Chapter 7.0 - Calling in the Coroner - IC

[Bridge]
The silent, stale blackness of space erupts with violent effigies as reality rips it at the seams. In the gaping maw of madness can be seen an unknowable mass of etheric tendrils grasping at a ship behind its thin veneer of reality.

The soulspear exits the warp trailing whisps of nightmares in its wake. The tear then seals itself without so much as a Scarborough show for it.
Aboard the klaxons cease and checks are relayed to the bridge where the captain, Farosh Tomoi stands resolute. His withered and scarred face sat stern and unmoving in the flurry of activity.

Already the vox panels were lit up.


[War room]

Avincs and Vario had decided that the ship would head straight for the mortis and empty all three teams onto the hulk. There would be no delays and no need to instruct planetary governess Malorum of thier actions.
As such, all 3 kill teams: Draco, Assura, and the cobbled together Ninevah squads were all prepared and ready for orders.

"Brothers" Avincus started "I-"
The door burst open and Captain Tomoi entered with haste. "My lords," he starts, "we're already receiving vox and telepathic communications from Valryna, the governess is in hiding and the planet is in open revolt."

"What?" Avincis could only say with disbelief.
"Verify." Instructed Vario.
"I've verified it 5 times. The planet's pdf and imperial garrison are fending off attacks as we speak. It even sounds as if some of them have themselves turned traitor."

Sapiens stood up.

We must prioritise based on skillset & prep. My Corvus Blackstar is already prepped and loaded with equipment for destroying the hulk. Statistically, Draco have a chance to split it up it alone using seismic detonators.

[War Room]

Lucius, fully kitted out and ready for war, stood at attention as Avincus began to address the combined three Kill Teams. Three Kill Teams in one place like this wasn't unheard of, but it was rare. The skill, experience, and sheer firepower assembled in the room was enough to turn the tide of a war, or break a Space Hulk into chunks.

The outburst stole the Novamarine's attention. As Sapiens responded with the hard logic of the situation, Lucius tended to agree. Regardless of the events planetside, their mission was the Thule. The PDF on the planet would have to hold, but this stank of past experiences.

"I must concur with Brother Sapiens. Though this stinks of treachery; have there been any reports of Traitor Astartes from the planet?"

The assembled Marines had read Draco's debriefs. They'd understand the Chaos Marine presence the Kill Team had seemingly consistently battled.

He turned back to Avincus regardless, "Your orders, watch captain?"

Exuding a similar air of authority, Cassiel looked over the incoming transmissions. "Our guest, Ironbound, and at least one other kill team, could make a real difference planet-side. Draco will be successful even if resources must be diverted last minute. As long as you can get us close enough for us to close the distance, I don't see any reason you can't continue on. Cassiel cracks his neck each direction "Both missions are critical - we chose one because we couldn't be in two places at once. With three teams available, there's no reason that has to be true."

deaddmwalking wrote:

Exuding a similar air of authority, Cassiel looked over the incoming transmissions. "Our guest, Ironbound, and at least one other kill team, could make a real difference planet-side.  Draco will be successful even if resources must be diverted last minute.  As long as you can get us close enough for us to close the distance, I don't see any reason you can't continue on.  Cassiel cracks his neck each direction "Both missions are critical - we chose one because we couldn't be in two places at once.  With three teams available, there's no reason that has to be true."

Avincus nodded, "I agree with you brother Cassiel. We simply cannot let one matter go unheaded while the other escapes out notice. What Say you Vario?"

Vario sternly nodded his ascent.

Iron and Metal wrote:

"I must concur with Brother Sapiens. Though this stinks of treachery; have there been any reports of Traitor Astartes from the planet?"

Tomoi shakes his head.
"None of my reports have mentioned anything about traitors, but this sudden uprising is too convenient to be coincidence."

Quote :

"Your orders, watch captain?"

"Draco will head for the hulk, Assura will head for the planet and Ninevah will stay in reserve."

