War in the Cluster (Only War - IC)

[Doc Kraken]

Ffordeham ducked into the bunker. "Gentlemen? Have you found - "

The roar shattered his thoughts, nearly taking his eardrums with them. His mouth fell open slightly as his hand dropped to his bolt pistol, reflexively running through firing catechisms and safety prayers.

"They're on us!" He bellowed, trying to match the oncoming foe in spirit if not in volume. "Stand fast! Get the Lieutenant inside! Acrylis, sound off! We hold here! This is it! Avenge your dead! Purge the mutant! End this corruption!"

Spoiler: Hold, in the Emperor's name!

Show

Initiative: (1d10+3)[11]

Also drawing my bolt pistol and attempting to Inspire the men.

Command check: (1d100)[46] vs. 41

[Hemnon]

Rowan halts his futile attempts to patch up any remaining holes and just heads for some cover, clasping on his newly acquired helmet, as well as lugging the pilfered lasguns and ammo along, over to the commissar (at least there was a chance they'd target a Leader, rather than a grunt).


Stuff

Spoiler

Show

Initiative (1d10+3)[13]

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Checkpoint

Show

The thumping grew more and more pronounced. Judging by the increased frequency, there was possibly... twelve seconds before impact. Another roar, far closer (and therefore louder) than before ripped through the land, rattling the rockrete and the helmets of the riflemen.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

You have two rounds before impact. Feel free to peak over the edge and see what you're dealing with... if you dare!

*pikastrut*

[Doc Kraken]

"Steady..." Ffordeham growled, searching the faces of the Karisians for a dangerous level of doubt. "Steady..."

Finally, his nerves could take it no longer. He hawked, spat, ducked and grabbed for the closest weapon, and risked a gaze around the corner of the ruined bunker. Even if this thing would be their doom, he would rather face it eyes open and weapons blazing than cowering under a slab of rockcrete...

Spoiler

Show

...fine. I'll take the bait. How bad can it be?

Also, is it fair to assume that there's a dropped lasgun within easy reach? If not, that's fine, just figured with all the bodies lying around that someone would be able to spare one...

[Dekana]

"Ride's finally here..." Lumina mutters as she steps into the vehicle. Once inside, she looks around confused. "Uh, the chimera looks a little different today."

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Checkpoint

Show

A great beast lumbered forth, something that could have once been an ogryn before some Dark God got their hands on it. It held an enormous machine gun by the barrel, apparently wielding the thing as a makeshift club in lieu of actually firing. It would arrive shortly, and the sight of the beast was enough to send fear even into the Commissar's heart. It was perhaps twenty meters away. Judging by the minor scrapes across its body, the blood that coated its mostly-naked body was probably not its own.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

I need a Willpower test v. Fear from you, Commissar, at a -10 penalty. This is a bad thing.

For those interested, this is the picture I have in mind -- note, it is a little disturbing, so I'll only link the URL. Don't click on it if you don't want to. It isn't like the Pika-strut. Corrupted Ogryn.

[Fibinachi]

"Ride's finally here..." Lumina mutters as she steps into the vehicle. Once inside, she looks around confused. "Uh, the chimera looks a little different today."

"I figure it's the dents? On the outside. Fom the wall we just crashed through. But maybe the paint scheme was changed a little."

Firnik's ceremite armored head banged against the ceiling, punctuating the sentence.

"So, what do we know so far? Don't get close... Anyone have any other ideas?"

[Entaris]

Blast it until it stops moving, o' course! Rexus replied cheerfully from his seat as the Chimera plowed through the streets, seemingly being 'guided' mostly by the sharp up-swing of the tunnel walls.

[Doc Kraken]

Spoiler

Show

Noooooo he's followed me into another game! At least this time I'm armed...

Fear test: (1d100)[63] vs. 27

Unshakeable Faith reroll (if necessary): (1d100)[42] vs. 27

Also, did I get a gun?

[Doc Kraken]

Ffordeham's face, normally a healthy, glowing ruddy color, suddenly drained. He had been expecting something large, but this...this...

