Main Menu

News:

If you are having problems registering, please e-mail theconclaveforum at gmail.com

Deathwatch Reborn:- Opening Shots

Started by Necris, October 02, 2009, 09:42:43 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Discy

Walking into the armoury, Simion crossed to his workbench. The only equipment he took were three magazines of Kraken rounds and a belt of frag grenades. Muttering praise to the Machine God, he performed the Ammunition Ritual of his Chapter, before checking his equipment one more time, then leaving for the drop pods.
Beep if you love muties!

Simeon Blackstar

Martell's mind was in turmoil as he headed towards the drop pods, carrying the large weapon without much difficulty.  He had forgotten how different other Chapters could be.  From the Lion's bloodlust to kill Tau, though the Iron Hand Techmarine's lack of tact, to the Captain's apparant lust for glory, Martell tried to reconcile all the points of view with the doctrine of the Paladins Benevolent.  He was looking forward to the challenge of the battle, true, and the Tau should not have had the gall to attack this world let alone kidnap an Inquisitor Lord.  He would fight for the liberation of the Imperial world with all his might, but he would take no pleasure in the deaths of the aliens.  While he could see the benefits to Rant's suggestions, he had enough awareness of tact that siding against his Captain was a good way to be sent back to his Chapter in disgrace and spend the next few decades working his way back to Sergeant.

As he attached his weapons and himself into the pod and began his battle meditations, he reflected that he had a lot to learn about command.

Kallidor

As Laran prepared his equipment ready to strap into the harness he put his helmet on and looked over to Brother Rant. His helmet's optics looked up from under the helmet's brim glowing orange as if they contained liquid fire. Along the snout of the helmet teeth, like those of a wild predatory animal, had been carved and the caught the baleful light of the optics making Laran appear to be grinning.

"You know Brother," Laran's voice growled, laced with distortion by the amplifier in the muzzle of his helmet. "You make a perfectly valid point about the Deathwinds, I've seen squads of Guardsmen torn to shreds faster than the enemies they fought by those things. Plus, they are woefully innacurate, even at point blank range. Hmm, it is as you say, servitors would be an asset, mobile, long range and with a modicum of tactical sense. Ha ha, perhaps combat servitors would be even better, no ammunition to deplete and they will take full advantage of the Tau's weakness in hand-to-hand."

In any house let there be five and two shall stand against three and three shall stand against two, brother against brother... Those were the fundamental teachings of the Prophets of Hatred, the Emperor had built from His own flesh the greatest warriors Mankind had even known, not to bring peace but to do war for all eternity. Truly, for did those chapters who did not acknowledge that simple fact still drawn upon warrior cultures to provide their initiates? Did they not test each one through strife and battle until only the strongest, the most worthy, survived? Were the weak not cast aside? Of course they were.
Be Pure!
Be Vigilant!
BEHAVE!

Koval

#48
Rant didn't look up, but acknowledged Brother Laran's remark with a nod as he unscrewed the side of the lascannon's focusing chamber.

"Hence, issue raised with Captain Demos," Rant answered, inspecting the intricate apparatus for the slightest imperfections. Using a tiny pencil-sized electrolumen he scoured the interior of the chamber, drawing the beam up and down the various mechanisms and carefully examining each part with the practiced eye of a Techmarine.

"But no change in plan, so must live with consequences. Can still follow orders like these without agreeing."

Pulling out a tiny drill, Rant picked up the panel he had removed and began to engrave a rune on the exterior face.

"And close combat units, good idea, but again, flawed."

He finished one rune and moved onto the next; an eye, then a sharp, jagged lightning bolt.

"Tau weak in close assault, but powerful guns with good range. Difficult and foolish to charge across open ground into enemy gunline. But in trenches or fortress, harder to use heavier guns, easier to fight at close quarters."

The first few angular lines of the Opus Machina.

"We deploy outside fortress. Hence, using heavier guns, longer range than standard Tau long-arm."

