Rites of Battle

OFF-CHAR:

En lång, ensam ton ekar genom krigsrummet innan kronomätaren ovanför portalen till bryggan slår om. 16 timmar och 59 standardminuter till operation Red Skull. Besättningen stannar upp i sitt arbete, och stirrar upp mot kronomätaren. Somliga gör aquilans tecken, andra återgår till sina värv med bistra miner.

"Herre?"

"Broder Mordecai, sambandsofficer. Var vänlig och spela om sekvensen från Severus. Ge mig en vinkel från en högre höjd."

Sambandsofficer Morgana blänger bittert på den reslige astarteskrigaren som står insvept i en svart mantel i mitten av krigsrummet. Han har under flera timmar insisterat på att undersöka videomaterial från Tantalus, och möter återigen lugnt hennes blick med sina kalla, blåa ögon. Hon suckar uppgivet och nickar mot Servitorn som sitter inkopplad i projektorn. Ett trettiotal mekaniska fingrar rasslar över konsollen och ett dovt surrande hörs uppifrån kupolen då krigsrummets servoskallar vaknar till liv.

En efter en tänds projektorerna, och badar krigsrummet i ett kallt blågrönt sken. Scenen är fångad från en av spirorna i gruvarbetarstaden Severus Prime, och är riktad mot Tantalus huvudstad som avtecknar sig mot horisonten. På långt avstånd ser det nästan ut som om himlen blöder. Långa, svarta tårar som rinner ner över den glödande solnedgången. Sambandsofficer Morgana säger något till Servitorn, men broder Mordecai filterar genast bort det då kameran zoomar in. Och plötsligt kan man uttyda tusentals, om inte hundratusentals sporer som faller ner mot huvudstaden. Små poddar, innehållandes de vanliga shocktrupperna. Men också biogiganter, stora som habitationsmoduler. Aetius har sett dem förr. På Priscina, på Macragge. En enorm explosion syns i fjärran, och det är oklart om det är ytterligare en transatmosfärisk transport som desperat försökt lämna planeten, eller om dom planetära försvarsstyrkorna börjat sätta in heliumvapen för att fördröja horden...

Brother-Librarian Uriel enters the war room and sees Brother Mordecai watching a hologram recording. He approches his Battle-Brother.
Wearing a simple blue and white robe, texts and symbols tattooed into his skin can be seen coming out from his right sleeve and on his neck. His left arm (and leg) a bionic replacement polished to a silver sheen. Both arm and leg a crafted masterpiece.
"Brother Mordecai. Have you recieved the requisition forms for our mission? I wish to ready my equipment before I begin my meditations.

Though silent, Techmarine Dwar is standing near a console, calibrating the image to optimal levels. He seems pleased with the imagery, though bearing a constant mask of grim. Wearing a grand leather coat, the scales of the coat revealing what it was when it was alive, one of the several predators that roams the plains of Nocturne. Beneath it, a naked chest and what appears to be a blacksmith's apron, some tools hanging from the belt.

"In time Uriel" he says, giving the answer instead of Mordecai "A moment ago I looked over the data of the coming missions, it wont be long till we are ready and ready to receive the extra equipment for the operation." Dwar stepped up next to Mordecai
"A baleful sight" his burning red eyes, the other obscured by Mechanicus implants, was filled with anger. His hatred towards aliens like an aura the filled the room.

"I don't know you Mordecai, but having such an experienced veteran with us in this... I cannot feel more honoured" Dwar bowed respectfully towards the Tyrannic War Veteran with out most honour. Turning his attention to Uriel once again.
"And don't you worry, our equipment and tools of war are ready, me and the Brother-Techmarine of the Iron Hands have blessed and maintained everything in our armoury" Dwar says with a prideful tone in his voice, before turning his head back to the gruesome display in front of them.

"Unto the Anvil of war..." he whispers, plugging himself into the mechanics of the hologram, a small transparent plate suddenly covers his left eye, flashing him with information of the massacre.

