Death From Above 4

<Pavor_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Pavor_GM> For several hours, the remnants of Cobra team hunker down in the relative safety of the abandoned vehicle depot. Far to the East, a glow of light begins to crown over the horizon, the clouds slowly drifting high above taking on the red-purple hue of filtered sunlight.
<Pavor_GM> It isn't until Zaylen's watch that the movement of a group of men is sighted. They are close, and they are plenty - though they should have been easily spotted, they must have made an effort to keep their movements concealed.
<Zaylen> "Fething shite." He curses to himself, he was going to have a word with the two that had watch before him about unclogging their shite eyes. +I have movement, roughly a dozen tangos from the South-Southeast. They seem to be passing by us, but they're not very far away. They must have spotted the hydra we destroyed earlier.+
* Leon grabs his gear in case of emergency.
* Dutch_Miles moves over to his patient as he grabs his gear after taking a nap from his second watch.
* Commissar_Hargrave rises and straps on his weapons. "Lieutenant."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We should avoid a fight for now, but we can't stay here if they are gonna be snoopin' around."
<Zaylen> +Going by their uniforms and markings, they look like reserve forces. ...they might be friendlies, some of them have a roughly sprayed-on aquila on their should-pad. Worth the risk you think?+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "That's... that's interesting."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Suggestions, Commissar?"
<Pavor_GM> "Hold fast! Could be a trap!" you hear someone hissing down below.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Zaylen can get closer if you want more information Lieutenant."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Zaylen, we need some more info. Can you get closer?+
<Zaylen> +Want me to make contact as well?+ He asks as he makes ready to make a closer look.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Yep to you, just don't get shot.+
<Zaylen> +Don't plan on it, El-Tee.+ Zaylen starts moving through the terrain like a silent hunter.
<Pavor_GM> As Zaylen makes it down, he realizes that he is standing less than a meter away from two of the men who have wandered into the depot. A door, ajar, is the only thing standing between the commando, and the men within.
<Zaylen> moves to the side and keeps to the shadows so he can listen in on them a little. Never pays to be a little careful before making a decision.
<Pavor_GM> "But listen. If it wasn't us, who else? Seems like a waste to destroy an armored vehicle just to draw us out," one of them ponders to the other.
<Zaylen> Nothing ventured....Zaylen moves to just the side of the doorway, keeping out of sight but raising his voice. "That was our handiwork. I take it you all are loyalists?"

<Pavor_GM> An explosion levels the building. Everyone dies. Thanks, Zaylen.
<Zaylen> (:
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> 8==D~~~~
<Dutch_Miles> "Hello Gordon"

* Joshua leaps back from the door he was standing by and raises his shotgun. "What the fuck! Hostiles?! Friendlies?! Not sure!"
<Pavor_GM> "Shit!" a call comes from outside. "Stack up! Stack the fuck up!"
<Zaylen> "Friendlies. Otherwise most of you would be dead." Zaylen steps into the doorway, letting his weapon rest on it's sling. He moves his goggles up a fraction so he looks a little more human.
<Pavor_GM> Dozens of boots stomp against the dirt as the men outside begin to make for the entrances.
* Dutch_Miles looks up hearing all the noise. He rises his weapon fearing the worst.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Shit, squad get ready. Shits about to hit the fan."
* Leon draws his weapon.
<Pavor_GM> "Dawn, Tormund! Sound off!" the same voice barks from outside.
* Joshua snapping back to reality "Ah shit uh single.... guardsman? Claims to be behind the blown up vehicle don't recognise shit on him!"
<Pavor_GM> "Is he armed?"
<Zaylen> "I'd be surprised if you did. Settle down, trooper." +Made contact, working on the details.+
* Joshua calming down slightly "Heavily but probably not an issue." Lowering his voice to a more conversational level "Will you step out with us?"
<Pavor_GM> "Take him prisoner, and escort him out!"
<Pavor_GM> Braddock decides he has heard enough, and begins to make his way down.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Stay out of sight.+
<Zaylen> "Lead the way, trooper, I'll keep my hands visible."