"That was not our-" Stavross began
"Stavross! Be silent and do not countermand a brother captain's orders" Vario said cutting him off.

That settled, Avincus asked "Any questions?"

"Good hunting, Assura," Cassiel offers. Aboard the hulk the additional firepower would have been welcome, no doubt, but Cassiel was relieved. The social demands of the other chapters were wearing on him already, and he had committed to trying to be more supportive - more like the other chapters - and it would be easier if the group were fewer in number.  There were some in Draco he knew well and it was almost easy to don casual familiarity, but there were new faces, too.

Cassiel was also thankful that there were no new Sons of Russ - he didn't want to reenact the ancient battle again.

[Bleda]

Having kept mostly to his own company for the past time, Bleda is with the others in the war room. At the news of uprising and PDF turned traitor the first thing that cross Bleda's mind are two word: 'Strike Master'. Will we ever be free of his stalking shadow? Bleda wonders to himself.

"Do we have any information as to the nature of the uprising?" Is the question he directs to Avincus after the Watch Captain opened for questions.

If this uprising bore the marks of the Alpha Legion, then there was no question that the Strike Master and his brothers-in-damnation would be aboard the hulk.

[Willbek]

The Smoking Fist does not say anything after Stravross is cut off but his eyes are aflame with the rage of wounded pride. One could see that a deployment to the surface was considered a grevious insult.

After Stavross' outburst, there's a tsk tsk tsk sound which comes from the gloom. Standing in silence, in a pool of shadow, is the hulking form of Hydrako in terminator armour. Despite his great weight, he had somehow managed to enter the war room unnoticed.

He shakes his head once in mock solidarity with the Minotaur. A pity, he says simply.

His gaze swept to Lucius, and they shared a knowing look. We know this will be the Strikemaster's doing. He will hope to draw as much of our strength away from the Thule as possible, dividing the squads. I do not think there will be any traitors on the planet. They will be waiting for us on the hulk. We will need the reserve element with us.

Lucius nodded, first to Avincus' orders and then again as his brothers Cassiel and Hydrako spoke.

"Understood, Watch Captain. All of us will share in the glory of our victory or sacrifice today," he offered as consolation with a look toward Vario. He did not relish in the in-fighting between the Kill Teams. Assura's support would be missed, but given the paltry threats and over-the-top bickering, a part of him was content with this decision.

And with a support squad in reserve, they remained strategically flexible.

On his hip in a secured drop bag, Caedmon's repaired helmet sat tight. A reminder to the gravity of the mission.

Mess hall
**********
Khol silently agrees to the contest, already full of Mjød from earlier with Grimnir. For the first round, he thought it'll be best to continue with Mjød. After he finished his cup, he didn't feel any worst nor for better. He then decided to try some bloodwine for round two. The red color speaks for itself and Khol disapproved how it reminded him of blood but consumes it anyways. The taste isn't appreciative either. He starts to lose the feeling in his legs. Round three, he tries the bloodwine again in hopes it would be better when you have consumed more in a rapid fashion like Mjød. Sadly, that is not the case for Khol. Besides the constant reminders of blood, now his arms are becoming more difficult to move and manipulate. Last tactic, as Khol thought, going back to drinking Mjød in hopes to recover from the bloodwine. Instead, the mixture in his stomach and his ASTARTES AUGMENTION are being overworking to keep him conscious. Khol slowly hunches over the table, staring in a daze at the rest of the group continuing on with the contest without. Going down first is well... the first for Khol.



War room
***********
The amount of gear is normal to Khol but the weight and bulk is quite different to him. Being so use to shooting bolters and carrying their ammunition, having a las cannon instead makes him at unease. From all of the reports he has read and listened about the Thule, bringing such a loud thunderous weapon might actually increase his team's survival but maybe not his.

After hearing the latest news, he is somewhat glad to hear Calibos is going onto the surface but happier onto deciding his weapon choice. This time Calibos can't possibly interfere a giant red beam of melting death over a kill.

