315.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Spinward/Coreward of Slinnar Drift

* Archeron Colony Station – X76-773 *

After investigating Array-Alpha, Brother Thomas revealed to the team that the Eldar had taken control of the Array rather than taking it offline, and had used it for their own devices. The data that recorded directions, alignment, data discovered, etc., had all been removed from the system via HDD removal. After restoring the equipment to normal operation, the team proceeded to Array-Bravo.

At Bravo the team encountered a team of Reapers, which knocked out their ATV. Approaching on foot under the shield of Brother Eizen, the team easily reached the facility and breached the outer wall.

At this time it is reported that the team came under some sort of Psychic Interference, it is thought that an Eldar Farseer or powerful Eldar Warlock was to blame. The enemy psyker attempted telepathic contact or control of the team, but from all accounts the attempt was resisted.

Using Brother Thomas’ plasma cutter, the group descended into the control chamber and engaged a band of Edlar inside, who seemed intent on outright destroying what data remained in the system via melta weapons. After eliminating the Eldar forces inside the structure, the team returned the device to service and proceeded to exit the facility where they came under attack from a pair of Eldar Walkers, a Falcon Grav Tank, and a small squad of Guardians. Despite the powerful weaponry of the Eldar, the skills and weapons of the Kill Team aided by the Warp Powers of Brother Eizen once again proved to be superior to our xenos foes. The Eldar were cut down to the last.

During the conflict however, Brother Eizen pushed his powers to their fullest and created some kind of Psychic rift. He vanished from the battlefield temporarily only to be returned a few moments later. On his return his Brothers described him as being covered in gore and strange symbols. Whatever influence or confusion that clouded Brother Eizen, he valiantly fought off the corrupting forces and focused his powers on aiding his Kill Team. Upon his return, the Eldar seemed to focus their energies on him individually, and the results were fatal. Upon autopsy, it has been revealed that no less than 76 of the Eldar Shuriken penetrated his armor and flesh, rending his body unfit to carry the fight.

After the combat concluded at Array-Bravo, the team buried the Soul Stones recovered from the Eldar, and rendezvoused with the Thunderhawk. Data recovered from the Array before it could be destroyed led the team to believe the Eldar were searching for something terrestrial.
Following the coordinates uncovered in the Array the team found a large clearing, 100m or so across. Within this clearing appeared to be a buried Webway gate.

Brother Eizen shall be remembered for his tireless duty to the Empire, and his constant focus on leveraging his powers to protect his fellow Deathwatch Marines.

Brother Wilhelm successfully recovered both Geneseeds from brother Eizen, and they will be transported back to the Ultramarines. News of Eizen’s death has reached his companion Othorn, who may be given the solem duty of returning the Geneseed to its proper place.
I feel it worth noting in this report that Brother Wilhelm is of the Black Templars Chapter, and does his organization proud by holding the duties of the Apothacarium and the Deathwatch above his personal feelings.

Signed this 320th day of 817, M.41
In His Service,
Codicer Peterious

Ask not the Eldar a question, for they will give you three answers, all of which are true and terrifying to know

500xp was awarded

315.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Spinward/Coreward of Slinnar Drift

* Archeron Colony Station – X76-773 *

In order to restore power, the team ventured out to the Plasma Reactor. Along the route Brother Deadalus’ keen eyes spotted a watching Elder in the branches. He took a shot, but the ancient being deftly moved out of the way and fell into the snow. At that point the Xenos vanished into the snow. The group cursed the sly and agile xenos’ nature(1). After performing a building sweep, the team engaged the startup sequence, only to find that someone had altered the reactor’s code in small but dangerous ways. As the reactor started down the path of overloading, the door to the facility was closed, locked, and disabled. Brother Thomas, aided by Brother Willhelm, was able to avert the meltdown and then reverse engineer the corrupted code.

With power restored, the Kill Team returned to the colony main structure and performed a thorough search of the facility, from Hydroponics to Engineering, and found very few signs of a conflict. Only the diced corpses in the Astropath’s chamber and the barricade on the way to the command and control station indicated that the residents here didn’t simply walk into the snowy woods.

With a hurricane sized storm heading in, the team decided to brave the weather and begin a systematic search of the Astronimic Array sites, starting to the south and east, Array-Charlie. Using one of the ATVs stored at the main facility, the team first headed out to the Plasma Generator, where they powered it down and welded the door shut.

At Charlie the group found shell shocked and sleep deprived Imperial Guard Sergeant and a handful of civilians he managed to escape the main compound with. He described in a fragmented and confused manner, that Eldar stormed the facility and did room to room inspection. He managed to round up some survivors and fled into the snow, taking one of the vehicles, looking for a way to escape the carnage- the local staff was obviously outmatched by the Eldar host.

They fled to the furthest Array and camped out inside. He looked for coms but didn’t know enough about how they worked to send a message, so instead they set up barricades and sentry guns as a defense and hunkered down. A single press from the Eldar came a week or so ago, but the tarantula turrets held them off. No sign of the Eldar have shown up since then. It was around that time it came apparent the power systems that were powering the array didn’t have enough spare power to keep the underground bunker heated and with clean water, so the Sergeant re-routed some of the power from the array to his survival gear in order to keep his group alive.

Brother Thomas temporarily restored power to the array and downloaded all of its current data to his own dataslate/cogitator before restoring power to the basement. The Sergeant seemed genuinely surprised that an Inquisitorial Astartes of obvious Mars affiliation wouldn’t simply shoot him for his treatment of the electronics of such a highly valued piece of equipment. The Kill Team promised to return once the Eldar threat was quelled.
From there Epriam-Delta headed to the Astronomic Array-Alpha, the storm still raging outside. Inside the long approach corridor, Brother Deadalus caught an Eldar Dark Reaper off guard and ended his long life with a bolt round in the cranium. The shot was silent, but the violent eruption of the Xenos’ skull was not, and the Xenos did not work alone. His companion opened fire down the long corridor with his Reaper Launcher, inflicting some serious wounds on the Astartes. Josiah and Erik sprinted down the long corridor, and Josiah soaked fire while firing bolt rounds down the hall. After the Reaper’s life was ended, he turned the corner and opened up on a small squad of guardians that were holed up in the basement. It was not long before the melee specialists joined the fray and finished what was left of the Xenos.

Brother Thomas prepared to head up the service hatch into the Array proper in order to see what the Eldar had been up to in the Empire’s absence.

600xp was awarded. 2 Bonus Req was awarded for the previous mission when The Chantleader was murdered in cold blood.

1. Superficially, the Eldar appear very similar to humans, though they are generally taller and slimmer, with sharp features and pointed ears. They are long-lived by human standards, and most will live more than a thousand years unless they die from accident or disease. Eldar also have much faster metabolic rates than humans, and their cardiac and neurological systems are more advanced. These traits manifest in their vastly heightened reactions and agility compared to humans. To them humans seem to move in slow motion with a certain degree of awkwardness, while to humans the Eldar can move with distracting grace and can be blindingly fast in combat. As a race they have a high level of psychic ability, which serves as the foundation of their technology. The Eldar that actively cultivate their psyker potential seem to exhibit a much-extended lifespan as well, one proportional to their prowess. The Farseers of the Eldar can live for several thousand years. Eldar are mentally far superior to humans, and feel all emotions much more strongly, requiring the Eldar to exercise constant restraint to avoid mental breakdown.[Needs Citation]
__
The real military strength of the Eldar armies derives from their highly specialized Aspect Warriors. These Eldar are walking the Path of the Warrior. Once an Eldar has chosen to tread this path he joins a specific Aspect Shrine. There, Exarchs train them in a specific aspect of warfare.
__
Each Warrior Aspect represents one, very specific aspect of warfare. As Kaela Mensha Khaine is the god of war, each Aspect embodies a facet of the god. It is impossible to say how many different Aspects there are. The most common Aspects have shrines on most Craftworlds, while some Aspects are unique to a particular Craftworld.

Identified Eldar Aspects

315.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Spinward/Coreward of Slinnar Drift

* Archeron Colony Station – X76-773 *

X76-773 is an icy planet in the Spinward region of the Reach. No previously existing record has yet been found of the planet, and initial colonial and research efforts have not uncovered much indication of prior inhabitants. Thus the numerical descriptor.

The planet is at the edge of the green zone, circling its star slowly, taking approximately 512 standard days to complete an orbit. It experiences roughly 75% of its cycle in a cold but moist environment, resulting in storms and heavy snowfall. It features a brief spring/summer during the remaining months where the snows melt and rain falls. The vegetation is largely of the Coniferophyta variety, and the trees cover much of the landscape. Local fauna appears to consist of insect life, small flying mammals, and smaller rodents. No large fauna has been detected at this point.

The colony present supports approximately 250 individuals. 15 members of the Mechanics, 62 members of the Imperial Guard, and the remainder the Guard families and tag alongs. It is an Archeron standard layout. Command and Control, the Infirmary, and general quarters are in the Eastern primary track. Hydroponics is in the eastern secondary complex. Engineering, vehicles, and security are located in the western track. The northern segment contains entertainment and exercise facilities.

Two Kilometers to the west is the Plasma Reactor, which provides primary power to the whole facility. 20-30 km to the North, South East, and South West lay the Astronomic Arrays, placed roughly equidistant from the ‘center’ of the colony.

This colony is staffed largely with Guardsman relived of active duty from front line missions. Each would be trained in basic hand to hand combat and to use a lasrifle at a minimum. Several of the colony would be designated security personnel and issued given pistols and stun batons for standard duty. The rest of the weaponry would likely be kept in the security office (security office is a misleading term, as it typically is a locker room containing weapons and related equipment. Security monitors and the like would all be maintained by the Command and Control station at the southernmost tip of the facility.

The facility was issued three All-Terrain Vehicles capable of weathering the rough snowy terrain present on the world.

The planet is of interest to the Crusade effort at this time due in large part to its strategic Acheros and Canis Salients. In addition, it is Coreward enough to have been (for now) passed over by the Tyranids. The current known resources on the world are wood, which is of little military interest to Tau or Chaos forces, which further protect it. In addition to the terrestrial advantages, it has a Warp based advantage as well. The surges in the Warp in the region are in such a pattern that long range Astronomic Arrays can provide excellent intelligence on enemy troop movements through the reach. Chaos and Tau forces have ways to obscure themselves from the Arrays, and frequently do, however the Tyranids do not. Access to troop movements, strengths, and dispositions of Hive Fleet Dagon could be a turning point for the Orpheus Salient. As such, three Arrays were built on X76-773.

As of two weeks ago, Astropathic communication with the colony was interrupted (mid stream). 11 days ago one of the Astronomic Arrays stopped transmitting. One day later a second Array went offline. Eight days ago the last Array went offline.

Kill Team Ephriam-Delta is dispatched to investigate.

• Primary Objective 1: Secure the Imperial Facility
• Primary Objective 2: Reactivate the arrays if possible- if not possible recover any and all data gathered by the arrays
• Secondary Objective: Secure and provide aid to any colony survivors
• Secondary Objective: Determine the cause of communication and astronomic data disruption
• Requisition: 90
  Kill Team Ephriam-Delta was dispatched aboard Thunder’s Word, and was dropped planetside via Thunderhawk Gunship, under the piloting skills of Brother Killian of the Storm Warden’s Chapter. Joining the team to provide medical expertise in the event of survivors is Brother Willhelm. Brother Eizen also returned from his short stint as a diplomat behind the Iron Collar with Brother Orthorn.
  The team approached the facility from the south noting several items:
• Snow covered the landscape, and while the roadway was an obvious depression, there were no recent tracks from anything with legs, wheels, or tracks
• One of the All-Terrain vehicles was discovered, in fair repair, though a detailed diagnostic run was not performed
• The storm shutters on the facility were closed
• There was a barricade in the eastern hallway of the western facility between one of the primary entrances and the command and control center
• The facility was powered down, though Brother Thomas was able to recover some personal log data from the C&C cogitator by powering it up with his own power module.
  • The Base Commander (Cmdr Johnson) noted increasing reports of superstitious activity- missing tools and the like were all being blamed on some sort of forest daemon)
  • These reports were increasing, and he continued to dismiss them, until a few colony residents went missing
  • Something then attacked the facility, moving like ghosts in the shadows, lending credence to some of the stories told by his men
• The general quarters appeared largely undisturbed- not looted or burnt like the quarters in the Palace of the Peace on Ullmanor

The team turned west, towards the plasma reactor, to see if they could restore power and full functionality to the station.

250 xp was awarded.

Mission XII-28758847.69:P Ullmanor, Entry 1.1:

A team of Grey Knights led by a Justicar Allaric teleported in to the Ephriam-Delta’s location using proprietary Deathwatch codes supplied by Brother Willhelm of the Black Templars (Previously Ephriam-Gamma). Grey Knights took control of the Palace of the Peace, where the Artifact was located.
Ephriam-Delta proceeded to infiltrate Ullmanor’s South Eastern defense tower, and used the firepower to demolish the South Western tower and the incoming transports. With a stable base of operations the Kill Team, aided by the 122nd, were able to hold position and perform targeted raids against a distracted and disorganized foe.
Approximately two standard weeks after sizing the defense tower, reinforcements arrived from the Cellebose warzone to begin cleanup operations.
Reports from Epriam-Delta and the Grey Knights strongly suggest that Lord Kyrus, the Chantleader was terminated by the Kill Team, and the device he sought was a large orb like structure that has henceforth been claimed by the Ordo Malleus for safe keeping and examination. Three Chaos Obliterators were also present on planet, believed to have been part of an expedition seeking an artifact unrelated to the orb. It is suspected, based largely on their exit strategy that they were already in possession of this artifact. The Ordo Malleus is investigating.

500xp was awarded, and 5 renown.

Pete, you take 7 corruption, sucker.

Access By: Codicer Peterious
Access ID XXIIVVIVXX-Alpha-227-Victory
Kill Team: Sergeant Ephriam: Delta
Summary of Recent Assignments, Date Range 301.817.M41 – Present
Mission XII-2278907.23.H: Virgultus:Kill team was dispatched to Virgultus to investigate distress beacon emanating from planet. Planet was suspected (confirmed) of conducting unsanctioned biological experiments on the local flora and fauna. Kill team engaged local Orc warband and uncovered conspiracy amongst the local Adepts and an Imperial Commander.

Mission XII-28758847.69:P Ullmanor:Kill team dispatched to Ullmanor at the request of an Ordo Xenos Acolyte. It was reported that the Acolyte’s Inquisitor was not taking threats of rebellion seriously, and was being uncharacteristically blasé about the affair. Kill Team move in to investigate. Ullmanor currently out of contact. Two distress calls received (from planet and from Imperial Navy) over non-secure channels indicating Chaos Invasion underway. Ordo Malleus requisitioned one Deathwatch Astartes and has sent in a small spearhead force to assist with coordinating planetary defenses. Larger forces are being mobilized but are expected to be delayed due to ongoing operations in nearby sectors.

Notes: Brothers Eizen and Orthorn have not return from assignemtns to investigate the Commanding Officers linked to the Virgultus Incident (Mission XII-269854253.45.2). Brother Deadalus is assumed to have rejoined Delta after completing Mission XII-25635284.22.3-Q.

95.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Virgultus

* Vroserius Tree Research Facility – Jodelle’s Reach *

After five days of rest and rehabilitation, the Kill Team was summoned to meet with Watch Captain Ephrim concerning a possible Xenos threat. He introduced the team to a Dark Angel who would be aiding them in their coming mission, named Elyas. He seemed knowledgeable and looking forward to aiding his new brothers in their mission. It was explained that the Imperial Navy had taken control of a planet near the Iron Collar, named Virgultus, with hopes of using the large, fertile planet as an Agri-World. It was further explained that the Imperial Guard fought back an incursion of Orcs long enough to establish a head upon a plateau clearing they aptly named Jodelle’s Reach, after the head of the regiment, Captain Affendi Sariff Jodelle. Watch Captain Ephrim then gave the Kill Team a document that was recovered from communications between the on-world facility and the Mechanicus wing of the Imperial Navy.

SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT

Further investigation prior to engagement revealed that a generic distress beacon was emanating from the facility, but that all communications ceased after the release of the above document. Also revealed was the fact that the planet has no native fauna, and that the flora is quite aggressive. The most impressive of the listed flora was a species called the Vroserius Tree, which was the subject of research and the cause of so much Inquisitorial obfuscation on the part of the Imperial Navy.

Vroserius Tree
Known: The Vroserius Tree is an indigenous species of vining evergreen flat-leaf tree native to the planet of Virgultus. It has shown unique properties of reaction to its surroundings, including the ability to instantly react to incursions into its territory*. It is an aggressive species that has the equally unique ability to react to changes in its territory that result in changes to its internal chemistry, making it more robust or otherwise able to survive extreme environments. It is one of the most robust species of plants ever discovered.
Note: The territory of the Vroserius Tree seems to be defined by the extent of the reach of its vines. This is usually no more than 5 to 6 meters from the base of the tree, but has been shown to be as much as 9 meters.

The Kill Team then received their objectives, requisitioned their equipment, and headed to the surface in a small shuttle craft.

Primary Objective:
Recover any records from the research facility regarding cultivation of the Vroserius Tree.
Secondary Objective:
Engage the Xenos with caution to gain first-hand knowledge of its potential threat.
Tertiary Objective:
Recover any survivors of the infestations.