Rant worked quickly, drawing only a simple Opus Machina for the lowest level of benediction; enough to please the machine-spirit, and blessing it efficiently, but not displaying disrespect, or undue adoration where it was not warranted. Satisfied, he replaced the lascannon's panel and spoke the Rite of Assembly to bless his weapon.

Finally, he turned to face Laran and held up his tools, gesturing at Laran's heavy bolter.

"You want your weapon blessed, Brother?"

Kallidor

"True, the Tau would make light work of combat servitors at a distance but those of my Chapter are programmed to hide and lash out only at those who get close." Laran laughed as he recalled some distant memory. "Ahh, but we are not with my Chapter." He paused and took a breath then retrieved the heavy weapon. "If this is to be abandoned once the ammunition is spent it seems only fair we give it its due before the battle." Laran gave the heavy bolter to Rant. Rant's movements were like those of a mechanical arm, swift, deft and economical, graceful. Some might say inhuman. However, the Prophet's admired strength and Laran saw only the purity of the Omnisiah in Rant's precise movements and none of the clumsiness of a wholly human hand. Inside his helmet Laran sneered, he despised clumsiness.
Be Pure!
Be Vigilant!
BEHAVE!

Swarbie

Artos walked up to Captain Demos, a hint of nervousness on his face.

"Captain, may I ask something of you?"

"Of course," replied Demos.

"Are any chaplains available on board the ship?"

"Unfortunately not," said Demos, puzzlement showing on his face.

"A librarian, then?"

"We are not honoured by the presence of a member of the Librarium either, brother."

Artos swallowed. His face was a study, mixing anger with something else, something deeper.  Fear.

"I am afraid, then, Brother-Captain, that I shall have to be left behind."

"No."

"No? Captain, do you know of my chapter? We are young, but filled with an ancient fury. If I am to fight alongside my brothers in the field, I will need help to focus my mind."

"I have indeed heard of your chapter, Artos. I know that you believe it necessary to focus your rage with the help of another, but it is my belief that you do not need such help."

"Captain, you do not know everything."

"Oh, yes?"

"Indeed. Today my chapter's 3rd company lacks two who should have served us with pride for many years. This....this was my fault."

"How so?" said Demos gently, clearly seeing the anguish on Artos' face.

"I...I lost control. The foe were defeated, but I could not quench the rage I felt. It took over."

"Artos," said Demos, laying a hand on the marine's shoulder. "I believe in you. You have lost control once, but now you know the consequences. Believe me, it will not happen again."

"Very well," said Artos tightly.

He turned and walked away.

Martell saw his face. It was white with fear. 
And I saw her body burning,
With it, my world
To dust returning

Simeon Blackstar

Martell's heart sank at the other Marine's confession.  So that was how the flawed geneseed of the Blood Angels manifested in this successor chapter.  In times of war though, brothers-in-arms must cover for eachothers' weaknesses.  As Artos move to strap in next to him, he caught his eye.  He looked surprisingly vulnerable for a 7-and-a-half foot tall killing machine with the armour and firepower of a tank.

"Artos," he began.  "I believe too.  I will stay near you during this attack and any other you want me to, and try to be the calm to balance your anger.  If you cannot retain control when all foes are dead, I am no stranger to single combat.  I should be able to restrain you long enough for your fury to cool.  Control over oneself is learned through hardship and practice."

With that, he nods before fitting his helmet in place, ready for the drop.

Inquisitor Ranovack

#52
Peleus paused in his mantra and offered a quick prayer to the Emporer for his brothers and for himself. He asked that they would be able to smite the Xenos with the Emporers wrath.
He then continued to chant.