Juros being quite long enough

"are you sure a single kill team will be enough planet side? if your reports are correct there could be a warband to legion's worth of traitors plus the pdf to deal with, and once entrenched could be hard to free while the space hulk could be rigged to explode"

speaking bluntly

Cassiel addresses Juros, observing"I think I, by myself, with Ironbound, would be enough to bring one world back to allegiance to the Emperor. Perhaps you forget how much of an impression the Emperor's Angels make. But if Assura doesn't feel that they're up to the challenge, perhaps Draco should handle events planetside and then rendezvous on the Mortis Thule when we've restored everything to order." Cassiel knows that Assura can't accept the wound to their pride to even contemplate that they couldn't accomplish what a single Dark Angel claims to be able to do. But in point of fact, Cassiel believed it. He had been on the world before and when things were even more bleak the people had held on to hope. Surely the ruinous powers were involved, but there were more loyal hearts than traitorous, and they only needed someone to show them the way of righteousness to return to loyalty to the emperor. The dark powers spoke lies that could convince even the most arduous supporters to betray their loyalty by misleading them on what was the right course of action. The only way to avoid it was to always look for deceit. Cassiel contemplated the Imperial Fist and wondered if he might be a another traitor in the garb of a loyalist legion. He doubted it, but one must never consider anyone above suspicion. Not even a Dark Angel...

Hydrako lurked in the shadows, ready to move out. He had said his piece, and now merely waited for the call.

Grimnir stood in the warroom opposite Hydrako who lurked in the shadows, the shark couldn't hide from the wolf who's eyes penetrated the darkness without the aid of a battlehelm. He wondered why Draco had chosen him to lead the last deployment, he seemed an odd choice. Perhaps he just needed to get to know him better.

He wasn't surprised at Stavross' out burst, but only disappointed that the bull hadn't been allowed to dig a deeper hole before being so quickly cut off by the watch captain. He wondered if all Carcharadons were silent lurkers and if all Minotaurs were bull headed.

Grimnir looked sympathetically to Stavross who really couldn't help himself.

Ashmon was amused by the posturing around the room. He was not amused by much these days. He doesn't care if he goes to the planet or goes to the space hulk. There will be plenty of enemies to kill with his hate in both places.
The flesh is weak.
We will be in battle soon and the hate will flow.

Gurkhal wrote:

[Bleda]

Having kept mostly to his own company for the past time, Bleda is with the others in the war room. At the news of uprising and PDF turned traitor the first thing that cross Bleda's mind are two word: 'Strike Master'. Will we ever be free of his stalking shadow? Bleda wonders to himself.

"Do we have any information as to the nature of the uprising?" Is the question he directs to Avincus after the Watch Captain opened for questions.

If this uprising bore the marks of the Alpha Legion, then there was no question that the Strike Master and his brothers-in-damnation would be aboard the hulk.

[Willbek]

The Smoking Fist does not say anything after Stravross is cut off but his eyes are aflame with the rage of wounded pride. One could see that a deployment to the surface was considered a grevious insult.

"No." Tomoi replies flatly.

"There are no reports of any demands for surrender, no requests for quarter or any communication with them at all."

Hydrako wrote:

After Stavross' outburst, there's a tsk tsk tsk sound which comes from the gloom. Standing in silence, in a pool of shadow, is the hulking form of Hydrako in terminator armour. Despite his great weight, he had somehow managed to enter the war room unnoticed.

He shakes his head once in mock solidarity with the Minotaur. A pity, he says simply.

His gaze swept to Lucius, and they shared a knowing look. We know this will be the Strikemaster's doing. He will hope to draw as much of our strength away from the Thule as possible, dividing the squads. I do not think there will be any traitors on the planet. They will be waiting for us on the hulk. We will need the reserve element with us.

"The strikemaster must work exceedingly fast to be able to throw a hulk in the way. Does he know your prior history with it?" Vario asks quizzically.

