Setting: a small area of a city, in the wake of a tyranid invasion, the swarm has moved on from this point, clearing almost all biomass from the area. Desolate, the area is now almost empty barring the survivors of a resent battle, members of many factions that warred on this world before the rest of their forces were overwhelmed. And of course any tyranid stragglers. The goal to to get off world. survive the tyranids. survive other players.

Player Characters: The player character in this game will be any non-special character independent character, and three troops. Three bodies. Not squads. Two from actual troops choices one from any other grouping.

Damage/Hazards: No god-modding, if your character can't reasonably avoid something. They don't. No blocking bullets out of the air with a thunder hammer. NO just saying "The armor protects them" every time.

Death: Player characters CAN (and hopefully will) die. Each player is allowed ONE "miraculous survival" Where they can survive a normally fatal incidence. You do not need to do it immediately you can re-join the thread at any time. to use, just type "Miraculous Survival" at the top of the post.

Re-entry: If your character dies you are allowed to re-enter at any tine with a new one.

Victory: first group to make it off world wins. all members. simple as that.

Teams: teams will be helpful to the survival of your character, teams can be formed by anyone and be angaist anyone, regardless of faction.

Now let's get started!


*EDIT* LOCATIONS HERE!

The city contains the following, all at different (not set, players have control over the general layout of the city) locations, An armory (Containing a large amount of PDF hold-outs) A vehicle Depo (Contains a nest of gene-stealers) A Gene-stealer cult base in the sewers, A space port with two functions ships, one much smaller than the other (NOT RECOMMENDED TO GO ALONE, MAIN NEST OF THE TYRANIDS) A chapel (Containing a Slowly maddening space marine) and a few other "Mystery" locations, make them whatever you want.

*The massive crisis suit had sat in the corner for nearly a week, meager supplies have kept the pilot alive, but the fuel reserves gave out long ago. It had been two day sense he had heard silence and now he has deemed it safe. R'lyth AKA Lord R'lyth The Cycloptic, released the door to his suit, and it clattered to the floor. He looked back at his now dusty machine, heavy modified, what he called the "Warplord Custom" boasted trophy racks, demonic faces, reinforced armor, and a one-eyed visage to match his own. Lord he loved that thing, he would hate to have to leave it, but it may be necessary today. R'ly coughed, then spoke into his mic.*

This is Lord R'ly. If anyone is still alive, come meet me, i'm at an empty store, three floors, second has a massive hole in it. Praise be chaos. R'ly out.

*After a few hours the survivors came in. Not what he expected. One Firewarrior with a pulse rifle and the controls to a gun drone, said gun drone, and a rail-rifle wielding Pathfinder*

Krieg pulled himself out from the small cave they had barricaded themselves in when their unit was overrun by the Carnifex. He shuddered as he glanced at the corpse of the unit com specialist. "God-emperor help me, what am I going to do." He pulled the squad's plasma gun that he'd managed to salvage along with his own trusty shotgun that the Guard let him keep. He checked the charge on the plasma gun and the shells on his belt. He then looked around adjusted his carapace armor and headed towards the damaged but semi workable Chimera.

Karnus takes a deep breath, sighs, and coughs heavily. His distorted, plague-infected form seems to glow with a living light as the influence of Nurgle linger in him, even centuries after his visit to the Garden. Behind him stand three Glacier Serpents Plague Marines, Chosen Chaos Space Marines who had been blessed by the Father of Plague with bloated, diseased bodies and armour. How many Tyranids had rotten into dust already? How many more will, before the battle is over? He does not know, nor does he care. More bodies for the tally of Nurgle. That is all that matters for now. His companions all carry standard Glacier Serpent weaponry; a Bolter, a Bolt Pistol, a Chainsword, an Astartes combat blade and various grenades and other tools, all of which is appropriately decayed and plague-ridden. He himself, however, carries a horrific Bile Spewer in place of a Boltgun, and a Power Sword sheathed in green light and infected fluids instead of a Chainsword.

As the group walks through the ruins, their footprints visibly decaying as soon as they take their next step, they care little for what enemies may remain in the shadows. For what can stop the inevitable onslaught of death itself?

Krash viewed the carnage around him, the boss had been tough but Krash had krumped him good,

That made Krash boss, now he needs a waaagh!!!!!

The elation of becoming the new boss of the bludsplashers sank as Krusha took in the survivors of the gene stealer assault. Two boyz and a grot. More boyz must be nearby, in the meantime, Krusha would take his 'waaagh!!!!!' And find something else to krump.

*The commander sat crouched in the storefront, hidden behind a counter and pulse carbine drawn. a single termagaunt paces the floor, mindlessly bumping into counters.*

Out of synapse. Good.

*As he slowly took aim, the creature looked on him with dull eyes. In a second it stared at the roof with just one. R'ly lowered the barrel of his weapon and called the firewarrior over.*

K'li, Get over here. Help me move this.

*The two tau lifted the corpse and carried to a small hatch in the floor.*

Dump it into the cellar with the rest.

Karnus and his squad reach a ruined store building. One of his companions speak.

'Lord... I detect heat signatures... Living beings... Inside this building...'

Karnus coughs again.

'Good... Let us enter...'

The entrance to the ruined building is human-sized, too small to accustom massive Astartes, so he simply smashes in the door and a piece of the wall above it. The squad proceeds to scour the first floor, room by room,, looking for anything that is still alive.

Krusha hefted the weapon he'd used to smash the skull of the pathetic umie he'd found cowering in a ruin, the carnifex claw was working as a club, but he'd be wanting something else.
Sneakgit the runt had been ordered scavenging for something more fitting for the biggest bestest ork boss on the planet, whilst the boyz were stamping around hunting for living beings

*The Pathfinder sits in the shadows, watching. He whispers into his com*

R'lyth, four astartes, nurgle followers. Please advise.

*R'lyth, sitting ont he floor above, responds*

Welcome our brothers in chaos.

*The pathfinder emerges from his corner, weapon holstered on his back.*

Greeting brothers! I am Eldi'is, follower of Slaanesh.

Karnus clears his throat with a horrid cough-like sound before speaking.

'I am Karnus the Plaguewalker, Chaos Lord of the Glacier Serpents under Lord Kraxis the Allchosen, and those are my brothers in pestilence...'

Slimy fluids drip from holes where his swollen flesh shows through the armour, the floor seeming to rot where the fluid hits it.

'Praise the Plague Lord, for victory is inevitable... Come, followers of Chaos, let us leave this building... Let us spread our suffering...'

Sounds of battle reverberated around, echoing beyond any sane comprehension.
Fortunately, orks don't need sane comprehension, their natural affinity for krumping gives them instant understanding,
Krash and his boyz charge in the direction of battle, with Sneakgit trailing as far behind as he dared (Krash was quite big after all)
The revs of the chainsword Krusha had recieved- and modified- echoed back at Sneakgit, but he lacked the wit to have kept it for himself

*The slaanesh follower slowly retracts his hand as the fluid hits the floor.*

We have more upstairs. And... that...

*He points to the demonic looking suit in the corner*

It doesn't have any fuel, but if we had some promethium in it... THAT could be fun.

*Slowly R'lyth and K'li come down the stairs, R'ly has donned a gas mask in addition to his normal visor. He speaks slowly and softly*

Hello... My name is R'lyth... I'm in charge of these men... You said we could find bring suffering... Explain...

Krash was lost, natural affinity aside, the wreckage of the invasion had left a maze of wreckage and now the orks were wandering aimlessly, looking for something
On the other hand, gork or mork had provided enough scrap to fully rearm the boyz, so when an opportunity presented itself krumping was a certainty

Karnus extends his arms, a green cloud of unknown toxic gas and flies emanating from his body.

'Look around you... This world is ripe with fruit, only waiting for the glorious hand of apocalyptic pestilence... Remaining here is a waste of the Grandfather's generosity... We must repay his kindness with the suffering of life...'

With those words, he turns and leaves the building, the thundering steps of the massively heavy Astartes footsteps echoing throughout the store.

*The firewarrior and the pathfinder look to the commander, undue of what to do.*

We follow them... Remember this location...

*The firewarrior looks over to the pathfinder*

Shame those nurglites didn't see the cellar, they love that stuff.

*The pathfinder retches a bit to himself.*

Krash and his mob finally found their way out of the maze, only to see an expanse of carnage ahead of them, ruins, bodies, fires, all signs of a good fight, a shame Krash had been too busy killing the old boss- what was his name? It didn't matter anymore, the others had accepted krash's leadership with no bashing of skulls needed, mores the pity
But now Krash needed to have a plan, or challenges may be raised, or more likely just a scrap, the waaagh!!!! was small enough without losing more, two boyz and that runt, pipskweek or whatever it was.
A plan, keep moving forward and hope to find more orks to beat into line. Simple. But orkish


As the orks moved on Sneakgit grinned to himself, "stupid ork, doesn't know what Sneakgit found in the wreck,"
Then, upon hearing a creak from the surrounding wreckage Sneakgit sprinted after the orks, after all, they were better at fighting than him, he was all brains

Krieg, being no tech priest, barely managed to coax the Machine Spirit back to rumbling life. It however did not seem to be happy. It growled, hissed, screeched and spat its protests as it lumbered towards the nearest city.

As he neared the city the chimera chuffed and died for a final time. Coffing, Krieg pulled himself out of the transport. Glancing around he thought he saw a dark form dash past a broken window. Feeling the chill of dread run down his spine he quickly hefted his plasma gun and dashed as far from the smoking transport as fast and quietly as possible.

Something had to be done, four times now (because Sneakgit was very smart, he could count to 5) Krash had led the orcs into skirmishes with other survivors, every time with humans, only one of those had had weapons.
Krash seemed determined to die, sooner or later they was gonna chance upon some of those giant armoured humies, or dem shooty ones.
Sneakgit had to have a plan, three orks and him (even with his mega brain) wouldn't stand a chance against something actually tough. Sneakgit didn't have a plan, yet, but he had his secret thing hidden away nearby, and he'd been watching, one of the orks, smudge, was clearly good with tek, all orks were, but this was different, that would come in handy
The other ork, slope, was a typical ork, the kind that gave green skins such a simple reputation
And Krash was similar, good in a scrap but short on brains

Luckily these orks had Sneakgit, he was the smartest greenskin around, you didn't live long as a grot without being very sneaky, and very resourceful

And Sneakgit had found his secret thing...

Karnus advances through the city with his brothers in tow. Dusk is falling, but as the sun sets, the alertness of the Plague Marines rises. They now walk with Bolters at the ready, aiming outward from the group, ready to pound anything that moves with a storm of infected Bolter shells.

The Plague Champion coughs again and rips out a maggot from his flesh. The writhing, sickening creature twists in his grasp, and then he proceeds to horrifically put the maggot in his deformed, distended mouth, consuming it with a sickly squelch. He gazes back to see how the Tau react to this grotesque display before returning his attention to the march.

'So...' he says, coughing up a few half-digested bits of maggot, 'What are you doing here?...'

Krieg held his breath as he saw the group of what looked to be rotted Astartes and Tau forces walking in the street below. He instinctively froze and held his breath. He knew he was outmatched and daren't try to engage the Traitor Marines or the Tau. He could only hope to remain unnoticed. He offered a silent prayer that his armor and uniform was of similar grey to the building ruin he was crawling through. He held his plasma gun out of sight and slowly deactivated the energy cell so the glow wouldn't attract unwanted attention.

A humie is hiding only twenty paces from here, his grey clothes may match the rubble he's in but Sneakgit can smell his unwashed body.
Fortunately for the human the orks are busy feasting on their most recent kill, some form of large rodent. Sneakgit has seen the plasma gun and has no intention of alerting the others to this 'I need these orks if my secret thing is to be of use' he says to himself

A thundering explosion sent waves of ionized air, setting Xilians nerves on edge. She was already paranoid, she was always paranoid, for she was a Druchi, a Dark Eldar Archon. Archons who aren't paranoid don't stay like that for long. But even she didn't expect the ingeniously despicable trick a rival Archon, maybe even Vect himself, had pulled by killing, cloning and replacing her favorite trueborn. She should never of given him that blaster...

Xilian came out better then most. There mangled corpses lay strewn across the deck of the burnt out raider near the whole the blaster shot in the engine. She wasn't the only one in her predicament either as she saw 2 other Raiders crash as well. Her eyes narrowed on the nearest crash, her eyes long since replaced with those of a Hyper Sensitive Helspider, and she saw a large imposing figure dragging two limp figures from the flames.

The Archon readied her weapon belt, containing a Blaster Pistol, Soul Trap and Husk Blade as well as attached her Shadowfield across her breast in case of emergencies and set off. She arrived to see the limp figures back on their feat applying burn medicine under the imposing shadow of a Large Incubus. The Warrior lugged around a lightweight shredder and a supple Wych tentatively applied seal skin, trying to remove any blemishes. Urian the Incubi raised his great klaive before lowering it with a curt nod, the bedraggled troops also managed to hobble to attension.

''Gather what you can. we enter the town to search for supplies and...refreshments.'' Xilian said menacingly. The rubble creaked and a half dead Warrior crawled out of the fire, his armour blackened and cracked. With adequate time he would make a full recovery. Xilian put her blade through his skull and drank in his departing soul. It's not much, but she would have to make the best of it.

*upon seeing the plague marines display, the pathfinder stood completely still for a moment... just a moment, then doubled over retching again before depractly trieing to remove his helmet.*

OH SLAANESH! IT'S IN MY HELMET! IN MY HELMET! MY HELMET! HELMET!

*When he was finally able to wretch it off, it as clear to all those around him he had vomited and his blue face was now covered with sickly green*

*The (Khornate) Firewarrior began to laugh hysterically at this, But was quickly silenced by Ry'lth's hand.*

No need to draw attention... EITHER of you.... Keep moving...

The Plague Marines do not notice the hiding Guardsman, or if they do, they make no sign of showing it. They walk past his hiding place, dangerously close, and continues forward. As pure pestilence spreads in the wake of their footsteps, the green, rotting carpet of disease draws ever closer to Krieg's hideout...

Karnus, meanwhile, rips out another maggot from his infested flesh and offers it to the Tau.

'Here... Rejoice in the glorious taste of Grandfather Nurgle's blessed ichor, and revel in his putrid blessings...'

*The Firewarrior takes it, eager to kill anything, even if it is just a bug, and bites down on it.*

*The Pathfinder is sick once more.*

The noxious smell drifted into his nose and mouth. It took all of Krieg's willpower not to start gagging and retching. Only the knowledge of his discovery made it possible for him to stay silent. He waited till they passed till he risked moving again. Quickly reactivating the plasma gun with murmured prayers to the weapons volatile machine spirit. He glimpsed a small splotch of green. He pretended not to see it as he started moving in the direction the Plague Marines had come from. He kept glancing around pretending not to see the green, but never really losing track of where it was. He knew it wasn't an Ork. At least not a living one, it would have attacked either himself or the group that had passed nearby. So he guessed it had to be one of the lesser Greenskins. Grots? Gretchin. He wasn't really sure of the difference. Instead he covertly wandered the city trying to find a landmark he could recognize so he could orient himself to the spaceport. So far his foray had turned up squat.

Xilian surveyed the situation, it appeared 4 factions had spawned from the desperate survivors, maybe more. The deranged followers of the plague lord where evident to her half the city away with their putrid stench. She saw 3 orks in a clearing, having a scrap amongst themselves. Se thought he saw something, an ork sneaking in the rubble painted purple, then logic kicked in. An ork, sneaking, in purple? Her eyes where playing tricks on her. The Tau were usually a mewling race ready for plunder, taking it with open arms, there where not those Tau. They had a purpose that made them dangerous. Lastly, Her eyes locked upon gouts of hot breath escaping from a niche among the rubble into the cool air, she rounded the corner to see a Guardsmen crouching in what a human would think would be a stealthy position.

The Guardsmen would be easy prey, usually. But behind him lay her escape plan and the best possible life line she could think of. Xillian sent the lithe Wych, armed with a plethora of knives and daggers to leap across the rubble with cat-like stealth. She came from above him, utterly silent. He turned to try shoot but the cramped confines of his hiding spot made it difficult, but she was only playing. She kicked the feat from under him and stood her sharp heals upon his wrist.

Xilian stood over him, Huskblade at his neck, before wracking her brain for his rudimentary knowledge of the Mon'Kaih tongue. ''Now, human, I propose an alliance of sorts. I will give you your life, on one condition.'' She gestured to the clearing behind him where a rusted and battered Chimera ''Can you drive that behemoth?''

Krieg gulped, he hardly even had a chance to react before the Xeno was atop him. As her heels dug into his wrists, he gritted his teeth, glanced at the chimera, and gave a sharp nod of ascent. "I can probably get it running, but how do I know you won't kill me once I take you where you need to go?"

Xilian smiled, the cautious where far more desirable allies then the fool hardy. Caution keeps people alive, especially an Archon can understand this.

''In the frankly insulting case that you cannot take my word for it'' Xilian said gleefully ''Then know this, we will need each other if we are to escape this planet, we will need you for your knowledge of the clumsy mechanisms of the space port and you will need us to get you through the possible sea of Tyranids between us and said Space Port. Once we arrive then we can take our separate ways. At any rate, this seems far more comfortable then the alternative...''

The Wych danced off of the Human, blowing him an alluring kiss while the cut away sections of her armour leaving little to the imagination. The Incubi brought his Klaive down, stopping centimetres above the Human, but he wasn't threatening, he was offering him the handle of the weapon to help him up. ''What do you say human, we are all friends here, can't we all get along and kill everyone else?'' Xilian giggled, if she got to the space port, she could steal each and every ship on her way back to Commarragh, she would return richer then ever!

Suddenly, the Plague Marines spin around. They heard something. Though their bodies are decayed, their hearing remain superhuman and the voices of unknown entities is all too audible to them. They immediately shift into a run, perhaps not very swiftly- they are servants of Nurgle after all- but still faster than most humans. The ground almost seems to shake with the footfalls of the massively heavy Astartes as they dash back to the source of the sound. Once there, they spot a gathering of Xenos. Eldar, it seems, more specifically their dark kin. Without hesitation, the Plague Marines lift their bolters and let loose a fusilliade of infected Bolter shells, Karnus adding shots from his pistol to the barrage.

*Ry'leth points to the plague marines target.*

Fire...

*The pathfinder readies his rail rifle and takes a shot, the noise of the blast resounding across the streets, The firewarrior took his rifle and took one aimed shot at a glimpse of some sort of exposed flesh, Ry'lth himself took the drone controls and began to place a marker on the target.*

Gunshots, damn, that got those stupid orks attention

Krash and his buddies charge towards the explosive bolts and gitsneak has very little option but to follow, at a safe distance of course

Krash and his buddies smash headlong into some nurgle rotted plague marines,

Gitsneak hides

The hairs on the back of Xilians neck spiked to attention at the shift in the air, the clang of boots and the smell. Oh god the smell. She swivelled in time to see a blue bolt of lightning zooming towards her with unerring accuracy. She would of thanked her gods if she had any as the danger alerted in her mind awoke the neural interface of the shadow field which bloomed into life around her. Tendrils of darkness coiled around her which coalesced around the projectile with the sound of a miniature thunderclap. She was already running as the bolt shots began exploding around her position.

As an Archon, she was trained to the point of physical perfection, but somehow the Wych was faster. Bolts flung into air she had occupied meer milliseconds before, fragmentation marks dotted her body as the detonations took their toll. The warrior, well, he had no such foresight. He barely managed to squeeze the trigger before a bolt entered his chest and blew him up from the inside, viscera spraying across the dazed human now. The slowly widening cload of monofilaments decending upon the enemy without a sound, barely a glisten on the wind but it when it hit it could cut through even a Marines tough hide.

The Human had only just noticed he was being fired upon and was scrambling to his feat. The stout Incubi weathered it all, standing between the Archon and the incoming fire. He wielded his Klaive with uncanny precision, finding it's way between the incoming fire and himself but even a skilled swordsmen like he failed, these failures making pronounced pouch marks upon his finely crafted armour.

''Make for the transport, let it shelter us!'' Xilian managed between diving for her life, then as an after thought ''Incubus, bring the Human!'' She broke cover and ran as quick as she could, the Wych easily out pacing her as the Incubi yanked the Human forward, practically pulling him inside the armoured hull.

Xilian looked at the Human. ''The biggest reason that we won't kill you is out there! The possibility of being killed by us in the future is far less immediate then the certainty of being killed now, get this thing moving!''

Krash slammed his modified chainsword into the nearest astartes hearing the crunch of ceramite as the chest armour crumpled. The hit blew the marine off his feet. Krash turned to bash the next one.

Sneakgit saw the umie tank being prepared to move, but knew he had no chance of getting the orks out of their fight, he had to do this himself. Leaving the orks wrestling with the space marines he leapt onto the chimera and clung on, his brain working hard to decide how best to barter with his special find

*Ry'lth immediately takes aim at he charging orks, and fires his carbine at there skulls as they attack his allies.*

Keep railgun fire on the marked target... And you...

*The firewarroir drew a large knife, etched with marks of khorne. Ry'lth simply nods*

"FOR THE GREATER BLOODSHED!"

*He lept unpon the other ork and begans attempting stab it.*

Krash ducked as a blast shot past him and through the arm of the ork behind him,

Krash's ork instincts kicked in and he unleashed a mighty waaagh!!! Charging for the new threat with the other orks alongside

Meanwhile Sneakgit was trying to get the attention of the occupants of the chimera, whilst hoping not to get shot on sight

The engine stuttered, started, failed and stuttered again. Xilian turned to the Wych ''Keep him safe, keep him...encouraged and get this thing working. I feel we will need a quick get away. Incubus, with me, let us go deal with our hitchhiker. She activated her Shadowfield and walked into the yard, the sound of brawling invaded her ears as the human worked on the activation rituals, which apparently included a lot of punching the dash board. Humans ad their ways!

She calmly turned to see the elusive purple ork who tired so hard to get he attention. The Incubus stepped forward menacingly and Xilian drew her blast pistol and drew it up to the Orks leering face.

''Speak quickly ork, while you keep your tongue''

Krieg muttered an assenting nod as he focused his attention on preparing the correct activation ritual to awaken the slumbering machine spirit (God-empire help me). As he finished the right the chimera's spirit roared into life. He quickly activated the multi-lasers turret and aimed it at the approaching fallen Astartes. He activated the loud speaker "we are getting out of here," he shouted. He punched the controls and started driving off slowly expecting the Xenos to catch up. After all the dark eldar were known for their unsurpassed speed. He continued to fire the multi-laser at the fallen Astartes.

If Karnus' jaw had not have been so horribly disfigured, he would have smiled.

'Brothers... Forward...'

He and the three others halt their barrage and begin to advance, drawing large Astartes-pattern krak grenades from the mag-clamps on their belts.

With a hissing sound, the Multilaser shots impact on the armoured hide of Brother Marus, the one furthest to the left. If he feels pain, he does not show it. Such is the unnatural resilience of the Plague Marines that he is barely slowed, continuing onward with his brothers, although the weapon certainly is not useless. They observe an Ork smash into some unknown figures, but they are too far away and hidden by battlefield smoke for the Glacier Serpents to be able to identify them. It matters little.

((Ahzek, if you are going to godmode, at least do not do that against me, please. Or ask first. It is rather rude to take control of others' characters.))

Karnus keeps his krak grenade in his left hand and draws his sword with the other, his brothers echoing the motion. The battle, now, will be decided in the fury of melee.

'Tau... Focus on the greenskins... We will go for the Eldar...'

With these words, Karnus closed in on the Chimera, his brothers close behind him, ready to use their grenades.

Alright...

*Ry'lth backs up still firing his carbine into the orks, the pathfinder retreats to the other side of an upturned and gutted rhino and began re-aiming the rail rifle. The Firewarrior was still on the ork's back, trying to make his blade meet flesh.*

Sneakgit made a horrible mess, losing control in the face of a creature so deadly, especially without the orks to back him up

In rushed squeaky tones he started to talk "I have a deal to offer. Sneakgit found something special nearby, something useful. Rescue the orks and Sneakgit will take you too it."

Xilians mind was racing. What do Orks prize? Loot, and food, but also loot. This ork seemed to think that this loot will be fancy enough for her to spare his life, so HE obviously thinks it is good loot. It was just then as the Plague Marines entered the clearing, lifting there bolters as if in slow motion to her.

''Ok Savage. We will obliterate these puss filled abominations and you will lead us to this 'somin speshul'. She turned to the Chimera ''I want covering fire and send that Wych out here'' As if on cue she elegantly flipped out of the open hatch. Bolt shells began exploding around her, the fragmentation being absorbed by the shadowfield. Not a good thing, it could short out at any moment. Then she charged, swifter then any human, popping off a shot or two from her Pistol on the way. But only then did the previously fired monofilament wire descend upon the plague marines, Just As Planned Xilian thought.

"Roger, providing covering Fire." Krieg replied as he swept the ineffectual las fire back and forth over the advancing Plague Marines. "Enough of this and they should fall over." He didn't want to risk the only transport they had on try to run over the Fething things.

The monofilament wire descends upon the Plague Marines. They are taken entirely by surprise and are tangled up in the wire, their strong armour protecting them from being cut apart but the web entangling them. Realising what the Eldar is planning, Karnus shouts in some unintelligible language.

As one, a horrid green gas and swarms of flies emerge from their armour, quickly spreading until the unholy mess covers a significant area. Hoping that the poisoned air and swarms of voracious Plague Flies will keep them covered, the Plague Marines get to work on trying to remove the web, but only making slow progress.

The Plague Marines did not seem to register the lasgun fire, and the shots from the pistol only proved marginally more effective, the web and crusts of unholy substances preventing the shots from piercing armour joints.

The Wych stopped hesitantly at the growing cloud of toxic gas, seriously regretting not wearing more clothes. It mattered not to the Incubi who strolled purposefully into the cloud, his think and advanced armour shielding him from the gas. Xilian also stopped, regretting the fact she didn't wrestle the helm from one of the warriors at the crashed raider. She stepped gingerly into the fog, ready to jump out at a moments notice, but she had to test her theory. Yes, the shadowfield did create a small area of clear air within it's confines, but even her hyper sensitive eyes had trouble seeing through the smog as she followed in the sure footed Incubi's footsteps.

The Incubus came across a Plague Marine in the fog, working intently at the monomolecular wire with a rusted combat blade, he looked upon the Incubi with ancient hate in his eyes as the Incubus raised his Mightly Klaive...

(OOC: I am sensing the need for some massive Tyranid thing to fly over and get all the attention. I am feeling that if Xilian gets Plague Marine blood on her armour it will cost her a fortune in dry cleaning )

With a grunt, brother Samuas finishes carving up the net and escapes- but a fraction of a second too late. A fraction of a second is all a Dark Eldar needs and a Klaive embeds in his shoulder, carving through the decayed Ceramite and the flesh beneath, lopping off his left arm. Incredibly, while a normal man would have perished from the blood loss and sheer physical trauma, a Plague Marine is many times tougher and he simply draws his Chainsword, ready to fight one-handed.

The other Plague Marines free themselves as well, and ready their melee weapons. Karnus draws his bolt pistol and Power Sword, hoping that the Zombie Plague-infested sword will taste the blood of the Eldar.

Karnus spots what looks like their leader. Seeing the glory to Father Nurgle that such a kill would grant, he singles out the leader, while his brothers spread out, one chasing after the fast one and Marus trying to support his brother against the Incubus.

Incubi where strong by Eldar standards, heck, they where strong by any standard. But trying to deflect a Chainsword thrust by a very, very angry Space Marine was a task for any creature. They where advancing on the Incubus, slowly and steadily. The Incubus learnt not to try parry a Chain Blade, for the revving would easily pull an Eldar off of it's balance, but to deflect a Chain Blade, even with a master piece of sword work like a Klaive was a challenge. He swept his Klaive in large arcs, forcing the encroaching marines to be careful. They where strong and tough, but as they recently found out, he was not defenceless.

