Chapter 5.2 - Ironbound - IC

"Approved as outlined. Make it quick."

Before moving off, Lucius meets with Cassiel. Inside the headquarters, he had been able to speak at length with Ironbound about the bases defenses and what, in his opinion, it was lacking. He made detailed notes and gave Ironbound his suggestions on how to improve the base. There were plenty of holes, but with his expertise and Micah's manpower, they could get them filled.

He made sure Makradon also understood his defense-plans. Likewise, he wanted Cassiel to know the same. He fills him in thoroughly.

Finally, he gears up.

"Khol, what say we have some fun? Inbound on your position. Let's meet well outside of the horde. Moving."

"What work is done in secret will be rewarded openly."  The words echoed again in Cassiel's mind. Half the team was dealing with the encroaching Xenos, and everyone else had a task to keep them occupied. Cassiel was finally free to ask a few questions that had been on his mind. He sought out Caedite Grimm. "I'm hoping Priest and his boys won't be trouble again. They seem impressed by Space Marines. I very much doubt that everyone in camp is. Not just Ironbound - he does what's necessary. Anyone else that you know of that has spent some time around the Astartes in the past? I have received word that my brothers in my order owe a debt to a member of your team. I have been asked to make good if I can identify who it was. I'm afraid that as appreciated as the help was, the name was lost." Cassiel makes a shrugging motion as if to indicate that these things happen in a state of constant battle.

Lucius jets off towards Khol's position, leaving Cassiel to direct the fortification efforts of the outpost.

***

Grimm shakes his head no. "The Lexon boys were fresh inductees into the astra militarum. This is their first deployment; I dont know if they what they might have seen before today. I saw one from a distance before the xenos showed up. They didn't look like you though. Their plate armor was blood-red, with yellow trim."
He coughs a bit. It was an old cough, the cough of an old mad who had too much lho in his days.
"That feels like a lifetime ago. Mag might of seen one of those red guys too. I didnt know her before we were shipped to Hessax. I only saw the few in Trimlov - you know, before it was lost."
His pauses, to remember names and faces of friends....
"Lots of good people were lost there....."
He lets the silence hang for a moment before remarking on priest.
"Anyway, Priest is a thug, a bully. He backs down when he needs too though. I dont doubt for one second he's more intimidated than impressed with you angels."

***

Serephan spends the time in silent contemplation, as does Ironbound elsewhere.
News that his father was dead would take some time to sink in.....

***

Ambrose moved the heavy debris to form barricades, with Hydrako assisting. Rusting load haulers and emptied cargo containers were used to cut off ingress' and obvious routes of entry.
Albrect slinked away, he was more concerned about the state of his soul than the state of the defenses. He preferred killing the enemy up close and personal in any case, just as his chapter taught him.
Many questions had been asked of him since the appearance of the ecclesiarchy. Did his newfound brothers really consider him a wolf in sheep's clothing? Had he not yet proved himself to them?

Makradon continues his work with dedicated precision. The machine spirit was fully roused and providing diagnostic anomalies that needed to be fixed before the array could be used to full capacity.

***

2 Hours later.....

Lucius makes it to Lucius' position. He had also come across a few sororitas search parties, and even another wrecked immolator sat burning without obvious cause.

Checking your chrono, Makradon should be finished in half an hour.

Indeed, Khol had described the situation accurately. There was a veritable sea of tyranid swarms mustering on the ash plains. He gauged the situation from his experiences:
The tyranids were slowly being forced out of the city, The were gathering here in order to counter-attack and overwhelm the guard elements and retake the city. It was very likely that other groups were also gathering in other areas around the city, the hive mind would make it a coordinated move.

The question is: what could you do about it?

Lucius landed near the cover the scout had holed up in and surveyed the scene.

"Now that we've pushed them out of the cities, they are regrouping for a counter attack. I wager they are in positions similar to this all across the front just beyond the Imperial lines. want to ruin their day?"

He gives Khol a charmingly wicked smile.

Albrecht remained in place, a solitary figure high up on a vantage point to give a good view of the Tyranid 'cloud' and the likely approach for the cardinals forces.

He considered his brothers words, it was hypothetical for now but should the cardinal try to use force should he be made an example of or just cut down on the battlefield. Did Hydarko expect him to tear the priest limb from limb?

Albrecht tried to put those thoughts from his mind; the Cardinal seemed to be a 'good' man in so much that he had a strong faith. Although such things sometimes clouded good judgement.

-and over thinking things doesn't help-

To focus his mind Albrecht begins recite the Litanies of Hate, he lets the words wash over him.

"Imperial command, standby for grid coordinates." Lucius double checked both his and Khol's scout of the horde - distance, windage, and estimated spread over the front. When he was sure he and Khol were in agreement, he took a position on the perimeter and kept a watch while Khol called it in.

Hydrako stayed in the same spot he had been when he spoke to Albrecht. His teeth began grinding together, self-sharpening. He imagined the taste of the Cardinal's blood as he tore out his throat. He didn't hope that the Cardinal would attack, but if he did Hydrako would relish the carnage he would inflict.
His mind flicked back to the attack on the port, and the mediocre job he did in directing the mortals along the front. Their lives meant nothing to him, but the loss in efficiency was galling. His teeth gnashed faster as his choler began to rise when suddenly blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. He was ready now

Khol calls the imperial guard. After explaining to the comms adpet who he was, he was patched through immediately to Major Donovan.
"You want what?" he asks, trying to clarify Khol's request.

"Ok," he responds after the explanation, "We couldn't have done this without your help. Ill make it happen."
After a few more minutes of being patched and transferred from unit to unit, you finally meet the soldier who could make things happen.
He clarifies the coordinates with Khol, and tells him, "You might wanna take cover......"

After a tense pause, the plains where the xenos had been mustering exploded in clouds at least half a click high. The gound rumbles violently underneath you and threatens to steal your balance. You autosenses immediately shut out the percussive blasts of earthshaker rounds as they cumbust with devastating fury. Even with your helmets at maximum filtration, your ears only refrain from bursting due to the biogenetic enhancements you inherited from your ancestors.

For 10 grueling minutes this goes on, testing even your formidable limits.
As abruptly as they began, they stopped. The smoke and airbourne debris envelope the plain like a shroud. It was impossible to kill every single life form in that plain, but by a conservative estimate, at least 85% had been vaporized. The mass of xenos would not pose a serious threat again, for a while at least.

Lucius watched like a sentinel. Outwardly he showed no emotion, but inwardly his hearts soared and his spirit roared in triumph. Every biomorph that died under the roar of Imperial artillery was biomass that the hivemind, already desperate enough to cannibalize itself, could not easily replace.

