Resilient FINAL

<Rosenkrantz_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A short-lived rendezvous with remnants of the regimental vanguard sees the platoon secure support from Company assets. While the Captain presses against the Ork horde alongside the Krieger siege regiment, the supplies you secured previously begin to arrive at the firebase, the Colonel's artillery finally able to prepare salvos with the shells arriving from the depot. A secondary
<Rosenkrantz_GM> squad under Sergeant Hotlz is assigned to von Geyer's command, and is making its way into the city, a few kilometers behind.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Rourke drives the chimera through the ruined city outskirts, and you find yourselves funneled towards a bridgehead - handywork of the Krieger controlled demolitions work weeks ago.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Beyond this point, you're it.
* Kass dozes in the back of the chimera, riding the various bumps and yaws as the APC is driven into the city.
<von_Geyer> +The fate of the campaign now falls to us. The Emperor is watching. Do not disappoint him.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The bridge itself leads to the hab-district through which you can reach the city's main lighter-port; one of the arteries which once supplied the city, and the Imperial Guard, with the goods, weapons, and reinforcements that the voidships once provided.
* Victrus_Macharius keeps the Chimera manned, always scanning the area for hostiles.
<von_Geyer> +Sgt. Holtz. Once we get close to the objective, we are going to eject a load of dirty uniforms the Munitorum inexplicably assigned to us. They shall attract hostiles by scent, creating a diversion.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +Can't say I've ever heard of that. Understood, sir.+
<von_Geyer> +Good. Your Chimera will provide overwatch from a distance while we do so. Remain vigilant.+
* von_Geyer directs the Commissar to scout ahead and find a tall building to dump the dirty clothes in
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The commissar's warhorse steps over the bodies of days-old greenskin carcasses, and debris from damaged buildings.
* Raolin heels his warhorse past the bodies and debris searching for a building suitable enough
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A semi-collapsed Arbites tower stands tall above the buildings around it.
* Solomun tries to mind scan the area and is concentrating really hard.
<Raolin> +Geyer, I see a building that should work for you unorthodox plan+
<von_Geyer> +Excellent.+
<von_Geyer> "Aviz, Waltz, drag that up to the tallest floor of that building. We're covering you."
* von_Geyer exits the Chimera with the two troopers.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Yes, sir."
<von_Geyer> +Yonova, wake up. Start finding a path for us into the area of operations.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The two troopers carry the quartermaster's gifts out towards the building, looking from side to side for any threats as they move.
* von_Geyer accompanies them, sword and pistol drawn, scanning for hostiles. As they spread the clothes around, he pulls out his magnoculars and scans the ruins ahead.
<Solomun> +I can feel a presence of another being like... me? It's very faint.+
<von_Geyer> +Excellent. Tell the Corporal where it is coming from. We must hurry.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The process isn't particularly graceful, but the filthy articles of clothing are spread about atop the building, a breeze carrying the scent into the city center.
* Kass smacks his face before taking a sip from his trusty canteen. He asks politely for the magnoculars from Victrus before climbing to the hatch of the cupola and climbing up.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Riedel, the medicae specialist follows close behind.
<Raolin> Catching the scent of the foul unwashed laundry Raolin unclips his Krieger gas mask and fixes it over his face
<Solomun> +I... I can't tell where it's coming from.+"
* Kass once out on the cupola of the turret, Kass scans the area ahead for probable insertion points.
* von_Geyer gets distracted by the smell and heads back down
* von_Geyer gets to Solomun and takes him aside
<Raolin> +Noise ahead. Coming from the main avenue ahead of us+
<Victrus_Macharius> pivots the turret of the Chimera to face down the main avenue.
* von_Geyer turns his head that way.
* Solomun tries again to pinpoint the person. He starts to breath in heavy and says "I'm sorry. This person's energy is so weak. They might be in trouble."
<von_Geyer> "Shit, get to cover, Savant."
* von_Geyer takes cover with his Comrades
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The commissar's beast begins to tap its talons against the ground below, its head bobbing up and down in aggression.
