IC: Only War - Spinward Front

[Hemnon]

Planet-fall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tcZVDoefoE)

Hive-Town Telly (smaller version of a Hive City), one of the still loyal town-regions on the planet. It's located near the border between the Imperial-controlled land and the heretic-uprising, and as such was fairly close to the front-lines.

A few hours ago, you all just made planet-fall via the transporter ships (which are used to ferry people to and from orbiting space craft that are unable to make planet-fall themselves). The way you were all met would make it seem like you had already won, what with the cheering and cries of love you all recieved. Your whole regiment even got to meet the Planetary Nobility, albiet not up close and personal, but rather by a major addressing. Indeed, there were plenty of pretty noble girls and nearly equally attractive hand-maids, and some of them even winked and blew kisses in all yours general direction.

Your Regiment, The Vixian 20th, behaved with the training and discipline that is slightly uncommon in the IG as a whole. As you all unboarded the ships, the whole regiment went into greeting-position in an almost completely synchronus movement via marching forward and halting in the center of the commerce central plaza (a big open area near the north-eastern entrance), every guardsman of the regiment unshouldered their lasgun (or other weaponry) and with a swooping motioning stood at attention and it all went completely silent right after an echoey click of heels snapping together. It was clear that the whole mass of locals was very impressed.

The Regiment's Colonel, Tobias Whelm was greeted by handshake from what would appear as the most high-ranking of the Noble Houses present and then followed up by greeting the Colonel of the PDF Forces.

A few hours later.
Your billet area appears to be what was once a major hab-block, but have fallen into disuse over the years of expansion and such. It was an okay place, all in all. The Block even held an old Emergency-hospital which just needed a little cleaning and the visit of a sterilization team. what was once a bank would be used to store munitions and other unstable materials, since such a vault in such a place would be pretty robust and safe.
As for living space, you all had to stay out of the living-areas of the Hab-block, since it was discovered that an unhealthy fungi had taken root in most of them. So instead, you've all had turbo-erected different forms of tents and improvised living-spaces with the help of the attachment of Tech-priests and any guardsmen with prior construction-skills. Even though, it would appear that it would take a few days to finish it all, and Command had no such time to wait and orders was immediately distributed and it would seem that about half the regiment would be sent to the Western Front-line flanking in order to resupply the PDF-forces there, as well as support their position.
On your way out, you get the crates of supplies you need to transport, the Trench-wire, and a Vox-caster so command can stay in contact with each time, since you'll also be functioning as forward scouting units in case of a break-through in the enemy lines.
As you all pass a line of exhausted-looking PDF-soldiers (who would appear to be returning from the shift at the front-lines), you all manage to catch meantioning of Witchery and Psykers in the enemy ranks, but all the different accounts you hear doesn't really add up well, so it might just be gossip.

----------------------------

Telly-badlands, south of Telly itself. This is a very sparsely-filled place, with only the little scrub here and tree there, although a few hundred meters forward, your whole squad can see some sort of very tall type of plants, like wheat or rye maybe, although the height of it could perhaps even cover the exhaust-towers from a Sentinel. It would be an ideal route to take, since it would give plenty of cover... the bad side was that you wouldn't be able to see more than a few meters infront of you because of the quantity of it, which in turn would mean that you would have a hard to orienting yourselves and even see any splinter forces of the enemy, should they have any on the Imperial Side of the lines, though that wasn't unheard of at all, what with kamikaze-groups that sabotage and then blow themselves up, or infiltration-teams which hunt for priority targets.

So that's the Choice, through the field of Grains and such, or pass around the edge of it for better visuals?

(go ahead and post reactions to whatever you want to, but please end your post at when you reach those grain-fields ^^)

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte paused and eyed the field in the distance. It would make a good hiding place for heretics, but not an ideal one. Pulling out her magnoculars, he focused them on the flora and started looking for telltale signs of passage, like paths cut through the perimeter, or patches that seemed to be missing, as if they had been trampled down by passing saboteurs.

(([roll0] IDK if this is Awareness or Scrutiny, but either way the TN is 32.))

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Stomp.

Stomp.

Stomp.

This is so tedious.

Stomp.

Stomp.

Stomp.

Really, really tedious. Hauling cargo at a franction of Bastion's top speed? Gah!

Stomp.

Stomp.

Stomp.

"Oi. Are you awake back there, or what?" Sparks calls out, leaning back in her seat to poke him in the shin. "We're coming up on some kind of field,"

"You mean that field that's been on the horizon for the last twenty minutes? Who was the one who was sleeping?"

"...I just closed my eyes for a moment,"

"Sure you did," Smokey sighs, and stares at the swaying plants ahead as the Bastion of Ego stamps down the track. "Two thrones says they ask us to go in first,"

"No bet. Scan it?" Sparks says, as she starts fiddling with the augur arrays in front of her.

"Scan it,"

Breaking out the Auspex to scan. Range of 50m.

[roll0] vs. 55 (35 Base + 20 Auspex)

[Alhendors]

Diagnostor? Check. Tox Wand? Check. Injector? Check. Colon was in the middle of mentally checking his medical equipment for the 4th time since they landed, it was one of the few things that he could be offered to pass the time until his expertise was needed later. Scalpel? Check.

"Y'know some might take your obsession as a bad thing..." Ibram followed closely, taking a few glances at the Sentinel as they took a slight lead, he could never get enough of the sight of machinery."You even listenin'?"

"As much as I appreciate your concern I have a job to do," he stopped just short of the field, checking over to his squad it appeared as though they were already scanning the sight ahead of them, there was no need to assist them he figured.

[NightshadeXL]

"About time! Bloody hot carrying this heavy gun around in the middle of the day with no shade but throne that field will be our salvation!"

Joe glances at Nightshade to see if he agrees. After a moment it becomes clear the statement has no effect on Nightshades mood one way or the other.

"I guess you're not a fan of tall grass? Get bit by a snake or something as a kid?"

"No."

"What kind of snake was it? I bet it was a big p.."

"That field is a death trap."

"What do you mean? It'll give us shade in this forsaken land and it'll let us sneak up to the front without being seen by the enemy. It's perfect strategy."

"Sure, if you want to die."

"What are you going on about. How could it possibly go wrong? Its perfect!"

Nightshade comes to a sudden stop and stares down at Joe.

"Look, we're in the badlands. It's hot out."

"Right, with you so far, still no sign of death."

"And what happens if we see the enemy?"

"We shoot them for the Emperor!"

"And they shoot back."

"And they'll miss. You're not turning coward are you?"

"No. But whoever is in the grass when that happens is dead."

"Why!?"

"What do you think will happen to all that grass when we fire this heavy plasma cannon we've been lugging around?."

"Oh... I guess it'll make a giant fire."

"Right."

Content that something may have finally reached Joe, Nightshade grabs the plasma cannon and keeps walking.

"I guess I should've brought marshmallows. You like those right? How about smores? When I was a kid, this one time we went camping and ..."

Joes voice becomes lost in the distance as they keep walking behind the sentinel.

[Dekana]

Aeria walks alongside the sentinel, careful not let herself or her servitor get caught in its path. Out in the open, neither of them are particularly well-concealed. Aeria bears a pair of mechadendrites that tower several feet over her head, and Boulder the servitor is bulky with muscles and metal plating. The field would do well to conceal them both, she reasons.

She looks up at its operators as they mention the auspex. She remarks in a vox-reverberating voice, "Bastiorl is impatient to find the enemy. A war machine as itself is not content to act solely as a mounted beast..."

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Dovian Kruvak marches along near the front of his squad, almost the perfect picture of a valiant officer leading his men. His uniform is spotless, his armor clean and pristine. A chainsword is held aloft in his right hand, his gloved grip relaxed but firm, while his left hand hangs near the holstered pistol at his belt. His most distinguishing feature, aside from the prayer seal and inscriptions on his chainsword, would have to be his well-kept mustache, which only seems to compliment his dashing looks. At least according to some.

Behind him, a much less dashing individual scurries along, almost as though trying to be Sergeant Kruvak's shadow. The scrawny, pale Guardsman looks like a green conscript fresh out of boot camp, and his eyes dart around nervously. "Which way, Sergeant?" Trooper Zarvok quietly asks as they approach

Sergeant Kruvak slows his stride as they approach the field, before stopping to observe it with a small frown. He raises his chainsword aloft, gesturing for his squad to halt. "Hmm. The Emperor would surely frown upon wanton waste, either of manpower or resources," he observes after a moment, turning to survey his unit. "We shall go around it. Entering these fields may lead us into an ambush, or leave us disorganized. And trekking through there, particularly with a Sentinel and other heavy equipment, would no doubt damage the crops, especially if a firefight were to ensue."

He tilts his head to the left, and gives a small wave of the chainsword in that direction. "Operator Godwinne, would you kindly take point?" he asks, looking up at the Sentinel pilot with a pleasant smile. Having the tall Sentinel up front would no doubt be the best way to detect ambushes or threats as quickly as possible.

As the Sentinel presumably moves to follow the polite order, Trooper Zarvok bends over to check the lacing of his boots - and narrowly misses having his head smashed in by one pivoting leg of the passing war-machine. The metal lightly scrapes his helmet as it passes, and Trooper Zarvok looks up to see who tapped him on the head. He looks around in confusion for a moment, before giving a small shrug and resuming his role as Sergeant Kruvak's shadow.

[Hemnon]

There's something wrong with the Auspex, here must be, because after fiddling and re-igniting it over and over, it keeps showing at there is lifeforms detected at the edge of the Tall-grain field... or rather, should i say, there is 1 lifesign, barely visible and very hard to even spot in the first place, and it remains stationary as you begin moving around the side of the field. There's someone there just inside the thick cover of the crops... Or at least there SHOULD be someone there.

Nothing else is visibly out of the ordinary, neither the field, the scrubs or anyhting else, except for maybe the lack of any kind of wind blowing about, but that's most likely just the Planet's weather being like that.

You're all also quite glad for the Immuno-boosters you all got prior to planet-fall, cuz otherwise you'd all be very sick right now from the foreign bacteria and stuff which your immune-systems have never been into contact with. Bless the emperor for providing such luxuries.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Secure in the knowledge that Kruvak can't see him, Smokey gives him a baleful look through the viewing slit of the Bastion's cockpit.

"We've got movement on the edge of the field," Sparks calls up from her asupex station as she fiddles switches and twiddles dials to try and make sense of the return.

"Sarge, movement in the field we've got... one body?," Smokey calls out. "Hard to make out, though. Enginseer, would you mind inspecting the scanner for faults when we get to the lines?"

He pauses a moment.

"You're still going to want me to take point and walk towards it, aren't you?" he adds, somewhat glumly.

"Probably," Sparks calls back absent-mindedly as she fights the resisting machine spirits for useful imaging.

Let's try a Tech-Use on the auspex for more information.

[roll0] vs. 34

[RandomLunatic]

"What bearing?" Charlotte asked over the vox. She swung her binoculars around to the given point and started looking closer.

"No joy," she said after a moment.

(([roll0] vs 32))

[Lycan 01]

Dovian frowns. "Scan it with the auspex again. If the machine-spirits are feeling restless, it may be best to double-check that life-sign. Could be a false-positive, or a forward scout. Or a rather large bird. Meanwhile, the rest of you hold position and keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. I don't want us traipsing into an ambush trap."

Trooper Zarvok holds up a pair of magnoculars. "Here you go sir," he meekly offers.

"Ah, thank you," the Sergeant nods with a cheery smile, accepting the optics and holding them up to scan the field for himself.