The Imperial forces here may not get another opportunity to catch the xenos out in the open like that. He was happy to have helped give them that opportunity.

He clicked back to the team. "Bombardment effective. Tryanid forces reduced to 25% of their number. No sign of Ecclesiarchical forces... but I would wager their heads are down. Holding position."

Lucius walked past Khol and hit his extended fist against the top and then bottom of the scout's own.

"Good kills, Raptor."

Cassiel asks Grimm a follow-up question. "What happens when one of your units loses their officers and tries to stick to their mission but everything goes wrong? How do you deal with that?"

He smiles, "That's how I got in this situation."

he points out, past the barricaded windows, to the wastes beyond, "For weeks, we were evacuating these rigs. Some resisted by force, there was fighting, panic. Then the xenos started showing up. Lots of men, including many officers, died. The major did what he could, but many of us were left to fend for ourselves. That's when Micah showed up. Picked us up, dusted us off, threw us a gun and told us to keep going."

He looks at Cassiel, daring to ask a question of his own, "Whats this about his dad? Someone important? I never knew my father, couldn't imagine what he's going through."

"In the vast scope of the galaxy, it is easy to believe that your life doesn't matter, but that's not true. Every individual working toward the Emperor's Glory is vital, and most won't realize how vital their contributions were, at least not until they're gone. But Micah's father was universally recognized as vital during his lifetime, and that's rare. You can imagine someone being in charge of a hive city, and someone in charge of a whole planet. Micah's father had a fleet that could wipe out whole planets. He decided what battles could be fought, and which could not. There are not many who are prepared to do what Ironbound father did - find a way to win, but preserve as many lives as possible, so at the end of the day we could still fight, could still win, and still have something worth fighting for." Cassiel waves his hand to accompany the planet. "Like this, but on an unimaginable scale."

You vox opens with a short burst of static, it was Makradon informing you that the Comms relay was up.

Those of you still at the facility move towards the small room which was where Ironbound had made his broadcasts over the last few weeks. Ironbound himself also arrived when Bleda left.

All that was left to do was to send connect, but to whom? What would be said?

***

Khol and Lucius begin the 1.5 hr trek back towards the outpost on the tracked ATV that Khol had "borrowed" from Priest. When you still had around 1/2 an hour left, you Makradon informs the squad that the vox was ready.

MY BODY IS READY FOR BATTLE! WE WILL STAND ON GUARD IN THE NAME OF THE PRAETORIAN DORN!bellows Ambrose, situating himself at the best location to cover the entrances with intense fire.

Cassiel finds Ironbound once word is given that the tech has been restored. "Good work, Makradon," he acknowledges en route. Finding Micah isn't difficult with Bleda's help. "What more will you need before you're ready to depart? Remember that even if you don't understand why there are countless people relying on you. And us to bring you safely."

Lucius reported back as soon as he was with his brothers once more. "We had a good hunt. No trophies though." He moved towards the inside of the compound, his eyes inspecting the defensive measures undertaken at his suggestion.

"We should give Dario a status report. Perhaps their view of the ground from orbit can give us some insight into the best location for an exfil point. No doubt they will have strategic updates for us as well," he suggested.

Curas nods silently to Cassiel.
"Once the archeotech is secure, I will be more than happy to get out of this place."

All that was left was to make the call, but to who? Ezu? Dario and Avincus? Major Donovan? Everyone?

Makradon awaits Cassiel to make the decision.

There is no decision to be made. Lucius is right. Dario is the link to extraction and the only one that Draco could fully trust. "Please contact Darius. Let's see if he has some options for us now that we've established air superiority."

Makradon patches through, the comms officer was quite surprised.
"let me get him for you m'lords." he says.

After a secoind, the Imperial fist's accent breaks through.
"Mak' how you be gettin a signal up heah? Whats'sa sitrep?"

With Mak patching him through, Cassiel updates Dario in Draco cant. "Package in hand. Require a security force at current position before exfil. Current options limited and may put package at risk. Requesting review of options prior to additional contact with associated security options. Package delivery an open question. Requesting on site pickup." With the combination of security filters and Draco cant, Cassiel hopes that the whole planet doesn't know the status.

Makradon had worked as quickly as possible under the circumstances. It took quite a bit of skill to work with the archeotech, but to Makradon it was no problem at all. He was absolutely filled to the brim with joy at being able to lay hands on something as fine as what was before him. He handled it with the utmost care, having calculated how to best achieve success in the shortest time.

Once finished, he breathed a sigh, not of relief, but of ecstasy at having been able to work with such a beast.

He patches through Cassiel, letting him discuss matters with Dario.

A second of static before his reply:
"Und'o'stood. Be aware dat de retrieval on de way from a biggah BoE alreadee. Can yu re'djust security from yo' position?"

It translated to-
Understood, there is already retrieval inbound from somewhere else. Can you call for security force?

"'Bigger BoE?'" asked Lucius. "Confirm who is sending retrieval and their ETA and what security forces are necessary?"

Before Dario has even responded, Lucius is putting out calls to the ground elements, delegating the tactics so that Cassiel can figure out strategy.

Draco, be advised, extraction en route. Prep to provide security as needed."

There was still the matter of getting Ironbound to comply. They would need to contact Major Donovan soon.

With the report from Dario, Cassiel calls over to Major Donovan.  "Major, I trust you're receiving?  We've established planet-wide communications.  We are due for exfil.  Request immediate deployment of forces to secure this position."

The vox static breaks in again, it takes about a minute before they patched you through to the major.
In the background you hear the snap-crack of las-fire and the rumbling boom of demolisher cannons as they pound enemies into dust.

"Ho in the blazes did you establish planet wide comms? Excellent work Draco! Ill send some squads to occupy your location. Where is it? What makes it so important?"

"Prepare to receive coded coordinates." Cassiel asks Mak to transmit them. "I'm sure a technical explanation wouldn't interest you. It doesn't me, anyway. Suffice it to say that what makes it work is where we are located, so holding this position is critical."

There was a pause before he responded back, "Understood. Im sending a few armored fist squads that way. They should be there in a few hours."

Now there was nothing to do but wait.

Ironbound turned to speak to you.
"Thanks for your help. With long range comms back up, at least the remaining hives can coordinate their efforts. It will make liberation many timaes as likely-"

He was interrupted by a tremor. The whole of the building shook, not violently.

Not at first anyway.......


Khol and Lucius were making good time in the tracked ATV from the outpost, the dunes were rolling by at a fast and leisurely pace.