<Hodor> "Smash time"
<von_Geyer> +Hodor, stay in metal box.+
<Kass> +Whatever it is I can't see it.+
<Hodor> "okay"
<von_Geyer> +Holtz, we have a report of movement. Do you see anything?+
<Victrus_Macharius> +Can you make out what kind of noise?+
<Raolin> +Akin to the shifting of metal plates+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +No movement, sir, however...+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +I can't be certain, but it appears a faint trail of smoke has begun to rise+
<Kass> +Can confirm, due west, LT. Toward the abandoned port I'd wager.+
<von_Geyer> +Let's get back in the Chimera and get out of here, due west.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A loud thump against metal now rings out loud enough for all to hear.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> What follows are the screams of a man in pain.
<Kass> "Someone's having a party." The SMO lowers his magnoculars and heads back into the Chimera. He hands them back to Victrus before taking his place in one of the crash-seats.
* von_Geyer starts running towards the Chimera and gets the psyker and his comrades in before heading to the Flamer hatch
<von_Geyer> +Do you have a visual, Yonova?+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +Sir, we hear it now.+ Holtz reports.
* Victrus_Macharius puts his Magnoculars away after getting them back from Kass.
<Kass> +No sir, he's got some lungs on him. Whoever it is.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The screams become muffled.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Then, they cease.
<von_Geyer> "Let's get out of here before whatever did that comes for us. Move.+
<Kass> "Mount up lads!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Rourke straps in and begins to turn the transport.
* von_Geyer keeps both hands on the flamer controls, tense
<Kass> +You want me up in the cupola, LT?+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Whatever it was doesn't trouble you any longer as you are able to make progress enough to the walls separating the outskirt districts to those in the city proper. The entrance through involved a collapsable bridge. To your right, a destroyed chimera. Straight ahead, yet another - with the symbols of 3rd Company on its side.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The surroundings are strangely quiet.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++Lieutenant von Geyer. Firebase artillery support is now online.++
<von_Geyer> ++Roger.++
<von_Geyer> +We have artillery support, men.+
<von_Geyer> +Yonova, get on the pintle. Button up at the first sign of trouble.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Emperor be praised..." Rourke says with a sigh.
<Kass> "Keep my spot warm, Riedel." Kass moves up the crew bay and up into the cupola of the Chimera, making himself comfortable as he puts his hands on the pintle-mount.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You begin to cross the bridge, past the chimera which weeks ago brought you here... brought you as far as this point on a mission to bring relief to the doomed efforts on this horrid rock.
* Solomun looks incredibly worried and is tapping his foot.
<Victrus_Macharius> "You want the Magnoculars again Kass?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The scars on the transport's side a reminder of the skirmish which almost brought your death.
<Kass> "Sure." He takes them when they're proferred.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> For the first time, you make it through the bridge on the other side of the walls which months ago halted the imperial advance and brought about a dreadful stalemate.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Even now the scarred ground, the destroyed hulls of tanks and transports, and the rotting remains of human and greenskin alike serve as a reminder and warning, both.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The distant thundering of the imperial guns now breaks the eerie slience around you.
<von_Geyer> "Anything, Savant?"
* Solomun tries again to scan the area and... nothing. He shakes his head disappointedly.
<Raolin> +Movement at the gatehouse. At least one possibly a few others moving across the  metal scaffolding+
<Solomun> "Sorry lieutenant... It's too difficult to home in."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As Sergeant Holtz crosses the bridge, the lock-mechanisms are disengaged, and the bridge begins to fold in on itself.
<von_Geyer> +Sergeant, reverse now!!+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +Way ahead of you, sir+
<von_Geyer> +Yonova, look for someone operating the bridge!+
<Kass> "Sacred emperor." He breathes as he watches the sight before him.
<von_Geyer> +And shoot the fucker!+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The secondary chimera emits a heavy cloud of smoke as the prithians push back.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The heavy stubber opens up, hitting and punching through the gatehouse's metal sheets, impacting with flying metal, sparks, and gore.
