Resilient 20

<Rosenkrantz_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The rain has picked up, the clouds dark and heavy, and your surroundings are now a perpetual grey. Brief openings in the misty canopy above remind you that the sun still rises in late afternoon. Jann the Prithian Scout remains unconscious, his limp body rocking to and fro as the Lieutenant's vehicle navigates through the streets on a ruined outer district of the shattered city.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Sebastion works with a one-track mind to mend the cut straps of the vox, while Nappen holds his canteen to the rain through an opened hatch.
* von_Geyer looks through the windshield, then turns to the psyker
<von_Geyer> "Have you found the signal again?"
* Solomun puffs his lho stick and says "Let me try again, lieutenant."
* Victrus_Macharius sits near the back of the truck, his Sniper strapped to his back and Lasgun in hand.
* von_Geyer stands up and turns towards the passenger compartment to count the troops and their specialties
* Solomun closes his eyes and concentrates hard. He says "I can't quite see it. It's faint and distance. I think we are moving away from it."
<von_Geyer> "Let's find a place to make camp, then. We'll try again in the morning."
* von_Geyer turns to address the troops
<von_Geyer> "Corporal."
<Solomun> "I...I think I'm losing the signal."
<von_Geyer> "We are going to make camp as soon as possible. Who among your squad is the best survivalist?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Sebastion finishes stitching the vox straps, and hands the needle back to Gilliam who gives him a nod.
<Kass_Yonova> "That would be me, sir." He shifts the weapon in his hands, a little unsteady. The adrenaline is still surging through his body.
* von_Geyer moves into the passenger compartment and gestures for him to take the shotgun seat. "Then help Pvt. Rourke here find a safe place for the night."
<Kass_Yonova> "Sir." He nods before awkwardly moving around him with his weapon. He takes the passenger seat in the driver's cabin, placing his weapon between his feet. He helps the driver navigate as best he can.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The sound of rolling thunder again picks up in the distance.
* von_Geyer sits down and writes in a small booklet, then puts it away and scans the seated soldiers again
* Victrus_Macharius perks up at the sound but believes it to the only coming from the storm.
<von_Geyer> "You fought well. All of you. Tomorrow we will begin to turn this war around. I will explain once we make camp. Rest now."
<Kass_Yonova> "Could just be me, but I don't think the thunder we're hearing is natural."
<Solomun> "How so?"
<Kass_Yonova> He looks back to the Prithian officer, "it sounds more...percussive. Like an explosion...maybe artillery?" Kass shrugs, before undoing the strap of his helmet and taking off and letting it lay in his lap.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> What remains of a checkpoint is shelter enough- at least it is able to keep you dry for the night. Soon Rourke turns and backs the truck up, allowing for the rear of the vehicle to just enter the cover of an off-set metal canopy from the structure.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Another round of thunder. It appears to shake the ground, as outside you notice a stack of spent munitions fall over.
<Kass_Yonova> "I've never seen natural thunder do that, definintely explosive." He looks wearily in the direction of the source of the sound.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The truck comes to a stop, and Gilliam prepares the unconscious scout to disembark.
<von_Geyer> "Corporal Yonova, see to his wounds. The rest of you, make camp."
<Kass_Yonova> The medic puts his helmet back on and eases his weapon onto his back before helping Gilliam move the wounded scout. "How's he settling?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Doesn't look good. Fever is setting."
* Victrus_Macharius get out from the back of the truck and has Ibram help him unhitch the Auto Cannon from the back of the truck. After that then then moved it into a good location just incase then need it tonight.
* von_Geyer assists the gunner with moving the cannon
<von_Geyer> "How much ammunition do you still have Private... Macharius?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Gilliam's hands have a visible tremor to them.
* Solomun puts out his lho stick and tries to be of some assistance by taking out some of the ammo boxes.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Nappen begins disassembling a wooden chair for a fire, and looks for kindling.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Eight rounds in the cannon, with three extra drums left sir, along with Three extra mags for the sniper with two mags of Dumdum rounds Sir."