After Hydrako replies, he says, "I disagree with your assumption, but I would not dismiss it as a possibility either."

okul_suntreader12 wrote:

Juros being quite long enough

"are you sure a single kill team will be enough planet side? if your reports are correct there could be a warband to legion's worth of traitors plus the pdf to deal with, and once entrenched could be hard to free while the space hulk could be rigged to explode"

speaking bluntly

Avincus spreads a planetary map on a table and looks it over, pointing and tracing lines his analytical mind was adept at seeing.
"No. They cannot, its beyond our scope. What I want Assura to do is to link up the loyalist forces into something more cohesive, find the missing governess, and after that cut the head from the rebellion. If Hydrako is correct then this is the strikemaster or the sorcerer themselves."

looking towards Cassiel

"i don't doubt your resolve nor who you put your faith into, but the servants of the dark powers use a lot of tricks to bring us angels of the emperor low, so the doubt will be your endurance and stalwart."

addressing now to Anvincus and moving towards the map

"has there been any readings of warp incursions on the surface?"

okul_suntreader12 wrote:

looking towards Cassiel

"i don't doubt your resolve nor who you put your faith into, but the servants of the dark powers use a lot of tricks to bring us angels of the emperor low, so the doubt will be your endurance and stalwart."

addressing now to Anvincus and moving towards the map

"has there been any readings of warp incursions on the surface?"

Avincus begins to look over the reports and marks several spots.
"Not to my knowledge. These are spots of fighting. See how scattered they are? That doesn't indicate a central point where chaos has made an incursion. It may indicate, as Hydrako suspects, that the alpha legion are involved."

Lucius did not want to show division among Draco, but he was surprised that Juros would patronize Watch Captain Avincus on the tactics of the Chaos Powers. He made a mental note, tucked it away, and pressed on.

"Watch Captain, are there any updates regarding Draco's mission or the Thule itself?"

Sylphilis wrote:

"The strikemaster must work exceedingly fast to be able to throw a hulk in the way. Does he know your prior history with it?" Vario asks quizzically.

After Hydrako replies, he says, "I disagree with your assumption, but I would not dismiss it as a possibility either."

Hydrako took in a deep breath through his mouth, seeming to taste the air. He caught Grimnir staring at him from across the war room, always vigilant, always assessing, or was it challenging? He dismissed the thought and responded to Vario. Time and again, this Strikemaster has been at our heels, seeking to challenge us. My instincts tell me he will know of our previous mission, and will be waiting for us inside the Mortis.

"I concur. A rebellion is like an avalanche - once it gets started it carries on to the inevitable conclusion. Our enemy seeks to divide our forces to get personal vengeance on Draco. But since we know it is a trap we'll be ready. The hunter shall become the hunted."

deaddmwalking wrote:

"I concur.  A rebellion is like an avalanche - once it gets started it carries on to the inevitable conclusion.  Our enemy seeks to divide our forces to get personal vengeance on Draco.  But since we know it is a trap we'll be ready.  The hunter shall become the hunted."

"Then it seems the enemy has gotten exactly what it wanted, we are splitting up our forces." said with a emotionless and breathless response.

Iron and Metal wrote:

Lucius did not want to show division among Draco, but he was surprised that Juros would patronize Watch Captain Avincus on the tactics of the Chaos Powers. He made a mental note, tucked it away, and pressed on.

"Watch Captain, are there any updates regarding Draco's mission or the Thule itself?"

"No" he says, shaking his head. "We are still following standing order Epsilon-nine-nine-zero. The soulspear can use its augars to map the exterior.. You map the interior. Retrieve any and all archeotech. Secondary objectives include finding your missing squad mates."

Without any further questions forthcoming, Vario and Avincus continue talking over things with Brand watching from the side.

"We have 2 hours until we are in range to launch any craft. Bless your weapons, take your oaths, and make your way to your stations."

You filter out and make your way to the armory to prepare your wargear, Makradon having spent much of the last few days repairing and blessing them with oily unguents.

Slowly, you make your way to the reclusiam. The acrid smell of incense was heavy here, and servitors kept up a background chant of voice as air was pumped along dried vocal chords.