Upon touching down to the planet, the Kill Team began to cautiously emerge their craft. As they were scanning their surroundings using the Auspex Servitor formerly known as the Heron Mask, they heard a rustling from within the craft. It was at this point that Brother Eisen reported to the rest of his brothers that the surrounding foliage in all directions was affected by the taint of the Warp. Immediately after his statement of Warp infestation, the shuttle craft’s pilot began to fire at the group using his sidearm. He was tackled by Brother Eric with assistance from Brother Eisen, who stated that the pilot was tainted by the Warp. At that point, Brother Eric snapped the pilot’s neck, to ensure his taint died there.

The Kill Team reported back their initial findings regarding the need for environmentally sealed armor (But left out their findings regarding the ubiquitous Warp taint) and then began to make their way across the space port towards the only structure in sight. They ran some initial scans of the building, getting a rudimentary layout of the internal structure, and after smearing the scum from the windows in the control room, gained a visual. They then heard something from inside the building. When they attempted to gain access to the structure, the Kill Team was stopped by people within, who are apparently aware of the potential for infection from outside their sealed environment. The man speaking from within the building claims to be Captain Jodelle and he states that he has 11 survivors with him, all members of the Imperial Guard.

While this conversation is taking place, several members of the Kill Team hear the sounds of movement down in the surrounding jungle. Brothers Othorn and Eric moved to cover the South of the pad against what became evident as several hundred small green Orcs, who some members recalled are known as Gretchen. Brother Josiah takes position on top of the main building, gaining a better vantage on the 30 meter drop into the jungle. From his vantage, he could see that there was a second wave in waiting, as well as three dozen hulking Orcs armed with jump packs and power axes. Brothers Eisen, Elyas, and Thomas took positions on the North of the pad, alerted by their servitor of an oncoming threat. There, they saw hundreds more of these small maniacal creatures along with dozens more of the snarling Storm Boyz. A firefight ensued, lasting only a matter of seconds.

From his vantage, Brother Josiah mowed down hundreds of the small relentless Gretchen. Brothers Eisen, Thomas, and Elyas defended the North using a combination of heavy firepower and hand- to-hand tactics, suffering only minimal injuries (nothing lasting). Meanwhile, Brothers Othorn and Eric defended the South from those that Brother Josiah and a well-placed suppressive fire didn’t devastate, using mostly hand-to-hand tactics. In the end, only a handful of Gretchen were left alive to flee into the jungle. As their feral, insane screams faded into the distance, the Kill Team regrouped near the structure.

Gained 500xp

83.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Karlack XXIIVVI

Kal’Vex Bulwark

The Kill Team pulled in to land at the Malvon Bulwark aboard the commandeered Valkyrie troop carrier. Their plan was to walk forth, enter the base, and seize control in a bloodless coup. Commander Isiaah had other plans, and as was later discovered through interrogating survivors had instructed his men that Traitor Astartes had killed an Inquisitor in Citadel Primaris, had wiped out a neighboring bulwark, and now set their sights on Malvon. The base opened fire, and in a vulgar burst of firepower the autocannons that defended the facility obliterated the Valkyrie. The Team moved out, approaching the base, using Eizen’s powers of the warp to prevent the cannons from blowing them to pieces. It was then that three Sentinel walkers emerged from the southern vehicle depot and opened fire. Lascannons blasted out and multilasers spun and spat hot death towards the Loyalists. Orthorn, in a rare display of self-sacrifice, charged the Sentinels to draw fire from Eizen in order than he continue to keep the massive defense cannons disabled. In the end the Deathwatch was victorious, though grave wounds had been received. Orthorn shouted at the structure, giving them a final chance to surrender to the Inquisition, the alternative of course being death. As it turns out, there was some sort of internal struggle over the correct course of action, and the guardsman fought each other. Only three survived, and all of them were in shock. It was discovered that the Commander had fled the station, tracks led north into the thick, rebel infested jungle. The brothers took up position to defend the bulwark rather than pursue the traitor, given that his power of authority and capability to disrupt PDF and Guard activity on Karlack had been taken from him.

The Kill team left Malvon several hours later, in the late evening, after being relieved by a contingent of PDF troopers. They departed for Kal’Vex, where the auger arrays were. As the sun finally gave up the last of its light, the new Valkyrie penetrated the western edge of the storm wall that beset the island. Battered but undamaged, the pilot skillfully landed on the pad. It was only a short time before the team was introduced to “The Guest” which after questioning was assumed to be what was left of Inquisitor Zaer Vincent. He was disheveled, withered, sunburnt, and malnourished. His mind was broken in some way, he spoke mostly in riddles, truly revealing only that the Dark Brothers of the Astartes went to the sunken city, that it was further to the east of their position, and to get inside of it they needed a map and a key. Vincent was under the distinct impression he had already given the team the Key.

It was decided that when the storm broke, the Kill Team would depart for the Kal’Dir bulwark, and see if this cache of xenos artifacts might help them in their journey. In the interim, they instructed the Kal’Vex commander to pull the logs on the position of Vincent’s rescue, and to pull local data mapped and discovered in the eastern region of the island. They were also prepared to take local oceanographic data and recordings back to the Kal’Tran bulwark where the oceanographic research facility was located. The locals were also asked for access to the augers, and it was explained, with embarrassment, that the Kal’Vex bulwark was woefully underfunded- PDF was being pulled into the Guard forces for deployment into the Crusade, and primary defense systems were consuming the budget and supply chains for goods. It was all the local team could do to even keep the station lights on, and the augers had been partially scavenged for parts.

The team received 500xp, bringing the base total to 34,050.

Key points of fact in the investigation:

• The Kal’Tran Bulwark is home to an oceanographic research facility, and was the base of origin for the Cathurian, a powerful deep sea submersible. The submersible was captured by heretics but recovered by the Kill Team.
• The Malvon Bulwark was home to the primary defense grid coordination arrays, where the southern regions communication and strategy was coordinated. Commander Isiaah Falhn was in charge of the station, and was revealed to be a traitor and ousted.
• The Kal’Vex Bulwark was home to the region’s most powerful auger arrays, which had been stripped of parts in order to keep the bulwark functional at a base level (power, sump pumps, etc.). A man believed to be Inquisitor Vincent (or at least one of his Acolytes) was discovered here, a victim of a ‘shipwreck.’
• The Kal’Dir Bulwark is home to some sort of xenos cache, of what nature is not known. Since Lieutenant Tirion (the stations senior surviving officer) made that broadcast to Citadel Primaris, vox communication with the Bulwark has ceased. It is believed that the bulwark is under regular assault from the local Reborn cultists, though it is possible the bulwark fell to their attacks.
• On Ilvaris, from the Kal’Tran Bulwark, was found one xenos rifle of unknown origin and design (though the effects are known, it blasts open armor and flesh), one elaborate blade of xenos manufacture, a needle pistol (human sized) with several doses of virulent toxin, and a data key. Received from him was also a journal with a list of names (which were the traitors loyal to the Reborn cult within the PDF) and an encryption key to decode some device (which he indicated was the data key)
• Three Dreadclaws were discovered on the Kal’Tran island, two of them equipped to carry a squad of marines each, one of them equipped to carry either supplies or a dreadnought.

82.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Karlack XXIIVVI

* Malvon Bulwark*

The Kill Team continued their investigation of the pods, finding that two of the pods could fit a squad of up to 10 marines, and one could either fit a dreadnought or a large amount of supplies. After some discussion, the team decided it was most likely that supplies were here, as it was unlikely a Dreadnought would be of much use on an Imperial World like this for an infiltration mission.

Ilvaris asked Brother Daedalus if he was to be spared, and Daedalus responded that he was a bit of an experiment, and he was hoping that Ilvaris would prove that in this galaxy people could in fact change for the better. In response, Ilvaris handed Daedalus a journal of sorts that contained the names of 20-30 traitors within the ranks of the local PDF and stationed Imperial Guard. He also pointed out that the submarine was arriving.

The team moved quickly into the thick cover of the jungle and set up an ambush, waiting for the enemy to emerge from the submersible where they could then be gunned down. After sitting on the surface for a few minutes, the submersible thought otherwise and began to resubmerge. The Battle Brothers leapt into action and began racing for the watercraft.

Erik arrived first, and attempted to open the hatch but succeeded only in bending it. The others arrived shortly thereafter, and Daedalus dismantled the exterior locking mechanism- the hatch opened with a hiss and the submarine stopped its descent. Brother Erik leapt in, spotted an enemy techpriest. He was quickly joined by his fellows, all of whom began to fire on the techpreists. It was then the Chaos touched Astartes revealed himself, with a blast from his multi-melta that wounded nearly everyone in the group. The techpriests were finished farily quickly, but several rounds were exchanged, and blood was spilled on both sides before the Heretic was dispatched.

A search of the submarine found that the servitor who was controlling it had its memory banks wiped clean, as well as all of the datalogs and nav points in the submarine’s cogitators- they were erased by someone who understood encryption and data integrity. In addition, they later found the high gain vox onboard had the logging system removed and safety protocols bypassed – whomever was using the vox didn’t want anyone to know who or what they had been talking to.

With the submarine captured, the group turned their attention to the list of traitors. They returned to the main Kal’Tran base and reported back to General Iacton the list of names. The General said he and his troops could contend with most of them, but there was a traitor named Captain Isiaah Falhn who was in charge of the Malvon bulwark. A good portion of the southern islands have their defense managed and coordinated through that bulwark, and it would take an excess of ten hours for the PDF and Guard to mount a proper offensive to remove him from power. In the meantime, if Malvon has caught wind of what’s going on he could disrupt communications and coordination, sending the southern region into chaos.

The Kill Team agrees to assist with removing the Captain, and requisition the operational Valkyrie from the local PDF at Kal’Tran and fly west to Malvon.

They are greeted with a challenge, and instruct the pilot to first tell the radio operators that they are there on private business with the Captain. This request is denied, and they resort to using Inquisitorial bypass codes. They are given an approach vector and priority clearance, and the Valkyrie moves towards the island base.

400xp was given out. Eizen and Josiah get 250 for being awake half the time, and they do get a bonus 5 xp for not throwing up on anything I own or am responsible for. Thomas, Orthorn, and Daedalus all get 400. Brother Erik gets 400 + a bonus 50 for (reliably) being the least distracted and disruptive guy at the table.

Base XP total is 33,550

82.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Karlack XXIIVVI

*Kal’Tran Bulwark*

The Battle Brothers first headed to the Kal’Tran Bulwark, interested in securing the Cathurian, a deep sea research submersible. They knew that in order to access the city beneath the sea they would need some sort of vessel to get them there.

Their meeting with Docktender Orvel was an odd one, with many questions pointed directly at the previous Docktender’s sexual exploits. It was revealed that a PDF Officer within their own ranks disabled the security protocols and took the Cathurian for himself. By the time the base staff realized that the sub was heading to sea, it was too late to do anything about it. The Brothers were shocked to hear that the security protocols on a research station, guarding a submarine that is used for deep sea research and was not equipped with weapons or other infiltration equipment wasn’t guarded by Vermillion level security protocols. Orvel did not understand why a submersible would need to be treated like an Inquisitorial relic, and explained steps had been taken to try to increase security on the base. Orvel did not have a firm idea as to why the Reborn Cultists on the island would wish to take a large submersible that couldn’t shoot.

Orvel indicated the cultists on the Island stuck to the coast, and from the PDF reports their largest grouping is likely on the eastern harbor area of the island. The team wasted little time taking the ornithopter to the area. It appeared to be a serene beach with on activity, and the team ordered the ornithopter to the water to start scanning for the submersible. It was not long before a krak missile erupted from the jungle foliage and took out the flyer. Brother Erik pulled both the pilot and the co-pilot to safety, pushing them out of the craft as it sank, and those wearing power armor went with it. Brother Orthorn struggled with the idea that he, as an astartes, he should be strong enough to swim with 160kg of armor more than a guard in carapace, but he too sank to the floor of the bay with his comrades.

The team moved towards where the missle was seen from and emerged from the clear blue waters. A brief firefight erupted, and was nearly as quickly ended, but not before green bolts of electrified energy arced across the harbor. The team moved into the cover of the trees and advanced, tactically, towards the source of the new weapons. It was not long before they encountered several units of rebels, armed with a variety of weapons. The overwhelming firepower of the Astartes quickly turned the hordes of heretics into red vapor, but not before the Marines took some wounds from the enemy. Some of the weapons they used were clearly of xenos origin- long sleek rifles tipped with axe blades, with a thickly walled glass or glassteel chamber running down the length of the barrel, arcing inside with a brilliant green energy of some kind.

One enemy, Feynir Surbrite, coughing blood, survived. Begging for his life he told the Astartes his story, of growing up in the Charon stars and having to fight for his very existence day to day. He wound up with the Alpha Legion, used by them to stir up the Reborn Cultist activity on Karlack and organize them into a force that could disrupt Imperial organization on the planet. He knew little of what the cult actually worshiped, but Rize, his Alpha Legion master, seemed to have suspicions. Rize joined up with some group from Samech, which Feynir is not familiar with, after which became nearly obsessed with discovering sites and artifacts from the aliens that used to live on the planet. Rize knew Inquisitor Vincent knew something about the aliens, and lured him down to the islands to interrogate. Eventually the Inquisitor gave in, but what happened after that Feynir isn’t certain of, just that Rize instructed him to get the submersible.

Brother Thomas recalled that on Aurum, they found a carcass of a techpriest left to rust bearing the insignia of the Apostate Magi of Samech.

Brother Deadalus then began to search the dreadclaws, of which there were three. Each pod has enough room for 10 Astartes in standard PA, 5 in Terminator Armor, or 1 Dreadnaught.

Containd within Feynir’s tent (also known as Ilvaris) was an expertly crafted dagger of some kind of xenos origin, a needle pistol with vials of poison, a thick, spiked gauntlet, and a Data Crystal containing some sort of data on it yet to be investigated. The team also noticed the inside of the box lid is scarred by oxidation- it seems to have once displayed some sort of etched marking that has been purposely burned away.

Total XP at this point is in the neighborhood of 33,150. Everyone should also have a minimum of 40, closer to 45-49, renown, bringing them to the Distinguished (3rd) rank of Renown.

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XXVM S37 Planetary summary]: Also known as ‘the iron pit’ by the debased human renegades that travel there to trade and barter, Samech was once an Imperial Forge world, an outpost of the Adeptus Mechanicus within the Jericho Sector, famed for the skill of its tech-adepts and the quality of the cogitator systems produced there. During the slow fall of the Jericho Sector into barbarity and isolation, Samech maintained its power and independence far longer than any of the other worlds of the sector core. Watch Fortress Erioch maintained communications with Samech for more than two hundred years after Varrus fell. As the centuries wore on, however, the Magos of Samech grew increasingly insular and paranoid. Ever beset by xenos raiders, warring former allies, and human renegades, Samech began firing on any vessel that entered their system. Samech’s true infamy came to light in 325.M40, when a Mechanicus Explorator flotilla managed to battle its way through the warp storms shrouding the Jericho Reach to re-contact Samech and was lured into close orbit and blasted to atoms. This act of treachery would lead the Cult Mechanicus to declare the Forge world Apostate under a penalty of death—a penalty that has yet to be carried out.

Matters no doubt worsened when the Hadex Anomaly first erupted and swallowed Samech. Scattered intelligence gathered by the Deathwatch painted the Magi of Samech as increasingly corrupt, embracing forbidden technological blasphemies and trading weapons, and even warp drives, to debased renegades and consorting with the vilest forms of xenos without favour or distinction. Some reports claimed that the Magi were raising up altars to the Dark Gods to consecrate their nightmarish works.

82.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Karlack XXIIVVI

To: Watch Commander Mordigael
From: Brother Techmarine Rydal
RE: Implementation of Security Protocol 227-V

Watch Commander,
As you requested I, along with Codicer Peterious, have looked into the missing reports that were originally revealed by Inquisitor Kellar. The work performed was either that of a well-schooled thief or a foolish but curious interloper.

From what we can gather the missing data centered around two Kill Teams. The first, operating under the command of Brother Captain Ephraim. The second operated under the command of Brother Captain Orian. Understanding precisely what information these reports contained is likely possible but would involve interviewing and re-debriefing the Kill Team member. At this time we are operating under the assumption that we should not alert any other residents of Erioch to our current investigation.

We have some data on Ephraim’s Kill Team and their current assignment however, and the summary follows:

• The team uncovered a large Xenos artifact on Castobel, and managed to activate it. Local reports indicate a large scale seismic event, followed by a thick dark cloud of an unknown substance that reached into the sky. Across Castobel, the relentless assault of the Tyranids slacked. Shortly thereafter Astropathic communication was restored.
• Local reports indicate the site was destroyed by the seismic activity.
• The Kill Team was quickly evacuated, no accurate accounting of damage to the Hive Fleet could be performed, but Castobel was able to receive much needed reinforcement.
• We currently have two additional Missions being planned for Castobel in the very near future as a result to local intelligence that has been gathered. If we cannot achieve victory on Castobel, the sacrifice of the world may buy enough time and resources to reach a broader victory in the region.
• The team was subsequently dispatched to Karlack to assist Inquisitor Quist with investigating the disappearance of Inquisitor Zaer Vincent
• By personal order of Inquisitor Quist an unusually large amount of requisition was made available to the Kill Team
• Inquisitor Quist came under the effects of a type of neurotoxin and is being held in the infirmary in Citadel Primaris
• The Kill Team discovered some sort of xenos ruins or artifacts inside of the ruins of an Imperial Temple, underneath the Cenotaph of Achillus
• The Kill Team made contact with a local cult in the ruins, killing all local members. Two young boys were found in in one of the exit buildings to the underground complex, and were handed over to the Ecclesiarchy
• The Team requisitioned an ornithopter and headed south to the Kal Bulwarks – Reports indicate they have contacted the deep sea research facility at the Kal’Tran Bulwark.

