OOC: 90% sure we're fighting the traitor Angels of Absolution, Alpha Legion are still MIA as far as I can gather. Only ones encountered were on Draconion/Steinar's end of things. Imagine they're all having a nice little fire side sing along to Nurgle down in the keep.
Dorallius changed back to his flamer, now they where in the breach, and it could open swathes of place, light and unarmored foes dying quick at the intense heat of the burning prometium, though he was running low on fuel, only having one gas cannister left, but the wall had been broken, now all that remained was the final push, the other walls would loss men to the defence of the broken wall, the battle of the keep was as good as won, now all that remained was to minimise the losses at hand. he kicked the head off an enermy troop who had in *luck* survied the flames, only to find himself at the boot of the excoriator, who saw no fit to take prisoners today, his purging fires would kill many heretics on this day. "FOR THE EMPEROR"
Volorox nodded at the salamander as he began moving across the battlefield. "I am on my way to he chaplains position." he said over the vox as he moved to cover to cover Towards the breach where the chaplains team would be making there assault. he readied himself as he got closer to the breach. He was glad that he could see the humans getting ready for the charge They would need every body for the breach there was likely marines covering it and they would have to focus on them all just to hold.
A low, steady beat greeted his hand as he touched Blanche's neck. It seemed that she might yet live, if the battle would end soon that is. Following Amphreal through the breach, instead of fighting by himself though he opted to join a group of several stormtroopers. "Follow me, we will show them what real men can do! Forwards, for the Emperor!" Leading the charge against a strongpoint of tactical marines himself , the knight unhooked a plasma grenade from his belt and threw it as best he could into their midst. Those angels were now presented with a choice, either exit their cover or be incinerated. In anycase, his power lance would claim yet more of the damned.
<Void Battle> "Damage report!" Jannika shouted as flames erupted across the Bridge, killing few of the crewman on the spot before Troopers put down the fire. The damned enemies were not giving up that easily. On her screen, the Captain could see only two remaining enemy ships, both of them being Astartes cruisers. Angels of Absolution's ship, "Our Undying Faith" suffered a heavy beating but it still pushed on and fired its dorsal guns, the ship being sturdy as any Space Marine vessel. The other craft, XX Legions warship "Upsilon" proved to be more than a match for her own heavy cruiser, even while on its own, both ships being veterans of the Great Crusade. The enemy captain was also a killer, his moves precise and elegant, the ship moving with unmatched agility as if not being led by a mortal hand. This might have been truth actually, but Jannika couldn't care less. This wasn't her first encounter with the Alpha Legion, nor was with other, "loyal" Space Marine Chapters. After all, the girl-captain hailed from quite interesting Chapter herself, serving as a Captain aboard one of many battle barges in great fleet of Minotaurs Chapter before being transferred here on Marmaroth's personal request which Moloc approved without causing much fuss (which was a mystery of its own, but Jannika learned not to get into Flesh Tearer's ways and his obviously incredible trait to know lots of interesting individuals and hold some curious sway over them). The truth like always, was much more simpler but being something of little importance now, Captain Oswald didn't pay it much heed. What she did pay heed was how she gonna evade the next lance attack. The only hope she secretly harbored is that the Team takes its time down there, thus offering her more time for having fun! <Battle for Knosos Keep> As the breaches in the walls were made, the battle for this ancient Keep slowly reached its climax. What also reached climax was something what they knew little about on the outside, but Draconion, Steinar and Lukion were soon to find out... <Left Wing> While @Xaphen Icelos was left to fight his own battle, @lord-watchman Tempestus focused his effort on the enemy Dreadnought. What was that warrior's name nobody would ever know as the psychic force gathered in giant blade proved to be quite enough for penetrating the heavy armor. Coffin was cut in half, what remained of the Marine inside incinerated by holy fire. After it, husk just toppled over, giving Venerable Dreadnought another mighty foe to be added to his victory list. At the same time, he could see that Sitri and his Predator arrived, firing on the walls and creating a small ("small") gap in it, enough for a Dreadnought to fit in. Enemy Space Marines, or what's left of them, began falling back, some that survived atop the battlements providing supporting fire. Friendly troops saw this and began with their advance, the remaning Stormtroopers flocking to Tempestus's side and awaiting for his command. <Center> "Alright, we'll see what we can do," Gaius replied to @DeranVendar Feron as he gunned the Stormbird towards the Keep. Due to the fact both of the flanks were now open and the troops were pushing in, the Land Raider's commander did think it was still prudent to remain out here in the open. The big tank slowly began moving in reverse while still firing on the Inquisitorial troops, although one heavy bolter short since