* Kass_Yonova pats the older man on the back. "We'll do what we can, Gill. Emperor-willing."
<von_Geyer> "Good. The beasts seem to fear solid projectile weapons more so than lasguns. Conserve the ammunition, and retain the brass when possible. Emperor willing, we will find an Enginseer to reload them soon."
<Victrus_Macharius> "Will do."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Nappen is successful, and a fire provides you light and warmth.
* Solomun starts to hum an old hymn, but it's out of tune.
* Kass_Yonova pumps Jann with some anti-biotics and wraps him a spare blanket and poor-weather cloak to help keep him warm.
* Solomun sets down some boxes and sees Nappen's work. He's impressed and continues working.
* von_Geyer begins to sing it aloud
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Sebastion unrolls his sleep bag next to a pillar by the fire where he sits with the vox pack next to him. Puts on his headpiece and begins to scan the frequencies.
* Solomun tries to join in with his off-tune humming while working.
* Victrus_Macharius takes a seat next to the fire to help dry up.
* von_Geyer motions for the troopers to join in, raising his voice and putting his soul into his memories of home
<Kass_Yonova> With the wounded seen to, he makes himself comfortable, unrolling his own bedroll and blanket. He looks over his Narthecium and weapons while eating a ration.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Nappen stares at the fire as von Geyer sings the tunes heard in the halls of the Military Academies of Prithia.
* Victrus_Macharius takes out one of his rations and begins to eat.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Gilliam remains by Jann, while Ibram comes to the fire, singing along with the officer.
* von_Geyer lowers his voice as the song ends, then stops, still standing motionless
* Solomun takes a sit near the fire. His leg is starting to act up and needs a break. The psyker takes out a ration and eats it.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> And so the night passes, with thoughts from home, memories fueling your dreams. At least for a while, you can feel peace.
<von_Geyer> "Soldiers. Prithians."
<von_Geyer> "Our army is in disarray. We have lost contact with High Command. We have scattered like rats - surviving, fighting, yes, but only just. And not for long."
<von_Geyer> "But this will not go on. Our comrades will not die in vain."
* Victrus_Macharius look up at Von Geyer.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Even the young vox-tech puts down the comms gear to listen to the lieutenant speak.
<von_Geyer> "Our Savant-Militant has located a few psychic signatures nearby. We will follow them. We will find an Astropath. And through their power, we will find High Command Again. We will find salvation, and victory."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Ibram looks intently at his officer, nodding with determination - a fire in his eyes.
<von_Geyer> "Our forces are scattered, but as we travel, we shall regroup! We will build a new army here, an army of hard-fought survivors and brave warriors such as yourselves!"
<Kass_Yonova> Listens to the officer's speech as he cleans his weapon, nodding along to it.
<von_Geyer> "So take heart, for the God-Emperor has lead you to me, and you will be His finest soldiers here! We will recover! We will destroy this alien horde, and sanctify the planet in His name!"
* Solomun starts to sweat nervously. His psychic attunement has been lackluster by Astra Telepathica standards.
<von_Geyer> "Take heart, for where before there was mere survival, now there is Duty! And if you have the faith and resilience to uphold it, there shall be glory and honor unending!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "For Prithia!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "For home!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "For the Emperor!"
<Kass_Yonova> "For the Emperor." He intones as he finishes clicking his Lasgun back together.
* von_Geyer is somewhat disappointed by the lack of enthusiasm, but chalks it up to fatigue
<von_Geyer> "Now, let us bow our heads in prayer..."
* Victrus_Macharius bows his head.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Prithians bow their heads.
* Solomun bows his head.
* von_Geyer flips through his Uplifting Primer
<von_Geyer> "The Emperor is our guiding light,
* Kass_Yonova wraps himself in his blanket and bows his head.
<von_Geyer> A beacon of hope in a galaxy of darkness.
<von_Geyer> As we serve Him,
<von_Geyer> He is our greatest servant.
