[BC] The Blackest Heart (IC)

[Necronaut]

Ukalegon

 

A burning sword cleaved the Arch-Traitor in twain, and the vision of thr Warmaster, swollen to monstrous proportions by the Ruinous Powers, receded. The Emperor…? He realized it was Hagga who stood beside him, and the gore-drenched command centre reasserted itself sickeningly. Dismembered mutant corpses littered the floor, and the rough-cut stone of the chamber — floor, walls and ceiling alike — was slicked with xeno-hybrid blood. They had turned the place into a charnel house.

 

What was happening to him? Was he losing his mind? What were these visions? He had to keep this affliction secret from the others…

 

Ukalegon winced and sank to one knee, easing himself down with his chainsword amongst the spreading viscera. His wounds, while not life threatening, had been severe, and he would require attention from an apothecary before they were able to continue. 

 

Apothecary, hah!

 

What he truly needed was psycho-surgery.

 

+Tarh Teshub, if you still draw breath, I require your ministrations.+

[Machine God]

Kraggan:

 

We are the Machine, blessed of the True Flesh. Enhanced beyond the lowly baseline of Humaniti.

 

Yes but I wish to impart the Illusion of Breathing, a peccadillo of past pride.

 

We are Kraggan, I am Kraggan. We are Kraggan said I.

 

 

Kraggan saw from a dial that his air supply had depleted, the tear on right arm of his suit didn't help. He took off the helm of his void-suit and clipped it to his belt.

 

He then drew in a deep breath.

 

 

 

Cursed Metal Test. TGH 42 = 42. Result: 42 Pass

 

 

 

Hagga had scrounged around as Tarh offered out healing. He took a couple of knives and a frag grenade.

 

 

Edited February 25 by Machine God
Cursed Metal test

[Trokair]

Tarh

 

Spoiler

As I assume this counts for the Encounter being over for Mazers note about Willpower and disorders

WP: 28

D100: 47, Fail, 2DoF

Should  I roll on the Disorder table, and if so which one, or do I just wait to see what Mazer bestows on Tarh

I really need to invest in some more Willpower

 

Limping to ease of the wounded leg Tarh made his way over to Ukalegon.

 

“Aye, though if you could be a little more careful in your courtship of Death that would be nice, my supplies are a tad stretched of late.”

 

Spoiler

First Aid Medicae for Ukalegon

Int: 45 +20 (Medikit) = 65   - I assume Xerxes is busy working on either sealing the door better, or preparing to open the next door or on the cogitators or the multilaser controls, or some such so that Ephialtes cant assist this time

D100: 62, Pass

Heal 4 wounds if lightly wounded, 1 otherwise

 

[Trokair]

Tarh

 

When he had done all he could for now with his dwindling supply for the Chosen Tarh hobbled over to Kraggan and the unconscious Seryna.

 

Spoiler

First Aid Medicae for Kraggan

Int: 45 +20 (Medikit) = 65  

D100: 60, Pass

Heal 4 wounds if lightly wounded, 1 otherwise

 

 

@Mazer Rackham, anything I can do for sleeping beauty to bring her round?

[Necronaut]

Ukalegon

 

Ukalegon grunted his thanks as the wiry human injected medicinal unguents into an access port on his armour, and rose, joining Hagga in plundering the dead and their supplies for useful materiel. He secreted away a tube of something that approximated repair cement, and stood at the ready by the Executioner in front of the next portal 

 

He lifted his helm and spat a gobbet of dried blood at their feet while casting a sidelong glance towards Cyrandras, and in a low voice murmured to Hagga, “‘Ware the psyker. Methinks his reach exceedeth his grasp." 

[Mazer Rackham]

Tarh:

 

Your medical training, as it is, suggests that the only thing to get this mortal on her feet would be stimms, and possibly counter-productive at that. You're going to have to let her rest, and carry her if necessary.

 

GM OOC: There should be enough materials to make a stretcher or litter frame if you wished. Her harness is essentially a STABO Rig, so you can literally hook her up to the back of one of the Marines, if need be in an adult baby-carrier type fashion.

 

 

Edited February 25 by Mazer Rackham

[A.T.]

