No Time For Sorrow

[laszarus]

++ MESSAGE CODE MAGENTA ++
++ TRANSPORT ORDERS: KALLINDRIAN 114TH, VENTRIAN 4TH, HJALSANIR V 8TH++
++ FROM: HIGH WARLORD JASKARNIR
TO: LORD GENERAL KRANA

IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT OF REGIMENTS TO HJALSANIR IV. COMBAT ORK THREAT. ELIMINATE ALL INFECTION. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN YOUR EXECUTION.

EMPEROR BE WITH YOU.
HIGH WARLORD JASKARNIR ++

* * * * *

++ MESSAGE CODE GREEN ++
++ MISSION DETAILS: KALLINDRIAN 114TH ++
++ FROM: LORD GENERAL KRANA
TO: COLONEL SKALLI, KALLINDRIAN 114TH

TARGET: NORTHERN POLAR CITY – HJALSANIR MINOR.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: CLEAR ORKS FROM CITY. MAKE SAFE SPACEPORT. SET UP FORWARD COMMAND POST FOR FURTHER OPERATIONS.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: SECURE CITIZENS. RETAKE POWER PLANTS.

BLESSINGS OF THE GOD-EMPEROR
LORD GENERAL KRANA ++

* * * * *

3 Months Beforehand …

“Captain, we are reading anomalous signals in the beta-segment transport lane. Permission to deep-scan?”

“Permission granted, Ensign.”

“God Emperor protect us … Captain, we are reading numerous Orkoid life signs. Anomaly appears to be an Epsilon-class space hulk. At least 4 different ships and 3 asteroids. Minimum 100,000 Orkoid life forms. 10 Devastator-class cannon, 80 Ravager class broadside cannon, over 300 light guns. Tactica recommendation: engage with full lance battery, order all armed ships to begin assault. Pray to survive the battle, for we have barely the firepower to harm the beast.”

“Make it so! If we cannot kill it, we will die trying! Launch all interceptors, order all planetary defenses to open fire at any weak points, and mobilize all orbital defenders. We will sell our lives dearly, friends. Open fire!”

* * * * *

The sky above blazed into life, light filling the night sky as the battle in space lit the dark side of the planet. In a brief hour, over a hundred ships fell attempting to destroy the hulk, and many others were crippled. Breaking through the orbital defenses, the hulk fell onto the planet like the descending fist of an angry god. For weeks afterwards, the dust cloud thrown up from its landing blanketed the skies, the population living in a perpetual gloom. As the dust settled, the real problems began. A horde of Orks, the survivors of the crash, came howling out from the crash site, swiftly overwhelming the few PDF soldiers on the planet. Within another week, the entire world was Ork territory, and the frantic, panicked distress signals from the capital had only just been received.

* * * * *

“Sir, they’re coming!” Bellowed the young trooper, slipping a clip into his lasgun.

“I know, soldier. Keep them in your sights, and make every shot count. We may fall, but the brutes will regret their attack.” The captain, barely a year older, said, his voice quavering and lacking in conviction.

The huge cloud kicked up behind the rampaging Ork force obscured the horizon, and the greenskins were close enough to see details: their red-painted vehicles, the crude but deadly weapons, their massive, hulking leaders. All along the walls, men broke and ran, only to be shot dead by their officers.

“Open fire with all wall defenses.” Hissed a voice through the comm-links, and along the entire 10 kilometer curtain wall heavy bolters, lascannons and rocket launchers blasted into life, scything through the innumerable Ork horde.

Even as the ground was churned to mud by the green blood and clomping feet, the first of the Ork artillery shells hit the wall, blasting men and rubble hundreds of metres. The Orks who had reached the wall were trying to climb with their bare hands and were slipping back down, lasgun volleys blasting through their ranks until a series of devastating explosions ripped a hole in the wall and the greenskin horde poured through.

Hjalsanir Prime had fallen.

* * * * *

1 week beforehand …

“Men of the Kallindrian 114th, you already,”
“Know who we are, and where we are going.”
“Now it is time,”
“For you to learn what you are going,”
“There for. The planet,”
“Hjalsanir has,”
“FFaalllleenn.”
“You are to,”
“Take the landing craft,”
“And launch an assault,”
“On the North Polar City,”
“Hjalsanir Minor,”
“Which must be,”
“Taken for the,”
“Campaign to succeed.”