To prevent future incidents such as this, we have implemented Protocol 227-V. All data terminals have been modified. First we have reworked the access software and hardware to require an affirmative response from our logging system before dispensing information. The logging system itself can only be accessed via standard data access terminals as well as a single maintenance terminal on the data store itself. That terminal is physically secured, and as per your orders only Brother Modor of the Keepers. Second, we have enabled the tamper detection units on each of the data terminals- should any of them be opened or any non-standard power readings be detected, the station will lockdown and alert the Keepers.

Codicer Peterious believes that that protocol should suffice in keeping our data secure. However I am still concerned and seek to enable Protocol 227-N. Use of OTP security will ensure that each time someone accesses one of our terminals we can ensure the data is encrypted, and we can ensure we have logged, physically, the use of the terminal. I request your permission to implement Protocol 227-N.

Yours in service, The Emperor Protects
Brother Rydal

252.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Castobel Sector XXIIVVI

* Hive Cressos *

The Kill Team moved out quickly, finding a way to the roof of the Hab Block. From it, they had a decent view of the Eastern portion of the Hive complex. Burned out and ruined buildings spread out to the north and south along the Curtain Wall of Cressos. Living artillery shells rained down on the inside of the hive, punching holes in roofs and starting small fires. To the north it could be seen Heirodules were advancing on the Eastern Gate Complex.

Knowing that the simple weaponry that the Kill Team possessed would not be enough to topple one of these monstrosities, the team set to work trying to find an alternate method. A plan was hatched that would take the kill team underneath the beasts into the belly of the manufactories. There demo charges would be placed and detonate the manufactory itself.
With the swarm focused on tearing the hive apart, there was little in the way of resistance upon entering the undercity, though there was a small firefight once inside the facility. That would complicate the escape.

Thomas and Orthorn were halfway through setting the charges when the tidal wave of Tyranids burst down the staircases into the storage facility. Heavy bolter chattered, psychic energy flared, and power axe flashed. The swarm was relentless, pouring hundreds of chitin armored creatures into the hole in what felt like a never ending stream. The Emperor’s Finest, as expected, prevailed, and left a carpet of corpses around them. The walls and floor slick in a layer of tyranid vital fluid. They did not emerge unscathed however, their armor and flesh punctured in numerous places.

The team moved out to a safe distance and detonated their demo-charges; it had the desired effect, and a 4 square block area of the manufactory district outside Cressos erupted in a column of fire that for a moment appeared as a second sun. Disoriented, the Tyranid forces pulled back to regroup, giving the team time to enter the embattled city.

After getting local information (and after watching the now-awake Scythia stare at the pylon), it was decided that the team would head to the Main Spire to speak with General Dickson, and head south to investigate the pylon with the hopes of activating the shield wall. The General, while busy, saw the Marines and explained to them the dire situation; both southern gates had been breached. The Tyranids were forcing their way down the gate highways and the only thing keeping the breach from spreading was the clever construction of the gate houses, which provided excellent defensive positions. These defenses however were low on ammunition and morale, and would certainly fall if they were not reinforced in some way.

The team made it to the pylon, which appeared as xenotech covered in a steel shroud, and forced their way in. Once inside, a hundred or so meters down, the team was faced with a kilometer wide intricate base of some kind that rose into the ceiling. Brother Thomas gazed in wonder, and told his companions that it would take him hours, maybe days, to decipher the xenotech and get it running again. Scythia, in her near catatonic state, was brought into the room as well, and while she had a glimmer of recognition in her cold eyes, did not seem to respond or otherwise activate the device.

Knowing that the hive was in imminent danger, and might not have hours to survive, the team decided to postpone the investigation of the shield pylon and head south to where twin Lance Batteries were located; the batteries had been installed a year prior and were put in place to help defend against such an assault, but news from the people on the ground indicated that the cannons didn’t fire a single shot, and it was suspected that infected humans were responsible.

The Kill Team made it to the Basilica, where they tried to get information from a local priest knowing that the local Guard units on the gatehouses themselves were likely to be engaged in direct combat. He informed the team (after being scanned by the Apothecary) that he knew there were tunnels that were used to ferry men and equipment to and from the cannon emplacements that had been shut up after the siege had begun. That was their destination.
Inside the administration house next to the square of marshals was a basement. Inside the basement was a boarded up and welded barricade leading into the tunnel system. The local Sergeant informed the Marines that they had been assigned to this station to prevent entry by the Tryanids, that the Guard had been forced back down the tunnel. They were unaware of any local (Hive Side) power conduits, and after some scans from Thomas it was determined that the power lines running into the tunnel were in fact intact. It was suspected that further down the line some of them might have been damaged in the retreat.

The Kill team crossed through the barricade and had it sealed behind them. They left with the local guard unit a frequency to check for their return.

400xp was given for Friday the 20th. 350xp was given for Friday the 27th.
Brian and Pete get 75 bonus xp for playing. mike gets 50 bonus XP.

New Base XP is 29,153.

252.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Castobel Sector XXIIVVI

* Outer Regions of Hive Cressos *

The Kill team was briefed, and felt as prepared as they could for their insertion into the fires of Castobel. As they prepared to depart, Chaplain Strome bid the Brothers farewell, awarding them each with a Purity Seal from the vaults of the Watch Fortress Chapel- a blessing of sorts, and a reminder of those words immortal and truthful words: The Emperor Protects.

The journey to Castobel was quiet, the crew was nonexistent save for less than a dozen servitors and one navigator. The fate of the vessel was largely a forgone conclusion. Most of the team spent time practicing their arts and tending to their rituals. Brother Eizen took care of the young Scythia, working with her over many sessions to do what he could to help her contain her powers. Though not a trained teacher or blessed with the authority to sanction a psyker, he used memories of his own lessons to try to help. Despite despising her existence, Eizen showed her remarkable courtesy and respect. Through the trip, the closer to Castobel the team got, the more strange the visions Eizen received in his sleep- twisted landscapes, dark creatures, and the familiar clawing at the back of his mind of the Shadow in the Warp- if Scythia encountered these, she kept them to herself and her drawings grew no stranger because of it.

Once in system, the team boarded their drop pods and descended into the warzone. It took little time for the Swarm to recognize the danger of the drop pod- only Space Marines braved those devices, and this Swarm had encountered plenty of Marines. Harpies, Shrikes, and Gargoyles attacked the pods, tearing off vital parts of the stabilizers and engines. The pod spun into a dive and impacted, somewhere off course, sideways into a hab block of some kind. The drop pod, while not completely crushed, was significantly damaged in the fall. Scythia was alive in her specialized cocoon, but unconscious. Daedalus had been impaled on a piece of the hab structure that penetrated the drop pod. Most of the others in the team were injured but overall in good health. The same could not be said for their gear- bolt shells and grenades were heated in crushed during the crash, wrecking much of their spare supply and damaging several pieces of gear- including the cartograph. The equipment was salvageable, and Brother Thomas felt sure that he could put things back into working order given enough time.

Time, however, was not something the team had at the moment. Something was smashing into one of the walls nearby- something big. The team moved as quick as they could, Castiel moved out with Daedalus over his shoulders, Eizen carrying Scythia along. They moved up one floor when they heard the Swarm coming. Readying their weapons, they moved the injured into a side room- a drab living space for one of the Hive’s workers, fitted quite simply with a bed, small desk, cooking area, and toilet. The Swarm spilled around the corner of the corridor- an army of Termagants, armed with their Fleshborers. A million Borer Beetles flew through the air, fighting and clawing to get inside the Kill Team’s Power Armor. The team responded with a ferocious line of fire.

It was then four of the Shrikes landed above- Brother Erik wasted no time and began to engage them, one by one. There was little in way of backup for Erik, the rest of the team was doing their best to keep the seemingly endless wave of Gaunts at arm’s reach. Hellfire rounds melted away their natural carapace, Metal Storm rounds detonated like grenades in the hallway, standard bolt shells ripped the beasts apart from the inside out. Brother Erik dropped one of the Warriors and headed for another; its companions grew wise to his attempt and redirected their fire on him. The Swarm still dove towards the main body of the Kill Team. As it drew close, Brother Eizen raised his Force Dome again, and Brother Orthorn stepped forth and blazed the horde with a precision blast of holy fire. The Tyranids had engaged the Marines with a small force, but were unprepared for the tenacity of a Deathwatch Kill team nor their specialized weaponry and training. The last of the Shrikes fled to regroup with its unholy companions- the team opened up and hit it; the final blast was from Erik’s plasma pistol. Smoke pouring from its wound it spiraled out of sight.

Castiel moved in to seal the wounds of his companions as quickly as possible before the team moved out again- the pounding below was still going on, it was uncertain how long before the creature there broke through the walls and gained entry into the structure.

400xp was given. 10 extra was given to Eizen for not being a total distraction. 25 were given to Brother Erik for being the least disruptive. Total base XP is 28,403.

235.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – XXIIVVI

* Watch Fortress Erioch *

Immediately following the last death rasp of the Heretics on the platform, Brother Castiel started work mending the wounds of his comrades. Brothers Orthorn and Eizen began shoving the mangled corpses of their victims down into the control center below, shouting challenges and warnings to those that would oppose the Empire. Brother Thomas set to work attempting to gain control of the pilot servitor, the previous Hero of the Margin Crusades, Uriah. After Thomas ordered Uriah to set a course for Scintilla, the team cautiously left, following the last instructions of Áinfean. They crowded into an escape shuttle and launched themselves into space. It was a fairly routine pickup.

It was not long after the return to Honored of Starlight that Brother Deadalus revealed to Orthorn and Eizen his concern about the visions he had been experienceing. He worried that the clarity of the visions, and their link to the Jerhico reach posed a possible source of information regarding activities there. Orthorn and Eizen also worried that the mere knowledge of the activities in the Reach by an Unsanctioned Psyker was also worth exploring.

The team quickly re-deployed to Port Avarice and hastily made their way to Xanthia’s club. There was a skirmish in front of the club- the Von Asters Militia had deployed several men and re-commissioned Sentinel Walkers to the club, and they were standing in front as guardians. The team advanced under heavy fire. Brother Thomas, who normally stays out of the line of fire, was targeted and hit by a burst of anti-vehicle fire that caught him off guard, nearly knocking the wind from his mechanized lungs. Brother Erik on the other hand, who was used to continual cuts, scratches, and las burns, advanced without complaint into the mass of men; perhaps his flight from combat in the previous encounter was truly the touch of The Carnivore. With missiles, meltas, and boltgun the war machines were immobilized or set alight. The crowd of men, though defiant against the Astartes, died to a man. The Kill Team quickly entered the club and found Xanthia and her companions. A deal was struck- to the discomfort of Eizen and Erik- that the remainder of Xanthia’s ‘guild’ would be transported to Foulspar nearby, and she would allow them to take Scythia into their protection. Xanthia also made Brother Orthorn give her his word, seeming to know that a while a word can be broken, to do so for an Astartes of the Ultramarines would be an anathema.

The team honored their end of the bargain and deposited the psykers in the Koronous Expanse, then returned by way of the Warp Gate to Jericho.

After debrifing and extensive medical scans, the Astartes were cleared for duty. Brother Castiel made a request into Captain Ephraim that he be permitted to pay back the brothers who rescued him rather than return immediately to Scintilla. Ephraim agreed to send the request to the Tricorn, and in the meantime placed Castiel in the ranks of the others’ Kill Team.

Two more meetings of the group were held- one was largely disciplinary in nature. Captain Ephraim chastised Castiel for his actions, that hurling sarcasm and slights at a temperamental Astartes was simply aggravating the situation. He also chastised Brother Erik for his in-field violence towards a fellow of the Deathwatch, and made it clear that under his command, he viewed challenges of that level of violence as a waste of the Emperor’s resources and would not stand for it.

The second meeting of the group was an unusual proposition from the Captain. After reviewing the information gathered from the previous mission to the Segmentum Obscurus, it seemed that the psyker that had been in contact with Deadalus was showing something to do with the planet of Castobel.

Castobel is a battered Hive world. The planet is ruled by a noble-born class that had remained loyal to the Imperium through the Age of Shadow despite being cut off from the rest of the Empire. The council of nobles was known as the Aquilan Pluracy, and kept the planet safe from xenos raiders and heretics. The Crusade forces were welcomed on their return, and the planet quickly was placed in a position where its weapons, provisions, and troops were an invaluable resource for the ongoing war.

The planet has once again lost contact with the Empire, only this time the cause was not warp storms, but the Shadow in the Warp created by the advancing fleet from Hive Fleet Dagon.
Castobel has a few things going in its favor against the Tyranid; mainly that the planet is barren, wind-scoured, and largely lifeless. There is little biomass to fuel the enemy forces. However other worlds within the Reach can and do fuel the fleet, and without some sort of intervention it is possible the world will fall.

There are six primary hives on Castobel, two have fallen. The first, Trimalov, was lost in a valiant defense. The defense of that hive is what earned Ortarna Lokk his name within the Crusade forces. He was named Lord Castellan, and given complete military control on Castobel. The second Hive, Tyralos, was destroyed in atomic fire. The public story is that the Hive sacrificed itself as it collapsed, denying the enemy of the biomass inside. The truth to that story is Lord Castellan Ortarna Lokk ordered a team of storm troopers to set off a chain reaction in the hive’s plasma reactors, destroying both the hive and a huge piece of the swarm. It is the Lokk family crest that was seen in one of Daedalus’ visions.

The Captain revealed the current situation to the Kill Team, and asked if they felt a mission to the planet was in order. Some of the Astartes showed trepidation, a near sense of defeat before even deploying on a mission of near suicidal order. What good would a handful of Deathwatch Marines do to a world being consumed by a Tyranid fleet. Such is the power of the Great Devourer, that even His most stalwart warriors have been known to balk at the idea of fighting the beasts. After deliberation, the team agrees to the mission, and the Watch Fortress begins preparations to send the Astartes to see how they can aid this embattled world.

500xp was awarded, total base xp is 28,003. 4 Renown was awarded for the action on Peleus. 6 Renown was awarded for the action on the Carnivore. Brother Erik should reduce his renown reward by 1 for his actions attacking and wounding a marine in the field, as well as abandoning a team member in combat.

235.817.M41 – Koronus Expanse – The Cauldron XXIIVVI

* The Carnivore*

The team moved out with Áinfean, who led them along a long twisting path to the Trophy Room. It was here they could see the bodies of Castiel’s Kill Team, at least two Inquisitors, a sniper, and an Imperial Agent of some kind. In addition to skills of dark eldar, xenos weapons, books and documents of unknown origin, and other animal heads and corpses.

Brother Erik smelled man sweat in this room, the team prepared for combat. As they filtered through the room, the trap was sprung- teams of fighters opened fire with lasguns and autoguns, pinning part of the team halfway across the room. Eizen attempted to defend them by creating a dome of energy around them, helping to deflect the volley of fire. Erik became stuck behind a bit of cover- hard rounds and energy slapped the cover around him, making it impossible to break position.

Brother Josiah opened up with his own weapon, showering the heretics with holy bolter fire. Orthorn and Daedalus added their weapons to the attack as well. It was not long before the rear doors to the chamber opened, three Chaos Marines entered the fight. Eizen thought quickly, and let the energy dome fall, concentrating on disabling the machine spirit of one of the Traitors suits of power armor. Josiah turned his full attention at the enemy and fired a long burst directly into his chest. The marine fell to his knees, and Josiah continued to pump bolt rounds into him until his suit exploded. The other Chaos fiend got off several shots, but was hit repeatedly by Orthorn and struck in the eye by Daedalus. The final Marine, helpless in his disabled armor, was finished off.

It was not long after the combat wound down to a close. The team sealed the doors and gathered up the trophies into the center of the room to set them alight. Some of the team recovered items, notably Constantine taking the weapons and armor from the sniper. The Inquisitor was missing his rosette, and had no real items of value on them. Castiel pulled his old companions from their chambers and carefully removed their progenoids, storing them in the sealed containers attached to his narthecium. Áinfean found his equipment and rearmed and armored himself.

The group moved onward, towards the bridge, and were briefed on the layout by Áinfean. Brother Deadalus, Constantine, and Áinfean would head through the vent system and distract them while the others charged the front gate.

The plan commenced, and the team burst into the bridge. They immediately began to take fire from the heavy weapons, but again shielded by the power of the warp, many of the bolt rounds, las shots, and autocannon rounds dented and dinged armor but did not penetrate flesh. The team moved to the foreword chamber, where even more weapon teams were waiting for them. Quick work was made of them as furious firing and psy powers were unleashed on them. At this point the rearguard team had opened fire to create confusion. Áinfean tossed two blind grenades into the fray, sowing confusion and misdirection.

