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A scream comes from behind Lotus as Oni is attacked by one of the hounds, it grips onto his arm and tears into his flesh horribly injuring him and forcing him to the ground before the Hound is sniped by the Vindicare who re-loads and continues to kill other hounds.

"oni lockwell clarification 1 released." Oni immediatly responses to the sentence as his stims and drugs systems start to run. When the animus is fully charged she fires it towards the majority of the hounds. Then she rushes towards them and kills one instantly as its brain is scrambled by the gauntlet. Then she continues towards the leader

The leader charges Lotus knocking her back and continues to attack her viciously with it's claws and teath aiming for her throat.

"Oh no you wont" she takes her hotshot laspistol and fires it point blanc into the head. Then she uses the gauntlet just to be sure

Ludias nods, "My thoughts precisly"

He slides down the hill loading a sheel into his rifle and stalking quickly across the terrain between the culvert and their position. His siesmographology reader picks up the gentle footfalls of his companion and he nudges his fingers to the left slightly, indicating they should spread out incase of hidden defenses. usually Ludias would stalk a site for days before making a decided attack like this, but unfortunatley he diddnt have that luxury on this occasion. The culvert approaches quickly and he ducks under its rim and his mask shines an Infrared beam down the tunnel. Seeing a slightly grimy but otherwise clear entrance he nods to Beltayn but mutters over their private vox channel.
"This feels to easy Bel' I dont like it."
He almost hears his partner grimace.
"I dont like it either my Mon'Kiegh friend but as I see it we have no choice. Do you want me to take point?"
Ludias grins behind his mask as he stows his rifle and draws his pistols.
"Lets give them some ghost of a chance shall we? Ill take the lead, just make sure the wretches dont sneak up behind us."

The pair are able to make their way to the tunnels entrance with little difficulty passing the burning wreckage of several Sentry guns on their way, most only Tri-pods with no turret or piles of molten metal after Chaos marine and Heritic Melta Gunners passed through.

The hound falls and hits the ground as it's head is reduced to a pile of ash and dust, the Assasins watch as the other hounds leave uninterested in the assassins as prey.

A grin spreads across Kais' face, before he speaks again.

"Relay all information to me. For now, I need to think of a battle plan."

Ludias pokes his head out the end of the tunnel and notices a distinct lack of cover in the intervening space between themselves and the nearest buildings. However he flicks his redsight on and notices the heat signatures of the feeet from a patrol, the marks still quite red, indicating the patrol being quite recent, he flicks back to normal and clambers out of the tunnel. His mind allready making him seek potential threats and sources of cover and ambush points.

Half a second later he finishes his scan of the courtyard infront of him and notices several dozen "Sleeping" Defilers, this worries him as he knows that even he and Beltayn couldnt take out so many Daemon vehicles without a great deal of luck, or maybe a few of his specialized rounds... He snaps back to the present as Beltayn drops silently to the gorund beside him. The only noticing of his prescence the motion sensor in Ludias' retinal HUD showing his position. He raises two fingers and makes a slow sweeping motion tipping them up as he passes over one of the buildings. The signal to move around the edge of the courtyard and then head for cover.

He notices a small green icon flash briefly next to Beltayn's readout in his HUD. The conformation signal and the pair set of.

(Im thinking we appeared next to the armoury and are now moving along the Armoury's left wall looking for cover between there and the forge.)

Hunter aimed his sniper and watched the pair through his electric scope and scanned the movements of them, he prepared a pair of bullets just in case that they were not friendly but soon turned his attention to the approaching Chaos space marines and Cultists.

"Tangos sited, targeting in 3...2...1"

The Chaos marines fell to the fire of Hunters sniper, taking precise and deadly shots.


The Defilers continue their slumber unaware of the snipers or insane turrets that lack any sites or ammunition while the Snipers are allowed a easy way to avoid the Defilers who continue to sleep. Chaos marine emerge from the armory carrying Las-Cannons and Auto-Cannons not noticing the Snipers while they talk and exam their new weaponry, the forge burn brightly in the distance as the orange glow of magma and bright white smoke pours from the many pipes and valves from the forge.

(As in hunter is aiming at me and Bel'???)
Storm ducks behind a pipe system and lines up his sniper rifle with a splatter round. Gory but perfect for sewing confusion as its almost impossible to tell where the shot came from. He feels Bel' lining up a shot as well, both of them waiting for an excuse to execute the individuals.

(He was and remember he's a good sniper and a good Allie but he's working for Shas'O )

The Chaos Marine screams and stumbles around before falling leaving his allies dazed and confused by the bloody blast, a second shot removes another Marine.

"Clarification locked. Venumum take care of that wound now we need to go. Follow me i think i can find a way in.

"Excellent. If you need air support I am always here to give it Just don't get yourself killed."

"Yes Shas'O, I have removed tangos and I am now scanning the area for any remaining Tangos or hostile troops, several foxtrots have entered the area and will be removed within the next five minutes. "

Several shots remove several more Cultists

"Yes Lotus but the fortress will be difficult to enter with that many guards, the Iron Warriors and renewed for their skills in both siege and defense. Several armies would be required to even pass the turret and wall defensive."