Directly ahead, Lucius noticed something.....the terrain looked as though it had been modified somehow, There were other spots nearby that looked as if they had been dug up as well.
They were coming up on it fast.
He tried to get a warning in to Khol, but Khol himself had also noticed just in time. Jerking the control bars, the speed couldn't be maintained safely and you are both thrown from the ATV.

You flip end over end but the ash waste dunes made for a soft landing. Standing, you notice the mine that you had narrowly avoided, what was unexpected was the forms rising from the other abnormal spots.
They wern't landmines at all.


Rising from the sands were 4 lithe woman adorned with bones and skull motiffs. They were wearing armored bodysuits with some bits of bones lashed into armored sections. Their faces were covered in dust masks, but what you could see they were heavily scarred. On their hips were ornate looking pistols, What was most menacing about them was the curved power swords they held in each hand. They look from one to another with a questioning look. Accepting what you were, the take up positions surrounding you.

They were silent, and i was clear they meant to attack.

OUTPOST:

As data starts to stream in, Ambrose says a small prayer of thanks and starts discretely transmitting attack vectors to the rest of the team.
tectonic activity originating from enemy forces tunneling under the location. initial analysis suggest the same insectoid orks as at the port; large concentrations. Primary entry vector at coordinates X1.Y1.Z1, secondary vectors at X2.Y2.Z2 and X3.Y3.Z3. moving into position to have high ground on primary entry vector.

I read you Venerable one. Moving on the main breach. Hydrako was a literal blurred in his heavy Terminator armour as he left his post on their perimeter to engage the demos. His weapons were still both in his hands and they crackled and growled in anticipation.
Hydrako heads to the coordinates, seeing nothing unusual except for the few human patrols panicking. The ground was still shaking violently as well, but nothing had presented itself yet.

Makradon had done what needed to be done, but the universe liked to be tricky and not exactly let them get on with the next thing too easily. He moves with purpose to protect their target, setting up an overwatch towards the closest location that might bring forth enemies for him to exterminate.

Albrecht was annoyed. Ambrose and Hydrako had claimed the primary entry point for whatever was coming, he might not get to face the largest of foes which he assumed the Tyranids were about to throw at them. As he ran out of the building he sent out a quick vox "I will deal with X2.Y2.Z2".
Once he was clear of the build Albrecht took to the sky's.

Corporal CaediteGrimm was seen running around the open space, trying to regroup them and shore up the defenders. It was standard imperial tactic to mass up on firepower and wear the opponet down with barrage of fire.
"Lexons!to me! Mag! Take the high ground, get a stubber!"

Bleda positions himself close to Ironbound so that he could shield the target from anything that might come their way.

With two Space Marines flanking Micah, Cassiel shoulders his heavy bolter and moves toward Grimm outside.
"This might work better than a stubber."
Grimm looks at him on shaky feet, "By the golden throne I hope so."
It was under years of hard resolve and experience, but Cassiel could sense the fear. The humans all had it.

Ambrose got into position on a slightly elevated position with clear view of the X1.Y1.Z1 entry point. The mechanical grind of rounds coming into place reverberated from his assault cannon.
He continued to follow the creatures underground with his auspex, his targeter keeping a tight lock, the assault cannon's line of fire tracing the enemy position, ready to unleash hell the moment they surfaced.
Seeing a Battle-brother, the Shark, running in his direction, he made a direct link so he would be continually updated on the enemy position."

Elsewhere, Priest takes a swig of cheap homebrew from a canteen. His men were looking all around for the enemy, but he knew better.
"You hog-sniffin loons oughta know better. Wheterver's-a-coming is coming through the ground. Drop the chickenshit and get some blasting charges.
He spits the aftertaste out. Warm homebrew always tasted like grox shit. What he wouldn't give for a nice, cold one.

Inside the comms array, Micah Curas found himself flanked by 2 giants. He didn't like being protected.
"listen you guys, Im not one for sitting around behind a fence while others are getting shot up."
He squeezes between them and out the door, Lasgun in hand....
Outside, he starts to head towards Caedite Grimm.

Mag found herself climbing a pile of rubble. It ended on the high ground from a partially collapsed, brick and mortar facility.
On the top platform was a mounted heavy stubber. She makes it there, and checks the feed. It was good to go.

Benton was headed up the pile of rubble after Mag, but was stopped by the middle brother, Del.
"Where's Carus?"
"I though he was with you?" Denton replied.
"Last time I saw him he was following the walking tank."
He turns and begins to scramble down the rubble towards the killbox.
"You idiot! Thats where the action is going to be." he shouts as he makes his way past his younger brother.

Del turns on his heels and proceed to follow his older brother towards Ambrose's location.

The small clearing in from of the comms array, the de-facto "courtyard" erupted in a 15 meter high geyser of dirt, rock and sand.
Immediately, Lucius mines are set off. Obviously, the explosives would not be enough to stop whatever had just showed up, but it would (hopefully) distract it enough to give you time to open a few volleys of fire first.
It was wise of the tyrannic veteran to mine even the interior in case of borrowing creatures.
The column of dirt begins to dissipate and what you see is beyond the scope of what mortal man was meant to see.
The borrowing monstrosity towered above all, even the comms array. Its snake-like body was still submerged beneath the ground, YOur first thought is a borrowing bio-titan, but the scale seemed just too short.
Even so, this thing was the size of an imperial knight from one of the great houses. This would be no easy task.
From the newly mined tunnel, some of you old friends show up:
Five Raveners with clawed hand-like talons, and short range fists that could shoot a small spike cloud could be seen.
However, they seemed to be caught in the mined blasts as well.
The giant, insectile warboss sprung out of the groud, but ambrose had started firing the moment the first claw broke the surface. He straffed the body as it rose from the depths, even scoring a headshot on the momentarily disoriented creature.

Carus had followed Ambrose from a distance, playing in the shattered buildings as he went. The shaking didnt bother him much.
Sometimes the ground shook and sometimes it didnt anymore.
But then the giant xenos snake burst from the ground, knocking Carus off his feet.
He saw the thing, it was like a nightmare, the stuff of nightmares made manifest.
So he did what he would do in his dreams. He raised his autopistol and challenged the monster with a well placed, but laughably ineffective blast from the small gun.
It was often said throughout the imperium that ignorance was bliss, and the ignorance of youth was just such a blessing......
The xenos did not react, it didnt even seem to realize it had been attacked.
Something of reality hit the young child and he began too realize that this time he had not pulled a Sly Marbo off....