* Kass the weapon in gripped in his hands shakes and rattle, and booms quite loudly as he fires it. Much like the auto-cannon he used back at that fort. Kass clenches his teeth in a smile as he shreds the bastard in the gatehouse.
<Kass> +There were two bastards up there, dunno if I got them both.+
<von_Geyer> +Keep firing.+
* Raolin dismounts the Krieger warhorse heading for the ladder leading up to the scaffolding
<Raolin> Pulling himself up Raolin draws his pistols as he makes it to the top of the ladder
<Victrus_Macharius> +Driver move into a better position, I cant get a good shot on any of the targets.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Ragged clothing around a frail figure - the sight that greets the commissar above. The emaciated man (or is it woman?) holds the hand of the now-destroyed bridge controls operator.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Rourke moves forward, and turns left on the first street, where movement can be seen on the inside of the buildings at either side.
<von_Geyer> +Looks like we have rebels.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +There's no way back, sir. The damned bridge is too far gone!+ Holtz calls out.
<von_Geyer> +Give us some fire support! We'll find a way around later.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The feral-like man in front of the commissar finally lets out a cry...
* Victrus_Macharius aims the auto cannon and opens fire on the figures down the street, they however are able to duck back into cover inside the building.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> At the last moment, the commissar is able to see the grenade drop.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The explosive goes off, the commissar's instincts keeping him a fraction of a second ahead of the deadly blast.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Behind him, the destroyed remains of the two locals... and that of the bridge controls.
* von_Geyer triggers the flamer
* von_Geyer activates the laud hailer: "DISPERSE, OR PERISH IN THE EMPEROR'S FLAMES!"
<Raolin> Hanging onto the edge of the scaffolding by an arm Raolin quickly dodges away from the grenade dropped by the locals
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The approaching man is engulfed in deadly flames. His screams are quickly made silent as his flesh is consumed by the fire.
<von_Geyer> +Such is the fate of those who oppose us!+
* Solomun sticks his head of the chimera and sets fire to the nearest target and turns him into charcoal.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Several aerial transports fly overhead, landing on the street ahead.
<Kass> "Holy shiiiiiiiiiiit."
<von_Geyer> "What did you see? The fire is blocking my FOV!"
<Kass> +SEVERAN DOMINATE ELITE TROOPERS+ He screams through the vox, followed by the loud cracks and thumps of the heavy stubber firing above the officer.
<von_Geyer> +What?!+
<Hodor> +Smash?+
<von_Geyer> ++Command, we have visual on enemy fliers. Standby for fire mission.+
<von_Geyer> +
<von_Geyer> "We're going to bring death from above on those fucks!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Several of the secessionist troops drop as they pour of of their transports, taking in heavy stubber fire.
<von_Geyer> "Hodor, go to that tower with the crank thing!"
<von_Geyer> "Wait, no! Hodor, get out of metal box! Smash them!"
<Hodor> "I go smash"
* Hodor leaves vehicle
* Raolin pulls himself up onto the partially destroyed scaffolding and descends the ladder heading back towards his warhorse
* Victrus_Macharius targets one of the fliers with the autocannon and opens fire on it.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The autocannon fire tears through the rear armor leaving shards of metal flying through the air, and punching through the interior. The idling engines fire up again as the pilot prepares to leave the area immediately.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Rourke pushes the chimera forward, allowing the weapons to come into range while the enemy remains vulnerable.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The flamer spits into the unloading formation that just got hit by autocannon fire, the secessionists disperse to try and avoid it, but not without casualty.
* Solomun eyes start to glow and he issues a command to his three victims "Kill your comrades."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As they finish disembarking, and move into cover, you hear and see firing between the secessionists... in a terrible confusion, the first group of men is anything but a cohesive formation, further prompting for the damaged transport to fly off.
* Kass depresses the firing stud on the heavy stubber as he aims the weapon on it's pintle mount at another of the disembarking troops.
