Death From Above 7

<Pavor_GM>  IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Pavor_GM> After the confrontation with traitor infantry, a set of maps is captured, their contents revealing the locations of two camps set up by traitor companies in the vicinity of the orbital cannon.
<Pavor_GM> "Dense woods, there. Must have done some heavy earthworks to get the camps set up," Lt. Aubrey comments.
<Pavor_GM> "Nonetheless this was a good find, Commissar," he adds as levymen gather, a mortar team now notably part of Aubrey's force.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "I agree Lieutenant. We also had some of your men gather uniforms and arms, in the event we can make use of infiltration."
<Pavor_GM> "Scouts tell us Temerius stopped at an earlier checkpoint," the levy lieutenant points to an indefinite point far to his right. "Best case scenario, this gives us time to plan an attack. Worst-case, he is waiting for his forces to catch up before proceeding to the anti-voidship weapon."
<Pavor_GM> "In any case, if and when he resumes his journey, we will have to be ready."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "You know Temerius do you not Lieutenant?"
<Pavor_GM> "I am burdened by that curse, aye."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Well, we can perhaps turn that curse into a blessing. You know them. Put yourself in his mind Lieutenant. What do you think he will do?"
<Pavor_GM> He pauses, straightening his posture as he exhales.
<Pavor_GM> "Becoming the off-world filth's pet as early as he did saw Temerius rewarded. In his eyes, his unrecognized skill was at last valued. The orbital cannon is, for him, a major success..." Aubrey begins, as though thinking out loud.
<Pavor_GM> "His arrival will be some kind of spectacle. Traitors brandishing the power given to those favored by the filth defiling our planet. He must be waiting for his escort, the symbol of his new elite."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Based upon that the question becomes how best to eliminate him."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Team, ideas?"
* Aleksander helfs his Triplex over his shoulders and just watches
<Leon> "Ambush maybe?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "It could work, but there might be too many boogies to get to the target."
* Commissar_Hargrave works out a plan with the other Pavorians and the locals to ambush Temerius and his column along the road.
<Zaylen> "I suppose that means I'll be on lookout at the side-road." Zaylen scratches his five-o'clock shadow.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "That's a good idea Zaylen." Hargrave reaches into his coat pocket and retrieves the additional micro-beads. "And Lieutenant Aubrey, distribute these amongst the squads and your mortar team as best you can. I'll provide our vox-channel so that we can coordinate this ambush."
<Pavor_GM> "It is appreciated," he says with a nod.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Time to cut a tree down."
<Leon> "This is going to be interesting."
<Zaylen> "I'll get a move on then, c'mon Braddock." The scout makes haste to the lookout point.
<Pavor_GM> A quarter of an hour later, the whirring of a chainblade against wood echoes across the forest line. Lines attached to higher branches are set and given tension by levymen across the road to give it a stable fall direction. Lt. Faust abuses Commissar Hargrave's chainsword until at last a deep low crack announces the impending felling. Just over two kilometers away, Braddock and
<Pavor_GM> Zaylen struggle to make their way up to an effective observation position. Similarly, though with more success, Aleksander does the same, overlooking the site of the ambush.
<Zaylen> "Should have practiced climbing trees more as a kid." He grunts to himself in a low tone.
<Pavor_GM> Another cracking sends splinters flying as the weakened trunk gives, allowing the weight of the tree to take over; with a coordinated pull from the attached lines, it tilts and falls across the width of the road, sending dust, pollen, and loose leaves into the air.
* Aleksander starts to tie the Grapnel line along the Tree Branch and down it As he begins to set up his position
<Zaylen> +I'm up and keeping watch, will let you know once I've sighted the target.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Make sure my weapon is fighting condition before you return it Lieutenant."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Of Course."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Doc, clean this chainsword for me.+
<Dutch_Miles> +Sure sir, but with what equipment?+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Don't you have cleaning... stuff?+
<Dutch_Miles> +I'm a Doctor, not a weapons repair specialist.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Don't care, that's your problem.+
* Dutch_Miles take the chainsword from the Lt and looks over it.
* Dutch_Miles gets to work cleaning the chainsword with what he has, making sure to wipe it clean. while doing this he resites the Litany of Cleanliness, "Let my had wipe the grime from your perfect form."