The Wych had simply been watching the unfolding events until an ungainly figure charged out of the fog. He was ponderous but powerful, his swipe smashing the rock she perched upon to rubble as she flipped backwards, drawing him carefully towards the Chimera. She only had knives on her, but the Chimera help a powerful close ranged weapon. She wondered if the heavy flamer would improve the smell.

Xilian marvelled at the Incubi's footwork, always taken aback by skilled Murder. So preoccupied she was that she didn't see the bolt pistol before it was to late and as she turned she heard a thunder clap of displaced air as the shadowfield collapsed in on itself. The Haemonculi had long since augmented her lungs but this toxic smog would cause a lasting damage if she exposed herself to it unduly. She flourished her Huskblade which had the added effect of evaporating the intoxicants in the air around the blade, mixing black smoke into he sickly fog. Her blade met the chaos infused metal of the plague marine with a thunderclap as each opponent sized the other up. ''Where I that ork!'' she though.

The two Marines fighting the Incubus realise that they are being held off, so the one who still has two arms draws his bolter and opens fire, while the other covers him with his chainsword.

The one going for the Wych moves as quickly as he can, keeping a krak grenade ready to disable the Chimera if needed.

Karnus himself, an expert swordsman, found himself matched in combat by the Archon. He makes a series wide sweeps as swiftly as he can, but he finds himself unable to land a blow, while the Huskblade in turn finds itself equally far from the flesh of its target.

The Incubus' eyes widened as he saw the shot leave the barrel, far to fast for him to dodge and if he blocked the Marines would be upon him in moments, so he did the only thing he could think of. He took the hit. The bolt exploded against the Incubus' armour, blowing him to the ground and shaking him inside out. He had cracked at least 3 of his ribs he calculated. The Plague Marines advanced on him with surety as the Incubus edged back towards the Archon, not now, not today, he thought through gritted teeth and a bloody mouth. It was then that he removed the gem upon his chest and shattered it against the ground, agony exploded upon his senses and aparantly it did so on the Plague Marines, so used to Physical Pain that the Psykic torture of the tormentor was both shocking and effective.

It hit Xilian like a wave, washing over her, energising her. She felt new life course through her at the screaming of the released Eldar soul within the Tormentor stone. She felt stronger, quicker and thought faster. She glanced aside a powerful sweep of the Plague sword before extending her pistol arm close to the Plague Lords face, it seems the Plague Lord had done the same thing. Stand off.

''Would you like to discuss the terms of our escape off of this planet?'' She asked calmly, totally committed to her plan now.

The Plague Marines kneel, trying to take control of their senses and return to their task. For now, though, they are stunned.

Karnus, meanwhile, looks down on the significantly shorter Dark Eldar before him, aiming his pistol for her head. Curiously, she seems to echo his motion and aim her pistol for his exposed head as well. Yet another deadlock.

*A hideous bellow is heard, sounding far away, it is only when the ground begins to crack underneath them, the combatants realize the true source of the sound.*

*The pathfinder yells out*

MAWLOCK!

*The massive beast emerges from the earth, splitting a massive hole near the chimera, the beast it self it bleeding badly however, covered in the bites of smaller tyranids, and maybe even some of it's own,*

Ready a rail-rifle shot to it's head...

*Ry'lth begins to shout.*

EVERYONE! WE FORM A TRUCE NOW OR WE MAY NEVER MAKE IT OUT! FOCUS ALL WEAPONS ON THE MAWLOCK!

Krieg felt the rumble of the Mawlock's entrance into the fray,despite being inside the Chimera. He realigned the multilaser at the huge beast and initiated the firing sequence to pepper the huge beast with Lasfire. "Come on, we gotta go!" He shouted over the com speaker. To accentuate his point he revved the chimera's engine and opened the assault ramp.

The combat stopped as every one turned to see this new terror. Xilian took her chance, turned away from the distracted Plague Lord and bolted away, throwing several small objects over her shoulder

''Maybe next time darlin'. Maybe clean up a but for me!'' As she ran she had the distinct battle in her mind of if she should bring the Incubus. Eventually loyalty won out and she hefted him along out dissipating smog straight towards the Chimera. This all happened so fast and it was only now that the previously dropped plasma grenades began it's high frequency beeping, a high frequency being Xilian calculated to draw the Mawlocks sensitive ears attention

A young Kreig guardsman runs out in front of the squad…

"MAWLOCK!"

He joins in running away from the colossal beast, constituently throwing grenades over his back.

He starts to feel tears at his feet, a hormugant had just ripped a huge cut deep into his leg.

"BY THE EMPEROR! HELP ME! DONT LEAVE ME!"…

The swarm of Smaller creatures come closer, as the terrifying Mawloc slithers through…

The Plague Marines quickly kneel down and direct their shoulderpads against the grenades, absorbing the explosion. They rise up only to see a Mawloc and hordes of Tyranids rampaging around. Indeed, the Mawloc seems to go for them.

'Squad! Anti-Tyranid monster tactics!' Karnus shouts, and the squad quickly spreads out. Two of his squadmates focus fire on the incoming Hormagaunts, inadvertently saving the life of a Kriegsman in the process, while the other fires super-accurate shots into the eyes of the Mawloc, confusing the creature by forcing it to split its attention between the Bolter fire and Karnus, who rushes up towards it with Plaguesword in hand.

Krieg, noting the young guardsman, shifted his multi laser to keep the Gaunts from getting any closer to the poor man.

The Kreiger stumbles away with the team.

"OVER THERE! A BUNKER. GET IN QUICK"!

They rush into the bunker shooting the Malwoc and immobilising the horde. They manage shooting off a limb of the beast before flooding into the munitorium bunker.

aware the marines outside are fighting off the monster, the Kreigsman rushes outside in a agonising pain and shoots at the head of the Mawloc.

*Ry'lth continues to shout.*

YOU! HUMAN IN THE TANK! IF YOU HAVE ANY WEAPONS CAPABLE OF HITTING MULTIPLE TARGETS, TAKE OUT THE SWARM! OTHERWISE, RETREAT AND FIRE LONG RANGE WEAPONS AT THE LARGE BEAST!

*The tau continue to march backwards, shooting any gaunt that get's too close.*

A MARKERLIGHT HAS BEEN SET ONT EH MAWLOCK! FIRE RAIL RIFLE!

*The brilliant flash of light surges across the battlefield taking a large chuck out the mawlock, But the beast seems to ignore the pain and continues it;s attack.*

*The kreigsman looks around*

"IM GETTING ON THAT TANK! COVER ME"

The Kreiger jumps on the tank and mows down the horde of creatures until a battlefield dripping with green blood is all that can be seen.

"What do we do know? I'm afraid ill have to trust you Xenos…"

*Shakes Tau's hand*.

*Ry'lth shakes back, the fires his carbine over the kriegsman's shoulder, hitting another of the smaller tyranids.*

"Your aim is well, may i ask what rank you are?. I feel as if we should trade identities"

*Clicks heels and salutes to Ry'leth*

"Death korp of Kreig 92nd Siege Regiment commissar Hans Mortus, at service. And these are my two Men, one Quartermaster, one Engineer. One death rider.The platoon was sent to exterminate a Tyranid nest…we are the only survivors."

With a snarl, Karnus tries to force open the jaws of the Mawloc, as in turn it tries to consume him. His squadmates hold back the swarm, but the Mawloc- while wounded- just refuses to die.

Finally, with a heave of effort, he draws out his blade from the vice-like grip of the creature's jaw and rams it inward and upward, through its brain from below. The creature dies with a loud roar, and Karnus lands with a heavy thud.

'Move...'

His squadmates need no further orders and continue moving, following the tank.

Former Shas'o, current lord of chaos... It would be... heh heh... For the greater good if we worked together to leave... I hope my alliances won't cause any immediate problems...

The group set off for a nearby cathedral which is giving supplies to anybody it can. The group of Kreigsmen commandeered by Hans Mortus grow darker as they approach the holy place of the emperor…

As they unload and reach the outside, they see a group of Genestealers feasting on the corpse of a battle sister high on a steeple.

"By the god, what is this unholy abomination"

Hans Mortus begins to pale…and grabs his laspistol…he feels vulnerable without his gas mask…

Hans Mortus: "You…Engineer. Give me your mask or prepare to be executed"

Engineer: "But sir…please no"

Hans Mortus: "Give it to me…or i will make sure the quartermaster is put to use"

*The engineer lowers his gas mask, revealing a pale face with a scar running down his eye*

"Oh…by the….the air"

The Engineer stumbles as polluted air enters his lungs for the first time…he stumbles up the steps in a choking fashion and drifts into the darkness of the cathedral…

The group follow him…and to a horrible sight.

*The engineer screams a she is snatched up by gene stealers and dropped onto the sword which is held by the statue of saint Celestine, impaling him with blood everywhere…*

"GET YOUR ARMS READY MEN, FOR THE EMPEROR…"

*The Genestealers scatter away from the body and into the catacombs before they can be purged…a game of the hunt is about to begin…*

Is it too late to join?

Should be posted in the OOC thread, but you might re-start it if you did.

*R'yth strolls over to the chimera, causally strolling over the dead mawlock*

Driver...

*He knocks on the side*

I have food... I wish to trade for promethium...

''We have multi lasers, i think our claim is better then yours!'' The Wych said playfully out f the top hatch. ''Where is it you intend to go dear 'friend', maybe in exchange for your supplies we won't squash you flat and give you a lift''. When the Wych finished, she looked subtlety at Xillian who gave a minuscule nod, exactly what she wanted her to say.

*Ry'leth looks a noticeably perturbed, He motions for the fire warrior and the pathfinder to come closer.*

"Fine... I will return with the supplies..."

*He points to the pathfinder"

"My friend here will stay with you...."

*The pathfinder looks over to the Dark eldar, a bit concerned.*

"With her? Ok.... Why am I always the insurance? Fething Ry'leth...."

*The fire warrior and Ry'leth began to walk off.*

"There is.... A destination I have i mind... I will return soon"

The Chimera grinded to a halt, dirt spitting under it's tracks. The Wych bounded playfully off the Chimera to land behind the Pathfinder, running her scalpel sharp fingures across his armour seductively leaving swirling scratches in the Pathfinders armour.

''We will gladly...accommodate your friend here, but speed is of dear import here so let my Personal Excercutioner Koth of the temple of the blood ruin accompany you. He has a bone, or 206, to pick with any Plague Marine you may find impeding your way. Now hurray playthi...ally. Time is of the essence!''

*Ry'leth looks over to Koth, and motions for him to follow as the pathfinder hurriedly tries to buff out the scratches on his polished armor*

Very well... Come with us...

*The pathfinder sighs to himself, The scratches still faintly showing, then climbs aboard the chimera.*

Every time... I swear.

'Excuse us...' *Cough* *Cough* '...Are we interrupting?'

Karnus and his three fellow Plague Marines suddenly reappear, rounding a corner as they do so. They had fallen behind as they were outpaced by the chimera, but now they had, finally, catched up. They seem battered from the battle with the Mawloc but hardly put out of the action. Brother Samuas has crudely reattached his lost arm, though its actual use seems doubtful; it hangs limp by his side and he holds his bolter one-handed. Karnus sports a series of new spikes on his already very spiky armour, seemingly having attached Mawloc teeth to it.

Upon spotting the Dark Eldar, Karnus simply leans his head to the side- a wet disgusting crack sounding from his neck as he does so- before he and the others raise their bolters in unison, aimed straight for the Commorrites. Interestingly, Samuas and Marus nod shortly at the Incubus (Assuming he is in line of sight), seemingly respecting his prowess, but their bolters are aimed at him nonetheless.

Strangely, however, the Plague Marines do not open fire. They simply remain still, ready to follow the chimera should it start moving or open fire should the Dark Eldar close in. Karnus glares at them and speaks again.

'We have unfinished business, Eldar...'

*The pathfinder gives a half-hearted wave to the marines.*

Hello! Please don't shoot!

''Hmm, I thought I could smell you. The nose plays ticks on you when you are around such stench for any length of time'' Xilian said diplomatically

''There blood is just as vile' Koth said grudgingly, raising his klaive into a defensive position, ready to pounce at, or away from the fire with the inherent speed of all Dark Eldar.

''Now now Koth, the enemy of my enemy is my enemy for later, right now the Tyranids our my main concern. Now, do you intend to help us through possibly miles of Licotr, Genestealer or worse infested land or do you intend to leave me all the fun?'' Xilian asked, her calm demur concealing her readiness to spring, but then again, an Archon always is.

Karnus remains silent for a moment. Then, as one, the Plague Marines lower their bolters.

'Decieve us, and Lord Kraxis will have a few more skulls for the mountain.'

They then advance towards the aliens, still with lowered bolters but also ready to raise them if needed.

''Well come right on in'' Xilian said graciously with a sweeping gesture to the opening back hatch of the APC. While gesticulating she also subtly slipped a filter into her nose, the Wych noticed and looking longingly at the Archon but was to proud to ask for one.

''I believe our course should be towards the primitive armouries this planet no doubt holds, humans and their guns hmm! We could then rig the place to blow our way to the space port, any objections?''

''Well come right on in'' Xilian said graciously with a sweeping gesture to the opening back hatch of the APC. While gesticulating she also subtly slipped a filter into her nose, the Wych noticed and looking longingly at the Archon but was to proud to ask for one.

''I believe our course should be towards the primitive armouries this planet no doubt holds, humans and their guns hmm! We could then rig the place to blow our way to the space port, any objections?''

*The path finder begins to chime in*
Wait, Should We stay here and wait for my allies?
*He is quickly silenced and pulled into the vehicle with the eldar, limbs failing*

*Back at the other tau*

*Ry'leth is walking with the fire warrior and his new eldar friend. They approach the store front*

There are... Supplies within... My friend here will retrieve them for us....

*the fire warrior enters the building*

The Plague Marines look at each other before moving on, hunching over and somehow squeezing their colossal forms into the tiny chimera (Though it becomes very cramped).

Once inside, they are simply still and silent.

*The Slaaneshi tau is squished up against a particular festering marine. 0n0*
Im not here right now... Im not here right now... Im back on Janus... eating cocaine ice cream...

**With Koth the Incubus*

''I don't like being kept in the dark unless I am stalking my pray, child, I have been instructed to help you reach your goal by the...'' Koth laughed mirthlessly ''Good Grace of my Archon. What do we search for here and how do you know of it.''

Koth lowered into a crouching position, Klaive instantly in his hands held defensively and he listened intently. Koth help a figure up to silence the Tau ''Quiet, we are not alone here, find what you wil and we must be away from here''. The scuttling was getting closer.

**With Xilian the Archon**

''Make yourself comfortable'' Xilian said as she swung herself lazily into the considerably cushier front seats ''It could be a bumpy ride!'' The Chimera sped off down the street, scattering rubble and mud.

Lith the Wych found she had no place to sit, well that was un true, she had no place to sit which would not connect with one of the smelly oafs but suddenly a nicer smell caught her nose. A delicate perfume anointed the Tau and adorned his armour. Lith casually sauntered over to the Path Finder and sat upon his lap, a sly smile playing on her mouth. The Path Finder looked horrified until she slipped an Iho Stick from Somewhere about her person and offered it to him. ''It's been a long day, I wonder if we will find anything that goes bump in the night?''

*The pathfinder takes the narcotic from her, a but less than he normally uses, but no need to be rude, then grins nervously and whispers to himself*

Oh slannesh...

*Back at Ry'leth*

Inside this building... Is a supply of food... My friend will retrieve it, and then we will return to your allies... it is, a gesture of good faith...

*Turns to the scuttling, handgun drawn*

More of the terminagaunts I suppose... wonderful...

Scuttlling echoed around the streets from every location, as city confines are want to do, and it became quicker then suddenly, all was quiet.

''I don't like this...'' Koth said, slowly pacing back towards the defensible position of a corner. The Tau looked at Koth for a second, eyes wide with shock. A slight click of tensing muscle tendons alerted Koth to raise his Klaive above his head to meet a pair of massive scything talons that seemed to erupt from the wall. Koth rolled away to face the perfectly concealed Lictor as it slunk out of the wall and raised his Klaive high as several hormagants charged out of a side ally. They looked hungry.

**With Xilian**

They drove in silence apart from Lith's many attempts of flirting with the Tau, all of them he rebuffed (either through intention or innocence) awkwardly.

'Now, if you would look to your left you will see a pile of half eaten corpses. Your right, another pile or corpses, dead ahead...oooh that's a different!'' Xilian stated playfully ''There appears to be some kind of bomb fire ritual being led by a Human? Wait, are humans meant to have 3 taloned arms, i am so forgetful these days''. It looked like a sect of a genestealer cult lay between them and their objective.

*The transport comes to a screeching halt, and the pathfinder makes for a hatch on the roof, as he begins to climb out, he is shoved by an unknown person, and tumbles out and lands face first on the ground, as he turns his head up, he is met by the barrels of several lasguns.*

Oh, Hi...

*Back at Ry'leth*

We are being attacked... Get to cover...

*Ry'leth rapidly back pedals behind a dumpster, firing his gun into now unhidden tyranid, the lictor shrieks as a bullet rips one arm from it's socket.*

We need to get to high ground...

*Ry'leth begins to climb the dumpster, a gaunt chomping at his heels. As he begins to reach the top, a shooting pain courses through his leg, looking down, he see the beast digging it's claws into his calf. Ry'leth readies his gun to shoot the creature, but before he can fire, it's brains are splattered on the cold concrete.*

What has happened?

*The firewarrior, wearing a large backpack, waves from the window, Ry'leth motions to him to fire on the lictor, but suddenly he vanishes into the darkness behind him, his screaming is briefly heard on the coms, before a hideous gnawing sounds drowns it out.*

Karnus and his men promptly exit the transport, spreading out in familiar battle formations. Bolt shell after bolt shell erupts from their weapons, ripping the hapless cultists to tiny shreds. As soon as the last cultist in line of sight is destroyed, Karnus looks back at the others who travelled with his squad.

'Move...'

**With Koth**

The Lictor squealed at the pulse blast, the left side of it's torso badly burned and it's empty arm socket leaked Ichor onto the ground. Koth stepped forward and swung his Klaive in a long arc, the Lictor didn't even have time to gurgle before it slumped to the ground.

A hormagaunt leapt at Koth, raking it's claws across the exquisite War suit which Koth, understandably, took offense to. He waded through the Hormagaunts, swing and lunging and parrying each strike while the powerfield of the Klaive worked to shatter talons and melt flesh. Seeing his 'allied' Tau in trouble he stomped towards the Dumpster, seeking the attention of the monsters nipping at his heels. It was then that the Warrior burst through the store front window, blue blood coating it's talons, Bone Sword crackling and Lash whip writhing.

''Target that synpase creature and the smaller creatures will be uncoordinated!''

*With Xilian*

They didn't have to tell her twice as she leapt out of the chimera's hatch in one steady jump. The Wych was already down there, obviously toying with a very angry and repugnant cultist to mutated to carry any weapon but it's own clawed hands. These hands where already in ruin due to seven or eight small cuts across his vains as the she-wych danced around him.

''Don't play with your food!'' Xilian said before the cultist disintegrated from a shot from her Blast Pistol ''At least not on my time. There, across the camp, i see the weaponry deposit!'' Xilian bounded across the ground quickly before being stopped in her tracks.

In the middle of the camp lay a massive pit filled with bloody ruins of previous meals. At the base of the pit lay an entire brood of Genestealers, one of the most deadly creatures in the universe. ''Quiet you oafs! We just shook the tree, lets not wake the hornets nest shall we?''

'Genestealers...'

This is not the first time that Karnus and his veterans face the Tyranid creatures. They know that such is their lethality that they are able to match Astartes in combat. Against an entire brood, tactics will be needed.

Making swift chopping motions with his hand, the squad spreads out and takes cover, each keeping a separate Genestealer firmly in his sights, ready to open fire on a moment's notice.

'We are all for stirring the hornet's nest...'

*Seeing a chance, the pathfinder flips over, and nails the cultist standing over him right in his mutated junk with a steel-plated hoof. As the cultist doubled over, the pathfinder grabbed the rifle from him, slaming the butt of the gun into his enemies skull, as the freakish man fell to the ground, the pathfinder took aim at the cultists two allies, and melted off their faces. Seeing the genestealers, the tau let loose another volley of laser fire, but it only seemed to annoy the beast.*

"Fething flashlight..."

*He hurls the rifle at the now charging creature, striking it in the head and leaving it dazed. He takes this opportunity to climb the the vehicle once more, and blow the beast to bits with the rail rifle.*

*Back at Ry'leth*

I have... A plan...

*Ry'leth hurls himself off the dumpster and through the window of the shop, shattering the glass as he rolls inside, he looks around and see his suit and a clear room. He rushes into the static suit and pours a small bottle into a small port*

Enough power... One shot...

*A demonic head-tipped cannon the shoulder of the armor begins to glow an ominous red. and a vox begins to crackle on*

GET BEHIND SOMETHING!

*The maw of the demon erupts in a blaze of twisting red light arcing out a window, and into the mass of beasts. It detonates violently ripping through the creatures, the warrior is incinerated, and the lictor is nowhere to be seen. What few guants remain either lay on the ground twitching, their flesh mutated and warped, or wandering aimlessly, their eyes blinded.*

Got him... Are you alright?

*Now totally without power, the suit collapses completely, forcing Ry'leth to climb out in a most undignified manner.*

*with a roar of frustration, merric smashes his way out of the huge pile of rubble that had thus held him, his once gleaming whiteplate now soot covered and dented*
*merric's terminator armour is barely operable, but still maintains its innate ability to block small-arms fire*
(into his vox) this is captain merric verus, captain of the hounds of loken first company. if any one can hear this, report in.
*hearing a thundering boom, he turns, slowly. and what he sees makes him extend his lighning claws.*
a carnifex stands before him.
"sire!" a space marine wearing the same white plate charges from no where, his bolter bucking as he shoot at the monster.
with a roar, the carnifex flings the brother through the air and he practically explodes upon landing.
" no! brother!." *merric runs at the beast, a flickering light surrounding his lighning claws*
an then another terminator is running with him, white plate scarred and dented, and a tactical brother stands top the side and shoots the beast.
*merric slashes the creature, his brother, also baring lighning claws, thoe not as stylised, also is cutting at the creature.*
*as the beast slashes toward his fellow, merric launches himself, and his claws reap a bloody scar down the monster's neck, green blood trailing as the monster dies*
*the three stand near the monster* and the terminator turns to merric "my lord, it would appear we have made our entrance"
"it would appear so "
(sorry, I'm not sure if I have done anything wrong but if I have tell me)

((Nothing bad really, maybe use the OOC thread to announce yourself, or say where you are in the city, but besides that not bad. -:-) ))

(where is the ooc thread?) (sorry guys)

((On the survivor games &Online RPGs forum, a few down, still on page 1))

" sire, we are picking up a weak vox signal coming from the imperial chapel located to the west of here"
" good. We will not be able to escape to our ship without aid. Can you confirm chapter?"

"no sire, but he is not one of ours."
" very well, let us go. "
*the small group begin to walk*

V'sari sighed and did her best to ignore the rumbling in her stomach. How long had it been since there had been any real food to eat. Even with the combined efforts of the survivors the sub-commander had been able to find, they had run out of food a day ago. Their little sanctuary had ben successful at keeping the smaller tyranids out, without attracting anything large enough that could crack it open. "A'kali, take point," she ordered. "Fi'lin, cover the rear. Shas'la," V'sari said, turning to face the only survivor unfortunate enough to not have a battlesuit to protectively cover them. "Stay close to me.". The ragged band of Tau, emerged from the cellar, the stealth suit in the lead seeming to vanish only a few steps ahead. V'sari still wasn't sure if it was the suits invisibility, or just plain skill, but this terrain was going to be highly favorable for the stealth suit either way. She wasn't bad off herself, having been able to try to regroup her forces trying to get them out of the way before the Tyranids had fallen upon the planet. The three Tau left were all the results she had to show for it. The outside of the scorched and battered red hull remained impassive as always, but inside V'sari's hands clenched tightly. She had failed her forces miserably. The Shas'el felt she could never make up for it, but the only way she could start to make amends for her fallen bretheren was to make sure that all of them got out of this wasteland of a planet, and back in one piece to the Enclaves.

The rotted voice of Marus is heard over the Plague Marine communications channel.

'Champion... Unidientified vox signals incoming... Encryption patterns suggest loyalist origin...'

'Loyalist scum!... Brothers, ready your weapons, we have foolish slaves of the false Emperor to kill...'

The squad immediately splits into two and leaves the area in opposite directions, trying to triangulate the position of the detected vox.

The city likely hadn't been a green and lush place to begin with, but the Tyranids' stripping of the planet left even the drab wreckage seemingly devoid of color. With a crunch of rubble, the sub-commander held out an arm and came to a stop. A report was coming in from the stealth suit. It wasn't the first time that V'sari had been on the same battlefield as the shas'ui. She didn't even know if A'kali was male or female, but battlefield injuries had taken their voice. Ironic that it was likely quite handy a trait to have in their duties.

"Astartes ahead, moving towards a ruined building. There's a signal as well, Imperial in origin." V'sari turned her head, the lens impersonal as it gazed on the other two survivors. A fight would be inadvisable against space marines right now. Fi'lin had no fuel left in his jetpack and had to be sparing with his flamers as well. They would be much more effective against any swarms of Tyranids they might still encounter. The fire warrior, Lu'kii, was too fragile, and too important to risk in combat against that kind of foe. A warrior had managed to sink its claws through her positioning relay, but the shas'la could possibly fix it with some parts, and from there if any Enclave ships were still in the system, they might pick up on the signal. A long shot, but still a possibility for rescue.

"Fi'lin, Lu'kii, hold up in that building there, I'll attempt contact. A'kali keep watch and do not engage." The stealth suit pilot clicked once in acknowledgement before transmitting the cathedral's location. Moving the XV8 as deftly as possibe through wreckage and ruins, it wasn't long before both the cathedral and the approaching space marines were in sight, the cathedral easily the largest building - or what was left of one - in at least a kilometer. "Hail, Astartes," V'sari said cautiosly, the translation software in her suit's speakers converting her native tongue to perfect - if toneless - Low Gothic.

(With Koth)

''A little singed, nothing a good slaughter won't fix'' Koth said as he drove his Klaive through the head of a wiggling hormagaunt with it's left side badly burned. ''But these bugs seem to be little int he way of sustenance. I need something real to kill otherwise, as my like are tend to do, we get...cranky.'' Koth cocked his head at the Tau, with what could only be described as hunger, before thinking better of himself and turned to finish the remaining Hormagaunts that writhed on the floor.

''Well, good Tau, if that suit was what we came here for, then it seems we have lost our objective and the 'supplies' you promised us, My Archon will be most displeased if we return empty handed. I suggest we look for something of worth to bring back to her for the sake of both of our hides, i am picking up slight Vox chatter. A few live captives might not go amiss?'' Koth reasoned.

(With Xilian)

''Hmmp! Astartes and their rivalries, rotters and oafs all to leave me in this predicament!'' Xilian exclaimed in a haggered but hushed tone as lashed her blade across a cultists throat, silencing him.

Lith had finished with her Cultists for several seconds now, got bored, and had already began playing with them. She had removed the bottom part of a mutants jaw to stop the screaming as she merrily cut him apart slowly, relishing each cut.