* Hodor runs and finds cover foward
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You hear commands being shouted in the low-gothic of the planet.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The formations come together readying in cover.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The calls for order fall on deaf ears as the bloodlust of the possessed enemy fuels the conflict further. By the time they are killed, they have taken with them another four of their comrades.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> What remains of their formation falls back to the rest of the severan troops.
* Raolin pulls himself atop the warhorse and charges forward behind the Ogryn using the sub-human as moving cover
* Victrus_Macharius continues to track the flyer as it tries to leave and fires with the Chimeras autocannon.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The rounds hit with the same terrifying force, punching through the metal plates. A short, sharp explosion flares outward from the transport, armor panels falling off jammming one of the engines which screeches and flames out. It's ascent is slowed, and its trajectory is dramatically altered. Though it flies out of sight, the blast and subsequent heavy smoke is visible for all to
<Rosenkrantz_GM> see as it rises above the rooftops of the building in your surroundings.
* von_Geyer belches another gout of flame at the Severans
<Victrus_Macharius> "Yea, Got one of the fliers."
<von_Geyer> "Full speed ahead!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The chimera continues on its advance as fire spits from its front in anger.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Severan troopers attempt to get out of the way, but find the flames aggressively encroaching. Instead, their only salvation is to run further inside the building - their escape now a fierce inferno.
* Solomun breaths calmly and unleashes a hellish fire blast at the enemy and kills 6 of them. He changes targets to one of the runners, making them believe their comrades are out to get him.
* Kass lowers the weapon just a tad and fires another long burst of heavy stubber fire. He's trying to suppress them this time. Looks like it worked.
<Hodor> "HODOR SMASH"
* Hodor runs up and turns someone into juice
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The formation that fell back regroups to fire a volley at the Ogryn. The second squad now held inside the building does not emerge, though you hear shouts and calls from within.
<Raolin> Firing from behind the Ogryn with his two pistols the shot from his laspsitol goes wide while the inferno pistol beam hits true, incinerating one of the rebels
* von_Geyer dismounts the Chimera with his vox-tech
<Victrus_Macharius> Seeing that the other two fliers are gone, he turnes the autocannon onto the squad still out in the open, opening fire and killing three of the rebels.
* Solomun yells "FEAR THE MIGHT OF THE EMPEROR!". He uses his powers to cause of one of the enemies to think they are invisible and the other to faint.
* Kass swivels the heaavy stubber to face the building before releasing another long burst of heaavy stubber rounds.
<Hodor> "CHARGE!!!"
* Hodor juices another victim
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Severan formation begins to fall back.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A single flare is fired up above.
<Raolin> +The Severan Lt. just spoke into a vox piece and now they're pulling back. I think they're either trying to draw us in or they're going to start shelling the area+
<Hodor> +We run?+
<Victrus_Macharius> +Fall back or Push then sir?+
<von_Geyer> +Push forward towards the Astropath. Somebody get me a captive, stat!+
<von_Geyer> +Sgt. Holtz, pull back and find another way across. Retreat if you find heavy resistance!+
<Solomun> +I can sense something.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> +Yes, sir!+
<Solomun> +It's a pulse of energy in the center of the city.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A single Vaklyrie transport rushes overhead towards the inner bastion.
<Solomun> +I think the Inner Bastion, there's some activity over there!+
* Raolin wheels his warhorse towards the enemy cowering inside the building urging his horse towards it. Dismounting he fires both of his pistols the shots going wide
<Raolin> +They're wiring explosives on the building!+
<Kass> "Shit."?
<von_Geyer> +Everyone back in the Chimera! We are leaving!+
* von_Geyer gets back in the Chimera and starts taking down the coordinates of the base the renegades are retreating to
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A burst above your position leaves your ears ringing.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Slowly descending, a cloud of thick smoke begins to cover the area.