<von_Geyer> As we pray to Him,
<von_Geyer> His thoughts are only for us.
<von_Geyer> And in the dark when the shadows threaten,
<von_Geyer> The Emperor is with us,
<von_Geyer> In spirit and in fact."
<von_Geyer> "Amen."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Prithians make the sign of the Aquila, and join in unison, "Amen"
<von_Geyer> "Now sleep. I shall take the first watch."
<Kass_Yonova> "Amen." He joins in.
* Solomun joins in and makes the Aquilia and says "Amen."
* Victrus_Macharius make the sign of the Aquila and says "Amen" before heading off from the fire and putting out his bed roll near to the auto cannon.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The night passes without incident. The dawn watch falls on Sebastion, and it is his voice which wakes you.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Sir... Sir!
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Sir, wake up!"
* von_Geyer gets up quickly
<von_Geyer> "Yes, what is it?"
* von_Geyer gropes for the pistol under his pillow and straps the powerpack onto his back
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The young vox-tech flips a switch on the vox, channeling the incoming transmission to the speaker.
* Solomun snoring loudly.
* Victrus_Macharius starts to wake up as he hears to commotion coming from Sebastion.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Negative, 418. Proceed until you have expended your charges.++
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Mid-range frequency, sir. They must be near," Sebastion explains as he tries to clean up the signal.
<von_Geyer> "Outstanding work, trooper."
* von_Geyer grabs the receiver
* Kass_Yonova eyes shoot open as he sits up, groggy.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The rain has stopped, and the skies are now clear. A fresh crisp air flows around you.
<von_Geyer> +This is Lieutenant von Geyer of the Prithian 79th! Do you read me?+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Transmission received. Stand-by.++
<Kass_Yonova> He can hear the crackle of a vox being used nearby by the LT, well no use trying to go back to sleep now. Kass stands and starts packing his sleeping gear up before finding a nearby corner to relieve himself in.
* von_Geyer moves away from the receiver "Thank the Emperor."
<von_Geyer> +Understood.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Try as Sebastion might, the signal remains imperfect. Their voices somehow obscured.
<von_Geyer> "Corporal, we have made vox contact. Listen closely."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Then you hear it. It can't be the weather. A low, thundering blast that shakes the ground.
* Solomun hears the commotion and wakes up "The feck is going on? BY  THE EMPEROR."
<von_Geyer> +Whoever is hearing this, cease fire immediately! Danger close! Repeat, cease fire, danger close!+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Sergeant-Major 26418. 4th Platoon. 616th Siege Regiment of Krieg.++
<Kass_Yonova> "Might not be friendly." Kass says as he moves closer."
* Victrus_Macharius fully get up with the blast shaking the ground.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Another blast.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Ibram's lasgun falls from its testing position on the pillar.
<von_Geyer> ++Sergeant-Major 26418. This is Lieutenant von Geyer of the Prithian 79th, serial number O-2113278.++
* von_Geyer considers his options for a moment, putting his hand over the receiver
<Victrus_Macharius> "Feck, they really don't care do they."
<von_Geyer> "They're not going to stop the bombardment. Get everyone in the truck, now!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Received, 2113278.++
<Kass_Yonova> "You heard him, load up!" He motions for Gilliam to help him move the scout.
<Solomun> "Let's move, Nappen. I don't want to die because of 'friendly-fire'."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Feck, feck... FECK!"
<von_Geyer> +We are stranded behind enemy lines. Requesting temporary cessation of fire mission and directions to nearest friendly forces.+
<Victrus_Macharius> "Ibram, grab your lasgun and help me hitch the cannon onto the back of the truck."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Negative, 2113278. Firebase remains inactive. 4th platoon is conducting strategic demolitions.++
* Solomun gets his equipment and grabs a crate. He heads towards the truck.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Two more blasts in rapid succession follow.