"Hold your ground," He half-mumbled, half-chanted as he swung the lasgun up with shaking hands, switching it to maximum power. "Hold your ground, bring it down, fire at will, FIRE AT WILL - " The lasgun bucked in his hands as he held the trigger down, though whether the machine spirit was eager to avenge it's fallen owner or just as nervous as the Commissar, he could not tell...

Spoiler

Show

Free action: Panic.

Full Action: Suppressing Fire down the tunnel, centered on the ogryn.

(1d100)[26] vs. 25 (35 + 10 for Hulking + 10 for Short Range - 20 for Suppressing Fire - 10 for unheroic dampness)

Damage (if applicable): (1d10+5)[12]
Additional damage (if applicable): (1d10+5)[7]

Righteous fury (I'm reaching): (1d5)[3]

...these dice are hereby judged SUBVERSIVE HERETICS, and shall be dealt with accordingly.

*BLAM*

[Hemnon]

Rowan kept his head down, out of the line of sight AND line of fire from.... whatever it was that the commissar was so gracefully staining his trousers from watching.

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Checkpoint

Show

The horrid creature continued to run towards the checkpoint, perhaps six meters out and closing fast.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

A boring post, I know. My apologies! Rowan, Commissar, Riflemen, Beasty. That's the initiative.

[Caimheul]

"After that explosion we saw from the motor pool, I'm just thankful to have a ride. So far, we know Imperial Guard units are under attack, we don't have any explicit orders, so my personal priority is to find the rest of our squad. Hopefully we can raise them on vox soon."

[Hemnon]

Rowan finally decided to take a gander of what it was that was charging them all.... he wish he didn't. All he could do was Scream and just pull that trigger hard and blast away at the horrible thing.

Spoiler

Show

Half Action Aim
Half Action Semi-auto burst

Ballistic Skill 38+10(Aim)-10(Fatigued)+0(Semi-Auto) = 38
vs.
(1d100)[51]

Damage
(1d10+3)[7]
(1d10+3)[7]

Righeous Fury if needed
(1d5)[3]
(1d5)[1]

[Doc Kraken]

As the beast plowed through his wild burst of fire without even slowing down, the Commissar flipped a switch. The tiny, shrill voice in his head that wailed for him to crawl away and hide was still present, but he would not let it rule him. Privately, he marked that portion of his mind for execution at a later date. If the gigantic creature barreling toward them didn't do something about that first...

"I said fire!" He screamed, only a slight hitch in his voice. "Kill it! Kill the mutant! All of you, open fire!" The lasgun spat as he followed his own order, squeezing the trigger as fast as his shaking hands would allow.

Spoiler

Show

Hope the Karisians do something besides hug cover, or there's going to be significantly fewer of us when the Chimera rolls up to the rescue.

Half action: Aim

Half action: Overloaded semi-auto burst at the ogryn.

(1d100)[82] vs. 55 (35 +10 for Hulking +10 for Short Range +10 for Aim -10 for softly whimpering

First damage roll (if applicable): (1d10+5)[13]
Second damage roll (if applicable): (1d10+5)[12]
Third damage roll (if applicable): (1d10+5)[9]

Righteous Fury rolls temporarily suspended on advice from senior members of the Mechanicus.

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Checkpoint

Show

Rowan fell to the ground as the sinister creature galloped forwards. The riflemen aimed their guns, and a two even managed to squeeze off a shot. One fellow had his faceplate down and vomited, the unfortunate splashback stinging his eyes and failing to wash the terrible visage from his cornea, and the other started to hum a cheerful tune. "Technically, sir, it's a mutated abhuman, judging by the musculature. But it is an ugly one, sir, no doubt there. If I could add, sir--?" But he couldn't. The beast jumped, soaring meters through the air and landing atop the unfortunately fearless marine. The noise that accompanied the landing -- a grim mixture of squishing and crunching -- was certainly indelible. The beast roared again, earsplitting at this close proximity. Blood and human effluence formed a puddle around his feet, even as the quivering mass of muscle the monster had landed on spasmed in death.

The civilian simply fell backwards.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

Right.

Commissar's turn, then. Rowan is out for this round of combat, and then the next.