'Lo, there do I see my past,
Lo, there do I see my future,
Lo, there do I see my brothers from now back to the very beggining,
soon I shall join them,
In the halls of the Emporer,
Where the brave live forever'

He then offered prayers to the Emporer and his saints. and meditated on the coming battle and on the battle that his fellow lions were fighting at this moment. He realised it was the first time in 150 years that his pride was entering a campaign with out him. After a moments more thourght he continued his mantra.
though i fly through the valley of death i shall fear no evil for i am at 50,000 feet and climing

Koval

Satisfied with his work, Rant handed the heavy bolter back to Laran.

"Good weapon," he observed. "Pattern not recognised, but too many forge worlds in galaxy for junior Techmarine to name. Solid construction, suspensors needed recalibrating, but machine spirit responsive, willing to serve."

Out of the corner of his eye Rant caught sight of Brother Artos, and heard the Destroyer's confession. Rant's head snapped up to face Brother Laran, startling the Prophet slightly until Rant's brow began to soften and crease in mild concern.

"Brother... Laran?" the Iron Hand queried.

"That's right," Laran confirmed, nodding carefully.

"I am Techmarine. Not yet Iron-Father, not suited to counsel. But, concerned for troubled Destroyer. Not skilled enough to repair mechanism of human mind. But, familiar with Prophets, so perhaps task better suited to Prophet than to Iron Hand."

Rant gestured behind him in Artos' direction.

"Is mutual benefit, for Destroyer and for Deathwatch."

Kallidor

Laran took back the heavy bolter with a silent nod of thanks and looked over to the Destroyer. As a Mahtar,  Laran was tasked with keeping the spirits of his Brothers high should they need it and his order, the Mahtaron were an integral part of Chapter ceremony. Thinking of such things sent him into a reverie of a past that was not his he was sure but it felt so intense. There were words in this waking dream, words of slaughter and destruction, words of oblivion. They would crush them all, kill, slaughter, maim!

"Brother?" Laran snapped out of it with a start and looked sideways at Rant who was giving him a perplexed look. "Something wrong?"

"No. No. The Prophets say incres[EXCOMMUNICATE] animi, virescit volnere virtus; The spirits increase, vigour grows through a wound. I will talk to the stripling now." He lurched away toward the Destroyer, shaking his head like an ox to clear his strange thoughts.

"Salvé Brother?"

"Artos. And you Brother?"

"Laran. We see that you are troubled. We are all brothers here Artos. What ails you?"

The Destroyer paused, uncertainty writ on his features. It was obvious that he wanted to speak but his warrior's pride in front of strangers held his tongue. Laran placed a hand on Artos' shoulder and gripped the rim of the pauldron. He stepped next to the younger Astartes and looked off into the middle distance.

"There are many strange and dangerous things one must do to even get to the Fortress Monestary of my Chapter, many long and arduous paths must be trod for those who seek entrance. Only the strongest make it. Many try and many fail and when the Artath moon glows bright those who wish to try head south. We were all brave but we were only boys. We were all wounded and exhausted, we were all frightened. But we did not arrive to a warm welcome or a reprieve.

"The halls were dizzying in their size, I had never seen men build anything other than mud huts but that place seemed to go on forever, we could not see the ceiling it was so high and I thought, after my long trek through the dark earth to reach that place that I had walked into hell. When He came to greet us I thought a demon had risen from the shadows to claim all our souls. Ha, perhaps one had.

"We were all frightened but we stood together against Him, a black giant. He did not welcome us nor offer succour. He walked to the nearest of us who had a broken leg, badly tended to and asked, 'Are you in pain?' but the boy was too sick to speak and only nodded. He grabbed his leg and we heard the bones splinter, and the boy screamed himself unconscious. He died. We quailed. Then He looked to the rest of us, 'Pain is your future, Fear is your life.' It was the only thing He said."

Laran shook Artos' pauldron gently and nodded, the burning eyes of his helmet still staring before they flicked to look at the Destroyer.

