A Time of Reaving IC

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

No outright declaration of rebellion against the Emperor, at least. The garrison's refusal seemed to follow the standard supply policy of many of the Legiones Astartes. Elvrit couldn't argue with that. Before the madness of Istvaan, the Iron Tenth wouldn't have shared a single bolt shell with another Legion.

 

“If I were trying to lure an enemy to walk into a trap, I'd use more tempting bait than the offer of just a damn handshake. Perhaps they’re still loyal…?” Elvrit smiled bleakly, “...or they're even more cunning bastards than I'd thought. Either way, I'd tell them a time at least an hour after I really planned to arrive. So, do we play our trump card now…” he nodded towards Hadad, “...or wait until we are on the ground?”

 

 

[Trokair]

Hadad

 

As the message finished Utu muttered under his breath.

 

“Iron within, iron without.”

 

Shaking his head at his own reflective utterance, he looked round the others.

 

 “The minds of othbreakers are strange things, but they swore by Terra and the Primarch, when they could have just sworn by Perturabo and still sounded like oathkeepers to anybody who did not know of recent events. This is a hopeful sign, but words alone are but pleasantries, we need to see actions speak to know more truly.”

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

"And what of the tithe?" Their words proved nothing, something had already been set in motion here.

[Lord_Ikka]

Kraith

 

Kraith remained silent, like his brother-apothecary. As of yet, neither had any real input in the discussion being made, He would need more information before he could plan, but in orbit there was no ability to scout or infiltrate, only talking and plotting. He yearned to take to the skies or skulk in the shadows- this talk of potentials and variables grated on his nerves. As it was, he must wait until those more knowledgeable made a decision.

[Black Cohort]

The ship continues getting closer to the planet, and when you are still about 4 hours out, the cargo ship cuts loose from the orbital warehouse it was docked to and begins to burn away from the planet at just over 90 degrees to your approach vector.

 

The Captain and various officials ground side have exchanged a series of messages about the supply requirements of the ship.

 

The volume of low orbit travel between various locations across the surface has increased by 16.2% since you entered the system and all but two hours have seen increased travel than the hour before it.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ravyx:

 

Letting the transport conveyor go was a gamble, but it was better overall than trying to detain it or even better to his preference, sabotage it.

 

The word may get out they were here - and they had to assume that - but hopefully it would take long enough to get in and out with more than they came with.

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

Hmm. A complication. One target had become two.

 

Elvrit's gut instinct would be to divert and halt the Conveyor’s progress, by force if necessary. They didn't need anything it was carrying, so perhaps the best way to stop it would be to kill it? He doubted a scow like that could stand for long against even a frigate's firepower.

 

However, that would almost certainly make gaining ingress to the garrison and its precious stores much harder. Whether the Iron Warriors were oblivious loyalist or knowing traitors, destroying the barge would put them on the highest possible alert.

 

He frowned. The agile Tribute should be vastly faster than the Conveyor too, and it had still taken them 24 hours to cross the system. How long would it take for the merchantman to make the same journey?

 

“Captain, a calculation please. If we maintain our heading and enter orbit, how many hours could we remain there before we needed to leave to catch up to that transport - before it reached the system's Mandeville Point?”

 

[Black Cohort]

"We would have at least 10 hours in orbit, anything more would be cutting it tight."

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

"Not nearly enough time to press any form of assault on the surface against a prepared position", he looked to the Iron Warrior, "if we cannot penetrate their defensive lines by guile what chance to we have of burning their fortress to ash before the transport escapes the system with its cargo and news of our presence?"

 

Edited January 22 by A.T.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ravyx:

 

He shrugged. 'Do you have any suggestions?'

 

Ravyx looked across at the Dark Angel, crimson lenses steady, level.

Edited January 22 by Mazer Rackham

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

Suggestions? The Ghellion system, but the choice was already made.

 

"We learn nothing from orbit, let us see the face of below and judge their allegiance while we still have time to pursue the transport and any astropath it carries."

 

Edited January 22 by A.T.

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

The Angel was right. Plenty of time, if the garrison was still loyal to the Emperor and willing to hear the news of their brethren's monstrous betrayal. However, if the Iron Warriors were traitors, waiting with their defences primed and ready, then ten hours would be nowhere near enough.

 

Of course, if they were traitorous dogs, then a hundred times ten hours would make no difference - the squad of survivors aboard the Tribute simply did not currently have the numbers or the weapons to successfully crack the fortress open, not in any amount of time.

 

Elvrit growled. He didn't like subterfuge, but it seemed to be the best option.