With no chaplain aboard, Albrect had uncharacteristically taken center stage and was leading Assura through the path of vengeance.

They stand in unison and begin to leave. As he passes by, Hydrako sees a look of challenge on Stavross' face. One day there would be a reckoning between the two....

All that was left was Albrect in full battle plate. You take your positions and await the templar to start.

But he doesn't.

"Forgive me my brothers. I cannot lead you in oath while he is with you. I will take my place with Ninevah. I wish you the Emperor's favor. You-" he says towards Iovanus, "Condemnation."
Without another word, he silently leaves the chapel.

Iovanus half expected this. The Templar would not take an oath of moment with him. What came as yet another culture shock, was how solemn the whole thing was. It was so....ritualized. The room evenm smacked of zealous overtones, and the servitors repulsed him.

As the most Charismatic among you, Lucius stepped into the front, he would lead this oath of loyalty on this mission. He unfurls the Draco standard, resplendant with the victories youve gather since its inception.

[Briefing]

"Roger that," Lucius said with a slight hit of his fist to his chest. He took a quick survey of the room. He paid little attention to the Astartes gathered who would not deploy with Draco.

He was surveying the his team. Of all their quirks, differences, even rivalries, the Marines of Draco had been some of the hardest, most well disciplined group of Astartes he had ever served with. He was proud to have been chosen to lead them again.

"If that is all, Draco would take our leave to give our Oath of Moment."

Assuming they were dismissed, he turned to Vario, Assura, and Ninevah: "Good hunting, Marines. I hope to see you again in victory or at the side of the Primarchs."

+++

[Oath of Moment]

As Assura filed out, no detail escaped the Novamarine. Not Stavross' challenging look, nor Albrecht's disdain for the Luna Wolf. It mattered not. He had led oaths of moment before and he would do so now.

Unlike the Black Templar, the Novamarines did not lend the same holiness to such ceremonies. This was not about the Emperor, but about the brothers-in-arms surrounding them. When it was just Draco, he began.

The back banner sat unfolded in the middle of them. Some complete strangers before, but now all united in the same cause. He took a moment to look them all in their eyes and began:


He took his hand off of the Draco banner and slammed it against the Iron Skull on his chest armor. His word was his bond.

Victory or Death.

"Victory or Death" Cassiel repeats, looking at the new members of Draco. It was reasonable that they would have doubts and strong opinions on the proper way of doing things; that had been him not so long ago. Wood had a grain, and it was vulnerable to breaking along the grain. But crossing two pieces, each thin enough to easily split, and they were stronger than a single piece of wood 10x the thickness. Each of the chapters, even the Dark Angels, had weaknesses. Combining the chapters into a single squad helped reinforce those weaknesses. Even Ashmon's disagreement helped make sure the team was less likely to miss something important.

"Victory or Death!" Bleda glanced at his brothers within Draco and focused his attention of the banner, the symbol of the team's unity in service to the Emperor. Their Primarch fathers were different but they were all sons of the Emperor, and made for His purpose.

taking off his helmet for the first time and holding it under his arm showing his pale features with emerald green eyes, brownish hair, and a grim look on his face.

"victory or death"

"VICTORY or Death brothers!"

He loooks around to his new battle brothers. Hoping they are stronger then the last. The flesh is weak!

He has avoided death many times, in many battles.  That means there will be victory for the Emperor and his angels in this one.

He is with another squad. He is serving his chapter. He is serving the Emperor. He will rain death upon his enemies with hate!

"It will be an honor to carry the Draco banner into battle."

The oath was taken.

The weapons were blessed.

The corvus was fueled, and ready in the bay.

You arrive to a hive of activity as adepts continue to prep the crafts. Next to your blackstar was the thunderhawk, reserved for Ninevah. Assura would now be loading into drop pods for planetary deployment.
The only other astartes on deck was watch captain (non currently) Brand. He steps forwards to meet you.
"I didnt want to miss you before you left. Bring my brother back. Caedmon on on that monster somewhere, he needs to come back to Erioch and work with me on the mysteries of this book."
he takes a small, leather bound book from a side pouch, handing it to Lucius. The book was still bound by a Gene encoded lock still, it could only be opened by a storm warden astartes.
"Fight hard brethren, for Sacris!"