Feron's grenade launcher did its job admirably. Faith would have it that at the same time Stormbird was in the range was the moment Land Raider was directly beneath the gates. Gaius, being a pilot who improvised much more than he cared to admit, saw the chance and aimed for the stone ark, knowing that despite the furious armament this gunship had, they would still test their luck if they tried to penetrate the Land Raider's armor directly. Remaining anti-air emplacements that were located on the walls began firing and prevented Valkyries doing much than simply fanning out and evading death, while "Chalice of Agony" stayed on its course, its armor made in a forgotten age, proving to be a tough nut to crack. As Howling Griffon pressed the triggers and both battle cannons alongside dozen missiles speared straight to its intended target, there was a huge blast as the deadly payload hit the mark. Pieces of stone fell all around the place, killing some unlucky Angels of Absolution that were standing in the wrong spot but more importantly, burying the Land Raider under a pile of rocks and stopping it dead in its tracks. Of course, this action also prevented the remaining Space Marine from pulling back properly (since this was no time or place to try and scale walls and all that rubble while you are getting shot in the back), so they remained there and began firing back with renewed effort, intent on selling their lives dearly. Besides Salamander, Angelous grinned at all this destruction. "Good shot. Remind me to buy Gaius a drink when we get back on our ship." (OOC yeah, Space Marines don't have currency etc but I just wrote it because the man is more joking than actually being serious.) On the other side, @Shadhunter Jean provided covering fire for Sirius as he arrived to patch @PorOborosCain Fenix's wounds while @DaKaptin Edd fought against the Tacticals, but not scoring a kill since it was hard for him to hit anything at this range. (OOC as for Rocky, I assume he is still next to Feron, like you wrote earlier, I just didn't mention him). OOC Enemies: 20 Space Marines, mostly Tacticals with few Devastators and Assault Marines alongside that Land Raider that is buried but not completely destroyed, you can assume parts of it are sticking out. Feel free to kill couple of Marines with your next post. <Right Wing> Space Marines died under the fast attack of the Inquisitorial force. They tried to hold the breach, but between @Grall_Stonefist Dorallius's purging flames, @Loldoom Sigismunds's newborn zealotry, @DeathKorpsOfKrieg Amraphel's precise shooting and Chaplain's customary savageness, they couldn't do much to stop the advance. Behind the team came the force of around 60 Stormtroopers that were still alive and pushing with great vigor. But once the first loyal man placed his foot in the inner courtyard, it became clear that the enemy was still not yet beaten and they got reminded that in fact, they were dealing with 2 enemy forces here. A hail of bolter rounds met Marmaroth and Dorallius before they managed to duck to the side, Dorallius suffering couple of wounds in his arms while Chaplain ate some in his chest. Their attackers were the Alpha Legionnaires, their horned helmets and signs of hydra visible in the blizzard, between many small buildings of the Keep. As Amraphel and Sigismund followed through, they saw a terrifying sight of a daemon-possessed war machine some called the Defiler pushing through buildings on their way to them, before they were too met with bolter fire, thankfully they were able to dodge most of it. @Vulpas Volorox was perhaps in the best position, as he was still a hundred meters away from the breach, arriving alongside Commissar Strauss and his two remaining squads of Stromtroopers. Marine Malevolent had an opportunity of going where he wanted and attacking who he wanted, since nobody saw him yet which meant nobody poured fire in his direction. OOC Enemy: Atm - 30 Space Marines (various types) and a Defiler (Boss). You can kill couple of them with your next post and\or try to attack the walker, although you can't kill him outright - write your actions and I'll write responses After an hour and 5 minutes, the trio arrived at the end of the path, near the bottom of the mountain. There was a small archway which Lukion opened with few clicks on the nearby rocks and a secret door opened. Next, there was an unlit tunnel which they traversed for approximately 10 minutes before there came another door, which led them into a small room, filled with old food rations. This room however, was made of proper stone, meaning they have obviously reached their destination. "Thread carefully now," Lukion warned as he pulled out his sword and pistol, "We are in the upper levels of the Keep now. The vault is two levels below us, right in the basement. Shield your thoughts, I feel a dark presence looming over us." And indeed, Draconion could also feel a familiar scent, one born of rot and decay, seeping out of the walls themselves. Whatever it was located down there, it already spread its touch beyond redemption.
"I can feel it," murmurs Draconion quietly, grasping his pistol in both hands and bringing it to high alert position as he hugs the opposite wall of the passageway, "This place is rotten. Exactly like Sombor." As they make their way through the keep, Draconion reaches out into his surroundings with invisible tendrils of telekinetic force - too weak to disturb anything, these act as feelers to tell him the shape of the environment and, more importantly, alert him to movement.