ASH WASTES:

Khol did the best of his skills to control such a small vehicle that was made for the standard human. Luckily they were still in the dunes when they crashed, otherwise it would've been painful. As he stands himself up, seeing the odd spots shift & move, his instinct is grabbing his shotgun. For what he has gone through on this planet, there was no point of finesse of his pistols. Seeing these female figures before him, Khol pulls the trigger quickly to fire a single shell into them. Thinking they're not going to last long against Astartes.
To his surprise, the lithe female easily avoids the shotgun blast, dancing to the side.

Like a single unit, two of the sword wielding women charge fourth. One rushes Lucius with her power sword held high. It was a downward slash, though at its zenith the tip of the sword barely matched Lucius' mohawk. The blade slips past his defenses and glances off his leg, cutting through the ceremite like butter. The wound barely phazed Lucius who had had much worse in his own time, but it meant that these women were likely apex predators of the human race.
As two of her comrades move forward, one on Khol's side stood back and cut herself before powering up the sword. Then she licked her tongue along the blade, savoring the flavor of her own blood.
Khol found the savage woman on him right away, but she opening attack was pitiful indeed. She stank of dried blood and sweat.

Lucius failed to parry the power weapon, but knew that he had the advantage in size and strength. He lunged in to try and grab his enemy, but she was too lithe. She dances around his attempts, knowing full well that his hands would be a death-grip.


Initiative:
Outpost:
Ravener 1 - 15 - Stunned
Ravener 2 - 15 - Stunned
Hydrako - 14
Makradon - 14
Albrect - 13
Caedite Grimm - 12
Ravener 4 - 8 - Stunned
Bleda - 7
Cassiel - 7
Ambrose - 7
Priest - 7
Ravener 5 - 7
Ironbound - 6
Mag - 6
Benton - 6
Del - 6
Ravener 3- 6 - Stunned
The thing that Should not be - 5 - Stunned, 38 damage
Carus - 4


Ash wastes:
Khol - 15
Assassin 1 - 13 - CC w/ Lucius
Assassin 2 - 13 - DEAD
Assassin 3 - 13 - CC w/Khol
Lucius - 12
Assassin 4 - 7 -Frenzy

Outpost:
The ravener closest to the slither-y bio-titan thing slowly regains its composure. It was balanced now and ready to strike.

A ravaner on the other same shakes its head free of the ringing that echoed within its skull. The pain was immediately replaced by the crushing will of the hive mind. Orders were being issued but there was little

Hydrako thundered to a halt as the burrowing xenos burst through the ground into the compound. The defences Lucius had set up wreaked havoc on the first wave of Tyranids to breach, effectively stunning them and leaving them open to counter attack. He heard the cacophonous roar of the Dreadnought's assault cannon and watched the tracers tear into the beast's hide. He glanced at the "smaller" Raveners and knew what his target would be. He charged with his chainaxe held high above his head to meet the foe. He was not afraid to die, for his instincts urged him to attack. He would be the only Apex in this theatre. His teeth bared and blood on his lips, he swung into the hide of the stunned alien, intent on sundering it.

Makradon raised his storm bolter instinctively, finding the closest of the Ravenors to do his damage to. He knew his brothers could handle the monstrosity before them. He was on mop up duty to give them the chance to do so. He fires a single shot, reading that his ammo was indeed low in the hellfire chamber. It'd be best to conserve for the time being.
Even a single shot from the storm bolter was a very curt burst. Both hellfire rounds rip straight through the nearest Ravener's armor. Chucks of its longe tail like appendage are blown away by the special issue ammo. It was hurt, but still very much alive....

Albrect IC

Caedite looked on in horror as the thing loomed dozens of meters over him. Somewhere deep inside his soul, his old guardsmen reflexes kick in and he raises his lasgun in an amazing act of defiance.
"TAKE THIS YOU XENOS BASTARD! FOR THE EMPEROR!"
His lasgun spits out several incandescent shots that all hit the giant monstrosity. Not a single one left its mark on the beast.

One of the attending Ravener's seems to regain its wits. The concussive trap wearing off as quickly as it had started.

Seeing the Tyranids arrive in force to attack them Bleda readies himself to protect his charge, force sword in hand. He exits the comms array and, spotting Ironbound in the thick of things giving orders to his men, he positions himself between the asset and the danger.

Cassiel Exited the building and took a good look at the situation. Quickly deciding, Cassiel took his position right outside the door. With the Ravener's stunned, he lets the Heavy Bolter spit death among their ranks. The closest Ravener who had yet to move was shredded by the heavy bolter rounds, jerking with each impact. It falls to the ground, not yet wanting to get back up.

Ambrose unleashed the firestorm, spraying the creature' body & head with promethium. Even if it didnt harm him, the flames may at least distract it long enough to allow the others to engage. Flames licked at the giant's body, but there was too much body to cover from a single measley flamer. Sheets of flame simply slough off after a few seconds, though some parts stay aflame.

Priest takes a few hesitant steps forwards and watches the astartes (And Ironbound's lackeys) douse the giant snake thing in fire and flame. Little effect seemed to be taking place. He take a lho stick from his pocket and lights it up. He looks at the nearest xenos, it was a ravener breed. He had killed a few by trapping them, but knew he didnt have what he needed to take them down.
"Hey butch," he shouts, " "see about gettin' one of those launchers here quick."
INstead of adding his weight to the fire, he stands and accesses the situation. He was all for killin' xenos, but he wouldn't hesitate to turn tail if it meant surviving. It was the difference between hin and the high n' mighty Curas.

The ravener who had been riddled with shots picks itself up. It was seriously wounded, bleeding from multiple wounds; but it would take more than mortal wounds to end a beast dominated by the hive mind. It raises its bioweapon and fires a slew of caustic leaches at Caedite Grimm. Oblivious to his immediate damger, the emperor saves Caedite from mortal harm.

Ironbound wasnt about to sit idly by while his men fought to keep him safe. He moves around Bleda.
As the Ironbound slips past him, Bleda tries to stop the asset from running off. "Idiot!" The Librarian curses as he stops the Ironbound.
Curas was fuming now. He sternly tells Bleda, "I'm no child and I wont be coddled while others are butchered in my stead."

The young female, Mag, depresses the firing stud and the tripod-mounted heavy stubber opens up on the nearest ravener. A chugging THUNKATHUNKATHUNKA fills the air as the hardpan is chewed into soft mush by the stubber. The ravener weathered the fire, unscathed by the barrage.
"Feth me! We ain' gonna make this one!" she yells, hoping someone would agree and they could run; or maybe disagree and embolden her.

Benton runs down the rubble strewn piles towards his yougnest brother, Carus.
"CARUS! get back here!"
He makes it to him and skids to a halt, almost bypassing him completely.
"C'mon kid, your pea shooter isn't gonna do shit."
"I can do it." the twelve year old soldier protests. He knew it wasm't going to work, but even in battle he was still a stubbon child.