<Pavor_GM> +Got 'em, Zaylen. Keep them distracted.+
<Joshua> "Tormund get the door, you follow him at at least 3 paces."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Braddock, stay put!+
<Pavor_GM> "Got the door," the second trooper confirms.
* Joshua backs away to make a clear path for the unknown soi.... "Keep a gun on him" turns to face to source of the noise raising his gun.
<Pavor_GM> Braddock stops, turning to Faust. "They're taking him! Do something!"
<Joshua> "How many of you are there everyone show yourselves weapons down!"
<Pavor_GM> "We have you surrounded! Do as he says, or you will be shot!"
<Zaylen> "You'll learn that soon enough, once I've talked to your commander."
<Joshua> "Follow my original instructions then."
<Commissar_Hargrave> +I'll head down Lieutenant.+
<Pavor_GM> Tormund calls out and opens the door, weapon trained towards the stairs behind Joshua.
<Zaylen> Starts moving as ordered, making no more comment about the amateurs.
* Commissar_Hargrave strides from the room and heads down the stairs towards the group that has taken Zaylen prisoner.
<Pavor_GM> "Hands up! Up! Sir, we have an officer!" Tormund calls out as Zaylen is led to his squad.
* Zaylen puts his hands up.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Not an officer, I am Commissar Hargrave and if you are loyal to the symbol you have so crudely painted on your shoulder you will lower your weapons at once!"
<Pavor_GM> Tormund looks at Joshua. Then back at Hargrave.
<Pavor_GM> He lowers his weapon, "fuck," under his breath.
<Joshua> "What the fuck a comm..." Lowering his gun to be pointed at the floor between himself and the Commissar "Sir, I assume you'll want to talk to uh my... uhhh... our commander..... sir...."
* Commissar_Hargrave nods in satisfaction. "Relay my orders to those of your group that remain out side and have them assemble in here."
<Pavor_GM> "Don't go quiet on me now, you two! How many are there?" the barking continues from outside.
<Joshua> "Ummm I'm not sure they'll take my word for it but...." "Uhh I think we'd be dead if they wanted us to be! A Commissar just came downstairs I think you should all come inside guns down... sir.!"
<Pavor_GM> There is a momentary pause.
<Pavor_GM> Their commander looks up at Zaylen as though looking for confirmation on the commando's face.
<Zaylen> "Do I look like a rebel to you, commander? Yes we have a commissar with us. And I'd do as he says, Hargrave can be a real hardass."
<Pavor_GM> "Bullshit! Those blue cunts killed the commissariat months ago!"
<Joshua> "Sarge we don't have no commissariat like this guy!."
<Pavor_GM> The man pauses, then takes a breath, looking back in the direction of the destroyed Hydra.
<Zaylen> "Think about this carefully, commander."
<Pavor_GM> "Right. Right... you four, with me. The rest of you pop this one if things get messy in there."
<Zaylen> The scout says nothing and just stares at the different men pointing their weapons at him.
<Pavor_GM> Gathering his men, he enters with his weapon drawn, though at a lowered rest.
<Pavor_GM> He eyes Hargrave with deep suspicion in his eyes.
<Pavor_GM> "Commissar," he says, as though trying to fit the title with the man he sees standing in front of him.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Lieutenant." Hargrave eyes the state of the uniforms and the crudely painted aquila on the shoulder plates. "Identify yourselves. We weren't told of any remaining loyalists on planet."
<Pavor_GM> "How many are you?" he asks.
* Joshua mutters "and we weren't told the blues were coming... intel's a bitch."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Answer my question Lieutenant...if that is your actual rank. Show your cooperation so that we can possibly work together here. The alternative will be...unpleasant for you and your men. So. Answer. The. Question."
* Joshua looks at his auspex in frustration, hitting the side of it with the flat of his hand."
<Pavor_GM> "We're what remains, Commissar. A single company, in poor shape. Regiment was decimated waiting for you to take any notice in our plight."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Local PDF I assume and loyal to the Emperor it would seem." Hargrave nods once more and keys his microbead. +Loyalists it would seem Lieutenant, you can assemble the men on the bottom floor near the entrance.+
<Pavor_GM> "Your lot were the first to be purged," he says looking Hargrave up and down, "I reckon you're the only commissar in the entire continent; planet, perhaps." He turns to the door. "We're all clear, boys. Stand down, and let that man go."
