Resilient 19

<Resilient_GM> You have held this position for some ten hours. You're holding the bridge
<Resilient_GM> leading out of the mercantile district towards the Astropath's last known area.
<Resilient_GM> Your scout, the only man who has seen this astropath shivers under blankets. He has
<Resilient_GM> been badly wounded and you are unsure if the skirmish which resulted in his wounds
<Resilient_GM> is the end of it - you were being tracked by these beasts, a strange subrace of them,
<Resilient_GM> perhaps... more predatory, more akin to a stalking beast as they sprung out at you
<Resilient_GM> during the cover of night just an hour before sun's rise. You had put out a request
<Resilient_GM> to the chimera waiting just outside the city to come find you and extract. And then,
<Resilient_GM> your voxman died along two others as they triggered an explosive trap. And so you
<Resilient_GM> wait for extraction, while Kass and Gilliam try to keep Jann alive. The wound on
<Resilient_GM> his side is fierce, and the notion of taking him back on foot would be a death
<Resilient_GM> sentence to all. You wait, and hope.
<Resilient_GM> The wreckage of the chimera in which you made it this far provides some warmth, and some protection. The autocannon has been set up overlooking the intersection just West, with its broad open areas being perfect for the sorts of horde-like assaults the beasts are known for. Thunder begins to roar above you as the rain begins anew.
* Victrus_Macharius keeps watch with his autocannon at the ready as Kass does his work, "How's he holding up Kass."
* Kass_Yonova tensed, his eyes darting this way and that as he kept watch with his lasgun, newly acquired despite it's battered framed, hoping and praying to the Emperor that their exfil would soon come. He squats neat the edge of the loading ramp in the back of the chimera. "It's a fecking mess, Vic." He eyes Gilliam who's keeping the man stable. Kass had done all he could with what he had. Even the Narthecium having it's
* Kass_Yonova limits. "See anything?" Kass would mount the chimera's main weapon if needed.
<Resilient_GM> "Psst!" Ibram tries to get your attention, as he aims the autocannon at a point on the horizon.
<Resilient_GM> "That's not thunder!" he hisses.
* Victrus_Macharius looks to Ibram and then out twords the horizon. "Hmm, we might have company." He then readies the autocannon."
<Kass_Yonova> "What the hell is it then trooper?" He hisses back at vic's comrade.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Not sure, I can't really tell. Ibram is the one that pointed it out."
<Resilient_GM> "It sounded like the rubble was being pushed around. Emperor deliver us, if it's another one of those big beasts..." Ibram replies.
<Resilient_GM> Suddenly, you all see movement along the avenue.
<Resilient_GM> Could it be another attack from the beasts?
<Resilient_GM> "He ain't looking so good here, Kass." Gilliam says as he examines the scout again.
* Victrus_Macharius aims the autocannon down the avenue where the movement is coming from.
<Kass_Yonova> "That's the best he's going to look, I've done what I can, throne-dammit." He curses. These last months had not been kind to his mind or his confidence. "He's gonna have to wait like the rest of us for relief."
<Kass_Yonova> "Vic, don't light up until you're positively sure. We don't need another friendly fire incident." He gritted his teeth at those bitter memories as he gripped his lasgun in white-knuckles.
* Victrus_Macharius takes out his sniper and braces it on the autocannon as he looks down the sights.
<Resilient_GM> "Fuck! They're by the Chimea!"
<Resilient_GM> "Maybe... maybe ten of them! I can't be sure what I saw. Could be severans!"
<Resilient_GM> Ibram readies the autocannon.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Huh, well doesn't look to be the green creatures, that all I can tell."
<Resilient_GM> A loud boom interrupts you. It comes from the west.
<Kass_Yonova> "Better them than those greenskin beasts." He shudders at the heresy he just uttered. But dammit it was right. He jerks his head around to the west as another boom sounds.
<Resilient_GM> "They know we're here..." Gilliam says
<Victrus_Macharius> "That can't be good." He says as he looks twoards the were the load explosion sound came from.
<Resilient_GM> "Movement by the Chimera. Ibram was right." Gilliam says as he aims his lasgun down range.
<Kass_Yonova> "Nothing to do about it but wait. If they look hostile, light them up."
<Resilient_GM> Ibram trains the autocannon on the chimera.