Brother Erik ignited his jump jets, but the confined spaces of the bridge caused him to go off course. He landed on the upper platform, near Deadalus. It was at this moment the power armor clad enemies emerged from the smoke cloud. Erik quickly ignited his thrusters again, fearing the wrath the Heron Mask would inflict on him. Deadalus was left alone to face the Heron Mask and his minions. Fearing that alone Deadalus would fall, Constantine revealed himself and helped to engage the Heretics.

The rest of the Kill Team rushed forward into the thick obscuring smoke. Áinfean emerged from the smoke and engaged one of the heretics. At this point, Erik again engaged his jets and landed back on the other side of the smoke, but the enemy had moved from their last position and there was nothing to swing at. Brother Orthorn emerged from the smoke and shouted for Codex Attack Pattern Gamma-3-6, and the Marines within reach charged furiously into hand to hand. Brother Erik swung his axe and sword again and again, but most of the attacks were converted to harmless light from the power of the Mask’s Conversion Field. The team stabbed and cut and shot and their opponents. A psy blade cut deep into Daedalus, penetrating his flesh and cutting into his organs. As the team was nearing victory, the powerful psyker erupted in an unholy conflagration, consuming the flesh of all around him. The force of the blast stunned most of those around him, and sent Daedalus down onto the deck. Orthorn took the opportunity of distraction to fire a single melta blast into the deamon worshipper’s chest. The field did not engage. The melta blast incinerated him from the inside, and he collapsed to the ground as well.

With the smoke still hanging thick in the air, Castiel moved forward to aid his companions, using his narthecium to great effect once again- in sharp contrast to he and his boltguns performance in the last few encounters.

Áinfean stood, faced Orthorn, and spoke. “Thank you. I think you will find that heading out down the hall and taking the second right will see you to safety.” Quick as a flash the being opened a gate into the webway directly in front of him. The portal was not transparent, and was too large for Orthorn to shoot around. By the time the gate vanished, and having completed his portion of the bargain, the Dark Eldar had vanished. Flushed, Brother Erik muttered a curse against the foul xenos.

500 xp was awarded, the total is 27,503.

235.817.M41 – Koronus Expanse – The Cauldron XXIIVVI

* Port Avarice*

Jacobi was discovered, returning from von Aster’s guild halls. Constantine warned the team that things on the station were being locked down, and Von Aster’s men were out in force. The Kill Team took to the service tunnels and weaved their way to the docks. With most of them in the cover of the shadows, Brother Orthorn spoke with the guards, and convinced them to ‘grant’ him audience with Jacobi. He appeared, and Quist then showed herself in order to play her part in things- displaying the Rosette and stating the team’s intent (to speak with the Empire on his behalf), the man, nervous, decided compliance was preferable to combat with an Inquisitor and her 7 foot tall guards.

The orbs were secured by Quist, and the team started to regroup, heading towards the Von Asters Werehouses. They found the main gate open, stuck somehow. In a lightning quick advance the Marines peppered the standing guards with bolt and grenade, killing them. The mechanics looked up in surprise but offered no resistance. Advancing with a classic but effective leap frog technique, the team found the central vault. A mass of guards had taken cover on the stairs, and the team engaged them in a firefight. Using teamwork, the Kill Team continued to advance relentlessly, opening fire and throwing grenades, all the while protected by Eizen’s crackling blue energy field.

Once inside, the team quickly found the stasis chamber at the heart, holding what appeared to be a Blood Angel. Nearby was his equipment, aside from the narthecium and white helmet of the apothecary, his armor was jet black and bore the shoulder heraldry of the Deathwatch. Freed, he briefly described to his new brothers that he was on board a ship departing a planet after a successful mission when his transport was ambushed. Rather than guard against the pirate, his Kill Team went on the offensive, boarding the pirate frigate.

Sensing the enemy closing in, the Kill Team grabbed up the Brother and his gear and fled. Before leaving, the new Marine joked about needing help with his gear, suggesting the “Space Wolf” carry it. In response, Brother Erik let loose a hammer blow to Castiel’s chest, cracking ribs and bruising organs. With a brief aspiration of blood, Castiel composed himself. The team shifted, surprised by this outburst of unrestrained aggression on a fellow Marine. Both troopers brushed off the exchange and headed out. Thomas accessed the local pict viewers, and was able to steer the team down hallways where enemy troopers were not present.

At that point they received a message from Noches, which was abruptly cut off. The Marines decided to head back to his aid, feeling that his loyalty to them and the Empire in such an evil place deserved the reward of their assistance. They returned to Janices’, the bar Noches owned. The team burst into the lower portion of the bar and immediately contronted the armed men inside. Erik received a blow to the body followed up with a burst from an infernus pistol before felling the man that carried it. Brother Thomas rushed in to engage the other men, smashing their brains to pieces with his servo arm. Castiel entered the scene and used his narthecium to seal the wounds on Brother Erik’s body. Noches thanked them for their assistance, and indicated with the current state of affairs he could not conscionably leave his employees behind. The team, without hesitation, agreed to bring them aboard. Quickly they all departed for the Honored of Starlight.

From there they formed a plan to board the Carnivore- they commandeered three shuttles, dispatching two of them with the soldiers of the Starlight, and one containing the Kill Team. The two distractions docked with the enemy ship, followed quickly by the Marines.
They entered near the brig, and found Castiel’s ‘friend.’ During the negotiation with the xenos, again Castiel made an off color remark about Space Wolves. And again Erik took the bait. Reaching out with a mighty blow he swung hard at Casteil- this time the Angel was quicker, and ducked out of the way. This exchange was met with raised weapons from the rest of the Kill Team. Orthorn shouted a warning, that if he should try such an assault in the middle of a mission again, Erik would be the one on the receiving end of an assault. What had gotten into their brother? Had he smelled some sort of corruption in the Blood angel? Was Erik under some sort of influence? Were Erik’s animal instincts simply getting the best of him?

After deliberating, the Marines decided to take the Dark Eldar up on his offer. He gave his name, Áinfean El Kath’Cael, and stepped out of his cage. He asked the Marines for a blade to perform a ritual that would keep the Mask from detecting them. Most of the Astartes balked at such an idea, arming their treacherous companion, though Castiel offered up his combat knife. The Dark Eldar cut his hand open and drew a complicated sigil on the floor- looking on it hurt the brain behind the eyes, it was most likely a symbol of the archenemy. With their ward in tow, the team began to head out.

500 xp was awarded, the total is 27,003.

235.817.M41 – Koronus Expanse – The Cauldron XXIIVVI

* Port Avarice*

The team discussed their options at length, and decided to head back to Xnathia at the Hand and accept her proposition. Orthorn negotiated somewhat, and asked for more information on the Carnivore in exchange.

The team scouted the Lady Pens, and to their dismay there was truly a single entrance and exit large enough for Astartes to fit through. A plan was hatched to use smoke grenades in the ventilation system in order to sound the fire alarm, then in the confusion escort Scarlet to ‘safety.’ During the scouting, Daedalus had a vision so intense it dropped him to one knee. The description and sketch he made sounded like a Tyranid of some kind- Tyranids are unknown in this edge of the Galaxy, they are concentrated on the Eastern Fringes. Before they depart, Xanthia give them two pictures that she felt would be important to them.

They detailed the maw of some great creature, with three animals inside the mouth. The next picture was of a vault, blood spilling underneath, and the face of a daemon obscured by darkness in the corner. Brother Thomas looks at them and draws a connection between the three beings- all are representative of Astartes chapters. The bleeding angel that of the Blood Angels, the dragon that of the Salamanders, and the bird that of the Ravenguard.

Daedalus is the point man, and pays for a visit with Scarlet. He tries to avoid her touch but it is useless, and he experiences a handful of other visions while he is in her chamber, including a vision that matches pictures they had received earlier. He explains to her through touch/sign language that they’re going to ‘rescue’ her.

The smoke goes off, and the alarms sound. Security guards begin to move the ladies out of the area in a somewhat orderly fashion, and but they move to Scarlet (the most valueable one in the hall) to open her door. As the door slides open the pair rush out and into another room. From there Deadalus retrieves his weapon. One of the soldiers spots the pair heading into the room, but they are able to use their chameloline cloaks to slip past them as Thomas remotely disables the lights, then after the two reach the top floor, the elevator.

On the main floor, the guards have approached, told ahead of time that someone is heading out with their prize whore. The main doors begin to close, but Thomas, in a rare display of technical competence, reverses the door and starts to open it again. As Daedalus and Scarlet emerge, one of them is spotted, and a soldier raises his heavy weapon to dispatch him. Eizen summons the warp and freezes all three suits of power armor, they are unable to pull the trigger. A plasma bolt discharges and strikes Deadalus in the arm, boiling his skin and melting muscle. Brother Erik charges the group, attempting to appear scared and unintimidating, but can’t pull off the stunt given his size, bulk, and gear. While the PA’d troopers still find their armor and weapons useless, the men above open fire with their pistols. Melta, bolt, and plasma rounds smack out from the upper landing into the Marine, boiling his blood and vaporizing large chunks of flesh off of his body. While he does not close well enough to truly enter into combat and dispatch the warriors, he effectively draws their fire from Scarlet and Daedalus. Daedalus breaks and runs at such speed that he has to drag Scarlet along- tossing her under the gate he struggles under it. Brother Orthorn opens fire with his Godwyn, spraying cover fire into the soldiers posisiotn, forcing most of them to duck and try to take cover. At this point the other Marines inside break position and race out of the building, heading into the dark station that has now entered its night cycle.

Daedalus takes Scarlet aside, separate from the group, and questions her. The team realizes something is odd with his return radio calls, and begin to suspect the Dark Angel is up to something. He questions her about what she sees, what she knows, and whether or not she trusts the Umbral Hand. The woman is intimidated, and though apparently she does not trust Daedalus, knows she has little to negotiate with. She speaks of the mark of the Blood Angels, and tells Daedalus the visions started only a day or two before.

After the discussion, the pair final reach the rendezvous point, the safe house, just as the cleaning cycle begins. She is deposited in her house and the team retreats into the relative darkness, meeting back up at the Hand to claim their reward.

What is revealed is Jacobi Dellesium is a front man, a buyer, for a Rogue Trader of some kind. The name they’ve not discerned yet and the Hand avoided more direct questioning techniques so as not to undermine whatever it is the Astartes were planning. He purchased the orbs for a great sum of money, and the intent was that this Rogue Trader, who had lost his Writ of Trade, would finally have something of such value he could turn it over to the Imperium to regain his Warrant and honor. Jacobi was planning on hitting up the Lady Pens one last time before departing late that day or the next morning, as they are said to have xenos slave girls there.

The information on the Carnivore is the salesman of the orbs most definitely came from that ship. His name was not known, and he spoke to no one but Jacobi. It would appear the exchange was pre-set, and the sale was not one of fencing the goods but a direct sale. The Carnivore, as Thomas had discovered, had a new captain- Hektor Grallion. Her crew was approximately 22,000, with an armed soldier core of about 2,200. It is also rumored that the ship possesses beasts, xenos or otherwise. It is thought they are bought or created form the relationship that the Carnivore has with the Beast Houses. Xanthia also reveals that most of the people on the station want little to do with the Carnivore. It has a dark reputation and most people, herself included, wish it were not at their station.

There is also a man, known as “Knife’s Edge” or simply “Edge” is searching the station for a buyer of a xenos warrior, a trade of some kind. He was last looking to approach the Von Asters, though it seems he will turn to the Redemptionists if that does not pan out. This man also came from the Carnivore.

The group asked Constantine to go find Jacobi and watch him, the group was going to head to the man’s ship and wait for him there. After dealing with Jacobi, the team had decided they wanted to investigate the Vault within the storage docks at the Von Asters estate.

500 xp was awarded, I think the total is now 26,503

235.817.M41 – Koronus Expanse – The Cauldron XXIIVVI

* Port Avarice *

After splitting up, Quist and half the team headed to the Broken Aquila, and Solaria and Nicodemus with their two ‘guards’ headed to Janice’s. Constantine accompanied Quist to the Aquila, and was thoroughly consumed by a set of dataslates he carried with him, studying.

In the Broken Aquila, conversation aimed at finding locations to buy or sell xenos devices, and it is discovered a man by the name of Thraxx is one of the biggest dealers of xenotech on the station, possibly the sector. His emporium is located mid-deck on the station, though the Imperial Servants are warned that Thraxx takes his security seriously, and his emporium is located at the end of a long hallway, and he hires men to watch over the rows of merchandise- people do not tend to steal from the man.

Janice’s appears to be a strip club on the bottom, and a High Gothic bar on the top floor. To reach the top floor one must discard all weapons- sensors have been installed in the stairwell in order to attempt to detect weaponry on people. It is discovered here that the bar’s owner (a man by the name of Noches Aralias) has been on station since before the rebellion and is well versed in the groups on board.

The team decides to meet with Noches and ask him a few questions- it is not long before the man seems to recognize Brother Erik’s accent, and requests the men join him in his private office. He reveals he is ex-Guard, though none of the Battle Brothers recognize his unit designation. He claims to have served alongside a group of Space Wolves several years ago. He willingly tells the group what he knows of the people on board the station.

The three primary gangs or paramilitary groups are known as the Redemptionists, Von Asters Militia, and the Umbral Hand. The Redemptionists are a hard line group that takes the existence of mutants and xenos as an anathema, and does what it can to wipe them from the station. This puts them at odds with most others, and thus the group has been pushed underground. The Von Asters Militia, run by a man by the name of Erastus Von Aster, is the richest and best equipped group on the station. He regularly lends or rents out his men to help with other folks, and supplies the bulk of the security forces on the ‘neutral’ decks where ships dock. Aralia indicates that having a single gang own the docks, or to have fighting on the decks, was bad for everyone’s business.

The Umbral Hand deals with miscreants. They have much political clout, but their firepower pales in comparison to the Von Asters. However if it’s information that is sought, they are the owners- they tend to have fingers and ears in all aspects of the station, and not much happens on board that they’re not aware of in some regard.

Something else is revealed to the group- brought up by Constantine, through Quist. A ship docked with the station is believed to be the Heretic vessel the Carnivore, a deadly ship that has consumed scores of Imperial Servants. Constantine seems bent on boarding and or destroying the vessel.

A small group from the Kill Team, with Constantine in tow, goes to the Carnivore to scout it out. After interfacing with the ship itself as well as the docking monitors, Brother Thomas reveals the ship I smost definitely a pirate vessel, with an unknown name. The registered, or broadcast, name of the captain is Hektor Grallion, which is not the previously known name of the ship’s captain (Marcus Vulpa). After scanning the inside cogitators, Thomas discovers that the system regularly sweeps its internal systems for access, and to defeat such a system would take considerable time and would be quite risky. Thomas also wanted to implant a subroutine that would broadcast its location in order to help the Inquisition track it, but the time required to build such a program onboard the ship would be time prohibitive. The team leaves the Carnivore, but not without first accidentally activating the bio-sensors in the loading bay.

The team tries to hide, but only Constantine and Daedalus are skilled enough in the art of stealth to avoid the eyes of the team of stormtroopers that came in as a response to the alarm. They quickly identify both Thomas and Josiah, and open fire. The troopers are, undisciplined, and are staggered by the gout of flame that erupted from Deadalus’ flamer and the burst skull of their sergeant from Constantine’s weapon. They open fire into the team, but their scattered shots aren’t concentrated or precise enough to inflict significant injury on any of the Marines. Josiah opened up with his shotgun on full auto, and a devastating hail of astartes grade shot tore apart much of the remaining group. Thomas raised his boltgun and fired a quick burst, the bolts exploding the torsos, arms, and skulls of the few men who remained.

Constantine and Daedalus emerged from the shadows, grabbing their companions, and fled into the complex passages under the docks, emerging a short time later to reunite with their rest of the team.

The team decides to meet up with the Hand, and Noches takes the large group to the Contraband, a nightclub several levels down, where the leader of the Hand tends to be. She is a woman by the name of Xanthia Castellenos. They meet with her, and Ezien is quick to point out to the group there are at least four psychic contacts within her private suite.

Xanthia is interested in a trade, she describes the devices that the group wants to secure, quickly commenting on information that she could only have if she knew of the devices- or used her abilities to peer inside the minds of the individuals in the group. The trade she offers if for the team to secure from the Von Asters one of their sex slaves, a woman who’s ‘stage name’ is Scarlet, but a given name of Scythia Ordanallis. She explains that the woman is a unsanctioned psyker, a witch, and she seeks to bring her into the Hand in order to train her and school her in ways to prevent the tides of the warp from using her as a tool, or from her unwittingly releasing daemonic powers across the station. After some questions, she indicates that while her group is not in a position to assault the Von Asters to retrieve the girl, they are in a position where they could defend against (or hide from) a reprisal from the group.

The team indicates to her they will meet in private to discuss the deal, and she accepts. In private, Eizen brings up that the cost of assaulting a gang house to retrieve a human subject is a steep price for names and locations of men on the station, and suggests getting additional information from the Hand in exchange for their mercenary services, perhaps the information she has on the Carnivore and its crew.