The twin Commissars hissed, each finishing the other’s sentences. They stood together, identical in every way, from their polished black boots to their shiny peaked caps. The brothers Clatain, tall, slender and deadly, darkly inspirational and with a gallows humour, they were already feared by the young Kallindrian regiment, and shown respect, even though they were offworlders. The Colonel who stood with them, a polar Kallindrian, dark-skinned and pale-haired, in rumpled snow fatigues and with a permanent three-day growth on his face, struck a stark contrast with the razor-edged Commissars, and he was loved by his men for it. Patrjik Skalli, Colonel of the Kallindrin 114th, Wolf hunter, adopted as the regimental mascot by the polars and non-polars alike (though with a hint of resentment from the non-polars).

“Alright lads, you know the drills. We drop in by landing craft, bag us some Ork heads, and take the spaceport so’s the others can get in to help us. Keep your eyes peeled, your guns charged and your knives ready and you should be alright. You’ll be loaded onto the craft once we hit orbit in about a week, so sharpen up your training and keep ready.” The Colonel said amicably, then dismissed the men with a wave.

* * * * *

Squad Gamma-Eta-14, Squad Delta-Epsilon-5 and Squad Pi-Kappa-9 were loaded onto the landing craft.

“Alright lads,” Bellowed Sergeant Kjaski, “We’re going in!”

Squad Pi-Kappa-9, under Sergeant Hrask’kar, strapped themselves in. Jakken the medic. Gorkraj the voxman. M’gn’s the rocket-man. Trooper Jurgis, Trooper Krakjah and the fiery Trooper Jilikian. Snipers Zavreth and Jarrek. Flamer R’nshai. Little did they know the role they were to play.

“LAUNCH!” Came the cry from the cockpit, and all the Guardsmen were slammed back in their seats as the lander blasted from the troop ship and into the planetary atmosphere.

All around there were explosions and the craft shook and shuddered as they blasted it from side to side, rattling the soldiers about like beads in a maraca. Suddenly the blasts stopped.

“We’re through the exterior defenses! All we have left to worry about are the,” Yelled the pilot, but was cut off by a massive blast which tore the front off the lander.

“We’re going down!” exclaimed Sergeant Kjaski, “Brace positions!”

As the lander smashed into the remains of a skyscraper, all the soldiers lost consciousness. When they awoke, Squad Pi-Kappa-9 found that all the other Guardsmen were dead, and they were alone and lost in a hostile city.

[Electric_Monkey]

Jurgis comes to with red spots before his eyes, the smell of smoke in his nostrils and the taste of blood in his mouth. All around him are the limp and twisted forms of his comrades in arms. With a wrench of pain he disentangles himself from his harness and retrieves his lasgun. Slowly, he begins to crawl through the wreckage, looking desperately for any sign of movement.

[Dorizzit]

Jakken pulls himself blearily out of the rubble, checking his Knife, Medkit, and Pistol, in that order. "Warps***, that hurt. Is everyone okay?" He goes around, seeing if there are any injuries.

[Penguinizer]

M’gn’s groans slowly, his body ablaze with pain. He slowly tries to rise up, thanking the emperor that he hadn't broken any limbs. His armor bent, he crawls towards his rocket launcher. He tears open the ammo box, loads the weapon deliberately, his visor only now clearing from dust, his eyes still dim. He lays back , his breathing raspy from the inhaled dust. He coughs up, bending over, vomiting over the corpse of his fellow guard. He searches around his pockets, grabs a smoke, and raises it to his mouth. He looks around for a fire, not finding a suitable one, he lowers it again. He then slowly leans on an iron bar, raising himself to a stand slowly. He stumbles to his gear, oblivious of anyone around him. He checks that he has everything. He then hoists the ammo box on his back. And falls over to his side, coughing from the dust again.

[Electric_Monkey]

Jurgis catches sight of some movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he makes out a standing figure, walking through the dust and the smoke. "Praise the emperor!" he calls, waving a hand in the air, "You live!"

[Shades of Gray]

What the frag just happened, Zavrath says spitting out a mouthful of blood, unstrapping himself.Orks must of shot us down, tend to the wounded, I'll keep watch Zavrath then tries to find some light rubble or cover to hide himself in, looking for orks.

Rolls:

Spoiler

Show

Hide:7+7=14
Spot:20+5=25(35)

OOC: How much do the infared googles add for spot?

[Dorizzit]

Jakken checks M’gn’s to see if he is wounded.