<Resilient_GM> "I'll light them the feck up, alright."
<Victrus_Macharius> "Right." He looks down his sights again to see if he can make out the figures.
<Resilient_GM> Suddenly you all see the movement.
<Resilient_GM> They move away from the chimera.
* Victrus_Macharius see through the smoke and rain something he recognizes, the colors of a officer, "I think we have some friendly company boys.
<Resilient_GM> The pouring rain makes it hard to see.
<Victrus_Macharius> "At least one officers from what I could make out."
* Kass_Yonova relaxes, leaning against the bench of the chimera. "Emperor's teeth, Vic. You had better not be joking."
<Resilient_GM> "It damn better be. Jann's just about fucking done." Gilliam says through gritted teeth as the scout falls unconsious yet again.
<Kass_Yonova> He was quite glad someone would be in charge again. Between several NCO's, impersonating an officer, and having to lead this squad around for months on end he was ready to relinquish command. A fecking medic was not cut out for this shit.
<Victrus_Macharius> "I'm not I saw the colors of an officer. And plus you should know when I'm joking."
<Resilient_GM> "Well, fucking signal them already. We're going to lose our only shot at this!"
<Kass_Yonova> "Vic! Get on top of the Chimera and wave your arms. A flare isn't a great idea considering where we are."
* Victrus_Macharius get up from his spot and climbs up to the top of the Chimera, he this begins waving his arms around to get the attention of the people.
* Kass_Yonova adjusts the poor weather cloak around his shoulders and flips the hood over as he stands up and out of the back of the chimera and into the rain.
<Victrus_Macharius> As he does this the rain soaks him as he waves his arms.
<Resilient_GM> They begin to advance.
<Victrus_Macharius> "They are coming this way."
<Resilient_GM> "They want us to approach..." Gilliam says with reluctance.
<Resilient_GM> From the North, you hear a high-pitched cackling... or was it the South?
* Victrus_Macharius stops jumping when he hears the sound, and then imediatlu jumps down from the top of the Chimera, "A shit, I think we got trouble as well. Sounds like those like imps that accompany the green ones."
<Kass_Yonova> "Keep your commbeads on, I'll approach them with what you heard. Get your weapons pointed at where you heard the enemy coming from." With that he turns and starts to trot towards the supposed friendlies, his weapons held firmly in his hands.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Thats going to be hard as it could be from the North or South."
* Victrus_Macharius hops back in and get Ibram to aim the autocannon to the south and the has Ibram keep and eye on the north after pivoting the gun..
<von_Geyer> +They're from our regiment. Standby.+
* von_Geyer slings his lasgun
<Resilient_GM> Thunder roars high above.
* Solomun waves at the group.
<von_Geyer> "Guardsmen, identify yourselves. Who is your ranking commander?"
* Kass_Yonova slows down, his boots tromping in the mud, throwing up water from thevarious puddles dotting the earth. Noting the uniform and his tone he stops and gives the officer a weary salute, his other hand still holding his weapon. "Thank the Emperor." He breathes before going on. "Corporal Kass Yonova, 79th Prithian, 3rd Platoon." He says without a thought, he'd addressed enough before with his name and rank it was a
* Kass_Yonova casual thing to say by this point. "I'm the ranking guardsmen among what's left of my squad, sir." He fights back the urge to look at the other troopers surrounding this new officer, and congratulates himself on keeping his eyes on the LT.
<Resilient_GM> Another two cackles bounce off the structures around you through the sound of rain and thunder.
* von_Geyer returns the salute
* Kass_Yonova releases his hand from the salute to grip his weapon again.
* Victrus_Macharius hears the sound but still can't make out where the sound his coming from.
<von_Geyer> "Lieutenant Constantine Schlieffen von Geyer, 79th Prithian. Our transport is damaged and requires repairs. Is your squad able to relocate immediately? Are there any wounded among you?"
<Kass_Yonova> "I have on critial, sir, my scout Jann. Everyone else is fit and ready." He feels anxious as another peal of thunder racks the sky.
<Resilient_GM> The hiss and whistle of a rocket is followed by a slow-dropping orb of bright orange light, which reflects on the droplets of water raining down.
* von_Geyer hands him the medical supplies he scavenged earlier.