"I have never forgotten my fear Destroyer, I remember it every day. Whatever thing you did Brother, it will never leave you, just as that day has never left me but fear is not our enemy, a man who isn't afraid is too stupid to live. Remember your fear Brother for it is a part of you. We may be Astartes but to attack your fear is folly, for fear is a foe you cannot defeat. You must make it your ally for your fear is you and you are your fear. I hope my words hold some meaning for you Brother, but know one thing, you are not alone. We are all Deathwatch now."
Be Pure!
Be Vigilant!
BEHAVE!

Swarbie

Artos swallowed, then nodded. When he spoke, his voice was husky.

"Thankyou, my brothers. It gives me heart to see your support."

He paused.

"I made a vow when I arrived. I will make it again. I will not fail you my brothers."
And I saw her body burning,
With it, my world
To dust returning

Hedgewise

Kraven listened discreetly as Laran and Rant spoke to Artos from his position near another Drop Pod and made a mental note to keep an eye on the uncertain Destroyer.

He watched as the Deathwind Pods were loaded up and positioned further off in the bay by Inquisitional work crews and the few remaining Deathwatch team members assemble and begin deciding which pods to take and with whom.

Necris

Demos strode away from the group heading for a singular drop pod already secured within was the vast form of Sirus, he patted the dreadnaughts armoured hide before turning back and observing the task force from a distance breaking them into squads in his mind, Matthias moved to him handing him the heavy flamer he took it swinging the weapon up onto his shoulder with ease as strode towards the Drop Pod in the centre of their three, the one Rant had placed himself in, as he strode he spoke his voice raising high filling the bay.

"Ancient Lords of Haemos, Fathers of our Clans past
My Father and My Emperor,
Bath me in your golden light
Guide my hand in battle
Make my aim true and my arm strong
Let all those before me stand in fear for they know I do your bidding
For I am your Templar
Your warrior
And above all I swear that in your name
Blood will Flow."

He stepped up to the pod and deposited the heavy weapon in the cradle beside his locking it into place, pulling a vial from his effects on his belt he drove the spike built into it deep into his neck depressing an activation rune the vial filled with his blood, releasing it he looked around the task force.

"Helmets on and mount up brothers and pray to the machine spirits and the Emperor that our chariots carry us true."

He slid his helmet on and stepped into his cradle locking himself in place, the command console fell in front of his and he cycled the pod engines bringing it to life. He watched as the others climbed in locking themselves into place the close the hatch catching the other pods doing the same as the world went black then red as the pods internal lights illuminated.

"See you on the ground brothers."

He triggered the launch sequence an the pod started to rumble as they were loaded into the tubes, keying his vox he spoke.

"Matthias, if there is no vox signals within ten minutes launch the deathwinds, and brother Sirus five minutes after that."

"Understood Captain."

He ran through the launch procedure then he punched the launch command and the pod accelerated at an exponential rate as they left the strike cruiser.

++Scarre++

++PDF Regional Headquarters – Designated 'Safehaven'++

++Currently held by Tau and Rebel PDF forcers++

++Sector 17 – Human habitation++

Colonel Tiberius Sommer was the commanding officer of those humans who had defected from the Imperium into the Embrace of the Tau Empire, it had been him who'd convince his entire battalion to turn coat and wage war against their kinsmen, and it fell upon his shoulders to show them the light the Tau offered. Their technology unbound by the archaic religion of the Adepts of Mars was far in advance of the Imperium, and he had to take the hard line to ensure that his people saw the light.

He was pacing through the Human Habitation to the Tau, sector 17 to the humans on his way to the morning inspection a life in the PDF had taught him the rigors of discipline and routine and he was a stickler for such, but even by his standards the tau were far beyond him or any human, he'd formed the alliance and as such they had rewarded him for his loyalty with a modified suit of armour and a pulse carbine, his personal guard a dozen other men that had once been trained assault specialists had also been gifted with such technology making their a force to be reckoned with. He rounded the last corner where the morning detail troop of men stood waiting for their inspection before they could relive the nigh[EXCOMMUNICATE]ch of they guard detail. A series of booms drew his attention looking towards the outer walls he keyed the vox built into his armour.