500 xp was awarded, 26,003 I think is the total for base XP

234.817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Peleus XXIIVVI

After a brief bit of code exchange to establish identity, the Kill Team boarded the Valkyrie that arrived on the island. The group was taken to Quist’s personal compound after passing over the primary Imperial City- fires could be seen burning in various compounds- in fact fire was burning all down the coast. The compound was simply adorned yet lavish. Local fruits and meats were brought out for the team, along with refreshments.

Brother Daedalus, suspicious of Quist’s team due to the recent treachery they experienced, eyed and questioned some of the team members, letting most of his suspicions fall on the young Solaria Orlean, an adept with latent psychic abilities. He and Brother Orthorn asked her to help them investigate Ignatius Phaan’s – the individual Quist suspected of being the traitor – personal quarters in the compound. Most of what Orthorn was able to compel (using charm over intimidation) from her was genuine fear that a traitor could be found within the depths of a high Inquisitor. Perhaps the suspicion of the girl was a dead end?

Most of the paperwork in Ignatius’ room consisted of what appeared to be genuine acarology reports and documentation, discussing both mundane and xeno artifacts. With the help of Brother Thomas, a bit of intriguing data was found on some data slates. One showed suspicious data deletion dates that coincided with the ambush. Another bit of data, which was encrypted, showed financial deposits into some sort of account belonging to Ignatius. Circumstantial as it was, it seemed to lend itself to the idea that Ignatius was the heretic.

Most of the team retired that evening, though the Marines worked later than most. Constantine was left alone for a brief spell with Brother Erik, and after some pointed and confrontational remarks about Erik’s treatment of Imperial citizens, specifically women and those that would get between him and a woman. Erik laughed the remarks off, and the two separated.

The next morning the team met with Veyoris Akioh, the Seneschal of the Horizon’s Pride, who had come up with a theory as to where the enemy ship had vanished to. He suspected the ship would’ve departed the Reach and traveled to a Mining Colony in Segmentum Obscurus, through the Warp Gate. The outpost had suffered a rebellion sometime in the last 3 decades, and had turned into a renowned safe harbor for renegades, pirates, and other heretics. The team went over their options, and decided that if Veyoris was correct and they did not act quickly, the heretics would get away. If he was incorrect and the villains were still in the Reach, they would have more time to try and secure them.

It was the same morning when word that Captain Thaler aboard the Honored of Starlight had just entered the system, conveniently, in a search for the Kill Team to find some way of paying them back for saving him and some of his comrades several months back. He offered his ship up as transport, and his astropath up to send a distress call about the condition of the Spear and the Pride.

The team boarded the vessel and headed out. Once they were through the warp gate, Brother Daedalus began to have some strange visions, some of which he confided to Brother Eizen about. Each night there had been a disturbance in the Warp Eizen could detect, but he could not precisely locate the location or origin of the disturbance.

A week or so later, the ship made it to Port Avarice. The Marines put on their scout armor, and obscured it with cloth and cloaks, and split up to accompany the Throne Agents into the Port.

400xp was given, bringing the base total to 25,503.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Peleus XXIIVVI.232

**** Isla Fortis ****

The exploration of the temple structure continued, the team managed to hack their way into the western door, which exposed several other chambers and a handful of strange xenos, lumpy, fish-like creatures and those that appeared to be human-cephalopod hybrids. One of the hybrids, using some kind of warp magic, managed to escape, but his filthy companions were cut down by axe and bolt.

Next the cavern system was explored. It was here the group came across their first group of Dark Eldar- the team first set up defeinsive positions but the Eldar began their retreat deeper into the caves. It was for naught, as the Kill Team gave up their squad positions and ran full force towards the group of aliens. The mercenaries opened fire on Brother Erik, the first to close with them, and filled his armor with crystal shards and send ripples of dark energy through his body. Once in hand to hand their relentless attacks tore at the joints of his armor, and even his unprotected head. The Sybraites continued to fire their blasters at him, until Brother Daedalus fired a silent shot from his Stalker, which exploded the villain’s chest in a vicious display of flesh and bone. Erik was joined by Thomas and Eizen, and the Dark Eldar horde began to crumble under the onslaught.

Nearby the rhythmic sound of an autocannon could be heard. Using as much stealth as they could muster, the Kill Team advanced. With the chatter of the incoming and outbound weapon fire, the Marines approached undetected on two large formations of Dark Eldar. It was with blistering speed they launched their coordinated attack, 6 grenades and a burst of bolter fire turned roughly 60 Dark Eldar into little more than broken armor and burnt flesh.

Down the hill and across a marine was the Inquisitor and her Acolytes. Doctor Arturo Bellesan, whom the team had worked with their last time on Peleus, had been taken under the Inquisitors wing- presumably for his uncanny attention to detail. Also with here was Constantine Novus, a confident and personable bodyguard of sorts, who had an uncomfortable knowledge of the Marine’s histories in the Reach. He made a comment towards Brother Erik’s activities outside of the battle field, but his probes were cut off by Quist. Erik brushed off the comments with a slap to the arm and a hearty chuckle. Also with them was Nicodemus Silon, who remained largely quiet. He wore the carapace and badge of a Stormtrooper, and had been manning the autocannon. His right leg was a bloody, pulpy mess, wounded by something in the caves.

Quist thanked the group for coming, and quizzed Daedalus about his latest mission- from that she noted that they should hurry to see if anything else had occurred on the planet, as the cost of hiring over 100 Dark Eldar suggested quite an expensive job.

What they were looking for was a partial mystery- Quist indicated they had discovered several devices on an altar (the altar had subsequently disappeared into the warp portal) – 3 spheres roughly softball sized. Quist had one of them still, but it was partially crushed. The other two had gone missing in the initial assault.

The team returned through the jungle, and put the Inquisition on the Valkyrie back to King’s Island- the pilot radioed back that the ETA for an inbound flight was 5 more hours. The team dug in to wait for pick up.

500 xp was awarded

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Peleus XXIIVVI.232

**** Isla Fortis ****

The Kill team began to secure the scene after slaughtering some of the local wildlife. Gunnlaag walked a short way of one of the hills to investigate one of the kills, perhaps to secure it’s corpse for food later. It was at that moment he disappeared from view. At nearly the same time a furious discharge of bright green electrical energy erupted from the hole. His brothers leapt into quick action- Erik firing his thrusters and leaping through the jungle to where his companion last was seen, only to find a sinkhole. Peering inside he found the body of the Marine, sliced apart into thirds. The other’s from the Kill Team made it to the sinkhole, and Erik descended inside to see what had happened, ready to face the dangers within. What he found was a broken cylider with two endcaps- each cap bore similar markings to the xenotech that was discovered on the Kill Team’s original mission to the planet [See IOX-DWR XMMI-V2x]. A single bolt shell was ejected from Brother Gunnlaag’s Stalker Bolter, and his combat knife was in hand. On inspection of the body, it seemed a very potent power weapon of some kind was used- the cuts were clean and mostly cauterized, and sliced through the Aquila Power Armor as though it was a piece of meat rather than ceramite.

The group discussed what to do, determined not to leave their Brother’s body behind, but at the same time knowing that carrying him through the jungle would put their whole mission in jeopardy. They decided to leave him in the sinkhole, where he would be shielded from view and potential predators, and return when their mission was complete. It was at that moment that Brother Erik shouted an alarm- an incoming craft was ripping into the forest at their position. The Aquila Lander smashed through the trees, one side already sheared off by some sort of weaponry. It impacted into the hillside, smoldering. The group quickly entered via the cockpit, moving the dead pilot aside, and recovered an injured Deathwatch Marine- Deidalus of the Dark Angels. He was on a mission somewhere in orbit, aboard the Spear of the Adder, when an enemy ship of unknown origin ambushed them. The Adder was disabled, and he saw that the attacking vessel had taken up a geosynchronous orbit over this island. Knowing something important must be going on, he descended in the lander.

With the additional arms, the Marines headed out, continuing towards the goal of the Temple. It was not long before they uncovered the Inquisitor’s campsite. There were no survivors in the camp. Judging from the placement of the bodies and the expenditure of their ammunition, it appeared the perimeter guards were taken out first, not even getting a chance to fire a shot. The guardsmen in the interior returned fire against someone, but it was not long before they too were cut to pieces. In addition, another man was found about 50 paces to the northwest of the camp, a single blade wound just above his collar bone was present, he was dead as well. Tracks from a human truck headed northeast- scattered around the tracks was a spend melta canister and several shells from an autocannon. Orthorn arranged the bodies ceremoniously and covered them with what materials he could find, taking one of the dog tags from each of the victims.

Following the truck tracks led the team to the temple structure. If this island did not have such aggressive growth, it would likely stand out from the jungle quite magnificently, but as it were the whole structure was covered in vines, trees, moss, and bushes. The Deathwatch began to slowly circle to the northwest, to check all around the structure, when the enemy opened fire; crystalline splinters spat at them from the hillside, weapons of the Dark Eldar. Brother Josiah returned fire almost immediately, spraying the hillside with bolter shells in order to try and keep the enemy heads from peeking up. Orthorn, Eizen, and Deidalus all returned fire, Erik began to leap through the forest towards their position. After a few seconds of firing into the hillside the crystals were no longer being fired out, the area went quiet. Brother Erik leapt up to the last known position on his own and began to investigate. The rest of his team began to move in cautiously. As Erik pokes around, the survivors, which had pulled back into the trees to hide, opened fire on him again, knowing it was only a matter of time before the Marine found their position. With his characteristic blind fury, Brother Erik stepped into melee and finished the mob off. The team reunited as Erik picked the crystals from his face and scalp, and the group moved into the structure.

Moments after moving in, they were ambushed a second time; Dark Energy burst forth from arrow slits in the main foyer, cutting into Erik and Eizen. The team quickly manuvered to try and return fire, but the narrowness of the slits provided the enemy with excellent cover and protection. Orthorns examined the temple wall looking for the weakest spot to open fire, and launched a melta blast into one of the chambers. Part of the wall split apart, and the Eldar on the other side was consumed in white hot energy, causing his ammunition to violently explode and send a gout of flame and debris into the foyer. Eizen and Erik poured in bolts and promethium into the other ambush location, as Deidalus moved into position, firing a single well placed bolt into the xenos’ skull. At last the battle was over.

Cautiusly, the group explored much of the facility. To the north was a large room with black painted walls and some sort of woven purple-green mat on the floor. At the center of the back wall was an undulating portal- Eizen felt a disturbance in the warp, it was most likely some sort of warp portal. It was here that they found two Imperial Tarantual Turrets, aiming at the portal, in a pile of bolter shells, their ammunition reserves depleted. Also at the base of the portal were measuring and investigative devices, all smashed to pieces. To the left and right of the main foyer were hallways- to the left, or west, was a large steel door that looked out of place in the worked stone structure. To the right, or east, was a similar door, however that door had been forced open. In the room that followed was a large pool filled with pale, eyeless fish. In the center of the pool was a raised dais, on top of which was a defaced Aquila statue. To the north and south of the east wall of the room were two doors. One led into a storage room of some kind, which had an opening into a cave system of some kind, and the other led into a crude prison. In this prison were two guardsman that had belonged to the Catachan exploration team. Dehydrated and malnuourished, their story indicated they had come here with the Inquisitor.

The Inquisitor and her Acolytes explored the large room to the north and told the guardsmen to stay out. To the east, there was a locked door (the one the Kill Team found forced open) that they were trying to bypass. It was not long before the sound of bolter fire could be heard from the north room and the team was quickly under attack from some kind of xenos creature- a fish human hybrid of some kind. The two guardsman succumbed to wounds and passed out, thinking they were dead, but woke up sometime later in the prison cells. It was hard for them to tell how long they had been locked up, time travels strangely in the dark of the prison.

The Kill Team took the guardsmen back to the camp, where they were picked up by the Valkyrie. The team ensured that the survivors were armed and ready to go- thankful they tied themselves to ropes and flew off into a hopefully safer area of the island.

The Deathwatch then returned to the structure, and once again entered the Foyer. They had a set of options before them- to try and breach the door down the east hall, to explore the warp portal, or to explore the cave system to the north east.

500xp was awarded, bringing the total, I think to 24,603. Also, 6 renown was awarded from the previous adventure.

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XVI “Dark Eldar”]: The Dark Eldar are kindred to the Eldar, an ancient and advanced race of elf-like humanoids. Their armies usually have the advantages of speed and technology, though they are often lacking in resilience and numbers. The Dark Eldar revel in piracy, enslavement and torture, and are sadistic in the extreme. Dark Eldar raiding parties make use of advanced anti-gravity skimmers to launch high speed raids on their enemy while still transporting a large number of their warriors. Due to their use of the galaxy-spanning interdimensional labyrinth known as the Webway, they are extremely mobile, striking from seemingly nowhere, with little or no warning, and vanishing with their captives before significant military reaction can be mobilized.

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XIVV Aquila Lander]: The Aquila is a small Imperial landing craft used by the Imperial Navy to transport dignitaries such as Inquisitors or senior Administratum representatives ship-to-ship and from fleet positions to planetary installations. While the Aquila is not a combat aircraft as such, it mounts a single nose-mounted heavy weapon such as an Autocannon for close defense, and is well armoured

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XIVV Tarantula Sentry Gun]: The Tarantula is an automated mobile weapon system, more commonly referred to as a Sentry Gun. The Tarantula takes its name from the distinctive form of its gravitic base, which allows it to traverse rough ground easily. Sentry Guns utilize simple logic engines and are infused with a machine spirit to allow them to operate without a controller.

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XIVVII Valkyrie Gunship]: The Valkyrie is a heavily armed airborne armoured assault carrier with VTOL capabilities, used to ferry special forces infantry units such as Storm Trooper Squads and Drop Troop Regiments such as the Elysian Drop Troops to and from combat zones.

[SUPPLEMENTAL – XXM P37 Terrain]: [See full Planetary Datafax for additional information]: Isla Fortis matches the tropical environmental conditions as much of the planet. Heavy rains occur regularly but are short lived, providing ample moisture for plant growth. One significant aspect to Peleus at large is each island appears to be a largely self-contained biosphere, plants and animals on one island do not necessarily exist on another island, and many of the islands are classified as ‘death islands’ as they exhibit many of the aspects of a death world.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Peleus XXIIVVI.232

**** Isla Fortis ****

In the fighting in the Lodge, most of the elite had survived. Only Lan had fallen- Guardsmen rushed in to give him aid, and Orthorne radioed the Aspirance for additional assistance. It turned out the Trader turned Diplomat had been bitten. His medicae onboard the Horizon’s Pride could detect the presence of Xenos infection, but he had no surgeons competent enough to perform an attempt at removing the Parasite. Doctors of this skill were on Erioch, but Lan asked to be taken to Peleus, where the Inquisitorial compound should have surgeons of such capacity, and the Agents there were by and large under the direction of Inquisitor Quist, who had a less…hard line view on how to solve problems such as Genestealer Infections.

The Marines did not take much time to rest, instead their Techmarine set forth re-examining his notes and images collected at the mining site, desperate to decode who was responsible for violating the treaty between the Empire and the Aurum people. It was subtle, but once he saw it, Thomas cursed himself for missing it before; within the pile of tubes and robes believed to have once been a tech priest was a medallion- one that belonged to the Apostate Magi of Samech- a Forge World largely consumed by the Hadex Anomoaly in the center of the Jericho Reach.

The team suggested to the Calee, who agreed, to quarantine those closest to the exposure until they could be checked for infection. This included all the guards around Grensvayl, and the workers in the Promethium pits. Commanding the pits was Kyrus, the man the team suspected of helping aid the ‘Stealers.

With the expectations set, the plan of scanning those most at risk of infection and keeping a close Inquisitorial eye on the planet seemed to the be best course of action.

Aboard the Horizon’s Pride, with Lan in Stasis, they headed for Peleus. Once on planet they secured Lan in surgery, and began looking for Inquisitor Quist, who had said she would meet the team on King’s Island, the location of the primary Imperial base on world. The team contacted the Guard assets responsible for monitoring the island and discovered that Quist’s team had failed to check in for the last four days. Nervously, Trooper Vargas tried to explain that he didn’t dare put his nose in Inquisitorial affairs- likely for fear of having it cut off. The team, ever patient, got the information they needed from the vox man and immediately requisitioned a flyer to take them to Isla Fortis, a kite shaped, 1,400km square island north and east of Kings’ Island. The island was classified Infestus Modica, with known carnivorous plants and hostile animal species, as well as aggressive plant growth. The Island contained a large temple structure- Invisible from orbit, the structure was discovered during one of the original Ordo Malleus investigations of the planet.

An Imperial Valkyrie deposited them nearby where the temple site was thought to be and moved to the southern tip of the Island- remaining on station but out of the way of the violent weather system that was passing over the island.

They began moving towards the temple through the thick jungle- rain poured down on them, but it seemed the most violent parts of the storm had already passed by. It was not long before the team encountered some of the islands local denizens- green and blue scaled reptilian creatures; they walked on two large muscular legs, with smaller forearms that nonetheless bore large slashing claws, and a mouth full of razor edged teeth. They rushed the group, and the group rushed them. The din of battle easily outmatched the sound of pouring rain, turning the relative calm of the jungle into a frightening swirling mass of destruction.

