@Jammysod @BlackNecron @TuskatheDaemonKilla @Taec @Casavay @High_Adept_Zeth @bossaroo @Vulpas As the group got themselves equipped, their Sergeant looked at least marginally impressed with how only Barnabus had asked for a special weapon. "Everyone load two fuel canisters for your Battle-brother; holy flames can only last so long without fuel." He ordered the group. "Barnabus; you are to replace your bolter magazines for the canisters. Get yourselves back on the elevator- socialize if needs be. But Fifth Squad is going to get themselves to the Thunderhawk with you in tow- you'll meet your Elder tacticals at the top, waiting. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll need to get my own equipment." With that, Sergeant Adrian took a light jog further into the armoury, making his way past his power armoured brethren and the lighter Neophytes. Third Squad found themselves in the elevator alongside their 'partners', Fifth Squad. They seemed just as fresh as they were, yet certainly more eager; each neophyte with two box magazines whilst the blonde man with the Heavy Bolter carried four, with one already loaded in. Their sergeant seemed... less friendly than Adrian, however. His helmet being a MK IV and with a bionic left arm, he had equipped himself with a power axe and a storm bolter, his own robes instead having a charred look to them, as though he had been bathed in flames sometime in the past; his armour also bore the scorch marks on the chestpiece and limbs. Whether they decided to speak to their comrades or not, the elevator started to fill up with more neophytes, before fully armoured Marines joined them - perhaps a whole company or more was to join this battle! Moments before the elevator was to leave, Adrian had managed to return, his combi-flamer exchanged for a plasma variant instead. And with that, they went upwards. "We'll be meeting with the Armageddon Forty-ninth regiment; they were one of those initial ships that caught sight of the roks, and saw it their duty to join us in this fight." Adrian then said to Third Squad, loading in a bolter magazine into his weapon. "As such, our thunderhawk and two others will be joining them, with our accompanying strike cruiser carrying the rest of Seventh and Ninth company; we're basically going to be helping with the defense, whilst the rest of our forces will be focused on launching a counter-assault, and making sure they are unable to set up any even semi-permanent bases." "Now; as a word of warning, there may still be citizens hiding away in their homes; it was an emergency evacuation and we're still getting reports of families being found hiding in cellars, or being lost. If you happen to find the citizens anywhere, they are your priority in aiding. The Heralds of Perdition come to bring destruction upon the enemy, but we are there to aid the Imperium. I will not be leading a group of civilian-slaughtering lunatics." Walk softly, and carry a big gun When the Company raised itself to the top of the Fortress-Monastery, Third Squad saw that they were in fact, inside a gargantuan hangar; the mountain itself was their home, being almost half as large as a hive city, with the armoured headquarters itself deep within hardened rockcrete and adamantium, ceramite and armaplas plating. The hangar itself had dozens upon dozens of aerial fighters - even the mighty Nephilim Jetfighters hanging up upon the ceiling. The company made its way towards their respective transports, with Third and Fifth Squad going towards their own Thunderhawk. And it was beautiful. Riddled with dents and scratches, its paintscheme was as new as ever with the name, 'Aegis of Hope' etched into the side under one of the heavy bolter sponsons. The pilot could be seen in walking in through the bay door, as well. "I can only hope for your first mission that this will go well." The Sergeant muttered in his helmet, reaching up to pull the robe's hood over his helmet. Sometimes the good perish, so that the rest may survive. The Sergeant would regret such words within the next week as their introduction to the Steel Legion was almost nonexistant, many far too busy with their own business to pay much attention - though those who did have a moment to spare took it to stare in awe upon the holy amour that they wore; with so little accomodations, Third Squad and Fifth squad found themselves pretty much living inside the 'Aegis of Hope', the thunderhawk not exactly being one known for comfort. But it did its job at least. The Tactical squad didn't speak much to the group, aside from small tips on tightening certain straps or loosening them, maybe one or two small hints against the orks - such as understanding that they can understand the concept of intellect, and where best to fire at a ramshackle Trukk to take it down. The day of the assault however was one that was not going to be forgotten for the rest of the Neophytes' lives - the sudden lurch in the pit of their stomach as they exited Warp-travel, the alarms blaring as men ran left and right in the hangar to get to their ships - many a valkyrie and vendetta were being manned and filled with Guardsmen, the trenchcoated, gas-mask wearing Steel Legion prepping themselves as sergeants barked orders. "Stand up," Adrian ordered now, all three squadrons doing so. "And hang onto something once we get moving. Remember to switch off the safety and--" CRASH The loudest explosion could be heard from what felt like above and to the group's right, shaking the entire ship as it did so. Seeing outside, many Steel Legionnaires looked quite bewildered, though the veterans for the most part were... Laughing? They were laughing, and cheering at that. "Listen t' those guns!" One shouted out, giving a high-five to her squadmate beside her before they continued on their way. That lessened a great deal of tension from the humans as they realized such a thing was in fact, the gargantuan macrocannons firing, the rounds large enough to demolish portions of a city at a time. "We'll be ready to leave in approximately twenty minutes; by then, the Guardsmen will have gotten ready, and our insertion will begin." The pilot spoke through the vox into the transport bay. "Lion be with you, brothers; give the Greenskins a few words for me down on the ground." "Can't wait to give those xenos scum some bolt rounds." One of the neophytes spoke up from behind Fifth Squad - he seemed to have chosen to have a standard loadout instead, the black-haired man having a bit of a smug look on his face. "Think you lot can keep up?" Some squadron rivalry, eh?