"Are we under attack?"

"Negative sir."

The wall detail reported nothing untoward and his eyes went skyward as the clouds split as fires tumbled to the world.

"What the hell are they?"

"Meteor storm?"

"Only three, it's not possible and they are heading for... Holy Throne! Take Cover!"

++

"Impact in ten seconds, inertia thrusters firing!"

Demos braced himself as the thrusters fired shaking the drop pod the altitude counter in his helm told him that the landing was imminent, the pod screamed as it impacted close to sixty feet above the ground, they' struck a building the floors tearing away as they came to a stop. Disengaging the restraining clamps he stood up fully hefting the heavy flamer he'd chosen as his first wave firearm.

"Hatches deploying strike team prepare to move."

++

Sommer and the morning detail moved towards the nearest impact a building had been hit, one of the barracks buildings, it would have been filled with men resting from the late detail, he despaired at their loss it was a great blow to his troopers stationed here.

"Get fire control over here now!"

"What is the situation Colonel?"

He stopped turning and bowing his head quickly as a group of firewarriors approached.

"A Meteor Shas'la it's hit one of my barrack buildings with men inside."

"It was not a meteor colonel, our relays picked up metal and life forms."

++

"Deathwatch! Forward!"

He stepped from the drop pod about him were dead bodies shattered and broken from the impact of the pod he guessed they' struck a barracks building judging by the furniture littered about the place dust and steam filled his vision but he was astrates and his helm compensated switching visuals he could see heat signatures and clear as day.

"Cleanse and Destroy"

Striding up the rubble he cleared the dust his vision snapping back to normal before him lay squads of men and a single group of the blue skinned Tau conversing with the Human officer, he armed the weapon as they noticed his presence but it was too late for the closest of them as he fired the heavy flamer washing them in burning promethium, striding down into their midst amongst the screams of agony he continued to wash the throngs before him his ears picking up the sharp shouts that raised the alarm, the others followed their weapons adding to the chaos and the noise, his weapon bled dry quickly and he dropped it his bolter swinging round from it's shoulder strap into his waiting hand, levelling the weapon he fired dropping a dozen in the first hail of fire, a glance left and right told him the others had joined him forming a solid line Brother Kurtis stood to his left a heavy bolter barking in his hands as he walked forward. He paused as he took in his surroundings.

"Xenos Bane start the second wave."

He didn't hesitate for a reply instead he threw himself into the PDF with a vicious roar his powerfist shattering bodies as it swung he caught the sight of crisis suits taking to the air and roared his orders at Kurtis.

"Bring them down!"

Obeying without question the Angel swung his heavy weapon skywards and unleashed a salvo of death at the Tau Battlesuits bring one down like a poor mimic of their own fiery decent to the ground, another tumbled away but the third vanished from sight and Kurtis turned his gun back on the rebel PDF troopers who fell away under the fury of their sudden attack. Demos pulled the vial from his waist he dropped it stamping on it to spill the blood, over his vox he spoke.

"This world has tasted the blood of Astartes, It shall have no more instead it will have to be slated with the blood of the Xenos and the Traitor, Kill them all!"

His bolter barked as he strode forward forcing the breach even more.
This here is my very favourite gun...I call her rita.

The Order of the Iron Rose - Necris' Inq28 Plog

Kallidor

Laran felt the mag-clamps on his shoulder and then he was out of the drop pod. Men were screaming as they burned and roar of another heavy bolter caught his attention. Spears of fire belched from the barrel and the ugly lumpen shapes of Tau battle suits crashed from the sky. Xenos-

"-SCUM!" The amplifier in the muzzle of his helmet screamed out his shout. The thick smoke from the still burning bodies churned and swirled under the sonic assault and then his heavy bolter was coughing out its own warcry.