* Dutch_Miles once done cleaning the chainsword he walks over to the Commissar and hands him back the weapon.
* Commissar_Hargrave accepts the weapon from the medic. "I assume the Lieutenant passed the buck Miles?"
<Dutch_Miles> "Yes Commissar, I cleaned it the best I could sir."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "You did what you could Miles." Hargrave sheathes the now battered weapon and nods to the Medic.
<Zaylen> +Tally-ho, bandits spotted. I have four vehicles, two bikes leading the column...He pauses. +Just like the simulations, heh. Two xenos skimmers behind the bikes, open-top....the forward of the two skimmers has what I think is probably our target. His uniform would almost outshine yours commissar if he wasn't a filthy traitor.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> +Noted Zaylen, you know what to do.+
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone reloads his autocarbine and saves the last two bullets from his old clip.
<Zaylen> +I'll start shadowing once they're past me, granted I can only run so fast.+
<Pavor_GM> Aubrey looks intently at Hargrave.
<Pavor_GM> "It is time, then."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "It is. Prepare your men."
<Aleksander> ++In position Just point me into the Fancy Pet's General Direction.++
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone in disguise and hanging around the fallen tree.
* Dutch_Miles gets in position with the Lt in disguise.
<Pavor_GM> "Levymen, disappear!" Aubrey barks as he walks into the woodline.
<Pavor_GM> The blaring of the motorbikes reaches your position first.
<Zaylen> +You'll know when you see him, it's like he's trying to make himself a target.+
* Leon hides in the foliage nearby.
* Commissar_Hargrave attempts to blend into the woodline.
<Pavor_GM> In fact, even as the vehicles come up around the curve towards you, you realize the xeno-constructed vehicles hardly make a sound.
<Pavor_GM> Some 30 meters away from the fallen tree, the vehicles come to a stop.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "The 'boss' is here. Look busy."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone scratching his head looking at the tree.
* Dutch_Miles get to work on trying to move the tree.
<Pavor_GM> Both the motorbike's riders lock their vehicles in place, and approach. Their uniforms are more akin to those worn by the xenos themselves than the ones provided to the patrolmen you encountered. They carry weapons that would make your quartermaster fly into a rage, and if not for the exposed skin you might be forgiven for thinking they aren't human at all.
<Pavor_GM> "What is the meaning of this?"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Well, like there's a tree on like the road or something."
<Pavor_GM> They exchange a glance.
<Pavor_GM> You hear Lt. Aubrey whispering into the comms. +Negative on air-burst. Set fuses to impact detonation, and await orders.+
<Pavor_GM> A stream of las-fire snaps against the occupant of the first of the xeno vehicles, a burst of bright light flashing like a bolt of lightning at the moment of impact. With deadly reaction time, one of the riders instantly fires off an orb of energy straight against Lt. Faust, striking him on the side of the head.
<Aleksander> ++Target is still up! Go Go++
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "FECK THESE FECKERS UP!"
* Aleksander quickly zips down and moves up behind the Tree
* Leon moves up and fires a shot at the heretic next to the one that shot the lieutenant.
* Dutch_Miles jumps over the tree to take cover and opens fire on the human that shot at the LT.
* Aleksander Lines up another shot as it is reacted to very quickly, Realizing he is more trickier to take out, he places a smoke at his position as it helps cover him
* Commissar_Hargrave moves up through the terrain and settles into cover near Leon before firing a stream of man-stopper rounds at the injured traitor, putting him down like the dog he is.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone injured and dazed, he walks up and try to hit his attacker. He misses.
* Aleksander briefly sees a light among the smoke and ducks as it wizzes pass him nearly taking his head off.
<Pavor_GM> The leading xenos skimmer fires off a sharp burst of energy from its weapons high into the treeline, shredding and burning off timber. Aleksander, however, is able to drop skillfully down his line out of the way of the falling tree upon which he was perched, as it crashes violently down.
<Pavor_GM> Another blast of energy hurls down the road, violently splintering the fallen tree, missing the commando medicae specialist by under a meter.
<Pavor_GM> On Lt. Aubrey's command, the treeline opens up in a hail of small-arms fire against the vehicles, with varying efficiency. While the hail of fire goes on, he issues an indistinct order into the commbead frequency.
