Preparations

[Steven Trustrum]

[BVrtis]

[Steven Trustrum]

[Retias]

Kerr laughed in turn, his arms and sword moving in familar patterns. Politics, stealth, other such challenges he would involve in when needed, but nothing compared to the honest simplicty of honourable combat. With blood spilled and seeing a chance to step up his advantage, Kerr unleashed a flurry of fierce blows to seek a hole in Fuegus' guard.

All out attack, no parry or dodge for Kerr this turn.

[Steven Trustrum]

[Steven Trustrum]

[Kai Tave]

[jimmythand]

Ramiel is still in his cell, waiting for the appointed time. The Red Thirst was slowly but surely creeping in, and he tried to ward it off with prayer and meditation. This did not seem to help too much as far as he could tell.

Battle would be the only respite from the all-consuming hunger.

[BVrtis]

[Steven Trustrum]

As your conversations continue and your sparring match is about to get more heated, the voxs of your respective areas crackle on.

"Kill-team report to the Strategium, please. Kill-team to the Strategium immediately."

[MorioMortis]

"Well, it appears you were correct in your assumption. Let us hope that the fires of war temper their strength and ours."

Turning to his guide he adds "Would you please guide us to the Strategium?"

[barkman]

Roland is brought out of his meditations on the level of corruption in these surroundings that he and the rest of the kill team will be exposed to.
Satisfied that his faith in the Emperor and his Primarch will enable him to stay pure, with the exercise of suitable devotions, he is content to grab his data pad and stick in the leg pocket of his jumpsuit, and head out towards the Strategium.

[jimmythand]

Ramiel awakens from his meditation. Standing up, he starts recanting one of the litanies for preparation for battle.
Taking the shortest route possible, he heads off to the Strategium.

[Steven Trustrum]

[Are Kerr and Fuegus going to keep at it or heed the vox?]

[BVrtis]

[Retias]

Kerr gives a faint grunt and nod, frustrated at the interruption of a promising match. "Or a match to resolve later. Honour to your skills brother." He bows in turn, stowing his own weapon. "I'm hoping this provides us more detail, and isn't simply our Inquistior stating there's more to hold from us." He chuckles with no real rancour in his voice. It was the way of Inquistors and in a sense he pitied them, unable to trust even the honourable warriors of the Adeptus Astartes and with no true bother or sisterhood within their ranks.

He falls into step just behind Fuegus, keeping pace with the Librarian. "Have you fought in the Jericho Reach before? It's a wild part of space, filled with war and conflict." He grins broadly. "An excellent place to earn glory and add renown to your name."

[BVrtis]

"The Reach? No, I have not." Fuegus pausedfor a moment at a corridor intersection to make way for a troop of ratings on their way to some other assignment. "I understand it to be a place oce lost to us, one that the Imperium is fighting to bring back into the fold. It will be good to assist in that effort." He grins to himself as he resumes his way. "I confess the chance to earn renown will be gratifying as well."

[Steven Trustrum]

Your assigned ratings lead you to the Strategium, or you find your own ways. You each enter the vaulted, circular chamber, the centre of which is filled by a large holopict projector, much like the one around which the Inquisitor briefed you before disembarking. Aside from the Inquisitor, who has changed into a similar, uniform-like outfit of light grey, your keen senses penetrate the low light levels to see several several men and women wearing uniforms of the Ordo Xenos' navy standing around the room's periphery. One in particular--an aged man whose face is broken by the cold shine of an augmented eye and plating over the right side of his skull--steps forward to stand beside the Inquisitor as the last of you enters.

"I am Captain Berephon" he says with a bass rumble broken somewhat by a metallic twang and pitch change, almost certainly indicating his larynx has also been bionically replaced. "This ship is mine to command. I officially welcome aboard the gallant Space Marine's of the Deathwatch, in the Emperor's name."

[Kai Tave]

[Retias]

Kerr nodded once, dipping his head in acknowledgement of the Emperor's name. "Captain." There was no need for more, time would determine the man's courage and worth.

[BVrtis]

Fuegus gave a quick bow to acknowledge the captain. "My thanks for your hospitality, Captain."

[Steven Trustrum]

"And welcome to you all, Lord Marines. I hope that together we may bring the Emperor's works to this benighted galaxy! These are ..." the captain replies with a zealous snap of the head, his arm sweeping towards the other figures lining the room.

"Indeed" adds the Inquisitor as she steps forward and around Berephon, putting herself between him and the projector. "I'm sure we'll have time to introduce the rest of your command crew later. Right now, let us press forward." The captain seems a bit nonplussed at being so abruptly cut off, but bows his head and steps away.

"Our mission, Deathwatch, is to head to the Jericho Reach via the twinned Warp Gate of the Segmentum Obscurus. Given current Warp conditions, this will likely take us several months to reach, but from there the transition to the Reach, via the Gate, will be nigh instantaneous. Once in the Jericho Reach, we are to avoid all other Imperial forces so as to not alert our enemies of our presence. As much as I would like to believe there are no security risks among the Emperor's blessed forces, lips loosened by drink can be as dangerous as a heretic hiding in the ranks."

She pauses a moment, leaning forward to activate the projector's controls. A gleaming hologram of Imperial space is projected and a few more touches of the controls zooms the image in upon the Jericho Reach, located within the vastness of the Segmentum Ultima.

"You have no need for specifics at the moment, but our first objective upon entering the Reach is to search for a lost Deathwatch keep that was lost to the Xenos centuries ago and somehow purged from the Order's records. Once recovered, this keep will become our watchpost and base of operations for further actions throughout the Reach."

[MorioMortis]

As the inquisitor finishes, Procel steps up and faces her. "Before we go any further, I have a few questions. I do not question the Ordo's motive, but isolating ourselves from reinforcements makes us easy prey for the forces of the Enemy if they discover our emplacement."

[Retias]

"So many secrets Lady Inquistior." Kerr chuckles with an amused grin. "I doubt you'll share how, but impressive you know of a keep lost and unrecorded for so long."

[Steven Trustrum]

[Steven Trustrum]

[Retias]

Kerr's grin broadens. "Excellent! Then it is taken by others and we are assured there are suitable foes waiting!" His eyes gleam with satisfaction, any further details clearly of no current interest to him. "They'll learn the price of taking from us, something long overdue."

[BVrtis]

[Steven Trustrum]

[jimmythand]

Ramiel cocks his head just slightly, trying to remember the Blood Angels' stories of relics given to the Deathwatch. Common Lore (Adeptus Astartes) and Common Lore (Deathwatch)

"What would greenskins want with our relics? Besides destroy and deface them of course." Ramiel looks intently at the Inquisitor, hoping to pick up any emotion from her.

"And other than that, why would Orks stay in one place? They wouldn't have a reason to unless they were promised a lifetime of fighting." Looking at his brother-marines, Ramiel continues, "Going on what little we know, those foul Xenos are most likely dug in very well. We must root them out and destroy their vile taint once and for all."