''Lith, there will be time for that later. I will get to the weaponry deposit, you are to meet me there. But first, go see if the Tau we were entrusted with still lives and bring him to, if he dies it could spoil 'negotiations' later.'' Xilian chimed as she set off, quiet as a cat, towards the small ware house that contained the PDF's weaponry reserves. Lith skipped off, her girlish smile contrasting with the stains of blood that ran awash of her half naked body.

*merric kicks open the door to the chaplaincy and avicus dives into the sermon hall, his lightning claws out-stretched)
"clear."
" Avicus, with me. Sergeant, defend thenentrance. "

*With Ry'leth*

The suit... Was simply a bonus... The supplies are above...

*HE begins to ascend the stairs of the store, and is met by crackle on his coms. (His coms are still tau after all) "Astartes ahead... ruined building...Imperial..." *

A message... Koth... There are more on this world... More of my species... and *With INTENSE malice* Imperials....

*Back at the path finder*

*one cultist attempted to hide behind the chimera, he is quickly spotted by the tau.*

Hey there buddy... DO you have time to hear the message of the prince of pleasure slaanesh?

*He grins beneath his mask, and produces some cables from a bag on his person.*

Hey guys! I captured a prisoner!

The two squads manage to triangulate the rough direction of the loyalists. They gather up quickly and, in practiced fashion, form a coherent squad and advance against the signal.

As a seemingly abandoned chapel comes into sight, they guess that here is where the loyalists might be, and slow down their pace, ready for battle...

V'sari cursed to herself, the translator remaining mercifully silent. With the Astartes ahead of her barging into the cathedral for cover, it was doubtful they would spend much time listening to her. Another text report from A'kali. There were more marines coming, and not terribly subtly at that. "This is V'sari. We're going to press on. I'll regroup with you two, A'kali keep an eye out and stick close." For now that was all the shas'el was going to risk over open comms.

It didn't take long for her to rejoin the other survivors, and Fi'lin raised one of his XV8's arms. "Shas'el, I think I found something."

"Walk and talk Fi'lin."

The shas'ui nodded, the coast relatively free of marauding Tyranids and the Enclave survivors trying to put as much distance between themselves and the possible firefight that might break out around the cathedral. "Its from the mission briefing. While most of the city's infrastructure has collapsed, that tower," Fi'lin pointed at a spire perhaps halfway between them and the distant bulk of the space port. "It was a communicatins relay for the guardsmen. Even if we can't cobble our relay back together, we might be able to find some intact gear there, or even be able to get an idea of what else is going on in the city."

V'sari nodded, the head of her own XV8 following suit. "Alright thats the plan then. A'kali take point, I'll take the rearguard this time. Lu'kii stay close to Fi'lin. Move out!"

(( added in a gargoyle-infested com tower? xD ))

*Ry'leth mini event*

*Ry'leth whispers into his coms. Speaking with the new blue arrivals*

Hello there... My brothers and sisters... This is Commander Ry'leth... Formerly... Commander Long-Reach... I would like to open communications...

(ok, screw differentcoloured words, I'm just gonna Mark who's talking)
{space marine}
"HOLD! stand down!"
*merric deactivates his lightning claws and looks at the space marine before him. Although his armour Is dented, merric recognises him as one of the forsaken knights chapter.*
{merric}"brother, we cole bearing the emperor's name"
As the three cautiously walk the aisle toward the space marine, the tactical sergeant suddenly falls forward , a hole in the back of his head.*
{ merric} "TAKE COVER!"
* the three terminator armoured astartes leap behind marble pillars either side of the aisle, and the half crazed space marine realises that these two white armoured astarted are his brothers as he sees the disgusting mockery of a space marine that stands in the chaplain's door way.*

'Loyalist scum!'

The Plague Marines spot the Loyalists in the distance and open fire, a storm of blighted Bolter shells flying in their direction and pounding the cover of the enemy Astartes. The diseased behemoths enter the chapel- while small by Imperial standards, it is still more than big enough to accomodate a firefight between two squads- and move into shelter themselves, taking up positions to cover each other.

Karnus crouches next to Marus, the two quickly discussing how to proceed.

'Our bolters will be unable to kill them before they reach us should they charge...'

'They wear Terminator armour... Melee is inadvisable, and our blessed hides can't match their plate for toughness.'

'Do we have support available?...'

'No, Champion. The fleet is still out of reach.'

Karnus interrupts the discussion by throwing a frag grenade at the enemy Astartes. While he knows a single grenade would hardly be able to kill any of them, it would at least contribute to keeping them suppressed.

'Then we hold them here... Contact the Xenos, if we are to overpower these dogs we need support...'

Marus simply nods and opens his HUD voxlink, searching a way to signal any of the Chaos Tau and inform them of the presence of the Emperor's servants.

{merric} "AVICUS! They may have supporting units in the area! Prepare for more enemy astartes!
(to space marine) name! Now!"
{space marine} "my name is lukas the once-eaten, don't ask."
{merric} " well lukas, welcome to squad Avicus, my guard. As you can see, only me and himself still live.
Avicus, offensive, take the one on the right, don't let that knife puncture your joint-armour!"
*Avicus, ever one for silence, nodds*
{lukas} "my thunder hammer shall be the instrument of their destruction!"
*the three terminators charge through the rows of chairs, the traitors' bolt rounds bouncing off. A single round reaches Avicus' elbow joint, opening the soft armour beneath.*

*With the path finder*

*The tau sees the SOS message on his coms*

The Plague marines are in danger. I'm moving to support.

*He opens his coms again*

Ry'leth! Send the drone to these coordinates! I need support!

Very well.... It will meet you there....

*The pathfinder begins running off in the direction of the chapel, he shouts to the eldar as he leaves.*

Loyalist marines! I'm going to help our allies! Don't kill my cultist while Im gone!

'Brothers! They charge!...'

'Pull out!'

The Plague Marines are not swift, but they are still able to- barely- outpace the ponderous Terminator armoured Marines. They throw several frags in the path of the power-armoured one and rush out of the chapel. They continue running, their massive bulks smashing through cover in their path.

They eventually reach a ruined building and attempt to climb it, knowing that Terminators are too heavy to climb, and once they are up they should be able to pick off the Terminators with sustained fire... Hopefully.

(With Xilian)

The ware house was empty, abandoned and ransacked when she arrived, he senses assaulted by the smell of leaking promethium and ancient machinery. Xilian sighed, she was unlikely to find anything of use here, she thought. Then she heard it. A tiny, almost inaudible whining, but it was there. Amidst the raided and empty shelves that lined each wall where many things left in the ransacking of people trying to escape the Tyranids, Las-Charges, Ration Packs, Medi-Kits but something stood out. A small, stylized 'I' insignia adorn the wood work of a shelf, Xilian searched the shelf on impulse. She found a small latch in the woodwork and as it flipped a strangled screeching rang across the warehouse.

The shelves parted and swiveled, being replaced by burnished steel wargear trays laiden with heavy carapace armour, primitive gas masks, Hellguns and other specialist weaponary all adorn with this 'I' insignia.

''Well, this will do nicely!''

(With Lith)

Xilian waved the pathfinder off, looked at the cultist, then away again as if he was taunting her to end him, slowly and painfully. Maybe he was, of course he was, who wouldn't want to be killed by someone as beautiful as she, she thought. But no, stealing anothers slave without good cause is considered the epitome of rudeness in the city of slaves as well as the Archon had instructed her to look after this Tau. So, she waited, amused her self by flaying one of the Cultists hands (8 seconds, a personal best!) before slowly standing and swirling on the spot.

The Tau was already out of sight, rounding a corner with, what to a Tau would be a sprint. Lith leisurely jogged, springing over crates and outcropes in her bare feet, leaping onto a burnt out ground car and up onto the roof of a row of buildings with a flip. She tailed the Pathfinder from above, leaping silently from building to building, watching for danger in the streets around him. Maybe he would like her more if she dropped in at just the right time, she thought selfishly to her self, she had never had a Tau before...well. Not willingly.

V'sari held up an armored hand to halt the group as R'leth's voice crackled through their comms. While she didn't enjoy making her group stationary targets like this, she wasn't entirely certain what to do.

She could just press on with the remnants of her forces. After all she knew no commander with the name Long-Reach, or R'leth. Perhaps it was some Tau that hadn't turned their back on 'the greater good' like the Enclaves. They might be able to get more resources and man power.

The sub-commander could also ignore the other Tau, and continue to press on. They might miss out on the possibility of getting more hands and eyes, important things against Tyranids. There was also no guarentee they wouldn't be taken advantage of. They were rebels after all.

Like she had throughout her career, she picked a third option. It was one of the reasons she'd reached this rank after all. [i]"This is sub-comander Vasari of the Enclaves. What is your current status, Commander?" There was at least no harm in seeing if they could get any information from her counterpart. Hearing the distinct sounds of bolter fire back from the chapel, she motioned her forces into the shadow of a nearby husk of a building before making another signal for A'kali to keep patrolling in their stealth suit. V'sari didn'tknow if they had seen it or not, but the silent watcher probably had.

{merric} "COWARDS! COWARDOUS WRETCHES! I SHALL RIP YOUR BODIES TO PEICES! FOR ISTVAAN!" *merric yells obscenities at the retreating plague marines.*
" Avicus, If there are more of the pestilent, I will need you to remain. I'l not have the leader of my honour guard layed low by a knife."
*Avicus nods in reply*
"brother lukas, we will move out, shall to accompany us?"
{lukas}" of course, my captain."
*they begin to walk down the derelict street, intent on finding ((brotherheraldus')) plague marines.*
{Avicus}" what was that?"
{merric} "what?"
*Avicus stares at the high window where he could swear he saw a glimmer, a vibratIon in the air like heat-distortion*
{Avicus} "nothing."

*With the pathfinder*
Ya.... Absolutely nothing at all...
*He lay prone on a roof-top, The marker light has been set on the loyalist squad, all he needed to do was pull the trigger, he didn't even hear the footsteps behind him when....

*With Ry'leth*
Hello sister.... I have one pathfinder in my service, he is currently being assisted by a drone in a battle with loyalist marines. I had a firewarriro with me... but he has been slain a warrior-class tyranid... For myself... I am currently being assisted by a group of eldar I have allied with... And I have in my possession and extremely powerful custom crisis suit.... Sadly without any fuel.... What is your status? I could use some... Assistance....

'Brothers! The loyalist scum cannot follow us up here!'

'We need different weapons for this task... Our bolters can't damage their armour.'

'Maybe the xenos can provide that?...'

'No... By the time their weapons manage to do the loyalists any real harm, they will be embroiled in the melee and cut down... We need support. Do we have an orbital link?...'

'Not currently...'

'Vox the Master Sorcerer, have him send it through the warp. Tell him to send us... Anything, really... A Dreadnought, a supply drop with weapons, or even bikes... Anything...'

Marus points ahead. The ruined buildings have created a path, many walls collapsing between the structures and allowing them to proceed with the high ground.

'Brothers... Forward... The next time we find those dogs, we shall do like Horus did at Istvaan, and let nothing survive.

* Avicus crushes a tyranid head underfoot,
And glares suspiciously at lukas*
{Avicus} "lukas. How is it you came to be in that chapel?"
*the three stopped walking, merric turning to face Avicus*
{lukas} "we were deployed to investigate tyranid presence, we quickly discovered multiple xenos in the area and retreated. I was the only survivor."
{Avicus} "and you made no attempt to contact what ever strike cruiser sent you here?"
{lukas} "correct. My VOX is damaged and the only reasonably accessible station is kilometres away."
*Avicus nods*
*merric looks up at the roof tops*
{merric} "Avicus, is your auspex active?"
*another nod*
{merric} "good. Scan for any way for us to get up there. I want those bastards dead."

(Lith)

Lith stalked behind the Pathfinder, bare feet fleeting the ground soundlessly. She padded closer, until she was leaning directly behind his ear.

''Boo''

The Pathfinder swirled on his heels, his powerful rifle inches from her face as he held up a single figure against the barrel in a mocking motion. The Pathfinder looked as if he would pull the trigger simply on principle.

''Now, now Tau. Swinging your weapon in a girls face is extremely rude! Oh, i see you have found some interesting specimens here. Astartes do make a name for themselves in the arena. Xilian would be most please to bring one home...'' She mentioned as she pointed over to the heavy footfalls of the Astartes.

(Xilian)

She raided the left over Inquisition Depo, finding several interesting things but little of use. At least she found a suitable use for the powerpacks as her sentient shadowfield absorbed their energy. Then she saw something that piqued her interest. An ornate ring, emblazoned with shining gold and ruby gems with an onyx 'I' as the center piece. The Dark Eldar had items like these, obviously far more advanced, but similar none the less. The displacer ring slipped unto her grieved fingure before automatically adjusting to size. After a quick look over the rest of the now, probably, deceased inquisitor she decided she had found all she could.

She was a street away when it happened. The hair on the back of her neck stood on edge a second before the massive detonation rocked the foundations of the city as the entire weapons depo exploded spectacularly as the prmothium reserves she rent open caught fire, raining flaming piles of debris across the city.

''Now, where have my allies got off to?'' She thought as she walked pointedly but quickly in the vague direction of the previous gun fire, ears still ringing with the sound of the explosion.

{Avicus} "captain, we are being followed. Two targets, roof top to the left."
*Avicus had known he had seen something, and while scanning for a route to the traitors, had replayed his vox-cam footage. The motion he had seen, it was one of the tau xenos.*
"what shall we do?" Avicus asked, showing no sign he had noticed the xeno presence. The tau had assumed himself invisible, but the wisp of movement had caught avicus' eyes.
{merric}"tag the bastards. We will find them later."
Three ticks resounded as the three terminators tagged their enemy.
{merric} "continue walking. We need to get to a stronger vox point, in the mean time, I want 30% armour power on finding the traitors, 30% on hydraulics, and 40% on VOX bursts, if you identify friendly signals, notify me."
*BOOM!*
The terminators barely flinched at massive exPlosion in the distance.
{lukas} "sire, do we investigate? Could it be the traitors?"
{merric} "negative. Continue on pre set parameters."
*merric and Avicus both set their armour to the aforesaid parameters.
Lukas however set just 20% to VOX bursts. Disobeying a direct order.*
{merric} " the armoury, there is an astartes grade armoury half a kilometre east. Re-deploy there."
*the three terminators continue.*

The Plague Marines halt on the roof of a reasonably tall but otherwise not very large building. They take a brief pause to evaluate the situation.

'No sign of either of the Xenos parties...'

'The Warp is slow... The message has not yet reached Sharikh.'

'We should guide them into the aliens... If nothing else they should be able to slow down our heavily armoured brethren.'

'Marus, lock onto their signals... Head for the Tau or the Eldar, whoever are closest...'

"Tell them ruin has come to their world, death, despair and red war...
Tell them their hopes and pride have come to nothing.
Tell them their empty whispers fall upon deaf ears - their gods are dead, human logic has killed them.
Tell them the Angels of Death have come.
Tell them that nothing can save them now."
~ Perturabo, Primarch of Legio IV, the Iron Warriors

Iron Warriors Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken
Arbitus Strongpoint B-74

The roar of a gene-enhanced warrior echoed through the cramped, metal hallway of Arbitus Strongpoint B-74. The massive chainaxe met the black carapace armor, which shattered under the pressure of the warrior wielding the weapon, and ravaged the flesh underneath it. The last of the Arbites fell dead on the floor with a "thunk", and the roaring of the brutal chainweapons ended. While among others the end of battle would be met by cheers of victory, the sharing of stories, or argueing about who had the most kills, the Iron Warriors simply continued their path. One of them pressed his armoured fingers on some buttons that were quite large for normal men, but small compared to the warriors of the Space Marine Legions. "It's dead. All power seems to have gone with those damned Tyranids. Damn them! If only we could contact the fleet, we could -"
"We can not, however, Legionaire Rorke, so there is no point in discussing it. The only way off-world appears to be through a spaceport several 7.3 miles away from here. The main Tyranid nest appears to be located there, and while we are undoubtedly stronger then them, it would be best to link up with others, despite their flaws. I recall other forces of Chaos having been sighted. For now it would be best to link up with them. Move."
The Iron Warriors moved out of the Arbites Strongpoint at their Captain's command, and walked outside, walking into a massive square, surrounded by ruins. There was no sound of significance they heard, and they could spot nothing that still lived. Something, or someone, had made sure of that. One of them stopped, examing the dead body of some Tyranid form. "When I said move, brother Torador, I meant that we move. Northwards."

"Sergeant, come in. It would seem the intell we got out of that heretic was right. There is a city still standing", a voice crackled over the vox network. Far away from the city, hiding among the rocks like insects, were four heavily armed and armored humans. One of their number was sitting down on a boulder trying to unjam her weapon. Another was taking a few sips of the very little precious drinkable water that was left on this world. Every drop was his tongue tasted was better than the last. He was so thirsty he felt at times he could drink a planet dry. They were all thirsty. And hungry. But not low enough on ammo. No, there were enough bullets to kill every last heretic in the world. Just not a drop to drink. Scavenging what they could off of their slaughtered comrades saw to that.

The Sergeant, whose armor was even more battered than the rest, answered the vox transmission when he managed to get the button on his 'caster to depress. The thing wasn't working right ever since that fight with the Genestealers. "Thank the Emperor. I thought this whole planet was a never ending wasteland. How does it look? Any food? Water?", he asked. Sergeant Joen Tross didn't like sounding so desperate but that is what their situation was. "I can't say for certain. What should we do, Sergeant?", the voice asked. "See what the Tyranids left behind. Return to base camp, Obershutze".

Nearly half a day later they were in the city proper. Sgt. Tross felt a little despair at the situation they were in. The city was just as much a field of rocks as the place they had just left. Only the occasional piece of flak armor or corroded bolt shell broke up the destitution of it all. Tross sunk those feelings into the deepest depths of his mind. He needed to be strong. Not only to see his squad live but to accomplish the task the Inquisition had given him. On his belt there was a small black box stamped with the seal of the Inquisition. The box has no obvious opening or hinges. Instead, there is a small finger sized hole at the front of it. Perhaps a DNA scanner? These Stormtroopers carefully crept through the city in case of any Tyranid abominations were left. They checked every shadow, kept to the previous checked shadows and kept their rifles at the ready.

With a voice like a bubbling, infested fissure, the sound of brother Samuas' words spreads through the night air. He speaks without the armour vox as to avoid others listening in on their private channel.

'Champion... The vox detector and long range auspex has detected multiple additional units...'

'Give me a run-down...'

'Our loyal brothers are a moderate distance somewhere to the southeast... I have lost trail of the Tau and Eldar but there's vox chatters using Guard and Iron Warrior encryptions...'

'Iron Warriors?... Here?... Interesting... Marus, head in their direction... With luck, they have appropriate armaments for dealing with the loyalists... The rest, come with me. Keep vox to a minimum, use battle-sign and only vox if it is important...'

Karnus points at a massive tower a fair distance away, rising far above the surrounding cityscape. He walks against it with Samuas and Dorax following him. Marus instead runs of in a different direction with surprising speed for a Plague Marine, moving directly against the source of the Iron Warrior signal...

A few minutes later a masculine voice crackled over the remnants of the Vox Network. "This is Jaeger Klipp of the Visigian 98th, Astra Militarium. If there are any friendly Imperials out there please respond. We are low on food, water and ammunition. We also have some grievously wounded amongst us so time is of the essence. Jaeger Klipp out".


The squad of Storm Troopers was now inside of storage faciility searching through what unbroken crates there were. One of their heavy gunners stood at the window as a look out. This particular Storm Trooper's armor was the most battered of them all with deep scratches covering almost every armor plate. One of his eye lenses was cracked and his chest eagle was nearly gone. Jaeger Klipp, after finishing the transmission, looked over at Feldwebel Tross. Tross picked up one of the crates, broke off the lid and dumped out it's contents. It was boot polish. Over 200 bottles of boot polish.Tross looked over at the blood stains on the walls and discarded lasgun packs. Guardsmen died defending this building. Guardsmen died over boot polish.

"Sir, this is more boot polish", Jaeger Susa reported taking a bottle out. Grigi looked from the street and towards his squad mates. "Water... I've found water!", Susa exclaimed with glee. Indeed, there were many cannisters of fresh, clean water that had been spared from the thirst of fighting men. They nearly tripped over each other to get some of the water. Susa threw off her helmet, opened one of the cannisters and dumped the water onto her face drinking as much as she could. It was heaven. For weeks they had marched on this hellhole with only a sip or two a day to sustain them. Grigi drank a cannister and a half. "Enough! We must be wise with this gift from the Emperor. Fill your canteens and take as many cannisters as you can", Tross ordered. The thirsty no more Scions took as much water as they could even if it was uncomfortable to carry so much. What the Scions didn't see was a warning label on the back of the crate: "Warning, Planetary Governor's Private Stock! Looters will be executed!".
Susa redonned her helmet and the soldiers resumed their search. If not interrupted they would leave within a few short minutes in search of food.

Iron Warriors Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken  

The Iron Warriors continued walking through the ruined city, shooting or, preferably, cutting through the occasional Tyranid they came across. Finally, after what seemed hours, something that could be more than just killimg-sport approached them, at a surprising speed for its size. The first to notice it was Brother Rorke, who already started aiming his boltgun.

"Lifeform hadding our direction. Origins unclear, not a Tyranid form, unless it's one of those Gene-stealer Cults, which is unlikely. 78 meters, north-west. Approaching with relatively high speed."

As one, the Iron Warriors raised their weapons, Torador, the sole survivor of Captain Vrakul's Terminator Honour Guard, switched his combi-bolter to its melta, and aimed at the approaching form, before slightly lowering it.

"Astartes. Target bears no Imperial insignia and appears to be substantially different from the False Emperor's followers."

"A servant of the Plague-God. Lower your weapons, but be prepared for anything. If Fulgrim's sons teached us anything, it'd be to trust no one."

The group lowered their weaponry as the Plague Marine came closer to them. Finally, as the bloated Astartes stood before them, Torador spoke.

"You stand before Captain Gavriel Vrakul of the Iron Warriors, Scion of Nurgle. What is your business, and are there any of your kin left?"

'Greetings, brethren of Iron... I am Marus, Plague Chosen of the Glacier Serpents, under the command of my Champion, Karnus and his master, Lord Kraxis the Allchosen... Four of us came here to investigate the area before the Tyranids devour it all, but the Hive Fleet shut off the Thunderhawk's extraction route...'

'I and my squad are here with two goals now that the 'investigation' has been aborted... Our first was to make our way to the spaceport and leave the planet, but we found a squad of loyalist Space Marines in the city and we have shifted priorities to their destruction...'

Marus coughs heavily, a bunch of writhing maggots dropping to the ground from his back armour.

'They have Terminator armour, and my squad's weaponry is mainly bolters and chainswords... Your heavier weapons may prove necessary to deal with them...'

Marus lifts one of his massive arms and points to a large tower in the distance.

'My squad is headed there... Come...'

The inquisition has arrived...

Through the dust and ruined buildings strides a solitary figure, his bulky armor, once gleaming gold, now tarnished and dark. He pulls the hood of his dark red cape closer to his face, coughing in the slowly polluting air. He brings a com to his mouth and speaks. This world has been overtaken. The great devourer crawls over every inch ofthis world, and it is not alone... Xenos and the infection of chaos have both reached this planet... The only option left is... Exterminatus... Estimated time until arrival... Forty eight Terran hours. I will attempt to escape this world with my battleship at the space docks, and prevent the escape of the heretics... Inquisitor Tiberius out. Ave Imperitor... He clicked off his coms and looks to the sky, it's going to be a long night...

"Exterminatus?", Grigi asked. The Stormtroopers had stopped right in their tracks in the middle of the large road. Joen Tross almost immediately turned on his communicator. Though he could not access the exact frequency the Inquisitor had made his transmission on he used a general Imperial frequency to try and get a hold of him. "Inquisitor Tiberius, this is Sergeant Tross of the 98th Visigian Jaegers. We request you delay the Exterminatus. We are under orders from Inquisitor Corel Harland to deliver a piece of important technology to him. It's a mission of great importance to the Imperium!", the Sergeant said. "I didn't even know there was an Inquisitor here", Susa said. "Of course you didn't. It's in the Inquisition. It's their job to make everything as secretive as possible", Klipp replied. "I thought their job was to make everything as difficult as possible", Grigi retorted. "No, that is the scared and sole charge of the Mechanicus", Klipp quipped.

The Tall man clears his throat and begins to speak, slowly readying a bolt pistol as he does. *Ahem* Greetings Sargent Tross. I am afraid you have been charged with stealing imperial property for your own use. You may now accept the Emperor's mercy. Fear not, if this technology you speak of is so important, it shall be safer in my hands.

Tross turns around to meet the Inquisitor. Underneath his damaged helmet the human furrows his brow. His left hand rests on the grip of his holstered pistol. "Stealing Imperial property...? Our mission is sanctioned by the Inquisition itself. Surely that allows to obtain some water without filling out the requisition forms", Tross said. The other Storm Troopers grip their rifles a little tighter.

"Avicus, lukas, I want full speed to that armoury!"
*the three begin to sprint*

Iron Warriors Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken

Company Captain Gavriel nodded at the Glacier Serpents' Plague Marine spoke, and smashed his armoured fist against his breastplate as a form of greeting.

"We are in a situation akin to yours, brother. We, too, were here, though for reasons I may not say to anyone not of the Grand Company, and have lost contact with any other forces on the planet, or in orbit."

He grunted as Marius began speaking of loyalists. Loyalists, they called themselves. He watched the Plague Marine cough up maggots - the servant of Nurgle undoubtedly pleased with such an "ability" - and stepped on them with his boot.

"Loyalists. Lead the way then, brother. We will be able to tear through their armor. We have not yet used our Bolter's melta-round, nor any of our explosives. My power axe and Torador's power fist will prove to be more than capable to tear them apart. Lead the way then, Marus, and let us destroy this Loyalist filth."

Marus simply nods and bows- for while the Iron Warrior is not from his warband, the Glacier Serpents have a certain kind of honour and the Iron Warrior does rank above him- and starts running, adjusting his pace to suit the Terminator-armoured warriors.

'You can't climb in that armour, so we will need to find another way up...'

He looks around and finds a building with intact and solid stairs. Once he finds it, he points at it.

'This way, Iron brethren...'

The Inquisitor spoke once more. Theft is theft. And theft is punishable with death. Now put down your weapon and die with honor. He drew his power sword, energy sparking off it. I will NOT ask again.

*Back at Ry'leth*

*Annoyed at the silence from his coms, Ry'leth moves down out of the building, Carrying a large sack on his back.
Here is the food I promised.... We can return to your allies.

*At the pathfinder*

Oh! It's you! You scared me. But you know... I still owe you for the iho stick...

Iron Warriors 7th grand company Varo's Kane

Varos pulled himself from the wreckage of his thunderhawk looking around for any supplies he could scavenge finding his axe and combi-bolter, he heard a shifting noise coming from the rear of the craft. cautiously moving to the sound he sees 2 of his fellow brothers assisting a third brother trapped under a fallen bulkhead. he rushed over and managed to pull brother sergeant Marius from the wreckage. the other 2 survivors were cestus rovan his second in command leader of his command terminator squad and another marine carrying a plasma gun.

they moved out of the wreckage cautiously. sergeant Marius turned to his warsmith 'sir i have detected a vox signal coming from what appears to be elements of another Iron warriors company and some followers of the plague god approximately 100 metres from our position.

they set off at a run towards their brothers' position.

V'sari gave a long deep breath. "If it's fuel your looking for, I'm afraid we have none to spare. Half of our XV8's are out of fuel, and the rest are on reserves." The phrasing of the Tau sub-commander was intentional. With nobody to trust in this desolate, infested ruin except the remains of her own force, it was best to be cautious and make them seem larger than they were with a simple bluff.