<Pavor_GM> The rear-most xeno skimmer readjusts, bringing itself abreast the first of the skimmers and fires off a return burst at the treeline. The blasts nearly kill Leon, who manages to dive out of the way just as the trunk behind which he and Commissar Hargrave took cover. Hargrave dives out of the way just inches from the meters-long splinters of timber that fly violently outward - several
<Pavor_GM> levymen unable to do the same meeting a gruesome end.
<Pavor_GM> Another savage burst of energy fire from Temerin's skimmer kills off ten of Aubrey's men in a single violent moment of overwhelming force.
<Pavor_GM> As though a spiteful retort from the levy commander, a round whistles its way down from the sky, destroying both motorbikes, and severaly injuring one of the skimmer occupants with a hail of debris.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone parries the enemy's attacks.
* Leon fires a burst at the injured skimmer occupant.
* Dutch_Miles opens fire on the injured man in the skimmer but misses his shots.
* Aleksander Angry at the Devastation the Skimmer made he lines up a shot and makes sure Mr Fancy Pants sees a hole though his Skimmer's Pilot
* Aleksander as he goes into the bush to get a bit of distance from his shot
<Zaylen> Finally making it to the battle he takes a knee and shoot at the closest target, a bit of head peaking from behind the lip of the top of one of the open skimmers. Toggling the fire selector to auto, Zaylen fires off a long burst of ten rounds.
<Pavor_GM> A silent burst of fire hideously chips away at Temerius's neck and skull, in a tight, lethal grouping.
<Zaylen> "Emperor bless me, tightest grouping yet." He says as he lowers his smoking carbine.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone start beating the traitor with his Power Maul till there's barely a corpse.
<Pavor_GM> Gore having flown at him from behin, the skimmer's operator turns to find his commander's limp, bleeding corpse behind him. He maneuvers the vehicle around and begins to accelerate towards Zaylen.
<Pavor_GM> Seeing his commander's bloody demise, the escorting skimmer's operator maneuvers the vehicle around and begins to accelerate towards Zaylen.
<Zaylen> "Ahhh shit."
<Zaylen> "BRADDOCK MOVE!" Zaylen yells as he dives behind a tree as the skimmers comes straight at him.
<Pavor_GM> "Fuck!" Braddock exclaims as the skimmer zooms past.
<Pavor_GM> +Adjust two degrees, airburst fragmentation. Fire!+
<Zaylen> "Danger close. DANGER CLOSE!"
* Aleksander looks to the display the commando made, He smiles then adjusts his aim to aid the commando
<Zaylen> Is all he screams out as the scout practially action-dives from the screaming 'friendly' artillery.
<Pavor_GM> A second round goes off some 20 meters in the air, showering the area with lethal debris. The fragments embed themselves at high velocity into the woods, and through the occupants of the skimmer, which trails off on its own power until it collides with the tree line.
<Pavor_GM> +Solid. Pack up, and fall back to rendezvous.+
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone takes off and throws the disguise helmet on the ground.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "FECK!"
<Zaylen> "Emperor fucking, goddammit, fucking yokel-ass goddamn shit piss." Zaylen scream several more curses as he picks himself, his adrenaline up.
* Dutch_Miles get up from cover, "Are you ok LT?"
<Pavor_GM> As the ringing in Zaylen's ears subsides, something is different. Braddock is not by his side to share in the post-combat commentary.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone touches the side of his burnt face. He says "Oww."
<Commissar_Hargrave> +Before we fall back, Pavorians check the vehicles for communications. We need to let fleet know about the orbital cannon.+
<Leon> +Understood.+
* Aleksander shoulders his Triplex then heads over to the Skimmer with the Traitor Commander
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone walks towards the vehicle in a bit of daze from the gun shoot and the aftermath of the bloodlust.
* Dutch_Miles makes his way over to the LT to check on him to see if he can do anything for him.
<Aleksander> ++Nice shooting, Imperial turned Mr Fancy Pants into Grox Cheese.++
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "I'm feel, Doc. I just need a lho stick and recaff."
* Leon checks both skimmers to see if the occupants are dead by stabbing throats.