Awareness or Scrutiny? Not sure which it calls for, but both are trained, so it's a TN of 35 either way.

[roll0] vs 35

[Hemnon]

The auspex keeps on showing the same reading: One "small" lifeform nearn the edge, back the way you initially circled around the Tall-grain field... although it's fairly scatter-patterned and it's hard to find the precise location as it keeps flickering around slightly. Like it's there but keeps switching location instantly... or maybe the Auspex is just on the Fritz. Hard to know.

As for spotting the Lifeform itself, no such luck so far from anyone.

Lifeforms on the planet are generally just Humans, with the odd wolf-esque creatures and some other wildlife as well, although any more details have yet to be given from Command. Only one more thing had be mentioned: do not agitate the huge Keltis, which are the wolf-esque creatures. They are as told, big, wolf-like in appearance, Highly dangerous and have 6 limbs rather than 4. Although they seem to be very shy creatures, so as long as you do not directly stumble right into one, you should be safe enough from them... Or at least that's what Imperial Intelligence have on those creatures.

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte edged closer to the cogboy. Or coggirl. Whatever. In a hushed voice, she asked, "What can cause an auspex to act like that?"

[Aneurin]

Smokey

With considerable restraint, Smokey resists the temptation to give the auspex a good thumping - at least, he will while the enginseer is close enough to hear. With violence directed at the machine spirits temporarily out of the question, he swings the sentinel around to run the auspex over the squad.

"Could be one of those things we were told about," Sparks calls up from her fiddling. "Stalfos, or whatever?"

"Or the scanner could be getting confused by the field," Smokey replies, eyeing the machine in question without much affection. He calls out to the rest of the squad; "Still there, but pretty fuzzy and jumpy. Could be the field's confusing the Machine Spirits - the plants are alive, after all. Doesn't seem to be doing anything, though,"

[Dekana]

"The auspex is performing well by detecting anything," Aeria answers defensively. "Perhaps the target really is that fast, or the signal is being jammed. I will perform the Rite of Antenna Purification when we return to a supplied workshop, but until then, have faith in the tools of the Omnissiah."

Aeria cautiously unholsters her lasgun and keeps it pointed at the field, half-expecting the detected life form to emerge from the crops.

[NightshadeXL]

Nightshade lowers to a kneeling position and motions to Joe to do the same. He gently puts the plasma cannon on the ground and swings about the M36 lasgun hanging from his back. Joe stares at him confused.

"Shouldn't we be readying the plasma cannon incase that contact is hostile?!"

"Sarge didn't want to damage the crops. 'Waste of resources' he called it remember?"

Joe gives a slow nod and then pulls up his M36 into aim on the field as well. After a few tense moments he grows impatient.

"What are we waiting for? Why doesn't someone just go an look to see what that blip was so we can carry on?"

"Orders."

"Huh?"

"We haven't been given any yet. You don't want to go barging into that field just because you think someone should. If you're lucky a heretic will jump out and try to kill you. Worst case you'll get a bolt to the head for disobeying orders."

Joe takes a big breath and sighs.

"Yea I guess you're right. What's taking so long with the order than? We just going to sit here all day."

"I doubt it. I bet the Sarge will give up trying to use machines and just go look himself."

"Right, gotta lead by example. Ha, he just never likes giving up the chance to rescue civilians and play the big hero."

Nightshade turns to glance at the Sergant and his lacky to make sure they are still busy looking at the field. Relieved to see they are, he turns back to Joe and continues in a hushed tone.

"You really do want a bolt to the head don't you?"

"No..."

"Then sometimes you need to learn to keep your mouth shut!"

Joes face goes red and he looks away. By the movement of his shoulders its obvious his feelings were hurt.

"Aww hell... at least learn to whisper. Why don't you use the microbead and tell the Sarge we're in position and awaiting orders."

Joe snaps his head back around to look at Nightshade with the biggest grin on his face, like a child who was just given his first chance to shoot a lasgun.

"Uh Sarge? We're all in position and awaiting orders. .. I mean Sir."

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak works his jaw thoughtfully for a moment, before giving another aloft wave of his chainsword towards the left of the field, and keying his comm-bead with his free hand. "Previous orders stand, ladies and gentlemen. We go around; hang left and keep your distance from the field. Weapons at the ready, though, and keep your eyes open. I'd rather us not waste time chasing some errant signal or wild fauna through the field, but if it does turn out to be an enemy trick, let's try not to get caught off guard," he advises with a wry smile.

Thankfully for Nightshade and Joe, he doesn't hear their unflattering gossip...

"Take point with the Sentinel, Godwinne," he orders. "Everyone else, follow along a few yards between yourselves. If you see or hear anything, report it. And don't go shooting into the field unless you've got a verified target. I'd rather Command not wish to have a talk with us over an entire crop of the Emperor's tithe being burned to ash because somebody got a bit jumpy..." he muses dryly.

And with that, he strides after the Sentinel, aiming to take position as close to the front as possible. Troop Zarvok scurries to keep up after him, nearly losing his footing a few times as he has to step over or into the heavy footprints of the war-machine.

[Hemnon]

It's strange, even as you all begin to move, the blip on the Auspex appears to follow you all, same relative distance and fuzzy reading. It's like something is watching you all, although from the readings, it can't be bigger than a short human, though that would only be an educated guess when accounting for all the data you have from the auspex.

In terms of distance, it appears to be in an area of about 20 meters behind you all and between 2-10 meters into the field. the position is too erratic to completely pinpoint after all.

[Alhendors]

To those who hadn't met him before it would seem as though Colon was completely ignoring everything around him, in truth it was the complete opposite that was taking place. Ibram had learned to keep his otherwise talkative mouth shut in situations like this, for he knew that although quiet Colon was always paying attention.

"So what's going on?" Unfortunately, Ibram's common sense didn't automatically make him the sharpest bayonet in the squad. "Someone saw something in the field from what I can gather, we're to keep a look out."

With that, both Colon and his assistant attempted to get as close to the middle of the group as possible without breaking the Sargent's orders, if Medical assistance was going to be needed any time soon it would be most efficient to remain where they could get to any of the squad relatively quickly.

[RandomLunatic]

"That's not an auspex ghost," Charlotte growled to the sergeant. She would go chasing into the field by herslef if it came to it, but the contact's general elusiveness suggested such an effort would be about as productive as catching sunlight. No, it would take a coordinated sweep. And while it was not the Commissar's place to give orders, they could definitely give strong implications...

[Lycan 01]

The Sergeant slows his stride a bit, allowing Charlotte to catch up and keep pace with him. "Oh, I doubt it's a false positive," he quietly tells her, almost casually. "But the way I see it, it's most likely one of the local predators in its natural habitat. Or it's bait for an enemy trap. If I send a scout to check it out, it'll either turn into a wild goose chase, or they'll be set upon by a foe with a clear advantage. A waste of time, or a waste of one or more soldiers and their gear. Alternatively, I can order our entire squad to sweep the field, which would either be a colossal waste of the Emperor's time, or send us blundering right into a trap as the enemy desires us to do. If we investigated the field ourselves, and the enemy attacks us withinearly all of our weapons and gear would be useless, since it would ignite the crops and we would immolate ourselves alongside the enemy," he muses almost aloofly. "If we were to go around the field, however, and there is in fact an enemy presence with in it, then they will have to come out of the field and face us directly; attacking us from the 'cover' of the crops would be foolish, as we can simply set the field alight with a few bursts of las-fire and roiling plasma. So we either end up with a fair fight outside the field, or we can easily roast them once they open fire from the field. We're not ignoring a potential enemy; we're turning a potential trap into a trap of our own."

The Sergeant tilts his head slightly, and gives a relaxed little smile to the Commissar. "With all due respect, ma'am, I feel this course of action is the most efficient use of the Emperor's time and resources, while also posing the least risk to my unit and the resources we have been entrusted with. But if you are inclined to disagree, please do so. While I have the authority to give commands, you have the authority to interpret our duty to the Emperor and how best to carry it out."

Trooper Zarkov just follows along obediently, staring straight ahead and doing his best to look like he's not paying attention to this discussion for his own safety.

[RandomLunatic]

"Astute analysis," Charlotte. "Pity, then, that it all falls apart without the lynchpin assumption that who or whatever it it is is bent on our personal, immediate destruction."

[Hemnon]

The Auspex keeps showing the same reading as you trod along the edge of the Field. Shortly after passing the corner of the Field, a light breeze rushes over both you lot and the field itself and those that look back at the field would see a young girl standing there.

She's dressed quite simple and the colors of the clothing is a bit bland. but the girl herself have a certain air about her, something that can't really be explained. Her heartshaped face and long flowey hair gives her a kind of eternal look. as if she could stand there forever and never age. She smiles slightly and with another breeze, vanishes from sight as the tall-grain swishes over her form. The Auspex also looses the lifeform-signal and goes completely passive and only shows your own squad's life-signals, as well as the random ghost-signal that is a common occurance with such equipment.

The way forward will take you through a passage inbetween two high dirt-ridges on each side. it would be an idea place to be ambushed, but the place IS still in imperial country, so that would be a little unlikely to happen. you would all have to crawl of a sheer 7 meter-surfacer or stone and dirt if you wanted to take the high-ground, but up there you would be completely exposed with one sort of cover, and the sentinel would have serious problems getting up it as well.

[RandomLunatic]

The Field

"...Like that," Charlotte added as the contact dropped off the auspex scope.

[Lycan 01]

"Um... sir?" Trooper Zarkov shakily whispers as he glances back and sees the strange girl. "C-contact?"

Dovian looks back, just in time to see the girl smile and disappear amongst the wheat. He scowls slightly, before turning away. "Keep moving. Probably some farm-girl playing games with the passing platoons. Even if we went after her, we'd never find her in that field."

"Right..." the young conscript nods, still seeming a bit unnerved, yet taking solace in the Sergeants words. After all, why would the Sergeant lie?

Sergeant Kruvak grips his chainsword a bit tighter as he marches along, steeling his soul against the possibility of Wytchcraft and sorcery obstructing their mission at some point. Had he sent his unit in after that girl, it would have either been a wild goose chase, or akin to sending lambs to slaughter.

When they eventually reach the gulley they must march through, Dovian holds up his fist to gesture for the unit to halt. "Hold steady for a moment. I want auspex scans on those ridges. Any of you lot decent at climbing?" he asks, turning back to look over his squad inquisitively.

[NightshadeXL]

Nightshade stops to look at the walls of the gulley and asses the climb. Mostly rocky surface to get some grip on, not impossible at all. Joe gazes at the climb and s grimace crosses his face. Nightshade gives Joe a smirk and activates the microbead.

"Decent? Sure. Assuming you want the heavy weapon team on the ridge, Sarge?"


Assuming the order to climb is given, here's the roll. I have athletics so add whatever modifiers the GM sees fit for difficulty or ease of the climb.

[roll0]

Haha or not. Mega fail, since my Strength is only 31 and I don't think it'll be a +40 modifier(ooh look a ladder) lol.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Okay... one freaky girl, ignored. Superb. Now for the tricky bit.

"Ten says it's mined," Smokey says, eyeing the gap with all the wariness and cynicism he can muster.

Sparks snorts and rolls her eyes. "Of course the easy way is mined. No bet. But five says they're only anti-personnel - the heavy stuff'd be too heavy to lug about behind our lines,"

"What does it count as if they've rigged the banks to collapse on us?"

"...death?"