<von_Geyer> "We will have to bring him with us. Make a litter, quickly."
<von_Geyer> "Where is the rest of your squad?"
* Victrus_Macharius has Ibram help him pivot the gun towards the North.
<Resilient_GM> The cackling continues. More of it, more frequent... louder.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Ah Shit I can hear them from both direction. +We got Company for both sides Kass!+ Victus shouts into the commbead.
<Victrus_Macharius> +North and South!+
<Kass_Yonova> The medic points at the wrecked Chimera, before turning at the flare in the sky. He raises a hand to his microbead his face becoming grim. "Sir my squad has sighted hostiles coming from two directions. From the North and South." He mumbles an affirmative over the vox back to Vic.
<Resilient_GM> "Fuck this," Gilliam says to himself as he begins to accomodate the dying scout to exfiltrate.
<von_Geyer> "Give me your vox code."
<Kass_Yonova> With a crisp voice he says the words in a quick flurry. "With your permission I need to link back up with my men. Sir."
<von_Geyer> "Do it. I'll come with you."
<von_Geyer> +Attention: this is Lieutenant von Geyer of the Prithian 79th. I am assuming command. How many fighting men do we have, and what specialized gear, if any?+
<Victrus_Macharius> +This is
<Victrus_Macharius> +This is Private Victus, Heavy Weapon Specialist, we have one injured and two other capable fighters.+
* Kass_Yonova turns around and dashes back to his squad. He practically slides in the mud and rain as he comes up to the back ramp of the Chimera. "Glad to see you already preparing Gilliam." A note of hope in his voice now that reinforcements had arrived.
<Resilient_GM> Ibram opens fire, the autocannon spitting louder than the thunder above.
<Resilient_GM> +Contact!+
<von_Geyer> +Hold position. Reinforcements are en route.+
* von_Geyer switches frequencies to his previous code. +All forces, move to my position. We have a squad to reinforce. Abandon the truck for now. Double time it!+
<von_Geyer> +Switch to this frequency.+
<Resilient_GM> +Feck... on our way!+
* von_Geyer turns to the Savant-Militant and lowers his voice "Refrain from using your powers for now. These men may react unexpectedly."
* von_Geyer rushes towards the sound of the autocannon
<Solomun> "I'll try, but I make no promises, Lieutenant."
<Kass_Yonova> "Contact where?" He shoulders his triplex lasgun.
<Resilient_GM> +South! Fucking dozens of the little shits!+
<Resilient_GM> Ibram fires another burst.
* von_Geyer takes cover near the autocannon and scans for hostiles
<Resilient_GM> +Kass, we need to get out of here, now!+ Gilliam says. You can actually see him dragging Jann away from the bridge, toward the new autocannon emplacement.
* Kass_Yonova turns to the south and sights his weapon, crouching in cover.
* Victrus_Macharius provides covering fire to the North with his Sniper.
* Kass_Yonova shoulders his wewapon with a grunt, mumbling an oath as he takes the other end of the wounded comrade.
* Solomun takes out his M36 and sets up near the autocannon and orders his comrade to do the same.
<Kass_Yonova> "Leg it Gill!"
<Resilient_GM> "We can't... fucking... carry him... forever!" Gilliam says between breaths as you make to the emplacement.
<Kass_Yonova> "Plenty of helpers if we make it through this!" Kass wheezes. You think after the months of practically living along the land he'd have better lungs by now.
<von_Geyer> +Those are scouts. Kill them quickly!+
* von_Geyer fires a burst at the greenskins
<Resilient_GM> The savage little imps fire, but mostly for effect it seems.
<Kass_Yonova> Kass, the bloody freaking medic, switches his beat up Triplex to precision mode and squeezes the trigger. He's rewarded with three dead imps and a fourth wounded. Not bad, he thought to himself.
* Victrus_Macharius switches over to the Autocannon and with the assistance of Ibram opens fire on the Imps killing two of them.
* Solomun puts his hand forward and snaps his fingers causing a flame explosion in the group of Greenskins, killing one of them.
* von_Geyer leans forward and fires another disciplined three-round burst.
<von_Geyer> "Focus your fire! Specialist Quinn, get here, quickly!"
<Resilient_GM> The dreadful green imps continue to fire at full charge, missing every shot.
