unthinkable. Elvrit had only just resisted the impulse to make a furious response, to denounce the psyker as yet another traitor for his use of uncanny powers, even to physically attack him for speaking such lies.

 

Instead, Elvrit had barely answered him, barely spoken to anyone as the survivors returned to the Tribute. Rather than following the rest to the bridge to rejoin Nuzry, the Breacher had wandered the frigate’s long corridors and halls. Finally he had halted beneath one of the ship's great augur arrays. He'd snorted in bitter amusement when he'd realised where he had stopped. However many millions of miles into the black the vast Mechanicus arrays could see, they couldn't guide him now.

 

He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly, forcing his mind to consider the facts.

 

Why would the Vurgaan lie? A simple answer - he wouldn't. There was no logic in it. No purpose. So, the Librarian believed it, believed with absolute certainty that their Primarch was dead. Could he be wrong? Perhaps… but unlikely. Foolish to cling to such childish hope. Better to assume the worst, accept that Ferrus Manus was… gone.

 

Elvrit let out a half-snarl, a low, angry sound deep in the back of his throat. Very well. His Primarch was dead. Accept, adapt, advance. He must be as his fallen brethren had named him. The Adamant. Resolute, unbreakable, unstoppable.

 

So, in that case, what should he do now? The answer was simple, a mathematical progression of cause and effect that took only a fraction of a second to reach.

 

Vengeance.

 

He found his bionic hand moving, almost of its own accord, towards his weapons. The anger within him, a fire sparked when the Thunderhead arrived at Istvaan and fanned by Ashmon’s horrible revelation, was still building, becoming an inferno of rage. He clamped down on it, just as he clamped his fist against the scabbarded hilt of Hvass. No logic in unsheathing it now. Control. Focus. Bring it out only when the time was right.

 

Elvrit stood for a long moment, full of tension but utterly immobile. Then, finally, he did move. The Breacher thumped heavily back across the chamber beneath the augur arrays, heading for the bridge. By now they should be underway, chasing down the fleeing transport that served the traitorous Death Guard. As he marched, his fist continued to hold his sword’s hilt in a tight, purposeful grip.

 

He was going to kill them all.

 

 

[Black Cohort]

Darnok's Tribute had turned as was accelerating towards the Faithful Conveyor before the Thunderhawk had even docked with it.  The relatively crude sensors on the Thunderhawk indicated that the frigate would close with the supply ship less than two hours before it would reach the jump line.

 

A junior officer is waiting with a hand written message from the Acting Captain.  It indicates that aerial activity in and around the capital has increased 318.7% since you arrived in system, over half the flights are believed to be PDF flights between the capital and two bases north and north-east of it.  The Captain also believes that there have been attempts to remotely link with the ships cognitor network.

[Lord_Ikka]

Kraith

 

Kraith looked at his comrades.

 

"Hmm. PDF will most likely be moving to the Iron Warriors base, with or without approval from the Warriors' command. They are clearly worried about something, but do not have all the information. Probing maneuvers, reinforcing maneuvers. Not yet full assault deployment. We may have time to go back and retrieve supplies."

 

His chainswords briefly stirred in his hands, growling quietly.

 

"That is for later. For now, we must plan our assault on the Death Guard ship. What boarding assets do we have?"