"The Emperor's Wrath is upon you!" Men went down blasted into steaming chunks of gore and offal. "Plead for Redemption!" One of the apothegms of his Chapter whether it was aimed at the enemy or themselves was hard to say.

He slammed another magazine into the gun, he only had the hellfires after that. Tau Fire Warriors caught these last few bolts their armour like tinfoil. Each bolt made a hollow boom as it was shot then a scream as the rocket kicked in followed by a crackling explosion as the armour piercing tip shredded the target. Each of Tau was falling, already dead before a wet blast tore them to pieces, syrupy cyan blood splattered everywhere.

"Eat some you miserable fish-heads!"

The next magazine hit the stone and he slammed in the hellfires. He had hoped for kroot and lo the Emperor provided them. Their unarmoured forms jumped and volted through the dark with bird-like whoops. A few bullets from their primitve rifles spanged off his armour as he watched them come on and then he unleashed the heavy bolter. The hellfire bolts whistled before smashing over the kroot that shrieked in agony. Bio-acids melted their flesh but Laran wanted the human traitors to feel some of the pain too and finished off the scrawny alien mercenaries with a frag grenade.

He turned back, aiming at the humans and roared something unintelligible before emptying the last of the hellfirs into them. They would be more protected thanks to their armour but the splashing toxins coated them in burning liquids. They dropped their weapons clutching at their faces, some pitching over the battlements in their mad desperation. Laran laughed as he watched them die.

"You served me well, may the Omnisiah watch over you until we are finished here." He placed the exhausted heavy weapon down reverently and scooted the empty magazines toward it with his boot. If clear up teams were sent to recover the drop pods they would find the back breaker too.

Laran growled as enemy fire hit his armour but now he was in his element. He readied Kah'Brosh, connecting himself to the ancient weapon. He let loose an bellow like that of an enraged bull grox that staggered the foes before him, the feedback of Kah'Brosh growled and purred, the sounds practically dripping from the barrel. Before they could recover from the first blast they were hit again by a pulsing squeal that dropped them all to their knees. The closest man clutched at his ears as blood poured from his nose and eyes.

Laran advanced slowly his fingers plucking the wires of Kah'Brosh the howling electrical grunts ripping into the traitor before the pulses changed again, poppoppoppoppop, the air thrummed at the human convulsed in a fit so violent he broke his own spine, his brain turning to mush under the assault. Those behind faired only mildly better but half a dozen were caught in the war song of Kah'Brosh, shouts from Laran helping keep them down.
Be Pure!
Be Vigilant!
BEHAVE!

Koval

The final battlesuit didn't get far at all.

Sighting it along the lascannon's range-finder, Rant's opening shot cut the battlesuit in half, the shorn halves still flying through the air for a brief moment before tumbling downwards in a heap of blazing metal.

His drop pod hatch had practically opened into a wall that had collapsed against it, and Rant finally unbuckled his leg restraints as the battlesuit went down, kicking hard against the lip of the hatch to allow him a proper exit. With a single collected motion Rant hurled himself out of the drop pod and came down with a crash on his left side, keeping the impact well away from the lascannon mechanism, before firing another blast from his prone position and cremating a pair of figures where they stood.

As Rant picked himself up and rose into a crouch, he noted with no small distaste that the Tau had recruited human forces to do their bidding, but to fire upon them with his lascannon would only waste ammunition, and opportunities to take out enemy armour. Dimly, he contemplated switching to his bolter early, but he couldn't lift the lascannon in just one hand, much less use the other to fire his bolter.

Shouldering his lascannon for a few brief seconds, Rant plucked a frag grenade from its dispenser on his belt and lobbed it at the enemy, sliding the lascannon back into his free hand in the same motion and just hoping that the Tau might call in their armoured support.

He shuffled over towards Laran and set up a firing position behind his brother, his hand straying back toward his grenade dispenser as the enemy tried to fight back.