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 Ezra Tyrius wrote:
The wind howled through the landscape as the Imperial expedition unpacked from their transports and plunged into the snow-filled alleys of the dead city. The cities’ high spires glistened in the sunlight, even as the sun moved across the sky and made its way to the horizon. The silence that had surrounded the city for so long was now occasionally broken by voices calling out to eachother, and by the sound of structures being erected by freezing hands. Somewhere, amidst the decaying ruins, a figure, thin strips of snow covering his armour, observed the new arrivals from afar.

The Night Lord’s breath formed small clouds as he watched his prey set up camp near the entrance to the Vault. His lightning claws crackled softly, the ice around their sharpened ends melting from the heat. Their energies sizzled silently, unburdened by the bitter cold that hung over the landscape.

He sat on the spire of what had once been a great market hall, bristling with life and sound. It had been a warm and safe haven for all those who lived here, a welcoming home for a great many souls. Now the market hall was an empty shell, its innards gutted, its inhabitants long gone in the mists of time.

The Imperials had finally arrived in the city. Took them look enough. They were here for the same reason he was.

The Vault.

Curse the damn thing. Curse it all.

He was a Nostraman, once. Before his Father had brought his homeworld to heel. It had meant nothing to him. To see the place he once called home demolished, the all too familiar spires and alleys crushed underneath the weight of a vengeful ruler, it had meant as much to him as this blasted cold did. A minor annoyance. Nothing more, nothing less. And yet he felt a strange sense of unease amongst these ruins.

Each time he looked around, it was like something in the corner of his eye was incredibly familiar; a building he had once seen on Nostramo, an alley he had chased some gangers through, a bridge he had slept under for weeks. They tugged at the corners of his eyes, probing him to look; yet when he did, the resemblance disappeared, as if it had never been there in the first place.

This ghost town was playing tricks on him, and he would bet his life on it that that cursed Vault had something to do with it. It aggravated him immensely, and if he didn’t have a mission to fulfil, he’d probably be tearing this entire place down to the ground.

But a mission he had, and so he remained in place for the moment. His prey was already spreading out, forming a perimeter, probing the ruins for defenses and traps.

It was time for the hunt to begin.

Spoiler:

Haven't had much time to write the past few days, but I'll try to keep up with the opening of the Vault (and all the consequences of doing so)

Big question is: what are the Remnants doing? The Vault lies within reach for the Imperials, but only a fool believes that Chaos would just let it slip from its grasp...

Your not hunting my patrol are you?
Though that one has no named characters, so it can be killed, but it is 20 marines and 30 as mech, vanguard, rangers and some of the other infiltration types. Though the orks, well came in massive force, a stompa of all things!

The impiral side has located and sent the data out so more can follow.

The Temples patrol began to slowly go deeper into the cities lower levels, cold, ruined, the dead windows seemed to have a life to them, and not. this place tricked even the space marines eye, memories of lands once called home, distractions, and fears. Damn that vault. it was playing with them all. the Admech where cyborgs, even they saw odd flickers, though the Alpha refused to believe it. The patrol was shadowing the main passage from what was a side street, the benches of traders and iced over tools still visible. The city was dead, no one had lived here for thousands of years yet the ice had preserved it well, when the Jungle team found the decoy much of it was only found as foundations, and the dummy vault was one of a very few not badly compromised. A 3rd site in desert had yielded nothing either.

"Orks, dead ahead. 1km, picking up residue heat, smoke and vibrations. something big went this way SGT, Signs of gun fire, combat, crude gun powder in the air and that damned ork smokey engine smog, hate that black mess"

"Confirmed. Ranger 5674D confirms large metallic machine passed this section. " Came the Alphas metallic vocal processor.

"Stompa, has to be, the cavern is tall enough and that much heat, no burners did that"

"Quiet, Hostiles"


"Oi ya git, keep up"

"ya not da one with the big gun, dis Dakka be useful im telling ya"

"Your always, you dim git. though ma chopppa will better kill in dis tunnel"

"i Just added red squig oil, fresh squeezed, proper like, with fists not pumps. dis lay down more killing than ya choppa!"