Xerxes:

 

Despite the intensity of the battle no reinforcements had come from above, did they wait in ambush or was this the bulk of their forces? Even if they had a scanning device it might not penetrate these walls but the disabled turret might serve as a hard-link to the control console beyond, perhaps even the auger mounted on its twin.

 

Xerxes will assess whether he thinks he could use the turret as a connection point to the wider system. Failing that any chance of triggering the firing mechanism or dismounting it entirely in what little time he has.

[Mazer Rackham]

Xerxes:

 

Your techknowledge is sufficient on this model and from what you have seen to determine triggering this weapon noospherically might not be possible. It is a closed-loop system to the control modules, no doubt above, in order to maintain a defensive posture by embattled forces. However, the fact the loop remains intact, and the small mechanisms are working, demonstrates further occupation in the bunkers above.

[Lysimachus]

Hagga:

 

Hagga frowned and nodded in agreement at the Lamenter's words. Psykers. More trouble than they were bloody worth.

 

“Aye. I'm watching him," he muttered back.

 

Rykaz turned to look at the inner portal. He could picture the interior of the stairwell in his mind. A narrow, three-quarter turn, likely poorly lit, metal stairs rising up to an identical door that would lead out onto the first floor. An excellent place for a predator to wait, ready to leap out as soon as the door in front of Hagga was opened.

 

Still, if the enemy was planning such an ambush, a space like the stairwell held some advantages for the attackers, too. An explosion in such cramped quarters, confined by the thick walls and blast doors at top and bottom, would be both impossible to avoid and utterly deadly. Rykaz smiled, stroked one of the two frags left on his belt, and nodded to the two Adepts.

 

“Can you open this door? Just a crack will do for now, enough so we can take a peek up the stairs.”

 

He tapped the grenade.

 

"If I see anything in there that I don't like the look of, I'll toss this in. If I do, do us all a favour and close the door again behind it?"

 

 

 

Edited February 26 by Lysimachus

[Trokair]

Tarh

 

Having done what little he could for the Smith Devote, who Tarh suspected need a mechanic as much as a medic, perhaps the two of them could repair each other, he moved on to the unconscious native. The chosen had trusted her, and from the brief summary of the chosen’s taking of the hanger and subsequent event he knew that keeping her alive was likely to be key in convincing those natives free of the xenos taint to accept the Corsairs hostile takeover.   

 

There was little he could do for her in the moment, short of high dose stimulant in a flight or die kind of situation. Rummaging amongst the salvaged supplies he took an autogun with ammunition and a frag grenade for himself, but his search for supplies to supplement dwindling medkit was fruitless.

 

Using one of the knifes he cut strips from the cloths and gear of the dead purple men, it would not do as bandages, but perhaps arranged just right could be knotted and woven into a rudimentary stretcher to better move her.

[Mazer Rackham]

ROUND SIX BEGINS

 

The Security panel blinks with red light at the foot of the stairwell.

 

GM: A Difficult (-10) Tech Use or Security Test will subvert the locks and thwart the security.

 

Init Order (Current);

Spoiler

Ukalegon 12

Hagga 10

Cyrandras 11

Horde 2 (11)

Kraggan 7

Horde 1 (7)
Tarh Teshub 11
Xerxes 11

 

[ ] Ukalegon

[ ] Tarh Teshub

[ ] Xerxes

[ ] Cyrandras

[ ] Hagga

[ ] Kraggan

 

Edited February 27 by Mazer Rackham

[Lord_Ikka]

The Smiler

 

Gods of the Warp, your servant requests your attention. Witness my deeds!

 

"Of course."

 

The Smiler moved to the console, plugged in his multi-key.

 

"Be ready to witness the power of the Four."

 

He input the kill command code, looked at Druid. Crux'as smiled wide and pushed Enter.

[Necronaut]

Ukalegon

 

Ukalegon looked at security panel and then the tech-adepts and growled at them, "Are you going to ply your trade, or must I make a door of my own?”

 

He then pressed the side of his helm up against the door in the vain hope he might be able to discern if any of their foes lay in wait beyond.

 

Awareness Test (unknown difficulty): Per39 + 10 (HS) + 10 (Auto Senses) = 59 baseline

D100: 50

[Mazer Rackham]

Ukalegon ONLY:

 

Spoiler

GM OOC: A small voice calls out 'There's no-one here, go away!'