* Kass_Yonova lines up another shot, alas this time, probably from the flash of lightning his misses his shot. Ludicrous, they're righ there!
* Victrus_Macharius continues to fire but misses.
* Solomun breaths in heavily and unleashes a fireball unto the group of greenskins, killing 5 of the xenos and causing them to flee.
<Resilient_GM> And flee they do.
<Victrus_Macharius> "They are coming, the green ones are coming."
<Resilient_GM> At last, Sebastion and the vehicle operator arrive.
<Resilient_GM> "Seems you got the job done, sir." Sebastion says with a grin.
<Kass_Yonova> "The feck was that?" He asks his squad at the sight of the burning grethcin, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. No not again, Emperor have mercy, he thought to himself.
<Resilient_GM> Gilliam, for his part, has his lasgun trained on the psyker.
<von_Geyer> "Put that weapon down, trooper!"
<von_Geyer> "This man is a Sanctioned Psyker."
<Resilient_GM> "Suffer not the witch..."
<von_Geyer> "He is no witch."
* Kass_Yonova mentally facepalms.
* Solomun pulls out another lho Stick and says "Lieutenant, orders... Oh."
<von_Geyer> "You're not a roving survivor anymore. You are a soldier of the Imperial Guard. You will follow the regulations set by your betters. Is that understood?"
<Resilient_GM> Gilliam looks at the Lieutenant. Then back at Solomun.
<Resilient_GM> "Understood... sir." he says, lowering his weapon.
<Victrus_Macharius> "I don't mean to be the one to interrupt small talk or anything, but the green ones are coming sir."
<Resilient_GM> "Mind telling me how we'll be getting out of here, Lieutenant?" Ibram says, not shifting from his position on the autocannon.
* Kass_Yonova quitely chides the older man about dealing with mutants before and still living through it. Even if Kass' own teeth were gritted.
<von_Geyer> "I have a truck. It requires quick field repairs. Do you have any tires?"
<Resilient_GM> "I have a dying scout," grunts Gilliam.
<von_Geyer> "We have a litter. He's going to die if we remain here."
<von_Geyer> "Pack up that autocannon and move, double time!"
* von_Geyer picks up one half of the scout's litter
* Kass_Yonova sends Gilliam off to collect their assorted gear and helps the officer with the wounded scout.
* Victrus_Macharius nods and get Ibram to get the Autocannon ready to be moved out.
<von_Geyer> "It's not far from here."
<Resilient_GM> "We'll have to hitch it on the vehicle," Ibram says, pushing the weapon.
* von_Geyer jogs at the front of the litter
<von_Geyer> "It has a flat bed. This is under control, now talk less and move more."
* Solomun whistles to Nappen to signal it's time to move.
<Resilient_GM> The psyker's ever-vigilant companion keeps an eye out for hostile movement.
* Kass_Yonova keeps to himself as he helps haul the wounded scout into the truck. His various weapons and gear jostling from the movement.
<Resilient_GM> Soon, you find yourselves in front of the transport. It's hardly standard issue. At an early stage in the war, it was likely a civilian cargo vehicle. A transition after Ork capture turned it into something less sensible, and a reconversion after Imperial recapture brought it to its current state... it's ugly, but it will have to do, and its operator quickly gets back to replacing
<Resilient_GM> the massive tire.
* Victrus_Macharius get the autocannon to the truck and then hitches it onto the truck.
<Resilient_GM> "Fuck... fuck... fuck!"
<Resilient_GM> Gilliam doesn't have time to verbalize what he sees before a volley of rockets start landing all around you.
<Resilient_GM> He dives to the ground, as does Ibram, next to the autocannon.
<Kass_Yonova> At the very familiar sound of incoming fire, Kass tackles the ground. He flings himself to the mud and grass as if trying to hold onto it for dear life as the explosion sends a blast wave across his armored back. Thankfully though, he is untouched.
<Resilient_GM> Sebation, however, is nowhere to be found.
<Kass_Yonova> The medic raises his head looking around, now that he's about as flat as any man can get with the kinda gear he's packing.
* von_Geyer remains standing, more due to officer training than courage, then moves to help get the tire changed
<von_Geyer> "Artillery fire! Work faster!"