* Commissar_Hargrave turns to the local. "Bring your men inside and we can discuss where to go from here."
<Pavor_GM> "Pile in!"
<Dutch_Miles> me relaxes his weapon and goes back to checking on the Major.
<Pavor_GM> One by one, the men enter. They are worn down, gear kept together but only just. In the next few moments the depot is filled with some 30 locals.
* Zaylen lowers his hands and heads back inside, taking up a look out position once back inside from the door way.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone lets out a sigh of relief.
<Pavor_GM> "Sorry about that," one of them says to Zaylen in passing.
* Leon sighs in relief.
<Zaylen> "Don't worry about it. At least you didn't shoot me."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Boys, let's go see the locals and see what we got."
* Major_Valentine has quit (Client exited)
<Dutch_Miles> "Jackson, watch over the major for now.", he then gets up and makes his way down with the lieutenant.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Commissar, you brought us friends."
* Major is now known as Major_Valentine
<Dutch_Miles> "Well looks like our chances have tripled."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Shut up, Miles."
<Dutch_Miles> "Yes sir."
* Joshua messing with the auspex dials and muttering "They literally don't show up... what the fuck..."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Comrades, We are the vanguard forces and the main invasion force is dropping in 20 hours."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We gonna help our boys out some more by killing some traitors and setting something on fire."
* Dutch_Miles mutter "Yea burn more bird people."
<Leon> "What bird people?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "MILES, SHUT UP!"
<Joshua> "Uhhh Lieutenant...? Is there more to that plan... please..." His voice tapering off and barely audible.
<Pavor_GM> "Right. Lieutenant Aubrey, 112th Foot Levy," he says utterly unimpressed with anything said thus far, "We were on our way to lay ambush to that rat, Timerius. He is on his way to oversee the orbital cannon coming online."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Timerius?"
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Lieutenant Faust, I believe that will coincide with one of our secondary objectives."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "We can move to assist these locals with our primary force, leave the wounded here to deal with the tertiary objective for burning the field."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Well, that sounds like a plan. Aubrey, we'd be happy to help yea kill this Timerius guy."
<Pavor_GM> "Timerius is one of the geldings the blues have put in charge as... well, political officers," he says turning to Hargrave. "He's been overseeing the restoration of the cannon since they pushed our boys off it, since it's sabotage."
* Dutch_Miles decides to makes his way back up stairs to check on the major again.
<Pavor_GM> You hear a patterned thumping outside. Aubrey turns, and makes for the doors.
<Pavor_GM> A rider has arrived, who dismounts to exchange words with the PDF Lieutenant.
<Pavor_GM> Returning back inside, Aubrey calls for his men. "Enough fucking about. Our date with Timerius has been confirmed. Grab hold of your gear, and move out!"
* Joshua stows the auspex and takes a moment deciding what weapon to ready settling on the shotgun.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Team, get ready to move. Jackson and Natalia, you are to stay with the Major.+
<Leon> +Understood.+
<Zaylen> +Affirmative, El-Tee.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Jackson and Natalia, set fire to the fields a few hours before the drop.+
<Pavor_GM> +How many hours, sir?+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Ahh, Commissar. Suggestions?"
<Commissar_Hargrave> +Between one and two hours depending on the wind Lieutenant.+
<Pavor_GM> +Understood, we'll keep an eye on the wind.+
<Pavor_GM> The Levymen make for the tall grass south of the vehicle depot. Fatigued as they no-doubt are, they move through the foliage and into the woods beyond with remarkably steady speed.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +They are fast. Squad, follow them. They know the terrain better than us.+
<Zaylen> +I'll try and keep up with them.+ Zaylen jogs a little ahead before setting the pace.
<Dutch_Miles> get up and moves out with the squad to follow the Levymen
* Leon follows along with the squad.
<Pavor_GM> About three-quarters of an hour later, the trek takes you across a jagged rock formation along the side of a tall, flat hill. Here, the density of the woods is much greater, and if it were not for the amount of levymen moving through the vegetation, they could easily disappear into their surroundings.