The creatures fled, deciding the armored creatures invading their land were not suitable for food, and slipped into the jungle almost as quietly as they had come on the scene.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aurum XXIIVVI.220

**** Grensvayl ****

The Deathwatch Marines last building to search was some kind of lodge. The team set up a defensive line facing out, unsure if all of the Tyranids had been dealt with. Once the door had been cut through with Orthorn’s chain-bayonet, he moved into the structure. He was met by 3 Aurun warriors, survivors from the last war party. They revealed that Kyrus led the party, went into the orchard where they were ambushed. Kyrus wandered off, leaving his brothers to die at the hands of the beasts. These three had shored up inside the lodge, blockading themselves in waiting for death to take them.

After another grid pattern search of the township, the Kill Team declared the town secure and departed, taking the survivors with them. Haydal, the captain of the fire perimeter, was awestruck with the fact the marines survived- their wounds and dented armor proof they encountered the ‘malisectors’ and lived to tell of it. He instinctively took a position second to that of the Kill Team’s authority, and conceded to all of their instructions- to keep the fire perimeter and keep watch on all members of his company.

The ride back to Haighstand was largely uneventful, and they were quickly routed to the Caele’s manse again. The man looked weary, forcing a smile at the ‘hero’s’ return. He conceded to their wishes, offering up one final way out for his people- to tell the Empire the planet is infected beyond saving, and that they should steer clear of it. He indicated his people would gladly lay their lives down and be exterminated before the onslaught of the Tyranids, a better end as opposed to suffering under the yoke of an agri world’s future. The Kill Team told him there was no glory in death to genestealers, that they would turn his society inside out- there would be no stand up fights, only death and ruin. Rylus conceded and agreed to help integrate Aurum with the Empire.

One last request was made, and that was for the team to participate in a ceremony, a feast in their honor. The population of Haighstand was ecstatic, if humbled. The visitors from the Eagle had come down and aided them, destroying the beasts where they had failed. The feast was started, and the Kill Team enjoyed fresh the bounty of the world, and some even participated in local games of chance.

The Brood Lord, thought killed at Grensvayl, had other plans. He and his remaining genestealers rushed into the building in a frenzy, slashing and killing the local population. The Kill Team leapt into action, unafraid of the fact that the enemy came forth in such numbers. The Brothers were not without allies, as each Aurun in the room leapt up with their blades. Eizen and Thomas rushed towards the mighty Lord, in an attempt to slay it and demoralize its minions. Orthorn began his push as well, the swirling melee causing him to forget his training; Genestealers are far more than animals, and they typical strategy of destroying the synapse creature has little impact on their behavior or combat prowess.

Thomas and Eizen struck again and again at the brood lord, its thick carapace deflecting much of the energy of their blows, and his body resisted the effects of even the hits that penetrated his flesh. The beast was the patriarch of the Genestealers on this world, and his prowess and abilities reflected that. It slashed at Eizen, tearing at his flesh; while the Librarian could not shrug off the injuries, his Haemastamen and Larraman’s organs kicked into high gear, keeping him from collapsing with pain and pouring his blood onto the floor of the lodge. The beast slashed at Thomas, shattering the bones in his left arm and tearing chunks out of his flesh, piercing through his power armor and his mechanical body. Thomas’ power sword flickered and pierced the creature in his chest, Eizen slashed into the monster and could feel the cold presence of the shadow of the warp extending into his mind as he let forth a burst of psychic energy through the blade of his sword. Blood was erupting from the creature, it stumbled on a mangled stump of a leg, and Orthorn took aim with his lascannon and fired the final killing shot. The beast was vaporized in a puff of light and gore.

Heavy bolter fire could be heard chattering as [REDACTED; ORDER XIVV 7ZΩ] opened fire on the stealers. Orthorn saw him swinging his heavy weapon around and shouted a warning to Akedre and Heth to pull back. Unengaged, the Tyranids presented a clear profile- the kraken rounds easily penetrated their carapace, and the explosive rockets tore the creatures apart from the inside out.

The hall fell quiet- there were no sounds of the dying, the fight was so brutal you were simply alive, or dead. Not missing a beat, the kill team organized and took up firing positions. Two stood guard at the entry door, and a heavy bolter took up position to cover the windows, where some of the creatures had infiltrated. The Emperor willing, that was the last of them.
Most of Aurum’s elite had survived the encounter, however Lan had fallen to an as yet unknown injury. Over 25 Genestealers entered the room and none yet lived. At least 60 Aurun warriors fell to their fangs and claws, and another 10 Imperial Guardsman lay dead.

500xp was awarded, the total is somewhere around 23,603.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aurum XXIIVVI.220

****Grensvayl****

Through the smoke the team carefully progressed into the town, placing their hand to hand experts in a front line, keeping Josiah and his heavy bolter accompanied by Oathorn and his lascannon in the rearguard. Movement was seen to the right. The team rotated their formation and moved in to investigate. They scanned about, the trees and thick smoke blocking their vision. The team did not see the attack coming, genestealers descended out of the trees like lightning, slashing with their long sharp claws, rending flesh and armor alike. The team responded with fury, and the parasites were cut to pieces in short order, but not before leaving the team wounded and winded.

The group progressed through the town, moving from building to building, clearing each in turn. A handful of ‘infected’ Aurans were encountered, and a small number of additional stealers. The combats were swift and deadly, and for many of the Kill team they began to see and understand just where the reputation of these monsters came from. Injured but alive, it was not too long before the Kill Team discovered a cave entrance in one of the cliff faces- at one time it was obscured, hidden from sight, but now with the steady rain of burning pitch the opening was quite obvious.

Inside the cave was an expansive mining operation. One chamber held the steely remains of a tech priest of some kind, another held mining equipment, broken dataslates, and carefully illustrated parchment. It also contained a stasis tube, the kind used in transporting dangerous subjects. The largest chamber contained what appeared to be infected Aurans and an opening to a vast mining chamber. Thousands of pounds of Decavein crystals had been mined form here- probably over the span of years, all under the nose of the local Imperials in Haighstand as well as the Aurans that lived in the township.

600xp was given, bringing the base total to 23,103.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aurum XXIIVVI.218

****The Divested Hunt****

The Kill team landed on Aurum to a luke warm welcome. They wasted little time and asked to meet with the Caele right away. Caele Rylus Darkskourge agreed to meet with them, and spoke to them in a large circular chamber- it may be used for meetings or feast, the true purpose isn’t fully known. Rylus spoke with the team and indicated he custom prohibited him from allowing them to pass outside of the walls of Haighstand unless they passed the local challenge known as the Divested Hunt. It is a challenge wherein a warrior hunts down and slays a local beast, one of the Diabladons. The team flippantly agreed, and planned to head out in the morning.

In the meantime, they met with the caretaker of the local mission, the Word of Faith. Father Marcus, a rotund balding man- a perfect stereotype of a preacher- is preaching to local youths, who spit challenges at him, asking him why a blading fat man would preach the word of faith of such a noble warrior as the Emperor. The appearance of the Kill team silences the onlookers, and they slowly wander off, Marcus invites the men in and tells them what he knows of Sister Rachael’s death. Rachael was a determined woman. She suspected a daemon was responsible for the deaths and disappearances that were plaguing the local community. She would disappear for days at a time sometimes, and Father Marcus doesn’t know how far outside of the walls she ventured, but it was definitely in violation of the Caele’s rules. Despite that, he doesn’t believe a local would kill her and cover it up to make it look like a suicide- they would address it directly. He also knows that she saw flames north of the city at night, and was saw caravans of men heading that direction. The last time he saw her alive she was planning on heading north to follow the next caravan. No personal effects or evidence was found in the Mission.

The team rested that night and headed out on the Divested Hunt the next morning. Rhylus’ second, Alkedre, describes the hunt and the rules to the team, and helps to ensure that they follow the rules. The team entered the great canyons weapon and armorless. They select their weapons inside the canyon of the local craft, and begin their hunt. The group first encountered a large clearing filled with Theratryx guarding their nests. Attempting to sneak across nearly succeeded, but Josiah fumbled halfway across the clearing, slipping on a rocky outcrop. The herd charged, racing to defend the perceived attack on their young. The kill team reacted swiftly – despite the primitive weapons they devastated the animals, sending them running. As the herd broke and fled the team struck them from behind, attempting to ensure they could not regroup and attack again.

From the clearing the team winded through the narrow passages and tunnels until they came to the reaving canyons. The crevasse was a deep red wound in the landscape, with magma seeping through vents to the surface. The air was hot and filled with sulfur, but blessed by their mucranoids the Marines had little to worry about. Once in the canyon tracking the beast was not a difficult task- the footprints lead to a narrow ledge on one of the cliff faces, an entrance to a shallow cave.

The team moved up, ready to attack, but the Diabladon smelled them coming and was ready for the attack. Brother Erik charged into the fray, unafraid of the massive jaws and teeth of the beast. Brother Josiah fired his bow and charged in as well, followed by his companions. The beast was a skilled killer, but it had not faced the genetically enhanced likes of the Astartes. The team weaved and dodged, blocking its claws and dodging its teeth. They landed blow after blow, cutting into the massive creature’s flesh. One blow of its arm managed to catch Thomas off guard, the blood encrusted claws slicing deep into the marine’s flesh; his enhanced immune system the only thing keeping the vile concoction of blood and bacteria from poising him.

Blow after blow after blow, eventually Josiah ripped one of the creatures legs off with a hammer blow, sending out a gout of blood and gore across the cave.

The team sawed off the head and returned to Haighstand victors. Rhylus met with the team and told them of the threat that faced his world. The nearby orchard town of Grensvayl has come under siege. Several years ago the town began to reduce its shipments to Haighstand until a few years ago the shipments stopped altogether. Rhylus sent out a war party to investigate. Only a handful of warriors returned, and spoke of 6 armed beasts and cruel looking beast man hybrids. They dubbed the creatures ‘mallisectors,’ that sound very much like Genestealers.

The Kill team traveled to the town, which lay at the end of a dead end canyon to the west. The canyon entrance had been walled in with rubble. The orchards to the east offered the easiest egress into town, being not a full cliff but a very steep incline. The team armed up, and leaped over the ten meter wide perimeter of fire. The town was covered in soot and ash, and an eerie quiet settled over the town, the loudest sound is the burning of promethium down the cliff faces. Smoke hangs like fog, limiting clear visibility to mere meters. It is here the team seeks to cleanse the world of its blight.

500xp was given, bringing the base total to 22,503.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Erioch System XXIIVVI.204

****Watch Fortress Erioch****

The team returned to the watch fortress and met with Brother Captain Ephriam, debriefing him and completing their after action reports. Once again the Marines were placed in the strange cavernous expanse of the Fortress. Large enough to hold the better part of a Chapter of Marines, the Fortress, aside from serfs and servitors, houses only a few score of the Astartes. Probably the strangest part for most is the lack of routine- there is no sergeant or captain to tell the soldiers how to spend their day, each is left to his own devices. To some Marines this feels heretical, as idle hands are the Dark Power’s plaything.

It is only a few days before Ephriam calls the team to a meeting room- a small dining hall with a heavy ornate table, enough chairs for a dozen or so men. The Captain dines with the team, and explains to them that he has chosen them for a special mission; the team has shown him on a regular basis that they put the lives and wellbeing of the citizens and servants of the Empire above their own. The team has shown that they still remember the mission of the Astartes, to be the warriors and the protectors of mankind, but to do so with honor and humility.

The mission involves heading to the Feral world of Aurum, located on the Coreward side of the Orpheus Salient, the Rimward most front of the Achillus Crusade. The planet is quite a valuable prize for the Imperium. For the length of the crusade so far, the local population- a warrior culture of disparate tribes, let through a chieftan of chieftans known as the “Caele” Rhyus Darkscourge- has proven quite resistant to the diplomatic gestures of the Empire of Man. The Crusade is in a tight spot, in that they could dispatch a force of the Guard to take the planet by force and subjugate its people, however the Crusade is spread thin across three fronts, men and machines still mostly come through the Warp gate from Segmentum Obscrus. To be able to win the local population willingly, the warriors could be folded into the crusade effort, and the planet could be used to help feed and supply the crusade effort.

In addition, over the past several years there have been a rash of disappearances, all that is left are skeletons picked clean of meat and blood. The skeletons have marks in their arms and rib cages, whatever killed them cut through flesh and bone.

It was the last disappearance that truly caused a stir in the Crusade Leadership. A Hospitaller, Sister Rayachel, was found dead in the mission, her own dagger in her chest. The locals dismiss the other disappearances as death by local wildlife (which is a possibility), but the death of the Sister as a result of her weak spirit. There is a concern that Aurum hides a xenos threat, and the locals are either concealing it or part of it.

Diaz Lan, a Rogue Trader and head of the Lan Dynasty, the Crusade’s diplomat to the Deathwatch, has come to Erioch to appeal for their aid. He hopes that they can both identify and deal with the potential Xenos threat, and serve as a diplomat to the Aurun people.

Contact was first made with Aurum back in 787, the Aurum people rebuff most of the Empire’s advances, and force the adepts off world in 789. Two years later, a Captain Laurel Mattheos of the Imperial Navy landed on Aurum and forced contact with its people, who were surprisingly receptive of his landing. Diaz Lan picked up where the Captain left off when he was killed in action. Lan worked hard for several years to let the Empire move beyond Haistand, their capital, but doesn’t make much progress. When he agreed to participate in their local games, he was critically injured by the local wildlife and was taken offworld for treatment. When he returned to resume negotiations, he was informed he was not a man, and the locals refused to deal with him. This is when the Empire turned to ask for help from the Deathwatch.

500xp was given, bringing the base total to 21,603.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aavikko System XXIIVVI.142 – XXIIVVI.180

**** Vagrant Ship Nova Nascita, Aavikko Orbit, Thunder’s Word****

The kill team gathered their forces in the flight bay of the Nova Nascita. Using tried and true tactics they took up positions around the chamber. Josiah went high, putting the room in the sights of his heavy bolter, specifically the door into the flight hangar. Brother Oathorn stood by him, as did Brother Altus, the Apothecary. Brothers Eizen an Deacon took their places on a building rooftop overlooking the doors. Brother Erik was the bait.

It did not take long before he found the greenskins, letting lose a frag grenade was all it took to stir them into a frenzy and convincing them to give chase. The horde of orks was substantial, consisting of numerous specialty mobs from rokkit launchers to an armored Nob in Mega Armor. Brother Erik burst into the room, followed closely by the xenos host, and his comrades waited just a moment before opening fire.

Their trap was triggered- a horde poured through the doorway opening fire on the tanks of fuel that Brother Thomas had placed there. The fireball roared out in all directions, killing all the orks that had entered the room, leaving burning crates, corpses, and metal fragments littered across the entry way. This did little however to stop the swarm of beasts as they poured into the room over their dead comrades. Bolter fire rained down as autogun fire and rockets fired back. The Orks moved in unison into the room, their two Nobs behind them using their associates as armor.

Using the buildings for cover, the nobs navigated the room attempting to close in on the central structure where Oathorn, Altus, and Josiah were. Oathorn fired his Lascannon into the group, aiming for the Mega Armored Nob, who juked and weaved with a grace unsettling for his size. The unrelenting hail of weapons fire disrupted and destroyed most of the Orks, leaving a scant few behind, including the Nobs. Erik, Thomas, and Eizen began to run towards the remaining greenskins, closing the distance. Erik rushed ahead, slamming down next to one of the Nobs, and they exchanged furious blows. The Nob scored a direct hit, crushing Erik’s left arm, but the blow was countered with a swift swipe of a power axe, slamming into his skull, the heat of the power field burst the skull apart and lit the body on fire. The Ork, headless and screaming, went running off.

After a failed attempt at ambushing the Mega Armored Nob, the beast started screaming to the Marines to come out and fight him hand to hand. The group briefly debated what to do, and Oathron strapped his melta charge to the back wall of the control tower, blasting a gaping chunk out of the rockrete. The nob fired into the hole, and was met with a volley of heavy bolter fire. Many of the rockets scraped off his armor, though the explosive impact sent him toppling over. Stunned, the Nob began to get to his feet, but not before Oathorn finally scored a lascannon shot to his leg. The searing heat of the anti-vehicle weapon blew the leg off, disintegrating it, and ignited the flesh, blood, and steel of the nob, killing him instantly. Oathorn descended to the body, stood over it, and ripped off the creature’s power klaw.
The team regrouped and re-boarded the Thunderhawk, descending down to the planet where the source of the distress signal was coming from. Using stealth as opposed to a frontal assault, the team scoured the plateau behind and above the old Imperial Facility, where they found a hidden back entrance. Inside, it was not long before the team met up with the remaining crew, secured them, and returned to the Thunderhawk and the Nova Nascita.

Over the next several weeks, the Ork ship continued to move from one Imperial Facility on Aavikko looking for lootable supplies and equipment. Thunder’s Word appeared in system and quickly paired up in orbit with the Nascita. After a quick debrief they realized the importance of the find that the Kill Team had made. The Astropaths aboard Thunder’s Word sent a message back to Erich, where two warships were dispatched to the system. Over the next two weeks, the kill team, servitors from the Word, and the last survivors of the Seduction all helped move some of the most important equipment off of the Nascita and onto the Deathwatch warship- the DNA Library. Upon arrival, the two additional Inquisitorial Warships began the slow process of towing the Nascita back to Erioch in realspace. Thunder’s Word left the system, after deploying a lance strike at the location of the Ork raiding party on Aavvikko, transporting the team back to Erioch for a full debrif.