* von_Geyer starts dragging the vox onto the truck and raises his voice over the explosions
<von_Geyer> +Requesting grid coordinates so we can move out of the area of effect!+
<Victrus_Macharius> With the help on Ibram, they both move to get the Auto cannon hitch to the truck.
<Kass_Yonova> After securing the wounded Kass helps load the rest of their squad's equipment before getting everyone strapped in and ready to rumble.
<von_Geyer> "Drive! Drive! The damned Kriegers are blowing us up!"
* Victrus_Macharius finishes hitching the auto cannon and then hops into the back of the truck.
* Solomun hops into the truck.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The squad makes it safely onto the truck, and Rourke navigates as coordinates are checked against drawn up maps. As you close in on the location you find that major streets and avenues are blocked off - collapsed buildings making it impossible to get through. Kass notices a faint outline of a side-street, and points it out to the operator. Soon, you are within sight of the masked
<Rosenkrantz_GM> engineers of the 616th.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The welcome isn't subtle as a wall of men is formed in front of your moving truck, weapons drawn.
<Kass_Yonova> "Oh feck."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Rourke slams on the breaks, and it catches the the lieutenant off guard. In order to avoide the troopers the operator also has to turn sharply, and von Geyer is thrown a full five meters off the vehicle as it comes to a halt. Solomon for his part, is thrown forward off his seat, landing on his face just beside the driver on the forward compartment.
* von_Geyer pushes himself up and grimaces
* Solomun in very soft, but pained voice, he says "...Feck."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Halt!" a voice calls in the same obstructed way as they sounded over vox.
* von_Geyer puts his hat on and falls into a parade rest
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The man calling out moves out of the way as another masked figure steps forward.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "2213278. You made it."
* Solomun tries to stand up, but he's in pain. He opts to crawl back to his seat. His dignity is wounded.
* Victrus_Macharius moves over from his position and looks over to see what is happening now.
<von_Geyer> "Lieutenant von Geyer. By the Grace of the Emperor."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A deafening blast hits your eardrums with ferocity, as not a hundred meters away another building collapses onto the street below.
<von_Geyer> "Are you in command of this base?"
* von_Geyer casually ignores the blast
<Kass_Yonova> "Nice driving, trooper." He grunts and looks out the window to LT confronting the Kriegers.
* Solomun yells "FECK" at the thunderous noise.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "No base, Lieutenant. Killing field. Colonel Six-Sixteen is creating predictable paths for the beasts."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A squad of engineers carrying heavy amounts of explosives runs past you.
<von_Geyer> "Right into your choke points. Nevertheless, I would speak to a Commissariat officer if possible."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Commissar Kraevan can be found at the front," he motions for you to follow.
* von_Geyer motions to the Prithians "With me."
* Solomun joins the lieutenant.
<von_Geyer> "Pvt. Rourke, get the scout to a medic, asap."
* Victrus_Macharius gets out from the truck and unhitches the auto cannon from the truck and moved it up to join the Lieutenant.
<Kass_Yonova> "C'mon Gill," he hops down from the drivers compartment, weapon in hand.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> For a temporary position, the Kriegers are well dug-in. Sandbags and rubble both are used in very efficient ways, with layered defenses and makeshift trenches marking their advance.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "What's with the masks..." Gilliam says under his breath as he helps Kass.
<von_Geyer> "I'll explain later."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You see the Commissar atop a makeshift rampart, yelling at the demolitions squad that passed you by. He takes almost immediate notice of you.
* von_Geyer stops and salutes
<von_Geyer> "Lieutenant von Geyer of the 97th Prithian, sir!"
* Victrus_Macharius stops and salutes as well.
<Kass_Yonova> "Something to do with the regiment. I heard from the senior surgeon back during the beginning of our push months ago. These guys aren't the fun type." He gives a small grin.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The commissar jumps down to your level. "Commissar Anton Kraevan, senior morale officer of the 616th Siege Regiment."
* Kass_Yonova gives a somewhat-sharp salute to the commissar.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Another blast, so close this time, that the sash around the commissar's waist waves off to the side like a flag.