Pic!:

OOC:

Brother Raziel stood still in one of the badly lit corners of the war room observing all the personnel entering and exiting the room. Watching and listening closely as both Brother-librarian Uriel and techmarine Dwar made contact with White Ghosts designated Squad Leader, Mordicus. The entire time Raziel kept quiet, absorbing any information his senses could intercept. Analysing every word, questioning the meaning of every sentence spoken.

He could hear every word spoken in that room except what Brother Techmarine Dwar whispered to himself by the hologram. His fellow battle-brothers now stood silent in the light of the hologram board. Raziel took his chance and left the shadows of the dark corner, with a few quick steps he stood besides his brothers. The green-blue light of the hologram did little to light up Raziel's jet black armour, designed to reflect as little light as possible, the beige robe however changed to a more bluish tint. Without removing his helmet brother Raziel started to speak, briefly and to the point.

“Brother Mordecai, as ordered by the Watch Captain I will perform preliminary reconnaissance of both drop zones. I will first land close to kill-team Red Skulls drop zone to establish a safe landing zone as well as to make an estimate of the Xeno threat. After that I will join you and our battle-brethren at drop zone White Skull to perform close fire support. I will broadcast Transmissions over a secure vox-channel to both you and to Brother Joshua to give you a heads up on the the current situation down on Tantalus. May the God Emperor protect you during your descent.”

Before any of the brothers got a chance to respond to Brother Raziel speech, he had turned around and with a quick pace marched out of the war room. He was headed for the hangar where his chapter serfs had prepared his bike and weaponry on the shuttle, the Vigilante destined to the war torn planet of Tantalus.

Brother Uriel walks up to his two Brothers.
"A baleful sight indeed. Tho I wish it was only as bad as it looks. Being a psyker can be both a gift and a curse. I have battled most foes this galaxy has to offer. I have seen the minds of most xeno races. I have seen their goals and desires. But when I looked into the eyes of the hive-mind I saw only one thing. Hunger. A hunger that will not be sated until it has devoured all life, not only in this galaxy, but in the entire universe. And for the first time in my long life I felt something I thought not to be possible. I felt fear. Not for my own life, but for the very survival of the human race."
Uriel was silent for a moment. After the sudden appearance and disappearance of Brother Raziel he finally said "Yes, a baleful sight indeed." He turned around and started walking towards the exit. When he got to the door he turned around and with a sly smile on his face he said: "Brother Mordecai, thanks for the chat." Then he walked away.

OOC:

Dwar ponders a while on Uriel's words, he looks stubborn, "A Battle far away... one that I hope we can see. " he responded. "Though what can these biological machine do against the might of the Primarch? Surely they would have returned by then. No... I do not think such a battle would accrue in our life time. What a glorious War that would be" the ebony skinned Astrates gave a grim smile, like that of a predator killing it's game.

Moving over to Uriel "And then we shall meet it as the hammer meets the anvil and reforges the steel. We shall be reforged in that... but let's be reasonable and focus at the task at hand" staring at the hologram again. At this moment, Raziel appears.
The actions of the Dark Angel all most stuns him, "You cannot ignore their pragmatism" a small chuckle escapes him, "Guess it's the same with the Space Wolves. However odd our brothers may act. Honour bounds us All" he nods, as affirming the statement.

Aetius tar Dwars utsträckta hand och skakar den, och för en sekund skymtas en segmentum ultra-beklädd aquila intatuerad på krigarens massiva handled.

"Vi är alla bröder här, broder Dwar. Jag är blott ett kugghjul i kejsarens maskineri, precis som du. Mitt hantverk är att döda. Att jag välsignats med verktyg att leda mina bröder till seger och stödja dem till att fördriva Hans fiender är knappas något jag kan ta åt mig äran för."

Han slår ut med handen över hologrammet, som splittras upp i hundratals vyer från Tantalus hive-spiror. Bilder på desperata PDF-trupper som sköljs bort under vågor av klor och käftar förbyts i sekvenser från civila skyddsrum, till lagerkatedraler där mechanicus-präster ordinerar sina servitorer att gå till attack med lastarexon och plasmasågar. De fruktansvärda bilderna avlöser varandra, men i Aetius ögon återspeglas något helt annat. Otålighet. Förväntan. Upphetsning.