Smokey sighs. "Whatever. Hey, Sarge," he adds, in a louder voice. " Not sure we can get Bastion up that slope too easily. I mean, we can do it beacause I'm amazing, it just won't be very fast,"

"And if you think anyone's covering her in muddy bootprints again, then forget it! We have to clean her afterwards," Sparks calls out.

Auspex rolls!

[roll0] vs. 55

Tech-Use for unseen stuff;

[roll1] vs. 35

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak studies the ridges and his unit for a moment, before sheathing his chainsword and beginning to stride towards the nearest earthen wall. "Alright you lot," he states firmly, his expression stern and serious. It looks like he's going for less gallantry, and more authority and directness now. "Zarkov, Fenoff, Filary, you three come with me. We're going up-top in case there's an ambush from above. I want Bastion to help get us and the plasma cannon up there; I'd rather deal with scraping muddy footprints off the Sentinel then scraping a pulped Guardsman off the rocks down here. Once we're up there, I want that Sentinel to head on down the road, and I want that scanner operating as best as its machine spirits can muster. The rest of you follow after Bastion at a distance of ten meters at the very least; if it detonates any sort of anti-personnel mines, I don't want half my team turned into confetti. I want all of you at full attention, and weapons at the ready. Alright? Alright."

Assuming there are no complaints or counter-arguments, Dovian waits for Smokey to bring the Sentinel over so he, Trooper Zarkov, and the heavy weapons team can clamber on up and get topside.

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte said nothing, instead ducking behind a portion of the bluff and letting the cloak she was wearing turn her into another part of the upthrust, with her eyes and bolt pistol scanning the far side for signs of trouble.

(([roll0] [31 AGI -20 untrained + 20 cloa]
[roll1] [32 PER]))

[Dekana]

Aeria acknowledges the order with a nod, but she doesn't have much to do except watch the rest of the squad scaling the rocks. When Bastion sets down the path, she follows it at the prescribed 10 meters.

[Alhendors]

Without saying another word Colon drew his Lasgun and put away his medical supplies, they were in potential dangerous territory now and had to be equipped as such. He drew his magnoculars and took a close look at the oath laid out before them, there was little else to do until the Bastion was ready to move on ahead of them.

Ibram instinctively sensed Colon's change in attitude to the situation and readied himself for anything, he'd been this man's assistant for quite a while and learned to trust his hunches about these things.

General check of the path ahead (Awareness - Sight): [roll0] - Vs 37

[Hemnon]

The truck down the ridge-pass happens rather un-eventful, with all 12 of you (some in a sentinel) walks along without noticing anything out of the ordinary.

As you all reach the edge of the Ridge-pass with ends out into nothing but plains, as well as the PDF's pre-built encampment and the defense-line which is a low ridge running left and right with defense emplacements at regular intervals, consisting of old Solid Projectile rapid-fire guns, aka. the very old and unreliable machineguns. They are highly prone to jam and full-out barrel-meltdown, but they rate of fire it rather effective for their level of tech.

You're all about to approach when-

Everyone rolls a hard (-20) willpower test, either here or in the OOC. you can write here if you wish, but you've yet to actually approach, so no approaching the PDF-encampment yet ^^

[Lycan 01]

As he begins to climb down the ridge to rejoin his unit, Sergeant Kruvak takes a moment to observe the PDF encampment in the distance, and study it a bit closely before sending his squad traipsing right on over. Best to get a feel for the PDF forces, their current condition, and how well they have managed to keep themselves organized and discipline. "Let's see what the local have been up to, shall we?"

"Are those weapons archeotech?" Trooper Zarkov quietly asks as he peers through his own magnoculars, faint awe in his voice as he studies the "ancient" machine-guns.

"No," Dovian replies flatly, with a slightly bemused smile. "The Omnissiah has simply not seen fit to bless this world with proper production facilities, it would seem. Those are to a proper stubber as a las-lock is to an M36."

"...oh."


Awareness: [roll0] vs 35
Scrutiny, in case there's a trap or anything amiss: [roll1] vs 35
Scholastic Lore (Tactica Imperialis), to see how well they're organized themselves in accordance with Imperial Doctrine: [roll2] vs 33 (assuming a roll is needed)

And finally, WP check: [roll3] vs 21

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte was less interested in observing the defenses as she approached and more the state of the defenders-their morale, attentiveness, and the state of their kit.

((Is this Fear we are testing against? Because I have a re-roll and a wicked Terrify check to fall back on if I blow this.

[roll0] vs 12 [32 WIL -20 difficulty]))

[NightshadeXL]

Nightshade and Joe start down the ridge to rejoin the squad, following the Sargent. Noticing the Sargent has stopped to look at the PDF defense line, Nightshade pulls out his magnoculars to do the same. Joe, not wanting to be left out does the same. Instantly his eyes are drawn to what look like gun emplacements that he can't quite make out.

"Hey Lucien, what are those?"

"Those what? And I told you, I prefer to be addressed by my call sign."

"Sorry, Nightshade. Whatever. I don't see why it matters you still knew I was talking to you."

"You're always talking to me..."

"Of course I am. We wouldn't be a very good heavy weapons team if I was on the other side of the squad when fighting broke out. And besides, no one else appreciates a good conversation."

"How about you just tell me what you were looking at?"

"Oh right, those gun emplacements. What are they?"

"I don't know. Some kind of projectile gun based on the ammo box size."

"Sweet! I can't wait to fire one of those."

"Well we won't be firing those. We aren't trained on them. And if the enemy attacks I don't want to be stuck trying to learn how disconnect the ammo feed and reload it mid fight. We'll setup the plasma canon somewhere and man that instead."

Nightshade packs away his magnoculars and continues heading down to the squad. Joe reluctantly does the same.

"You're such a buzz kill... Hey do you think they'll have any gear for us? I mean, if one of those guns is broken do you think we'll be able to take its tripod? I really don't like trying to brace the cannon with my hands. Damn thing gets so hot ya know? Maybe they'll have other things to, like ..."


If test is an intimidate test
[roll0] vs 22 (32 base - 20 hard (+10 if intimidate from nerves of steel))

or if it was another type of test
[roll1] vs 12 (32 base - 20 hard)

re-roll if failed and it was a pinning test from nerves of steel
[roll2] vs 12 (32 base - 20 hard)

hrm i probably should've done a single roll and listed the different vs numbers but i guess it doesn't matter since i passed both.

[Dekana]

Aeria stands in place, staring at the abandoned post and mentally taking note of what will need repairs.

Just a quick post for now!

WP: [roll0] vs 8 (wp 28 - 20 difficulty)

[Hemnon]

Read only if you succeeded the WP Test (Nightshade & Alhendors)

A slight breeze flows over you all, and you manage to hear a strange... whisper? in the winds. "11.... One does not belong..."
Then it hits you. 12. you are 12 people right now... but... that shouldn't be. you should be 11+Sentinel: Sargeant+Comrade, Commissar, Tech-priest+Servitor, Medic+Comrade, Operator+Comrade in Sentinel, Heavy Gunner+Comrade. 11 total... but you are 12 people whenever you try to count all of you, but you can't figure out who does not fit in. Something is amiss here... and who's whispering voice was that in the wind anyway?? Someone or something had just warned you to the presence of a guy out of place. Even though you keep counting people by name, you always end up on 12 total that you've counted, but you can neither remember nor 'see' the 12th man. it's like he's there... but not really.

[Hemnon]

The PDF-Encampment part you are all at appears to be both well-maintained and quite a solid job if one were to judge the odd wooden building here or there. Looking left and right, you can all see the flank-line continue for a good distance, with the rest of your regiment hopefully arriving at their own designated locations. Their defenses looks above adequate and the general looks, smell and feel to the area gives hints at that this is a well-fortified location that is well-maintained and kept relatively clean and liveable.

From a Lookout-post (made of wooden and metal), you see one of the Locals pan around with what looks like a pair of magnoculars of some kind. He spots you and signals the camp and soon there's an uproar in the encampment were pretty much any reserves (which counts for about 30 people) not at the front-ridge groups up and slowly approaches your location. They are a mix of male and female, although with a majority in male gender, although the females looks equally the soldier as the men. they are all a rather young age considering, ranging from around barely 17 all the way to somewere in their 30s. A the person that appears to be in charge is a Woman around 32 years of age, with a lean body and a gaze sharp enough to cut stone with. they are all wearing a beige-brown set of uniform-clothing of sorts, with boltaction rifles and the odd unusual gun here and there. but mostly, it looks like it's boltaction and stub-revolvers for most of them. Except for the captain who appears to be carrying a very bulky musket- or Flintlock-looking weapon, although the design looks closer to a lasgun than a primitive flintlock. Perhaps it's a laslock? it's hard to tell from the 60m distance you are at right now.

[Lycan 01]

"Checks out to Imperial standards," Sergeant Kruvak nods resolutely, stowing away his magnoculars. "Let's get a move on, then. I still want that Sentinel up front, though. Never know when there might be mines, and if these lines get assaulted, I want the heavy firepower in the fight as fast possible," he nods resolutely, before striding to the front of the squad, and waving his hand for them to follow.

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte moved up to the head of the squad and undid the clasp holding her cloak together in front, letting garment fall open to reveal her Commissarial uniform. She straightened her back and and steeled her gaze for the approaching PDF troopers.

[Alhendors]

Colon lowered his Lasgun at the sight of the PDF troops, he was suspicious about his little 'experience,' but in the end decided that it was likely his own mind playing tricks on him. The Sergeant and likely Commissar would like to inspect or at least speak with these troops before anything else but it wouldn't hurt to ask now, "Permission to perform Medical Diagnostics on the PDF, sir."

Ibram took this opportunity to find his very basic medical equipment, once Colon had his eyes on promising patients there was little that would get in his way save for the threat of execution.

[Lycan 01]

"Permission granted," Dovian says with a jovial little smile. "After all, it is our duty to work in tandem with our brethren for the glory of the Emperor, and if we can aid to ensure they are at peak fighting capability, then surely we must not shirk that responsibility! Hopefully their medical and hygiene standards are a bit more advanced than their equipment, eh?" he asks, flashing a playful grin at the squad behind him. A little humor to boost morale shouldn't hurt, especially after the spooky wheatfield fiasco.

Trooper Kruvak gives a small chuckle, at least...

[Dekana]

Aeria likewise approaches the sergeant with a request: "I will tend to the aged machines, as Colon tends to the soldiers. With your permission..." She hardly waits for an answer before setting off toward the nearest gun emplacement.

Let me know if I need to roll any tech-use or whatnot; I'd like to spend some time making sure the old weapons are in good working order.

Out of curiosity, does the garrison have any tech-priests with them? Maybe I could liaison with them and share information.

[NightshadeXL]

"One... Two.. Three.." Joe mumbles.

"What are you doing?"

"How many of us are assigned to this squad?"

"Umm 11 of us left the base I think. Why? Trying to figure out if you can hid out here when we move out an no one would notice?"

"No I just.. I thought there was more of us.. Four.. Five.."

Nightshade lets Joe continue with whatever he's doing, trying to repress his own feelings on the matter. It was a mistake to mention to Joe that he heard some strange whisper when they rejoined the squad at the end of the ravine. Joe, always the talker, tried to explain it away as someone from the squad must have been calling up to them as they headed down the cliff. Nightshade pushed it from his mind as he had other immediate plans. Seeing the Sargent letting other squad members disperse amongst the PDF and in a generally good mood, Nightshade grabs the plasma cannon from Joe and heads to intercept Aeria as she heads off to a nearby gun emplacement.