<von_Geyer> "Sir, I will keep this short: my regiment is scattered in the artillery targets, and our Savant-Militant detected signatures that may lead to an Astropath deeper within the city."
<von_Geyer> "If the artillery kills him, we will be unable to re-establish contact with High Command. I humbly request your assistance for the sake of this planet's liberation."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "You are not the only Imperial troops to fi--" the commissar is interrupted as autocannon fire starts in a burst, followed almost instantly by that of a heavy stubber.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He climbs back up to the rampart.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He snaps a look back at the Sergeant-Major, who joins him, magnoculars in hand.
* von_Geyer turns to his men
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Almost by instinct a vox-tech joins their side, and hands the Sergeant-Major the vox piece.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> In an instant, men are moving all about to perfectly-drilled defensive posts.
<von_Geyer> "This is our chance to prove our worth to the Commissar, and the Kriegers. Fight with all your might, or they shall leave our comrades - and our only hope of off-world assistance - to die!"
<von_Geyer> "Take positions by the Commissar, and do not falter!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "At your command," Rourke replies, readying his weapon next to von Geyer.
* von_Geyer draws his lasgun and rushes to the Comissar's side
* Victrus_Macharius nodes and has Ibram help him move the Auto Cannon into a good firing position.
<von_Geyer> "Set up where you think is best. I trust your judgement, else you would not have survived."
* Kass_Yonova takes a position to the commissar's right, Gilliam to his own right. He rests his triplex on the lips of the sandbags for a more stable position. He switches the weapon mode to sharpshooter for added range. "Give 'em hell."
<Victrus_Macharius> "You ready for this Ibram?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Together, the heavy weapons pair set up with the autocannon next to a rubble-trench and are soon joined by the masked engineers.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "You know I am," he replies with a grin.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> What you see next is surprising.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The men at the very front, rather than fall back to the lines behind them, hold their positions. This remains true, even as the magnitude of the greenskin horde becomes clear.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Perhaps two-hundred in plain sight, they charge the lines.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> What follows is perhaps even more extraordinary. These "engineers" counter charge in futility.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> They die to the last. Some to the xenos, and some to autocannon and heavy stubber fire from the lines behind.
* Solomun leans on his broken staff for support and watches the fight.
* Victrus_Macharius see what is happening and can't believe it.
<von_Geyer> "Hold your fire, wait to reinforce where the Krieger's can- can't... They can't..."
* von_Geyer stares at the waste of life in stark disbelief
<Kass_Yonova> "Sacred Emperor, what the feck are they doing?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Prithians have a strong tradition of camaraderie, and of fighting as a unit made up of brothers in service to the homeworld, and the Emperor. What you see before you is as alien as the greenskin horde, and perhaps even more terrifying.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> In a split second, both the Lieutenant, and Victrus become determined to flee. Their only salvation... their dreadful salvation comes as the young Sebastion flees first. Commissar Kraevan doesn't waste a moment. In a single movement, and without any ceremony, the masked figure reminds you all why the Emperor is the Master of Mankind, and of the Galaxy; why it is He who is most
<Rosenkrantz_GM> terrifying, and not the vile xenos before you... he draws his sidearm, and fires into the vox-tech's head.
* von_Geyer pivots on his heel and rushes back into the line, eyes still wide and teary
<Kass_Yonova> "For feck's sake." He barely knew the kid...but that was such a waste. Then again he should have known better.
* Solomun holds his staff menacingly towards the Ork after seeing the Commissars' work.
* Victrus_Macharius eyes light up as he sees in slow motion the body of Sebastion fall to the ground, he then pivots and returns to his position.
<Kass_Yonova> The Medic locks eyes with the Lieutenant, giving him a very grim, sad look. The officer should have known better.
* von_Geyer shakes his head mournfully
<Kass_Yonova> "Prithia!" He yells, to help put some steel into his comrades backs. "Prithia! The crowned-aquila is watching! Prithia!"