[Doc Kraken]

Percarim gaped as bits of trooper spattered his coat, adding to the stains the mutant had left there earlier. He didn't notice the two Karisians still supporting him, or Rowan and the civilian collapsing, or even the poor man being noisily sick in his own face. His world had shrunk, condensing to him, the monstrosity wallowing in the remains of one of his soldiers, and the fear. Most of all, the fear.

If there was one thing he had learned at the Schola, it was what to do with fear.

Almost mechanically, he dropped the lasgun, the weapon clattering to the ground once more. He reached smoothly for his bolt pistol - symbol of his office, destroyer of the Emperor's foes, enforcer of discipline when it was unenforceable - and leveled it at the mutant ogryn.

"Kill the mutant." He whispered, once, squeezing the trigger.

Spoiler

Show

Free action: Drop lasgun. Its machine spirit has obviously taken a nap.

Half action: Draw bolt pistol (with all of three shots left!)

Half action: Semi-auto burst at the ogryn

(1d100)[9] vs. 65 (35 +10 for Hulking +30 for Point-Blank -10 for getting a bit of Guardsman in the eye)

First Damage Roll (if applicable): (1d10+5)[7] OR (1d10+5)[11]
Second Damage Roll (if applicable): (1d10+5)[15] OR (1d10+5)[14]

First Righteous Fury (C'mon, c'mon...): (1d5)[3]
Second Righteous Fury (Let me dream!): (1d5)[4]

[Caimheul]

Spoiler: Chimera

Show

Carnelia takes the vox hailer from her aide before attempting to contact the checkpoint. "Attention all Imperial Guard units manning the checkpoint at 453-410, what is your status? We are nearing your position, and preparing to render aid, over." she says on the frequency the earlier plea for help was picked up.

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

(1d10+3)[13]

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Massacre

Show

The Commissar's bolts were true, both colliding with the naked, naked left leg of the beast. Its own blood, a strange purple that was slightly too thick, splattered outwards as the mass-reactive shell exploded within -- and then the other, burrowing into the same leg, through the same hole as the first, in what can only be described as a masterful act of accuracy. The beast bellowed with agony, the sound of thick abhuman, Chaos-reinforced bone crunched and splintered. The riflemen, buoyed by the show of skill, attacked the creature again, but its hideous, mutagen-filled eyes were aimed only for one man, even as lasbolts seared the flesh and hair off of its morally-suspect chest.

The man with the vomit filled helmet took it off, gasping in relief to not have all of that going on anymore, and then looked at the beast so near and promptly wet himself.

The civilian remained motionless on the ground, as did Rowan.

It took one step forward with its good leg, and promptly went for an overhead smash of the Commissar. Although Ffordeham valiantly attempted to deflect the fist, which itself was roughly the size of the commissar's head, it only caused the man to bend backwards slightly. The Ogryn's fist pummeled Percarim's torso. There was a terrible crack, and for a blinding moment of clarity, the Commissar could feel every single internal organ he had. Including one tiny proto-liver he had been born with (which accounted for his ability to better metabolize alcohol!). And then the blinding moment of clarity became one of pain, and suddenly all he knew was pain.

Spoiler: Combat

Show

(1d100)[55]
(1d100)[33]
(1d10)[6]
(1d10)[5]

[Entaris]

As the Chimera comes roaring around the corner, Rexus and the reinforcements get a good look at the dirty great mutant. A sinister grin spreads across Gunmetal Arkan's face, his knuckles whitening as he keeps the pedal to the metal, sending his borrowed APC barreling into the unclean beast.

(1d100)[99] vs 50 Ag + 10 MIU + Operate +10 = 70

[Glarx]

Spoiler: The Rockrete Checkpoint

Show

With a sudden crash, the chimera rammed through the rockrete checkpoint and slammed into the ogryn. The great beast, taken by surprise, gripped either side of the tank as the vehicle rocketed off from the checkpoint proper, unable to transfer its kinetic energy entirely into the mutant. The civilian and two of the Karis riflemen, including the vomiting-self-urinater, were also crushed under the tank.