As V'sari talked, she watched another text report come in, detailing the Astartes movements, and their movements towards what was likely an armory. That thought was interrupted by the explosion. After a few seconds more, A'kali sent more text asking for orders. Not willing to risk her best scout available, V'sari texted the stealth suit to regroup with them.

"There is a surviving com tower not far from th--" TheTau battlesuit pilot cut her words off with the 'Lord' as she'd rounded the corner to come within sight of more humans. While armored they were definitely not Astartes, particularly the one wearing power armor and readying a weapon in the direction of the other guardsmen. With practiced instinct, she raised her weapons, but didn't open fire or begin to charge her guns. V'sari only hoped they would be... reasonable.

Sergeant Tross fell silent for a moment or two. After what seemed like an eternity for his men his helmet once more crackled. "Inquisitor Tiberius, while I understand and accept these charges my mission is clear. I must deliver the device to Inquisitor Harland at all costs. If you seek to interfere with this sanctioned quest than I have only one course of action. Fire at will", he said with an almost robotic tone. His rifleman open up on the Inquisitor with all of their weaponry. A hail of armor piercing rounds come towards the Inquisitor. The Jaegers do not notice the stealth suits observing

*merric punches through the thick steel plates of the armoury door, and carves a large hole with his lightning claw*
the inside of the armoury is dimly lit, and a half dozen racks stand full of weapons.
The armoury had been used by local PDF, guardsmen and even visiting astartes.
Las-guns, auto-guns, bolters, plasma/meltas, SniPer rifles, power swords and fists. and q fortress worth of ammo. 5 wrist mounted stormbolters ( although the three don't know it, they were left long ago by grey knghts)
And even....
{merric} "Avicus, do you want it, or should I?"
{Avicus}" sire, honestly, I would say you should."
{merric} "agreed."
{lukas} "one of these each, also." *he hands out the stormbolters*
*merric reviews the rescent communiques between the guardsman officer and the inquisitor*
"Lets go!"

*the three terminators exit, Avicus now armed with 2 lightning claws and a stormbolter, lukas with thunder hammer stormsheild and a stormbolter, and merric weilding a power sword, stormbolter, and a dark angels terminator-plasma-cannon.*

Varos kicked down the thin wall in front of him clearing a path straight to the moving iron warriors and glacier serpents. he announced that he was here planning the start of an iron warriors siege on he main fortress complex when news of the hive fleets arrival came they attempted to return to their waiting cruiser in orbit but were knocked out if the sky by an inbound spore mine. ' we wish to be off this planet and once we find a craft capable of letting us do that our ship will come out of hiding behind the planets moon to evacuate us.maybe it would be more favourable if we made our way to one together?'

Iron Warriors Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken

The band of Iron Warriors followed the Glacier Serpent Plague Marine, until they finally found a building with intact stairs. With the Glacier Serpent, they climbed the stairway. When they walked out of it, a wall was knocked down, and within an instance, the Iron Warriors had all readied their weapons, and aimed at the spot where the wall had just been knocked down. Seeing that the men that came through the hole were Iron Warriors, they all lowered their weapons, but held them at the ready - competition was fierce within the Legion, and during the evacuation of a planet, unfortunate accidents could happen... They listened to the man, a Warsmith, apparently, explain himself. Company Captain Gavriel nodded.

"That would be best, Warsmith. Brother Marus of the Glacier Serpents here was leading us to join with his squad, who are heading out to destroy a squad of Loyalists, before going off-planet. We should start moving again, preferably now."

'we will help track them down death to the followers of the false emperor!' Varo's said loudly.
brothe marius he turned to his sergeant have your man go on a scouting mission to our left flank and look for the imperials

Marus turns around and nods again.

'We must make haste, for there is little time... I recommend that you minimise vox usage to avoid the risk of eavesdropping...'

He continues swiftly up the stairs until he reaches the top of the building, and then indicates for the Iron Warriors to follow as he moves over the ruins from roof to roof.

Varo's nods to his new found allies we will move through the lower floors to cover more search ground use voxes sparingly as we dont want to tip off any undesireable foes getting our signal.

The lone iron warrior moved silently through the streets making careful not to alert a nearby nest of tyranids. He passed by something interesting on his way a rhino transport crashed into some rubble he looked around it for sometime coming to the conclusion that all it needed was a new set of tracks. if only there were a vehicle depot or other tank with spare parts lying around. he knew he couldnt vox back to his commander so he decided to look for himself..

(Lith)

The earth shook with each step as the Tactical Dreadnaughts plowed their way from the weapons cash. She had stalked them here, the towering half destroyed buildings channeled Vox readings into ghosts and half glimpses making her almost untraceable. The Tau, adept as he was, even he tread to heavily, wary he might alert the Astartes she left him with instructions to keep his Rifle on Terminator with the Lightning claws while she enacted her plan.

They where directly below her now, sweeping weapons along every direction, every angle and side street. Every angle, except up. Several small pellets dinged off of the TDA of the Marines, they looked up in unison at the single, half naked Xenos Wych who was waving seductively at them.

''Hello boys''

The haywire grenades exploded in a shower of purple energy which arced up each Marines armour, plates locked up and joints stiffened at once as the power was overloaded. She sprang downwards, catlike, as she landed upon the Thunderhammer carrying Marine's head and angled her knife above a joint in the Terminators Neck.

''hush now you plodding primates, all i ask for are the codes and directions to the nearest space port and any transport you may have. Otherwise your friend here could be in a sticky situation...''

(Koth)

''Good, we shall head locate them now. Hopefully your pathfinders little 'cultural exchange' has gone as well as ours had.''

He flipped his gauntlet open to reveal a small green screen inscribed with alien symbols.

''Ah, this way, the Wych seems to have your friend with her as well. I hope she hasn't got into trouble...''

He began towards Lith's location, food sack and klaive firmly packed upon his back.

Through a particularly dilapidated section of the webway; one that had collapsed, reformed and collapsed many times over, a Harlequin troupe of seven with a farseer struggled to forge a path. The farseer had seen a terrible vision; another fall of the eldar but one that could be prevented. Out of all the possible futures, she saw only one potential way to avert catastrophe - to group up with this Harlequin troupe and to lead them to where they were needed. Only they could get through the webway to the planet, and only they had the potential to succeed.

It had taken time, effort and skill to make it through the webway and even then it was not enough; only three of their original number made it through to step foot onto this fated planet:
The troupe master Argentmun himself, the farseer Laurella and the troupe master's closest companion the Deathjester Jaraxuis.

Laurella studied her surroundings and spoke, "This is the planet and we must move swiftly. If even one soul makes it off this planet, including ours, our species will become extinct."

Argentmun nodded, "Lead onwards."

Laurella sprinted off, "Follow me, there is but one port left on this planet with space-worthy craft and others are heading there too."

Jaraxuis hefted his weapon and simply smiled behind his mask. He was finally getting to the part he liked.

*lukas and merric share a glance*
{merric}"xeno, I should have you know-"
* merric kicks lukas hard in the chest, and he flies back, smashing the wych into a wall*
"-that YOU DIE HERE!"
*the Plasma cannon activates*

(Lith)

Well, she didn't expect that. She rolled with the impact aginst the wall before looking back to see and hear the whine of the cataclysmic plasma cannon. She dirved for all she was worth, but it wasn't enough. Any other weapon, she might of evaded but as the ball of super heated plasma exploded against the wall where she once was, the plasmic residue and heat pressed outwards from the initial impact with the wall raging at Lith's back and Legs. She hit the ground hrd and could do nothing to break her fall, her back and legs where burned to badly for use.

''Oaf!! Never trust a Mon'Keig to be civil,'' She screiked shrillly, hoping that her indigent screeching would blot out the massive amount of pain. It didn't help. The Terminators looked at her cooly through glass eyes, unperturbed.

(Koth & Kilian)

Xilian met up with Koth and his ally on the way there and began towards Lith. They quickly transversed broken streets and building towards the winking light of the Wych on Koth's arm screen. Xilian felt it before it happened, she could feel the air take on a different tone as it ionized and the shrieking whine of the plasma cannon all before the rocking detonation.

They exchanged looks, and began to sprint as Xilian activated her shadowfield.

*merric took a step forward, and his boot raised over the xeno head, poised to crush it*'

Lith smiled, she had been here before. She had already been killed twice on the arena sands and once by a hulking Tyranid Bioform, said offenders now sit in supervention on her wall. She would be back, and as they say, Hell Hath No Fury...

The boot came down and Lith's slender arm reached up, splinter pistol in hand as she aimed for the connecting joint between crotch and leg where armour gave way to the black carapace underneath.. Under the colossal weight her head gave no resistance, it simply popped apart in a spray of blood. If it was vindictive spite or the death spasm which made her trigger figure twitch none can say, but all we know is that she died smiling as the virulently poison rounds left the barrel.

"BITCH!"
*the poisons are quickly defused by his astartes immune system, but by the emperor it hurts*
*merric stomps on the body again, spurting blood all over*
"BITCH!" he yelled again.

The Eldar trio flitted between cover to cover as they moved inexorably onwards towards the infested Space-port. Carried on the wind they faintly heard two consecutive shouts of rage in the distance, "BITCH!" "BITCH!". Despite hearing that they didn't even break stride, but it made Laurella think; a Farseer, Death jester and Troupe master weren't much at all in comparison to the forces that were arrayed against them and yet so much rested on their shoulders.

When they came to a crossroads, Laurella called a stop and spoke quietly to the others, "The Space-port is just ahead; keep going and you'll come to the perimeter. Do not enter, for it's currently infested with genestealers and they will assist us in our mission. Set up around the perimeter and make sure no-one gains entry. I will attempt to garner support for our cause but if I do not return, do not look for me; look only to the mission."

Jaraxius simply nodded and strolled onwards for he had never seen the point in farewells; all would see each other again in the clutches of Death. As Jaraxius walked off, Argentmun paused a moment to say, "Dance well fair Farseer, you have done your job well and may Cegorach help you to continue further."

Laurella smiled, clapped him on the shoulder and then responded, "I thank you for the support both you and your troupe have given me. Now go! Defend the port!"

With one last look back, Argentmun sprinted off to join Jaraxius, who had taken position in some cover in the street ahead. Laurella watched them go and then opened her mind to her surroundings. She had never been a particularly adept warrior or powerful psyker but she had always had excellent senses and precognitive abilities. She felt many other beings in her general vicinity; followers of chaos whose minds were anathema to her, many Monkeigh both normal and altered, even some members of their dark brethren. She searched, searched for any who could help her cause.

There it was! There was the being she wanted, no, needed, to meet. One particular Monkeigh with the power to complete her mission here and now. He was close and she had to find him and find him soon.

Iron Warriors Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken

The Iron Warriors patiently followed Brother Marus, eager to find the hated "loyalists", and to get rid of them.

"How far are we exactly from your comrades, Glacier Serpent? We have to be quick."

'Not far away, Iron Brethren... Six-seven minutes of running should be all we need...'

Marus continues running across the roof, each thundering step cracking the rockcrete surface.

Xilian and Koth had sprinted towards the scene but Koth stopped them before they rounded the corner. He peered round. She was dead, no doubt about it. He hoped she had contacts with the Haemonculi, she looked like she would need it. Koth turned to Xilian and swayed his head, she knew the meaning. She looked round the corner, setting the calculations.

They where to well armed and armoured, she could give them that. Yes, if they made it into combat range she and her bodyguard would have a distinct advantage, being far, far faster and with their own weapons that could punch though their armour. But not now. She smelt something on the wind. A sickly sweet aroma of soft perfume and scented oils, but they where exotic, different then even she had smelled. These were the smells of the Eldar, not just any Eldar, but the Choral Players of Cegorarch.

She turned and mentioned Koth towards the Space port, now just a street away. If other Eldar where here, they would have access to a Webway portal. She stopped mid stride, still hearing the squishing and squelching as the Astartes relieved his anger. She turned on the heal and aimed her Blast Pistol to the towering building held up precariously by a few supporting beams, the rest having been trampled by something she'd rather not meet. She fired, a shaft of darklight flashed between the distance as the support beams simply vanished into atoms.

She turned and skipped off to join Koth, the brick dust bellowing behind her and the lurch of abused brickwork cracking and collapsing filled her ears.

Argentmun followed silently behind Jaraxius having already pushed all thoughts of the farseer out of his mind for he needed to think of only the mission. He didn't want to live in a Universe where Harlequin troupes would have to re-enact two falls of the eldar; that much tragedy would be too much for even him to laugh through.

Argentmun noticed the perimeter of the space-port in front of them, a wall of rockcrete with barbed wire stretching around the top. The wall itself wasn't particularly high, but it would prevent any enterprising individuals from being able to scale it unaided. The street itself ran straight up to the gate which was a solid and sealed blast door. Over the top of the wall he could see a couple AA towers and communication arrays that seemed melted or corroded, he assumed that was caused by the Tyranids as they consumed this world.

Jaraxius walked off as Argentmun was making his observations, he was bee-lining straight towards a rather large building with a couple towers, almost next to the space-port entrance. It seemed of sturdy construction and had once had communication arrays of its own. It looked like it had once been a PDF or security garrison for the space-port. Argentmun hurried to catch up with him, wondering what the silent Death Jester had in mind.

When he arrived at the building Jaraxius didn't bother to enter it, he simply slung his Shrieker Cannon onto his back and started scaling the bullet-ridden wall, using the holes as hand and foot holds. He climbed to the top of the slagged out communications array and sat on the edge, contented, like a cat on a ledge. From there he could see out over the space-port and the approaches to both it and his vantage point.

Argentmun called up to him, "You do realize that anyone coming towards the port can see you?"
Jaraxius just looked at him and cocked his head in a manner that said, "No gak".
Argentmun laughed, "Oh alright, I guess you know what you're doing. I'll guard the main entrance and zip on over if you need support."
Jaraxius didn't respond but turned his eyes outwards to look upon the city and prepared to respond to any beings who would dare encroach on his space-port.

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Farseer Laurella made her way deeper into the city, trying to find the one Monkeigh she knew could help her cause. If she found him first she might be able to convince him to aid her, but if it was the other way around she'd probably be dead before she uttered a word. She knew he was near, but there something about him, some defense or mental training that made it hard to her to pinpoint his location.

She heard a faint rumble of bricks and falling masonry a street or two away. The Monkeigh she was after was not a subtle man; she knew that from the glimpses of his past she had seen and this building collapse might be something to do with him. She sprinted towards where she heard it come from and drew her pistol as she did so; there was no sense in going into a unknown situation unprepared.

The inquisitor rises from the ground, shaking dirt from his now filthy armor. Firing on an officer of the inquisition, I'll have you labeled as traitors to the imperium! I have you- He reaches for his communicator and finds it shattered by his fall. Damn....

*at the pathfinder*

Now alone, the pathfinder continues on his his sniping attempt, somehow he managed to lose track of what was happening for quite a while there.... Seeing the battle unfurling below him, he spots loyalist colors. He opens up his coms. "This is a message to anyone in the area associated with the forces of chaos! I am on your side and I have a very large gun! Call out target s as you see them and I will fire everything I've got!"

*At Ry'leth*

Arriving at the now deserted chimera, Ry'leth looks for his ally , but sees nothing. "Where are they...." He continues his search, then sees a single cultist tied up on the other side of the vehicle, a cartoon of a smiling tau branded on his forehead."He was here... Recently.... This one hasn't starved yet...." He helps the cultist to his feet, but doesnt undo the bindings. "Well my friend... you have two choices... Die here.... Or join us in pursuit of the greater bloodshed..." Ry'leth rips the cloth off his mouth. "What do you choose"

"I'll help ! I'll help! Please don't kill me!"

"Excellent...."

Sergeant Tross frowns underneath his helmet. He takes out his handgun and points it at the Inquisitor. He begins walking towards the Inquisitor with his handgun stilled pointed squarely at the man's head. "Put your hands on your head, sir", he said in a calm manner, "Now". The distant rumbling and the apparent collapse of a nearby structure alert Tross and his band of not so merry men. "Did you hear that Grigi?", Klipp asked. "I think you'd have to be deaf not to hear that. Sergeant, I strongly recommend we move off the streets", Grigi said. "Not before I ask the good Inquisitor a few questions", Tross replied. "I say we shoot the bastard now and be done with it", Grigi said. Tross ignores the man.


[Meanwhile]

Not too far from the other loyalist Space Marines, jutting out from the side what once was a manufactorum, is a Thunderhawk. This mighty craft was charred, covered in thousands of holes and missing moss of its wings. Inside is not much better. Blood and gore coat the interior, chunks of ceramite litter the ground and the hunched over figures of its passengers remain in their seats. These Astartes have large pieces of them missing having been torn apart by anti-aircraft rounds. The sight of these mighty heroes brought low in such a inglorious death would certainly be devastating to a citizen of the Imperium. To an Astartes it is not a unfamiliar sight.

On the ground are several more Space Marines. Most of them have also been slain by AA fire. Most of them. One armored figure begins to stir. The marine slowly rises to his feet. The world, once blurry and spinning, quickly sharpens into view. A Hydra autocannon shell falls from the front of his chest leaving a noticeable dent. He leans down to pick up his Bolter. The Bolter isnt your typical fare either. It is an umbra pattern boltgun fitted with a drum magazine. His armor is also not typical for a Space Marine. It is an ornate variant of Mk. 4. He is a Sternguard Veteran. All of the marines in the gunship are. He casts his gaze across his fallen brothers. Sadness sweeps over him but he cannot weep. Not now.

The Sternguard exits the Thunderhawk. He is greeted by a metallic voice. "We were wondering when you would get up".

"This is Brother-Sergeant Kade of the 1st company. Our thunderhawk has crashed and we require evacuation. I repeat this Brother-Sergeant Kade of the Ultramarines and we require extraction", a vox transmission crackled out.

{Avicus} "sire, why is it that when I'm with you building seem to fall over more?"
{merric} "because, I like hitting things."
*merric's hand emerges from the rubble, followed by his other, and then his head. *
It takes twenty minutes for Avicus and merric to escape the debris. *Avicus and merric pull lukas from the rubble*
{merric} "that...was annoying."
merric hears something over his VOX .
{Avicus} "ultramarines."
{merric} "ultramarines."

Marus halts his run as they reach the rest of the squad.

The squad consists of two Plague Marines and a Plague Champion. The Plague Marines wear armour of an unidentifiable mark, and no two look alike. Everyone wears helmets except the Plague Champion, whose distended jaw is filled with gas-belching tubes that lead down to his breastplate. The Plague Champion wears a long sword in a scabbard at his belt and carries a nasty-looking Bile Spewer in his hand, while the rest carry the same wargear as Marus.

The Plague Champion steps forward while Marus joins his brothers.

'Greetings, Iron Warriors... I am Karnus, Plague Lord of the Glacier Serpents... I trust you, too, heard the new arrivals over the vox?... We must either find them and destroy them before we leave, or ensure they won't be able to leave while we do...'

The pathfinder watched as the marines leave, as one of the heavy armored men turns his back to the pathfinder, he sees his chance. and takes it. The gleaming shot of the rail-rifle exits the barrel, a massive sonic boom sounding as it sears through the air towards the marine.

*at the inquisitor*

What are you accomplishing? if you bring me to the other inquisitor you will be punished for your misdeeds! I will be released and slay you! YOU WILL BE CAST ASIDE FROM HOLY TERRA AND BURN IN THE FLAMES OF THE WARP!

"Then all the more reason to put a bullet into your fat head", Tross said, "Drop your weapon, get on your knees and put your hands on your head or we will gun you down where you stand". At the words "Gun down" the other soldiers train their rifles on the Inquistor.

[Meanwhile]

"Damn. No response. Our battle barge must have left", Kade said. "Or was destroyed", Leo said. "Possibly. Let us hope not or we are very much stranded", Kade said. "Not for very long. Inquisitor just called down exterminatus. We have 48 Terran hours to get off this damned planet", Morris said. "Is there any way off this world?", Kade asked. "There is a Space Port not too far from here. There are also Traitors seeking to escape as well", Morris replied. "Any quick way there", Kade asked. "There are some underground train tunnels leading from here to just outside the place. No Tyranids there either.. for some reason", Donis said. Then than is where we will go", the Sergeant said. "If the Tyranids arent there then there must be a reason", Morris objected. "We will meet that reason with our bolters. Let us be off, Ultramarines", Kade said. They didnt have to walk far from their thunderhawk to reach the entrance. The entrance was a grand affair that consisted of a great arch built over a descending staircase large enough to move thousands. A wrecked Hellhound can be seen stuck on the stairs. The stairs seem to go down to a great depth though exactly how far down couldn't be said for certain. The Ultramarines begin their descend into the darkness. Perhaps for the last time.

((I hope its okay with ya to add a metro, powerful will))

Chaos Lord Gavriel Vrakul, the Unbroken

Captain Vrakul looked at the Plague Champion as he stepped forward and introduced himself, slightly disgusted by the Glacier Serpent's vile appearance.

"And I am Gavriel Vrakul, Captain in the 4th Grand Company of the Iron Warriors. I, too, have heard their... arrival. I suggest we deal with them and then make sure nobody else will be able to leave, leaving them here while the scions of the False Emperor once again destroy one of their own worlds."

Farseer Laurella carefully rounded the street corner and hid among the ruins of what seemed to have once been a market of some kind. She looked out along the street and saw a couple bulky monkeigh in massive armoured suits extricating themselves from some rubble which must have been the building collapse she had heard. From what little body language she could read from their suits, she could tell they weren't in a good mood.

If she found the Inquisitor Monkeigh, such humans as the ones ahead of her would become her ally, but until then they'd shoot her on sight and so she had to avoid them at all costs. If they came down the street towards her there's a significant chance they would spot her, which would be quite problematic at best. Despite having great precognitive abilities, whenever she tried looking at events that included her, the results were always blurred as if looking through a waterfall. Either way, she would have to try following these Monkeigh, they might lead her to the Inquisitor.


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Jaraxius looked out upon the city, over the last hour or two he had noticed quite a lot; survivors moving around a Thunderhawk crash site, the collapse of a building deep in the city and odd spatterings of gunfire. He was beginning to get a little impatient and itchy for action; he hadn't fired at anyone in over a day, it was almost scandalous!

Argentmun had run around the entire perimeter of the Space-port, visually checking the wall for damage or areas where it could be more easily scaled. He had seen none. From behind the wall at sporadic points he had heard bestial snarls and chittering; it sounded like there were at least a couple hundred genestealers or other tyranids behind the wall. In a way he pitied anyone who actually managed to enter the space port. When he got back to his spot outside the main gate, he too settled down for the wait. Soon they would be coming to escape off-world, and he would hold them off as long as possible.

Before the Inquisitor can do anything Sergeant Tross executes him with a round from his pistol. "Bastard would have led us to our deaths, anyway", he mutters, "Let's go, men. We need to find a way off of this world". "Should we search his body for anything useful?", Susa asked. "Do it quickly. I do not like the idea of looting a fellow servant of the Emperor. Treasonous as he may have been", Tross replies. Susa puts down her heavy weapon, kneels down by the Inquisitor and begins searching his corpse.

"He's got a nice gun, a fancy sword, some grenades and... is this... yes! This device is a map of the city", Susa exclaimed after briefly searching the dead Inquisitor. "Take the map and leave the rest. Any way off of this damned planet?", Tross asked. "There is a Space Port not too far from here", she replied. "Good work, Jaeger", he said. Tross sets off at a brisk pace and says, "Follow me, men. Keep a sharp eye for any looters or surviving Tyranids". His men follow him at the same pace while keeping their weapons in hand. The Sergeant holsters his pistol, though, as it isn't of much combat use outside of a personal defense weapon. "Sergeant, may I ask a question?", Klipp asked. "You may". "Are we not traitors now? We have just murdered an official of the Emperor's Inquisition", Klipp asked. "...I do not know. Our orders were to deliver this package to Harland at any cost and Tiberius was going to steal it. However, an Inquisitor's authority is absolute. I hope our completion of the mission will exonerate us of any crime", Tross answered. "If not?", Klipp asked. "Then we'll all die". Klipp, and everyone else for that matter, did not say anything after that.

Koth reached the space port wall and looked up, seriously considering scaling the thing with his bare hands. It was high, for sure, but he could probably make it if he wasn't carrying the supplies he and his Archon would need for the space journey.

Xilian caught up to him, brick dust still matting her raven hair. She also looked up at the top of the wall. She heard the capering whisper of anti grav motors and caught a whiff of those same anointing oils and incense she smelt upon the wind. She also felt a chill on the nape of her neck, as if death himself was watching over her with his scythe raised ( **I am looking at you Jaraxius! Yeay foreshadowing**).

She called out, in the tongue of the Elder Race, ''Show yourselves you capering fools, the servant's of Cegorarch are not want to move in the shadows, their garb is much to bright for it. Have your hearts grown so cold in the seclusion of the webway as to deny the pleas of your estranged kin?''

She face was the portrait of the innocence as she entreated her kin but on the inside she was smiling, the wandering fools of the Laughing God could never resist a spot of play acting.

*Avicus is annoyed. Very annoyed. His captain has landed him on a desolate planet. Collapsed a building on them. Led him into a fire fight. Collapsed ANOTHER building on him, and now a searing hole, neat, has appeared just below his right heart*
{Avicus} "merric, I think I want to be part of some one else's bodyguard."
{merric} "but then ho would plssibly make me la-"
*he sees the wound*
"COVER!"
There is none. Merric spies the enemy, and the plasma cannon beggins to charge, Avicus and lukas have seen him too, and just as a second shot clips lukas brow and he falls, unconscious, two storm bolter rounds fly through the air, a miniature sun following in their wake.

Karnus points eastward. 'We have detected signs of movement from the high ground, and we have located the vox signals... We have them... Let's go...'

He and the rest of the squad quickly makes haste towards the Ultramarines, though they are still a fair distance away.

"By the Emperor...".

Bones. Hundreds of thousands of them. They blanket the stair case in a ivory pavement. Bits and pieces of flak armor can be seen amongst these bones. Discarded Lasguns are scattered like leaves. The more intact pieces of armor indicates that these were once members of the Death Korps of Krieg. "I have never seen such a butchery in all of my years of service. There must be an entire regiment here. Stripped clean off their flesh", Morris said. "These bones weren't here when Brother Leo and I last scouted the subway tunnels. Either this is the work of the warp or... these Guardsman were killed within the last few hours", Calkir said, "Can't be the work of Tyranids. They'd take the bones with them". "There is no blood either. And we didn't hear any screaming... whatever did this was clean, silent and efficient. I don't like this, Brother-Sergeant. I think we should just take the streets instead", Calkir said. "We are Ultramarines, Brother Calkir. We are the ones to set the example for the rest of the Adeptus Astartes to follow. Never forget this", Kade said. The Sergeant continued down the stair case trying not to destroy too many bones on the way. These men died for the Emperor. They at least deserve to rest in dignity. His men follow and do the same.

When they reached the bottom the grandeur of the metro system became clear. The tunnel that had been bored was large enough to accomadate a Warhound Titan. Two parallel train tracks were raised 20 feet off the ground. The station itself was made out of pure white marble that, despite the fighting, remained more or less intact. Edificies to the machine god, the Emperor, the state and to various Saints were all made out of pure gold and inset into the walls. The largest was a statue of the Emperor himself which stretched from the ground all the way to ceiling. The Ultramarines kneeled before the statue, uttered a thanks to the Emperor and continued on towards the platform. Up a relatively short flight of extremely wide stairs and they were on the station proper. The platform was made out of stone cut so precisely and inscribed with symbols consistent with the mechanicus. The platform itself was large enough to move tens of thousands in and out of the trains. On the other side of the station was another platform that was very similar to the one they were on. Next to the opposite stair case was a statue of Malcador the Hero. This statue, though, is crumbled.