 

You hear nothing except the echo of your own paranoia....

[Machine God]

Kraggan:

 

+Oh yes indeed Great Master, toot sweet!+ replied Kraggan, sarcasm dripping from his words. He tapped away at the keypad whilst his combi-tool worked and Xeres plugged his device in.

 

 

 

INT49 +10 (Tech Use +10) +10 (Combi-Tool) +10 (Assist) -10 (Difficult) = 69. Result: 57, Pass 1DoS

 

 

 

+Oh, look its just Password. The same code as the door, somewhat lazy Guardians methinks!+

 

 

 

 

[A.T.]

Xerxes:

 

Moving to aid Kraggan Xerxes collected the mining weapon from the ground, as much to prevent any who followed taking it up to wield against them as to risk firing it in its damaged state.

 

Once at the door he positioned himself as best he could outside the line of fire. Given the nature of the ramp beyond grenades or worse were likely to meet them - the structure of the stairwell itself would provide the best and most rapidly available shelter.

[Lysimachus]

Hagga:

 

The stairwell door slid open smoothly and Hagga peered upwards, weapons ready. Empty. For some reason, the xenos had not yet brought any of their forces down from above. They must have heard the sounds of combat below? If they were not coming to investigate, then sure as sure, they were preparing a warm welcome on the first floor.

 

“We'd best get up there as quickly as we can.”

 

He watched as Tarh completed the litter for Seryna. With care, Hagga lifted the makeshift stretcher and pulled it into the stairwell behind him. They could shut the door up behind themselves and leave the mortal woman in the enclosed space. Then if the cultists managed to get through the outer door and past the pile of heavy storage cylinders, it would give her another layer of defence.

 

He noticed Xerxes had gone first to open the next portal, and Ukalegon had moved up the stairs behind the Adept, despite plainly still struggling with his injuries. Hagga frowned and clambered up to stand on the step below the Lamenter.

 

“Brother,” he intoned softly, “you have taken the brunt of combat enough times this day. No one can question your courage or honour… but when we get in there, push through and find some cover. Provide bolter support for Rakash and myself.”

 

He grinned.

 

“Consider it an order, if you prefer.”

 

 

 

[Trokair]

Tarh

 

Leaning against the stairwell wall to momentarily take pressure off the injured leg Tarh readied the Autogun, in the close confines it might be better than the Long-las.

 

Up above he heard rather than saw the Chosen get ready to storm the next level, any second now another intense skirmish would erupt, and here he was far too close to the enemies for his liking. Whoever had selected him for inclusion in this ad hoc unit had been wrong, he was no shock trooper.

[Necronaut]

Ukalegon

 

OOC: I'm going to go ahead and insert this now so as not to hold up action. There's probably no need for everyone to describe their characters standing around and twiddling their thumbs while Ukalegon and the rest prepare to breach the next level of the command centre. Probably. I can edit this as needed depending on the whims/desires of our GM.

 

Ukalegon gave the similarly-helmed Executioner a hard stare for a few tense moments, but then heaved a barely audible sigh and holstered his preferred implements. He produced the newly acquired addition to his personal armoury, ejecting and then ramming back home the magazine in his pilfered boltgun before giving the Anointed a nod of compliance. Now was not the time for theatrics or needless heroism – they were firmly in the heart of enemy territory, with scanty supplies and no back-up. It was do-or-die, and they had a job to do.

 

“By your will, Hagga.”

 

Advancing up the spiral stair, the snub nose of Ukalegon’s boltgun led the way in near-textbook fashion, and in no time he stood upon the threshold of the next portal. He raised a closed fist, commanding those behind him to hold fast and he again cocked his helm near the door, hoping to divine what manner or torments awaited them beyond…

 

 

Awareness Test? (unknown difficulty): Per39 + 10 (HS) + 10 (Auto Senses) = 59 baseline

D100: 27

Edited February 27 by Necronaut

[Mazer Rackham]

Crux'As:

 

As you enter the commands, the great deep hum of the reactors, always a slight press against the ebb and flow of the ground beneath your feet, stirs into a new pitch of readiness. Great arcs of actinic lightning blitz and thrash as power vaults within the antenna array are discharged, unleashing grat gouts of energy that even at this relatively safe distance sting your flesh and thrill the exposed hair on your body to static perpendicular.