* Victrus_Macharius hearing the new information from the Commisar, he aims the autocannon at the retreating troops and opens suppressing fire to try and slow there retreat.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The single burst is followed by a barrage of the same air-bursting shells.
* Kass ducks into the turret a little, still keeping one hand on the heaavy stubber.
* Solomun ducks and closes the hatch.
* Raolin holsters his pistols and remounts the warhorse
* Hodor goes back into vehicle
* Victrus_Macharius throws on his respirator on.
* Solomun puts on his respirator.
* von_Geyer hastily puts it on
* Hodor slaps on respirator
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "I can't see a fucking thing, sir!" Rourke cries out
* Kass takes his respirator out of his kit and slaps it on. Checking the seal to make sure it's working correctly. +Check your seals.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Going by memory as much as instinct, the seasoned operator leads you down a side-passage.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Perhaps most dreadful of all is the realization that this wasn't a singular strike on your position. No matter how far you travel, the shells fall - the smoke is there.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> It is an extermination.
<Raolin> Following on his warhorse Raolin stays close to the Chimera so as to not lose his comrades amidst the smoke
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++von Geyer! von Geyer, come in!++
<von_Geyer> ++This is von Geyer.++
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++You don't have much time. Find the astropath and get out! Fucking fanatics...++ the transmission fades
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++...and now flood the city with chym-shells. We'll do what we can, but you don't have much time.++
<Solomun> +I feel this ones presence. It is a scream in the warp...I think it's the Astropath we seek."
<Kass> +I fecking hope so.+
<Solomun> +They are screaming on top of the Governor's residence.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "I can get us there." Rourke says looking to a small map taped to the side panel.
<von_Geyer> +We are on it. The Emperor protects.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The chimera roars forward at full speed. You pass through a severan checkpoint, and realize they have fallen to the chemical attack.
<von_Geyer> +Keep respirators on at all times! Chemical weapons are in the AO, I repeat: Chemical weapons are in the AO!+
<von_Geyer> +Move towards the Governor's palace.+
<Victrus_Macharius> "Boy these guys just won't give up will they."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The vox channel remains silent.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> In a district where you may have expected resistance, instead you encounter silence.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Severans dead as they scrambled to find cover, or their gas masks.
<Solomun> +Why would they kill their own men just for a squad in a chimera?
<Solomun> +
<Solomun> +This feels strange.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You enter the vast inner bastion. A square where the administrative buildings once puppeteered every aspect of society on the Imperial World of Larros.
<Kass> +Best not to think on it.+
<Victrus_Macharius> +Looks like they are desperate, what ever the reason we will beat them.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The governor's manse, still partially collapsed is largely undefended.
<Raolin> +The convictions of the desperate are often beyond comprehension+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "This ain't right, LT," Rourke says, pulling the chimera to a stop.
<Solomun> +Lieutenant, you know about Orks? Does chemical weapons affect them?+
<von_Geyer> +Dismount. Rourke, Waltz, stay with the Chimera.+
<von_Geyer> +They're tough bastards. Let me think...+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Sir," the operator acknowledges with a nod.
<von_Geyer> +Something this tough? Yes. They stand a better chance at resisting, but since they don't have standard issue gas masks... or anything, for that matter... Then no.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The rest of the men disembark as ordered.
* Victrus_Macharius makes his way down from the Chimera's turret and makes his way out of the vehicle as he off loads his heavy bolter.
* Kass climbs down from the cupola and disembarks from the back ramp, his comrade in tow.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Visibility is limited to few meters in any direction.
<Raolin> Reigning in the warhorse alongside the Chimera Raolin dismounts with the others
<Solomun> +Lieutenant, I think this attack might have been for the Orks.+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Your own breathing echoes in your masks as you scan for any threats.
* von_Geyer warily dismounts and starts walking, sword and pistol in hand
* Hodor follows the group
<von_Geyer> +Vox discipline. Find the Astropath.+
<Solomun> +Understood.+
* Victrus_Macharius looks around, "Man this is really creepy right Ibram."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "No kidding..." he groans.
