Amraphel paused for a moment to watch the chaplains unleashed fury: it was a respectable sight to behold. But there was little time for pause and he kept advancing towards the next group of foes. A Alpha Legionaire aimed his bolt pistol at him, but the fool was not quick enough and Amraphel shot the pistol out of the marines arm with a single plasma shot. However two other foes lept forward , chain blades drawn, eager to protect their endangered comrade. Their chain blades and armour were adorned with many exquisitely crafted hydra heads and the blades teeth seemed to be enhanced with some kind of poison. Amraphel feinted a quick step backwards, but then leapt forward with his full fury and swung his power sword in a wide arc from left to right. In contrast to the Alpha Legionaires swords, his power sword was only adorned with 2 silver wings just above the grip, but for some unknown reason the sword seamed to emit an unnerving aura of cold fury. One enemy was decapacitated by his swing, the second one however managed to duck to blow, only the hydra heads on the helmet were cut off. "The Hydra has many heads, cut of a few and the rest will still destroy you", the foe said with a icy voice and swung his sword at Amraphel. He raised his sword and blocked the swing, spun arround and beheaded his attacker. The foe he had previously disarmed had picked up another bolter and opened fire at close range. Amraphel reacted with superhuman speed and quickly performed a combat roll to the left, evading the salvo. He then leapt forward and kicked the enemy to the ground and stabbed downwards with his sword, ending the traitors pityfull life. He quickly moved up next to the chaplain, eager to engage the next g.roup of enemies.

<Vault>

Despite considerable power Draconion possessed, couple of things weren't in his favor. Whatever thing that was inside of the Keep grew in strength and its palpable aura began spreading and slowly engulfing the entire building. The corruption and subtle psychic "push" harrassed Salamander's mind and he had to work twice as hard to keep the concentration needed for casting spells on the desired level. This meant that one spell could perhaps go through, but three at the same time were impossible to pull out at that moment.

What also got in the way of things, which was perhaps the most important thing of all, was that this Ogen marine was in fact, the leader of this warband, the enchanted blade in his possession being much more than a simple sword. The thing inside of it neutralized Draconion's psychic attack, the energy being sucked and discharged into a nearby wall, leaving Legionnaire unwounded who soon disappeared behind a corner, leaving both Salamander and Space Wolf alone in front of Vault's big door...

The barrage and ensuing wound forced the knight to falter, as no human no matter how zealous could ignore a bolt shell. His arm was quite damaged, which would make the power lance much more unwieldy in melee. However this left a difficult decision, sprint for cover again or continue the charge.

But these bastards had to pay, recovering as best he could Sigismund put his weight behind the lance and continued directly towards the marines, aiming his attack at those who were still stunned.

OOC: Sorry, I thought they were "blind grenades" as in "smoke grenades", like in Chaos Gate

Volorox watched the chaplain as he wen't through the traitors it was amazing. He shook it off when he saw the honor guard coming in. In the state they were in it may end very bad if they did not get some heavy support. He head a loud clang as the there dreadnought had engaged in battle with the Defiler. He looked to the dreadnought and the damaged on it. We will need Him to aid us with these so called honour guard. Volorox grabbed something off his belt and began moving as the Distracted defiler attacked there dreadnought he Pressed the krak grenades button and began took cook it then he tossed it right towards the joint of the Defiler's arms for its claws. "OVER HERE" he roared as he began distracting the beast and using his jump pack to evade its attacks.

<Steinar 'YOU COWARD!' Greywold>

Steinar got back to his feet as Draconion tried to get the running traitor with his own attack - which failed, upon the view the man grunted, hating the view of a coward, especially a heretical coward. They could run all they want, in the end they always perish.

"I am very certain he doesn't want to follow us, but rather escapes for his own skin, because whatever is behind that door - in his belief - is going to tear us apart. So what are we going to do?" Steinar asked as he stopped his charade, sheathed his Chainsword and pulled a Bolt pistol out - but leaving the Powerfist equipped.

The Wolf tilted his head at the big vault, sniffed near it, trying to identify what may be inside without the need to open it. He was not exactly willing to play to a villain's ... And cowards plan. "Why do Sorcerers always have to use tricks instead of give a proper fight?!" He eventually roared and kicked the Vault hard, frustrated and angry that the head of the operations got away.

Draconion curses in fluent Hesiod Vernacular and Tahken-go as he watches Ogen's retreating back.

"Draconion to all points! Alpha Legion warband leader named Ogen has escaped combat at the vaults and is headed to the upper levels! Engage with extreme caution - subject has killed Brother Lukion and is in possession of a powerful daemon weapon! Pict capture for ID to follow! Brothers Draconion and Steinar proceeding to the Vaults - terminal moral threat identified therein! Repeat - terminal moral threat! Request reinforcement with all possible speed!"

Blink-clicking a pict composite of Ogen to all members of the team able to receive the data, he turns to grimly eye the Vault doors.

"We have no choice, Brother Steinar," he says in a quiet growl, "We are the only ones in place with a chance of stopping things before they get any worse. We need an army to stop this thing from Beyond, but the Emperor has seen fit to send a one-armed dragon and a limping wolf. We steel our faith, and we go in."

Turning to Steinar, he raises his sword in salute.

"It has been an honour, Son of Russ. I will count to three, and then we write our death sagas."

With that, he silently signs with his remaining hand, counting...One...Two...THREE!

<Steinar 'We ain't ded yet, Jim!' Greywold!>

"You are quick to judge, brother Salamander. Not much trust in the spirit of Vulkan guiding you, no more? Thain and Russ won't let us pass so easily! More tests we must withstand and proof we are worth! This is just another test, and we shall prevail! Fighting until all teeth are broken, claws shattered, bones turned to dust! Until then, you must give it your best! Let Death hunt you, but let yourself be no easy prey!"

Steinar grinned confident and he took position next to his brother, opening the vault with his Powerfist-Hand as Draconion reached the 'Three'.

As Steinar bashes open the doors, Draconion darts in, sword held before him as he stretches out his subtle senses to feel for both the shape of the place and the centre of the taint.

The Blackshield ducked behind some cover to see the new enemies. A familiar one.

The first one to receive a burst of Kraken fire was the one with a combi-plasma. Eliminating the range threat would be vital, since most of them were branding power weapons. Peaking out of cover, Iclelos let loose his fury and then quickly went back to cover. While holding cover, he voxed "Lay down fire on the command squad, keep them down. Use any means to stop their advance!"

<Vault>

The big door broke open and the two marines found themselves in a huge circular chamber, but it was quite unlike what they experienced outside. The corruption in form of sickening rot was everywhere around them, in walls, in the ground, even in the air itself as Steinar had trouble breathing in such environment and instantly knew he wouldn't be able to remain here for long without suffering major repercussions.

Vials with precious geneseed were shattered all over the place, the holy relics rotten and sucked dry. On the first glance, the vault held at least half a thousand of those organs, the atrocity committed beyond comprehension.

In the middle of the chamber, a thing was turning it's wet gaze towards the newcomers, smiling through a mouth filled with rotten teeth. The warp energy swirled around it, making it hard to look at directly because they knew that if they do such a thing, they would not be able to survive that.

"Come closer little ones," as it spoke, its form shifted in and out of place, as if not being entirely in this plain of existence, "I want to see better who are these newcomers so I can welcome them appropriately!"

OOC As for the others, I'll drop another post a bit later. I also predict that we will be able to mop this up in couple of days and eventually end this phase I of which I spoke earlier. I'll also implement some techniques that I think will allow for our RP to pick up speed and not be limited to 1,2 of my posts per day.