She searches the area with a thermal scan and walks to the crystal. "Informaticus what is this?"

Beltayn's gaze was unhindered as he scanned the area outside the drain pipe. His senses were alive and on full alert, they were now behind enemy lines and could be attacked from all sides if they were not careful. In the distance, the armory could be seen looming ahead of them and the fires from the forges could be spotted rather easily as well. Beltayn's eyes darted as he moved stealthily, the hair on the back of his neck began to stand erect. Ludias was right, this was too easy, somebody was watching them, he could feel it in his instincts.

"There are hidden eyes watching, do not doubt that, Ludias." He said quietly as the two came closer to their destination. Soon, a file of Chaos Marines came walking out of the armory with heavy weapons and the two snipers instinctively disappeared within the blink of an eye. Beltayn worked his way into a small pile of dirt next to a pipe network. Both him and Ludias began acquiring targets, they said nothing but both had worked with one another long enough to know how their partner would react and so acted accordingly. Beltayn was sure Ludias had ammunition that would make short work of the marine's armor, but Beltayn's rifle ammunition required him to be very precise, something he was more than adept at. He found the weak spot in the armor around the neck to be quite useful. Just as he was about to fire the first shot, his target went down...

For a split second, Beltayn thought it had been Ludias, but he had not registered the slight cough of his partner's rifle with his advanced hearing. The Marine had also not fallen at the right angle to have been hit by Ludias, before either of them could react, all the Marines fell within but a few moments, followed by a few cultists in the area. Beltayn frantically scanned the surrounding area, he couldn't find the shooter even with his keen eyes. Beltayn dropped down behind his cover and his thoughts raced. His hand found his necklace, they were facing another sharpshooter, one of high skill and ability. Such matches were one of the only things that got Beltayn excited anymore. To test his own mettle against a warrior of his own scope was one of his only ambitions.

"This one is skilled..." Beltayn said amused. " If he has seen us he must not think us a threat, but it seems he is against the forces stationed here. I haven't been able to find him but perhaps we should move before he spots us..." Beltayn said, melting back into the landscape as if he had never been there.

"Boom head shot."

Hunter laughed as the Chaos marines realised their big guns would not protect them, he re-loaded and smiled. He knew that other snipers were here, competition or allies ether way they would help him and Shas'O against the true enemy. He viewed the other Chaos marines through his electric scope, designed to link with his helm.

Ludias watched the marine fall through his scope, calmly assessing the fall pattern. Anyone else except for maybe Bel' would just see a falling marine. But Ludias could almost sense where a shot had come from if he had enough time to watch the victem fall. Unfortunatley today was not one of the days that his "Sixth sense" was giving him an easy time of it. Instead he observed the fire angle and then the AoT. Loading the logarithms into an onboard computer in his mask he went through a couple of quick tragectory calculations with respect to windspeed humidity and impact force. Without knowing the caliber of the shot this still left a significant area from where the shot could have come from but Ludias wasnt worried. The amount of distance required to make the shots suggested that the sniper was outside the fortress and had targetted only marines, Even though, (As much as it galled Ludias to admit) He and Bel' had been out of cover and would have been easy targets. This sniper was also clearly taking fun with his klls, waiting for targets to be looking at one anouther before bringing them down. Using the viel of distance as a shield.

Ludias growls gently in his throat. This sniper would blow his and Bel's cover if the pair of Snipers diddnt act fast. Ludias ran anouther quick calculation and determined the angle of descent for the sun and realised that they had approximatley 1.7895 hours of sunlight left. This left them out in the open for far, far to long....

"Find that sni..."

The Chaos marines head exploded in a shower of gore and bone, the Chaos marines within the small courtyard divided into small groups that fled for cover fearing that the sniper would strike again but no more shots were fired. The Sniper had left his nest, the forges smaller gates opened. Steam and white smoke fumed out as a Iron warriors Tech-marine emerge, his head completely replaced with a fully mechanical model that has thin slits for eyes that scan the area. A group of servitors emerge from behind and retrieve the dead marines and the weapons as well, they drag the bodies into the forge closing its gates while a small vent opens near to a sign sporting the words;

Turret manufacture. Tech Marines and Servitors only.


"It is a unknown substance Mam, not listed in any Imperial records and devoid of warp energy. The Spirit that may off inhabited or used it left, but I will take samples for later reference Lotus."

The Thermal scan reveals nothing in the area, it seems that the Daemons have fled.

" good work informaticus now continue do your animals have gatherd info? If so now is the time." She starts walking towards the fortress still staying in cover.

(What are these animals exactly? )

"Tangos sighted, removal pending. Warning shots firing in 1...2...3"

Several shots are fired by Hunter at the assassins.

(it are bionic animals which are directly controlled by the informaticus. They are searching and constantly gathering info. (How do you think assasin gain intel from inside locations XD) my informaticus has 1 eagle and some rats. (They can also function as weapons XD)
"Everyone get back vindicare get a point where you can identify shooter and or neutralize on my command. Use your spy armor (melt with background.) Make sure you survive. We have plenty of cover.