He gives Luicus a hearty wrist-shake before barring your path no longer.

Before you board the corvus, you can see out the bay. Only a paper think layer of charged particles kept the void for sucking out the bay and all its members into the void. Beyond that you see a ugly wall of Mortis Thule. It filled the view. Dozens of alien and not-so-alien hulls were forced together into an ugly mashed ship that so far, no one had been able to conquer.

You would change that. Here and Now.

+++ [Oath of Moment] +++

The novamarine spoke well, Grimnir banged his fist against the aquilla on his chest plate. "victory or death" he said aloud with conviction.

+++ [Launch Bay] +++

While they waited Grimnir checked over his weaponary but he spared a glance at the hulk "Ugly fecker ain't she." he commented into squad comms. His equipment check ended with his new toy, a Tau masking screen mounted to his right pauldron. He engaged the device, which sent a ripple arcoss his armoured form wrapping Grimnir in a mirage-like haze the screen obstructing sound and bending light around it. As soon as the field was up Grimir deactivated it agian. He was ready. He looked around expectantly at the pack.

Lucius stood in full combat regalia, his helmet clipped to the his belt for the time being. He would don it before entry, as the hazardous environment of the Thule was nothing to scoff at; however, it would come off as soon as he was able.

He stopped and gripped Brand's wrist tightly, taking the small book and securing it away. "On my honor, I will return with Caedmon or his geneseed. For Sacris and the Primarchs," he added.

Standing with Draco, he was loaded down with gear. Extra magazines, grenades, pouches for various tools and instruments, all adorned his armor. The Beast of Thule's armored head reinforcing his right pauldron and various Tyranid trophies hung from his neck. The hellfire flamer sat strapped against the left side of his torso, and his Hesh-pattern bolter at his right. On his hip hung the power sword Shard of Bekrin.

His jump pack sat idly on his back, and above it, the back banner of Kill Team Draco.

He was a walking war machine.

"Ugly as Ork tits," he replied to Grimnir with a chuckle. "Ready to treat them both the same I hope."

"It's a place of unspeakable evil and danger to the Imperium of Man. If Draco succeeds in destroying it, our deeds will echo down the centuries. But to have any chance, we must focus on each moment we're there. Danger is omnipresent." Cassiel was ready, too. The jump pack felt lighter than the ammo backpack he normally wore. Promethium wasn't light, but it was less dense than hundreds of bolter shells and their hardened diamantine and dense metallic core. Even with the heavy bolter he felt he could almost fly without the jetpack.

You board the corvus and take your seats. Secureing yourself in the couches, Sapiens deftly glides the ship out of the bay and into the void. The soulspear had located over 2 dozen potential landing zones within a 10km radius alone, it was up to you to find the right one.

The blackstar approaches a landscape that looks more like where ships go to die. Hulls of large size and unknown origins jut out in random directions.

As you scout out the landscape, the soulspear moves away and towards the planet to deliver Assura violently into her grasp. It would then take up position between the hulk and the planet where Ninevah could be sent to either place relatively quickly. It vanishes from auspex scopes quickly, which would let you find a landing spot better.

No sooner where they out of range than you get a return on the auspex. You were being approached by another vessel.

Lucius was in full battle plate, helmet securely fastened to his armor for the trip. As the auspex sounds he awaited a report. Sapiens, piloting the ship, would be relaying what he knew as soon as he could.

All Lucius as the rest of Draco could do at that moment was wait.

Fully armoured and armed for battle, Bleda sometimes glance at his brothers around him but is mostly silent.