 

“I agree. Request their permission to land our gunship within the garrison walls. Tell them there are matters that we must discuss as Legiones Astartes, in person, without being under the prying eyes and ears of mortals. If they refuse, or insist on having more information, let them speak to Hadad. Maybe he can talk us past their guns?”

 

He looked to Nuzry.

 

“And if they blow us to Hel before our ‘hawk ever touches the surface, or you can't raise us on comms after we land, take your ship out and burn that transport. That way, even if we're all dead, we still deny the bloody Death Guard whatever supplies it is carrying."

 

He shrugged.

 

"Something is better than nothing.”

 

 

 

 

[Trokair]

Hadad

 

Hadad moved over so that should he be required to step into the holoith recorders view to speak to those below he could do so in a moment.  

 

“Perhaps, instead of asking to land within their keep, for they will be defensive by instinct, we asked to land nearby and have one of theirs meets us outside the walls.”

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

"They would question our intent whether we land within or without. The bastion at least we could explain as seeking repairs for the thunderhawk beyond our ships capabilities".

 

He looked across the chapter markings of the others, "unless one of you proposes to walk amongst them as loyal to the Warmaster, his trap yet unsprung if word of it has yet to reach here".

 

A distasteful thought but the veil of Horus' betrayal yet blinded his own.

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

Elvrit nodded as Hadad replied. Probably true. Perhaps trying to land within the bastion was a step too far. However…

 

“Have you ever seen the mortals haggle, Hadad? If you ask for a prime cut of grox-meat, they might give you the shin…” he grinned bleakly, “...but if you only ask for the shin, they'll try to feed you the offal… or worse.”

 

 

Edited January 22 by Lysimachus

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

OOC: I don't want to put words in another PC's mouth, so maybe I can phrase the following as what Elvrit would suggest for Ekene Sul to reply, if that is sufficient to keep things moving?

 

 

“We understand your supply protocol and take no offence. Thank you for the invitation, we would be honoured to meet with you. Speaking of Astartes faces, there are matters which require discussion as members of the Legiones Astartes, without the prying of mortal eyes and ears. Among those matters is the fact that we have one of your Legion brethren aboard, one Utu Mot Hadad… but perhaps we can explain further in person? If it is acceptable, we will travel directly to meet you at your bastion. We should be with you in a matter of a few hours.”

 

 

[Black Cohort]

"Acknowledged, you are cleared to land outside the legion fortress, on the ferrocrete pad."

 

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

 

The Thunderhawk was able to launch before the ship had even fully settled into orbit.  It was perhaps a 20 minute flight before the thunderhawk had landed on the pad.  A pair of Astartes in battle plate but with their helmets mag-locked at their waists stood on the edge of the pad between it and the fortress.  they each had a bolt pistol and combat blade on their belts.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ravyx:

 

He was silent as the Thunderhawk dropped through the heavens of the world, keeping his beaked helm unmoving not through deliberate intent, but from the sheer fact his posture was fixed into a pensive set. Arms folded, he left Kraith to his own mind, as was the Raven Guard way. When they had something to discuss they would, but for now he, at least, pondered the humours of those below, awaiting.

 

Dour and stolid, as reputation and experience had taught? Or maybe they shared the outlook of Hadad.

 

It didn't matter much now, the Thunderhawk was under their guns, the boarding ramp under their steely gaze.

 

He set his face as flint, and as the transport landed, pushed open the crash couch armature and doffed his helmet, cradling it in his arm.

 

Faster to put back on that way.

 

The smell of the planet came into the troop bay, filled the belly of the flying beast with the breath of the world. He could smell the moisture, the greenery and rock. Not so dry and blasted as Isstvan. He wondered if he'd ever get that smell out of his genhanced nose ever again.

[Lysimachus]

Elvrit:

 

As the scarred Thunderhawk shuddered and bullied it's way through the fires of atmospheric entry, Elvrit stood calmly. Statue-still, but his mind raced, trying to prepare for all of the permutations of how this meeting might go.

 

Surely they must know of Horus' betrayal. That vile news had spread like wildfire months ago, after the purging of the loyalists at Istvaan III. Surely they would also know about the gathering of Legions to crush this rebellion, for it had likewise taken many months to bring such a mighty force together? But if they had not had contact with their commanders, these Iron Warriors might not know anything of their own Legion's fall from grace? They might be entirely unaware, and still staunchly loyal to the Emperor?

 

Elvrit hoped that the fact that these Iron Warriors were here, rather than with their brethren at Istvaan, implied that they might have been deliberately sidelined - left out of their Primarch's initial act of treachery because he could not trust them not to take the loyalists’ side?