 

This continues for several heartbeats, with the whole chamber illuminated in that uncomfrotable azure light. The Hanged Men are mesmerised by it, some of them perhaps neer having witnessed such a thing. Druid himself is a picture of holy wonder, the human dregs in his soul reacting to the awesome power of a mechanical god. The alien within him glowers in different mien, the look of triumph warring with the misplaced innocence.

 

Then, with a strange whinny, just as the array comes online, it suddenly peters out with a whimper and a robotic voice.

 

++ DEGAUSS COMPLETE. POWER CYCLE INITIATED. MAIN REACTOR OFFLINE. ALL TEAMS TO MAINT STATIONS. ++

 

Darkness falls, pierced by a sudden cry of anguish to your right. It is not a human throat, but tainted by the buzz-burr of alien pollution to the human vocal chords. The sound of a full sack hitting the ground coincides with the emergency lights flickering into a dim red existence. A Hanged man lies where Caleb stood, his neck wrenched at a grotesque angle, long, purplish alien tongue completely spat out between sharp teeth. The mutant's hideously malformed face is still legible in the light - a mix of rapture and confusion. His weapons and beltkit are missing.

 

So is Caleb.

 

Sparks and bangs thump the stunned confusion, and the Hanged Men forget about you as bullets begin to fill the gap.

 

+++++

 

Ukalegon ONLY:

You hear the following.

Spoiler

'I can't hear anything anymore. Maybe they're all dead?'

 

 

'Can't be. The lower door light is on. Somoene is coming up. Open it.'

 

'Oh... me, why do I have to do it?'

 

'Open the chuffing door, Chisel!'

 

The panel in the stairwell begins to light up, cycling to open the door in front of you. I begins to open, swiftly revealing the void-suited man beyond. Literally twelve inches away from your head as you lean forward, his whole frame goes rigid, and he seems to forget the pistol in his hand. In a whisker he snaps out of it.

 

'H-here! HERE!'

 

The door continues to open, gets to approximately 18 inches, then suddenly sticks, ratchets jamming siezed as the power in the section suddenly drops into darkness, which is in turn replaced by crimson emergency lighting.

 

++ DEGAUSS COMPLETE. POWER CYCLE INITIATED. MAIN REACTOR OFFLINE. ALL TEAMS TO MAINT STATIONS. ++

 

The tension of sudden shock in the man vanishes, to be replaced by resignation.

 

'Oh...me.'

 

An avalanche of bullets and bolts sizzle and thunder into the gap, hosing down the poor bastard in front of you, and spraying him liberally across the half-open threshold. Richochets zip around the stairwell in angry hornet buzz, almost drowned out by the snap-crack of lasguns scorching and spalling the plascrete behind Ukalegon's head. An explosion tears at the lintel, showering fyceline resin and molten plasteel into the gap.

 

GM: Ricochets lack the power of the round, but are more dangerous to mortals than Marines. I will roll randomly for D6 Hits against a D6 table. You may Evade without using a Reaction by merely going prone. Since Xerxes took more caution, if a Ricochet hits him, I will re-roll.

 

Hits: D6 = 6

 

Spoiler

Ukalegon 1

Hagga 2

Cyrandras 3

Kraggan 4
Tarh Teshub 5
Xerxes 6

 

Hits: 5, 3, 5, 2, 6 (re-roll = 1), 1.

 

Dam: 1D10 + 3 (Ricochet reduces to 1D5+3) = 6, AP 0

Total Hits: Ukalgeon = 2, Tarh = 2, Cyrandras = 1, Hagga = 1.

 

Players hit must now test for pinning at WP+40 (In cover, light attack, indirect attack).

 

GM: Ukalgon gauges the gunfire is from two directions, indicating at least two Hordes. The one directly ahead he can see and comprises of Hanged Men alone. The one he can discern to his left has a Hybrid.

 

Enemy Forces Inits:

Spoiler

Horde 1: (Init 7) (no Hybrids) map East, behind barricade of Cogitator banks, at least 20 Mag, Mixed Autoguns and Lasguns, 1 x Flamer, which requires a Called Shot. Be advised this is not a 'special weapon' and if the Horde is not engaged may be equipped by any Hanged Man. (ie you kill the man/woman holding it, someone else can pick it up as long as there is 1 Mag left).