His mind is occupied with thoughts of the dangers they could face as well as that if the Strikemaster waited for them aboard the hulk, so would the Slaaneshi sorcerer. He missed the company of Brother Tomasu but now Bleda was the only Librarian, and son of the Khan, present and he would rise to the challenge and see Draco victorious once more.

Sapiens sunk into Guntram's command throne. His servo-harness parted, integrating itself into the seat's back and connecting the thousands of elements of Sapien's exceptional MIU. Guntram was happy to go into battle again; Sapien's departure had meant months of being essentially mothballed, and it was raring for action.

++Offspring, time is for circumspect behavior. This is your first hulk-dive, and we must cultivate situational awareness.++

Guntram's mind turned to seriousness and finished integrating sapiens into the ship. He had installed the advanced auspex array; while the infernum halo-launcher would have been interesting, it was not as useful when Guntram served as a transport.

The sensors bled into Sapien's mind. In this state, he could perceive everything-light, sound, radiation, heat, matter, even warp-sign. He was as a sphere of light that flew out of the launch bay into the endless void towards the monstrous bulk of the space hulk.

After the light of the Soulspear dissapeared from the scopes, other lesser signals became more obvious. Including a vessel shadowing them.
++Possible Pursuer++Taking Evasive Action++ was plastered in the helmet AR of all the other members of the squad.

While diving for cover in the mess of shipwrecks, he turned Guntram's sensors towards the shadow. Simple perception would give something, but he deployed the full sensor suite to get any additional information he could.

Juros clasping his helmet back on and slinging his heavy bolter into his lap while sitting

readying for battle once more. with a moment to himself he goes through litanies of battle in a soft

toned voice and defensive tactics of his chapter

Gripping the Draco standard. Looking around the ship at his brothers. I can't wait for this ship to land so I can see the enemy and bring my wraith upon them. I hope they are chaos marines if any luck they will be the traitorous Emperors Children, he spits onto the deck plates. The standard creaks under his grip.

Grimnir let part of his mind drift as he calmed his humours, he mediated on the frozen plains of Fenris amongst a blizzard. The isolation he felt when the wind friercly battered him and the almost horizontal snow reduced visibility to a few metres was soothing.

As the report came in he let his thoughts be known "... perhaps its someone from the Soulspear who isn't supposed to be joining us?"

Carnelian wrote:

As the report came in he let his thoughts be known "... perhaps its someone from the Soulspear who isn't supposed to be joining us?"

++Negative++ ++Ork signature, 1 or 2 gunship-profile++ ++Status: concealed. Priority query: assault or hulk penetration?++

Sapien's communication was...odd to say the least when connected into the machine. A lot of niceties where stripped away, like he was speaking directly in computer-code.

Lucius keyed up the squad vox. In Draco cant, he sent the following: "We cannot have the Ork shadow our point of entry. They have not yet detected us - so let's ensure that they never do. Eliminate the threat. Squad, make ready for contact."

Sapiens complies and glides the ship forwards. There was a lot of cover and floating debris. While Khol tried to get a fix on auspex screens he flew next to one of the nearer fields at a speed of 1200kph. Inertial dampeners meant that you felt almost nothing from the sudden lurch, though they wouldnt work so well in atmosphere and a planets gravity.

Khol reports nothing on the screens ...





Initiative:
Draco - 9
Enemy unknown - 4

Sapiens guides the ship around the debris field to find the corvus on a straight flight towards the target. It was a stout and ugly ork ship. Most likely a fighta bomber seeing as how useful they were in void operations.

The corvus zipped along at 30 AU's and the fighta-bomba moved at nearly half that speed.
When at an optimal distance, the space between you was filled with air-to-air missiles and rockets from both ships. 4 missiles strike the fighta-bomba which shudders violently under the fussilade when 2 rockets hit the corvus Blackstar.
The rockets rip alongside the hull of the blackstar, doing moderate damage. Klaxons blare as Sapiens swings around a debris field in a wide loop so that you can approach the ork ship from behind. With the corvus moving at nearly double the pace of the fighta-bomba, it became a turkey shoot as it was too easy to get behind the slower vessel and with another volley of rockets, reduce it to blood stained pieces.