"Hey, Aeria, hold up. Seeing as the emperor blessed you with the knowledge of all things technical, do you think you could help me find and install an upgrade for this plasma cannon? Like some kind of targeter or tripod? I'd really like to see this baby on some suspensors but I don't think we'll find some in this dive... I mean if the cannons machine spirit is willing and all.. and with the Omnissiahs blessing.."

Realizing he's now guessing as to what the Adeptus Mechanicus cult believes, Nightshade ends there and tries to give Aeria a friendly smile. He never did understand all those rumors of a machine god and machine spirits seeing as the god emperor who leads humanity. He's never seen tanks driving themselves so what's this business about spirits? And he's sure as hell never seen his gun shoot someone on it's own. All the same, if they did exist, he didn't want to piss it off and have his gun refuse to shoot for him, or worse, shoot him or his squad.

"Ten.. Eleven.. Twelve.. Huh? But Nightshade said Eleven of us.. I can't be that bad at counting.. Maybe Sarge has a roster or something.."

Joe, confused, heads over towards the Sargent. Suddenly stopping he thinks twice. Knowing his habit of rambling on and saying something stupid, perhaps he should ask Zarkov instead. At least if Zarkov takes something the wrong way he's not allowed to shoot him. Renewed in purpose he goes and strikes up a conversation with Zarkov, mentioning he has a funny feeling about the squad size and that it didn't feel right.

[Dekana]

"Nightshade," Aeria acknowledges with a faint smile. "I wonder if the cannon will consent to an interface with these aged spirits, but I will try to soothe its anxiety. Servitor - " she turns her head to the muscular cyborg at her side - "take custody of the plasma cannon." The servitor steps forward menacingly (well, he's always menacing) and takes possession of the weapon.

"It is not often that I hear a trooper voice concern for the capricious spirits. Did the machine cult perhaps have a strong presence on your world?" Aeria usually avoids theological discussions about the Emperor, not wanting to cause offense, but she sees nothing controversial in discussing the machine spirits - and she often does so.

A plasma cannon is certainly "high tech," so I'll roll that knowledge (tech) test (= common lore I assume) to find some sort of accessory for it (a targeter, tripod, etc). It's probably not cool for Aeria to just rip off the tripod from a gun that's not in use... but she is a thief after all, so she'll do exactly that unless stopped, hehe.

Common Lore (tech): [roll0] vs 63 (int 53 + 10 difficulty)

[Alhendors]

Colon gave nothing more than a nod before preparing his medical equipment. Why even bother with the jokes? It would be a thousand times more efficient to just give me permission. He wouldn't dare go against his commanding officer, but that doesn't mean he had to like the way things were done. Making his way to the PDF before them, he intended to give the group a good check over, after all he only had permission to run diagnostics and not actually give medical attention.

Medicae check for the purpose of diagnosing the PDF for anything they might have, not actually doing anything to them. Of course this roll may not even be needed but just to make sure...
Intelligence: 51 or Perception: 37, +10 (Medicae +10), +10 (Master Chirugeon), +20 (Diagnostor)
[roll0] vs 91 (if Intelligence), 77 (if Perception)

[Lycan 01]

Trooper Zarkov is a bit surprised when Joe strikes up a conversation with him. He seems happy to have some of the more senior squad members opening up and chatting with him. And it goes over his head that Joe is just trying to drop a mention of the odd numbers. However, the young soldier looks a bit confused and concerned at the mention of that. "Huh. Really?" He does a quick head-count, before furrowing his brows. "Um... If you'll excuse me a moment?"

He quickly scurries away, and briskly tries to catch up with Sergeant Kruvak. The officer turns to see what he wants, and the two share a brisk, hushed conversation... before Sergeant Kruvak frowns, and looks back at the squad, muttering numbers under his breath as he does a quick head-count himself. The young trooper, meanwhile, inches a bit closer to him, looking somewhat uneasy and skittish. Seems something has him a bit unnerved...


Poor Zarkov probably has a good idea of whatever might be going on, or at least a healthy suspicion. Meanwhile, Dovian is gonna try to count the squad and see if anything's awry or out of place.

[Hemnon]

The meet-up with the PDF-captain goes pretty smoothly allround. There's some minor inquiries to who you are, what you are dragging along and legitimization-orders and whatnot.

Everthing seems like it should. they all looks very much PDF-folk and not imposters. As for allowance to roam around the encampment, the captain seems a little hesitant at first, but after both hearing that you have a very competent medic, as well as an ACTUAL tech-priest along, that hesitation quickly turns to a warm welcome.

Colon immediately gets lead over to their field hospital (although they will wait with that if Colon would rather tour the encampment first).

Aeria gets shown around by a pair of engineers (regular guard that know a little about the functions of tech. your basic operator). they appear very chatty but also quite awed at being in the presence of a tech-priest. they are both male and even appears to be twins.

Joe and his comrade is left alone alongside the Sargeant and the PDF-captain.

Seeing the commissar, all the PDF-troops all stay at least 3 meteres away from her. no need to actively invite any reason for punishment and exection after all. ^^

Smoke, comrade and Sentinel is also left alone for now, although the supplies are immediately transported over to their general-storage cabin.

------------------------------------------

What'cha all wanna do now? you are free to explore the encampment, talk with people, go check the front-positions and get a look at the stand-off wasteland between your lines and the enemy's.... or you could try and investigate that strange happenance with the extra squadmember that is counted, but nowhere to be actually seen once looking for him/her. ^^

[Alhendors]

Colon approaches his commanding officer once again before heading off to the field hospital, "I'll be tending to their current medical stations, sir." He wasn't quite sure what to expect, this planet certainly seemed to be less than what he was used to when it came to available technology. Despite everything a good Medic knows that it doesn't take many tools to get the job done, he'd had to perform minor Medicae with his Combat Knife before after all.

Ibram was secretly disappointed that they'd gotten here so soon. Now he'd have to spend the rest of his time assisting Colon in is almost silent and often emotionless work. At least there were some pretty looking women here, although he'd probably be scolded by the Medic for taking his eyes off his duties as a medical assistant.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

"Told you they wouldn't help," Smokey grumbles as he wields a long-handled brush to scrub the muddy bootprints off the sentinel.

"So why'd you let them do it anyway?" Sparks grumbles back, playing a stream of water from a stirrup pump over the armour plating.

"'Disobedient soldier! I am a Commissar! Blam!'" he snorts. "Ring any bells?"

"Oh, yeah. Fair enough I guess," Sparks rolls her eyes and carries on pumping. "So, no mines, huh? That was kind of a surprise. Easy route and all that,"

"I know. Freaky, right? Anyway. That ought to do for now," Smokey leans the brush against a handy wall, and picks up a toolbox. "Let's give her a once over and grab some food,"

"Yes, O He Who Must Be Obeyed,"

"...shut up,"

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak whispers something to Trooper Zarkov, and then sends him off to help clean up the sentinel. He then decides to focus his attention on the PDF Captain, and striking up pleasant conversation with them. "I'm glad we could be of service," he observes with a pleasant smile, folding his hands behind his back as he walks along with the PDF CO. "My medic and Enginseer will be more than happy to assist your soldiers. We're all in this together for the glory of the Emperor, after all," he nods, faith and reverence in his voice. "Now that we've arrived, though, how might our forces be best put to work? Your troops already seem to be rather well dug in and organized. Have there been any recent skirmishes or encounters with the enemy, or anything else of note?" he asks offhandedly, tone and smile pleasant and polite as ever.


Meanwhile, at the sentinel, Trooper Zarkov comes running over. "Need any help?" he asks Smokey and Sparks with a meek smile. "Sergeant Kruvak told me to lend a hand if you needed it." He seems a bit... fidgety, though, as if something is on his mind.


Sergeant Kruvak is gonna try to Charm the CO. That way he might be able to get info out of them more easily, or at the very least, get some favorable treatment for the squad and not be used as cannon fodder. :smalltongue:

Charm: [roll0] vs 42

[Dekana]

Aeria makes her rounds of the camp with the two soldiers in the lead. She doesn't fail to notice their somewhat odd appearance. Perhaps the vat they were grown in malfunctioned and produced two embryos...

She decides that the older tech in the base is for the most part in good order, but she calls out any lacking or misapplied maintenance rituals to her guides. "The older the spirits are, the less forgiving they become about mistakes," she cautions.

Sorry for the delay! I don't have much to say at the moment, hehe.

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte took up a position to observe the unloading of the supply containers the squad had brought. Sometimes, unscrupulous individuals would redirect the Munitorum's bounty to personal ends and have to audacity to claim it was damaged or lost in shipment. She hoped her presence would deter such thieves.

As leaned against the wall, she activated her vox-bead to reach out to the command squad to advise them of the squad's safe arrival. Then she asked the vox-tech to put her through to her superior. She had not wanted to say anything at the field, but somebody needed to warn command of potential xenos involvement in the campaign.

[Hemnon]

Colon
The triage station (the medical building) seemed to be both in good condition and for the most part kept clean and sterile, although there were no sign of sterilization gel or anything like that. there were boiled water and some sort of soap for it. They were indeed more primitive, but all things considered, they make do quite well.
Since you and your comrade are both actual Guard and more trained, you're immediately left to your own devices, with the only a few (around 3) orderlies of the PDF trailing you around, both observing and standing ready in case you'd be needing their help.
There's a few sick PDF soldier, lying in their own beds, as well as a few wounded people and a single comatose patient.

If you want to work on the sick, the wounded and/or the Coma-patient, then I'd need a +0 Medicae test in order to try
and diagnose them first. If not, then you're free to perruse the place some more, or leave.


Smokey and 2 Comrades
There's not much going on right now, except perhaps for the curious glances and odd guestions that go your way, ranging from just a simple glance and small-talk, to actual STARES at you and your sentinel as well as more deep inquiries about orders, personal question, etc.


Sgt. Kruvak and the PDF-Captain
listened intently to your talk, even uttering a 'The Emperor Protects' as you mentioned him. "We are most appreciative of your assistance, but no one's allowed to roam freely without an escort, i hope you understand. Furthermore, yes, we do have the occasional raid or sabotage here, as well as actual full-blown attacks via fronal Assault. But it's been a few months since the last assault, although sabotage and spies are always found here in the frontline, so we have a very strict rule about never going anywhere alone. As for what to do with you all... i really do not know, but before i can even gist out a possible answer, i think we should head to Local Command for now and then i can better show the situation. it's right over there. Perhaps my Sanctioned Psyker can illuminate some of the answers you want as well." the Female Captain said and pointed at a well-fortified building that was almost half-buried into the ground, almost like a bunker of sorts.


Aeria and the Twins
You're continually being shown around to where-ever you'd like. There doesn't seem much actual work to be done here. they've kept relatively well and the standards of weapon-maintaining is both high grade and with great care. Seems like these PDF folk learned quickly that a well-kept gun is a weapon that can be the difference between life and death.


Commissar Charlotte and the Supplies
It was rather easy to see that no one would even dare THINKING about grabbing some of those supplies and running off with them. Not with a Full-blown commissar standing nearby.

The strangest thing happened however when you tried to get a hold of Central-Command. there was only a light buzz-hiss in return. well, that could be explained by being out of reach, since a micro-bead only have a range of about 1 kilometer, but for there to be NO response at all, even other communication seemed dull and missing as well...

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte turned over the possibilities in her mind. All were varying flavors of bad. She set off to find the the attached enginseer. Her servo-arm promised to make it a simple task.

