Preparations

[MorioMortis]

Procel pounders the question for a moment."I do not know the specifics of this vessel, but if we need to get out of the ship in a hurry, I recommend we use a torpedo or an assault ram, as they are more heavily armored and are smaller targets. The ancient Dreadclaw assault pods would also be a good solution if present, although their machine spirit is notoriously belligerent. However, if we can obtain a gunship, it will make evading enemy small crafts much easier, as the Thunderhawk outguns most Imperial spacecrafts."

[BVrtis]

"It may be good to use the torpedo. It sounds like the less time we can give the Enemy to react to our presence, the better chance we will have to retreive the data. I will follow you Kerr, if you wish it."

[Retias]

"Will the human agent survive that?" The Storm Warden looked to their Apothecary for that question.

[Steven Trustrum]

[For those who don't know, the torpedoes are capable of flying back under power. Thus the human crews.]

[Steven Trustrum]

[So, are you firm on a leader yet? Let's move on to planning and then playing.]

[MorioMortis]

I believe Kerr is the chosen one

Turning to the Storm Warden, "You bring up an interesting point about the fragility of our charge; if he dies, our efforts were for nothing. Therefore, we must obtain from him any information he may know as soon as possible, to increase the odds of it reaching us and the Inquisitor."

[Retias]

I'll post ICly soon, but just wanted to sort the ooc side of things first. Kerr has a fellowship bonus of 5 and the command skill, so gives a total of 6 cohesion as squad leader. For Oaths, I'm drawn towards Glory or Astartes. Does anyone else have any thoughts there?

[barkman]

OOC: My friend is back from Pax east and i was able to ask him, he's interested, and has signed up under the name otherjeff. He's familiar with the 40k fluff, but new to the game, but should pick it up fast.
I'm fine with whomever wants to be leader, if we're going statswise or otherwise. I'm sure there'll be chance for others to do it in the future.

[MorioMortis]

I vote for the Oath of Glory

[Steven Trustrum]

[Okay, so let's push forward with the Oath and planning. The Inquisitor is anxious to launch the torpedo.]

[Retias]

Kerr nods, gesturing for the melta charges to be given to Procul and glancing over the squad with a nod and smile. "We'll procced directly through the vessel and crush anything that gets in our way until we reach the engine core. We'll grab the Throne agent and his data, plant the charges and then get ourselves back to the torpedos before they detonate.

In the name of the Emperor, we shall bring glory to our names today, and a burning death to traitors and heretics!" The Storm Warden raises a fist in the air as he seals the Oath, turning towards the waiting torpedo.

[barkman]

Roland snaps to attention as Kerr begins the oath, joining in to add his power to the binding.

[MorioMortis]

As the squad swears the Oath of Glory, Procel solemnly repeats the ancient chant.

"I will join you shortly", Procel states as the Storm Warden moves towards the boarding craft.

Moving towards the prow of the torpedo, the techmarine quickly verifies the craft's prow is in good condition. As he does so, he begins chanting in a low monotone:

"On wings of fire, death rides,
From the shadows of the void
Into the crucible of war.

Be the angels' wings,
To bring His righteous fury
To the reviled Enemy.

In steeled skin, death comes,
From the heavens into hell,
For the heathens in the dark.

Be the angel's armor,
To safeguard His sons
From ungloried death.

The Omnissiah blesses you,
His holy will ordains you,
Eternal glory awaits you.

Mortem vene, fugam frustra

[Steven Trustrum]

Standing in the doorway, as the torpedo prepares to launch, the Inquisitor turns to Kerr and raises an eyebrow, having heard his plan. "You plan on leaving the communications and life support untouched, Lord Marine?"

[Retias]

The Storm Warden simply grins, his tone lighthearted as they prepare to launch. "Not if our path takes us that way. Have no fear Inquistior. We'll return with your prize and leave that ship a burning husk."

[otherjeff]

After the binding of the oath, Nero checks his heavy bolter a final time aboard ship.

Nero frowns. "Were we to destroy the life support systems, Milady, we might well snuff-out the very same individual we have been sent to retrieve. Brother Kerr's will bring about the same conclusion, in different order."

With a respectful nod, he turns on his ceramite heel and moves to board the torpedo.

[Steven Trustrum]

Biting down with obvious frustrating, the Inquisitor turns on her heel while saying "as you wish, Storm Warden. I trust the mission is in good hands" and then storms off the platform.

The vox sparks and crackles with a crewman's voice. "All hands strap in and prepare for launch. The Captain has given word the ship is turning into its firing solution. Estimated launch is less than 1 minute."

With that, the hatch is sealed and the rest of your are rushed to the torpedoe's forward section where the disembarkation airlocks are located. Space Marine-sized seats with strong crash webbing are indicated along both walls by a crewman who then bows his head and leaves, dogging the hatch behind you and sealing you in.