<Joshua> "Huh they are keeping up... their commander mustn't be representative."
<Pavor_GM> "Hope away, Dawn. Hope away..." grumbles Tormund.
* Dutch_Miles along the way he ask one of the Levymen if they have any medics in their squad.
<Joshua> "Least the Commissar seemed to have some semblance of ability and he didn't shoot us for having dirt on our boots."
<Pavor_GM> The reply is very telling of their situation. Simply put, they all have learned to mend wounds, as only a single specialist remains in their company. A man they keep far from the expected front if they're able.
<Zaylen> +I'm hearing movement to our left, no idea if they're friendly.+
<Joshua> "Movement on the left" Joshua whispers to the next trooper "Pass it up the line - audio contact"
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone whispers in the comms +Eyes open and stay hidden.+
<Pavor_GM> With a tap to the shoulder, the man in front passes it along. The formation stops, and drops to a knee.
* Leon whispers to the nearest trooper, "Beware left and keep quiet."
* Dutch_Miles acknowledges Zaylen's information via two clicks via the comm bed and finds a place to hid and draws his weapon.
<Pavor_GM> One of the levy scouts breaks left, and disappears into the foilage.
* Zaylen finds a good spot to take a knee and becomes still, weapon raised.
* Leon hides and takes aim.
* Joshua adjusts his cloak slightly taking a position near a fallen tree.
* Commissar_Hargrave attempts to conceal himself in the brush.
<Pavor_GM> Soon, down the chain of hidden levymen word gets passed around. "Blues. Five of them. Heavy weapons and armor."
* Joshua ensures his krak grenades are in convenient locations to grab.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Let them pass.+
<Pavor_GM> The levymen slowly, and quietly, begin to fix blades to the fronts of their weapons.
* Joshua informing the same trooper as before at the same whisper "The blues are loosening formation, but also being stalked by another group."
<Commissar_Hargrave> +Now is the time to confront the enemy Lieutenant.+
* Commissar_Hargrave unlimbers his chainsword and draws his sidearm.
<Pavor_GM> "Skald's men. I'll tell the Lieutenant," he says with a smile on his face.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Feck it, light them up.+
<Dutch_Miles> +Sir, I don't see them?+
<Leon> +No visual.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +FECK, THEN WAIT.++
<Pavor_GM> "Pass the word to the Guardsmen. It'll be a silent charge. Tell them to stand clear of the heavy shit," one of the levymen calls to Joshua.
* Major_Valentine is now known as Aleksander
<Joshua> shuffles over to were the guardsman are 'hiding' seeing the commissars hat above a bush. "Silent charge follow our lead, 5 hostiles let us deal with the heavy stuff."
* Leon nods in acknowledgement.
* Joshua rejoins his formation.
* Leon looks at the commissar for approval
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Lieutenant."
<Pavor_GM> From the direction of the spotted occupiers, a soft, airy bird call can be heard. Not a second after, the levymen begin to move towards the enemy at a steady pace.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Just... do it, Joshua+
* Joshua moves stealthily with his squad.
* Aleksander moves just behind Joshua the small hint of Amasec lingers on him
* Dutch_Miles begins to move up stealthily, keeping his weapon up at the ready.
* Leon moves up silently.
* Zaylen makes his way forward, silently.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone moves sneakily with his weapons.
* Aleksander sets up a Stealthy position ready as he levels his Las gun on the targets
<Pavor_GM> You close in like a pack of predators, your augmented senses revealing the enemy before you. Vile creatures, hoved and holding weapons that seemingly match the technology of the tech-priests. They walk in a spread formation, combing through the foilage. Behind them, a beast, a construct, taller than any man you've seen. At the last stretch, now some 10 meters away, the steady levyman
<Pavor_GM> advance becomes a final, silent sprint.
* Leon fires a three round burst into one of the blueberries.
* Leon grins as the one he shot falls to the ground.
* Zaylen steadies himself, no longer moving as the levyman move around him. He lets out a breath and fires three shots into the nearest non-dead blue cunt. And is quite satisfied with how dead it is now.