<Zaylen> Though it isn't hard to find Braddock corpse, Zaylen feels some shell-shock. Sure he was oblivious but he was the best comrade a guardsman could ask for. "Hope you get that dog up there, big man." He collects his dead comrade's tags and knife before moving to the shredded skimmer.
<Pavor_GM> "Commissar, I cannot risk the levy. We are leaving the area," Aubrey says as he holsters his weapon.
<Dutch_Miles> "Wait you can't feel anything anymore?"
<Zaylen> +Negative on the communications on the skimmer that killed Braddock.+
<Leon> +I stabbed the hertics just in case.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "I can feel. My face hurts."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "I understand Lieutenant. We'll meet up with you when we can, we have to try and warn the fleet about the weapon."
<Pavor_GM> Aubrey nods before turning to his men. "Levymen! Fall back to rendezvous!"
<Commissar_Hargrave> "I request that the levymen previously assigned stay with us, we will meet you at the rendezvous if we can."
<Pavor_GM> Lt. Aubrey nods. "We rendezvous at the falls. Emperor protect you."
<Dutch_Miles> "Oh, well let me see what I have in my kit for that." he finds some burn gel and gives some to the Lt. "Rub that on the burns, should help with that. I'm going to go find my armor."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone rubs the cream on his burns and just says "Ow..."
* Commissar_Hargrave extends his hand towards Lieutenant Aubrey. "The Emperor protects."
<Aleksander> "I am more curious how he deflected that shot Trooper."
<Pavor_GM> Shaking with a firm grip, Aubrey adds, "You may well turn the tide."
<Zaylen> The scout checks the other skimmer for working communications equipment.
* Dutch_Miles changes his mind and makes his over to the skimmers to check them
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "This is all just weird Xeno shit."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone scratches the burnt side of his face, stops, and says "Oww."
<Aleksander> "Can't say I know what these things are, we never gotten this close to these things before."
<Aleksander> "Though we should not linger comrades, Grab what we need."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We need to contact the fleet at all costs."
<Aleksander> "We could find another vox caster, if we linger here too long they will send a respond
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "We can't risk that."
<Zaylen> "Better we risk it then let all the sacrifice be in vain."
<Aleksander> "This is becoming too risky in itself, we already lost many lifes to get here."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "Either we contact the fleet now or they die and the war is lost."
<Aleksander> "If you are caught, then my Comrades will die."
* Dutch_Miles continues to fiddle with the xenos device.
* Leon maintains overwatch.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Your comrades will die if we can't retake this world from the enemy."
<Aleksander> "And being found out is just as Damning"
<Aleksander> "We can find another."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "The fleet arrives at the break of dawn. There's no time left."
<Aleksander> "Then we until then, we burn more time now."
<Aleksander> "I will find you one."
* Aleksander hops off the skimmer
<Aleksander> "I will meet you where we found you."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "We stay levyman. If you wish to rejoin Lieutenant Aubrey and the rest you can."
<Aleksander> "Then do what you wish."
* Aleksander sprints out into the thicket
<Pavor_GM> Near an hour passes, an hour of determined problem-solving, despite the risks. At last, mustering ingenuity he never thought possible, Miles is able to reliably tap into a little-used naval frequency. It will not reach command, at best their transmission will reach a reconnaissance flight in low orbit, but it is as close as the commandos will get to relaying vital information to
<Pavor_GM> the imperial invasion force.
* Dutch_Miles nods to the Commissar and LT.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone says his name, rank, and authorization code along with a warning of an orbit with its location into the vox message. He repeats three times.
<Pavor_GM> For the commandos, time itself is a noose, and it tightens with every one of those minutes spent. The rumbling of promethium-chugging war machines is unmistakable as the collaborationist traitors close in, well into view. Beasts of xenos origins, and two of the walking constructs encountered previously rush their position with lethal intent.
<Pavor_GM> Unlikely though it is, a reply comes in.
<Pavor_GM> ++Commandos, we are relaying priority-target coordinates to fleet now. Request assistance with visual confirmation; low-orbit recon flight diverting to you now.++
<Pavor_GM> A burst of energy shatters several trees some 40 meters away from the skimmer positions.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> ++HOSTILES IN THE AREA, I REPEAT, HOSTILES IN THE AREA. AREA IS HOT.++
<Zaylen> +Here they come.+
<Leon> "If we don't survive this it's been an honor."