The Ork never spoke again as the Marines ambushed them with combat knives, total surprise and 4 seconds later all of them had died with out as much as shot.

"Right get moving, the main party may miss this lot. follow down by the traders street, and then down to that what looks like hab zone. keep quiet, lot of orks about"

"Copy, SGT. Vox relay set. should not need a new one for 2km"

"Confirmed. HQ will not like the last report. Orks in strength, Armour, all headed to the vault,"

"HQ Copies. Do not engage unless have to, shadow Ork force until otherwise required, SGT Tangir out"

"SGT, better come look at this. Ceramite. silver, Geometric patterns, same as that stuff they found in the Jungle a while back, also some in black, thinner, but think may be Sisters mark Armour, No foot prints or signs they moved this way in past few hours though"

"Bag it, one more mystery eh. this place is full of them" The SGT sighed, he hated mysteries.

Contacting Imperial Forces
Contacting...
Contacting...
Contact made.

Watch-Captain Titus, recording.
Black Templar, Mechanicus and Imperial Fist elements have made landfall successfully. Should you find anything of interest, the Deathwatch will send a Kill Team to support your position.

Imperative command: do not attempt to interfere with the vault if recovered. Form a defensive cordon and wait for Imperial assistance.

Acting-Captain Aurelius and Strikeforce Praetoria are acting as mobile reserve to reinforce and immediately support any necessary reconnaissance or defensive actions.

Note to all forces: Orbital scans show numerous cracks and crevasses in the surface. Such cracks are unoptimised for anything larger than Tactical Dreadnought Terminator Armour. Should a sortie be launched into one of these cave systems, only fifteen men will be able to accompany you, with Terminator armour or equivalent halving this limit.

Lord-Marshall Karak, you shall be in command of scouting and reconnaissance forces.
Acting-Captain Aurelius shall command the reserve elements of both his company and Imperial Guard Astra Militarum battalions ready to deploy.
Ground deployment and proper application of these forces shall be deferred to Lord Commander Jeremiah of the Cadian 17th.
Orbital scanning and ordnance is under the command of Chapter Master Ryus of the New Order.
Strike-Commander Tullius of the Death Ravens will command the secondary relief and extraction contingent.

Now for disciplinary actions.
Commissar Sheppard, and those under his direct command and influence (Commissar Gavor, Knight-Captain Zorah and Captain Reiner) shall be spared initial Inquisitorial punishment for their actions in breaking an Inquistorial decree. Instead, they shall be deployed to the vanguard contingent, under command of Lord-Marshall Karak. Expected mortality rate exceeds 86%. Should they survive this, the Inquisition shall deem whether their murder of Inquisitorial henchmen was acceptable or not.

Do your duty.
Watch-Captain Titus, Ordo Xenos.

---------------------Thought for the Day: You have no spark beyond your life. But a spark is something. --------------------

Templer Recon Report 1

Ork force has a Stompa or large war machine in caverns.
Any follow on attack will require specialist support and weaponry.

Orks number strongly.
Suspected Traitor landings in the city

Scout team one out.

I'll give everyone( haven't heard from chaos or orks much) to end of weekend to give me numbers then I'll pm winner

Yea, if you win you can choose what you want to do with the vault, collapse it, open it, throw a fiesta, your choice.

Oh yeah numbers 91 :-)

If I win, expect plenty of fun monsters and a propper fight for orks

Since I'm not sure if our numbers go here or in a message to you. I pick 34

42. Yes, I am still alive.

You mentioned after the vault is opened and the planet is either saved (or destroyed) that we would basically have a clean slate. At that point could I swap out my guard for my marine army? I have some ideas for them.

Yeah,feew free to wipe them out the plate and start afresh.

I don,t think that would be too unreasonable.

Yup, you can play it how ever you want. Want to bring another force? Abandon your old one? Add one? Go for it, I did this to keep people writing and having fluff fly off the handle.

Also guys/ladies PLEASE PM me the numbers, its to hard to look through all the posts and figure out what people said when.