[Verruckt]

R'nshai wakes with a start, convulsing in his harness and vomiting onto the deck. Finished with that unpleasantness, he jerkily pries off his harness, light and sound swimming through his head, wiping his mouth on his sleeve he stumbles through the cabin. Sound comes whistling back and he has the presence of mind to check his gear, making sure it's all in place. Then he notices the bodies, the shattered corpses of his comrades. Eyes wide as if unbelieving he begins to move from body to body, using a dangling rosary to administer last rights.

[Viginti_tres]

The smoke from the burning transport rises up and begins to merge with the dust that has become this planets new atmosphere. Tauride didn't black out during the crash, he had seen it all.
He just stared at the sky , his body still in shock and unable to move. Wide eyed he lay there for what seemed an age, until a fellow soldier walked past him intently fingering some beads and chanting to himself. While he is not a religious man Tauride could spot the hand of the emperor as well as those that avidly looked for it.

He rose slowly and began to filter the sounds and sights of his new surroundings. Once he had adjusted he stood up prodded the body next to him with his foot. Flipping them onto there back he realized it was the soldier he had encountered on the transport. She had seemed a nice person which meant she was in the wrong business. He picked up her rifle and placed it in his holster, His already drawn and walked over to the sniper that had seemed to take charge. Ready to take his orders.

[Dorizzit]

After making sure everyone's (relatively) uninjured, Jakken clips his medkit to his belt and begins loading his pistol. "Let's see...we're trapped in the middle of incredibly hostile territory, alone, and barely trained." He finishes loading and fingers the Knife at his belt. "Anyone have any bright ideas, preferably ones that let us live through this?"

[laszarus]

"Emperor's eyes, that HURT!" Came a groan from the wreckage, then the screech and squeal of tortured metal being bent back as Sergeant Hrask'kar forces his way out of his harness. "Who's still alive? Report in, troops."

Medic Jakken sees that, although M'gn's has suffered a few bruises and scratches, he's fine, as are the rest of the survivors. It's like the Emperor protected them all from harm. Either that, or they happened all to be sitting in the thickest section of the lander.

Zavrath sees little through the wreckage, the clouds of dust obscuring his sight and the smoke interfering with the goggles. He does notice, however, that the entire area is blanketed in thick snow, and the only area not covered is a rough circle around the wrecked craft, probably blown clear by the landing. He settles down comfortably into some rubble, his snow camo blending with the snow (as one would hope) and looks out over a 180° hemisphere approach to the site.

"Jurgis? Is that you? Damn, I thought I was the only survivor. I was thrown clear and landed over there somewhere. I think I lost my voxcaster." The apparition replies. You recognise the voice of Gorkraj. As he comes into view, you notice firstly that he is limping, and secondly that he is bleeding from a gash in his head which has cracked the bone.

[Dorizzit]

Jakken reports to the sergeant. When Gorkraj appears he holsters his pistol and grabs his medkit, hurrying to treat him. "Sit down, for the Emperors sake! Let me have a look at your injuries." He attempts to treat him.

(1d20+14)[23]

[Electric_Monkey]

Jurgis forces his way out of the craft "Gorkraj? Praise the-" he is cut short as he sees the wound. "Stay right where you are, I'm going for the medic!" As he turns back to the craft he sees Jakken already clambering out, medkit in hand. Jurgis offers a hand to help pull him through the opening, then stands clear.

[Viginti_tres]

" Sergeant! Krakjah reporting for duty. What do you need?" Said Tauride helping Hrask'kar from the wreckage, then standing to attention.

[Electric_Monkey]

Seeing Tauride pulling Hrask'kar from the wreckage, Jurgis snaps to attention, swinging his lasgun onto his shoulder and saluting the sergeant, "Sir! Trooper Jurgis reporting for duty, sir!"

[Verruckt]

Finished giving the Emporer's rest to the lost, R'nshai moves back down the length of the craft. Ever pragmatic he checks the bodies for useful equipment and grabbing the first lasrifle he can find. As he reaches the hole in the lander and climbs out into the cold air he notices Hrask'kar and stands to. "Sir, Flame Trooper R'nshai Roakzen present and ready for duty Sir, what would you have me do?"

Spoiler

Show

search (1d20)[7] picking up grenades, supplies etc.

[laszarus]

Jakken's quick actions probably save Gorkraj's life, as he quickly and deftly squirts some polysynth into the crack and then bandages his head firmly, sealing the crack and staunching the wound at the same time.

"Good job, Medic Jakken. The rest of you, search the bodies of our comrades, then I want R'nshai to burn them so these foul Orks don't get their hands on the bodies. Ten minutes and then we go. Any longer and we risk getting caught defenseless. Krakjar, Jurgis, search the craft, the rest of you, guard positions while Jakken finishes up with Gorkraj." The sergeant orders calmly, as though he has not just been knocked unconscious as a 30-tonne metal wreck screamed flaming through the sky and into a building.