Del runs past them and ends up next to Amrose, in what he and Benton had affectionately called the "killbox"
"Hey!" he yells to the hulking astartes, trying to pierce the din of combat.
"We're overexposed down here. Can you keep them off of us so we can get to a better position!?"

The last Ravener shakes its head free of the fog and charges the nearest target - Del. Del was busy trying to get a plan together with Ambrose for some cover fire, but he was caught off guard and interrupted by a scything talon that pierced the air bu just a few cm.
Shi-" he says as he reflexitively jerks back and away, he drops his lasgun and pulls a rusty combat knife in a underhand grip from its sheath.
He was as ready as he could be while the Ravener moves in, between him and the dreadnought.

"We need heavier weapons, I will retrieve what I can." The Blood Angel ducks out resisting the urge to rip and tear as he activates his jump pack making his way towards the weapons cache where the launchers where held.
He soars across the distance to the small munitions dump that they had been shown earlier. He lands and sees a total of 3 missile launchers, 6 krak missiles and 9 frag missiles.

The massive creature slithers its way past Hydrako (AoO?) and towards Ambrose, who was the heaviest threat by far.
Both Hydrako and Ambrose are raked by talons situated all over the beast's elongated body. It scores several hits, and two talons larger than Ambrose himself strike the Dreadnought, raking into its armor with ease.
(Reactions?)

Carus, stubborn child that he is, attempts to overpower his larger brother. Benton maintains him in a firm grip.
"Oh no you dont!"
"Let me go I can fight!"
"This is a fight we can't win."
"Lemme kick his ass!"Though they bicker and argue, Benton is able to keep Carus from escaping.


Ash Wastes:

Khol is greatly surprised on how they evading his shotgun shells. As an experienced last man, he pulls out his chainsword & swings it viciously wild in front of him.
The wild attack causes the bone-laden maiden to react. Her power sword parries Khols chainsword with a frantic grace. Knocking every blow aside or causes its destination to veer just enough.

As the other assassin slithers out of Lucius' grapple, she counters with the curved power sword. Open from his atempted choke hold, Lucius finds himself with 2 new cuts to his body and a grazing slash to his cybernetic arm (Need reaction)

With a hungry smile on her face, Khol's opponent counters his savage chainsword with attacks of her own. He had left himself open and now was the time to make him suffer for it. As she parries his chainsword, she finds time for 2 quick hits to his arm wielding the rending chainsword. Blood quickly flows from Khols arm. His enhanced clotting factor would close those wounds soon enough.

Lucius grit his teeth in annoyance as the power blade bit at him once more. Exasperated and frustrated, he decides to end this. His hand shoots out like a bolt from his hesh. It is aimed perfectly at the assassin's face...
The gauntletes fist collides solidly with the assassin's face. It shatters the half-skull mask she wore. Her face caved in under the pressure. For Lucius it was like sticking his hand inside a xenos specimen to violently dissect the innards.
Her neck is snapped violently backwards by the impact. There was so much force behind the punch that the body is knocked backwards a meter.
Lucius' fist was cast in a slick shade of crimson.

The bone-maiden who had held back was screaming incoherently as she succumbs to her blood lust. To Lucius and Khol, she was reminiscent of Serephan's recent behavior.
She charges forwards towards the nearest target - Khol.
He was already hard pressed by the first target, now he had double to deal with.
The power sword lashes out, slasheing into the flesh of Khol's leg. It was a deep cut, but with time, it would  be nothing but a distant memory.


Initiative:
Outpost:
Ravener 1 - 15 -
Ravener 2 - 15 -
Hydrako - 14
Makradon - 14
Albrect - 13
Caedite Grimm - 12
Ravener 4 - 8 -
Bleda - 7
Cassiel - 7
Ambrose - 7
Priest - 7 - Braced
Ravener 5 - 7 - 35 wounds, 3 fatigue
Ironbound - 6
Mag - 6 - Braced
Benton - 6
Del - 6
Ravener 3- 6 - 4 fatigue, 2 agi damage, CC w/ Del
Serephan - 5
The thing that Should not be - 5 - 50 damage
Carus - 4


Ash wastes:
Khol - 15
Assassin 1 - 13 - DEAD
Assassin 2 - 13 - DEAD
Assassin 3 - 13 - CC w/Khol
Lucius - 12
Assassin 4 - 7 -Frenzy, CC/Khol

Outpost:

The 1st of the unwounded raveners moves half the distance towards Mag. It's snake-like torso made light work of the ascent up the debris to her position. Without stopping to aim, it fires its deathspitter at her.
Her position is peppered by caustic ammunition, but she was able to duck out of the way just in time.

The other Raveger rushes priest. He pulls out a short blade as long as his forward with a heavy cutting end and smiles with a semi-buzzed appreciation for what was about to happen.
"I got you you filthy piece of shit." he goads as the beast moves - too quickly, and impales the troubled-man on its scything talon.
"Feth me." He coughs , "I knew this wouldnt be my day." His blade falls from still fingers as the ravener tosses him uselessly to the ground.

The beast struck out at everything around it at once. The combination of its size and his bulk made the blows impossible to avoid. His tried in vain to block with his powersword but the blows landed regardless, punching holes and tearing rents in his ancient armour. The pain was enormous, but it was useful. He used it to fuel his rage and give new energy to his arms. The chainaxe rained blow after blow on the body of the leviathan and managed to cut its way deep into the hide, past the chitinous armour an into the softer interior. His arcing powersword tried desperately to match the savagery of the roaring chainblade, but was left wanting. If he had been able to acquire another meltabomb this would have been the most opportune time to place it, but alas, he had used it on taking down the Harridan. He would just have to continue dig his way into the beast's side and tear its innards out with his hands...

Mak kept up his attack on the one he had previously damaged, aiming once again, and doing his best to try and end the thing so he could move on to the next one. With precision and fluidity, he steadies the bolter, knowing that his chances of missing were next to none. He lets fly with another single shot, leaving him with only 2 precious Hellfire rounds remaining...

All appeared quiet, perhaps the initial activity at the secondary locations had been registered as the giant xeno moved in. Albrecht was about to turn away to assist his brothers when something caught his eye.
There were six black armoured vehicles moving in at speed, possibly a minute or so away. Albrecht had wondered what had been keeping the ecclesiarchy...
"Brother Cassiel, we have six ecclesiarchy vehicles heading into our position from my vector. ETA one minute." there was a brief pause in the squad wide vox as Albrecht considered something "There might be more coming in from the other location venerable Ambrose reported."
He had a minute, plenty of time to bring the Emperors righteous fury to the xeno filth. Turning Albrecht boosts back towards the kill team.