After a terrifying six seconds, the beast finally lost its grip on the tank and fell underneath, causing the chimera to buckle and bounce. The hideous visage of the mutant was emblazoned in Arkan's eyes, and its low, guttural last words had echoed through the tank.

"Thank you."

Spoiler: Combat

Show

Need a -10 willpower test from you, Entaris. And if someone was up above, they'll need one, too. I think comrades don't worry about fear unless their owners fail the test. Is that right? The comrade system is still a smidgen confusing for me.

[ArcturusV]

Carnelia gets a reply, somewhere mid-rampage ramming spree by Rexus, " Heavy casualties. Enemy broke contact. Unable to pursue at this time. Requesting reinforcement to hold the position."

Another voice crackled over the Vox, "YOU WILL DIE WHEN I TELL YOU TO, AND NOT A MOMENT BEFORE! THE EMPEROR DEMANDS YOU STAND TALL!"

[Entaris]

From the Chimera's perch atop the great bloated corpse, Rexus sat, wide-eyed, Did we just....did- did we just hit a Chaos, Kelnst? He asked his comrade, who sat next to him with an identical look of confusion and dawning terror, nodding slowly. Arkan gulped, wringing the steering device of the armored machine, Then...uh...we should uh...go and come come around again, yaeh. Case it gets back up like the Vids. He reasoned to himself, slamming the throttle forward, the treads tearing great chunks of the beast off and flinging it in a gorey purple roostertail before finding traction and hauling off down the road, Kelnst popping out the top, We're coming back around, in case! He shouted, the fear clear on the boy's face even beyond the pair's fear-washed reasoning.

[Idares]

From the inside of the beaten down Chimera a pale, well more pale than usual, Tech-Priest burrows out. The faded complexion is either from shock or nausea. He whispers to himself. "Why would one do such a thi...? But...? Can one...? Poor creatu..."

Even in it's poor condition, Sigismund puts his faith in the abilities of the Chimera and ducks back down.

[Dekana]

Lumina picks herself up from the floor of the chimera. "The heck did we just hit?! Nevermind, let me out here!" She moves to the rear hatch, opens it, and then literally tumbles out of the metal beast, finding herself on the ground once more. She mutters a curse, picks herself up again and then runs toward her injured allies (starting with the most wounded-looking).

[Fibinachi]

Firnik

Something crunched beneath the threads of the Chimera, different than the rattling of concrete or the sounds of Arkan driving the vehicle over a questionable shortcut. They had rammed something. This was an organic, wet sound, and the vehicle shuddered as Arkan threw it into reverse.

Firnik decided this was a very good time to bug out. Lumina had the same idea - never think the medic wasn't the smartest person in the room, what with always having bandages within reach and a good survival instict - so Firnik just followed her, starting gracefully but ending in forty kilograms of expensive gear and a sweaty body tumbling out of the hatch as his foot caught.

He landed on something soft and yielding, which was not how rockcrete was supposed to feel. Filtered through the visor of his helmet came the stomach churning sight of a mangled limb, crushed beneath a weighty instrument of the Emperor. Congelead bits of mutant gore, thick fluid that was probably blood and who knows what else clung to his armored frame as he got back up, foot half slipping, and skittered out of the way of the impact stain.

What the feth was he covered with? What the feth was that thing? What the feth had been the fething feth of feth explosion that fethed up the fething motorpool? This entire fething miner planet was fething full of fething drills, death and damned, dastardly drones of fething traitors! Oh Emperor bless for nearly environmentally sealed armor that could keep out the stink of the fething fether he just fething landed in.

Bollocks to this entire mission.

"The heck did we just hit?! Nevermind, let me out here!"

Spoiler

Show

(d100)[33] So close to snapping out of it!

Leaving bloody footprints from the smeared mutant, Firnik fished out his carbine and followed Lumina. He refused to admit it, his aim was shaky. His hands were shaking, and his throat was parched, clenching up. This was just right down dishonorable. He'd have to spend hours cleaning. The checkpoint was a massacre zone, a charnel house of debris and bodies.