Sure enough, it was. "Excuse me boys," came the Commissar's voice from behind. "I need to speak with Aria. In private," she added, resting a couple fingers on the butt of her pistol.

It was almost comical how fast guardsmen would take an excuse to remove themselves from the presence of a Commissar. Even including the sound effects.

"I can't raise anybody on my vox-bead. Is it just mine, or are they all out of commission?" she asked, holding up the possibly defective bead.

[Hemnon]

No one else are able to get contact with anyone at all.... even the others in your squad cannot be contacted via Micro-bead.

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte frowned. "Is there any plausible explanation for this beyond somebody jamming our communications?" she asked.

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak smiles pleasantly as the Captain explains. "Ah. Thank you very much, ma'am. I shall head over there post haste. I presume you'll be accompanying me? If so, ladies first~" he says with a polite nod, and a small gesture of his hand for her to lead the way.

[Alhendors]

"You know what I see before me, Ibram?" Colon started getting a little more talkative, though no less focused now that he was in his element. One might've even caught a glimpse of half insane exitement in his eyes if they were perceptive enough, Ibram had seen this look too many times.

"Might want to take a seat," the assistant jested as if he had heard this a hundred times before, which he hadn't, he'd only heard it 57 times as a matter of fact. It always baffled him how Colon could seem so distracted with his words, yet seemingly was working faster with his hands as he spoke.

"I see clarity of purpose. These fine men and women put their faith in the Emperor to protect them, lo and behold he has guided my good self to them in their time of need. This is what we're here for my friend, this is what makes life worth living!" He set up his Diagnostor and laid out any medical equipment which he knew he was going to need, scalpels, bandages, the kind of things which almost every wound required to treat. "I think I'll deal with the sick first while you make sure the rest don't bleed out on me, disease is one of the most dangerous things from a medical perspective."

Meicae test for Diagnosing the PDF.
Intelligence: 51, +0 (Challenging), +10 (Medicae +10), +10 (Master Chirurgeon), +20 (Diagnostor)
[roll0] - Against 91

[Dekana]

Aeria nods approvingly as she inspects one of the gun emplacements. She had been worried that a remote base could have lost machine discipline, but the soldiers seem to have followed their primers correctly. "I will make a report," she announces to the twins.

The tech-priest activates her microbead. "Sergeant Kruvac, Aeria reporting. I have completed an inspection of the base's defensive guns. ... Sergeant Kruvac?" The microbead only returns static. That's odd. The microbead requires little maintenance, and the sergeant is not likely to have failed in such matters.

Aeria looks to her escort. "Do you two carry communications equipment? Comms check."

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Smokey shoots Zarvok a grin, and Sparks throws a companionable arm around his shoulders and shoves a mop into his hands.

"A hand? Absolutely!" she beams. "You can wash down the legs, while I do an engine check,"

"Left leg felt a bit sticky on that last strech, so make sure you pay attention to the knee," Smokey calls, as he scrambles into the armoured driver's seat and begins fiddling with switches. "I'm going to do a systems test on the augurs again. See if I can figure out what was causing the strange readings back there,"

"By the by," Sparks adds, casually. "No-one ever just comes to give us a hand clearing up the mess they made,"

Smokey sticks his head back out and nods. "That's true. Something on your mind?"

Tech-Use for maintenance;

[roll0] vs. 64 (34+30 Combi-Tool)

[Lycan 01]

Trooper Zarkov averts his gaze to the side, and fidgets a bit, shifting his weight uncomfortable. "Sergeant Kruvak thinks something... iffy... is going on..." he mutters quietly, casting a cautious look around to make sure the Commissar isn't looming over his shoulder. "He wanted me to help you clean the Sentinel, honest. But... he also wanted me to see if you saw anything... you know... iffy." He fidgets a bit more. "We did a head-count earlier. Numbers didn't... add up. Seemed like the squad had an extra member, but we couldn't find anyone out of place. Might have just been an oversight or miscalculation, mind you," he shrugs, though he doesn't sound convinced of such a possibility.

[Hemnon]

Sgt. Kruvak and Miss PDF-Captain, The Command-building
The nearly fully submerged building appeared well-made and quite sturdy, made of rockcrete and some wooden beams here or there.

There was an old morse-station set up it would seem, with it's operator sitting with big bulky headphones, listening for any beeps on the line.

There were a couple of other people as well, like a few Tacticians, what seemed like a Runner (messenger), some basic security personnel and over by his Lonesome, a Sanctioned Psyker.
The Psyker is given wide berth by the others, none of them wishing to get any closer than they had to.
The Captain sat down in a chair and offered for you to sit as well, she then began shuffling with different maps, coordination-charts and other important-looking objects.
She then Waved the Psyker over, although she looked very much like she'd prefer not to do so, although that expression vanished quickly again. "Oh no, please forgive me, Sgt. my name is Celise. Captain Celise." She said as she suddenly remembered that she hadn't introduced herself.
"Now, as you can see here on the map, this is our location, the supply lines runs here, and that is the rest of the front-line flank. From any of this info, do can you see a way to utilize your Squad's skills in the best way? and i saw you had that big walking machine with you. is that a utility-tool or something? like a dirt-digger or a Cargo-hauler?" She questioned, not well-versed in that sort of grand levels of technology.

Make a -20 Awareness Test.


Doc Colon and company
Most of the sick folk only suffers from stuff like food-poisoning or the occasional fever.
The Wounded ones are another story however. One's missing a leg, amputation it would seem but the cause of that was not possible to see, however one of the PDF Orderlies handed you a chart that showed that the Man had taken a toxic dart of sorts to the leg. it was a small, hollow splint of sorts. looking like glass almost.
a few others appears to be just regular injuries caused by accidents or some sort of shrapnel, possibly from some sort of sub-artillery or primitive mortars. They would live, that much was clear.
Another Patient appears to have a sort of infection from a wound that was either miss-treated or just bad luck.
the rest appeared in all right condition.
As for the comatose Patient, she appeared to breathe on her own, but the bad part was that she was in decline, and unless she'd wake up, she'd die from hunger, since they appear to not have the technology to sustain comatose patients.

You get +10 to all the following from getting 1 DoS on that Diagnostic test you succeeded ^^

I'd like a Scholstic Lore Chimistry (basic +0 Difficulty), in order to either identify the Toxin used on the amputated person or at least get a hint of what kind of toxin it is.

You can do a +0 Medicae test in order to try and cure the Infection that one of them patients have.

Lastly, you can do a Medicae +0 Test in order to figure out what's wrong with the Comatose patient (aka. what might have caused it).

Finally i'd like an awareness Test (-20) This one doesn't get a +10 from your diagnostic test. ^^


The Commissarette and Aria
None of you can get a hold on anyone on the Micro-beads.
The two twins just shakes their heads as Aria asks if the carry communications-equipment and then quickly makes themselves scarce the moment the Commissar arrived and asked for some privacy with Aria.

Both of you, make an -10 Awareness Test.


Smokey and the Comrades + Sentinel
The maintenance goes relatively okay. you get most of the dirt and grime away from sensitive and unwanted places. Nothing to yell Hurray about, but it was done alright.

Make a -20 Awareness Test.

[Lycan 01]

Dovian gives a courteous nod to the Captain as introductions are made. "Sergeant Dovian Kruvak. A pleasure. As for my squad, I am uncertain at the moment how you could best put us to use in this situation. We're part of a regiment that specializes in recon and scouting. Our armor allows us to better blend in with our surroundings, allowing for easier stealth operations. We also possess some heavy firepower in the form of a plasma cannon, so we can also pull off ambushes with some efficiency. As for the machine, it's a Sentinel, often used for scouting or fire support. Ours is more heavily armored and armed than a typical scout, so it functions better in the latter role," he explains factually. "Though, it also hauls cargo in a pinch."


Awareness: [roll0] vs 15

[Dekana]

Charlotte turned over the possibilities in her mind. All were varying flavors of bad. She set off to find the the attached enginseer. Her servo-arm promised to make it a simple task.

Sure enough, it was. "Excuse me boys," came the Commissar's voice from behind. "I need to speak with Aria. In private," she added, resting a couple fingers on the butt of her pistol.

It was almost comical how fast guardsmen would take an excuse to remove themselves from the presence of a Commissar. Even including the sound effects.

"I can't raise anybody on my vox-bead. Is it just mine, or are they all out of commission?" she asked, holding up the possibly defective bead.

"The micro-bead in my care has ceased functioning as well, Commissar," Aeria answers without taking the offered bead. "I will return to the Bastion; the walker's augur array may help to diagnose the problem."

Aeria turns to leave, but she stops herself. Would walking away without having been dismissed cause offense to Charlotte? It's so hard to mimic these social gestures. Aeria asks with a curiously blank look on her face, "Will you accompany, Commissar? Or shall I find you afterward?"

Aeria will try to find out what is upsetting the micro-bead spirits. Have they been attacked by hostile jammers, etc?

Tech-Use [roll0] vs 73 (53 Int + 10 trained skill + 10 combi-tool)

[Alhendors]

All went quiet now as Colon finished his examinations, now only eerie silence broken by the occasional request for a piece of equipment filled the room. Some of these people were dying and although he had come to accept it, it always ate at him when he couldn't save someone.

Assuming Colon can perform all the tests I would like to do so, if not then the order in which the tests are made now dictate their importance, top to bottom.

Curing the Infection - Mecdicae
Intelligence: 51, +10 (Diagnosed), +10 (Medicae +10), +10 (Master Chirurgeon),+20 (Medical Kit/Equipment)
[roll0] against 101 - 5 DoS

Comatose Patient - Mecdicae
Intelligence: 51, +10 (Diagnosed), +10 (Medicae +10), +10 (Master Chirurgeon),+20 (Medical Kit/Equipment)
[roll1] against 101 - 5 DoS

Identifying the Poison - Scholastic Lore (Chymistry)
Intelligence: 51, +10 (Diagnosed), +10 (Shcolastic Lore (Chymistry +10))
[roll2] against 71 - 3 DoF

Awareness Test
Perception: 37, -20 (Test Difficulty)
[roll3] against 17 - 7 DoF

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte considered. One failed bead happened. Two failing together, one of which was in the custody of an initiate to the machine cult? That was malfeasance, not malfunction.

"No. I need to get to the HQ. Stay by the Bastion and be ready to get it moving on moment's notice-I fear we may be needing it soon." And she turned around and quickly walked to the building she had seen the Captain and the good sergeant heading for earlier.

[Hemnon]

Aeria (response to that Common Lore (Tech) Roll a while back)
All of the gun-emplacements, as well as the other 'heavy weapon' platforms all seem to be hold by very outdated and too frail frames to be salvaged for use on a big, heavy Plasma Cannon. If you had a few days and the right tools, you COULD perhaps make a Tripod yourself, however since that'd not be an authorized Munitorm-item, It would be illegal to mount on any gear given by the Munitorum, and the punishment for that, well, it could range from flogging to much worse, not that you'd really know since that'd required Scholastic Lore (Judgement).
One thing's for certain though, if you were to be able to scrounge up the right parts, you could most likely attach them to the weapon by yourself, back at HQ and proper service-stations and the like.

The Heavy Weapons Pair
The area is free for exploring in any way you wish, and you may of course go with whomever you wish.