Caedite could only watch as tghe caustic leaches splatter into corrosive goo all around him.
-Needless to say, his will to stand in the open and fire a flashlight against a xenos god was shattered-
"To hell with this!" he says as he runs behind a wall of sheet metal and discarded tires.
From here he could mount a more solid defense.
"Get behind cover!" he yells to the other members of the squad.

One of the raveners had completely regained its wits and was now ready to launch a full scale attack. Mag's position with a heavy machine gun in a fortified position made her an important target. It slithers foward-faster than it should;Making it to the top of the rubble heap, she finds one of the beasts she had just been shooting in front of her in an unfavorable position.
It rakes downwards with its scything talons.
Mag curses as she abandons the heavy stubber in order to avoid a plethora of blood faucets in her abdomen.

And he adress the Ironbound curtly.
"Curse or hate as you wish. But you will live this day."

Cassiel opens up all communication channels including speakers. "Micah, share the danger with your men by getting them to a safe position. We'll hold the enemy in the courtyard. We have armored reinforcements moving in fast - get ready to hold the interior spaces. We'll keep them off you."
Trying to prove his words, Cassiel trains his heavy bolter on the Ravener threatening mag in the Heavy Stubber.
Mag watched in amazement as the Ravener trying to impale her on sword-like arms was raked into bloody ribbons by pinpoint heavy bolter fire.

Seeing one of the guardsman under threat, he debated inside himself. He could save him, but failing to stop the monster would kill thousands. Using his powerful fist, he put all his weight striking the monstrous creature.
The creature sees the fist and tries to dodge accordingly. Its centepede body reverberates with the shocking impact of the dreadnought fist. Had Ambrose the sensory receptors of flesh and nerve endings, he would have felt the bruisign crunch of pulverized meat under broken chitin plates.

The Ravener who had fired at Grimm decided it was  time to finish the job. It slithers his way, making light of the debris separating them. It raises itself of the broken panels he was using as cover. He registered the movement and looked up as a scything talon embeds itself deep into his chest.
"Garrg!" he whimpers as ribs are broken and lugs punctured. He coughs up blood in fits, adding color to his greyed hair.
"Come of you son of a bitch." He spits through clenched teeth.

Ironbound saw the wisdom in Bleda's motive, but it was against everything he knew to sit back and wait for death. Cassiel's order provided a solution to both answers. "Everyone on the heavy stubber" He orders loudly.
He then turns to Bleda as he moves away, "Surely, finding some cover can only help your golden goose live right?"
As he runs, he see's Caedite, his closest friend and ally, struggle to survive against the ravener. He forces himself to look away, knowing the astartes would never be so human as to help a comrade in need, not this current group anyway....

Mag crawls over the meat-pile body of the ravaner Cassiel had killed. She mutters a benediction as she retakes her position on the heavy stubber. She pulls back the slide and feels the satisfying chunk as it locks another round in place, ready for the taking.

Benton held his grip on Carus, who was helpless as he was dragged away by his older brother. "C'mon. You heard Micah. We're linking up at the stubber."
Carus had tears in his eyes, he could say little about what he was watching as his brother dragged him away....

Del held the combat knife in a firm underhanded grip. He knew he was outclassed, but also knew that if he turned and ran he would end up with a chitinous barb in his back. With Ambrose busy, his only option was to fight. He swipes forward, trying to keep the ravaner on the backfoot; but his attack was too defensive to be of any real use.

The ravener had hive mind instinct on par with the experience of a venerabke dreadnough at least, it saw the desperate move for what it was. immediatly, it lunged forwards and rakes Del's neck and face, The last blow lops Del's head clean off its neck. His lifeless body slumps to the ground in a heap.
Mag spots the altercation from her perch and screams a cry of womanly despair.
Seraphan quickly grabs the weapons, the load nothing to his enhanced genome augmented with Astartes battleplate and quickly exits the munitions dump, weapons more suited to their situation in hand, activating the winged jump pack he flies forth quickly assessing the situation, Cassiel's order to converge on the stubber in his mind he decides to get as many bodies there az possible and lands by the guardsman hunkered down from the Ravenors staring down the beast.
"Quickly take what you can of the launchers and join your comrades" with his free hand the Blood Angel draws his chainsword staring at the Xenos beast "I will keep it's attention." He revs the chainsword as he finishes speaking, standing tall making himself the threat to the beast.

The beast looms over Ambrose menacingly. It had scything talons lined all around its rounded maw. They clicked the mouth as if in thought about how best to devour the dreadnought. It had suffered much, in much faster time than the hive mind had anticipated. It was either time to commit or retreat and live to fight another day.
Without warning, a ecclesiarch hymn can be heard, increasing in volume as the vehicles Albrect had discovered neared. As suddenly as the pipe organ is heard, several krak missiles crash into the side of the beast.
It reels back from the impact, several spotss had blackened, fleshy craters where just seconds before harened chitin had withstood. It screams ferally. Was is anger? frustration?
Either way, the hive mind had made a choice. It needed more bio-weapons to take this location, and it just wasn't worth the effort at this time.
The beast slithers away. Back towards the hole that had spawned it. Hydrako and Ambrose would strike all they may while krak missiles rained from the sky. The beast had escaped the clutches of death for today. With its escape, the raveners were recalled to another location as well. Slithering away just as fast as they had attacked.

Ash Wastes:

The quick stings of pain piercing Khol's flesh were like bumble bee stings. After being irritated, he grabs his pistol with his free hand & fires a wild burst into the furied assassin. Luckily enough, the bolts go into her left arm & take it apart

Lucius took some small satisfaction at not having to waste a sacred bolt round on such a worthless foe. He turned just in time to see Khol, flanked by two tangos, pull his pistol and eliminate another. That left one threat. He gave his jump pack a quick burst and collided with the remaining assassin, wrapping her in a tight, non-lethal embrace with his free hand.
"Enough! The fight is over." he commanded.

The assassin was beyond the pale. She screams like a woman being murdered in an alley:
"FOR THE EMPERORRRRRRR!"
As she screams, she tries to slip free her bonds, but is unable to break Lucius' grasp.