Righteousrob wrote:
Yup, you can play it how ever you want. Want to bring another force? Abandon your old one? Add one? Go for it, I did this to keep people writing and having fluff fly off the handle.

Also guys/ladies PLEASE PM me the numbers, its to hard to look through all the posts and figure out what people said when.

PMing now.

Same. Sending now

Sent mine as well

Sheppard sat in his tent reading the formal inquisitorial writ. “By the order of Watch Captain Titus in penance for your heretical action against agents of the Inquisition you and your men are to serve at the disposal of Lord Marshall Karak until death or pardon.” The rest of the letter was just hollow words meant to shame him and his men. Sheppard was somewhat relieved at the letter, at least now he didn’t have to worry about whether or not the Inquisition knew and whether or not he had to worry about going missing. The Commissar could think of worse things than a penance crusade. He sat the paper down at his desk, at his side was the cadet Jethro Alenko. The Cadet spoke “How can the Inquisition do this.” “They answer to no one and have the force to do anything.”

From the cold frozen exterior of the tent came the Lord Governor Hannibal Pavus. He held an open document with the broken seal of the inquisition “What the hell is this?” Sheppard looked over to his ward “Leave us.” The cadet nodded and left the tent. Hannibal raved “Who does this captain Titus think he is, not only does he have the nerve to take my best commanders, but he freely donates them and their legions to the bloody fething Templars?” Sheppard sighed “There’s nothing that can be done Inquisitorial word is law. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t just kill us.” Hannibal shook his head vigorously “No there’s nothing you can do I am Lord Governor Hannibal Pavus. No one not even the Inquisition takes what’s mine.” “What do you intend to do Lord Pavus.” Hannibal drew two cigars from his side pouch and offered one to Sheppard, the commissar politely refused and the governor spoke “I intend to pull some strings with Lord General Zonand, the inquisitions actions technically violate the terms of our crusade pact. With any luck Kruger could get the Marshall to perhaps grant you a pardon or at the very least reassign you back to my command.” The governor lit his cigar and spoke “Either the inquisition plays nice, or we don’t play at all.” The Governor blew a puff of smoke and left the commissar’s tent. Sheppard was worried about the Governor’s plan, the inquisition had given them a relatively merciful sentence, his intervention could possible make things worse or possible better.

The next day the Faustian companies began their decent into the underground. The Adeptus Mechanicus and Templar expeditionary forces had already a two-day head start into the abyss. The men were uneasy this place was wrong. Soldiers had gone missing in the night, officially they were being listed as AWOL, but they took no supplies and they didn’t exhibit any previous signs of disloyalty. But as it dozens of men were now listed as AWOL.

The underground was unsettling to the guardsmen many of the men had odd symptoms of Deja’ vu swearing they remember many of the places they passed through. Their progress was slow as they found out the hard way the orks had left crude stikk bomb traps behind as they delved deeper into the forgotten ruins. Captain Reiner found his way to Commissar Sheppard, the burley man was in his usual cheerful mood “Jack, can you believe that the Inquisition figures out that we killed off some of their agents and they reward us by assigning us to one of the greatest chapters of space marines.” Sheppard spoke “I’m glad you can see the silver lining in all this.” Captain Reiner spoke lowly “Odd though that Nova Marines are not being blamed for their role in the incident. “Sheppard nodded “Aye, could have been it was one of Axton’s men that’s the leak, or could be our mole is afraid of the Astartes.” Reiner wasn’t paying attention to Sheppard as he couldn’t help but look down an alleyway and be reminded of his youth. Sheppard spoke with a sigh “The Commander and his men have also been deployed here, but I’ve yet to have the chance to speak to him.” Reiner shook himself out of his trance and spoke but more to himself than Sheppard, “That hovel over there looked a lot like my pa’s place back on Red Marshes. Must have been my imagination.” Sheppard was concerned Tom was one of the most resilient men he new, he was troubled to think what he might see in the underground.