* Kass takes point with the squad, along with the commissar.
* Raolin steps up beside Kass drawing his pistols
* Solomun follows behind with Nappen. He is extremely uneased at this situation.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The side garden entrance to the manse materializes from the fog in front of you.
* Victrus_Macharius follows closely, as he carts the heavy bolter along.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Lights flicker from within.
* Kass gestures for everyone to proceed with caution.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You make your way up a flight of stairs and into a room filled with what appear to be hastily-laid sandbags.
<Raolin> +Watch your step boys. Those are bodies...not sandbags..+
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You hear the echoes of voices further up.
<Kass> +Poor bastards.+ He steps over the bodies cautiously, keeping his footing even.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The further up you go on the flight of stairs, the more gruesome the deaths.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Hordor, lift gun over bodies."
<Hodor> "okay"
* von_Geyer begins to tremble, wheezing through his respirator
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Finally, on the top-most floor, you see a group of men stacked up as if ready to breach the double doors ahead.
* Victrus_Macharius looks out as he passes the dead bodies, not in the slightest does it bother him as he has seen worse on the battle field.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "He's gone mad!" One of them barks through his rebreather.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The commissar rolls a grenade at the group. They don't see, nor hear it coming.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> They, and the doors are blown out of the way. Splinters and gore splatter the walls.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Beyond the ruined doors, bolts of energy materialize and stick to the walls like unnatural lightning.
<von_Geyer> "Oh no."
<Kass> "We're friendly!" Kass manages to yell out as he goes prone in a desperate tackling of the ground.
<von_Geyer> "H-Hodor, grab robe man. Gentle."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The vast hall ahead is slightly more visible. The smoke concentrates at the bottom.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A single bright light slowly rises in the middle of the room.
* Raolin advances into the room weapons still drawn
<Hodor> "Okay"
* Hodor walks into room
<Hodor> "HODOR!!!"
* Kass waits a handful of seconds before entering behind the Commissar and Ogryn.
* Solomun follows in behind the Ogryn as well
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The light is very bright, the smoke yet lingers... the gas masks further obstruct your senses. But you see two figures on the far end of the room, various others on their knees surround the light.
* Victrus_Macharius moves up slowly behind them.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "I am glad you made it, Lieutenant."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A man in a greatcoat approaches, slowly.
<von_Geyer> "Are you..."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Anton Kraevan.
<Raolin> "You traitorous bastard!"
<von_Geyer> "Commissar? What- how did you get here?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Ending this war."
* Kass raises his weapon, training Kraevan with it.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Commissar Raolin fires twice into Kraevan, striking him in the leg.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Daroshevik... always so brash."
<von_Geyer> "Raolin, stand down!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Kraevan turns, as though nothing had happened. And walks towards the circle in the middle of the room.
* von_Geyer tries to disarm the Commissar
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "I don't think so, Lieutenant."
<Hodor> "Hodor SMASH!!!"
<von_Geyer> "Hodor stay! Grab Raolin!"
<von_Geyer> "EVERYBODY STAND DOWN!"
<Hodor> "OKAY"
* Kass lowers his triplex but does not relax.
* Solomun *Sighs*
* Victrus_Macharius keeps lasgun at the ready.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Soon, my associate and I will see the planet cleansed," the other man in the room says.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> This man, you all recognize.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Ducal Legate, Lucian.
* Solomun holds his cane up.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The dread traitor Duke Severan's own man on the planet.
<Kass> "Son of a bitch." Kass breathes.
<von_Geyer> "Explain yourselves."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> One by one those kneeled in the circle drive daggers into their chests.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The light suspended in air glows brighter.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> And... it -he- screams.
* Solomun screams in pain
* Hodor gets ready for combat
<Solomun> "THIS IS CURSED!"
* Kass brings his weapons back up.
<Solomun> "THEY ARE TORTURING THE ASTROPATH'S SOUL! KILL THOSE BASTARDS!"
<von_Geyer> "CHAOS!"