And obviously, there were no Karisfolk standing. Eh, it had been a hope for a competent set of other troops, but apparently a wrongheaded one. He'd have to hope for that another day.

"<I have no idea, Lumina. No idea at all. It's disgusting and oddly smeared. And I think it was the size of the chimera, feth-- I see the Commisar and Rowan! Over there, by the massive of blood, bone and vomit! I... what is with this planet?!>"

Pushing the uneasy sensation of monstrous beings eating japping at his heels, Firnik ran towards the downed pair of fellow Saint Eye's, ready to offer them any aid.

[Doc Kraken]

Pain.

For a moment, that was the entirety of the Commissar's world. He, Percarim Tolebrone Ffordeham, reduced to simple, searing pain. He thought he could hear something crack, far off in the distance. Scratch that, he knew he heard something crack. Ribs, in the best-case scenario. He felt like he was floating, adrift in a crimson haze, waiting for the final blow -

No. Not here. Not from that.

With a supreme effort of will, Ffordeham wrenched himself back to reality, eyes blazing with a potent mixture of hate, fury, and agony. Maybe he wouldn't bring the mutant down, maybe he would die here, but he would do it with a snarl on his face and a prayer to the Emperor in his heart. He -

Something even larger barreled down the tunnel. Ffordeham barely had time to turn and shelter behind the rockcrete wall before the monstrous ogryn - and several others, he was still too out of it to see who - disappeared beneath the Chimera's bulk with a variety of sickening noises. Coughing, the Commissar sank to his knees as the vehicle reversed itself. Dimly, he could make out a couple of figures tuck and roll out of the transport before it got too far.

"Over here! We - " He looked around wildly. "Acrylis! Karisians! Sound off! Who - " He retched slightly, the world seeming to spin before him. "Who's standing?"

[Entaris]

After a few moments of careening awy from the scene at break-neck speeds, Rexus slows and looks out the open back hatch, the anxiety fading slightly, I, uh..I think we can make another go of it. Go see if the mates need help. He commented to Kelnst, who nodded and quickly moved to closet he rear hatch before the Chimera turned around and headed back towards the scene. Evr'ybody alright back there? He called to the passengers, whoever remained anyway.

[ArcturusV]

The Commissar's role call was answered by only one Karis Rifle, "Lt. Garrick's stable sir... for the time being. Needs proper medicae facilities though, I suppose I'm fine, bit rattled, all considered." The medic looked up, seeing two guys diving out of whatever insane driver just rammed the creature and turned back to go to who knows where. He noticed one of them was a medic, and waved them over, "Got wounded!" he called out to Lumina, waving her towards the Commissar as he was busy holding together his own superior officer.

[Dekana]

"On it!" Lumina calls back to the Karis Rifle. She dashes through the battlefield, hopping over rubble and clearly dead soldiers, until she lands next to Ffordeham. At first glance, he appears to be in okay shape: he is a it dazed, but he doesn't have any serious injuries. Lumina then pokes and prods the commisar for a few moments, finally eliciting a pained grunt when she touches his side. She quickly says, "With your permission, commisar," and then without waiting for him to actually give it, lifts up his shirt and armor revealing a nasty bruise. Internal injuries.

Elessa arrives on the scene a short while later. By that time, Lumina has disrobed Ffordeham from the waist-up and laid him flat on his back. Elessa opens up the medikit and retrieves a roll of compression bandages, which Lumina gets to work applying.

Spoiler: Medicae

Show

Sadly, using Medicae to treat critical damage is really difficult. Int 50 + 20 from the medikit would mean I need to get a 70 or less on the roll, but there's a -10 penalty for every point of critical damage. So that means I need a 20 or less on the roll. There may be other modifiers, but I don't think any of them apply at the moment (correct me if I'm wrong of course).

Medicae (1d100)[14] vs 20
Haha, wow, I actually got it. Minus 5 points of critical damage and 1 point of regular damage to Ffordeham.

Edit: And Ffordeham can't be treated again for 24 hours.

When she's finished, Ffordeham's chest is wrapped in a few layers of white bandages. "How do you feel, commisar?" Lumina asks hopefully, not wanting to be field-executed for failing to provide care.