 

He hoped so. It would make things far simpler. However, this close to the Istvaan system, it was equally possible that these Iron Warriors knew about everything that had happened. What would they do if that were the case?

 

He shifted his grip on his boarding Shield and eased Hvass in its sheath. Aboard the Emperor's Children warship, and then on the surface of Istvaan V, he had found it surprisingly easy to turn the theoreticals around. Simple battle calculus. Weak points, to be protected in his own battleplate, would be targets to be exploited in theirs.

 

Eye lenses, exposed power lines, armour joints; throat, armpit, groin, knees…

 

He was still thinking about the best way to kill an Astartes when the assault ramp started to drop.

 

 

 

 

[A.T.]

Arazakiel

 

The departing transport had pressed their hand, fortunate as else they would likely still be debating the finer points of making contact. The potential 'innocence' of those below was given far too much import in his eyes as all the sons of the traitor primarchs were irredeemably sullied by the betrayal, but the march of the warmaster must be blunted at any cost and the fresh betrayals at Isstavaan demanded the scalpel as well as the hammer.

 

"Our disposition will raise questions that cannot be answered, stand clear of the landing ramp if you seek to maintain the ruse."

 

An assault from outside of the walls with so few would be folly. At best they might punch a hole through the outer defenses with fire from the Tribute but to what end? bury them from orbit and be done with it should it come to that.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ravyx:

 

The Dark Angel was right. Letting the Iron Warrior and Salamander move past him, Ravyx tried to nonchalantly step out of the way.

 

That he was tucked in behind a bulkhead in the troop bay, exposing someone else to incoming fire was completely coincidental.

[Urauloth]

Ekene Sul

 

Like his companions, the Salamander wondered what awaited them when they came face to face with the Iron Warriors of the garrison. He moved to stand by the ramp, ready to be the first one they laid eyes on. Of course, that meant being the first one they would shoot at if things went poorly, but so be it.

Perhaps it wouldn't come to bloodshed here, though. He glanced briefly over at Hadad, musing. How many others of his legion were like him? How many could there be left in the galaxy now; rational sons of mad fathers?

 

Are there others still? Sons of Horus who held true to their oaths? World Eaters?

 

The latter was particularly hard to imagine after what he'd seen at Istvaan. Still, there was little to be gained from dwelling on the matter now. The gunship was descending, and they would know the truth of the garrison's disposition soon enough, one way or another.

[Trokair]

Hadad

 

He had stood by the ramp throughout the decent, maglockd to the floor, shifting his weight and bracing as needed in the rough atmosphere. They count on him, these new brothers, and it was out of his hands entirely if he could deliver the hope of allies below.

 

As the ramp lowered he immediately spotted the two Legionairs. “Are you oath keepers?” He whispered to himself.

 

Stepping onto the aged ferrocrete of the landing pad Haddad made a show of putting down ‘Rain’ onto the end of the ramp, and then taking of his helmet. Holding it in one arm, tucked into eye of the elbow.

 

Taking a few steps at a gentle pace, Ekene Sul to one side, and maybe half a step behind.

 

“I am Utu Mot Hadad, Iron Havoc; Iron Within ... Iron Without. Brothers, with whom do I speak?”

 

He called out to the Legionnaires, his free hand pounding on his chest plate with every ‘iron’.

[Lord_Ikka]

Kraith

 

Kraith crouched opposite of his Raven brother, chainswords at the ready but not activated. If everything went wrong, a swift assault may be the only option.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ravyx:

 

The sable and argent raiment of his armour put death and life into his hands, literally. The odd duality of man and his chosen office, split down the middle. Right arm cradling his helm, even as it carried the narthecium, bore the tools of life. Seeing Kraith poised for violence, Ravyx nodded wordlessly, and slipped his left hand to the butt of his holstered bolt pistol, palm closing upon the instrument of death.

 

He closed his eyes.

 

When did black and white become so...grey?

 

He relived the battle, the desperate fight for survival after the drop. He relived the warm bodies turning to cold in his hands, soaked red in Astartes blood to the elbow.

 

It doesn't matter, Ravyx, something said, something small, in the back of his mind. It doesn't matter a damn.

 

When he opened his eyes, he was ready, listening to the bluff greeting offered by Hadad, the man's own doubts in the moments before loud enough for the Lyman's Ear to catch it over the cooling of turbothrusters and contraction of adamantine armour hull plating.

 

The universe rolled the dice in the background, the toys of giant gods a silent toss of imperceptible thunder careening across the table of time in a game of fate.

 

It didn't matter a damn.

 

Victorus Aut Mortis.