R'nshai's search brings up some interesting but near-useless bits of gear: some lho sticks, a variety of small books, and a couple of Aquila pendants. He can, of course, scavenge the obvious gear, like lasgun clips, the four spare promethium tanks, and a few rockets. If a decently mechanically-minded person was given a few weeks they could use bits and pieces from the various weapons and lander bits lying around to construct a full tank, but you don't have a few weeks.

[Dorizzit]

When Jakken finishes, he says: "Alright, that should hold. However, don't push it. I've seen lesser wounds reopen after better treatment."

[Viginti_tres]

Yes sir! Yells Tauride enthusiastically.

Walking into what little remains of the once proud carrier Tauride crudely glances around and shoves aside any of the more obvious blockages.

Spoiler

Show

Search: (d20-1)[17]

[GrandDukeJerot]

Private Jarrek finally extricates himself from his harness, slamming it back into the wall as he gets up. Stopping by a flaming corpse, he lights a Lho stick and puts it in his mouth.

That was one nasty ride. Felt like the pilots had a little too much amasec.

[Dorizzit]

Jannek seems in a better mood now that everyone is uninjured. "Hey Jarrek! Finally up, eh?"

[Electric_Monkey]

Jurgis clicks his heels together . "Sir, yes Sir!" he replies, then crawls back into the transport. he works his way towards the back of the craft, grimacing and trying to fight back the vomit rising in his throat as he fishes in the pockets and holsters of the broken soldiers, trying to find intact ammo. If he finds any intact backpacks, he slings the first few towards the opening.

Spoiler

Show

Search: 10+1 = 11
Fort save vs Nausea: 14 +4 = 18

[Verruckt]

R'nshai slumps against the side of the carrier and slides an iho stick out of his webbing pockets. Holding it to his flamer's pilot light, he puts it between his lips and puffs, musing. He walks over to the gathering of men and pulls a flask of Wolf's Breath out of a pouch, takes a healthy slug, and offers it around. "Anyone else?"

[GrandDukeJerot]

Jarrek pulls his infared goggles, rubbing his eyes as he inserts them into his pack.

We don't need our magnoc goggles here, right? He asks before accepting the powerful spirit from R'nshai. He takes a large mouthful. Nothing like Wolf's Breath to start the day.

[Verruckt]

"Yep, nothing like an alcoholic punch in the face to get the day started right." R'nshai's rueful smirk is practically jovial in comparison to the state of things around him. "Sir, if you want the bodies cremated before the bloody xenoes can get their vile hands on them, I can probably rig the drop's fuel lines to drain into the cabin. That way we only need a match, not a flamer, and as an added bonus the boat won't explode like a warping signal flare. Alright with you Sir?" he proffers the flask to the sergeant.

[Penguinizer]

M'gn's groans, visor and vision now clear. "Next time just send me down a week before-hand, I'd rather walk. Rocketman M'gn's reporting for duty." He stands up, he searches for an iho stick. Finding it, he pulls out a small lighter, he let's the smoke waft out with the wind.

[laszarus]

Krakjar manages to find some interesting stuff - eight frag grenades, two small flasks of alcohol, and a spare battery for a voxcaster. No voxcaster though.

Jurgis, fighting back his nausea, doesn't manage to perform quite as thorough a search as Krakjar. He manages to sling five intact backpacks back towards the entrance and can scavenge as many lasgun clips and ration packs as he wants. He also finds a pair of krak rockets.

"That's a good idea, R'nshai. See if it can be done once the other two are out. Sling us some of that Wolf's Breath first though. Nice to see you're alive, Jarrek." The sergeant orders, keeping a watchul eye on the surroundings as the dust and snow begins to settle.

[Viginti_tres]

Pocketing some of the loot Krakjah walks out of the carrier towards the commanding officer.

"I found 6 frag grenades, a battery and a flask sir." He exclaimed while offering the items up to the sergeant.

"What now, sir." He said looking out from the crash zone, unsure as to how safe they really were.

[Electric_Monkey]

Jurgis makes his way back to the entrance, cradling the krak rockets in his arms. he sets them down outside and gives his report to the sergeant. "I've found five intact packs, and more las-cells and ration packs than I can carry. I'll keep hauling them out until you tell me to stop."

[Dorizzit]

Jannek begins helping with the scavenging of the ship.