There was concern from the Watch regarding the Orks- it has close to four mellenia since the last sighting of the Orks in the Reach, back in M37 when the Freeboota Star-Killa ravaged Aurum, Castobel, and Alphos. The Omega Vault has not stirred, but word of the possible incursions has been sent out to the Watch Stations to keep a weather eye out for any sign or hint of the Ork.

7 renown and 550xp was awarded, bringing the total XP up to 21,103.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aavikko System XXIIVVI.142

**** Vagrant Ship Nova Nascita ****

Brother Oathorn and Brother Erik had no further issues securing the void suit for Laurence and getting him aboard the Thunderhawk. The team, as a unit, destroyed the magnetic arms in the foundry and progressed aft towards the engine room. It was here that they discovered the reactor core; a towering room ringed with walkways fitted with cogitaton systems and monitoring devices. In the depths, Brother Josiah could see (aided by his magnoculars) a writhing sea of living creatures, their heat signatures visible through the dense fog that filled the bottom of the chamber.

After a discussion, the team decided to pull back to a defensive position and draw (what was assumed to be) the creatures to them. The kill team dropped grenades into the chamber below and quickly withdrew and formed firing ranks. The sound of the creatures was eerie as it echoed through the chamber, and the team set their weapons up, waiting for the beasts to show themselves.

It was Brother Josiah that opened fire first, waiting until the hallway was partially filled, and the Metal Storm rounds from his heavy bolter exploded in mid-air and sent white hot shrapnel into his victims. Scores fell to his withering fire as the rest of the team joined in. A burst of mighty blue green flame summoned from the warp burst forth from Eizen’s hands, setting many of them alight, only to be followed by the conventional prometheim fueled flamer causing skin to melt and eyes to burst under the intense heat. The volley of fire was incredible, and the creatures were exposed to the true might of the Emperor’s Finest.

They rallied for a final charge and spilled into the hallway- flame and bolter fire seared flesh and shredded bodies, but the enemy clambered over their fallen comrades in a frenzied attempt to reach their foe. They finally closed into range for hand to hand combat, and slashed and bit at their opponents. Again they proved no match for the might of the Astartes, and swaths of them were cut down as if they were no more than wheat suffering under a farmers scythe. Josiah was freed from his attackers, and he immediately picked up his Heavy Bolter and opened fire, spitting several more explosive rounds into the crowd.

Relative quiet fell- the team rushed to the balcony to peer into the chamber, and all that could be seen were a few pockets of heat scurrying into the dark not unlike cockroaches when someone turned on a light. The team decended into the chamber and Brother Thomas set to work, summoning the might of the team and the Emperor, he managed to reset the power supply and reestablish power through- presumably- the whole of the ship.

It was at that time the team got an urgent call from Brother Altus, the Apothecary, from the Thunderhawk. He had boarded the Nova Nascita with Anna and Laurence. Anna had recovered some of her memory and revealed the ship contained a “Seed Room” of sorts, containing DNA samples of countless species of plants and animals from Earth, or Terra, from ancient times. She and Altus both believed that this chamber needed to be defended at all costs. In addition, the Thunderhawk had detected the presence of a craft (that had been hiding on the opposite side of the planet) engaging with the rear of the Nova Nascita. The pilots are likely to be boarding the ship soon. The Kill Team met up with the Apothecary and his human companions, and Altus set to work patching the Battle Brothers up as best he could in the field. Laurence then directed them down a service shaft into some sort of hangar bay, describing it as a possible place they could set up a defensive position. Altus seems to have some sort of plan in mind, but he has yet to express what it is to the Kill Team.

550xp was awarded, bringing the base total to 20,553.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aavikko System XXIIVVI.141

**** Vagrant Ship Nova Nascita ****

The kill team cautiously linked up with one of the Nova Nascita’s upper airlocks, attaching at the same point the scout ship for the Heavenly Seduction had moored. All that was left of the scout ship was a tattered umbilical; what happened to the ship is not known, it was either ripped off or left in quite a rush. The deck was towards the top of the Nascita, and was without power or gravity. The mag boots on the Astartes Armor kept the team anchored to the floor. Helmets on and weapons ready, they boarded the vessel.

Based on auspex readings from Brother Thomas, it could be determined that the ship had an atmosphere inside, but the concentration of Carbon Dioxide and plastic and steel outgasses was quite high. It was likely this deck had been without circulating air for some time. The dark winding corridors revealed the vessel was designed for humans, but for what purpose no one knew. There were librariums, weapon ranges, even a restaurant; it was here that the Battle Brothers encountered their first inhabitants. The creatures leapt at them from behind a counter, swinging primitive looking weapons with a surprisingly sharp edge to them. The servitor claw of the Techmarine and the power axe of the Assault Marine quickly dispatched the beasts without incident; their skin was blue in color, they were roughly humanoid in shape, wearing tattered rags that appeared to have been stitched together into makeshift armor. Their faces were extended with dog or apelike snouts, with deep grooves and ridges across the top much like that of a baboon. Their pale gums sported elongated, fanged teeth- probably not a threat to ceramite and steel, but designed for cutting flesh and meat.
Shortly after the brief encounter, the team came across voices- human voices- in what appeared to be a security room. Ever the diplomat, Brother Oathorn entered the room and removed his helmet in an attempt to show whomever these people were that the Marines were also of the same ancestry. The masked figures wore tattered clothing and rebreathers of some kind, and carried strange weaponry. Through the use of Thomas’ elucidator the team was able to roughly stich together their language.

The two humans, Diego and Anna, had been awake for a short time- awakened from some sort of cryo sleep or suspended animation. They were at a loss to know what year it was, what year they were from, or really what planet they originated from. Most of what they could convey consisted of fighting these creatures and hiding from them. They had fled to this deck because, to them, it appeared that the creatures were fewer in number in this direction.
Oathorn suggested, and the team agreed, that the two humans were likely from an earlier time and should be kept as safe as possible. The team transported them back to the Thunderhawk to be guarded by their brothers on board. The apothecary started to do a full medical workup as soon as the refugees were aboard.

After depositing their human cargo, the kill team descended lower into the ship. Passing through a room that housed several cryo pods of some kind- all without power- and other ancient service rooms. The team entered a large room that appeared to be some sort of bazaar or market. Splitting up, Oatheorn and Josia took the Aft side of the room, while Thomas, Erik, and Eizen took the center. It wasn’t long before a massive swarm of the blue creatures came spilling out of the dark- their weapons flashing in the light, some steel, some plastic, bone or wood, all sharp as razors. The room filled itself with the acrid smoke of combat, the heavy bolter clacked and spat death into the oncoming swarm, the rocket fumes swirling up to the ceiling, splitting bodies in half and sending bone fragments through the air at such speed they were nearly as deadly as the original shell. The slower, methodical clack of the boltgun firing precise bursts into the crowd, separated limb from body and disintegrated brain matter. The other three brothers met the swarm head on, hand to hand, and the swirling melee began. The chainsword whirred while the power axe cut cleanly through armor, flesh, and bone as if it were wheat. The servo arm crushed its victims- most of them not dying outright, but most creatures in the known universe cannot service a crushed pelvis, ribcage, or skull for long. The power sword of the librarian scorched the enemy, burning with white hot energy so ferocious the creatures skin split and burnt. Before long the battle was over. The Marines looked to their wounds; while their armor was marred, there were no lasting injuries to report.

The team reloaded and continued to explore the craft. Before long the managed across a manufactorum of sorts. There were presses and molds, all firing, though none of them contained any actual parts. The conveyers whirred, empty but active. The team progressed cautiously, keeping weapons at the ready, waiting for another swarm of the creatures to emerge. Around the corner, into a large central bay, was a crane and several strange arms. In the center of the bay was a man, chained tightly, hanging from the ceiling. Rescue was the unanimous course of action the team wanted to take, though to the war tempered experience of the Astartes this set up was obviously an ambush. Josiah and Oathorn again took up firing positions to cover the hallway, while Eizen, Erik, and Thomas began the walk down the hallway, cautiously hugging the walls. At the end of the passage was a furnace, and around another corner was some sort of automated assembly line, with robotic arms executing pre-programed movements, firing welders into the air, not knowing the steel they were to be welding was not in place. The team took up positions as Erik stepped towards the man to unbind him. It was at that moment the trap was sprung- the arms came to life, electromagnets of some kind, and pulled the marines and their bound prisoner onto the magnetic plates. It was Eizen alone with his catlike reflexes that was able to tumble out of the effective range of the magnets. Thinking quickly, he summoned his warp powers and cursed the machine spirit of one of the magnets. The magnetic field was too great however and the brothers (and prisoner) simply migrated to another magnet. Oathorn from the aft side again opened fire with his lascannon, seconded by Josiah and his kraken rounds. The arm split and broke apart. Erik had been set free, and was being tugged into the arm where Thomas and the prisoner were; he fired his jump pack, opening the thrusters as wide as they would go, and flew into a safe zone. Eizen concentrated again, cursing the third and final arm. Thomas, thinking quickly of his charge and not of himself, twisted his body and utilized his servo arm to break the man’s fall. Bruised, the two stood up, and the team backed out of the corridor.

Again using a combination of Oathorn’s silver tongue and Thomas’ elucidator decoding they were able to converse with the man. He had been awake for a much longer than the other two the team encountered. He recalled being from a planet called Earth- Thomas postulated that Earth was simply an ancient term for Terra- the two were synonyms in some circumstances. The ship was somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 years old. The man was from the Dark Age of Technology, the ship was a colony ship scheduled to head out of Earth’s star system in an attempt to colonize other worlds. It was long overdue. He was originally part of the janitorial team, and had awoken to find the ship in shambles, infested with these blue creatures. He postulated that they were mutants, for no aliens would’ve hijacked a ship like that – aliens were unlikely to even exist. He knew several passages through the ship, but mostly service tunnels, where a Marine would have to squeeze through, and those with ammo packs would have to drag them behind. It also turned out the man was related to the other two survivors- there was a group of five of them that got split up in an attack. Diego, Anna, and Carl split off one way, and he and Matthew split off another. He was trying to find Anna again for she was part of the science crew and he believed that if he could help her recover her memory she might be able to help solve the question regarding the origin of these creatures. He stumbled across this factory, where he and Matthew were captured. Matthew was presumably eaten, and he was set as bait for others.

After a brief discussion, it was decided that Oathorn and Erik would head back to the Thunderhawk with the man and secure him in a safe place, and they would continue on in an attempt to reach the engine room. Shortly after leaving, the remaining team heard screams and shouts down the hallway. They readied themselves for the oncoming assault. The angels of death did not have to wait long, around the corner poured a massed assault of these blue creatures, over one hundred of them poured down the corridor screaming incomprehensible cries of battle. They were met head on with another layer of bolter fire, the one inch diameter rockets screamed into their midsts and blew them to pieces. Eizen again reached into the warp and let burst forth from him a cone of blue-green fire, the psychic energy setting the creatures alight. The swarm ran on, climbing over their dead brethren as if they were rubble in a doorway. It was not long before the assault crashed against the marines, spilling around them, forcing them again to face their enemy hand to hand. The great melee lasted less than a minute, bolt pistol rounds, servo arms, and warp powers sundered the mass into a writing pile of dying enemies. The emperor’s work had been done.

Meanwhile, as Oathorn and Erik returned from securing their third survivor, two creatures dropped from the pipes, penning the two in. These were larger than the others, leaner, with taught muscles that looked almost as though they were worn on the outside of their skin. They unleashed an assault with what appeared to be farm implements. Brother Erik was caught off balance, barely getting his weapons to bear before the beast he faced unleashed a fury of blows, crashing down on any exposed body part. The creature pressed on unrelenting, smashing and slicing away. Erik attempted to counter attack to no avail, the enemy had him cornered. With a howl of defiance, Brother Erik finally managed to land a blow, catching his opponent off guard. At the same time, Oathorn wrestled with his opponent, firing from his bolt pistol again and again into the creature. With one blessed shot he caught the creature in the chest, sending him sprawling backwards, gasping for breath. Siezing the opportunity for uninterrupted aim, Oathorn unleashed a volley of shells into the head and torso of the vile thing, sending a gout of blood and flesh across the walls. At this point Erik had his combatant on the defensive, slashing again and again with power axe and chain sword. His final blow cut the thing across the middle, the energy field on his axe so hot it caused the skin to blister and the fat to boil. Screaming in agony, the creature tried to regain its balance but left itself open to another, final swing that brought it the death it so dearly deserved. Again the deck was quiet.

525xp was awarded for the last two weeks, for a total of 1050. This brings the base total to 20,003.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Aavikko System XXIIVVI.140

**** The Heavenly Seduction/Aavikko Close Orbit ****

The kill team arrived in the Aavikko (AHH-vee-ko) star system in response to a distress call from the Heavenly Seduction. There had been two Imperial warships deployed, but the garbled description of unknown xenos drew in the attention of the deathwatch.

The team was told they would be supplied with a Thunderhawk, it’s pilot, and an Apothecary, but that Thunder’s Word had to get the Magos back to the fleet. It would be 2-4 weeks until the ship could return to retrieve the team.

After their exploits on Pyroclast-Gamma-9, the team (specifically Brother Erik) was trusted with additional advanced weaponry. The team set about choosing their load out carefully, pooling their resources to make the team as potent as possible.

The Battle Brothers first boarded the Heavenly Seduction. The ship was heavily damaged, the rear portion blasted out in what the team assumed to be a reactor overload. Aside from a few malfunctioning servitors, there is little resistance aboard, the crew dead from lethal doses of radiation emitted from the reactor. They find the first mate, his log, and recover as many data cores as they can carry from the bridge. The decision is made to allow the Seduction to continue its collision course with Aavikko, allowing it and the machine spirits aboard it to be cleansed by fire.

The Thunderhawk retrieved the team and maneuvered back to the primary target of their search, which the elucidator brought by Brother Thomas revealed, was named the Nova Nascita. Power fluctuates wildly through the ship, some areas being fully powered one moment only to be plunged into darkness the next. The ship lies in a low orbit around the planet Aavikko, using its own power to correct its orbit and prevent it from decaying, indicating that something or someone aboard is keeping the ship afloat.

What is inside the craft is yet to be seen.

500xp was awarded, bringing the base total to 19,003.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Canis Salient/Baraban XXIIVVI.133

**** Tantalus, Southern Polar Region – Pyroclast-Gamma-9 ****

Brother Thomas and Brother Erik maneuvered down the mag-lev line heading towards the control station, with Commissar and men in tow. The team reached the end of the line which appeared to have been demolished using Imperial- or at least human- methods. Brother Erik leapt across onto the center’s roof while Thomas provided cover from the elevated position. The guardsman moved down to ground level and took up position.

Inside, after a brief scuffle with a security servitor, it appeared that the convict labor of the facility was out and about, and some of them ended their bid for escape in this hangar. With Halis’ assistance, the team navigated the interior hallways of the facility to the central control room, where Brother Thomas used the station augers to locate the Magos. The team found him heavily wounded, operating on emergency machine protocols, but he was alive and his data core intact.

Briefly the two Marines though of their extraction, and debated whether or not to take the wounded Magos or just his datacore, but decided that the man had earned himself at least the honor of trying to make it out on his own. The two marines assisted the man and the group headed out towards the rendezvous point at the radio mast. On their way, they radioed to the other portion of the kill team to meet them at the point.

Once there, Thomas immediately began work to send the signal, then started work on defenses. The team made their ad hoc emplacement just outside the doors to the radio mast. The swarm approached, and as the team was ready to engage them at long range the beast arrive. A winged Hive Tyrant descended on demonic wings, holding itself aloft. The team saw its approach and immediately and fearlessly began their assault. The Commissar rallied his squad who opened fire on the beast, and the Marines bit into its chitin with power claw and chainsword alike. Its scything talons rended armor and flesh alike, sending half of the guard squad to their deaths, and tearing open the marine’s armor as though it were little more than a ration tin. Brother Erik, ribs broken, would’ve drowned in his own blood had he not been blessed with the genes of his Emperor, and he did not give in, slashing again and again at the enormous beast. Thomas’ arm was cut so deep he lost his grip on his sword, but that did not slow his assault- his servo arm slammed into the creatures chest with such force it ruptured its internal organs and caused it to vomit a vicious shower of reddish green blood into the sky, finally collapsing in death.
Still clutching a piece of the armored torso, Thomas and the others boarded the Thunderhawk and were spirited away to Thunder’s Word.

500xp was awarded. Erik and Thomas received an additional 100xp. 2 Renown was Awarded for the successful completion of the Primary and Secondary objective, which was doubled to 4 due to the brothers singing the oath of glory. 18,503 is the base xp.