Sheppard still didn’t feel ready to speak to Gavor, a part of Sheppard blamed him for their excommunication, though Sheppard was well aware of the risk of interfering with the Inquisition. Instead Sheppard took the time to speak with the Knight Captain Zorah, she was taking the news the hardest. She sat on a piece of ruble with her helm in her hands staring at it. “I am the first Knight Captain in six hundred years to bring shame to the order.” Sheppard remained silent letting her speak. “The Last Knight Captain was Logaine the man forever known to the order as Logaine the Traitor. They’ll probably call me something worse like Petra the Craven, or Petra the Swine, or Petra the Betrayer.” Sheppard spoke comforting “I’m sorry Petra, I shouldn’t have let you come.” The knight tossed the helm to the side and spoke with a sad smile “And yet you face the Inquisition alone with a drunk and a mad man. No I don’t regret being there. I only regret getting caught.” Sheppard laughed slightly “I think that’s what all criminals regret.” Petra rose to her feet and spoke “Still I suppose this is better than an execution.” Sheppard smiled “Please this Captain Titus thinks that being assigned to the Templars is as good as an execution, only he doesn’t realize we don’t die so easy.” Petra smiled and dawned her helmet “No we do not, come enough of this there are orks to slay.”

Watch-Captain Titus's eyes were heavy and worn. Even as an Astartes, his sleep cycle was being disturbed. He still couldn't tell what it was that was disrupting him. Was it Gallor's saturation of latent warp energy? The presence of so many xenos and Chaos forces? The fact he hadn't fired his bolter in days? Or his judgement of the few Faustian officers that had broke into an Ordo Xenos quarantine zone, murdered loyal Imperial troops, all for one Commissar's mental health?

Titus was too aware of the pain of loss, and what it meant to seek help for that pain, but Commissar Sheppard and Gavor's actions were inexcusable. Hell, if the man had presented enough evidence to Titus or another official, there would have been no need for the violence. Just a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that led to death, punishment and anguish. Anguish in the form of neat parchment letters.
Titus had just finished writing the letters for the deceased troopers loved ones. They all had relationships, despite the unwritten contract in the sign-up process. They lived longer; they grew to love. The Ultramarine did sometime wonder about the Astartes' place in all this. They were amongst the longest lived of all Imperial subjects, yet their lives were devoid of it. Not that the Watch-Captain needed it. Service was it's own reward. Service to the God-Emperor, to the Watch, and to his brothers.

He would not waste the lives of Sheppard and his closest. That would be a waste. Not only an insult to their accomplishments, but a waste. Titus admired their results in both peace and warfare, but this was too inexcusable to let go. By reinforcing the vanguard detachment of the crusade, Marshall Karak's Black Templars, Titus could improve Imperial war efforts, and if the Emperor so willed, execute the Faustians for their deeds. He just hoped that the Commissar's commanding officer didn't put up too much of a fuss. Nobody could afford to argue with the Inquisition, as Titus knew rather too well.

Titus leant back in his chair. He secretly hoped the plucky guardsmen could survive in the icy wastes of Continent Theta. The Deathwatch would be leaving the system soon, to find new foes to face. Gallor Prime would soon be lost, either behind a trail of Imperial worlds, or smothered by the cloak of darkness that pushed the Imperium back.
In either case, men like Commissar Jack Sheppard would be needed to fight the long war.

Ink-stained and weary, Titus drifted into sleep.

 2BlackJack1 wrote:

Spoiler:

I'm not quite sure what my plan is for Archarus besides attacking Imperials and anything else in the way between them. He hasn't really got an interest in the Vault, so I'm not quite sure what to do next.

I would Imagine Archarus has some interest in the vault, at the start of the campaign he was trying to secure one of the relics. Also a very cool piece Sgt_Smudge it gave Titus a lot of life.

Il write up there joining the main scout group, they may have to work hard to keep up with the others :-)

Hope commissars like the cold. ;-)

 chazz huggins wrote:

 2BlackJack1 wrote:

Spoiler:

I'm not quite sure what my plan is for Archarus besides attacking Imperials and anything else in the way between them. He hasn't really got an interest in the Vault, so I'm not quite sure what to do next.