Please also roll an Awareness -20 Test. (it's hearing-based if it matters)

[NightshadeXL]

Joe was walking around the common areas of the camp, trying to blend in. After speaking with trooper Zarkov about the issue of an extra squad member, he'd found himself abandoned and forgotten. He was desperate to find Nightshade, who wasn't responding to comm requests. Of course he couldn't ask on the micro bead a straight question because he didn't want it known that he was roaming the camp alone and that he'd lost his partner. He was standing near some supply creates when he saw the commisar walk by. He quickly made himself look busy helping a few PDF guardsmen standing near by. Frustrated with his search he was about to give up when he heard the mixed sound of laughter and anger behind him amongst the crates. He walked around slowly to see what it was.

"Two pair, read em and weep."

"Aww hell, thats my weeks rations."

"Nightshade! There you are. I've been looking all over for you. What are you doing?!"

"Playing Poker."

"That's not what I meant. Why didn't you answer my comms?"

"Because the beads aren't working."

"How could you possibly know that?" Joe asked shocked, immediately he starts playing with his bead to see if he gets any kind of signal.

"Because I've had the first taste of silence since we made planet fall. So either the Emperor favors me or the beads are malfunctioning. It also explains why the commissar was talking to Aeria."

"How.."

Nightshade points to the tiny view ports created by the way the supply crates are stacked.

"Never play cards without knowing where your superiors are at all times." Grins a guardsmen.

"And never play without chips... That last round broke me.. I'm out."

"Well, if you're done having fun we should rejoin the squad."

"What for? We don't even have the plasma cannon anymore."

"Then maybe we should go get it... it looks like everyone is gathering as the Bastion."

"Well you have fun trying to get the plasma cannon back from that servitor hulk of Aerias. I doubt he'll just release it to you now that he's been given charge of it by his master. Just sit down and keep an eye out for the commissar or the Sergeant. If they appear out of that HQ heading towards the bastion then we'll do the same. Until then, I have an extra weeks worth of rations to bet with."

"You mean an extra weeks worth of rations to lose. Your deal."

[NightshadeXL]

Hesitant and not wanting to be caught, Joe takes a seat and looks out through all the make shift view ports between the crates, scanning what can be seen of the PDF base.

[roll0] vs 11 (31 Perception -20(Test difficulty) -0(Awareness is trained))

[Hemnon]

Everyone
A sudden burst of ear-irritating static figuratively explodes out of everyone's Micro-beads, nothing harmful, just very loud and painful for the ear.
The static vanishes just as quickly as it began and it would seem the micro-beads are working again, with some minor static residue still crumbling over the channels.

Nightshade

In the distance, you manage to catch a very ominous and fear-inducing sound.... loud and fairly distant repitative deep explosive rumblings, like something was fired high into the air from some kind of VERY big barrel... then it hits you: it's Incomming Artillery... and not from a cannon or some other low-tech deal... it sounds waaayyy too huge to be mortars or regular basilisk-fire. Duck and Cover might be a good idea... or run for cover if nothing is available~ ^^

[NightshadeXL]

Just as Nightshade has the guardsman on the ropes, with a huge bluff on the river for the rest of the rations, the micro bead in his ear screams to life. Judging by the lifted hands to their ears of Joe and the guardsmen, it looks like all the beads are working. As chatter quickly fills the now working comm link, the stress of the poker hand is a vague memory and the guardsmen calls Nightshades bluff on a whim. As the guardsman rakes in the chips surmounting to everything Nightshade one of the previous guardsmen he looks up to see Nightshade standing over him making a blank face like he's lost in another world.

"Don't be a sore loser... You still have.."

Suddenly Nightshade's hands go out, one to Joe and another at the Guardsmen. Too sudden for them to react, he grabs them and throws them to the ground at the base of the stacked crates. He then jumps for the ground himself while palming his ear, trying to switch channels so that his bead transmits on as many channels as possible before it's too late.

"INCOMING, HIT THE DIRT!"

[Alhendors]

Lucky for Colon he had sharpened medical tools in his hands when his Micro-bead decided to scream down his ear, one of the few rules that was drilled into his head over and over to the point of a natural occurrence, never make any sudden movements with such equipment in hands. Forced to stand there silently as his bead contrasted, he shook his head a little after putting the equipment down and grasped his ear in shock a little pain. "I'm no engineer, but that's not normal..."

Not a few seconds after the communication network came back on line, Colon swore he heard something above the standard chatter. It was one of his squad mates, his memory good enough to tell who it was but a lack of interest resulting in any information on hi- Snap out of it! You have patients that need to be protected! Assuming anything smaller was coming this way, the station should provide suitable cover, if it was something of a larger variety the patients needed to me moved soon. "Ibram, round up anyone you can, same goes for the rest of you. We're not leaving until anything is confirmed but I need all the patients ready to move in case needed!"

[RandomLunatic]

Hearing the warning in her ear, Charlotte saved self-recrimination for being too slow for later. Right now she looke for the nearest shelter.

And for the benfit of the PDF troopers lacking beads, she hollered, "Incoming! GET DOWN!"

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak flinches a bit at the burst of static - before his eyes go wide as his squad's vox crackles to life. "ARTILLERY INBOUND!!" he barks, jumping from his chair to look around for a suitable piece of cover inside the command structure. "GET DOWN!! GET DOWN!!" He'll then try to find whatever cover and protection he can, and should any PDF troopers dally, he may tackle them into cover along with himself, shielding them with his own body if need be.

Meanwhile, Trooper Zarkov merely lets out a yelp, as he's out in the open. With no time to find better cover, and in a mild state of panic, he simply dives into a footprint that Bastion left, curling up in the small earthen indention and hoping it protects him from the coming barrage.

[Dekana]

Aeria is still en-route to the Bastion when she hears the warning. She calmly, but quickly, tries to take cover under the nearest slab of plasteel. Sensing that might not be sufficient, she orders her servitor, "Shield me with your body."

The servitor complies.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Ow. Ow. Ow. What in the name of the Throne happened there? Smokey rips out his microbead and glares at the vile piece of tech, and whatever thrice-cursed malicious machine spirits dwell within.

"By the Emperor's exalted toenails, what just happened?" an equally unamused Sparks is shouting near-by, and probably looking for a tech-priest to lynch. They're supposed to be the Emperor's finest - after the Astartes, anyway - surely they should have been issued less spiteful machine spirits? Then again, there is that story about the Munitorum issuing maps for the wrong plant to that Avragian regiment...

"ARTILLERY INBOUND!!"

Smokey says something impolite. Sparks does likewise, but with rather more variety in her choice of vocabulary.

"In, in. We're getting the Bastion out of here - it's the biggest target in the area!" Smokey shouts, grabbing Sparks and dragging her towards the Sentinel.

"Doesn't that mean we should be going the other way?" Sparks hollers back, stumbling along after him.

"Not unless you want to walk 'til we get a new Sentinel!"

...and that Awareness test, should it still be relevent or possible to make. I suspect it's way too late to be useful, but hey, worth a shot, right?

[roll0] vs. 15

[Hemnon]

The first impacts are WAY overshot by more than 50 meters... but the backwash from the impacts could be felt as the ground itself shook with each shell that hit.
The PDF is in uproar and appears to never having seen or experienced anything like this before. then the slow crawl happened, as the Artillery slowly homed in on the Front-line position. There was far less shells than would have been imagined, so either there are not many of it's kind to fire them, or the reload time is more substantial that reloading a basilisk or a Tank... Perhaps some foul Chaos super-artillery back behind their own lines.

Those still outside manages to catch a glimpse of that Young Girl from earlier again. back at the mini-valley entrance you came from to begin with. But the strangest thing was that as she vanished by the blink of an eye, the shells had yet to cause any levels of horrible damage, like hitting Command or impacting directly on the sentinel. Either you were all just very lucky, or the Emperor indeed does protect... Like the little silver aquila attached to your dogtag-chain have kept you all safe.
The PDF wasn't that lucky though. a gunnernest a bit west was hit directly and the 5-man crew vanished in a red mist of blood, gore and explosive dust. One Shell hit the Sentinel at an odd angle as the Sentinel was in-route to move away, but the Shell was only a dud, banging off the Sentinel's High-quality Armourplating with a hollow BANGGGGGGGG, and the echo ringing right through the whole Sentinel, making everyone in it both a bit shellshocked and nauseous from the major vibrations. Another shell impacted right through the roof of the Command-building, smashing through the table the maps and plans had been on and burrowing itself halfway into the floorboards... Yet another dud. Smoke was still sizzling from it as the superheated Shell slowly cooled off and radiated off it's heat into the air and into the wood it was burrowed into, nearly causing the woodplanks to catch fire (although it remained at slow and light embers.)

Then came the yells for medics, the cries of fear, horror.... and most importantly, the Sound of an enemy charge.
Time to get into positions to help Stand and Repel the enemy.

(Everyone of the PDFs are pretty much shellshocked beyound speech right now, So a command Test is needed to get them back in line and able to get into position in good enough time to effectively aid in the Stand and Repel needed to stop the enemy.
If they Break or the enemy breaks through, it's a loss to the war and a potential loss of the flank as well.
Manage to hold and you might be able to counterattack before another bombardment by those super-cannons... if you can locate and somehow destroy them.)

[Alhendors]

"Get the patients ready to move and ready your weapons until we get orders!" Ibram loaded his Lasgun, he knew that Colon wasn't going to leave this place until ordered to and it was part every Guard's duty to make sure that everyone else is reminded of theirs.

Colon meanwhile tended to all the preparations required to get the patients moving, shouting out basic requests as he worked. Unfortunately the chain of command gave him almost no authority over the others in a battle situation, so he was forced to do what he could until the PDF received their actual orders.

Well, a Command Test isn't really going to be a viable option for Colon, unless there are some bonuses for the PDF being "safe," in the Medical building and all.

Commanding the PDF isn't really his job, but if you need a command test to make sure his requests actually get through to the other medical personnel and guards within the vicinity.

Using Command
Fellowship: 28, -20 (Not Trained)
[roll0] vs. ??

[NightshadeXL]

While on the ground for cover, glimpsing through the crates, Nightshade sees the childlike figure from the field earlier, just standing there amidst the shelling. As soon as the first volley ends Nightshade stands up to head over to where she was standing only to find her gone like the wind.

"What now?"

"Now we find Aeria and that servitor. We need that plasma cannon." Nightshade activate the micro bead while he readies his lasgun, motioning Joe to do the same. "Aeria, where are you?"

As Joe readies his lasgun he hears the screams of the advancing army on the PDF position. "Nightshade, we don't have time, the archenemys troops are charging!"

Nightshade stops focusing on the microbead to pay attention to what Joe is trying to tell him. More determined, he heads off towards where the Bastion used to be parked hoping Aeria was still nearby when the shelling started.

"Then the PDF will have to buy us time, we're the heavy support! What good are we without a big gun?!"

[Dekana]

Aeria is quite surprised when Nightshade's voice buzzes through her supposedly dead microbead. Perhaps the Omnissiah revived its spirit during the squad's moment of need. In any case, she activates the microbead and voices her reply. "I am coming to Bastion. Boulder is with me, and he still carries the blessed plasma cannon. I regret that I did not have time to install a stabilizer system on it."

The tech-priest and her servitor continue making their way to the sentinel, staying under cover where possible.

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak leaps up as soon as the shelling ceases, drawing his chainsword and thumbing the ignition. As the engine roars to life, his left hand clamps over his ear, listening to the vox chatter before he barks into the link. "I want the squad to rally at Bastion, weapons hot and ready for combat! Prepare to bolster the lines and defend against the enemy!"