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Take the men Lieutenant. I'll relay as much information as possible." Hargrave moves to take over the communications equipment.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "FECKING AHHH!"
* Dutch_Miles hops out of the skimmer and gets moving with the group.
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "TEAM FALL BACK, NOW!"
* Leon gets ready to run.
<Leon> "AYE."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone pulls out his autocarbine.
<Pavor_GM> ++Orders relayed from Commando Actual. Remain in position and assist with visual confirmation. Low-orbit flight to fly by in 5 minutes. Confirm.++
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone hands over the Vox radio to the Commissar.
<Commissar_Hargrave> "Get the fuck out of here Lieutenant. It's for the good of the mission!"
<Zaylen> +I'll take up the rear get moving.+ "Take care Commissar. El-Tee, let's go."
<Dutch_Miles> "LT we need to move now."
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> +Run, Doc, RUN. I'll catch up.+
<Commissar_Hargrave> ++I will remain in position as long as possible Fleet. Position in imminent danger of being overrun. In the event of demise target is more then six kilometers west of transmission location. Be advised area is dense with foliage and hostiles.++
* Commissar_Hargrave draws his bolt pistol and stays low inside the skimmer in an attempt to avoid stray shots.
* Leon starts retreating and says, +Give them hell commisar.+
<Pavor_GM> +Commissar+ Aubrey's voice speaks into Hargrave's ear. +Our scouts have provided grim details. You are surrounded, lay low. Hide. Do not resist them. We are have to ascent back to the plateau.+
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "FECK. It's been a pleasure, Commissar."
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone starts running.
* Dutch_Miles finds a place to hide.
<Zaylen> +Stay low and hide well, comrades.+
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone runs towards cover and tries to hide.
* Leon hides as best he can.
<Zaylen> The scout moves into the trees and bush and hides.
<Pavor_GM> Bestial creatures are released from shackles by their masters, they charge onward through the woods, xeno constructs close behind.
<Pavor_GM> The roaring of engines high above is paired with the contrails of burning engines.
<Pavor_GM> ++Energy pulses detected. Location logged. Emperor be with you.++
<Commissar_Hargrave> ++Understood fleet. The Emperor protects.++
<Pavor_GM> In a viscious stream of fire, beasts closing, the skimmer begins to shatter against the fire.
<Commissar_Hargrave> +PAVORIANS! THEY WILL NOT TAKE US ALIVE! WE WILL KILL AS MANY OF THESE FILTHY TRAITORS AS WE CAN! FOR THE EMPEROR AND PAVOR!!+ Hargrave rises up out of the skimmer and begins firing his bolt pistol at the nearest enemies.
<Aleksander> ++Fight on..a.n.d S.ur.viv.e Br.oth.ers.! D.o No.t gi.ve t.he.m a I.nc.h.++
<Pavor_GM> High above, the heavens themselves glow in anger. And yet, it is beautiful, as though the emperor himself reaches down to touch the planet He will soon rightfully reclaim.
* Lt_Faust_Johnstone fires suppressive spray at the Hound like creature.
* Leon fires at the hulking creature.
* Dutch_Miles begins to open fire and the last of his man stopper rounds empty out.
<Leon> "FOR THE EMPEROR!!!!"
<Lt_Faust_Johnstone> "KILL THEM ALL! NO MERCY FOR HERETICS."
<Zaylen> "For Emperor and Pavorrrrrrrrrr!" The scout yells as he fires at the nearest xenos.
<Pavor_GM> A column of impossible energy descends to the surface several kilometers away, a violence only the Emperor's fury could muster. The planet's very crust grumbles in agony, a fire storm rushes across the ancient forest as xenos are striken again and again by the commandos' relentless fire. Soon, small arms are joined by the energy wave. Xenos and traitors are destroyed in holy fire.
<Pavor_GM> Pavorian commandos, elevated to His side by the light.
<Pavor_GM> ++++++++++ONLY IN DEATH DOES DUTY END++++++++++
<Pavor_GM> A long day cycle passes, dawn is greeted by a field aflame. High above, the Emperor's liberation force is able to descend by the thousands to continue the work begun by the commandos of Pavor.