I would Imagine Archarus has some interest in the vault, at the start of the campaign he was trying to secure one of the relics. Also a very cool piece Sgt_Smudge it gave Titus a lot of life.

That was before the Vault was around, but I did come up with an idea not directly related to the vault, but more to one of the relics for it. I'd imagine Archarus would want to get as much out of following Khorne as he could, but must to great feats to be rewarded. What is a better feat than freeing the daemon trapped in the staff, as I'd imagine it's an important daemon stuck there for it to be part of the Vault.

Contacting Acting Captain Aurelius....
Contacting...
Contact made.

Brother,
Lord Calgar has received word of the escalating situation in the Charadon System, and he has to send you aid in the form of me and my brothers in the 3rd company. My forces include the full might of the 3rd company, 2 squads from the 1st company, and 3 squads from the 10th company. In addition, Lord Calgar has released to my forces one of our Chapter's few remaining Fellblade Super Heavy tanks. I believe you know this one well Brother. It is the "Wrath of Calth". Estimated time of arrival for my ships is in 4 Terran Days. Emperor Willing we will arrive in time to reinforce you and your company.

Regards,
Captain Julius of the 3rd Company


So I thought I would begin to segue in the forces I intend to bring in to replace my Guard after the whole Vault debacle. Although depending on how long it takes they may arrive just in time to help out. Hope you guys (and especially Sgt_Smudge are ok with it)

 War Kitten wrote:

Spoiler:

Contacting Acting Captain Aurelius....
Contacting...
Contact made.

Brother,
Lord Calgar has received word of the escalating situation in the Charadon System, and he has to send you aid in the form of me and my brothers in the 3rd company. My forces include the full might of the 3rd company, 2 squads from the 1st company, and 3 squads from the 10th company. In addition, Lord Calgar has released to my forces one of our Chapter's few remaining Fellblade Super Heavy tanks. I believe you know this one well Brother. It is the "Wrath of Calth". Estimated time of arrival for my ships is in 4 Terran Days. Emperor Willing we will arrive in time to reinforce you and your company.

Regards,
Captain Julius of the 3rd Company


So I thought I would begin to segue in the forces I intend to bring in to replace my Guard after the whole Vault debacle. Although depending on how long it takes they may arrive just in time to help out. Hope you guys (and especially Sgt_Smudge are ok with it)

 Ezra Tyrius wrote:

Spoiler:

Maybe make them both Acting-Captain! Twice the fun of correcting the gak out of people in conversation for the price of one (extra) Ultramarine!


Also, if I win the roll for the Vault, I will kidnap Acting-Captain Aurelius. Don't ask me how or why, but I'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN!

After another days hard trekking in the caverns the Guardsmen and there officers stopped in the ruins of a small market place, long decayed awnings and banners now little more than brackets and stone posts remained, the place had the look of one not even entered in many centuries, a perfectly preserved small pot encased in ice atop a stone table, brackets for lights, signs and showed many ghosts of a once living and thriving market place.

"looks safe enough, sentries doubled up, 4 hour shifts, no one to remain alone, we lost too many already. " Commissar Shepard was worried, caution had got the better of him and they had made camp in small market place, easy to defend, and room to spread out abit, for both his own slightly selfish reasons and to help calm the groups frayed nerves.

"Room for one more up here?" Petra asked as she walked up to the top of the old shop Shepard had decided to bunk in.

"of course, one of the only private spots in this entire damned war, this expedition has its perks, no Officers, spies or such down here"

"Finaly, who'd of thought that being caught and sentenced by the inquisition for secret actions would let the truth be free" As she removed her helmet, a dent in the top from a large block of ice that fell in a unstable section and leaning the power sword against the wall.
"Urgh, thats going to take some knocking out," Laying the helmet down and reclining back.

"field rations for two, how romantic, we have a choice of Grox and rice, or a lovely Patsa, and sauce with some reconstituted bread. only the finest for us" Shepard joked, times like this, he was cold, hungry and ached like he had tried to fight a bullygon, but at least he was away from the prying eyes and devious officers.