He then looks around at the trashed command shelter, observing the panic and disorder among the PDF. He raises his hand to his lips, and gives a loud whistle to get their attention. "Soldiers of the Imperium!" he proclaims, his voice thunderous within the walls of the damaged command center. "Rally, for the Enemy comes! They have sought to shatter our resolve, to break our defenses! And as you can clearly see, we all still stand! We all still draw breath! And as long as we continue to do so-" he raises his chainsword towards the door, and revs the engine loudly, fervor burning in his eyes, "We shall not waver, we shall not falter, and we shall not fail! Not one step back!" he bellows, taking a defiant step towards the door. "To the lines, soldiers! To the lines! For your homes! For your people! And for your Emperor!

He storms forth out of the command center, waving his chainsword and gesturing for the soldiers to follow him, as well as the ones outside the structure as he passes them. "To the lines! To the lines, and to victory! The Emperor is watching, and for his Name and Glory, not one step back!"

Hopefully his fervor and heroic figure will strike a chord among the PDF, and aid in rallying them to rebuff the approaching assault.


Command: [roll0] vs 52

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte glanced around, surveying the damage. Or, more accurately, the surprising paucity thereof. Was it merely shoddy Chaos craftsmanship, or was it His protection?

Either way, the PDF troops were a mess. She drew her sword and brandished it high, thumbing the activation rune to start the motor and grab attention. After a few seconds, she switched it off and started yelling. "On your feet, soldiers! The enemy's aim and ordnance are as wretched as their hearts and souls!" She began striding purposefully towards the fortifications, sword still raised high. "For your homes, your families, and your Emperor, take up arms and throw them back!" For all their deficiencies in experience, training, and equipment, PDFs were almost always fighting on their home ground, which gave the canny Commissar an easy shortcut to motivate them.

"That we have yet to meet the Emperor means He has bigger plans for us today! Let no man disappoint Him!"

[roll0] vs 51.
Would Galvanizing Presence count for anything on this roll?

Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Inside the sentinel there is a lot of swearing and creative blasphemy going on.

"This is your fault!"

"How is it my fault? I didn't shoot at us!"

"No, but you said to get in the Bastion which led to us getting shot!"

"And if we'd been outside and the shell had hit us, we'd be dead now!"

"But it wouldn't have hit us!"

"It might have!"

The Sentinel continues it's inexorable stomping to the nearest bit of sentinel-sized cover as the argument rages within it's armoured shell. If there's any more artillery being thrown around, the Bastion of Ego is still far too much of a target to stand around in the open.

[Lycan 01]

Outside Bastion, Trooper Zarkov is still cowering in the mud. A smouldering artillery shell sits buried next to him, the dud round having implanted itself there after bouncing off the Sentinel. And then as the Sentinel storms off for cover, it barely avoids the dirt-covered Guardsman.

Once all the loud explosions and Sentinel stomping is over, the young conscript finally pokes his head up, looking around, and then briskly leaps up and runs off to find his Sergeant...

[Hemnon]

Everyone

The rumble of charging boots against dusty dirt could be heard as the enemy charged the front-line.

Even though the Sgt. Failed to rouse the indoors PDF soldiers, the Inspirational Speech from the Commissar manages to get the outside-PDF in action and up on the entrenced line, into their respective gun-nests and firing-position, vastly improving your chances.

The Sentinel manages to find a suitable level of cover which only exposes the upper chassis and it's weapon. Anyone else who wish, can be at the entrencement-lines, ready to kill the enemies as well.


Okay, the enemy is in 2 Hordes of 30 each. This is their Magnitude. Each turn, after the last person on the Initiative list, the PDF soldiers (which will basically count as a mag 50 Horde) will attack.

The enemy is right now 300 meters out and closing in with 24 meters per turn (they are running full speed).

Initiative roll time! (do it either here, or in the OOC)
Remember to keep track of ammo and wounds for your own character (put it in a spoiler or correct character sheet in OOC each time there's a change) ^^

and here's the Enemy's Initiative Roll: [roll0]

[RandomLunatic]

Charlotte turned side-on to the incoming mass of troops, tugging her cloak about her so that it lay between her body and the incoming heretics. The Emperor protects, but only fools put Him to the test.

The bead's buzzing in her hear told her the sergeant and least some of the guardsmen she had accompanied survived, which was good. They should know what to do without her guidance.

The PDF was another matter. She started calling encouragement to the troops. "Don't rush, the Emperor stands with with you! Aim your shots-one hit is better than two misses!"

[roll0]
Since she is well out of BLAM range, she is going to Inspire the troops.
[roll1] vs 51 +/- situational stuff.

Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[NightshadeXL]

Nightshade gets Aerias response in the microbead just as he already begins to see her and her servitor moving from cover to cover, following the sentinel to it's new hiding place. To catch up he isn't bothering with cover, sprinting straight for her in the most direct path. Judging by how inaccurate that first barrage was he figures there's no way the archenemy would let loose a second volley while it's troops charge. That and he'd hear it incoming again and could dash for cover. At least, those were the lie he was telling himself to will himself to move fast in the open.

As he finally approaches Aeria and her servitor, he motions towards the plasma cannon the thing was absent mindedly holding in its hands. "I'll take that back now please." he manages between heavy breathing from the run. The servitor looks down at the object in its hand then back at Nightshade, not yet moving it's arm. It looks to Aeria and awaits her orders. With a Nod from Aeria, the servitor outstretches its arm and releases the plasma cannon into Nightshades hands like it weighed nothing. Nightshade strains to catch it, mixed with both frustration for having it dropped on to him and amazement by how strong the servitor really is.

Joe, being more cautious and sticking to cover, finally catches up. "What now? Shouldn't we head to the gun emplacements to help defend the PDF? The plasma cannon could probably wipe out half of the enemy in one shot.".

Nightshade palms his microbead. "Sarge, where do you want the plasma cannon? Are we to bolster the PDF lines, defend the bastion, or should we take this high powered death ray tank hunting?"

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak continues to wave his chainsword and belt out encouragement and rallying cries to the local PDF troops, as he attempts to lead them back towards the defensive lines. "To the lines, to the lines! The Enemy underestimates our courage, and the Might of the Emperor! We have weathered the worst they can throw at us - let us show them our mettle, and deny them what they seek! To the lines, brave soldiers! For you homes, your people, and your Emperor! Not one step back, in His Righteous Name!" he proclaims.

As he makes his way towards the lines, his vox crackles to life. "Hm?" He palms his ear, and listens to Nightshade's inquiry. "Bolster the defenses," he responds back swiftly and factually. "We can't let the enemy break through. I'm sure Bastion can withstand more than your average PDF trooper," he says with a ghost of a smile audible in his voice. "Once we rebuff the assault, perhaps we can see about going on the offensive. But we mustn't get ahead of ourselves - for now, focus on holding the line."


Sorry, RL has been rather distracting as of late.

Initiative: [roll0]
Rally the PDF: [roll1] vs 52 (Fel 42 + Command 10)

[NightshadeXL]

After hearing the Sergeants reply, Nightshade slings his lasgun around his soldier to better carry the plasma gun. "Joe, let's get this thing braced and pointed at the inbound troops."

Together they carry the plasma gun to the nearest stable piece of cover to rest the gun on, aiming the gun at the onslaught of chaos cultists.

(Brace heavy weapon 1/2 action, aim 1/2 action (+10 to next attack))

[RandomLunatic]

"Lift-Pull-Push-Lock-Aim-Fire!" Charlotte barked like a range abbot overseeing the morning firing rites at a PDF training camp. It was her hope the comfortable familiarity of the routine would snap the troops out of any last vestiges of shell shock. It should if the drill abbots had done their job right.

Still being inspirational.

Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[Alhendors]

"Well Ibram... Looks like we need to attend to this first," reaching around and readying his Lasgun, Colon nodded to the other members of the PDF who could still fight in the medical centre "I can't expect you to do anything more than your duties, but I ask personally that you keep these patients safe if you can..."

"Go it, remove danger first, remove damage second!" Ibram readied himself for a battle to come, though neither of them could really see the magnitude of the assaulting force.


Free Action: Speaking
1st Half-Action: Ready Weapon (Lasgun)
2nd Half-Action: Half Movement towards a location in this order of preference (since I'm not sure exaclty what the layout of the place is)
A: Window, gap or other location that allows Colon to fire upon the invaders.
B: Exit to the Medical Center.

[Hemnon]

The two big hordes Charging your front advances in a hail of screams utterings and general zealous Ramblings.

A swarm of Solid Projectile rounds whistles overhead and impacts the protective fortified ridge-line you're all behind. So far, not casualties. So far.

The Hordes are now ca. 276 meters out (that is the nearest of them. The edge of the horde. the rest are behind, of course ^^)


Charlotte: 13
Sgt. Kruvak: 13
Nightshade: 12
Colon: 10
Heretic Hordes: 7
Smokey: 5
Aeria 4
----------------------------
Horde 1 Magnitude: 30/30
Horde 2 Magnitude: 30/30

[Aneurin]

Smokey

"Sarge, we're going to try to draw fire away from you crunchies and try and flank them," Smokey says into the microbead, kicking the sentinel into full, stomping life.

"...doesn't that mean they'll shoot at us, instead?" Sparks asks, micro-bead off, somewhat dubiously.

"Probably, but, let's face it, the sarge was going to make us walk into anyway and at least this way we look keen,"

"But we're not,"

"Yeah, but those little guns probably can't touch the Bastion, so we're going to go around the fighting and try and find those big guns before they can blow us up,"

"Define 'probably',"

"...shut up and shoot something,"

As the sentinel storms out of it's cover, away from both allied lines and enemy fire, the autocannon roars into life spitting enormous slugs at the approaching enemy.

2x Tactical Movement (20m) at a 45 degree angle (so, sort of going around the enemy and away from allied lines, stops facing the Horde.

Sparks fires the autocannon on semi-auto.
[roll0] vs. 38 68 (+0 Semi-Auto, +0 range) (+30 size? Can't remember the modifier off the top of my head) ROF is 3

...don't think I need to roll damage (min. 11, Pen. 6 is pretty much guaranteed to beat toughness and armour)

Autocannon: 37/40 ammo remaining

[Dekana]

"Operator Godwinne - " Aeria blurts over the microbead as she rises from her cover, fully intent on following the Bastion as it dashes into a flanking position. However, the sentinel is clearly moving at combat speed, and there is no hope that she would be able to keep up with it (to say nothing of her lumbering servitor). She kneels back into her firing position and says in an almost frustrated voice, "Omnissiah protect you and the Bastion."

Aeria refocuses her attention to the approaching horde. Her cybernetic eye reports the approximate distance of the enemy - close enough. She raises her rifle and unloads a spray of las fire into the zealots, slowly taking her time to observe the effects of each shot.

I'm not sure where the horde rules are in Only War, but I'll just reference the Deathwatch rules for now.

Half Action: Aim (+10).
Half Action: Semi-Auto Burst with M36 Lasgun [roll0] vs 62 (32 BS - 10 long range + 10 aim + 30 massive target)
Damage is irrelevant for a horde, so I won't roll it.

Edit: Okay, so onetwo hits on the horde. This lasgun clip is at 57/60.
Edit 2: Actually, with the inspire bonus, that's a 37 vs 62. That's 2 DoS, so 2 hits, one for 13 damage and the other for 7 (damage rolls in ooc).

[Hemnon]

The PDF-Horde Did not yet fire, since their weapons had no chance of reaching out over 200 meters, so they held fire and took their aim and let the enemy draw in closer before the PDFs would burst out of cover and fire at the Heretics, hopefully hitting as well with their rather shoddy (by comparrison to you lot's) weapons.