[Retias]

Kerr bursts out laughing as soon as the hatch is closed, bracing himself against the bulkhead in prepartion for the coming launch. "Ah, that was worth it just to see the look on her face!"

[BVrtis]

Fuegus allows himself a small smile in response to Kerr as he checks and rechecks the action of his bolter. Strapping himself in to the webbing in preperation for launch, he bows his head in meditation, slowing his breathing and preparing for the storm ahead.

[Steven Trustrum]

The Space Wolf looks over at Kerr and snarls somewhat as he seals himself, jump pack and all, into the webbing. "You should show more respect for one of the Emperor's Chosen Inquistors, Stormling."

[MorioMortis]

As he arranges the webbing around his bulky servo-arm, Procel turns to the Space Wolf. "Wasn't it Russ himself who challenged, and would have beaten, the Emperor when they first met, refusing to bow down to someone he could not yet trust? This Inquisitor has her own motives in this; we should remain vigilant."

[Retias]

"And so far, I have my doubts. Not to her intentions, but to her caution. We are meant to be here unseen and unknown, but she entered the Reach under full Inquistioral colours. Our arrival will have been marked, if we have enemies concealed in the Crusade.

We'll see where future events take us, but she's yet to earn my respect."

[Steven Trustrum]

As your discussion continues through your squad's vox net, the channel is broken momentarily by the Captain's voice. "The Resolute Vindication has moved into optimal firing position behind the target vessel. All gun decks prepare to engage. Torpedo Scourge, prepare for launch."

You then feel a sudden lurch, the familiar feeling of the boarding torpedo being hoisted up and ganged into its tube.

[Steven Trustrum]

You hear the Captain's voice return to the Vox. "Firing solution is ... they're moving to accelerate towards a Warp trajectory. Fire the torpedoes now! Batteries, fire across their lane. Let's slow them down."

With that, the torpedo seems to lurch up and forward before the rapid acceleration throws you back into the seemingly minimal support of your cushioned crash webbing. Another voice then comes across the vox: "Attention Squad Scourge. The Captain was forced to launch us earlier than expected due to the target's maneuvering, so we'll have a much longer than optimal flight time. We'll try to get you as close to the intended target location as possible, Emperor Willing, but I can't promise much. Prepare for inbound triple A!"

Moments later even your hardy, enhanced stomachs bounce somewhat as the torpedo's limited maneuverability allows it to start jinking as it strives to cross the too-long void between you and the target vessel without being shot down. You can hear the increasingly frequent sounds of near misses as shrapnel peppers the hull, sending vibrations throughout the torpedo.

[otherjeff]

Bouncing along in the grip of the restraints, Nero's helmet swivels between the members of the Kill Team. "Strike swiftly, Brothers, once we reach the enemy vessel. So long as we maintain our momentum, we will retain the initiative; they will not know where we go, or to what ends. If we slow or falter in our assault, their familiarity with the ship's innards will allow them to bedevil us."

"I will repay them this fusillade in kind," he promises grimly.

[MorioMortis]

As shrapnel peppers the ship, Procel's low voice echoes through the claustrophobic hull, the bizarre sounds recognizable as some form of prayer in Techna-Lingua.

"They are expecting us, but they don't know who or what we are. That is our advantage. If the Enginarium still bears a contingent of Tech-Guard, we will need to find a way to bypass most of them, as destroying life support should have little effect on them. I recommend securing the informant and than venting auxiliary passages to the engine room to reduce potential vectors of assault from the enemy."

[Steven Trustrum]

Long moments pass as you cross the void, the flak continuing to hammer the torpedo. Finally, the pilot's voice cracks over the vox "prepare for impact, prepare for impact!"

Seconds later, the torpedo lurches, seems to suddenly stop, and then moves forward far more slowly as grinding pressures cause the chamber's floor to heave. Some of the floor plates even buckle due to the strain. Despite the torpedo's adamantine tip, it would seem your breech was not an easy one.

"Squad Scourge to forward boarding gangways, prepare to disembark. My apologies, my lords, but we are hundreds of meters off course. The target vessel had attempted evasion, forcing us to strike near its bow. It was the Emperor's Will alone that caused us to hit it at all."

[barkman]

"If you have done your best for the Emperor, we shall do no worse than to strike our target hard and fast. Any changes to the plan?"

[MorioMortis]

"We are near the prow, and the Enginarium is nearly a Terran kilometer away from our position. We need to proceed as fast as possible, and try to remain unnoticed for as long as we can. When we do get noticed, I recommend condemning every corridor we pass, to slow down our pursuit. The pilot should depart with the torpedo; we won't be coming back out this way, and he'll die a needless death if he stays. Plus, the hole will vent this section of the ship, making it harder to chase us."

[BVrtis]

Fuegus has been quiet during the voyage across, not really reacting to the shrapnel peppering the hull. As he stood to prepare for impact he frowns.
"Do we know that all aboard this vessel have fallen? The torpedo could make a good rally point for those that have held out to the Enemy."