COMBAT OVER

Initiative:
Outpost:
Ravener 1 - 15 -
Ravener 2 - 15 -
Hydrako - 14
Makradon - 14
Albrect - 13
Caedite Grimm - 12
Ravener 4 - 8 - DEAD
Bleda - 7
Cassiel - 7
Ambrose - 7
Priest - 7 - Dead
Ravener 5 - 7 - 35 wounds, 3 fatigue
Ironbound - 6
Mag - 6 -
Benton - 6
Del - 6 - DEAD
Ravener 3- 6 - 4 fatigue, 2 agi damage
Serephan - 5
The thing that Should not be - 5 - 136 damage
Carus - 4


Ash wastes:
Khol - 15
Assassin 1 - 13 - DEAD
Assassin 2 - 13 - DEAD
Assassin 3 - 13 - DEAD
Lucius - 12
Assassin 4 - 7 -Frenzy, CC/Khol, Grappled by Lucius

There was little time to celebrate, as you had an armed contingent of ecclesiarchy on your doorstep.

It would be wise to meet them at the front door, that way if fighting did break out, you had the benefit of a fortified position, though it would do little to stop tanks and krak missiles.

Mag approaches the headless body of Del, sobbing as she went. She kneels down and places her hands on his chest. Ironbound stands above them both, straining to keep tears from his own eyes.
Benton and Carus also made thier way to the body, Carus crying without reprieve, Benton was wiping tears from his eyes just as Mag was.
Ironbound looks up, and towards the approaching convoy.
"He loved you Mag, you know that right?"
In answer, she just nods silently.
"Take a moment. Dont be seen like this."
Walking towards them was Caedite, leaning on a piece of wood as if it was a crutch, a bloody, pulpy mess in his chest.
"It should have been me," he said with a pained look.
"Im sorry Mag. Thats the kind of life we lead." he adds.
Ironbound places a hand on Grimm's shoulder. "We got company, you better sit this one out."
Grimm smiles grimly, "I think if I sit, I wont be able to stand back up."
He takes Carus' autopistol. "I need this son. Ill give it back."

Wiping the last of the tears from thier eyes, they walk towards the Eccliesiarch convoy, which was pulling up just outside the facility.

As they limp, Grimm continues, "Priest is dead, as is most of his cronies."
"Heh," replies Ironbound, "Im not even sure what to think about that."
Grimm shakes his head, "Best news I've heard all day."

***

You stand just outside the fortifications, the vehicles have stopped in front of you.

All in all, there were 2 exorcist tanks, 3 immolators, and 2 rhinos, a total of 43 sisters of battle stood outside their transports. There was no sign of the cannoness. As you await to see what happens you hear a door open from a rhino, and a dragging sound can be heard.

From the rear of the Rhino comes the Cardinal, he was dragging a dead body.
The body was in a black body suit, no skin was visible. Across his eyes was an esoteric visor, and across his chest was some enhanced combat webbing of some sort. The cardinal himself looked annoyed. You can tell that he had seen some combat-recently.

He approaches you, dragging the body, until he was only 10 meters away.

He drops the arm he was dragging the body by, and yells loud enough for anyone to hear,
"I will forgive your indiscretion if you hand Curas over."

***

Khol hit the pedal, hard. The ATV was buzzing along the ash wastes at full speed. Up ahead both of you can see the outpost, but there was some vehicles separating you from them.

Lucius looks behind him again. Tied to the stowage rack was the would-be assassin. She was out cold for now. But she would have some explaining to do when she woke up.

[OOC - Lucius gathers all bodies of our would-be assassins and stuffs them in the back of our ride. No need to take their weapons]

Lucius looked checked the magazine feeds into his bolter. He still had plenty of ammo to spare. The convoy ahead looked up-armored though. He put out a call on the secure channel to the Imperial Guard.

"Major. Lucius Vorenus here. What is your ETA for reinforcement on Draco's position? Over."

The major's response would tell Lucius exactly who separated he and Khol from his brothers. He spoke to the Raptor.

"If those aren't friendly, then we are in a unique position to catch them off guard. Keep your distance and pull into cover. Let's get weapons on them and potentially have a chat with our friend here."

Albrecht stepped forward towards the cardinal, Cassiels order fresh in his mind that he would represent Draco in church matters. His shield and axe were in hand but were not held aggressively. Prayer papers and purity seals flutter in the breeze. His helm remained firmly in place as he was conscious this meeting could quickly turn ugly, although he hoped it would not. Albrecht was not aware at this stage that Draco; Lucius and Khol had also been attacked by assassins.

He looked down at the body which was clearly an assassin. Deathwatch did not use such servants.

“It is good to see you well Cardinal despite efforts by the look of things to see you otherwise.” Albrecht gestured to the assassin with his axe “Draco came across some of your destroyed tanks in the field which looked like the work of someone other than the xeno filth. If you think Draco had a hand in such matters you are mistaken.”

Bleda takes a protective position close to Curas, ready to step forward and soak fire power if things would turn ugly.

Despite the evolving situation, Ambrose saw the insectoid orks as the primary threat. He rushed towards the whole the monster had come out of, and started emptying his promethium tanks into the whole, arcing the fuel to maximize depth. Once a single shot was left, he lit the fuse, hoping to flood the entire tunnel network with flame.

The cardinal looks at Albrect. His face was dirty and cuffed up from recent combat.
"It is also good to see the one reasonable member of you kill team is alive thus far. I mis-spoke. I doubt astartes would resort to the temple assassinorum, but the ordos xenos....that may be another story."
"Unfortunatly we are at an Impass. I know Curas is here. I have my orders and I cannot defy them. Give him over to me and we will be on our way."

Sent from Topic'it App

Albrecht nods "I suppose that is a possibility." he was not naive to think the Ordo wouldn't stoop so low.

"Draco also has its orders. I have made oaths to my brothers, my captain and The Emperor. It is indeed an impass."

"I would ask why there is a possibility the Holy Church and the Holy Ordo" he stressed the word 'holy' both times "are working against each other. Can you offer insight as to why this might be?"

[Still awaiting response from the Major about Imperial Guard reinforcements on Draco's position]

Once they had pulled off and found ample cover, Lucius gestures for Khol to find some highground and get a weapon on anyone or anything threatening the squad. He then patches through to the squad on their private channel and sends a message in Draco cant.

"Draco team actual, this is Draco team 1. Fire mission success - upon exfil we were set upon by four assassins - Imperial and claiming allegiance to the Emperor. No accident. Intentions clear; it was a kill mission. Over."

Lucius didn't give away his position, not even in Draco cant. Too risky.

Once it was finished he sat the assassin down, well out of sight and attempted to wake her. Assuming she wakes, he keeps a hand over her mouth.

"You have attacked faithful servants of the Imperium and failed in your mission. All of your compatriots are dead. You are in no position to negotiate. Tell me your orders, or I will kill you as the traitor you are."

Albrecht holds up a hand to the Cardinal before he has a chance to reply. “A moment, one of my brothers is reporting in.”

More assassins and these ones set upon Draco, an interesting and timely report from Lucius.