* Aleksander lines up a shot and fires off a las bolt striking the target down, as he moves quickly away 6m as he blends back into the foliage
* Commissar_Hargrave swings up his autocarbine and puts down the remaining blue xenos cunt with a three round burst.
* Dutch_Miles remains in stealth mode seeing the last blue xenos is dead and moves slowly.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone sneaks up forward towards the metal beast.
* Joshua following the routine set out by previous attacks he moves into range and throws a krak, striking the beast squarely in the torso.
<Pavor_GM> The blast deforms the front-left quarter of its torso, reeling it back several paces as it struggles to maintain its footing.
<Pavor_GM> The levymen close in, a team of four sprinting to close their distance with the construct.
* Leon fires a shot into the head of the large construct.
* Zaylen takes a moment to assess the xeno machine, and aims for where he thinks the optics are before firing another burst.
* Aleksander lines up a shot and fires another las Bolt into it's head as he throws himself into the ground hidden from sight
* Aleksander looks from the bush clearly shaken from the shock of the terrifying barrage of what these Blue men are capable of.
<Pavor_GM> In a terrifying display of destruction, the construct fires off several bursts of bright blue energy, striking Commissar Hargrave, Lt. Faust, and several levymen in two continuous streams. Though Hargrave and Faust survive, half a dozen levymen are violently destroyed.
<Zaylen> Unknown to everyone, including Zaylen, the absolute mess made by the xenos weapon makes the scout fall to the ground, like a puppey with it's strings cut. He starts to scream, babble, sob, and a combination of other mad ramblings as he tears at the flesh of each arm.
* Joshua feels bile rising in his throat but the sight of the Commissar standing tall despite being mortally wounded keeps him steady.
* Commissar_Hargrave draws himself up to his full height and brandishes his chainsword towards the construct. "Stand your ground! Steel your nerves in the face of this xenos scum! FIGHT FOR THE EMPEROR!"
<Commissar_Hargrave> Punctuating his rhetoric Hargrave fires several bolt rounds into the xenos filth.
<Pavor_GM> The construct's leg takes both bolt rounds to the leg, buckling at the knee-joint with sparks and leaking fluid, despite its efforts to remain upright.
* Dutch_Miles takes aim with his Autocarbine, and fires a full auto burst into the xeno beast, hitting it with 6 shots.
<Pavor_GM> A small explosion rips through the upper torso, just above the buckled and charred left side. The minor explosion catches some of the leaking fluid, and soon its interior glows with blue-purple flame. An unnerving screetch radiates from inside as its limp lock in place, leaving the construct to slowly and rigidly burned from within.
<Pavor_GM> limbs*
<Joshua> "Huuurah!"
* Dutch_Miles jaw drops...... "Holy shit I killed it."
<Pavor_GM> "Let the fucker burn! Everyone back!" a gruff man calls, appearing from across the field, opposite your position.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "I was hoping to hit it with my maul, but...." He gets on the comms +Great work, Team.+
<Leon> +Good shot medic.+
<Dutch_Miles> +Thanks.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> +Well done Commandos!+
* Dutch_Miles gets up slowly, "Does anyone need medical?"
<Joshua> "Fucking stealth suits."
<Aleksander> "Good to know, the fancy frakkers can pull their own weight."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Medic, check up on everyone.+
<Aleksander> "We should not linger Comrade Joshusa, it is likely they heard the firefight."
<Zaylen> The scout snaps out of it from the Commissar's yelling. The many years of the scholam's discipline ring true and the stern and angry voice of the Commissar reminds Zaylen not to falter. He wipes his face with a sleeve, ignoring the blood all over his arms as he readies himself to stuck back in. Alas, the battle is won before he can contribute further. "Feth me." He violently clears his nose and wipes his eyes.
<Pavor_GM> "Right. Maybe you lot are as good as you think," Lieutenant Aubrey says to Hargrave, extending an open palm.
* Commissar_Hargrave clasps the extended hand and shakes it.
* Dutch_Miles heads over to the commissar and patches him up, after wards he checks on what remains of the Lieutenant's comrade but nothing can be done.
* Joshua falls back into formation with his squad.
<Pavor_GM> "Hope whoever brought you here knows what we're fighting against," he says waving his blade at the dead and destroyed occupying force.