"This might help wash them down at least" As Petra pulled out a small flask of Amsac from a pouch,

"Food may be borderline but the compony is excellent".

***

Commissar Gavor had taken to sleeping in a old workshop, a old bed in the corner, little more than a stone slab, but better than nothing to put his sleeping sack on, looking across seeing a light flicker in the window of a second floor shop, Shepard, only he could get sent to this ice cube and still turn it into a date, the Man had some luck. Getting sleep was easy, 12 hours hard walking and climbing, though warm rations helped. you never where quite warm enough.

"Sir, 4 hour watch, your turn on the point Charlie" as the Guardsman respectfully gave him a nudge to wake him up, "10 minutes to swap over, time for a warm drink first" as he handed over a steaming metal mug of caffine.

"Thankyou, Guard standard?"

"aye sir, strong as artillery shell, and hotter than a hell hound Flamer" the young guardsmen said proudly, somehow he knew exactly what people needed, and had seen his time in service be smoother than others. .

Though mostly bionic, and despite all the implants and replacements, still his organic parts needed warming too as he shook ice that accumulated round he mechanical knee joint.

On the post, Boring, Dull, but a blessing, too many exciting times had seen them lose many men, until he saw shadows moving in his enhanced vision. "Post Charlie, shadows moving in the darkness. 75m out"

"copy, reserve platoon is standing by" Came the reply, Shepard had chosen a good spot he had to admit, but his apparent joy with Petra still niggled, tortured broken and captured, Shepherds war had been alot easier.

"Movement again, Bravo Post" "Alpha reporting shapes in the mist" "watch post reports light in gloom"
Feth thought Shepard as he rushed to get dressed in his bulky winter gear, Petra rapidly Donning Armour, normally helped by a squire but now Shepard quickly buckled plates and locked the Armour in place. "Feth, come on, stick close,"
"who's the Knight Captain now?" Joked Petra flirtatiously as they rushed down the stairs to see the whole remaining guard gathering at various choke points ready to hold the market square.

"some welcome from Imperials boomed out" as out of the gloom a Black Templer clad in full power Armour came into view.

"Welcome, security as you know, don't know whats down here." "stand down, get some rest while you can" Shepard ordered, it paid to keep the group in good spirits, this place was dangerously short on them.

"Greetings commissar, My task force is on route about 5 minutes out. SGT Exion, Lord Marshall Karaks force."

"SGT, Lord Commisar Shepard, ive been assigned to you"

"We know, and of why, don't worry anyone with the guts to face the Inquisition might just live and get out this frozen pit alive, Your smart, i need smart men, not Idiots with no ability to think on there own like trained grox"

"Well you came to the right place, Commissar Gavor, Knight Captain Petra Zorah and last but not least Captain Reiner. We lost 32 men and women on way here, something in the shadows"

"yes we detected one stalking you, the Night Lord i believe, Fits the MO, and we found well, youd not want to see what he left behind for us. Commissar Gavor, yes i remember the name, rescued from eldar, Knight Captain of the grand torney, and Shepard its champion i believe, i did my reading. you i can use. that Titus did us a favour, though you might not see it, with us, id wager you just might live out this war. "

"good to know SGT, come over the shop we have appropriated as a CP, we will tell you what we detected on way down. "

************

Meanwhile several Templer scout teams of small combat squads had set up in several high points to watch for any comers, so far none, but soon a spec was seen on the far white horizon. waiting on the high power scope the Marine watched a small convoy of Imperial units approaching, no distinguishing marks, though the pintle gunner gave one thing away, a small "I" on his shoulder. the Inquisition had come to poke there nose in things again.

**********
Lord Marshall Karak read the new update from Crusade HQ, oh joys, more Ultramarine, if he had not had enough with Titus, at this rate Cato, Calgar and the rest of them would be coming too....
"compose me a message to the High Marshall, tell the Eternal Crusader to pay us a visit. i wish to consult with the High Marshall."