"But Captain, only imperial citizens live here. There is no apparent sign of corruption. This action is not warranted!" The Artificer clad warrior interjected. He turned off his Power axe and Thunder shield. With the crackling ended, an awkward silence filled the air. "Ancient, you must see this, this... absurd action! Are tactics are fierce, are ways are radical, but we are loyal to the Emperor. We are warriors. Not murders!". Like the rest of the squad, the Champion's eyes were staring at the Standard-Bearer. "Silence dog! You have your orders! Do not disobey me Champion. It would be a shame to be stripped of your Prestigious rank and serve under the 8th with me." The Captain barked. Like the other four Astartes, he stared at the Ancient. The banner was hanging high, the wind flowing through and around it freely. With the quiet now, the only thing that was talking was the Flag. Its mighty livery reminding all of who they serve, a weapon of fear itself. A weapon welcomed by all in the Chapter. The ancient's golden eyes stared back at the squad, taking it all in. As tradition, the ancient was the oldest in the squad, once serving another position, then living long enough then the others to take the standard into battle. To most, being the oldest meant the wisest and the defacto leader of the squad. "Cleanse the tribe, kill all, show no remorse. Bring all bodies to the center for cleansing, by promethium. The winners write history brothers" The Ancient said with remorse. He knew his orders and so did the squad. <Battle for Knosos Keep> Icelos came to his senses and clashed his Axe with the Sword. Really out of instinct then thought. The two weapons crackled against each other, the boom of thunder could be heard over the surrounding blizzard. The force recoiled both of the weapons back. With the opening presenting itself, Icelos threw a hard punch at the sergeant head. Using this time of relief, Icelos exchanged his Power Axe for his Bolter. Letting the White snow pawn the weapon. Icelos fired a shot at the Traitor Sergeant, missing the attended target and hitting the jetpack. For now the Sergeant was tied in combat with Icelos. Only one would survive. The Sergeant brought back the Power sword and cut Icelos's forearm, his blood again spraying over the Angel of Absolution. As planed, Icelos used his now wounded arm to grab the forearm of the Sergeant, pulling him forward and letting the Bolter's barrel rest on the Sergeant's breast piece. Both of them starred eye to eye. Both of their Helm's leaving blank stares. The Blackshield already knew his facial expression without needing to see it. Icelos had his right uninjured arm extended, the Bolter resting in his hand. Icelos let the Traitor see his death, letting him think of every regret, and every memory of his life. "I-" . The sound of Kraken bolts tearing his armor blocked out whatever his last words were. The Sergeant obviously staggered back, his corpse hitting the snow and turning it crimson. Icelos didnt stop, constantly pouring shots into the still, lifeless body. Only when his magazine ran out of bolts, his carnage ended. All around him reinforcement came. Pushing against the other Traitors. Icelos just stood there, starring at the Traitors corpse. Completely unmoving. Almost as if he was lost in thought. He eventually came back when the crumbling of the wall was heard. Picking up his weapons and leaving the Power Sword into the chest of the Sergeant, Icelos rallied what remained of his force and began to push through the hole. Waiting on his partner to arrive before entering.
<Feron> The job had been done more than admirably and there was an adventurous glint in the Salamander's eye as he watched the arch come toppling down a top the sacred vehicle. "Brother Angelous I've a task for you and a few men. Re appropriate that Land Raider, get the top cleared enough you can get at an access hatch and clean out the crew then excavate the rest. " Cornered Astartes now lay ahead but Feron rose up at last counting on the destruction to have gotten some attention off him and with a vicious grin behind dented ceramite helm his bolter met those Assault Marines attempting to throw themselves into a death or glory assault on their defensive assault line. A kraken round penetrated through neck and jump pack sending one to the snows beyond them lost to the howling blizzard, a second found his primary heart annihilated and pack damaged as well coming down head first amongst a tangle of razor wire that made a mess of the hardy warrior's exposed head. "Guns high don't let them get another foot hold amongst yourselves! Gaius beautiful work down there! Start focusing on enemy anti-air from maximum range so we can get you and the Valkyrie in close for support. " Drawing Skull Splitter the Salamander felt it time for another push. "Sergeants Brent, Anders, Kezeck and Ruthington. Prepare to break cover on my lead, remaining Storm Troopers hold position and provide suppressing fire. (@DaKaptin ) Edd! Ready yourself for another push forward we go to smite the fallen! " There it was again, amongst the Angels of Absolution he picked out the vibrant azure coils of a plasma cannon prepping to fire. Letting Skull Splitter rest against the edge of the trench his bolter snapped up firing a trio of kraken rounds toward the Devastator and his destructive weapon, two aimed for the large plasma flask on his back while the third was primed for the helmed head looking to ensure he was out of commission one way or another. (@Shadhunter ) "Jean, I'd like your weapon covering me personally, Sirius will be safe enough once we have another charge to play distraction. " No more, he wished to vent his fury up close and face to face feeling that burning yearn for justice in the most savage of ways he hoisted Skull Splitter high and with a bellowing cry broke cover. "FORWARD BROTHERS! UNTO THE BREACH, UNTO RETRIBUTION! "
During the course of a long and dangerous life, the universe had run out of things with which to surprise Amraphel. The Alpha Legionaires thought that they had it all figured out, that they could outsmart each and everyone; how gravely mistsken they were. Amraphel just kept doing what he had been doing and just switched from targeting the angels of absolution to killing the scions of the hydra, using his deadly twin plasma pistols. However Amraphel was no fool and he quickly dodged incoming bolter fire and leapt behind a high pile of debris, using it as improvised cover. However the biggest obstacle facing them was the Defiler with its powerful battle cannon that could obliterate dozens of men with a single shot. The thing was also armed with with an array of potent rocket tubes, able to unleash a hailstorm of fire; but he had faced such constructs before and he had a plan on how to deal with it. If he could fire a single plasma shot into the Defilers barrel just before it fired, the shell would explode inside the barrel and thereby disable the main weapon. With the patience of a noble beast hunter of old, Amraphel waited for the right moment to fire, not sitting idle all the while firing at the enemy while waiting for the perfect shot.......