Ludias calmly took stock of their situation, he wouldnt lie to himself, it was pretty grim. He realised quickly that that turret manufacturing facility was taking up alot of the fortresses resources, especially with an Iron Warriors techmarine dedicated there. A series of ideas floated around in his head and he chose one of them to identify. He noticed that the servitors were an older model, in line with the armour of the renegades, certainly old and of a mark not seen for some time amoungst the sons of the emperor. Ludias prided himself on the knowlege of the marks of the astartes armour, it gave him an undeniable advantage knowing the weaknessess of each mark.

Back to the task at hand, his rifle itching in his hands as he caressed the trigger guard, eyeing the techmarine before he heads in. He could almost feel the tension in the air until that scion of the dark Mechanicus vacated the open air. Ludias had also noticed a strange tension on his nerves since the moment he had entered the fortress. There was clearly something horrible residing within these walls and he wasnt particularly interseted in knowing what it was. Only getting enough information on the place to make his life valuable to the imperium again. He had also noticed the assassin group moving across the wastelands. He thought it strange that they were showing so little stealth, even the Vindicare was blindingly obvious. But then again Ludias thought wryly. He had been hunting the likes of such highly trained assassins for years, it was only just that he would think them unstealthy, especially when he and Beltayn could move through an entire sector undetected and here these Imperium were making more noise than an assault cannon on full bore.

His mind flicked through several senarios in where he could pin the assassins down with fire long enough to figure out what their task here was. If they were after him then he certainly wouldnt hesitate to wipe them out. The vindicare would be the first to go. There wasnt enough room on this planet for 3 snipers.... no he reminded himself, 4 snipers, the mystery hunter who had almost challenged himself and Bel' that would of course be a very very foolish thing to do. The last sniper who had challenged the pair had ended up going around the system to find his inner self. In several pieces. Of course Ludias had actually sold the mans "Inner self" otherwise known as his heart and brain. To a pair of kroot at a mercanaries bar abour 4 months ago. The kroot had payed him handsomly for such rare genetic material.

His hands drifted over the lever action of his rifle slowly snapping it forwards loading the round nestled in its chamber. A simple explosive round measured to detonate 0.00001 seconds after discharge. So about 500 metres. He fired it into the air casually. A general signal to snipers all over the galaxy for a ceasefire.

Vindicare: " i have found another pair of snipers missy as there was fired an high explosive round in the air. I think they can possibly be hostile."
Lotus:"dont engage repeat dont engage. Only identify do you have a read about our mysterious hunter? Ifso report immediatly."

"Excellent Hunter. Do not give your position away, but is it ready for me to lead a force of Fire Warriors down there yet?" Shas'O T'au Kais asked anxiously. He hadn't been in a fight for way too long. He needed to show his skills again. He needed to return to the front line.

"Yes Shas'O, but now I must begin my duel."

The Assassins are pinned down by a hail of fire as Hunter re-loads and begins fringing on them. He scopes in a views the Assassin Lotus;

"An Assassin, a excellent foe!"


A blast in the sky caused Hunter to stop, the others must have not wanted to fight.


"They are smart are they not, but can they brave that fortress I wonder."



A group of modified sentinels emerged from the forge carrying several new turrets, in the misty smoke behind the silhouette of the Tech-Marine was quite clear.

Beltayn was aware of the shot that Ludias had given to signal the opposing marksman. He knew it was necessary but he hoped that it had not given them away. These thoughts ran through the back of Beltayn's mind, however, as his actual thoughts were focused on his scope and the figure he was studying in it.

He watched as the Techmarine observed the menial laborers continue their tasks, he knew that the marine was an immediate threat as his surveillance equipment could possibly reveal the two's position. Beltayn sent a nonverbal message to Ludias that he had an acquired top priority target. Beltayn lines his rifle's scope on the eye slits of the Techmarine and fired a well placed dart into them.

The Techmarine fell onto its back with a whumpf of downed metal, leaving his stooges to look around blankly at each other as to what had happened. Beltayn smiled and shook his head slightly as he aimed and fired consecutive, silent rounds into the others and they fell as well. The group was down and the gates to the forge were left wide open.

"I believe I have found our next route, Ludias." Beltayn whispered as he watched the gate for other figures.

Ludias watched his friend calmly as he took down the group. Ludias spent his time doing his job however, checking the surroundings covering his friend. It was always the way with them, one would take shots, the other would make sure they stayed safe. Especially in situations like this.

When Storm heard Bel's comment he nodded.
"Agreed old friend. I just hope none of thoe Defilers wake up. Shall we go?"

The Defilers are slumped over in a state of sleep, they move their heads every so often to let out a roar like yawn but go quite quickly wishing to continue their slumber allowing the Snipers a easy way through while Chaos Marines fear to even set foot in the Defiler storage areas unless the mechanical beasts are chained or under control by a Tech-marine. The Snipers pass the massive beasts and come to a door way marked;

Forge waste center

The smell off molten metal and black smoke can be heard as the scarp metal of the fortress is melted down to create new machines for the dark powers of Chaos, the sound of hammers and forge Daemons that bend the burning metal with their bear hands could be heard from a mile away as their screams fill the air.