(new Initiative round.)

[RandomLunatic]

Noticing the lack of fire, Charlotte yelled, "What are you waiting for, a personal invitation? FIRE!"

Inspiring again.
[roll0] vs 51.


Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak readies his magnoculars with his free, and begins to scan the approaching swarm of foes for priority targets. Officers, heavy weapons, armor, anything beyond grunts and cannon fodder.



Sorry, not sure what else can really be said here...

Awareness: [roll0] vs 35

[NightshadeXL]

Having aimed for the most clustered of the oncoming forces, Nightshade holds the trigger down to charge the weapon. The plasma cannon makes a high pitched scream as it consumes extra fuel for the maximal shot.
Realizing he may be wasting his shot on foot soldiers, Nightshade quickly scans the oncoming horde for anyone who looks important or looks like they are in heavier armor.

Roll to find someone important: [roll0] vs 31 (31 Perception, unsure any modifiers)
(If he finds them, he re-aims. If he sees no one he'll stick with his previous turn aim at the clustered horde)

Settling on a target, Nightshade releases the trigger just before the weapon overloads ensuring maximum damage, as he trained to do so many times in practice.

Roll to Hit: [roll1]
vs 70 if horde (40BS +10 aim -10 long range +30 horde)
vs 40 if important character found (40BS +10 aim -10 long range)


Roll Damage: 2d10+10 + 1d10 for maximal, pen is 8+2 for maximal, blast(1 + 2 for maximal)
[roll2], Pen:10, 3 meter blast
I guess it didn't add the +10 on a rollv. So Damage is 18.



Wounds: 14/14
Ammo: 13/16 on clip, 2 more clips (plasma)
30/30 on clip, 2 more clips (las)

[Alhendors]

The first thing on Colon's mind was to find a suitable position to fire from, cover would not doubt be extremely effective against such a large number of such ineffective firearms. He took up position and aimed towards the closest of their attackers, anticipating that familiar streak of light bolting though the air from his Lasgun.
First Half Action: Half Aim towards the closer Horde
Second Half Action: Standard Attack
BS: 35, +5 (Custom Grip), +10 (Aim), +10 (Standard Attack), +30 (Horde), -10 (Long Range)
[roll0] vs. 80

Damage (if hit): [roll1]

[Hemnon]

The two hordes had expected the lines to just be manned by equal-armed loyalists. Not Imperial Guard level of firepower and fire Discipline.

The hail of Lasgun, Autocannon and Plasmacannon fire blasted into the first incomming Horde, Ripping the lot of them into shreds, nearly blasting away 1/3 of the first horde in just one go.

Although this wasn't enough to falter their spirit and momentum. Boots stomped over fallen comrade. Gun and Bayonette swiping and hitting anything that faltered it's advance infront of them.


Charlotte: 13
Sgt. Kruvak: 13
Nightshade: 12
Colon: 10
Heretic Hordes: 7
Smokey: 5
Aeria: 4
----------------------------
Horde 1 Magnitude: 21/30
Horde 2 Magnitude: 30/30

----------------------------

Hordes keep charging forward. Running full-round action.
Distance is now 252 meters.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Sparks settles back in her seat, and releases the fire controls as the Sentinel continues it's thunderous advance across no-man's land.

"If you're going to keep jinking around like that, I'm never going to hit anything. At least try and drive straight,"

"Makes it harder for them to hit us if they open up with those big guns again. If you're not going to shoot, would you at least keep an eye out for them? I'm trying not to fall down any pot holes here," Smokey replies, as he steers the shivering, lurching machine around the enemy.

"...that's quite a good plan. Who helped you come up with it?"


Full action: 20m Tactical Movement heading around the horde.

...and an Awareness test to look for the big guns. Probably should've made that a little bit earlier.

[roll0] vs. 35 (35 Base, possibly +20 for the auspex but I imagine it's out of range)

[Dekana]

Aeria tracks the sentinel as it strolls closer to the enemy. She can't imagine what Smokey is possibly thinking; why take such a magnificent machine toward the enemy? Operators can be so reckless with the gifts of the Machine God.

Somewhat alarmed, Aeria says to the soldiers next to her, "We must thin their ranks before the Bastion reaches them! Keep firing!" She demonstrates for them, laying down another burst of las fire into the charging horde.

Half Action: Aim (+10).
Half Action: Semi-Auto Burst targeting the damaged horde with M36 Lasgun [roll0] vs 62 (32 BS - 10 long range + 10 aim + 30 massive target)
Damage (62 and lower): [roll1] Energy
Damage (42 and lower): [roll2] Energy
Damage (22 and lower): [roll3] Energy

This lasgun clip is at 54/60.

[Hemnon]

The PDF-forces finally managed to respond to the Commissar's outbursts, firing at the enemy with steady sighting, firing volleys of shots, then manual reloading before readying for a new shot.


PDF-Horde: 50/50 Magnitude

Half Aim-action (+20 to aim from Accurate weapon.. yeah they are accurate :p)
-10 (Long range)
Enemy Horde +30 (Magnitude Size)
Ranged attacks (5):
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

TN: 70


Damage
[roll5] Pen 1
[roll6] Pen 1
[roll7] Pen 1
[roll8] Pen 1
[roll9] Pen 1

Dealing 4 Magnitude Damage to already-damaged Horde. Damaged horde is down from 19 to 15 Magnitude and have to roll for a Break Test during their next turn with a modifier of +20 :3

oh and the bonus to hit the damaged horde has lowered down to +20, instead of +30, since you have mowed down around half of their Horde's forces.

Oh and those that needs rules for Horde, please refer to Black Crusade Core Rules.

[RandomLunatic]

"Excellent!" Charlotte called as the first volley ripped into the enemy ranks. "Keep it up!"

Full: [roll0] TN 51

Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak continues to scan the hordes of enemies for priority targets, while Trooper Zarkov plinks off a few shots at his side.


Awareness: [roll0] vs 35

[NightshadeXL]

The plasma cannon moans as it's venting excess heat from the last shot. Nightshade uses this opportunity to aim the cannon at the second horde, concentrating on causing as much damage to the incoming horde as possible.

(Full action aim for +20 next turn)

[Alhendors]

Colon squints his eyes as the first laser hits its mark. Hopefully he would be graced with such luck for the rest of this encounter, though he was rather suspicious that this was going too well as he released another beam of red light.

First Half Action: Half Aim towards the wounded Horde
Second Half Action: Standard Attack
BS: 35, +5 (Custom Grip), +10 (Aim), +10 (Standard Attack), +30 (Horde), -10 (Long Range)
[roll0] vs. 70

Damage (if hit): [roll1]

[Hemnon]

Willpower test or break:
30 stat
+20 (Magnitude Bonus)
+/- N (Unsure if being at half strength deals some penalty to the roll, will check tomorrow after I've slept)

TN: 50-ish
[roll0]


Both hordes continues to run forward, none of them appearing deterred about the heavy casualties one of the hordes were beginning to take.
Still, they WERE beginning to thin out a little, as well as made sure to not go directly towards the Sentinel... their weapons were not missile launchers and plasmacannons after all.

The hordes are now around 228 meters away.

[Aneurin]

Smokey

Bickering abounds as the sentinel stomps it's lonely way around the enemy.

"Huh. They're avoiding us?"

"I thought that was the plan!"

"...You expected that to work?"

Oops. My turn again, wasn't it?

Awright, same as before - 20m at a 45 degree angle to the Horde. I'll work out relative distances in the next couple of days.

No joy spotting the big guns, then?

[Dekana]

Aeria takes note that the horde has diminished significantly, but not to an acceptable level (that is, zero). She aims her lasgun once again and attempts to remedy that.

Half Action: Aim (+10).
Half Action: Semi-Auto Burst targeting the damaged horde with M36 Lasgun [roll0] vs 52 (32 BS - 10 long range + 10 aim + 20 magnitude)
Damage (52 and lower): [roll1] Energy
Damage (32 and lower): [roll2] Energy
Damage (12 and lower): [roll3] Energy

This lasgun clip is at 51/60.

[Hemnon]

The PDF-troops were finally going into an acceptable drill-fire rythm, although they still felt a bit too out of it to be completely sync'd.

Charlotte: 13
Sgt. Kruvak: 13
Nightshade: 12
Colon: 10
Heretic Hordes: 7
Smokey: 5
Aeria: 4
PDF: Last ^^

BS 30
Half Aim-action (+20 to aim from Accurate weapon) -10 (Long range)
Enemy Horde +20 (Magnitude Size)
TN: 60
vs.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]


Damage
[roll5] Pen 1
[roll6] Pen 1
[roll7] Pen 1
[roll8] Pen 1
[roll9] Pen 1


Enemy Horde Magnitudes:
Horde 1: 9 (15 at first, Colon did 1 Mag Dam and Aeria did 2 Mag Dam, PDF-Troops did 3 Mag Dam)
Horde 2: 30 (no damage yet)
------------

Once they hit 7 Mag, they autobreak from being cut down to 25% :3


Their Solid Slugrounds impacts against one of the Hordes, toppling over a bunch more of them, shattering skulls, rupturing internal organs, etc. with each killing hit.

[RandomLunatic]

Seeing the fire rate pick up and the cultists drop, Charlotte lifted Magnoculars to her eyes and started surveying the enemy's trench line beyond the hordes, already in the planning stages for the counter-attack.

Half draw Magnoculars, Half observe enemy positions
[roll0] vs 32

Wounds: 15/15
Fatigue: 0/3

Las Ammo: 60 (2)
Bolt Ammo: 8 (3)

[Lycan 01]

Sergeant Kruvak keys his vox with his left hand, as he raises and brandishes his chainsword in his right. "Keep up the good work, soldiers! The Emperor surely smiles upon us this day! Know that your actions bring glory to His Name, and with our every deed, victory draws closer nigh! Aim true and strike hard, Guardsmen!" he proclaims over the squad's vox channel, encouraging and emboldening his squad to greater glory!


Inspire: [roll0] vs 52 (Fel 42 + Command 10)

[NightshadeXL]

Having aimed for the most clustered of the oncoming forces in the larger full horde to maximize damage from the blast, Nightshade holds the trigger down to charge the weapon. The plasma cannon makes a high pitched scream as it consumes extra fuel for the maximal shot.
As the cannon reaches a high pitched moan, Nightshade releases the trigger just before the weapon overloads ensuring maximum damage, as he trained to do so many times in practice.

Roll to Hit: [roll0]
vs 100 (40BS +20 aim +10 inspired +30 horde) (Yay insta hits! Unless I overheat =( )

Roll Damage: 2d10+10 + 1d10 for maximal, pen is 8+2 for maximal, blast(1 + 2 for maximal)
Damage:[roll1], Pen:10, 3 meter blast


Wounds: 14/14
Ammo: 10/16 on clip, 2 more clips (plasma)
30/30 on clip, 2 more clips (las)

[Alhendors]

"They're dropping easily, far too easily..." Colon wasn't one to accept good luck nor was he one to ever risk underestimating an enemy. Surely if there was something hidden in the hordes of oncoming rabble his companions would have seen it by now, so he instead drew his Magnoculars and turned his attention to the empty areas surrounding, and particularly behind the Hordes. Of course he may be wrong, but it never hurt to be ever-watchful.

1st Half Action: Ready Magnoculars

2nd Half Action: Awareness Test (Looking for anything in the direction of the Hordes, but not actually near the Hordes themselves.)
Perception: 37
[roll0] vs. 37