* Victrus_Macharius flinches and ducks behind the autocannon. "Man that was close."
<Resilient_GM> Shortly thereafter, the vox-operator emerges from an uncovered manhole, but just barely - his head poking out.
<Solomun> "Damn those Xenos straight to hell."
<Resilient_GM> "Is it clear?"
<Solomun> "Sort of."
* Kass_Yonova picks himself up, giving a hand to his assistant and comrade, which unfortunately is caked in mud.
<Resilient_GM> "Don't alarm the Lieutenant, but... I'm stuck."
<Resilient_GM> At last, the tire is fixed into place.
<von_Geyer> "Everybody get in!"
<Resilient_GM> The operator climbs in, and starts the engine.
<Solomun> "What about him?"
<von_Geyer> "Sound off! Who's-"
<von_Geyer> "What?!"
<Resilient_GM> Ibram secures the autocannon with one final pin, and climbs on board.
<Kass_Yonova> "Your vox-operator is in a tight situation, El-Tee."
<Resilient_GM> You can hear the young vox tech giggle.
* von_Geyer looks down and immediately moves to yank him out
<von_Geyer> "Give me a hand here, medic!"
<Resilient_GM> "Sorry... Lieutenant," he says between grunts.
<von_Geyer> "I can't get a grip."
* von_Geyer pulls out a huge knife "Hang on, don't squirm!"
* von_Geyer cuts the straps
<von_Geyer> "Pick up his equipment, medic, I'll haul him out!"
<Resilient_GM> "No!" he cries as he sees the beloved box damaged.
<von_Geyer> "You will fix it as punishment for your negligence!
<von_Geyer> "
* Kass_Yonova follows as ordered, grunting as he pulls the heavy vox-pack up and out.
<von_Geyer> "Anyone else stuck in a hole?!"
<Resilient_GM> The roar of a distant engine can be heard now, followed by the red and white streaks of light of yet another volley.
* Kass_Yonova puts a spring into his step, throwing the box into the back of the truck.
<Kass_Yonova> He then proceeds to slide under the truck with another grunt, as another blast rocks around them.
<Resilient_GM> Sebastion practically disappears into the transport not half a second before impact.
* Victrus_Macharius takes cover under the truck as well.
<Resilient_GM> "EVERYONE GET THE FUCK IN!!!" the operator calls out.
* von_Geyer gets into the cab and taps the roof twice
* Victrus_Macharius hops onto the back to the truck, his sniper at the ready.
* Solomun runs in with the stick in his mouth.
<Resilient_GM> The engines rattle and roar in an off-beat way as the operator turns the transport and floors the pedal.
* Kass_Yonova takes the lip of the bed of the truck with both his hands, pulling himself up and out before jumping into the back.

DutyandResilience2
<Resilient_GM> You have come up along an intersection which connects main thoroughfares to the
<Resilient_GM> East bridge leading out of the Mercantile district towards the psy-presence Solomun
<Resilient_GM> is able to feel. The bodies of greenskins litter the avenue, as do rockrete segments
<Resilient_GM> from the high-rise which leans against its neighbor in an ominous arch that covers
<Resilient_GM> you from the rain. Looking towards the bridge, the heavy smoke of a destroyed chimera
<Resilient_GM> tells you an attack recently occured.
* von_Geyer peers through the windshield of the looted truck and absently scratches at his stubbly chin, wondering for a moment if there's a decent razor in the wreckage, then signals for the truck to halt.
* von_Geyer turns towards the passenger compartment. "Savant-Militant, let's stop to investigate that Chimera. We might be able to salvage equipment. I need a microbead."
* Solomun uses his flame breath to light of the lho Sticks while he is sitting at the back of this 'vehicle'
* von_Geyer recoils involuntarily from the display of witchery, then plays it off by opening the door with the same motion.
<von_Geyer> "Specialist Quinn, with me. I require your expertise to identify any equipment worth taking."
<Resilient_GM> "Y-yes, sir," the young vox specialist interrupts himself as he slips on his way out of the vehicle.
* von_Geyer stands up straight and looks for a path to the Chimera with the most cover possible.
<Solomun> "Lieutenant, I think I lost the presence."
* von_Geyer frowns. "We'll find it again. Let's check the Chimera first. Cover my approach."