"Do you suppose the train is still operational? These are usually automated", Morris asks. "I suppose we wait. According to the schedule there should be one coming shortly", Kade replied.

Jaraxius had watched the Archon and her pet Incubi approach the space-port wall, and he had dropped down silently from atop the communications array to the roof below him. He rested his cannon upon the parapet and sighted down the barrel; he aimed at the weaker neck armour between the Archon's helmet and his back-plate.
Argentmun had noticed Jaraxius preparing to shoot and so had engaged his holofield and dashed away down the street to come around behind whatever or whoever Jaraxius was aiming at. He pulsed his flip-belt to leap through some windows and over obstacles as he went.

As if sensing her imminent death she called out
"Show yourselves you capering fools, the servant's of Cegorarch are not want to move in the shadows, their garb is much to bright for it. Have your hearts grown so cold in the seclusion of the webway as to deny the pleas of your estranged kin?".
Usually this wouldn't have stopped Jaraxius, but he decided to hold fire and let Argentmun, who he had seen re-positioning, make contact and to see if their dark brethren would assist them in their mission. If not, he could always shoot them in a minute or so. Oh he so hoped they'd say no.

Argentmun leaped atop a wrecked vehicle next to the Archon and whilst shimmering in a kaleidoscope of colours he laughed at the improbability of the situation and at the Archon's challenge.
"Welcome, denizens of Commorragh," he said with a bow, " I agree, shadows are usually your domain, not ours.. but times and prophesies make a mockery of us all. We came here for a Farseer who had seen visions of another Eldar fall; she spoke of the extinction of the Eldar and how it could only be stopped if no-one escapes this world. Therefore I ask you to join us, to help us prevent anyone from escaping the Exterminatus of this world and to prevent the extinction of our Species. Or, you could make my Death Jester very happy by refusing, he has been rather bored of late." He pointed up towards Jaraxius who waved back cheerily as if nothing was amiss.

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Farseer Laurella felt the Inquisitor die. She had not foreseen that at all, and it made her doubt herself and all that she had seen before. She pushed her emotions aside and pondered about what her next course of action would be, for now she had to escape from near these Terminator Monkeigh. She heard a gunshot and saw one of the Terminators stumble back a bit with a small smoking crater below his heart, that was the moment she needed. She dashed out from her cover and sprinted into the next street, hoping that the Terminators had been too busy to notice her.

''Hmm, Extinction you say? As the standing authority on myself i can personally attest to, as i am sure you and your Patron can agree, that the The Fall has not been all encompassing. But of course, of the ramblings of a witch who peers beyond the veil, only an idiot would fully discount them. Of course, it takes a fool to put full stock into them as well, but i guess that does fall under your jurisdiction.'' Xilian spoke theatically, each sentence took a different tone and timbre as her body perfectly mirrored the emotions convayed. Harlequins are trained to trick Eldar into believing in their deluded Myths, an Archon must learn to trick and deceive against the most cunning of their kind, and she enjoyed making a show of it, as she was sure the Harlequins where as well.

''So yes, it seem's our goals of using the Exterminatus to our advantage lies entwined in both of our fates. Tell your Jester to lower his cannon, the Dark Eldar learned to cheat death long ago. Now, is this Witch here, i would speak to her of her vision if you would be so kind. I am want to know what i lay my life forfeit for.'' Xilian said *almost* honestly, she didn't put much stock in the Visions and Prophecies of her weakling Kin but as she said only a fool would dismiss them. She would like to hear what this new doom was and at any rate, if the it was as bogus as it sounded, she would already be inside the Walls.

Argentmun grinned, "We are fools, you are so clever to notice, and yes we have put full stock into her vision... for what are our lives next to the lives of our species? If there is even a chance that our species is in jeopardy, we must act."
Whilst he spoke, he signaled Jaraxius with a flourish of his hand, who lowered his weapon dejectedly.
"The Farseer left us whilst she went off into the city in search of aid. She may be dead, I don't know. Of her vision though, we know little. She spoke of another fall of the Eldar and whether that encompasses all of us including you, I know not, for we did not ask. Dancing the history of one fall is enough for us; we'd rather be dead than dance two."

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Farseer Laurella didn't know what to do. With the Inquisitor Dead, she had no immediate plan, and she hadn't heard the distinctive screech of the Shrieker cannon and so didn't think Argentmun and Jaraxius needed any immediate help either. For the time being she decided to wait in a nearby building which appeared to mostly intact; she'd have fields of view up and down the street and could take some time to come up with a plan.

*at Ry'leth and his new buddy the cultist.*

The Tau and still bound cultist stood a ways back from the speaking eldar, unsure of their own safety in the newcomers presence. "Cultist... I'm unbinding you... You will go speak to the eldar on my behalf... or you will be shot... Go...." The cultist manages to get "I have a name other than cultist you know" before Ry'leth jams a pulse pistol in his side. "Go..." The cultist runs full sprint at the eldar, arms held in air. "Hey! Xenos guys! Hey!"

*at the pathfinder*

Bolt shells fly through the air all around the tau, get leaps to the ground for safety and attempts to crawl away, met only with more fire. He opens his coms.
"Commander! if you still have the drone controls I could REALLy use some help here!" "Alright... I owe you a debt anyways..." "What? why-" suddenly the drone wooshes over-head, flying directly into the faces of the marines below, taking his chance,the pathfinder sprints across the roof tops, running as fast as he can from the angry walking tanks of men.

Jaraxius saw the Cultist run out of cover and was sighting down his barrel as the cultist started yelling, "Hey! Xenos guys! Hey!". Argentmun sighed internally, this cultist chose the wrong way to approach them, if he wanted to survive that is.... Jaraxius gleefully opened fire and having been deprived of action all day was a bit over-zealous with the amount of shots he fired at the pitifully armoured cultist. As he heard the high pitched howl of Jaraxius' cannon, Argentmun casually turned his head slightly so he could watch the ensuing explosion of body bits and fluids.

He wasn't disappointed.

Sergeant Tross held two fingers up indicating that he wanted his squad to stop. His squad immediately did so. He looked around, muttered somethint to himself and then kept going. The Stormtroopers went around a corner and spotted a firefight in progress. "Terminators engaging Tau. I don't recognize those markings, though... And that paint scheme is unusual. I recommend we engage from here, Sergeant", Grigi said after examining the Tau through a view finder. "Fire on them. Use controlled fire", Tross orders. The Hotshot lasgunners get behind chunks of ferrocrete and fire on the Pathfinder. The volleygunners do the same but on the drone.

(helios) that was certainly a rough ride (into his vox) is there anyone out there this is chapter master helios to any survivors of the assault I am currently in a square two kliks west of the armoury.(static)


(lorenzo)this is brother marine lorenzo of the first I am currently moving towards your position
I have scout seargent jasper grav locked to my suit

(helios) okay lorenzo I have a rendevue point for you(static)the armoury

(helios) draws his power sword and begins his trek to the armoury

[At the Ultramarines].

The rails shudder and screech as a train pulls up on the opposite tracks. The train would resemble an ancient terran steam engine except much larger, seemingly far more advanced and covered with skulls for one reason or another. Inside of the train are ordinary citizens that appear to be alive. They seem to be talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The Ultramarines, on their part, seem utterly perplexed by this. "What is wrong with these citizens? They act as though nothing had happened", Donnis said. "Perhaps they have gone mad. Or they are Chaos cultists. They don't seem to be attempting to leave the train, though.. strange. Well, if they remain this way the exterminatus will sort them out", Kade said. As the train pulled away the illusion of seemingly living citizens fades away. They are replaced by horribly mauled and slightly rotten corpses. Blood splatters cover the side of each car. They look like as though they were boarded by some beast. Morris flattens his lips. "It's the stuff of the warp! I knew this place was tainted", Leo exclaimed. "The murder of those guardsman and... that is undoubtedly related. If I had to guess there is a rogue psyker down here. A powerful one at that", Kade said.

When the Ultramarines heard the transmission from the Chapter Master they looked at one and other. "How many people are there are on the surface?", Morris asked. "I don't know. There will be a lot more if that Psyker is allowed to live, though. We must put an end to his life or we could see a Daemonic invasion", Kade replied, "Follow me". Kade jumped down from the platform and down onto the ground underneath the train tracks. It was once solid concrete until the Sergeant and his squad decided to jump down. Now it is gravel. For the rest of the way, though, the path is lined with concrete and the occasional dead gene stealer. Kade started off at a brisk pace down the tunnel with his squad in tow. "Should we answer to the Chapter Master?", Donnis asked. "We will do so on the surface. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention down here", he replied.

(Helios) had made it to the armoury with minimal problems besides the occasional mindless homagaunt

he and lorenzo were now sorting throgh then pile of broken gear for something useful aha what is it lorenzo

(lorenzo)a stormbolter(wiping ash off the weapon) hounds of loken markings by my reckoning

(helios) they must of beat us here there drop site was knowhere near the armoury

(jasper dazedly) whe where am I (stiffens hearing the voice of helios) you are safe for now

(helios in to vox) Merric if you are still alive please respond me and what remains of our force are heading to the veichle depot if you hear this rendevous there tonight

varos and his two men pull back around a piece of cover as the melta bombs blow out the wall between them and the train tunnel, they move in cautiously looking around and seeing two trains.

Marius thought he noticed something blue and gold, realizing it had to be the armor of none other than the ultramarines immediately motioned for the squad to take cover not knowing the size of the enemy force ahead of them.

Radio to the other iron warriors and followers of the plague god that we have found the servants of the false emperor.

(helios)Okay lets move out we have got a lot of ground to cover the depot is the midway point between us and the spaceport of this rock we are bound to find whatever else survived the swarm

(lorenzo)then if we do find them let them taste the fire of Astartes bolts

*seeing the tau in retreat, the three terminators stop firing*
{avicus} "I swear upon my own grave, merric, if I am shot, have a building collapse on me, and or get pushed out of a space craft one more time!"
{merric} "yes, yes. we've had this discussion before avicus."
{lukas} "there is something wrong with you people. so, where to now?"
{avicus} (mumbling) "some where nothing can fall on me..."
{merric} "brother we both know no such place exists. we shall head to the space port, the argent flame are here, and I am not in the mood for them to call for lukas' blood. bah. I need fleet command, then I can tell chapter master solace of this exterminates business, see if we cant have it revoked"
{avicus} "unlikely. you know the inquisition as well as I do."
*the three head off in the direction of the space port, rather sure of themselves, but finally raising their guard, it will be hard to sneak up on them.
{merric} "I smell...trees. rivers. are there eldar here?"

Farseer Laurella watched the three terminators stomp passed her hiding spot and she heard one of them say, "I smell...trees. rivers. are there eldar here?". She tightened her grip on her Pistol and prepared to run, but they continued on regardless.

They were heading towards the Space-port and she knew Argentmun and Jaraxius would have a hard time surviving, let alone killing those terminators. She had to delay or distract them to buy as much time as possible.

She decided. She had seen an automated medical station with some active servitors a couple streets away, and if she critically wounded but didn't kill one of the Terminators, they would have to divert to said station to acquire aid. That would buy a couple hours at the very least. She planned out the attack in her head; charge across, stab the wounded one through his damaged armour and then carry on running and dive through the window of the building on the opposite side of the street. It was risky, but she had to go now!

She sprinted forth with all the strength and speed her legs could summon, and she had closed the distance to the Terminators almost before she could even draw her sword. They seemed to react slowly to her presence even though to their own perceptions they were lightning quick. As she flashed passed she glimpsed the cracked and cratered spot where that one Terminator's armour was rent and she thrust her sword with all that she had; all of her pain, hope and desire concentrated into the sharp and glowing point of the blue and crackling witch-blade. What transpired next happened too fast for even her own eyes to follow, somehow her blade had been ripped from her hand as she passed the Terminator.... she only hoped that she had hit true. Now with her own life in the balance she sprinted for the window ahead of her and threw herself towards it, dreading to feel her body being torn apart at any moment by bolter fire.

''Well, as much as I enjoy the posturings and totterings of the renowned Followers of the Great Fool, I am not so inclined to take orders second hand and I will be damned, well, more so then we all are, to lay my life down for such. I will be off to find this Farseer of yours and relieve her from the trouble she has undoubtedly gotten herself into.'' Xilian always knew it was the knife in your back that killed you, not the hundred to the front. She would find this Farseer, even if her vision is as stupid as it sounds, she could always hold her ransom.

''That fact alone must put doubt in your so called faith. Take heart Brothers, if my actions do indeed cause the fall, to your great fortune you may one day have the honor of failing to play Me.'' Xilian turned on the heel with the Incubus Walking behind her, her mind playing on the edges of her shadowfield in case they took offence to her.

''Now, it might well be in the Farseers best interest if you point us in the right direction. Her soul must burn bright in this miasma of death, despite what you think i prefer a happy ending to a tragity. Well, as long as I for one avoid said tragity.'' Xilian said over her shoulder, almost daring for the shrieker cannon to open onto her back. But she was their best chance for bringing back the Witchling and they knew it.

*merric's sword flew throug the air, and the pummel hit the farseer's head, knocking her to the ground*
*before she could recover, merric was holding her in the air by the neck, squeezing enough to be painful, but not enough to choke or strangle her*
*Avicus sits down*
{Avicus} "I give up."
*he coughs a small amount of blood into the inside of his helmet*
{merric} "@Avicus: brother are you alright?"
{Avicus} *points to the sword protruding from his torso* "yes brother, I am absolutely fine."
*Avicus wrenches the sword loose, and throws it in the general direction of the space port*
"RUU!" he bellows in rage.
{merric} "@the farseer: one good reason why I should let you live, eldar."
{merric} "take Avicus to the medicae centre, I'l speak with out new friend."

Farseer Laurella barely heard the deep and booming voice addressing her but she failed to understand it whilst her head was swimming. The sensation of being held in the air by her neck brought her back to conciousness. She tried remembering what he just said, something about giving him a reason to let her live. She began to speak but her voice was too weak, so she coughed to clear her throat and tried again.

"I had, I had to try delaying you. I have seen..." Her wits had returned, and she knew they wouldn't care at all for the plight of the Eldar, so she improvised, "... the assured victory of chaos, if any souls at all survive to leave this planet. I care because I am from a Craftworld long dead, long dead because of the machinations of chaos and I never want to see them win!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Archon and her bodyguard walked away, not even bothering to hug cover in case Jaraxius opened fire. That irked him the most, as if they didn't even fear him!..... He was so tempted to teach them the error of their ways but Argentmun kept him in check, and so they watched their Dark Eldar kin walk off, and hoped they would return as allies and with the Farseer in tow.

{lukas} "merric, I've had dealings with the eldar, you know of this.
Farseer? Yes farseer, I have had dealing with one of your fellows, helped defend one of your world-ships from a tyranid fleet.
You lye, or at least do not tell the whole truth, I may be reasonable, but my friend-" *he points at merric, who growls menacingly* "-is less so. I suggest you tell us your full purpose here"
*Avicus is sittin down, apparently too angry to do anything.*

Farseer Laurella took a moment to think, if she told them the truth they would either help her or endeavour even more to ensure that they left the planet, to both save their own lives and to cause the deaths of those they call 'Xenos'. For now she could not see the lines of fate and future outcomes and so she had to make the decision on nothing more than what she knew.

These Monkeigh might have allied with members of the Eldar in the past, but that would have been as beneficial for them as much as us. In this situation she could not trust them to be friends to the Eldar species because there was so much on the line. Then again, if she told them nothing they would simply kill her and move on to the Space-port regardless.

She decided. She only hoped that these Monkeigh would see fit to help her cause, it was a slim hope at best.

"Fine, Humans. The 'whole' truth, as you put it, is that if even one being makes it off of this planet alive my entire species will be wiped out. I have seen this. The Eldar will be no more and your Imperium will have to struggle alone against Orks, Necrons, the Tyranids and any other less reasonable 'Xenos'. We will no longer be another target for your foes, we will no longer be opportunistic allies. Assist me in my mission. Please."

The five Stormtroopers hold their fire after the Tau are defeated. They reload their weaponry while watching the Terminators leave. "Should we go and greet the Emperor's finest, sir?", Grigi asks. Tross gently shakes his head. "As far as they are concerned.. we are heretics. Let's avoid any "friendly" forces until we meet up with the Inquisitor", Tross replies. The Sergeant draws his pistol and machete. He grips the hilt of the rather plain weapon tightly as if it were all of the cause of his troubles. Tross uses the thing to wave his men forward. The squad follows him into an alleyway that, while taking them a little longer, will get them to the Space Port without running into anything. The alley, on it's part, could be barely called that. The buildings around it are no more than free standing chunks of wall and piles of concrete. Bits and pieces of furniture can be seen here and there. The Stormtroopers keep their rifles trained on the buildings while keeping at a brisk pace. These cities have a tendency to harbor rats.


==== ====

"This tunnel makes me feel trapped, Brother-Sergeant", Donnis says. The Ultramarines continue down underneath the tracks of the subway system. The walkway is mostly just plain gravel with a dead Genestealer or Termagant decorating the rocks. "I am feeling it too, Brother Donnis. Perhaps we are getting closer to the Psyker. Load Hellfire rounds. We cannot risk him seeking cover in any fashion", Kade replied. The empyrean powers of the Psyker begin to manifest themselves in more concrete ways as the Astartes approach. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking to them, they meet him. It is a boy of no more than 15 years of age. He is huddled in a fetal position in a large crack created in the wall of the tunnel. His eyes are gouged out and his ears are barely hanging on by a few bloody threads of flesh. "Fire", Kade orders. The Space shoulder their bolters. But before one could even fire a single bolter round the boy howls the most painful psychic scream one could imagine. This psychic scream would reverberate throughout the entire world. He explodes into many bloody chunks. In his place appears a large power armored man much like the Ultramarines.

However, unlike them, the power this newcomer carries is heavily altered. It's metal is twisted beyond recognition. Bones seem to jut out through the ceramite. Horns sprout from the top of the man's helmet. Crimson paint with silver trim adorns his armor. A Chaos Space Marine of the Word Bearer's legion had somehow appeared out of nowhere. Before he could do anything his gunned down by the Ultramarines. The Sternguard's high skill with every form of the boltgun ensures that each single bolt meets his armor exactly where they needed to be. "Chaos! By the Emperor, the monster brought on a Chaos invasion!", Leo exclaims. "We don't know that, Leo", Kade says, "For all we know that Word Bearer could have been the only thing he managed to get through". "A psyker of that unbridled power? I do not think so", Donnis replies. "Regardless, the Psyker is dead. Whatever Chaos shows up here will be dealt with accordingly. Let us be off Space Marines", the Sergeant answers. The Ultramarines continue on towards the space port unaware of the large Chaos presence already here.

Xilian followed her nose, so to speak. The smell of richly anointed oils and perfumes left smoldering trails amidst the dank smell of death. She found her, and to none of her surprise her earlier 'prophecy' was confirmed. The Farseer was indeed in deep trouble. See, anyone could do it!

The Farseer was being held aloft by a towering Astartes. She sighed inwardly, she hated the towering oafs. They would undoubtedly kill the Farseer if given the chance. She turned to Koth and handed him the earlier found displacer ring.

''Thank you, your grace'' He mumbled.

Xilian crouched down in the rubble strewn street and Activated her Shadowfield, all but obscuring her from view and sensors as she sent the Incubus into a side street ready to pounce if need be. She didn't want to have to fight these lumps, but she trailed her deadly blast pistol upon the resting behemoth who looked suitably battered. If the Farseer looked to be in any more danger, she wouldn't hesitate to atomize the beast with a blast of Dark Light.

*merrics grip loosened slightl his eyesowed in thought*
{lukas} "kill her. Some sort of trick, do you have any plans on ending her species? She lyes."
{. Merric} "I should kill you, eldar. You are wrong. If I release you will continue on your mission. I know this. So, what do you expect of me? To willingly announce the deaths of myself, my greatest friend, and a... A.-" *merric's skin crawls, and a shiver goes up his spine, there is something wrong here, and he has been able to feel it since the moment, since the moment they found lukas.*
*he flings the farseer to the ground, apparently having decided to kill her*, crouched low, he says "my companions, breach their minds, I have seen this. Breach them, tell me if they are traitors."

Farseer Laurella had the wind knocked out of her when she was flung to the ground, but she understood what the senior Monkeigh was asking of her and so she cast her thoughts into glimpses of their pasts.

Her eyes glowed like molten sapphires for all of a moment before they returned to normal.

She looked up at the Monkeigh crouching next to her and said, "Your friends serve you truly. That wounded one there," nodding to Avicus sitting on the ground, "has been and always will be your most stout and loyal companion. The other one, " she said whilst nodding towards Lukas, "has been through a lot, he was once swallowed by a Carnifex and only barely got out alive. Even though he has had his beliefs shaken and tested, he stands true and uncorrupted."

{merrIc} "and now myself.
I am hesitatant to kill the uncorrupt. I can prove with my Own mind that treachery does not dwell in my soul. Only the light of the emperor."
{lukas} "trygon. Not carnifex."
{Avicus} "stout and loyal. Meh, whatever."

Farseer Laurella moved into a sitting position with her legs crossed. She looked towards the senior Monkeigh and asked, "So what is your answer then? I know you do not desire the end of your companions and of yourself, but will you assist me in my quest? You will save countless lives, not just of the Eldar but of the Imperium too, because of the reasons I stated before."

{merric} "no. I can not assist you in my own, or my brothers' deaths. But I can promise the death of any coeruptable being on this Planet, clearly this excludes you or your followers.
Will you join me?"
*he lowered into a crouch, and offered his hand*
{Avicus} *cough* "she stabs me, and you try to make a deal with her? Why am I not surprised?"

Farseer Laurella took his hand and was pulled instantly to her feet. "I thank you for that at the least, it will assist in my mission. I will be honest though, if or when you or your men attempt to leave I will have to intervene. Until then though, we can be allies. To you, Avicus, I apologize for the pain and inconvenience I have caused."

*Avicus stood with a groan*
{Avicus} "well, I hate to say it, but you eldar aren't bad, for xenos."
*merric laughed loudly*{merric} "and that my friend, is why I can stand you're whining."
"so, eldar, as you could probably tell by said whining, we recently had a building collapse on us. Are you aware of any of the dark eldar on this world?
We've already killed one, so their numbers should be down.
Where would you suggest we go now?"

Xilian sighed. Why was she not surprised by the blundering idiocies of her lesser cousins. She'd gone Native, the frakking FARSEER has gone Native. She was tempted to put a bolt of Dark Light through her for sheer spite that she had lowered herself, nay, Her entire race by working with the Mon'Keigh. At least the Tau smelt better. She thought better of it, for while the Farseer working with the humans which showed her obvious lack of foresight, she might well foresee a bolt of Dark Light that would atomize her.

The Harlequins must hear of this, the Farseer betrays her own race under the pretense of a greater good, when it doesn't take a Psyker to see the Mon'Keigh Brutes will slay her after she has lead them to the space port or when she has out lived her usefulness. Koth snarled beneith his helmet at the affront.

''Come Koth, your anger will burn bright to that traitorous Witch. The Harlequins must hear of this, even dolts such as they must understand how foolhardy and degrading that alliance is, and they might well help us 'liberate' the Farseer from her 'Captors'.'' Xilian smiled a toothy, malicious smile. As an Archon she had been playing enemies against each other for centuries, Millenia even, and the Farseer could not of made this easier to rouse the Harlequins ire.

It had been a quiet walk towards the space port. A quiet and solitary walk. A quiet, solitary and nerve-wracking walk. The Stormtroopers grew paranoid as they approached the Space Port. Something had been stalking them ever since they had engaged the Tau but they could never get a good look at it. It always remained a distant blur, a figure darting around a corner or a shadow you could have sworn had moved. Yet the only sounds they had heard from it was the occasional can falling down or some dust falling off of the wall. They had said nothing to each other about it, though. They all knew that something was there and didn't bother informing each other of the obvious.

"Sergeant, the space port should be coming into view", Grigi says.

"Sergeant?".

"I'm sorry Grigi, what was that?", Tross asks.

"We have made it to the space port", Grigi answers pointing over to the building.

"Excellent. Now it is simply a matter of reaching those shuttles. Ready your armor's sensors if they still work, Jaegers. If there is something I have learned in all of my years is that it is never this easy", Tross said.

The Visigians pressed a button on the side of the helmets to activate their internal auspex modules. Though they could potentially leave it constantly running it would drain the batteries of the armor which would deprive them of their communications and HUD. The Stormtroopers, still as aware as ever, walks towards the space port in plain view of anyone keeping a look out.

Farseer Laurella picked up her sword from the ground, looked at Avicus and then responded. "We need to get him to the Medicae Centre, without aid he may perish. As for Dark Eldar, I can sense their presence on this planet but they have not made themselves known to me."

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Argentmun had been playing with the approaching stormtroopers; flitting between cover, appearing and disappearing in random locations, deliberately kicking debris off of buildings around them. He knew by experience that normal Mon'keigh would be unnerved by such a display, and scared troopers make mistakes. He had also been buying time for Jaraxius to relocate; whilst they were busy scanning the building tops for Argentmun, Jaraxius had dropped down to their level, hid behind some rubble in front of them and waited.

Argentmun knew what Jaraxius wanted and so he dropped down behind the Stormtroopers and stepped out of cover. He raised his pistol and fired half a dozen shruikens towards their backs before darting back into cover when they began to react. At that moment whilst they were distracted, Jaraxius spun to a standing position, activated his holo-field and began firing. The banshee howl of his cannon brought a mad grin to his face behind his rigid Death Mask, whilst his figure was distorted and blurred by black and blue shimmering polygons that floated like a cloud around him. Argentmun clambered to the top of the nearby building and prepared to leap upon any survivors of Jaraxius' fusillade.

With their inbuilt Auspexes the Stormtroopers "saw" the Eldar standing up almost immediately. As he activated his holo fields the troopers fired a ton of armor piercing rounds into the Eldar. Unfortunately for Jaeger Klipp she did not see Argentnum come out of cover and start firing. Carapace armor usually could protect against shuriken rounds. Usually. Most of the shurikens buried themselves in the rigid plates of the Stormtrooper's suits with them not really taking note of it. Not so for Klipp. A shuriken found it's way between the armor's plates and sliced clean through several ribs and a few major organs. The Stormtrooper fell onto the ground screaming in agony. Once the Eldar fires his loud cannon the Stormtrooper's built in earpieces attempted to shut out the noise to protect them. However, much of the sound went through and it deafened the Stormtroopers. Their audio equipment was also irreparably damaged thanks to the overload.

Tross says, "Put that fether down before he fires again! I'll take care of the other son of a bitch that hurt Klipp!". The Sergeant draws his pistol and searches for Argentnum. His helmet's systems had been damaged by the Harlequin's blast but the display still indicated that there was an enemy nearby. He looks aroundl in the general area of where the Eldar was hiding but he didn't seem to know exactly where he was. At least not yet.

Most of the bullets fired at the Death Jester simply missed or hit the shadows and reflections from his holofield, but they had fired a lot of bullets and Argentmun saw Jaraxius take five through his chest; they splintered and cracked the bones he wore as armour, shredded through his flesh like maggots through meat and burst out of his back in a chunky red mist of blood and bits which splattered across the rubble strewn ground. His Cannon slipped from his slackened fingers and clattered down the rubble to lie sullen and desolate as it had never done before. Jaraxius himself toppled backwards limply with his death mask grinning as it always did and his cloak suddenly sodden and heavy with blood. As he fell, his one thought was, "That was fun but this really hurts.". He hit the rubble with a wet slap and rolled down it in a cloud of dust to the ground, where he came to rest on his back with his legs held up by the incline of the slope. That would buy him an extra few moments of life as the blood would drain from his legs to his chest and then out onto the hard and unforgiving rockcrete. As he stared up at the sky he could see tendrils of night begin to darken the azure glow and he found that fitting, because his own life was being extinguished by the coils of death. He laughed a sickly, weak and wet but gleeful laugh that racked his body with waves of agony and brought blood to his mouth and sprayed it upon the inside of his mask but he did not care. Death was the one last, inside joke, he needed to understand after centuries of living and they had kindly, finally, provided the opportunity.