<von_Geyer> "CHAOS!!!"
* Victrus_Macharius readies his weapon.
* von_Geyer seizes up, clutching his head
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Lucius takes several lasbolts to the body, falling to one knee. Immediately after, before he can look up, the Ogryn charges the traitor.
* Hodor hits the legate
* Kass squeezes the trigger and several las bolts fly at the traitorous commissar.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Legate yells in pain, and jumps to one side. "Vile beast! You know not the energies which you oppose!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Kraevan is struck, despite his attempt to dodge out of the way.
* Victrus_Macharius is able to get a couple of shot off on Legate as well.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Instead of returning fire, however, he rushes for the inner circle, where he, too, ends his life.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The legate fires at the Lieutenant, then.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A bolt of energy strikes him from the light in the room.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He is launched into the wall as a result.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The light dims, and the astropath falls.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Legate's body begins to change before your eyes.
<Solomun> "No, no, NO!"
<Hodor> "HODOR!?"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Its skin tears, blood dripping to the floor.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Muscles bursting through.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The squad launches a barrage of grenades as the Ogryn pushes the mutating Legate to the floor.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The blasts engulf both Hodor and Lucius. Smoke, shockwaves... and blood.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As it clears,
<Rosenkrantz_GM> two large, grotesque bodies remain, torn by the blasts.
<Hodor> "hodor not feel good....."
<Hodor> "...."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The Astropath groans.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He yet lives.
<Victrus_Macharius> "Aw shit, damn it Hodor."
<von_Geyer> "All is not lost, the Astropath lives!"
* Kass rushes over to the Astropath, "Riedler, keep me covered."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Your comrade nods, and moves with you.
<Solomun> "Oh, fecking... hell."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Vittoria scrambles to seek active channels on the vox.
<von_Geyer> "We're not done here..."
<von_Geyer> "Forget the vox, stay vigilant!"
<Victrus_Macharius> "Ibram, help me move the Ogryn back." He then goes to pull Hordor back from where he lies, unsure if he is dead or not.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> On the balcony through the large tinted windows, a lander approaches.
* von_Geyer starts rocking on the balls of his feet, hypervigilant and twitching
<Kass> Once Kass is near the Astropath he looks him over for any damage.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> An Aquila of black and red.
* von_Geyer starts waving his hellpistol at it
<von_Geyer> "AAAAAAAH!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> As it lands, strom troopers disembark, weapons drawn.
<Solomun> "What's happening now?"
<von_Geyer> "Stand down."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Behind them, a man in exquisit armor, adorned with the crimson red columns you once became familiar with, so many months ago.
<von_Geyer> "I said stand down, Prithians!"
* von_Geyer drops his pistol and sheathes his sword
* Solomun puts his cane to his side.
* Kass is still looking the bolt-magnet over.
<von_Geyer> "Salute him!"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The storm troopers pour into the room, weapons trained on you all.
* Victrus_Macharius looks over seeing what is happening and lays Hordor down, he then stands where he is, keeping his weapon on the ground.
* von_Geyer salutes, letting the hellpistol dangle on its cable
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The single, unarmed man comes in, his great coat flowing, insignias covering his form.
* Solomun salutes.
* Victrus_Macharius salutes
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He looks at the pile of flesh that is the Ogryn and the late Lucian.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Then at the circle where the astropath, Kraevan, and the sacrificial lambs all lay.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Thoroughly impressed," he finally says.
* von_Geyer swallows
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Without a word longer, he fires at your vox-tech, turning her head into a pulp.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "All information of this will be contained."
* von_Geyer turns towards the vox tech, eyes wide, then back to the man in black
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The medicae specialist immediately drops his commbead, and stomps on it.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Inquisitor Mortem. Ordo Hereticus," he approaches von Geyer.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "I presume you are in charge?"
* von_Geyer salutes again "Yes, my lord."
<von_Geyer> "By the grace of St. Pius, I still draw breath."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Think very carefully about the answer to follow."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Who can you trust, among these men?"