Both Erik and Thomas received an additional point of renown for going helmetless for the whole mission, and an additional point for putting the guardsmen’s life ahead of their own, for saving the Magos, and for besting the Hive Tyrant in hand to hand combat.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Erioch System XXIIVVI.130

From Erioch, Brother Ephriam summoned the Kill Team to a briefing chamber and delivered the requirements of the next mission. On the coreward edge of the Orpheus Salient in a quiet sector known by the largest life supporting world Eiken. It is here that the Trader vessel Heavenly Seduction was exploring when it came across a Space Hulk of some kind. They issued a distress call via Astropathic message that morning. The Striding Ocelot and Ostogar’s Typhoon, an Endurance Light Cruiser and Dictator Cruiser respectively were originally dispatched by the Crusade forces to investigate, but the clear indication from the distress call that there was a Xenos threat involved that somehow managed to disable the Seduction warranted the Deathwatch’s attention.

The team dispatched aboard Thunder’s Word, a ship that has been in service to the Deathwatch of the reach for over 2,000 years. Its hallways and ready rooms have carried countless Marines to do the Emperor’s work in that time. The Word is a Gladius Class Frigate, the Astartes version of a Sword Frigate, but heavily modified for speed and stealth. It was this ship who first made contact with the Great Devourer as it began its unrelenting march into the sector in 814 in the Freya system.

During their approximately two week trip to the Eiken system the team is summoned by their Watch Captain to the bridge, who recounts the condition of a moon designated Tantalus. Tantalus orbits a gas giant and was an Agri-World serving Castobel. Recently, as have many worlds in the Salient, Tantalus has come under assault from the Tyranids. Tantalus is overrun with xeno-forms. Imperial resistance has been crushed, primary starports and habitable zones have been lost, the Garrison destroyed, the central government ripped apart, and an estimated lunar casualty rate of 92% and rising. There is fragmented resistance in the polar regions, but is totally inadequate to prevent the Swarm from advancing and scouring the world of all life. It is estimated that within 40-90 hours biospheric conversion will commence. Tantalus is lost.
However a distress call from its surface has gathered the attention of the Deathwatch. Magos Biologis Vyakai was on Tantalus when the swarm attacked the planet and took the opportunity to record vital data about the nature of the Hive. He has put this information in his internal data core and is fleeing for the polar regions of the planet, where he hopes to transfer the information (and be extracted) to the Kill Team.

As the group arrives in the orbit of Tantalus, the Thunder’s Word moves into stealth operations. A transmission is received again from the Magos indicating his ship has been shot down, somewhere near a promethium refinery designated Pyroclast-Gamma-9. By the time the Word is within range of Tantalus, it is estimate that there are 5 to 6 hours before the main swarm reaches the polar regions and sweeps them clean of life. Brother Ephriam deems due to the time constraints, the team should be deployed into two locations via drop pod and convene on the center of the compound, then extract together.

Primary Objective: Recover Magos Vyakai’s Data Core
Secondary Objective: Extract with Magos Vyakai
Requisition: 30

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Orpheus Salient XXIIVVI.133

**** Tantalus, Southern Polar Region – Pyroclast-Gamma-9****

Brother Thomas and Brother Erik board one drop pod, leaving Eizen, Oathorn, and Josiah in the second pod. They descend onto the dying world on wings of fire.

Thomas and Erik’s pod lands on the southern side of the maglev line, while the others take the north. It’s not long before Erik and Thomas spot the scar of a crashed flyer. Their investigation uncovers that the Magos rigged the ship to boost the vox singnal, and has looped the audio distress call. The pair follow the Magos’ tracks eastward and stumble across a group of Tyranid victims. Two dead naval officers and a badly damaged servitor lay dead, the ground soaked in blood. Thomas attempts to retrieve data from the servitor but it is damaged beyond use. They press onward, turning south and heading into a security bunker where they find system security access. It’s apparent that the systems are mostly offline- the primary functions of the plan are offline or spinning out of control prior to the swarm arriving. As the two are prepared to leave, a lone Tyranid Warrior bursts forth from the ground. The two engage it, chainswords biting deep into its flesh. The beast give little ground, driven onward without regard for itself, rapidly swinging it’s scything talons, penetrating Brother Erik’s armor and pouring it’s venom into his veins. Brother Thomas scores a lucky hit, across the beast’s midsection, temporarily stunning it and leaving it open to Brother Erik’s final killing blow, rending the creature open from tip to tail. Steam rises from the corpse and the blood and entrails that cover the wall of the facility and the armor and faces of the Astartes.

The team heads north, heading for the mag lev line in an attempt to orient themselves with the main command center of this area. It is then they hear the distinct sound of lasguns echoing across the tundra. They quickly move to investigate and find the last of a squad of guardsmen readying their line to defend against another assault. Their cover is the overturned transport that brought them here. Their commanding officer is a young Commissar Sander, who shouts orders and prepares the team to face their attacker one final time. Across the ravine in which the battle is unfolding is an undulating carpet of hormagaunts. The Battle Brothers waste no time, Brother Erik calling for a bolter assault, charging into the fray to defend the soldiers of the Imperium. He lands himself between the horde of Tyranids and the Guardsmen, lobbing a grenade into the oncoming tide and unleashing purifying fire against them. Thomas too hurls a grenade, and the guardsmen open fire with everything they’ve got. Scores of Tyranids fall to the weapons fire, are cut down by shrapnel, or burst into flames, but it’s not enough. The swarm is overwhelming and they leap atop Brother Erik like a living tide, almost toppling him over. They claw at every opening, at every crevice, at every vulnerable spot on his body, pulling pieces of flesh off and out with their diminutive claws and talons. Brother Thomas lobs another grenade, the guardsment continue to fire, and Brother Erik ignites his thrusters to boost himself just outside of the beast’s reach and again pours holy promethium across the swarm. The handful left again climb onto Erik, but now Thomas is within striking distance, and he bats them off of his companion with ease. Due almost in total to the bravery and the fortitude of the Astartes, not a single guardsman falls in the assault.

Without much talking, the group asks the Commissar and his men to join them, and they head north to the train line. It is here they find Adept Halis hiding in a closet within the maintenance outpost. He is terrified, and has been held within the building for the past several days. Again, without probing for questions or information, they grab Halis and take him with them, and the rag tag platoon climbs the maintenance ladders to the top of the maglev platform.

500xp was awarded.

There was also an apparent missed week in the recaps, where about 500xp was given out, essentially bringing the nights total to 1,000xp to bring the adventure log up to what we think is reality. The total base XP should be around 18,003 (I think).

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Canis Salient/Baraban XXIIVVI.116

**** Baraban, Somewhere on the Northeastern Continent, 38.1/127.12 ****

The Kill team had breached the door to the bunker, and following the Codex proceeded inside using grenades and flamers to clear the rooms ahead of them. As they progressed through, the only measureable resistance offered from the Tau inside the bunker was a team of Stealth Suits who’s ambushed would’ve killed a squad of lesser men. Eizen mustered forth the blessings of the warp once more and halted the machine spirit within each of the battle suits, rendering them motionless, sitting targets for the rest of the squad.

The Tau knew they were outmatched, and disabled or destroyed the majority of working equipment left in the facility save for one beacon sending out a distress call to the others.
The team left the smoldering ruin and returned to Faithspire Station where they were aided in the recovery of the (thought to be) final arch on Baraban via Inquisitor Kellar’s cargo haulers. He was tall for an unaugmented human, dressed in garb so stereotypical of an Inquisitor most men would be able to see him coming blocks away. A large cloak emblazoned with symbols of the Empire of Man, small tomes chained and bound to him like a bandoleer, carrying an Astartes Bolt Pistol and Power Sword. It is highly unusual for those outside of the Astartes to carry such a prize, it is not unlikely he holds a position of honor among some within the Deathwatch.

It was through force of will and a sense of duty and honor that the ‘deserters’ of the mountain were called aboard Kellar’s vessel and transported to Peleus. Kellar was bemused by the Kill team’s action, but as this was a Deathwatch mission he kept his nose rightfully out of it. After retuning to Erioch, Diaz Lan, ambassador to the Deathwatch from the Crusade forces, listened to the rationale of the Kill Team in having the Empire spend resources tending to a company of crazed men rather than diverting everything into the war effort directly, and left seeming quite pleased with their explanation.

550xp was awarded. 5 Renown was the base award. Oathorn and Ezien received 6 for standing their ground and not giving into the ‘easy’ method of dealing with 150 or so men touched by xenos taint. Erik received 7, both for standing alongside Oathorn and Ezien as well as continuing to throw caution to the wind and charge into combat helmetless.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Canis Salient/Baraban XXIIVVI.116

**** Baraban, Epsilon Garrison, Northeastern Continent, 38.1/127.12 ****

From Faithspire the team heads out on skimmer, heading northward towards the believed location of the final archway. It is here that they meet with a group of crazed guardsman, obviously out of their minds. They pay them no heed and progress to the summit, where they find a battlefield strewn with dead guardsmen and Fire Warriors. It appears a pitched battle took place here, and it also appears that an Trellis may have stood here once.

The team returns to the mad guardsmen and follows their trail into the mountainside. They progress through tight stony corridors mined out by Vespid, only to find a large chamber where the company of guardsmen have made themselves a home. Captain Samasel Orlos leads the men, and stands at the archway with a servitor plugged into the device. It appears he and his men managed to find the Trellis and lower it into the cavern they call home. Orlos believes the device was delivered by the Emperor to him, so that he could find a way to open it and take his men to a better place away from the insanity and bitter cold of this mountain top.

Though some of the Brothers believe that these men should simply be pushed out of the mountain, Brother Oathorn and Brother Erik have an unlikely connection; they feel these men have done their best to serve their Emperor in the best way they can, and while they were not strong enough to bear the storm the Delirium Trellises played on their minds, they are still His servants.

Oathorn calls for a large transport ship to secure the Trellis, and the 150 or so guardsman, with plans to have them stationed on Peleus with some hope of clearing their minds. After convincing the men that they passed the Emperor’s test, and they were sent to find the beacon of the arch and secure it for him, the men also show the group a captured Tau Water Caste. His name is Kor’Ui Arsheth, and treats the Battle Brothers as though they are close allies. He informs them that there is a gue’la General that waits for them to show him the wisdom of the Greater Good, and he sits at a Tau base. He asks for their escort, which the Brothers sarcastically agree to.

The team heads the 5 or 6 hours to the Eastern continent, where Kor’Ui tells the Kill Team the base is just over the next rise, which earns him a marine ceremonial knife across his throat. Gurgling his final breath of air, he falls limply out of the land speeder.

Brother Erik stealtfully moves over the ridge and takes in the scene; there is a heavy gunship, a Manta, refuling and loading. There is an Imperial Guard general being loaded onto an Orca Dropship. There is a team of Fire Warriors walking the perimeter. All of it requires quick action- the brothers devise a plan and rush to the edge of the treeline and open fire. The Manta "crew ":http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/Product/DefaultFW/large/acgroundcrew.jpg is ripped to pieces under the combined firepower of Brother Thomas and Brother Josiah’s Heavy Bolters. The Orca shudders and shakes as Brother Ezien and Brother Oathorn fire Heavy Bolt shells and Krak missles at the craft. Brother Erik holds his ground, preparing to charge in when the opening presents itself.

The Fire Warriors react, unleashing the fury of the xenos pulse rifles into the treeline, which offers little more than concealment to the potent technological marvels. Bursts of fire rake the treeline, burning and injuring the Marines. Brother Erik holds position, and the Heavy Bolters shift aim and begin to fire upon the Orca. Brother Eizen drops his heavy weapon and calls deep into the warp and erects a Force Dome over his Brothers. The fire warriors quickly fall to the bolter fire, and Brother Josiah drives home a long burst from his weapon into the side of the Orca. One of the rounds penetrates the rear armor plating and detonates within the ships reactor core, causing it to burst in a massive blue-orange fireball, killing everyone inside and likely anyone nearby the base. The top level of the structure is pancaked downward, killing or maiming the Tau within.

After the fires subside, the team searches the wreckage and finds a piece of Trellis locked in a storage case (slowly disintegrating), they find the chest plate and head of Shas’El Keyl, Brother Josiah’s target.

After securing their cargo, the team then sets upon breaching the blast doors that secure the base. After several krak grenades a missile, and some demolition charges, the door breaks free of its housing, revealing a dark corridor inside.

Everyone Received 550 xp, bringing the total BASE xp to 16,503.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Canis Salient/Baraban XXIIVVI.115

**** Baraban, Epsilon Garrison, Northeastern Continent, 39.1/-81.29 ****

The Team returned to Epsilon garrison to rest and recuperate. The following morning they move to Fort Avernus, the Imperial holding on the southern part of the continent, where Lord General XXX commands the overall war effort on Baraban. It is here Brother Thomas, with the aid of Imperial Cogitators, aligns the markers from his diagram with a map of the planet. The Kill team then moves to a nearby location to inspect it, and finds yet another archway. This one is mostly unphased and slowly disintegrating. There was a battle here, but it appeared to be between Vespid and Fire Warriors. Brother Thomas interfaces again with the device, and this time accesses some additional data; it appears there are only a handful of active sites on the planet- one on the southern continent and one in the western mountains. The other devices show themselves as somehow deactivated, perhaps already triggered in Barabans clouded past.

Wasting little time, the group heads south to the southernmost continent to Fort Dorn, to explore the 3rd Delirium Trellis site. Before reaching the site, it appears the Tau are aware of the teams presence, and a firefight erupts with cloaked stealth suits. Brother Erik engages the agile foe, striking at shadows and shifting colors, while Brother Ezien summons the warp to create an energy shield around the rest of the team. Eizen and Oathorn concentrate fire on one of the Tau while Erik battles through burst cannon fire to finish off another one. With a stroke of luck, or misfortune, the remaining battlesuits jam their weapons and slink back into the forest from whence they came.

Shortly after, as the group nears the clearing where the trellis is thought to be, a small group of deranged Kroot descend from the trees, striking with mono edged spears and leaping back into the trees almost as quickly losing one of their number to a mighty surge of warp energy channeled by Brother Eizen. Brother Erik, once again, charges into the fray without the support of his allies, and bravely (but foolishly) engages the Kroot on their turf, who inflict terrible wounds on him, nearly scalping him. Through combined force of arms, the Kroot are dispatched. In their tree fort, Erik uncovers that the Kroot here have been killing regardless of allegiance, finding remains of Vespid, Tau, and Guardsmen. It is also here he finds two EMP grenades.

The Kill Team uncovers the device in a glade, and the destructive method of choice this time around is felling one of the mighty trees onto the center of the arch. It is nearby the team also uncovers what appears to be the ruins of a fort or bunker. In it they find an ancient journal of one of the inhabitants, describing himself as one of the last survivors of the planet, the rest of the world turning on itself in an insane fury of violence, not unlike that which plagues the local guard regiments.

The team uses their skimmer to head northwest, towards Faithspire Station. They reach it and find their messages to the astropath have indeed been sent. They also find most of the command staff here to be aloof and ill-informed of the goings on across the planet, despite their magnificent view and armada of fliers.

The group again rests and checks their gear, preparing to head into the mountains to the 4th, and presumably final, active trellis.

550xp was awarded.

If Brian reads this he can have an additional 25 (total 575) because I liked his speech he gave when he started up his squad mode abilities.

XXIIVV – 817.M41 – Jericho Reach – Canis Salient/Baraban XXIIVVI.114

**** Baraban, Grid 216 ****

The Kill Team descend upon the glade where the rain of daggers reportedly occurred and found there was indeed a xenos artifact hidden, phased, and revealed only to the archaeotec illuminators the team was equipped with. Brother Thomas attempts to interface with the device and manages to download a schematic with hundreds of indicators, suggesting that the planet is covered in these terrible devices. After a discussion within the group regarding the proper course of action, it is decided that the team only has the means to destroy the device. They head back to the Epsilon Garrison to gather explosives. It is here they requisition two demolitions specialists from the guard, a Private Trevor Wierzbowski and a Corporal Eric Johnson. They return to the glade and set their charges. There is some difficulty, in that the device will fade and phase out if it is not under the influence of an illuminator. Brother Thomas bravely experiments with the device, going so far as to be phased himself. During this time, several of the brothers begin to feel the call of their primarchs, from the hot blood and battle lust of Sanguinus to the pain of death suffered by Guilliuame.

Thomas thinks he can unphase the device, but in his haste, clouded by the bloodlust of his family line, he detonates the device, which sends a shockwave of some sort deep into the forests of the planet; the group would later discover that this act caused the guardsman nearby to tear themselves apart, killing another quarter of Outpost 420 and half of the Epsilon Garrison. But in the end the device is destroyed, and one less xenos artifact stands to haunt the planet.
The group decides to head into the woods in an attempt to fine Wierzbowski, who fled at the time of detonation, whence they stumble upon a fellow Deathwatch Marine; Brother Josiah of the Storm Wardens; along with an Inquisitor Kellar, Josiah has been tracking a Tau Commander through the system, starting first deep in the Greyhell Front and then following him to Baraban. The team decides Josiah is trustworthy, and continue their search for Wierzbowski- whom they find face down in a pool of blood in a forest clearing. As they move into inspect the body, a forgotten picket of Tau Sentry Drones appears, firing into the group. Despite the power of their alien blasters, they prove no match for the might of the kill teams combined firepower- heavy bolter shell and chainsword rend the lifeless drones to pieces, sending the survivors scattering into the forest.

500xp was awarded