 

Horde 2: (Init 11) (Hybrid 1) map North, dug in behind cogitator barricade, at least 20 Mag, mixed Autoguns and Lasguns. 1 x Grenade Launcher, which requires a Called Shot, but it IS a Special Weapon (ie only one man is trained to use it). Anything else can be apprised when you're out of the stairwell.

 

GM: Floor 1 to floor 2 stairwell door is completely inoperative. You're going to have to ram (opposed Strength Test) or blast your way through it. If Ukalegon rams through successfully, no further Tests are required - he makes a big Ukalegon shaped hole where the door was. I will now adjust the Init Order with enemy and OOC discussion.

[Mazer Rackham]

ROUND 6 ENDS

 

GM OOC: Done to clear it all up. Note that the bunker will now re-power from it's own supply, so lighting/atmosphere etc will not be an issue. Remark upon this in narratives as you will.

 

ROUND 7 BEGINS

 

Init Order:

Spoiler

Ukalegon 12

Hagga 10

Cyrandras 11

Horde 2 (11)

Kraggan 7

Horde 1 (7)
Tarh Teshub 11
Xerxes 11

 

[ ] Ukalegon

 

Edited February 27 by Mazer Rackham
Edited to re-jig to keep the impetus going.

[Necronaut]

Ukalegon

 

++Two fire teams ahead,++ Ukalegon bellowed over the din of gunfire on the cell’s shared vox channel.

 

He scowled at the partially-opened door, lowered his helm and with a gutteral roar, barreled through the fouled apparatus even as sustained fire from the groups of confused mutants stripped the paint from his armour and gouged fresh divots into the ceramite. It was like charging head-first into a hail storm.

 

++KEEP MOVING! NO FEAR!++

 

 

Full Action(?): Strength Test (unknown difficulty): S40 + 20 (PA) = 60

D100: 31; Unnatural Strength +4 grants 4 additional DoS

 

OOC: OH YEAH!

 

Ukalegon (likely) bursts through the door and advances into the next chamber, in search of the nearest scrap of cover.

 

 

I forgot to include my pinning test, sorry! Reading comprehension is too mighty of a challenge for me today, apparently...

 

Pinning Test: WP46 + 40 = 86

D100: 83 o_o

Edited February 27 by Necronaut

[Mazer Rackham]

Ukalegon:

 

The assault Marine explodes through the carnage weapons ready and searching like a canister shot from an ancient cannon - shrapnel exploding around the mass of hateful roundshot. To your immediate right is the closed door to the upper floor, which provides some refuge from your assailants directly in front, but there is no cover from the left. You are going to have to rely on your comrades.

 

GM: You could use your impetus to slide along the floor and slam up against the barricade. It will protect you from Horde 1 for the time being, but leave you exposed to Horde 2. There is no other cover in range.

 

Edited February 27 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Hagga:

 

Wp test: Wp42 +40 = 82, Roll: 59, Pass.

 

Following closely behind the Lamenter, Hagga hurled himself forward, heedless of the hail of las and auto fire that spat towards them. He charged out across the first floor deck with a wild battle cry on his lips and his sword blazing.

 

Full Action: Charge Horde North
(if the whole chamber is 30m across, it should be less than 15m from the blue door to the east end of the North cogitator banks?)
WS52 +5(Compact) +20(Charge) +10(same Horde mod?) = 87, Roll: 36, 6DoS.
+1 Hit for Power Field
= 5 Hits

Hordes cannot Evade
Dam 1d10+8 +SB11 Pen7
Assuming all hits cause Dam, 5 Mag Dam?

 

 

Edited February 27 by Lysimachus

[A.T.]

Xerxes:

 

As the lights flickered Xerxes gaze turned towards the primary entrance lest the unexpected power cycle cause it to open. A room such as this would have dozens of power lines connected to countless miles of cables and thousands of sub-units, sabotage seemed unlikely unless whatever passed for a central reactor here was under threat. Were that the case their troubles had deepened.

 

Examining the mining laser he straightened the barrel as best he could under the circumstances, in no haste to ascend before the astartes had cleared the breach.