"Perhaps we should not be concerned with this challenge." Sammuel said quietly to his brothers. "We do not wish to end up in an unnecessary situation that would be more of a risk than this fight already is. We all do want to make it further into service after all." He looked back over at the neophyte who had challenged them, and back to his group. He hoped that, even though some were naive enough to take close combat loadouts despite the advice given by the sergeant, they would not feel the need to accept such a challenge.
Spending the last few days within the cramped confines of a Thunderhawk with a dozen of so Neophytes, was a real test of patience. At moments it seemed to be a waste of his ability if not for the older Brothers around them, giving the advice and words of wisdom. The Sergeant of the Fifth Squad was particulary silent and brooding, quite at odds with Seargeant Adrius, and for a moment Andariel studied closely the Sergeant`s battered armory, wondering at his experience. Compared to Adrius he looked like a veteran, despite the shared rank. That...or simply bad at avoiding enemy fire. An amusing thought, as one of his squad, a cockeyed Neophyte, with a smug expression tossed their way: "Can't wait to give those xenos scum some bolt rounds. Think you can keep up?" Shaking his head dejecedly, as Sammuel as always adviced caution, Andariel was amused that some childish pretenions still remained, despite being so radically mouled. Without a word, Andariel looked at the Neophyte with one of his brows raised and a smile returned as he cocked his bolter! That will rile him up!
"Well you're right brother but come on what's some friendly banter between brothers?" Garius said to Sammuel as he took a hold of a railing on the wall. He had his shotgun in the other hand with his new strength allowing him to carry it easily with the pain of the surgeries having gone away weeks ago. Granted said weeks were spent being cramped inside of a Thunderhawk waiting to get to the warzone to actually begin their first mission. But at least he was able to pester his new older brothers about any advice when fighting the greenskins. He hoped they found his curiosity endearing rather than annoying but only time will tell.
Caelius had enjoyed every moment spent in the anciet thunderhawk , a machine so magnificent and to spend time within its hold was wonderful if a little cramped. He had prayed for the Emperors Benediction as they had travelled through the warp and for his blessing in the coming battle. He had also practiced with his Chain sword as much as he could whenever there was time getting used to the new weapon. When the Other squad insulted his own he laughed Heartily "Battle Brothers , petty squables award us nothing but ire and recklessness . Lives are the Emperors currency and we are aspirants to become his most blessed angels to throw any our lives at some foolish bet is waste like no other" Caelius said smiling lightly to the Other squad before turning back to his own hoping his message had been well recieved as he spent a quiet moment once again in Awe of the Thunderhawk
Mithras Duriel, being the moderate soul he was, simply responded to the taunting challenge with a contented smile and a low-key "I hope so. Lion give me strength that I do not fail my brothers or my chaptre." He only barely turned his head so that he could more-or-rather-less make out who he was even talking to. Only slightly louder, he then said, pleasant as ever, "May He watch over all of us, over the noble fighters of the Steel Legion, and over those who depend on them and us. It is heartening to see they are so mirthful." He rolled his carapace-clad shoulders around to loosen them up before the battle would start, and shut his eyes. What attention he could tear from his senses was spent on his breathing; slowly taking in air, and slowly exhaling. This was a real fight, and it would need his real, full potential.
The battlefield was getting closer. Kyrris noticed that he was filled with excitement at what would be his first trial. Once again, he forced himself to focus his mind, but he had difficulties remembering the appropiate rites. When he finally finished another paragraph, he felt a lot better. So much better, that he reacted relatively relaxed to his brothers taunting. "You do not have to worry about us, brother. But should you see yourself in peril, just follow the pile of dead xenos; you will find us eventually." A small smile emerged on his altered face.
@Taec Despite the uncomfortable conditions Barnabus had to cope with while living on the Aegis of Hope he was still in rather high spirits, smiling at the thought that he'd finally be able to see the enemy. He was, however, less happy about the needless rivalry the Fifth Squad neophytes were instigating. He didn't say anything about it but Barnabus only saw it as peer pressure to take foolish and unnecessary risks and those get people killed. Seeing that Sammuel seemed to agree with his take on the whole thing he shuffled closer to his... well, actual brother. "So... how do you feel about all this?" Said Barnabus rather awkwardly, he and Sammuel had always been fairly different on a lot of things. Though he never really saw them as particularly close they never disliked each other as far as Barnabus, maybe making some kind of small talk on the way would start to change that...
@Jammysod Sammuel raised an eyebrow at his brother, wondering why his brother was acting this way. "Tell me, why do you act so awkward brother." Sammuel said with a slight laugh, "and do you mean this?" He said, gesturing to the other neophytes with his a side nod of his head. "I think it is foolish," and leaning in to Barnabus' ear, "our bothers may be just as foolish for accepting them."
@Taec Barnabus simply nodded before whispering back to Sammuel. "As do I, between you and I took the flamer because not only does a wall of burning promethium provide a barrier of sorts against charges it also prevents the overly zealous running out there like fools." He smiled a little before continuing, "Now how funny would it be if I also happened to beat them at their own silly game like this? Sounds like a good way for the sensible to get the last laugh while stopping them pointlessly throwing their lives away I say."