* von_Geyer pulls out a hellpistol and chainsword and starts moving towards the destroyed vehicle, taking whatever cover he can
* Solomun throws the stick on the ground and steps on it to put it out. He says "Understood."
<Resilient_GM> The cover becomes more scarce as you move forward. The rain picks up, and you find yourselves within the killing field of whatever skirmish took place. Around you, greenskin bodies and body parts litter the avenue.
* von_Geyer checks to see if the vox-tech is still following, then dashes for the Chimera
<Resilient_GM> Practically with eyes shut, Sebastion bolts forward, a few meters behind the Lieutenant.
* Solomun tries to sense for any life in the surrounding building, but the rain and the feeling of unease has him distracted.
<Resilient_GM> You can't hear it, but he mouths a prayer all the way through.
<von_Geyer> "There, we've made it. Now take a look around for anything of value."
<Solomun> "Bloody hell, I got nothing. Let's go Nappen."
<Resilient_GM> "It's fresh... Emperor protect us... Recently hit... Emperor deliver us..." Sebastion comments as he looks through the equipment left.
<von_Geyer> "Then the Emperor has blessed us. Waste not what He provides, trooper. Keep looking, I'm covering you."
* von_Geyer scans the area for more Greenskins
* Solomun gets behind Von Geyer.
<Solomun> "I don't like this, Lieutenant. Not one bit."
<Resilient_GM> A loud boom interrupts you. It comes from the truck.
<Resilient_GM> Sebastion's eyes widen in fear.
* von_Geyer grasps the vox-tech's microphone. "Driver, come in!"
<Resilient_GM> ++Fecking traps blew a tire clean off. I will commence reparis, Lieutenant.++
<von_Geyer> ++Wait on that! It may be an ambush.++
<von_Geyer> "Vox-Tech, take the equipment. Quickly!"
<Resilient_GM> "Emperor preserve... guide... and protect..." he continues as he grabs a broken vox, medi-kit, and a charge pack.
* Solomun tries once again to sense if there's anything nearby, but he can't concentrate at all.
<von_Geyer> "Well done."
<von_Geyer> ++Driver, commence repairs. We'll cover you.++
* von_Geyer motions for Solomun to hold position while he moves to cover the truck from another angle, switching to his lasgun.
* Solomun gets his triplex out and holds this position.
<von_Geyer> "Quinn, move to assist."
<Resilient_GM> ++Hate to tell you this, LT, but this ain't our good spare, either.++
<Resilient_GM> Quinn nods nervously, and moves towards the truck.
<von_Geyer> ++It will do for now.++
<von_Geyer> "Savant-Militant, have you found the way again? Any signs of friendly forces, at least?"
* Solomun yells "Lieutenant, we have company?"
<von_Geyer> "Where?!"
<Solomun> "It's man jumping on top of a Chimera. Hundred...ish meters *points* that way."
<Resilient_GM> Indeed, there is a frantic figure atop the vehicle.
<Resilient_GM> Human, but no telling if loyalist or otherwise.
* von_Geyer points the lasgun at the figure
<von_Geyer> "Vox that man! Scan all our regimental frequencies!"
<Resilient_GM> Sebastion finds a corner to sit behind and begins his work.
<Resilient_GM> He transmits on every known imperial frequency in what must be record time.
<Resilient_GM> He looks up to his Lieutenant, and shakes his head.
* von_Geyer grimaces
<von_Geyer> "We can't afford not to get more help..."
<von_Geyer> "I'm going to approach him, Savant. Cover me."
* von_Geyer lowers his lasgun and cautiously approaches the figure
<Resilient_GM> "This is a bad idea, Lieutenant. Bad idea," Sebastion shakes his head.
<von_Geyer> "I'm the one who decides what a bad idea is here, Specialist."
* Solomun gives Nappen his Triplex. "I'm headed out, watch my back."
* von_Geyer motions for the figure to approach
* Solomun follows behind Von Geyer.
<Resilient_GM> From the North, you hear a high-pitched cackling... or was it the South?
* von_Geyer looks around, then continues to approach
<Resilient_GM> The distance is closed as another guardsman moves towards you. Among debris, and dead greenskins, you finally meet, and find some relief in the medicae specialist's uniform. Prithian, of the 79th.