[Combat Over]



Initiative:
Draco - 9
Fighta-Bomba - 4 - 45 damage



KNowing that there were orks in the area, you decide that some distance would not be such a bad idea. Flying along the skin of the hulk for 10 minutes you pass over a mountain range or fused ships and along valleys of combat geological formations.

Eventually you find a somewhat desolate looking human vessel. It was a shorter squat hull - a transport hauler - with no signs of activity and minimal damage. Passing along the underside that juts from a mountainous rust stained formation you find a docking bay. The ship gave no signs of power, so the only way in was to blow it open. Missiles explode against the hull and after decompression you glide the corvus into the cavern.

The docking bay was large and dark. Strewn about were servo haulers and large stacks of pallets loaded with barrels and fuel tank containers. There was no signs of movement, but then again why would there be?

Exiting the blackstar, you find gravity intact. There was no longer atmosphere in here so helmets were a necessity. The temperature readings were cold, -36 C and frost covered all the top surfaces. This was another sign that there was simply no power running on the ship.

Bleda sets his feet on the hulk which has a history with Draco. The Emperor knew what horrors waited for them but one thing was certain and that was that the Strikemaster, his sorcerer ally and the Beast with which Lucius seemed to have a feud with was here, along with possibly two brothers Astartes.

Up to this point there had been running battles but now the Destroyer felt like fate was moving towards a finality. Now things would be settled once and for all.

"This place seems deserted, for now. Where do we go from here?" Bleda inquires over the vox with the Kill Team.

A space hulk was a new experience for Grimnir, nor did he have much experience fighting within a ship but neither caused him pause as he exited the blackstars ramp onto the icy deck. For a man encased in power armour he made little noise as he moved into a forward position, he assumed it didn't need to be said that he would be taking point.

His sharp eye sight quickly took in what was to be noted with the landing deck, his Fenris pattern helm only enhanced his already pre-natural senses so even the darkest corner was no problem for him. He looked for the main bulkhead door which would lead into the ship from the landing bay, places of concealment and for any breached vents.

Once all the squad were down the ramp he held up his fist a battle sign to stop or freeze "silence a moment brothers" he said over squad comms. Grimnir was motionless for a few moments as he listened to the ship, he did this to not only possibly hear any enemy but to also to absorb the ambient noises of the ship so he may pick up any subtle changes as they advanced.

Bleda senses a weakening of the walls between the warp and reality in this place. He sensed no danger, more like a lingering echo where once something dire had happened.

Grimmnir's ears would not work in the voidless atmosphere here. But he felt no vibrations in the ship. No rumble of functioning plasma drives or ordinance workings. It was what he didn't see that bothered him. There was no corpses and no signs of a struggle. No casings, las burns, or blood stains anywhere to be seen. He also notes that many of the fuel containers had extensive signs of corrosive damage. They were labeled 'PROMETHIUM' but the damage told him that something was abnormal about the situation.

Khol follows after Grimnir and Bleda while looking into the sights of his las cannon, looking at the far reaches that no one else can physically see. Landing here has potential for a long range ambush since the lack of good cover, even if it looks deserted. He stays quite for Grimnir but now all he can hear is his own heartbeats.

You proceed deeper into the ship towards the aft where it joins with the rest of the hulk. Once inside past the docking bay, signals indicate that there was once again atmosphere. Without hesitation, Hydrako removes his helmet which he found exceedingly stifling,

The air was stale old, with a distinct acidic tang of foreign chemicals. The further in you go, the more the air had the taint of heavy chemical use. Deeper in, the walls were showing signs of heavy corrosion.

What you did not see, however, was signs of fighting. There were no traces of blood, no lasburns, bullet holes or casings. It was as if everyone here simply disappeared. It was possible that you could head towards the command decks and find the logs. Perhaps those in the administratum would be thankful to formally write off a missing transport hauler.

But....something like that would take time. And it would not satisfy any of your given objectives.