“Cardinal, brother Lucius reports being attacked by four ‘imperial’ assassins, it seems there are other forces at work here. Deathwatch of course works with Ordo Xeno so perhaps there is more than one other hand at play.”

Cassiel leaves the mourners and joins Albrecht by the cardinal. He had his reservations about allowing Albrecht handle these negotiations, but everything seemed to be going well. He stays a step behind making it clear that the Cardinal should continue the discussion with Albrecht. Cassiel's orders didn't allow for Draco to hand over Ironbound, but he remained curious as to whether the Cardinal would reveal why he needed the enigmatic human.

Seraphan was all to aware of the coppery scent of blood in the air and he felt the saliva build up in his mouth and his enlongated teeth push into his bottom lip - he sealed the vents on his battle plates helm, the scents replaced by the sterilised air provided by the power armour Focus the first Grace came to his mind as he blinked through the readouts of the Kill Team on jis diagnostor helm, checking vitals the work helping the thirst subside as the eclisarchs convor approached he started gathering tactical on them that he could - not relishing the thought of slaying the followers of the Emporer but knowing that should the force the issue their Oaths to the Chapter and the Ordo Xenos would require it.

He first focused his attention on the armour, the exorcists would be ineffective this close so it was tagged as low threat along with the Rhinos - effective as transport but it wad their cargo that was a concern. He then checked the Immolator tanks, their loadout could be concerning - and seeing one woth Multi-Meltas he tagged it as priority target, that weapon would give ancient Ambrose pause, he then scanned among the sisters looking for meltas

"Brothers if it comes to it we need to nuetralise the melta weapons as a priort. I'm guessing dominion squads - the cardinal came for a fight" he says this as he moves on to check the ammo load on his gauntlet mounted Angelus bolter as Lucius statement comes through the Blood Angel mouths a curse and tries to split his attention between tje eclisarch and any possible approaches"Brother Bleda be prepared for someone to try and take the assest while we deal with the Ministorum forces."

"Interesting. Seeing as how these heretics have attacked us, and not the xenos plaguing this planet. I can only assume we are the designated targets."
Her kicks the body of his assassin in disgust.
"The god-emperor will judge those responsible in time."

He watches Cassiel approach the conversation with suspicion, but said nothing.

"I'm on a holy quest, tasked to bring Ironbound to where he can benefit the war effort the greatest. Will you help me?"

****

Lucius moves the binded assassin up against a boulder. She was alive, but unconcious. He would have to rouse her back to speech.
[+30 Medicae]

His vox opens up with static as Donovan replies.
"I've got 3 fist squads headed that way with a hell hound and 2 sentinels. Unless they have hit trouble, they should be there in another half hour or so."

That meant that the relief force was 3 full squads in chimeras, the hell hound flame tank and 2 light walkers. It was not enough to take the sisters force down. But it added to the weight of Draco. All you would have to do was to convince the men to turn the guns on the ecclesiarch if it came to that.

Sent from Topic'it App

Albrecht liked the cardinal, he was forthright. He also had no doubt the man believed he was on a holy mission, it was just that the Black Templars holy mission trumped the cardinals. Albrechts creed had been passed down from the Emperor to Rogal Dorn and then to First Captain, Sigismund. The cardinals creed while based on a sound founding was lacking and miss guided.

Albrecht had made a binding oath to the Emperor that he would succeed.

“No. Will you help us?” was Albrechts firm reply to the Cardinal.

“We have similar objectives Cardinal, perhaps we get off this planet and resolve this in safer surrounds?”

Medicae 53:

Lucius attempts to wake the assassin, but she is currently out cold. Seraphan could have done it. He briefly thought on the team's medicae, wondering what internal struggle he was no doubt going through after yet another loss of control. He would speak with him about it privately once they made it back to the ship.

Major Donavan's voice brought him back from his thoughts. He sent back an affirmative and thanked him, then radioed back to Draco.

"Donovan's reinforcements inbound - 3 full squads in chimeras, 2 sentinel walkers, and a hellhound. ETA 30 mikes."

The cardinal shakes his head no.
"Im afraid that could weaken our position, or maybe visa versa? I have no urge to parlay while I am aboard your vessel. I am sure you feel the same. Im afraid we have to settle this here and now."

From under his coat he reaches and pulls out an object, it was an inquisitorial acolyte rosette. He holds it out to show you, hanging from a chain of finely wrought links.
"We both have the same authority, the same mission, and the same resolve. It all comes down to who has the muscle to take Ironbound. I outnumber you. Sororitas may not match up to as astartes one on one but I have more than 3 times what you do. I also have heavy weapons and assault vehicles, and more of my search parties are converging on this position. I have no wish to do any harm, I am sure you feel the same. Let's find a peaceful way to end this. The church would be most grateful to the ordos xenos for their cooperation."

The moment was tense. The sororitas were obviously ready to spring into action at any moment, and the cardinal had a point. He had the upper hand in this negotiation.

"Yes I do feel the same way. I wish you and yours no harm and why would I, we both fight for the Emperor first and foremost do we not?"

Albrecht did not pause for a reply

"I stand here and ask myself what I would do in your position having arrived to late. Finding that my target had been acquired already. I would likely do as you do but how far would I go."

Albrecht glances behind him "We number a full squad." They were actually nine but Ambrose counted at least double "We are Deathwatch. We are all hand picked vetrans from our chapters. We have the target. Do you really threaten violence, will you pull the trigger first?"

"As I said, I wish for peace between us. We are allies are we not. Fighting for the same cause. Consider what you do."

While Albrecht spoke he consdiered his targets, what would be a priority if the cardinal made what would ultimately prove a mistake in the Templars view.

"I will do whatever it takes to complete my quest. Would you do any less? It's the only way to do show our faith to the golden throne."

His eyes flicker between Albrect and Cassiel.
***
In the shadowed recess of the barricade further back, Curas, Grimm and Bleda watch.
"Will you have me over to avoid violence?" Micah asks Bleda.
"We're not exactly in a position here to put up a fight boss." Caedite adds, wincing in pain from his open chest wound. "Mag and the young ones are distraught. We all just lost a member of our family. I'm in no condition to fight a battle-nun. And they outgun us."

Curas looks at Bleda, suddenly curious about something. "If I chose to go with them, would you let me? Am I your 'prisoner' just as I'd be his?"

Sent from Topic'it App

"I would do whatever is approprioate to complete my orders, yes. Attack other imperial forces? That would depend on the situation. How can you be certain your need out weighs ours?"

While the Cardinal consdiers and replies Albrecht opens squad vox.

"Cassiel, what are your orders? Having our absent brothers with us might be useful, yes?"