Argentmun dived off the top of the building with his blade singing as he swung at the Mon'Keigh below him. Despite hearing the coarse laughter from Jaraxius as he lay dying, and knowing that the Death Jester would soon meet and dance with Cegorach himself, he could not help but feel rage, pain and loss for the death of his friend who he had known and loved as a brother. He would bring such death and ruin to these Mon'Keigh that Jaraxius himself would laugh from the grave in delight.

The Heavy Autogun is many things. It is loud. It is heavy, as its name would imply. It is deadly. But it is not a weapon that rarely requires reloading like its Las counterpart. The Stormtroopers barely had pulled back the bolt when the Xeno lept onto Tross. Thanks to the Harlequins damnable machine the man didnt even hear it. Neither did the other troopers. Once fresh magazines were back in the gun they couldnt shoot without risking hitting their Sergeant.

Tross on his part was on his guard but Argentnum got the drop on him. His hand went for his Machete. The Machete is a rudimentary close combat weapon. It is fairly long and features a leather bound sheath. Flowers, of all things, was intricately engraved into hilt. Argentnum's blade saw this brave Knight of Visigia grievously wounded. Tross collapses onto the ground in a heap of blood, cleaved advanced metals and dashed hopes. His mind and soul vanished into oblivion or worse. Or maybe, just maybe, he was at the Emperor's side as the Ecclesiarchy had promised. If the Emperor had forgiven his crime. The others, seeing this, fire on the other Eldar knowing that their beloved Sergeant was already dead.

As the Sergeant collapsed to the ground, Argentmun saw the three last Stormtroopers raising their autoguns to finish him off. He flung his sword at one of them with all the rage he could muster and it flashed through the air as if it was naught but a throwing knife. Using the momentum of his own throw he rolled passed the body of the Sergeant and grabbed the primitive autogun in the same movement before spraying bullets towards his hated foes; the same bullets that had torn through Jaraxius moments ago.

Unfortunately for Argentmun, the Stormtroopers opened fire at the exact same time. He was punched off of his feet by the hail of point blank fire; one bullet turned his right shoulder to pink mush and splintered bone and another bullet caught him in his right hip, breaking it and spinning him around like a parody of a marionette. Whilst a few other bullets caused only minor flesh wounds to his arms and a graze upon his neck, the last bullet that hit him took his left leg out from under him as he spun, dropping him heavily to the floor. He had been unable to see the effectiveness of his own gunfire and flung sword before he fell into unconsciousness upon the cold, rough ground.

Heavy Autogun shots barked loudly, intent on finished the Harlequin off. frizzling flashes criss-crossed the air between the soldiers and the Harlequin with unerring accuracy. Shredded, mutilated, unrecognizable, are the words that could of discribed the Harlequin if they connected with his body. If.

A wave of pitch black shadow landed squarely between the Harlequin and the Soldiers from above, sweeping and writhing like a Daemon of inky blackness. Autoshots potch-marked across the tide of shadow as they burned bright then fizzled out admist it, there energy being discharged by the entropic energy.

Xilian gritted her teeth at each stunted explosion, the capricious shadowfield threatening death at any moment under the barrage.

''Koth, KNOW!' Xilian shouted over the din.

The towering Incubus came sprinting from the cover, his tormentor spikes upon his helmet emminating red hot waves of pure psykic agony that ripped at the soldiors reactions as he came forth Klaive swinging in great Arcs, his Displacer ring glistening.

''It seems our tales interlink still, fool. You will see the final curtain call soon, but not while i have need of you.'' Xilian hefted the body onto her (unfortunately spikey, he would have to forgive her) sholder pads and made off to the closest cover available, back into the city.

Grigi grits his teeth as he is denied the revenge he so richly wants. That is not what is most pressing to him, though. No. What really matters to him right now are two blips come on to his auspex. One comes and vanishes before he blinks. The other, though, comes at them. Quickly. Nirov turns around to see a Dark Eldar charging at them. The Stormtrooper removes the Xenoblade from his chest piece, it's tip bloodied, and tosses it at the Dark Eldar. He may evade it effortlessly but that is not what his intention was. His actual intention was to remove a grenade from his belt while the Dark Eldar focused on the blade coming his way, pulling the pin out, waiting for the fuse to burn down a bit and tossing it just behind the Eldar. Which he proceeds to do. Susa turns around also noticing the blip on her auspex and readies her Heavy Repeating Autogun to tear the xeno to shreds. She fires short, controlled bursts to avoid exhausting her mag too soon.

Argentmun swam to conciousness through waves of jolting pain, the sensation of being bent over a spiky ledge totally at odds with the view of the ground passing swiftly by beneath him. He heard autogun fire nearby but it barely registered in his mind. He endured a sensation of vertigo as his mind tried to comprehend what his senses were telling him, but his brain gave up, dropping him back into a state of unconsciousness.

The Klaive come up instantly, an astonishing feat by itself considering the Dark Eldar was running full sprint (which is FAST), but it came up all the same, it's power field flaring as the thrown sword clattered against the great Klaive, shattering into two as the power field loosed it's molecular bonds. What happened next would of made even Xillian raise an eye brow, Koth jumped his hand hold to the furthest top one and swung the Klaive at the Frag grenade in a parody of the human sport base ball! The grenade exploded on impact, of course, but by then the fragments had already been weakened molecularly by the powerful powerfield, leading most to clatter of his ancient war suit, although several small pieces lodged in the joins of his back and arm,

Then he hit the ground, still intent to close the distance, as he heard the heavy auto gun first click. He learnt in close range fights it's far faster to simply let your legs buckle under you then to actively jump. The momentom of the sprint made him slide along the cracked ground closer still as powerful shells flung above him.

Closer now he released his Tormentor Stone at full power, waves of psykic agony spilling upon the humans, reeking havok with their sense as he closed the last few meters, Klaive raised high.

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The fool would die soon without aid, and he doesn't even have the decency to die standing, at least she wouldn't have to carry him. She stealthily (as one can be while carrying a multi-colored clown) crept through the city to a place she didn't really want to go. The medical center, last known posistion of the Terminator Armored oafs.

{Avicus} "no, no, I'm o... I'm ok."
*Avicus tumbles, and merric grabs him*
{merric} "easy. If you think you're dying on this rock you've got another thing coming.
farseer, what Is your name? I feel odd addressing you by an unofficial title."
{Avicus} "no, I'm dying with at least seven dead bodies on top of me."
*the four head off*

Stormtroopers are trained to endure several hazards of the 41st Millennium. Psychic attacks of this sort are not among them. Nirov, and the other Jaegers as well, writhed in agony as the psychic weapon pierced their brains like an iron stake through a man's skull. Their visions dulled to a foggy white color. Nirov, the closest soldier to the Dark Eldar, would not even see the Klaive being prepared to kill him. The other Storm Troopers were near helpless to same his comrade. All except for Klipp.

Klipp had always been a tough girl. She had taken bolt shells directly to the chest without even flinching despite the massive trauma the impact delivered to her innards. Though she was incapacitated by the psychic attack she recovered much quicker toughing through the intense migraine the thing had left. Powering through excrutiating pain of the shuriken blade being lodged in her lower back the Jaeger picked up Tross's discarded pistol and fired low at the Dark Eldar. Though she may not have spared Nirov from his fate she would be sure to cut down the motherless bastard that did it.

The Farseer heard the question but was distracted by a sense of foreboding. She hated this planet, it still rested within the shadow of the hive-mind and so her senses were dampened and of questionable use but the feeling still remained. She slowly turned in a circle, looking at each building and rubble pile for signs of movement. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she took the moment to respond, "You may call me Laurella if you so desire, of Craftworld Yme-Loc. Other titles I have, but my visions brought me here and so Farseer remains the most fitting."

Her eyes glowed blue and she fell to one knee as a vision was forced upon her. This one was crystal clear as if the Hive-mind itself wanted her to see it. She saw crumpled buildings, wrecked streets and dead bodies, a city but she could not tell which. She saw Genestealers skittering across the rockcrete leaving gouges and furrows in the supposedly tough material as they sprinted down the street. Then her vision zoomed out giving her a larger view of the city, and there she saw a few streets away from the Genestealers, four figures. Herself, and the Mon'Keigh she was with. She returned to reality with panic rising in her heart, but she stood up and didn't allow it to take control of her.

"Merric! Genestealers are coming for us at this moment, at least a Dozen! They approach from the Space-port and they know exactly where we are, their mission is to end us! We must leave!"

*merric nods*
"laurella then. Excuse me."
* he hauled her over his shoulder and the small group started jogging toward the medicae centre.*
{merric} "lukas, damage control. I don't want those things with in ten metres with us, stormbolter to auto."

The Farseer was swept off her feet and thrown unceremoniously onto the big Mon'Keigh's shoulder. She spluttered in indignation, "I can run you know, a lot faster than you lot in your big and heavy suits. Please put me down. You'll be faster and can defend yourself and I can assist as well."

{merric} "if you wish."
*with reasonable care, he lowered her to the ground.*
{merric} "I suggest you hurry then, and if I might ask, what do you plan on doing to the xenos (he reminded himself it was probably best to be saying such a word when so often it had been used as an insult to her people) with that tooth pick you call a sword?"
{Avicus} "tooth pick? Relate merric? Tooth pick? I have a HOLE THROUGH ME! I CAN PRACTICALLY SEE THROUGH MY OWN CHEST, AND IT WAS DONE BY A TOOTH PICK?"
* the lead gene stealer turned the corner, and found several bolts lodged in it's skull*
"let me tell you something, freak of nature xenos bastards, I AM IN A gak ((marines say it in false gods)) MOOD, AND YOU TRYING TO RIP ME TO PEICES *another stealer fell* DOES NOT HELP!"
*merric grinned at his best-friend's rage* and whispers to laurella "he does this every few times he's stabbed"
{lukas} "YOU'RE BOTH MAD!" *two more genestealers fall to stormbolts, and a third to a plasma cannon blast, but still more approach the "fleeing" terminators*

The Farseer unclipped her Shruiken pistol from her belt and drew her sword. Amongst all the shouts of rage and zeal from both Avicus and Lukas, she heard what Merric said and then winked at Avicus, "If I die, my sword is yours to cherish and remember me by."

She fired bursts of whizzing shruikens at the closest Genestealers not being targeted by the marines. She noticed that it was all but ineffective as her shots simply were deflected by the hard chitin or only chipped off minuscule pieces of armour; she would never be able to kill one with her pistol so she clipped back to her belt to prevent it becoming a distraction.

She could not help them gun down the genestealers and so she got out of their way. As her unlikely allies back-pedalled as fast they could whilst maintaining their fire, she zipped ahead with her glowing blade, illuminating the way. Night was falling fast now, and soon the streets would be as dark as shadows in a cave and the genestealers would have the advantage. She couldn't help but wonder though, why did the Hive-mind let her see them coming? Was it taunting her or was it trying to drive her and her companions towards or away from something? She could not know, and she did not have the time to think on it. She kept ahead of the retreating Mon'Keigh but was ready to assist them, if and when the Genestealers got into close quarters.

*merric's face becomes deathly serious* "I hope it does not come to that."
*Avicus swipes his claws, and a genestealer topples to the ground in several peices.
Lukas is still slowly back-padding, taking shots at them*
{merric} "farseer, night falls, we need to be in the medicae centre before then, and if we are held up here, we'll be swamped, can you blow the building to the left with your warp-magices? Ive got the one on the right, block the whole street!"
{Avicus} "merric, hurry, we can't hold type off for long, and if your new friend is right, I might be in sole trouble"
*merric realises that Avicus has been covering the bleeding hole in his armour, but now blood Coates the front of his peal White armour*
*lukas, thunder hammer, now!"
*lukas charged forward, and his thunder smashed through three gene stealers' skulls*

Blow up the building on the left he says. Use your warp magic he says. If it was that bloody easy she wouldn't have needed their help in the first place. Whilst she grumbled inwardly, she knew she had to try. She knelt on the ground as the battle raged in front of her; the distinctive thudthudthud of bolter fire and the pinging like rain of bolt casings falling to the floor making up only a part of the cacophony of noise that she struggled to ignore.

She used her sword as a catalyst, staring at the blade and focussing her energy; she began to feel prickling sensations behind her eyes as they began to glow brighter and brighter and she felt the blade heating up with the power she poured into it. She didn't think she could summon enough, she had never been good at this and she knew it. This time though, she needed to and so she pushed herself. So she sucked more power from the Empyrean and her vision began to speckle with white spots and she began to hear distant whispers like the muffled mumbling of patrons whispering quietly in a library. That was enough, if she pushed herself any more she could be possessed by any opportunistic Daemon. She stood up, feeling the heat that emanated from the blade, and the vibrations that shook through the handle and she pointed it at the left hand building and released the Eldritch power it contained.

A single beam of incandescent blue and purple energy leapt forth from her blade in a thunderclap. It smashed into the lower half of the building and blasted it apart, flinging rubble and masonry out into the street. The top half collapsed like a deck of cards in the wind, dropping tons of rockcrete and other construction materials onto the pile, which then blocked most of the street. A few Genestealers had been caught underneath the collapse and had been turned to paste below all that weight. To many other psykers among her kind, summoning an equal beam would have been easy, almost trivial but to her it had been almost damning. Her legs had turned to jelly and she felt an overbearing tiredness come upon her, so she sat down and waited; there was still a gap in the rubble to the right, but Merric was on it, and soon they would be safe at least for a while. Until the Genestealers found a way around their makeshift wall.

Koth delivered a brutal kick, spiked boots digging into his armour to leave shallow, but deliberately painful, gouges that barely kissed the skin. He then swept Nirov aside using the Flat of his Klaive, ''Try not to kill many Koth, they would relay our posistion to the Astartes and lead them away from the Medicae''' Xillians voice chimed in his head. Try not to kill them, he was seriously doubting this Archon's resolve!

A bolt rang against his armour, shunting him back as the bolt exploded against ancient xenos metal, the force pushing him back. Koth glared at the Human female, she was more resilient then the rest, He gave her that. His glare was deep and murderous, every part of an Incubus conveyed dread and malice.

''Next time, girl. Watch your back.'' Koth intoned like an angry god before another shot flew towards his face. It never connected. The Displacer field flashed vibrantly with a red light as the Incubus's mind link registered danger. With a thunder clap of displaced air Koth was gone and where he once stood lay an ornately fashioned and beautifully crafted xenos knife. Not a gift, a promise.

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She heard the tell-tale skittering of diamond hard claws upon cracked cobble. She heard the bestial, throaty howls and she smelt the cloying smell of dried blood. She knew, instantly, there was no time to evade such a hunting pack. Genestealers, some of the most deadly creatures in existence, to run is to be run down and to fight was to be drowned in a tide of claws. Unfortunately for the Genestealers, there where few creatures faster and more deadly then they in close quarters, and a Dark Eldar was one of them.

''Shhhh, fool, don't draw attention to yourself. Genestealers like live prey, so i am sure your acting repertoire includes playing dead!.'' Xillian chided as she slumped the semi-conscious Harlequin in a dark corner, he whimpered slightly as she set him down.

Xillian drew her Husk Blade with a flourish, it left a tail of dark smoke as it evaporated the moisture in the air. The pairs of hungry red eyes analysed her from the dark, ''Only three?'' Xillian thought, ''Someone else must be making a fight out of it.''

Then the Genestealers pounced.

Klipp scowled. "Best hope they can stitch that skull of yours after I am done with it", she mutters. Grigi dashes to her side. He kneels down and puts a hand on her shoulder. "How badly are you wounded? Can you stand?", he asks. Klipp shakes her head, "I am pretty fethed up to say the least. I can't feel my legs and I think that shuriken round did a number on my guts. Grigi.. Give me the Emperor's Peace", she says holding Tross's pistol up. "You can still be saved. We just need some more medical equipment", the man replies. She shakes her head. "The mission comes first, Grigs. I will just put our lives in danger". "Damn it, we lost Tross, Helga, Kovski, Antonic, Suda and Ferdino. I am not losing you", he says.

Nirov stands up, dusts himself off and mutters angrily. "You need medical attention too, Nirov", Susa says. "I'm fine", he replies. The human says, under his breath, "I'd like to see that fether swat a melta bomb". Susa flattens her lips and looks towards the space port. Their objective is so close yet so far. Her auspex began to beep wildly as she approached the building . "There must be hundreds of Tyranids in there...", she said. "We cant do this with three people. We need our marksman for this", Grigi says looking from Susa back to Klipp. Klipp slowly shakes her head. "Alright, lets go. Someone should get the package from Tross", she says. Susa nods and walks over to the fallen Jaeger's corpse. Tross had always been good to her. He was the squad's rock. To see him dead filled her with sadness. She picks up the package and clips it to her belt. "Let's go", Susa says. Grigi picks up Klipp and carries her as an emergency worker would someone in need. Grigi gives his Repeater and a spare magazine to Nirov while keeping Tross's pistol. Susa carries the squad's remaining rifles. They then head out for the medical center to save a friend in need.

*a blast of plasma dropped the other building, and the remaining genestealers were crushed*'
*Avicus was kicking a long dead creature, sputtering obscenities*
*Merric sees the farseer sitting, whisks of ghostly smoke rising slowly from her sword and armour, and his brow furrows in what he is surprised to find is concern*
{merric} "farseer, are you alright? Or do I have to carry you again?"
{Avicus} "That was fun."
*lukas shakes his head in mock distraught, and mutters about madness*

Farseer Laurella was tired, but not quite tired enough to let her pride go for the sake of being carried. She waved Merric away, "See to Avicus, he approaches the end of his endurance." She remained on the floor, waiting until they started moving again before straining her exhausted muscles. Whatever else she could say about these Mon'Keigh, they were good fighters and hell, she was starting to get attached to them; fighting together against common enemies does that to people.

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Argentmun groaned in pain but his eyes jumped open at the sound of genestealers screeching in his immediate vicinity. His eyes scoured the room and he saw the Archon, he had met earlier, standing in front of him with a dark and smoking blade twirling around her head. She stood against three genestealers which charged into her with the ferocity of enraged rhinos. He instinctively tried to stand but immediately collapsed in agony, he had forgotten he was so injured. Realising he only had the operational use of his left arm, he reached across himself to try un-clipping his shruiken pistol from his belt. It was an awkward angle and so it took a while to shake it loose.

He knew he couldn't help much, but maybe he could help distract them. He fired a string of shruikens at the genestealers whilst they duelled with the Archon, all of them bounced off like hailstones and the genestealers didn't even notice. Argentmun snarled in anger, to be ignored by the lowly likes of these creatures galled him and so he hurled his pistol which bounced off of one of their heads. Surely that would get some attention.

*merric grinned at the farseer's maintainance of pride. He would never admitt it, lesser men would be killed for admitting it, but he enjoyed the farseer's company. Under the rouse of arrogance, genuine, resilience rested with in her eyes, it was something he could appreciate. He caught himself thinking of possible ways to get off this world with out killing her. His plans ranged from somehow deactivating her powers, restraining her and finding a way to get her back to some where she could not stop them to simply knocking her over the head and shoving her through the next web-way portal he happened to be fighting near.*
*he stopped mid-stride and turned to the eldar, her feline appearance emphasised by the way she stretched her muscles.*
{merric} "monkreig. What does it mean? I've heard your kind say it before, but was does it mean?"

"Stay awake, Klipp, we are almost there", Grigi says. Since the Jaegers had left the space port they had bandaged up their wounded comrade to stop the bleeding. Still, her armor was covered in barely dried blood. "I'm not falling asleep. I've told you this several times", she answers. "You keep drooping your head", Grigi says. "Truth to be told I am feeling really weak right now. I think I lost a lot of blood", she says. The man carrying her frowns underneath his helmet. He didn't know if there really was a way to save her once they were there. He didn't know how to perform surgery and neither did the other Jaegers. He just had to hope there was some sort of servitor that can do it for them. They ignored the Stormbolter fire that was erupting in the distance. All that mattered to them was saving Klipp.

====== =====

"Did I ever tell you the story of how I brought down a Daemon Prince with naught but a single melta bomb, Brother Donnis?", Leo asks. "Only every other week. But I never tire of hearing it. Regale us once more", he says. The Ultramarines were nearly at the exit of the tunnels. The simple architecture that dominated the majority of the subway system gave way to more ornate designs that is characteristic of the stations. "Well, it was the end of a long war against a World Eaters war band. The Salamanders and we had pushed back the traitors all the way to the first city they had conquered. The Imperial Guard surrounded the city with a series of defended trenches, artillery guns and columns of tanks. It was to be an easy victory for the Imperium. However, the World Eaters warlord had sacrificed what remaining citizens there were in the city to Khorne. In return he was made a daemon prince. The Daemon prince wreaked havoc on the Imperial Guard's lines murdering hundreds. That was until we set up a line of defense on this bridge. Well, this bridge was over a thousands of kilometers deep chasm. The world was covered in the holes. So I had an idea: Why not lure him over the bridge that had been rigged to explode? So, we did. The Daemon Prince fell for the bait we had sent out for it and came charging at us screaming unholy litanies. Fortunately for our ears the melta bomb went off, the bridge went down and the Daemon Prince fell with it. Thus went the Silencing of Khorne", Leo tells.

The other Ultramarines laughed at his story. "Oh, I was there Brother Leo. Our guffaws could have shaken the planet apart", Kade says. When they finally arrive at the Train Station Donnis take out his Auspex and activates it. The auspex beeps repeatedly and loudly as many blips show up on it's screen. The blips seem to be just where the Ultramarines are. "Tyranids. There must be hundreds of them above us", he says. Brother Morris holds his heavy bolter up. "I have more than enough rounds to deal with such a threat. By the Emperor, I could give each one a personalized bolter round if I had such time", Morris says. Kade nods. The massive super soldier climbs up onto the platform and makes for the exit. His fellow Astartes do the same. They then run for the exit as if they couldn't wait to shoot the Tyranids.

Once topside the Space Marines take in their surroundings. They are across the street from the Space Port and surrounded by several ruined structures. Just oustside of the Space Port itself is a dead Storm Trooper, several blood stains and a fallen knife. The Ultramarines jog towards the scene. Kade kneels by the corpse of Sergeant Tross and shakes his head. "The blood of martyrs is the foundation of the Imperium", he recites. He stands up and turns to his fellow Astartes. "What do you make of the scene?", he asks. "Eldar ambushed a squad of Stormtroopers", Leo says pointing towards a dead Harlequin. Calkir picks up a Dark Eldar blade. "Looks like the Eldar had their darker kin with them. I'm surprised there is only one corpse", the Astartes says. "What are your orders, Sergeant?", Donnis asks. Kade looks at the blood on the ground. He notices that there is a trail of blood leading away from the Space Port and towards the Medical Center. "The Dark Eldar likely took the Troopers prisoner. From the looks of it they are on foot. Let us see if we can rescue them. If not.. then, at least we will rid ourselves of the Xenos threat", Kade says. The Ultramarines run off towards the medical center to "save" the Guardsmen.

Speed, ferocity and deadly intention. It was these things that dictated life or death in a battle, and the Archon had all of them in spades. She span and twisted, flipped and contorted, each and every strike of the starving genestealers coming so close as to kiss her Ghost Plate, but no more then to leave a tiny scratch as a token.

The Harlequin seemed to of regained consciousness, she hoped he wouldn't draw and attention. Then the king of fools lived up to his name, firing in effectually at into the throng of flashing limbs clawing vainly at her. He then threw his pistol, thwacking onto the head of a lunging Genestealer. It turned, pure and utter alien murder in it's eyes as it turned it's head to snarl at the Harlequin. The head hit the floor, then evaporated with the rest of the body. Noticing the effect, she stopped evading and started blocking, every claw that came at her went away with but a small cut as it was repelled by the Husk Blade.

''Archon, I am here!'' Koth cried as he burst onto the scene, eyes darting wildly to take it all in, Klaive raised high.

''You are late, Koth. Shame on you, you would of enjoyed this.'' Xillian said coyly as she shook her hair of the accumulation of dust, several large mounds of dust also lay at her feet.

''Carry the Harlequin, I have disgraced my self enough for today i think.''

''Yes Archon'' Koth said obediently. He clung his Klaive to the magna-clamps on his back and picked up the slight Harlequin as he would a small child, a hand under both his legs and his neck. The Harlequin stirred and looked as if he was to speak.

'' Ah, the Harlequin lives! The medicae center is just around the corner, i found it on the way here. I hope when we get you fixed up you will make this worth the Archons while, she does so hate wasted time.''

It wasn't long before the Ultramarines caught up with the Storm Troopers. Grigi lets out a sigh of relief once it is apparent that they are friendly. "Space Marines. Thank the Emperor", the Jaeger says in reverence. Kade looks among the Visigians, "Well met, Storm Troopers. We thought you were captured by the Dark Eldar". "We barely fended them off, my lord. They retreated once we grievously wounded one of their number", he says. "They retreated? That is unusual for the Dark Eldar...", Kade says. He glances over at Klipp. "How bad is he wounded?", the Sergeant asks. "She has taken a shuriken round to the gut. We are unsure of the specifics of the injury but we know it is serious", Susa answers. "She will not last long. Is there any medicae buildings around here?", Kade asks. "That is where we are heading, my lord. It is about a block from here", Grigi answers. "Very good. Are those Hot Shot Volleyguns?", the Veteran Sergeant asks. "No, my lord. These are weapons called Heavy Repeating Autoguns. They are similar weapons, though", Susa says. "Such firepower could be useful in case of traitor Marines.... We will help you save your friend, Troopers", Kade says. "Thank you, my lord", Klipp says.

The Ultramarines and Stormtroopers both head off towards the Medical center. It would be some five minutes before they actually got there since the Space Marines were keeping pace with the Jaegers.

Laurella smiled, "Mon'Keigh, we currently use it as an insult to species we consider inferior. The Mon'Keigh were a species of cannibalistic creatures that once plagued this galaxy like the orks do now; we destroyed them, but their memory remains. On a side note, your species evolved from creatures on your planet you called Monkeys, so it's especially fitting in your case. I will freely admit though from the way you have acted today I will need to re-evaluate my stance on many things, including the usage of such a moniker to describe your kind." She had developed a grudging respect for these, Mon... Humans. They were tough. Hell, she knew if she'd taken a witchblade through the chest, she wouldn't have gotten up afterwards let alone fight on for a good hour or two.

She turned to the matter at hand, whilst matching pace with Merric, "I have a feeling the Hive-Mind wanted to push us this way. It allowed me to see that vision. Why would it do that? If it wanted to destroy us it should have left me blind. It's annoying me, what does it have in store for us?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Argentmun felt ashamed to be picked up like a little broken toy and was about so say something of the like when his body erupted in pain from the movement of his broken bones. He clamped his mouth shut and gritted his teeth to endure the sensation without causing himself more shame.

Medicae centre? He had known nothing about Imperial Facilities still in operation. Then again, the Farseer hadn't said much before she left.
Make it worth the Archon's time? What did she want? The last time they had encountered each other they had parted on icy terms. She hadn't liked his answers.