* Kass jumps at the crack of the inquisitors weapon, now he looks up to see who and what has transpires. Kass frowns then scowls.
<von_Geyer> "Corporal Kass Yonova."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The stormtroopers step forward.
<von_Geyer> "Commissar Daroshevik"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Mortem eyes the medic.
* Kass looks to the Lieutenant then to the inquisitor, but he says nothing. He continues to scowl though.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Drop your weapons. Come to me."
<von_Geyer> "Specialist Victrus Maccharius."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> He nods to Raolin, and Victrus.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Identical instructions."
* Kass grips his weapon tightly. Warring with himself, before sighing and tossing his triplex to the ground. "Feck me." He approaches.
* Victrus_Macharius places the remaining weapons down and walks forward.
<von_Geyer> "Well... all of them, even the Ogryn, and the two men I left in the Chimera. All of them, except for the locals, my lord."
<Raolin> Slowly unholstering his pistols Raolin drops them onto the ground and approaches the Inquisitor.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Without ceremony, the locals are gunned down by the storm troopers.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Listen very carefully, Lieutenant."
<von_Geyer> "And that includes myself. I know I am in something beyond my understanding, but I trust my conscience. Nobody is beyond suspicion."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "You and your men died to the Krieger extermination of the city."
<von_Geyer> "Yes, my lord."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Leave your identifier tags. All of you."
* von_Geyer tears his off and drops it
* Solomun removes his tags and his weapons on the ground.
* Kass unhooks it from around his neck and throws it on top of his triplex.
* von_Geyer hesitates, then produces his previous vox tech's "This trooper was already confirmed as dead days ago. His memory is a reminder of my failures. May I keep it?"
* Victrus_Macharius takes his tags off, he takes a moment to look at them, and then tosses them off behind him.
* Solomun drops his cane. He let's out a heavy sigh.
* Hodor snores a "Hodor"
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Mortem simply nods at the Lieutenant's request.
* von_Geyer bows and puts it away
* Raolin unceremoniously reaches beneath his greatcoat and rips his tags off, tossing them onto the round
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "You have rid yourselves of these tags. And these names."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Some of you will not survive induction. But such is the price we pay to serve the Emperor in purest form."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "Forget the chain of command, for your loyalties are to the Empror alone from this day on. Forget the fate of those who are left behind, for they are your brothers no longer."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "If you are prepared, swear so now. If you are not, be relieved of the burden of your sinful existence."
* von_Geyer salutes
* Solomun salutes
* Victrus_Macharius salutes.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> The stormtroopers lower their weapons.
<Kass> "For the Emperor." Kass says instead of a salute.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> A second transport lands on the balcony.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> "The pilot will instruct you further."
<Rosenkrantz_GM> With that, he and his men leave the room, and board the crimson Aquila.
<Solomun> "I guess... we are nameless now, brothers?"
* Kass shrugs
<Raolin> "We always were Solomun"
<Victrus_Macharius> "Yep, well lets get the Ogryn on to the transport shall we."
<Solomun> "I guess."
<Kass> "I see why alcohol is such a vice now, for shite like this."
* von_Geyer grabs the Ogryn and grunts as he drags him along
* Victrus_Macharius helps Geyer with moving the Ogryn
<Solomun> "Think of it this way Medic: new names, new start, new enemies to burn."
<von_Geyer> "We have been selected by the Inquisition. Do you not see the gravity of this situation?"
* Solomun tries to help move the Ogryn to the transport.
<Solomun> "It's better than dying."
<Kass> "Honestly? I feel empty, that's it."
<Kass> He then silently helps them move the incapacitated Ogryn.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> You are settled into the Inquisitorial transport, and you ascend far above the cityscape. Far above the wartorn planet of Larros - yet another lost world to the vices of impure men. You try to disconnect yourselves from your old lives, and process what now awaits you.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> Only in Death does Duty end.
<Rosenkrantz_GM> ++++++  End Campaign  ++++++