"Cogwheel... Cogwheel indeed..." Dwar looks on with Mordecai, "Save the citizenry, cleanse the alien. Simple, but the fight ahead will be brutal... close and brutal" he stares at the pictures. After a long while, he speaks "Soon... Hammer and Anvil Brother, Hammer and Anvil" he nods respectfully and leaves the room. "I'll be at the forge" the grim tone in his voice appearing again.

Uriel enters the observation dome, stopping for a moment watching in awe at the enormous room before him. Then he approaches Watch Captain Marius Anvicus and bows his head. "Honoured Brother-Captain, may I have a word?"

Vectron MacManus pustade och satte tillbaka vikterna på ställningen. Dagens första träningspass var avslutat, han planerade att hinna med i alla fall ett till innan middagen. . Han hade gjort uppdrag i Deathwatch ett tag nu men detta var det första uppdraget han skulle få medverka i sedan han utvaldes till besättningen på the Hallow Sword. Watch capitan Anvicius hade personligen bett hans förre kapten om att få honom förflyttad. Vectron visste inte varför men han hoppades att det var för att han visat prov på stort mod, korrekta beslut och en stridsskicklighet utöver det vanliga. Besättningen på the Hallow Sword var en spretig skara men säg vilken Deathwatch besättning var inte det. De var i alla fall kända för att lösa problem snabbt och effektivt och han kände att detta uppdrag nog skulle ge honom en hel del bra insikter om sina bröder.

Han lämnade träningsrummet och tänkte: Nu börjar det... Det är dags att visa varför jag har blivit utvald till Kejsarens bästa. Dags att visa vad en Son från Sacris duger till.... Jag behöver hitta broder Mordecai han kommer säkert att leda uppdraget och han borde ha information om vår utrustning.

Watch Captain Marius Avincus steps down from the observation platform, unto the marble floor of the Dome. He looks composed and calm, his sharp eyes meets Uriels,,

-“Codicier Uriel is the Kill-Tean assembled? –“Good, I have informed the chapter serfs in the Munitorium what you will need to requisition

Spoiler:

–“The Thunder Hawk is going through last minute inspection as we speak by the Tech Marines, it will be ready to extract you from the planet when you have retrieved the data core. Brother Petrius also wanted to oversee the inspection personally, I’m glad the Black Shield shows such devotion for the safety of his fellow Battle-Brothers”.

The data on industrial facility Pyroclast-Gamma 9 can be accessed in the strategium. The ship scanners indicate that the local conditions are harsh. The area around the facility is sub-arctic tundra, and the terrain is riven with spars granite, broken ground, step crags and muddy sinkholes worsened by industrial traffic and chemical pollution. It is one of a string of similar facilities scattered across Tantalu’s extreme north. It is a sprawling complex, with numerous buildings, stations, and supply dumps spanning several square kilometres in size, although much of its uninhabited infrastructure, is actually buried deep underground beneath the steel domes, pipe-farms and dull ferrocrete blockhouses that make up the facility. The facility is expected to still be staffed, by a crew of Departmento munitorum functionaries and technomats, their attendant servitors and sizable workforce of convict labour kept in check through the use of pain-inducing punishment collars and the overseer’s lash. But unfortunately the Tyranid crisis has probably disrupted operations and you should expect the worst. The swarm is on its way, and Pyroclast-gamma-9’s existence can now be measured in hours. Brother Raziel, should bring us updated information on the local situation before you make your high-orbit drop to the planets surface. So keep yourself updated on his transmissions..”

-“Was there anything ells you needed to talk to me about Brother Uriel?

Uriel listens to the Watch Captain, flinching a bit at the mention of a Black Shield.
"No Brother Captain, that is all I needed to know. Thank you. I will go prepare for battle." Before he turns to leave Uriel offers his hand to Watch Captain Marius. "It is an honor serving under another son of Gulliman"