Thinking about the last time he spoke with the Archon reminded him of Jaraxius and his chest constricted in response. His anger focussed his mind and gave him the strength to hold on. He snarled through his pain and rage, "Archon, what do you want of me? I have my own mission and it is no longer just the preservation of the Eldar; when I am healed, I will kill all Mon'Keigh!"

*Spinning around in a desk chair, Ry'leth sits behind the front desk of the medicae center, the corpses of several minor bioforms fallen around him, the burned blackened flesh flaking in the cool air. The disturbed Tau quietly whistles to himself, his own armor covered in burns, blood, and flith, he is getting REAL sick of this planet. The only good thing so far about this world was this WONDERFUL weapon he had discovered, he held his newly claimed melta closer to himself as he went around a particularly fast turn on the chair,*

*Sitting in the corner, the patherfinder meekly plays with the hovering drone, his boss is starting to worry him...*

{Avicus} "ha! Ihe always thought that it was some kind of order. he spent hours trying to discern how to tactically defeat the menouvour!"
*Avicus' laughter mixed with coughs that were speckles of blood. he was losing time*
{merric} "easy, friend, come on."
*he grabbed Avicus' arm and pulled it over his shoulder*
{merric}"hmmm, the hive mind, our cheif librarian, he has told me of it. he said that it claws at the inside of a witch, uh.. psycher's mind, and that it seems sentient. but our apothecaries claim it is no more then a collective conscience of the insects, one thing is for sure, it seems to send shivers down one's spine. perhaps it was simply a memory from some time ago, released as the genestealers realised our presence? or- here we are. good."
*the medicae, a large white-grey building, virtually intact, extended before them. mounted above the door was a large crozious symbol. the door would easily fit the terminators, having been constructed to fit multiple stretchers at a time, the glass of the doors had been plastered over from the inside, so merric kicked the glass, shattering it every where.*

 Ashiraya wrote:
Karnus points eastward. 'We have detected signs of movement from the high ground, and we have located the vox signals... We have them... Let's go...'

He and the rest of the squad quickly makes haste towards the Ultramarines, though they are still a fair distance away.

Gavriel nodded, and made a sign with his hands in the crude battle-commands from old Olympia, and as one the Iron Warriors began following Karnus and his squad, while readying their weapons, checking magazines and holding grenades at the ready. Some checked their comb-bolters, making sure that they could switch to their melta payloads within a moment, should their bolter ammunition prove incapable of tearing through the Ultramarines' armor.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud

The sound of Plague Marine boots rapidly hitting Imperial building roofs was heavy and steady. Though they ran quickly, they did not tire from it, and had already ran much farther than any mortal man could run. Marus did not halt the advance to inform Karnus of their progress.

'Champion... Long range support scans from the Serpent's Revenge have been synchronised with our armour data... The assessment is that the Ultramarines are heading against a medical building... We should head there, we might arrive before they do...'

Karnus simply nods once- Marus easily able to discern the motion even in the full run- and the squad shifts direction slightly to the left, irrevocably closing in on the target area.

{Avicus} "well, this is *groan* underwealming."
* the inside of the medicae centre was destroyed, the few surgery and appointment roomsthe group could see from here were disheveled, and pieces of servitor littered the ground.*
{merric} "no. Stay with me, brother, there has to be a servitor here somewhere."
*but unless it's legs have been removed, it would have greeted them. There are no servitors here, there are no medical personnel. Avicus will die.*
{Avicus} "well, It looks like this rock is my place. Can you go find some tyranids? I want to stab something."
{merric} "No! This is not the place i lose you Avicus. Three hundred years, if you think I'm going to let you leave after three hundred years working together, you're wrong."
{Avicus} "you'll find someone else to drop buildings on"
{merric} "LUKAS! Go find SOMETHING! NOW!"
*lukas walked toward the closest surgery room*
*blood was saturating the area around Avicus now, and merric struggled to remove his terminator suit, it took him valuable minutes to dis-assemble the suit, and action that arming-servitors did in seconds*
*Avicus' Black hair and pale skin were coated in sweat, and a waxy substance. Merric felt some of this rub onto his fingers as he felt avicus' brow for temperature.
Blood had soaks through avicus' tight fitting under-shirt, and the material was saturated*

Farseer Laurealla looked on as Merric worked upon Avicus but it didn't look good, the blood wouldn't stop pouring from his wound and it was her fault. So she had to act. She pushed Merric away from Avicus and stared down at his chest, to normal eyes there was nothing to see but blood, and lots of it, covering everything. To her mind's eye, she could see straight through everything to the damage below. He had two sliced arteries and some other torn blood vessels but it was the arteries that couldn't heal themselves at the moment.

Usually her people would channel the warp through psychic healing songs and sessions to repair wounds and other medical problems but she had never been trained in those arts. She had observed them in action over the centuries and thought she knew the general gist, but that would be too risky and unreliable for Avicus at the moment. Therefore she decided to use what she knew. She pulled out her Shruiken Pistol and unloaded it before inserting the whole barrel and part of the handle into his wound, it was the only object of the right dimensions she could see in her immediate vicinity. The massive bulk of the Human on the table shook as she began her work, she knew it must be painful for him and he was probably preventing himself from instinctually ripping her apart. She began to channel energy from the warp into her pistol, as she had done with her witchblade before, but this time it was different; she was much weaker and heard those dreaded whispers from the second she started summoning her power. The Shruiken pistol conducted the heat through the handle to the barrel which began to glow red hot and smoked inside his chest. He writhed at the heat inside him and she heated the pistol even more and then moved the barrel to cauterize the arteries and as many major blood vessels as she could find.

Whiteness surrounded her vision and the whispers had grown into shouts and screams. She had tunnel vision, and focussed everything on saving Avicus. She ripped the Shruiken Pistol out of his chest; it was melted and useless and so she flung it at the wall to shatter into pieces. Avicus was no longer in imminent danger of death, but he was still in a critical and weakened state from massive blood loss.

She stumbled across to the back wall with cramps in her neck and burns on her hand, she left Merric to see to Avicus and knelt on one knee in the corner with her head rested against the wall.

"Heresy!", a man shouts. 5 giants of men clad in ornate blue power armor enter the room where the Terminators are. Behind them are 3 normal humans with one carrying a wounded comrade. The lead one, wearing Mk. 4 power armor, levels his combi-melta at them. The other three combi-melta equipped Ultramarines do the same. The remaining one trains his heavy bolter on the Farseer. "What in the Emperor's name are you doing, Space Marine? Consorting with Xeno filth? Using xeno witch powers on one of your number? Explain yourselves!", Kade says.

''What i want of you? Ha, in the state your in you could barely kill a Gretchin. No, i need nothing as physical as that from you, although I am sure you could get about it when we get off of this rock.'' The Harlequin began as if to speak again, the Incubus shook him to quieten him with a yelp at interrupting.

''Yes, we are getting off of this rock. Your Farseer is a traitor, she consorts with the Mon'Keigh filith and from the Shurikan casings we found, she even fights with them! Her visions where false, or she is deluded. How can a Farseer as obviously inept as her divine the fate on an entire species that none other of her weakling kin have, all the while under the oppressive psychic gaze of the shadow in the Warp?'' Xillian reasoned, the Harlequin looked conflicted but resolute.

''You are the Harlequin, you life is in tales and stories, and i am afraid this Farseer has spun a tale for you to. No, what i want from you is the info you have about the Space port that you patrolled for Khaine knows how long while the Farseer was off with her Mon'Keigh 'friends'. There must be a way to sneak past the main tyranid nest, a crack, a side door, a window, and if anyone knows it my soul chits are on you.'' Her plan was laid out before the Harlequin for scrutiny, her logic was sound and her plan as effective as it could be, but she feared the Harlequin would hold true to the delusions of the Farseer. Lets hope he remembers this is the same Farseer that got his friend killed, killed off over half his troupe and left him to complete an unachievable mission.

*lukas turned around, the small surgery room even more broken then when he had found it, and slowly walked back to the group, the ultramarines did not object, they were waiting for an answer from merric*
*Avicus twitched, blood filled his mouth, but the pain of his wound was slowly subsiding.*
*merit could kill them all, rip apart the storm troopers, slice or blast or even lose the plasma cannon and punch them all into broken husks, he would nearly certainly survive. But the others wouldn't. Avicus, the friend he had known for three hundred years, the man who had been kicked out of an airlock to save him, would be shot to peices. And the farseer, laurella would die faster than you could say "heresy" merric saw no alternative*
{merric} "ultramarine *his voice shook with barely contained fury* I am merric varren, first captain of the hounds of loken, and I will not accept this insubbordination"
*ultramarines. DAMNED ULTRAMARINES. They had always looked down upon the hounds, seen them as clearly corrupt as the legion they came from. Merric felt his armour compensate for the shivers going through his body, and was not sure if it was rage or fear the pumped through his blood"
*merric slowely, deliberately, certain that the ultramarines are aware of the movement, steps in front of the farseer, holding Avicus up by the shoulder, not wanting his blood to stagnate.*
"and if you kill any of my men, I will rip you to peices."

A whistling comes dark the darkened halls, followed by a slow metallic "tap tap tap tap" The tau emerges from the shadows, his meltagun distorting the air around it with heat. A smile cracks over his face, as his visored eye spots what appears to be two groups of marines in a stand-off perfect. He waltzes into the room, keeping his melta aimed towards the ultras.

"Greeting.... You must be the marines my friend told me about... And you... Your friends shot my cultist... But I'm willing to let bygones be bygones... Hows this... I help you... You help me... I leave and we never see each other again... Here.... A gesture of good faith... "

He tosses a small bag towards the standing terminator

"pain-killers... For your friend..."

"I am not subordinate to you, Captain. Chapters are mostly autonomous from each other. And I will not kill you or your men either. You have not given me any reason to do so. That you and your men are going against every principle our God Emperor of Mankind has stood for is shame enough. However... I have not personally heard of your chapter. Hounds of Loken, was it?", Kade asks. Kade looks back at the Stormtroopers, "Our allies here require medical assistance. Do you know if any of the servitors still live?". When the Chaos Tau enter the room Morris aims his Heavy Bolter at them as do the Stormtroopers. "If you have any love of the Emperor left in your heretical system at least assist us in purging these xenos", Kade says.

Ry'leth's smile quickly fades from his face

"Now now now let's not go purging anyone.... There are about three servitors left standing... We have them in a storage locker a few rooms over... I can show them to you... If you let me deal with what I must in peace... Despite my faction of choice I believe right now what is most important is leaving this doomed world... But lets not try anything... unwise on the way... I have you all marker lighted... and these walls are weak they cannot block a railrifle shot...."

He lowers hsi gun and begins to move back into the darkened halls whispering to himself

"Thought these aliens liked tau... "battle brothers" they said..."

The moment the Farseer's head thudded against the wall in exhaustion, she felt a cloud descend upon her mind. Panic rose in her chest, but before she could move or utter anything the presence began to suppress her. It was like a wet towel being tightened around her face, asphyxiating her, trying to wipe out her mind. She fought back, struggled to retain control of her body and to force out her oppressor but she was so tired, "Leave me foul entity of the warp, you do not belong here!". She heard the being laugh in her mind, "I have been following you for many decades, Farseer, and now I finally have you all to myself." She fought back with all her might, trying to at least break this stalemate long enough to warn the others. She knew something was going on around her but she was so focussed on what was happening in her brain rather than paying attention to her surroundings.

"Don't struggle. Accept your fate. Give in. I promise I'll make it painless." These were but a few of the thousands of taunts the presence conjured in her mind. It felt like she had been in this mental deadlock for an eternity but it had been but a minute in real time. After a few more perceived eternities of strife versus this Daemon, she felt her grip upon her body slipping and it pounced upon her weakness like a ravenous wolf, mauling her psyche and trying to extinguish her completely. She had to give ground or die, so she mentally retreated into a recess of her mind to gather her strength to hold out.... and hopefully push this Daemon out. She doubted her chances.

The Daemon took control of the Farseer's body, relishing the feel of air upon her skin and in her lungs. It stood up, exalting in the feel of the lithe Farseer's body. She turned around, grinning manically and observed the situation with her head cocked to the side quizzically. Pitiful humans, ever arguing and believing their lives to be so important in the grand scheme of things. The big Terminator in front of her was holding up a wounded human; he was covered in blood and sweat and she wondered what he tasted like. So she hopped on over, with her eyes shining with a pale pink light, grabbed hold of him and licked him.

Argentmun wasn't convinced by the Archon. For all he knew, she could be lying about the Farseer working with Mon'Keigh simply to save her own skin. Hell, he had only just said a minute before that he wanted to kill all Mon'Keigh. He spat blood as he snarled back, "Like I'm going to believe that. I will not betray our species for the sake of your miserable life!"

Leo nudged Kade and gestured towards the Farseer. Kade frowns. He has seen daemonic posession of psykers before but never that of a Farseer. The Ultramarine looks back to the Storm Troopers. "Leave us, Guardsmen, while I negotiate with these malcontents", he says. Rather briskly the Jaegers leave the room knowing full well what was about to happen. If there was something a Space Marine could not do it was talk to Chaos. Certainly not the Ultramarines, anyway. Once they were out Kade sneers underneath his helmet. "Burn these heretics. Burn them all", he whispers to his squad mates in their helmet communicators. The Ultramarines with the Combi-Meltas aim their guns right at the Terminators. They fire a blast of superheated air at them which would certainly put a hurting on them at this close range. Morris fires on the Tau with his Heavy Bolter trying to kill as many as possible before they were gunned down. Kill the alien. Burn the heretic. Purge the unclean.

However, as brother is about to fight brother in the medical building, something unexpected happens.

Karnus and the other Plague Marines reach the end of the roofline, spotting the medical building down below, their internal armour sensors filling their views with the detected beings inside. They drop down all the way to the street, each one dropping to their knee as they hit the ground, a series of four loud clangs reverberating through the immediate area. This close to the foe, Karnus risks the use of short-range vox with standard encryptions as he contacts the Iron Warriors.

'Brothers, we are about to engage... There is a way down in the building that we just dropped from... Use it, and be prepared to charge in and provide heavy hitting power when you arrive...'

The Plague Marines sprint all the way to the building. As one, the four Plague Marines draw a Chimaeron pattern localised miniature-Vortex grenade. Hand-crafted by Saptarus Vrakk, the Master Warpsmith of the Glacier Serpents, these difficult-to-make weapons were nonetheless deemed necessary by Karnus to use against so many and probably well-equipped loyalists.

In almost perfect unison, the Plague Marines throw one of these grenades into the building, each landing in a different area. Karnus makes a quick estimation based on the enemies' heat signatures and he judges that they are out of range of the blast, but they should probably be shaken around a bit. And so, with a violent swooooooosh, a Warp vortex appears where each grenade has landed, collapsing and disappearing in a fraction of a second but pulling much of the building with them.

Alas, our poor Storm Troopers were in the worst place possible. A vortex grenade landed at their feet sucking them all into the warp. 100,000 Visigian Jagers went onto the world. None made it out alive. But this is par the course for these poor souls. Not a single aerial insertion mission has gone correctly. However... not all is lost. The Inquisitor's device seemed to have escaped the vortex grenade intact along with a chunk of the trooper that was carrying it.

The tau expected this, expected yes, but very disappointing....

The pathfinder crawled through the air ducts. Softly blinking behind him were the lights of several grenades, primed to detonate at Ry'leths command. Not normally enough to do much of anything, but on a weakened floor, holding such a heavy load... Just enough to collapse a section... A massive thud echoed from above, and the pathfinder wimpered to himself of all those to have survived the attack, why did it have to be her?/i]?

Ry'leth drove to the floor, wincing in pain as several shots grazed his back, his alien blood oozing out, he really wished he hadnt given away his pain killers...

"Now.... *cough cough* (this floor is dusty!) Do it now!"

The ceiling exploded between the tau and the imperials, dust blinding them all... a massive crash soon followed and in the smoke a heavy, labored breathing began to be heard...
A massive [i]Thing had fallen through the floor its herculean body struggling to fit and maneuver in the small hallway, as the dust cleared it became clear what it was...
Once gleaming, the raw metal of the crisis suit now streaked with rust and a hideous slime, the head crooked sideways as if the neck had been snapped, all lights dead, all lenses cracked... Casting ones gaze further downward more horrors were revealed, the cockpit was chained shut, a faded red 'X' emblazoned upon it, heavier chains, rusted and broken hung off it like moss on an ancient statue, hanging skulls clattering as it moved. In it's right arm, a massive fusion cannon sat, charred and long disrepaired, and an equaled ash covered flamer on the shoulder, on the left side sat a mildly flickering shield generator, still mildly functional, sparked in the shadows. Were it's left arm should be, a massive, pulsating, and sickly green limb burst from the metal, long claws curling over the ground before the humans, pustules erupting on the surface. clattering madly, several insectoid limbs darted on it's back, originating from rotten looking globs of meat struggling to escapse the confines of the suit.

ladies and gentlemen...

I present the crisis spawn.

Ry'leth rose to his feet, climbing several chains until reaching the back of the beast, striding his new mount, he stared in shock at the hole suddenly formed in front of him...

"What was that now?"

They would have fired their Combi-Meltas. They would have. However, the shaking of the building stays their trigger fingers. The distinct noise of a vortex grenade gives the Ultramarines pause. "Stand down Ultramarines", Kade says. "Storm Troopers, are you alright?", Leo asks. They receive no respond on the vox comms. "They must have been hit by one of the grenades. Poor souls", Donis says. Kade shakes his head gently before looking over at Merric. "Captain, we need to come up with a plan. There is something dangerous out there", he says, "And that Farseer has suffered from the warp". He gestures towards said Farseer. Morris still fired a few glancing rounds at the Tau but, as was mentioned, they didn't kill any. Kade then turns to the Tau. Perhaps he could kill two threats with a few honeyed words.

The Ultramarine almost vomits into his helmet as he sees the monstrosity the Tau has mounted. "What are your terms, vermin?", he asks.

The Farseer, trapped deep within her own mind had only one hope - that she could outlast the being's manifestation outside of the warp. If she could hold out, she might be able to survive and actually be able to continue with her mission; that was what kept her going so long.

The Vortex Grenades changed all of that. The moment they ripped warp-tears in space was the moment she was damned.

The Daemon cackled manically as it was able to drink in power directly through the temporary warp rifts that were opened in close proximity. The Farseer's eyes glowed an even brighter pink and she seemed to grow even more beautiful; all imperfections cleansed by the soothing currents of the warp. The power those grenades had given the Daemon allowed it to crack open Laurella's last mental bastion and it therefore completed its possession of her. She expected it to consume what remained of her soul or to damn her to 'She Who Thirsts', but it didn't happen. "Why don't you finish me Daemon!?" "If I finished you, this body would be nothing more than a primitive Daemonhost. With your Soul intact, I have full use of your body, memories and powers and that makes you valuable to me. For now you can simply suffer as you see what I do in your name!"

The Daemon sensually licked Avicus again before twirling into the middle of the room. She laughed at their confused priorities; threats within, threats without, the danger you know, the danger you don't, the Farseer you knew and the Farseer possessed. She came to a halt in the middle of the room and mischievously grinned at all of them, "You Sppppaaccce Marines, are celibate aren't you? You don't have to be." The Daemon tore off the Farseer's clothes and stood there, naked as the day she was born, all bared and beautiful for the Humans to see, "You could have all of this and more!" it gleefully pronounced. "Then again," it said in a darker voice, "You could refuse this perfection and I would then ensure your perfect Deaths." Either way, it waited for their answers by dancing gracefully with the Farseer's hair floating mystically behind, almost as if she was swimming in water.

Laurella raged inside her own mind. Raged at the total lack of control and the humiliation the Daemon forced upon her. This only made the Daemon happier and so it began singing as well; a melody so harmonious and sensual that like the Siren Singers of lore, mortal men would be helpless to resist..

Brother-Sergeant Kade's face formed a look of confusion underneath that helmet of his. What was this Daemon's plan? Was it really as something as basic as offering a xeno-witch's body for them to defile? Years of indoctrination prevented any sexual lust for the alien. Space Marines are, above all, trained to resist earthly desires so that they may not be as easy to corrupt. Though, on some basic level, the idea wasn't completely unappealing to the Astartes. "I am afraid I must decline your offer, daemon. Not because I find the idea of fornicating with a Daemonhost unappealing, which I do, but that is not the primary reason. No, I must decline because I have some respect for the Eldar race. As abhorrent as they may be they deserve a dignified death", he says. "Besides that I am sure you are just going to kill us right after we are done with it anyway", Leo says. Kade nods, "That too. You really take us Veterans for fools, Daemon? We have seen what Slaanesh does in these orgies", he says.

However, at the same time Space Marines are only human. They may be modified beyond the capability of even the mightest "ordinary" human but they have the same weaknesses. Morris, Kade, Leo and the ever silent Calkir's mental defenses held like a mighty fortress against the intrusions of the Daemon. Donis, on the other hand, fell pray to it's song. The Space Marine takes off his helmet. Donis is a man that a lot of humans would call ruggedly handsome. His facial features are chiseled, his eyes are a light shade of blue and his blonde hair is cut quite short. He holds his hands out for her seeking the Daemon's lewd embrace. "Brother Donis, what do you think you are doing?!", Kade asks. To see his friend of 200 years fall to the predations of the warp made Kade hesitate to pull his bolter on him. The other Ultras shared his hesistation. "I... look at her. Her body is perfect. How could I fight perfection?", he asks.

*merric knew that the eldar was possessed, but she had done so to save Avicus. And that was a dept worth repaying.*
{merric} #VOX#" lukas, when I give the signal, grab Avicus and follow me."
*merric thought hard. There was only one chance.*
"NOW!"
*he flung Avicus to lukas, who held him like a child in his terminator armour, and charged forward with a thundering battle cry "AAAHHHH!"
*he dragged the farseer into his arms, stooped to retrieve her clothes, and before any one could react, had charged throug the solid rock-Crete wall with lukas following behind him*

"OOoooh my saviour!" the Farseer giggled, emotionally drunk from experiencing all of these material sensations. She waved back at Donis over Merric's shoulder as he carried her, blowing him a kiss as she did so, "Don't forget me gorgeous!".

She then looked at Merric, able to see him through his helmet with the Farseer's vision. She could see the sweat on his brow and knew that wasn't physical exertion; he was tempted by her even though he'd never admit it. So she tried to pry off his helmet, "Let me repay you for your chivalry and honour, you demigod of a man." She licked her lips with hunger and lust as she dreamt of what she'd do to him.

Donis fell to his knees with a look of utter despair on his handsome features. "I have seen perfection yet it was taken from me... what is there to live for now?", Donis asks. Morris walks over to the fallen Ultramarine and hits him over the head with his Heavy Bolter. Whether it be the sudden shock of the Heavy Bolter hitting his face or the influence of the Daemon being gone Donis escapes the trance. "I.. I didn't know what overcame me. It's as if my very being couldn't exist with it's touch", he asks. Kade hands Donis back his Mk. 6 helmet and Tigrus pattern Bolter. The man rearms and reequips himself with his helm. "No one is safe from the corrupting power of a Daemon, Battle Brother", Kade says placing his hands on Donis's shoulder, "It could have happened to any of us". Donis nods, "Then let's put a bolt into the creatures brain lest it corrupts is all into it's heretical wiles". The Sergeant turns around. "What about the threats outside?", Calkir asks. "We will allow our heretical friends to deal with them. Let's wait for our moment to strike", Kade orders.

Leo smirks a little. "If we are fortunate our would be attackers will kill the Daemon for us. Those fools for choosing a xeno over fellow Astartes", he says. "This monster seems strong. I do not believe we will be so lucky for it to die in the cross fire. I wouldn't be surprised if it turned the attackers and the Hounds of Loken against us all", Kade replies. "Then what?", Morris asks. "Then we will make a hasty retreat or destroy them. Depends on who they are".

The Medicae center was in ruins, it seemed a massive fire fight was happening in side it as flashes of gun fire and other...stranger explosions ripped through the windows. Xillian sighed, she could still salvage something, get the Harlequin to trust in her, or better, to hate the Faseer.

The Gods, or a whole lot of look was with her, as the wall on her side exploded into debris. The hulking figure of a Terminator running full speed in their direction, but what was this! He held the Farseer in his hands much like Koth carried the broken dancer. But this Farseer has different, she could taste it in the air, not to mention the fact that for famously celebrate craftworlder she was naked and running her thumb along his face. She was warp tainted.

''See Harlequin? Do you see NOW! That fool of a Farseer couldn't even keep her own mind safe, how do you know that Daemon hasn't been guiding her from the start! Bringing her here, for this. She is an abomination, carried by an Oaf being lead away from barbarians. We, the Eldar, the True Eldar, are the only ones fit to survive.'' Xillian casually threw her deadly blast pistol to the Harlequin, as shown earlier he could still shoot.

Koth carefully placed the Harlequin against the side of a building. Xillian activated her Shadow Field which flashed into the space around her, an impenetrable shield of shadow and readied her Husk Blade. Koth, as ever, was ready for violence.

''Lay the Farseer at our feet human, she is beyond your help. She is damned, and if we don't kill her she will dam us to. Now place her down while you still have arms to do so!''

*merric Was in no mood to ply games with an appariently drunk farseer. He had served with the hounds of loken for 350 years and was not about to be distracted by a woman's sexual organs.*
{merric} "snap out of it! Come on!"
*he was practically shaking in frustration*
*seeing the dark eldar Ahead, he cursed*
"MAKE WAY!"
*he barrelled past them, not concerned with snuffing they might say, very distracted by the farseer twirling a lock of his hair in her finger
Lukas come barreling after him, and the four made off, vaguely in the direction of the star port*
"laurella fight it!"

Laurella heard Merric and tried with all her might, she tried but the Daemon just laughed in her metaphorical face. In despair, she raged at the foul spawn for corrupting her and yet she was reassured by the friendship and loyalty the humans had shown her. Perhaps there was hope after all for a galaxy not ruled by Chaos, it just might not be the Eldar in control. She could live with that. She could live with that. She just hoped Merric killed her before she could do too much damage to him, his companions or any other innocent lives.

The Daemon itself was becoming impatient, it had received no attention for its efforts and it was displeased with the general course of events. She tried one last time to get this stubborn human's attention with a charming melody sung so sweetly and seductively in his ear, but she got absolutely no response. She growled in displeasure, dropped from his hands and then flung him to the ground with so much strength that the ground shuddered and choking dust rose into the air all around them. Her body distorted from the image of perfection that she had resembled before; she doubled in stature, giant pincers grew from where her hands had been and her jaw lengthened and widened to an un-natural extent before she howled her pent-up frustration at the Human, "I WILL NOT BE IGNORED! I WILL TAKE WHAT I WANT FROM YOU!". The Daemon regained control of its own frustration and all of her features returned to the state of feline exuberance, she bounded over to the grounded Terminator and straddled him, playfully stroking his chest, "Now big boy," she spoke sweetly, before screaming into his face, "TAKE ME!"

Argentmun was shocked. How could the Farseer have gone from the cool and collected visionary he had known but a few hours a go to this?! A raving, Slaaneshi Daemonhost! It was incomprehensible.

The Archon had told him true.

As the large Mon'Keigh thundered passed, he told the Archon, "Outside the Space-port, you'll find man-holes; entrances to the sewers. They patrolled their outer walls rigorously but we heard no noises from the sewers. That would be your best bet."

*merric was stunned. The farseer, laurella, who had been a noble, if arrogant companion, and to see her like this was unbeleavible. The eyes, the tortured eyes were all that remained. There would be no saving her.*
*lukas sprinted past, taking Avicus toward an easily defendable building to the west, an administratum.*
{merric} "you're gone,aren't you?"