<von_Geyer> "Prithia!"
<Victrus_Macharius> "Prithia!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As if responding to you, the greenskins let out a horrifying warcry.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> That is, horrifying to any man who had not just witnessed the quick work of Commissar Kraevan.
* Victrus_Macharius aims the autocannon twoard the green hoard as Ibram stabilized the gun allowing for him to hit his targets, nine of the creatures fall the the volley of fire.
<von_Geyer> "The big ones! Shoot the big ones!"
<von_Geyer> orks 64m | 2 trenches | us (rampart)
<von_Geyer> [muffled WAAAGH! in the distance]
<von_Geyer> 54*
<Kass_Yonova> Unfortunately for von Geyer Kass didn't hear that order before hand and just plinks off an ork somewhere in it's horde. The triplex was really growing on him.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The largest of the damnable beasts cries out again, and the greenskins enter a frenzied charge, closing at an alarming pce.
* von_Geyer fires a burst into the crowd of Orks, returning their warcry with a shouted "DIEEEEEEE!"
* Draco starts chanting and raises his staff to the sky. He shrines the Emperor's light on the according xenos and burns the hordes. He kills 6 of the beasts.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The command for double rank fire sees the Kriegers fire two volleys in quick succession, killing near a dozen of the charging greenskins.
* Victrus_Macharius continues to fire his autocannon into the horde killing 6 more orks.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Ork horde presses forward, overwhelming the first trench of Kriegers, butchering them in a vicious melee.
<von_Geyer> "Focus your fire! Cut them down!"
<Kass_Yonova> Keeping in mind the order to target the horde's "officers" he lines up a target on one of the four nobs of the horde with the triplex's sights and squeezes the trigger. He grins as the lasbolt hit the ork square in the face...but it does not kill. "Feck."
* von_Geyer continues to blast the horde, felling another beast
<von_Geyer> "Just keep shooting, Corporal! They're too stupid to realize they should be dead!"
* Solomun cats with energy and unleashes a blast of shockwave and a sun beam at the enemy.
* Solomun ends up killing 5 Orks.
* Victrus_Macharius continues to fire the autocannon into the horded until he hears a click as the last two shots from his gun kill six more. "Feck"
<Kass_Yonova> The medic keeps the triplex aimed at the nob he shot at before, and yet again the lasbolt he speeds towards the big beast hits it square in the face...and still doesn't kill it. "Please Emperor." He breathes.
<von_Geyer> "Ibrahm, mark targets for the gunner! Your lasgun is a tracer! Gilliam, help Yonova take down that big one and I'll overlook your transgressions against the Savant-Militant! Nappen, back Yonova up!"
* von_Geyer keeps shooting the horde
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The troopers move into their new positions readying for the incoming horde.
<von_Geyer> "The tide thins! It will break upon our ramparts!"
* Solomun continues his barrage against the horde and yelling "Nappen, get your ass back here."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Kriegers once again concentrate their fire into a series of volleys felling the entire front row of the incoming formation.
* Victrus_Macharius moves quick with the help of Ibram to reload the autocannon, full reloaded he uses his knowledge of his gun to quickly aim and open fire, his shots take down multiple targets and the shots tear through the green horde.
<Kass_Yonova> Still not dead, the medic lines yet another shot up at the head of the nob. Two times it's resisted a headshot, no longer. He squeezes the trigger and watches the lasbolt flash. The sight that greets him right after is both glorious, comical, and horrifying. The Nob's head explodes in a fiery cascade of brain matter, skull shards and teeth. And then it's body catches fire like the brightest torch and continues to
<Kass_Yonova> charge with it's comrades. "What the feck?" Is all he breathes as it continues to move and even manages to catch four of it's greenskin compatriots on fire.
* von_Geyer stands up, clutching his laud hailer
<von_Geyer> [Ork] "YER BOSS IZ KRUMPED! ZOGOFF, YA GITZ!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Commissar Kraevan lifts an eyebrow at the Lieutenant.
<von_Geyer> "Psychological warfare, sir."
<von_Geyer> "The Savant-Militant is even more adept. Observe."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "We will have words, Lieutenant."
<von_Geyer> "Yes, sir."
* Solomun tries to cast again, but collapses on the floor.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Gather your men. We head for the firebase," Kraevan says, making his way down from the ramparts towards a makeshift vehicle depot.
* Victrus_Macharius watches as the horde breakes and runs away, his hand are shaking and he collapses to the floor tired from the short but intense battle.
* Solomun *gasping for air* and tries to get up "Sorry, Lieutenant. I might have pushed a little too hard."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A grim, and terrifying figure in a skull mask begins to approach the trenches beyond the rampart.
<von_Geyer> "Corporal, get the driver and the vehicle, I'll-"
* von_Geyer turns to stare at the masked man
<Victrus_Macharius> "Great job Ibram, that was some quick reloading."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He ends the lives of the wounded in a cold and systematic way.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> After every disturbing execution, he makes a note on a writing pad.
<Solomun> "Nap...Nappen. I could use a hand or my staff or water."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Ibram doesn't reply, he is shaken by the sight of the executions.
* von_Geyer stops to collect the fallen technician's vox, and then his cog tags. He wraps them around his wrist, then continues to run along, keeping pace with the Commissar.
* Kass_Yonova shoulders his Triplex and moves off to gather the driver.
* von_Geyer mutters for the Prithians to follow, looking withdrawn and in shock.
<von_Geyer> As he walks, he looks down at the cog-tags, counting the beads as if they were from a rosary.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Like clockwork, the mysterious engineers resume their work, as though unaffected by the events that have just transpired. You have never encountered a group like the 616th.
* Victrus_Macharius takes a moment before getting up, he then readies to move the autocannon.
* Solomun gets his bearing and stands up on his own.
<Solomun> "Feckin' Nappen. I swear by the Emperor there's something wrong with him."
<Solomun> "Feckin' Nappen. I swear by the Emperor there's something wrong with him."
<Kass_Yonova> After returning with the driver and truck, Kass is able to find a Krieger with a spare red-dot taken from a dead comrade. He is somehow able to bargain with the man for it for two krak grenades. The medic givesa small grin as he attaches it to his triplex. "Lucky me."
* Victrus_Macharius finish getting the autocannon back to the truck and hitched it to it, afterwards he looks around the area for a set of Magnoculars which he is able to find.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Commissar Kraevan mounts up onto one of the three chimera transports the engineers have brought with them, he opens a hatch and stands tall and imposing, observing the operations and calling out with a laud hailer.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Lieutenant! You will follow us closely into the firebase!++ Pausing for a moment, the commissar speaks again.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++A field hospital will take care of your wounded man!++
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The irony stings.
* von_Geyer looks up from the tag
* Solomun searches for some Iho sticks and extra rations and returns with 2 days worth of Kreiger brand combat rations and a single pack of Iho sticks.
<von_Geyer> "Y-yes sir!"
* von_Geyer gets into the truck and taps the roof.
<von_Geyer> "Get in, we're leaving!"
* Solomun enters the truck and offers the Lieutenant, Nappen, and anyone in the Truck a Iho stick.
* von_Geyer doesn't look up from the beads
* Victrus_Macharius takes one and lights it, though he doesn't smoke usually, his nerves are shocked and need to try to relieve it.
* Kass_Yonova makes himself comfortable riding shotgun. Another day, another fight against those abominable greenskins. "Has von Geyer always been this unhinged?" He asks Rourke.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "That ain't right, doc. Lieutenant's seen a lot."
<Kass_Yonova> "Yeah? We've all seen a lot. Maybe I'm out of line, since I don't know him all that well. But I've seen worse than this, way worse and I'm no officer..." He grimaces, remembering the many horrid days of being in command. "You know what, forget I said anything." Kass takes his helmet off for a second time and relaxes.