'Brothers, we are about to engage... There is a way down in the building that we just dropped from... Use it, and be prepared to charge in and provide heavy hitting power when you arrive...'
Gavriel Vrakul nodded to himself, and turned to his fellow Iron Warriors. "You heard him. Quite smart man for one as... devoted as him. Let's move. Iron Within, Iron Without!"
He heard grenades explode, and the unmistakable sound of working Vortex Grenades. How did they manage to get those? he wondered as they moved towards the Loyalists. He spotted them, some Xeno that seemed to be Chaos aligned - what was he doing with the damned Loyalists, then? - and another Xeno, a Witch by the looks of it. She didn't quite seem herself, and for some reason decided to not wear clothes. Bloody Xenos. Gavriel'd never understand them. Granted, he wasn't exactly a follower of the False Emperor anymore, but he still stood with the man's thoughts on Xenos: vile beings, that had to be destroyed. He saw one of the Loyalists talk to her, asking the witch if she was... gone? Looked like the Loyalists were consorting with Xeno-scum nowadays. How far they had fallen.

Legionairre Rorke reached for the backpack of one of the other Legionairres, and pulled a meltabomb from it as Gavriel raised his combi-bolter. He aimed for the Xeno-witch's head, and pulled the trigger. "She is now, Loyalist." he said, his voice rumbling as Rorke activated the bomb, which began to humm. "Iron Within, Iron Without!" Rorke threw the bomb, and all bolters were raised. "Death to the False Emperor!" they shouted, as one. And as one, they pulled their triggers, unleashing death.

Laurella did not respond for she could not respond.

The Daemon stroked his chest-plate again, growing severely impatient with this Human. If he had any sense of self-preservation, now would be the time to please her.

Laurella couldn't fight the Daemon, she couldn't stop the Daemon but maybe she could reason with it. "Daemon..." "DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I am a Keeper of Secrets and you shall respect that title." Laurella swallowed her pride in an attempt to save Merric, "Oh Keeper of Secrets, my Master," Laurella knew that it would be susceptible to flattery, "why waste time with an obviously pathetic individual like that, who would rather die than be with you. Go back for the Human who fell for you before. On a side note, they're less armoured too and so easier to subjugate if need be." The Daemon paused for a moment and thought, Laurella was right; she had been blinded by lust and so ignored the sensible options. "See Farseer, this is why I keep you alive, you are useful."

The Daemon was about to release Merric and leave of its own accord when a bolter round smashed into her head and exploded. She leapt up squealing in pain and rage, growing to her full size; dwarfing even a Terminator. Her arms extended and changed into massive claws capable of crushing and slashing. "WHO DARES INTERRUPT ME!?" She raged. "I AM SAEDUCAS, KEEPER OF SECRETS FOR SLAANESH, ANSWER ME PATHETIC ONES!"

"Load Kraken rounds", Kade says to his men. The Ultramarines pulls the magazine lever down and takes out the straight magazine out of the bolter. They place it back in their pouch, take a magazine loaded with Kraken bolts and loads it into their Bolters. "Attack. Stay to cover, watch for any other attackers and be wary of their melta. When they charge fire your Melta", the Sergeant says. They bash a hole into the sides of the wall. Morris sets up his Heavy Bolter so that it is braced up against a support beam. "For Ultramar", Kade says quietly. Kade and his Space Marines fire upon the Iron Warriors. Kade fires a Kraken round straight at Gavriel. The bolt leaves the barrel with an initial low muzzle velocity. However, as it's rocket activates it speeds up quite a bit and even further than a normal bolt round. It's casing clatters against the ruined masonry. A hail of Heavy Bolter fire comes at Legionairre Rorke. The rest of the Space Marines fire shots at the other Iron Warriors as they see fit.

*Covered in rubble and debris from the ruins he hides in, a Gas-masked Kommando nob observes the activity with the marines, and the apparently posessed spikey-ear. And with the radio he has with him, he calls right back to his boss.*

Ey, git. 'Dere's-

'OW MANY TIMES DO I 'AVE T' TELL YOU! *the Big Mek interrupts on the other end, as he's quite tired of his own lads mocking him for his name.*

... Mekboss. 'Dere's a few gits over 'ere discussin' an' fighting 'bout somefin'. Probably fer being with tha spikey-ear daemon 'fing. Can' 'e get stuck in?

*And in response to the Kommando, Crazygit stands back up behind him, having dug himself in the rubble as well, although maybe a bit too far down.* Led's wait fer Scrappa. 'E's prolly still tryin' ta get 'dat loot 'round back.

"By the Emperor! A Keeper of Secrets!", Leo exclaims. "And to think you desired that creature", Calkir says with a small grin. "She looked a bit better before. Not by much but a bit. Your orders, Sergeant?", Donis asks. Kade snarls underneath his helmet. "Keep firing on the Iron Warriors. With any luck this will be the distraction we need", he says.

"Bloody..."
Gavriel's attention was soon brought away from the Greater Daemon as a bolter round thunked into his Terminator Armor. He chuckled. Foolish loyalists. Likewise, Legionaire Rorke started laughing as one of the Ultramarines opened fire on him with a Heavy Bolter, a great many rounds exploding on the surface of his terminator armor. His laughing soon stopped as he saw blood coming through a small opening in his armor. Nevertheless, the Iron Warriors were known to be tougher than a regular Astartes, and as the wound began knitting itself, Rorke continued marching forward, his combi-bolter raised towards the weakling with the heavy weapon. Once again, he chuckled as he switched to the melta-round within. "Should've done more Iron Without, brother." he said to himself as he pulled the trigger.
Meanwhile, Gavriel stepped forward, his power axe raised. Besides him walked the Legionairre whose name he kept on forgetting - again, he didn't know his name. He roared a challenge. "Whoever of you servants of the Corpse-Emperor thinks he's the strongest, step forward! Come here, and let me take your head!"

*merric watched as the keeper of secrets expanded to it's full size. While he quietly mourned the passing of a friend, he accepted her loss, and this new enemy was just that, a new enemy. merric disengaged his plasma cannon, letting it rest on the ground. Merric reached and gripped the farseer's sword in his fingers, the wraith-bone Tingled in his hands, and he felt like the sword itself was... Judging him somehow. He took a silent moment to bless laurella's eternal soul, to the emperor's peice, or what ever the eldar equivalency was. And then ha launched himself up, power sword and witch blade arcing toward the keeper of secrets.*
*lukas had reached the building, and was racing up granite stairs to reac a higher floor, Avicus moaning in pain.*

Poor Morris. The distance between him and the Traitor Astartes was enough to diffuse much of the Melta blast. Not enough, though. His Heavy Bolter melted into so much slag. Morris's armor melted a little and his sensors were damaged. "Sergeant, our weapons are doing nothing at this range", Morris says slumping behind cover. "So I have noticed. Why is everyone wearing damned Terminator armor today? Very well. I have an idea... we will retreat and go around them. There is another building adjacent to this one", Kade says. "Sergeant, are we really running from this fight?", Donis asks. "No. There is an armoury not too far from here. We will get ourselves weapons better suited to punching through Terminator armor", he says, "Let us be off Ultramarines". They pop off a few more pot shots at the Iron Warriors before retreating. Morris pulls out his Bolt Pistol having lost his Heavy Bolter. They punch through the walls of the medical center, enter a nearby building and punch through their walls as well so that they cannot be seen retreating.

The Keeper of Secrets kept roaring its challenge up at the buildings and the Marines who had shot at her and she was about to charge up after them when two blades speared through her chest from behind. She screeched indignantly and swung around at her attacker, smacking him with the flat of a massive claw almost as big as his torso. "FOOL! YOU THINK TO CHALLENGE ME?!"

Uh, boss? *The Kommando gives Crazygit a poke with his foot, just to direct the Mek's attention to him.* Maybe now's a gud toime ta get stuck in, eh?
Ah, already told ya, we'll wait fer Scrappa!
But wot if 'e's gotten 'is foot stuck somewhere? Or tipped ova?
... Ye got a point. Led's ju-

*But before Crazygit could finish his sentence, the ruins suddenly collapse, as the Deff Dread with the name "Scrappa" smashes through it and runs excited towards the blue Marines running, with buzz saw and claw happily snapping, the two Orks dangling behond from the engine, and the speaker loudly announcing his presence.*

STOMPY STOMPY, TIME FER MARINE SOUP!

"Do our troubles never end?", Leo asks. "Not until the day we do, Brother. Brother Calkir and Leo, fire on it with your Combi Meltas. Everyone else throw Krak grenades", he says. The Ultramarines walk out the way of the Deff Dread. At the same time they level their Combi-Meltas at the Ork Walker and wait for it to get close. Once it does Leo and Calkir fire the Melta part of their Combi Meltas. Morris, Kade and Donis throw Krak grenades into the Dread to blow it up. At this range their AT weaponry would do a number on the thing.

{merric} " I am sorry, laurella. And I thank you. You gave your live for my best friend, and now I shall end this thing that has you."
*merric agin launches himself forward, twin blades thrusting forward, a blue tint emerging on the witch blade.*

*And Crazgit and the Kommando knows that, but unlike them, the Ork piloting the Dread doesn't care about that logic, as he gleefully still charges right at the marines, while the two Orks jumps off and seeks cover.

And sure enough, as the Dread blasts its Big Shoota and Skorcha at them, the melta shots did the tolls, and fries right through it, with the grenades crippling it down to fall right on its front, resulting with a smoking scrap heap in front of them.*

The Space Marines, being clad in power armor, resist most of the Deff Dread's firepower. One Big Shoota round manages to wedge itself into Morris's leg between the armor plates. The Space Marine looks down at the wound. "Are able to continue, Brother?", Kade asks. "Aye. I wish that Medicae center was still in tact, though", he says. Kade nods and the Ultramarines continue through the many buildings on their way to the armory. Eventually they stop smashing through so many buildings and instead take a back alleyway to their destination. "I do not remember any Orks being here", Leo says. "I only recall Tyranids from our ledger. Something is going on here, Brother. I don't like it", Kade replies.

*And with the cunning sneakiness of the Kommando (and the Big Mek holding himself behind him), they creep behind them to see where the heck they're going.*

Ah 'ope none of 'dem over gits steal Scrappa while we'r-
Sch! *says the Kommando, as he almost punches the Mek on the metal jaw, with him replying with a grumble*

Laurella admired Merric's tenacity; he faced an entity with countless Eons of experience, with faster reflexes than his own and was almost twice as large as him and yet he was not daunted.

The Keeper swung into combat viciously, she punched him in the face with one claw and snapped his power blade with the other. "SEE HOW I BREAK YOUR WEAPON WITH EASE? SUBMIT TO ME AND I MAY YET LET YOU LIVE! THE FARSEER WANTS YOU TO LIVE...... MERRIC"

"Brother-Sergeant, did you hear that?", Calkir asks. The Ultramarines turned around and search for any Orks behind them. As Kommandos are da sneekyest of da Orkz they do not see them. "We are being followed. Morris, is your Auspex still functional?", Kade asks. Morris takes out the scorched piece of technology. It does turn on but to his disappointment it only goes out to about 10 meters. "It has a very limited range but it is partially functional", he says. "Keep the Auspex out. Load Dragonfire Rounds", Kade says. Once more the Marines replace their Bolter magazines with a different set of rounds. These rounds are specially made to ignore any potential cover their targets may take. They continue on their way towards the armor on alert for any Ork presence.

*With a hushed voice, unlike what the Mek made, he says:*
Maybe 'e should call in more boyz?
Ya, 'dey might be a wee bit bored too.

Ye call 'em 'den. I'm sneakin closa. *he says lastly, pulling out a slugga with a Rokkit attached to the front of it, indicating that it might be a Rokkit Pistol. But even if it sports a large crosshair on the side, he still is a poor shot with it, so he sneaks closer to the Marines, oblivious to the Auspex, takes aim, and fires at them.*

"AHHH!"
*two-handed, merric slashed the now glowing blue witch-blade at the monster, his resolve as strong as it was the first time he had done so. All of his strength was directed in the blow, and all of his concentration was directed at the battle.*

The Keeper of Secrets parried the Witch-Blade with one claw and then grabbed Meric around the waist with the other, lifting him off of his feet and squeezing him. "DO YOU FEEL THE PAIN OF YOUR IMMINENT DEATH? NO?" She squeezed the impudent Terminator even harder, "HOW ABOUT NOW?"

The Space Marines detect the Ork coming in thanks to their Auspex. When he gets close enough they turn around, take cover behind some burnt out cars and wait for the threat to present itself. The rocket hits the car just in front of Leo which sends him reeling flat onto his back. The others open fire on the Ork with rounds that produce flames when they explode on contact.

*merric spits in the daemon's face, and then his blade is once again, in one final attempt, sliicing through air particles toward the daemon, it's point directed at the monster's heart.*

O ZOG! *he exclaims, as they fire right back at him, and he ducks right down behind the rubble. But those "speshul" rounds just wouldn't leave him alone, as they go right through it, riddles him with wounds, and just leaves a burning mess where he was.

Crazygit's having none of that, as he kept himself far away from him, as he radio ins the rest of the Orks.*
Ey, gits! 'Dere's some mureens fer ya over 'ere! Why don't ye move your asses an 'ELP ME!

We're lootin' roight now, boss! *the nob on the other end replies, with obvious rustling in the background.* 'E found a shack viw' lotsa guns an' stuff, just near where yer at!

Guns an' stuff? *the Mek asks, as he has a good idea what that shack is.* Say, is 'dere a few Glowey Gunz 'n stuff in 'dere?

Yeh, one o' tha gits fried a grot wiv it! Shou sum glowey goo at 'im, an' tha lil bugga burnt up gud!

'Den get 'dem owt! Dere moight be sum fun comin fo' ya!

The Keeper of Secrets laughed whilst she squeezed the Terminator, she used both claws now on both sides of his waist, squeezing, cracking armour, slicing flesh. Soon the Terminator would be in two pieces on the floor and she would be laughing over them.

Merric thrust the sword into the Keeper of Secrets' heart and it squealed in agony. Laurella felt the blade pierce her corrupted flesh and she rejoiced. She felt the Daemon's presence on this material plane waver, and she knew that soon it would depart and drag her with it to 'She Who Thirsts'. She felt her self being sucked away from her flesh, away from life.... she expected at any moment to be consumed.... but then she realized. Merric had stabbed the Daemon with her witchblade in which she had enlaid an empty spirit stone. She was not being sucked to the warp, but into the handle of her blade. She wasn't in any sense, 'alive', but she had not been consumed and now she was part of her own weapon.

The Daemon screamed one final time before flashing out of existence, taking what remained of Laurella's body with her, but the Witch-blade clattered to the floor containing her immortal soul. Only a Bonesinger could bring her out of this existence, but it didn't matter, it was better than the alternative. She only hoped that Merric had survived the encounter; she had no senses with which to see or hear what happened around the blade.

*merric fell to the ground, exhausted beyond anything he had ever known*
The Daemon was gone. Gone! He had destroyed the thing that held laurella. But with it he had killed herself.
*the witch-blade seemed... Alive, and the gem in it's handle glowed with an unnatural glow. He stood, pain washing through his body, But he gripped the sword, and a flood of what can only be described as positivity washed through him. All but ignoring the carnage around him, he clipped the plasma cannon back to his arm and stumbled away, toward the building where lukas now attempted to rouse Avicus to consciousness*

The massive beast surged from the ruins where once stood a place of healing, ash and dust floating in the air around him, Ry'leth wincing with pain on every step of the massive beast, The pathfinder began to travel a safe distance (from both stomping and slime) back, in his hand the broken half of his drone.

Spotting the destroyed kan, the fading body of the demon, and the warring marines, he realized he missed another massive engagement, but also sensed it was awesome...

"Disappointing..."

*Gitstompa and his lads immediately starts setting up in the Armory they just looted, with a few of the boys gleeful with new shiny gunz in their hands, most of which are Plasma guns. But Gitstompa himself kept his Big Shoota, as he doesn't exactly trust those 'umie weapons, especially not after one of those guns blew up in one of the boy's hands.

And Crazygit carefully sneaks back to his Dread to see if it can be repaired, but with the Tau-like gits that's shown up, he quickly ducks his head again in the rubble.* Zoggin' gits, ye betta not touch Scrappa.

Karnus and the Plague Marines had not engaged in the main fight, for they deemed the Iron Warriors more than capable of soaking up any damage the loyalists could throw at them at this point. Instead, they circled around and took up favourable firing positions nearby. As soon as the Daemon was destroyed, Karnus would have grinned if he was able to (For Nurgle has little love for Slaanesh), but his distended jaw prevented any such show of emotion.

Instead, they aim down the sights of their bolters, their helmets feeding them targeting data and bullet trajectories as they line up perfect shots against the Honds of Loken. Well aware that Power Armour is capable of resisting direct bolter fire, they intend to use the considerable concussion of the impacts to 'lock down' the Hounds, thus allowing the Iron Warriors to advance, also hoping to hit any weak spots where the Bolts can pass through.

'Iron Brethren, we will cover your advance... Charge!...'

Karnus gives the word and the Plague Marines open fire, a storm of high-explosive Zombie Plague-infected shells flying towards the Space Marines.

Rage is an Emotion unlocked in many ways. Annoyance, loss, simple hatred.
*as merric aimed his plasma cannon at the plague marines above, and as a bolt of plasma arched from the barrel, all of these surged through him.
Annoyance at this planet, loss of the who had been, if briefly, a very valued companion and quite possibly Avicus, and hatred for the bastards that had led to it all. Merric wanted them dead, no, dead was to weak a word, destroyed. that was a better word.
He draped the rags that remained of the farseer's elegant robes around the grip of the blade, and held the sword tightly, it would not end here, but some one would.*

The Plague Marines quickly drop down from their positions, barely escaping the blast radius- though brother Marus' left leg armour was scorched- and continue firing, intent on not giving the loyalists the opportunity to retaliate.

Another 10 minutes of thunderous running later and the Ultramarines are just across the street from the armory... to see it looted by the Orks. Morris snarls and balls his fists. "To see our prize be stolen by this filth... It fills me with so much holy rage I might cleave the entire damned planet in half. Your orders, Sergeant?", he asks. "They have Plasma weaponry by the dozens. We will not last long in such a fire fight. Perhaps we can get this weaponry to fullfill our intended purpose", Kade replies. Brother Sergeant Kade fires on the Orks as do his battle brothers. Though their shots are quite precise given that they are near constantly drilled on how to accurately fire a bolter they do not intend to kill the Orks. Instead, after taking a few pot shots Kade shouts, "The Orks are stupid, cowardly and couldn't hit the side of a Titan even if they were three feet away". Would this ploy to get the Orks to give chase work? Hopefully. The Ultramarines turn around and run back towards the ruined Medicae center.

*bolts hit merric's armour in a dozen places, and he quickly returns his helmet. The iron warriors are a significant distance away, well out of range, the administration is practically behind him, and the plague marines to the front-right. He slowly back peddle, and another blast of plasma heads to the plague marines.*

Slowly but surely, the Iron Warriors advanced, making sure to remain in cover, while the Plague Marines above opened fire on the loyalist. Though he was still out of range, the Iron Warriors raised their weapons as their Captain uttered a challenge towards the lone Astartes.

"Face me, weakling! Stop running, and face your enemies in a true battle!"

*And the Orks happily shoots back at them, but to the surprise of the Orks (and perhaps the marines as well), the Plasma guns in the uncaring Ork hands overheats, and gets dropped, and a few of them even explodes. But the rest of the propa-gunnary ones with their Shootas keeps shooting, and Gitstompa, after he's fired at least dozens of bullets at them, finally realizes the marine's plans (or so he thinks).*

OY! 'DEM GITS AR' RUNNIN'! LED'S GET 'EM!

*And with that, the remaining Lootas storms forward, with most of them grabbing the Plasma Guns that overheated (even those that got destroyed), while a few still stays back, just to enjoy the rest of the loot in the Armory.*

As fast as they can run the Space Marines retreat towards the Medicae center knowing full well what an entire Ork mob armed with Plasma guns can do. "Do you think we'll get any of those Plasma Guns once this is over?", Donis asks. "I wouldn't count on it", Kade says, "Plasma Guns are dangerous technology that requires practice to master. Even then you may still feel their bite. Orks are not practiced in any sense of the word". Once they actually reach the Medicae center the Ultramarines go into the corridor, enter another room that is not exposed and shuts the door. Hopefully their little trick worked and the Orks would engage the Chaos Marines which would be a much more obvious target for them. If not, well.. it was going to be bloody.

The Plasma Cannon shot explodes near the feet of brother Samuas, sending him flying. He lands heavily, his massive bulk smashing through rockcrete and debris. His HUD glows red, displaying various containment breaches and system overloads. Despite the furious intensity of the Plasma Shot, Marines are made of stern stuff indeed and Samuas gets to his feet, smoke rising from various parts on his armour, some areas even glowing red-hot, but he returns to the fight and concentrates fire on the large Plasma Cannon, attempting to get a shot into the oversized barrel.

*And of course, as soon as the Orks spots the rest of the conflict, particularly the exchange between the Marines and the Spikey gits, they start to wander towards that and cheer. But Gitsplitta would have none of it, as he bellows at the other Orks.*

QWIT GOOGLIN' an' git in 'dat buildin'!

*Most of them does what he says, and hurriedly runs towards the medical bay, with a few (or rather, most) of them firing at the other marines in hopes that it'll hit them at all. But predictably, the door seems to be shut off for the Orks to just bash through. But luckily for them, Gitsplitta is a smart Nob, and simply uses his Power Klaw to rip into it, and split it open.*

READY OR NOT, 'ERE WE ARE!

Damn, Kade thought, These Orks are less predictable than he thought. Kade fires his combi-melta straight into the Ork. The rest of the Space Marines fire their Bolters in the crowd of Orks knowing full well what would happen if they got in. Morris tosses a Frag Grenade into the pack to thin it out some.

*That Melta-shot did take a toll of Gitsplitta, as he now has lost his good shooty arm! And without care for the rest of the Boyz, he charges into the marine that zogged his arm, and swings his claw to crush his juices out!

And the rest of the Orks just charges in towards the marines, firing off their Shootas and Plasma Guns, again with the Plasmas overheating. But this time, they get used as clubs by those that actually gets close enough, which is to say not that many.*

Merit is done with this place. He is leaving, now.
*he opens a link on the general vox*
{merric} "to the bastard brothers, to the traitor scum, to the xenos monsters. You will all die here, and I will not be your executioner. I am leaving now. Follow me if you wish, but if you do, you will die." * merric turns around, and lukas emerges from the building, holding Avicus up, the group begins to walk, careful down the street, the space port visible in the distance. They start to jog, knowing that they are surely faster then the warp-corrupt chaos terminators, if by a fraction. They were sprinting now, and merric was ready to vent his fury on anything, anything that got in his way.*

Kade is unable to do anything about the power claw. He is smacked into the wall of the building which causes it to develop large cracks. The Ultramarines picks up his fallen Bolter and fires his remaining Dragonfire Ammunition. The other Ultramarines fire their Boltguns into the oncoming Ork tide still using Dragonfire rounds. All except for Morris. Unknown to the other Ultras Morris has taken a Plasma Gun shot chest. Molten hot ceramite drips down onto the ground from this wound. He falls to his knees, clutches his chest and falls flat onto the ground. His body goes into shock, his organs swell and the spark of life leaves him. This poor Astartes is now with the Emperor.

Coward. Cowards. All the loyalists were cowards. The hated Ultramarines who ran away, and ran back, fleeing from an Ork mob now attacking them, and the other loyalists, too. The lone loyalist had denied his challenge twice now. Twice, damnit! And now they were running away, again. The weakling coward had even announced it over the vox. The fool. The Space Port was filled with Tyranids, and they were wounded. They couldn't leave. Gavriel laughed as he watched them jogging away, and decided to follow them, opening a vox-link with his Plague Marine brethren.

"The Ultramarines are done for, they're stuck in the ruins of the medicae, and the other loyalists are leaving. Our terminator armour is too slow to stop them from reaching the spaceport, but you will be fast enough. Chase them, and stop them from reaching the Space Port. Once they are stuck, we will arrive and cut them down."

*Gitsplitta's getting madder and madder, as his body gets riddled with fiery bolts, but the Klaw keeps clenching him, right until it clenches halfway through. But with the fire from the bolt rounds spreading, and the general condition he's in, he throws the marine at his brothers, before he tips down on the ground, as the fire spreads and burns the corpse.

And the few boyz that's left keeps chopping at them with their knives, guns and overheated Plasma weaponry.*

Space Marines are tough. Absurdly tough. Kade somehow lived through that attack despite blood pouring from the wounds. The wounds seal themselves thanks to his implants but he is still very hurt. His display flashes red with multiple warning signs indicating his power armor is in a bad way. His battle brothers draw their knives to go to grips with these Orks. Donis sweeps the feet of the nearest Ork out with a leg and tries to stab him with another. Leo tries to stab an Ork through the top of his head before he can do anything and Calkir stabs the Ork's arm in an attempt to loosen the Plasma Gun from his grip.

*The first Ork gets his leg swept easily because Orks are rather clumsy in the first place, but another one comes right behind him, and chops an axe at his shoulder.
The second Ork tried to club the marine's head, but was a bit too slow, so the knife stabs him first, whereas the last one keeps a good grip on the gun, and stabs his own knife into the area of the neck.*

The Plague Marines do not hesitate a second and do as the Iron Warriors say, breaking into a full sprint as they chase after the running loyalists.

''I will NOT be Ignored!'' Xillian snarled. She whipped around to Koth, ''I give up! Use the damned supplies, i don't care if we need them for the Space Travel.'' Koth agreed with hesitation, those supplies where their life line if they made it to space, and to waste them on a Harlequin? He sighed inwardly as he unhooked the supply bag from his magna-clamp.

''Yes Archon, shall i give him a hot meal as well?'' Xillian's eyes could kill, and even the Incubus flinched. ''Watch your tongue if you wish to keep it. Harlequin, thank you for what you have told me. My friend here will fix you up, but at our great expense, remember that. I am going to drive my Huskblade through that Terminators eyes, I will meet you at the space port soon. DO. NOT. LEAVE. WITHOUT. ME.''

Xillian sprang, practically ripping the Blast Pistol from the Harlequins shaky grasp as the Incubus lay him flat and began applying sealant onto the Harlequins wounds. The Harlequin screamed as his skin reknit. Xillian was off, Murder on her Brain, A sword in her hand and nothing, nothing would get in her way.

The knife enters Calkir's neck. The Ultramarine attempts to kick the Ork in the gut. Donis turns around, draws his bolt pistol and fires on the Ork attacker. The Ork's axe makes a light scratch damaging the Chapter Symbol. Leo takes out his bolt pistol and tried to pick off a few Orks at range.

*The knife gets twisted inside, as the kick knocks the air out of the Ork.
The other Ork grabs hold of Donis' head, as he chops the axe into him again, while another Ork behind him gets his head turned into mush by Leo's shot.
But that didn't stop the last two to get to Leo, except one of them dies by his shots.*

Calkir winces in pain as the knife is twisted. Blood trickles from the wound, a message warns that his suit has been breached and he is dealt a not so minor wound. Still, an Astartes was quite tough in form and could take such injuries. Calkir takes out his Bolter, which had been magnetically bonded with his armor, and fires the last two rounds into the Ork. He pops out the magazine and loads in another still filled with Dragonfire rounds. Donis's armor system indicates that his comms system is damaged by the blow. His head reels from the axe swing but the power armor holds. He hefts his boltgun and attempts to club the Ork with it. Leo attempts to knee the Ork in his gut. If successful, he would also bring his bolt pistol down onto his head.

*The remaining Orks gets slain by the bolter rounds, except the one getting clobbed with a bolter, who keeps chopping away at Donis.*