The Space Marines who waited at the armoury doors had black armour with white aquilas or skulls. Their knees plates down to their boots were a dark red color and the helmets were a pale green. One poised a missile launcher to fire at the Valkyrie while the others aimed their boltguns or a bolt pistol. They allowed the gunship to land on the sky pad without incident.
Grim shut off the engines and got out of the gunship. He walked over to the Space Marines with arms wide. Wolfe nervously sat at the heavy bolter emplacement, thumbs hovering over the triggers. "What's the tech-priest thinking?" he whispered.
"Hopefully, preventing another friendly fire incident," Millard directed the last few words at Jax. Tense minutes went by as the tech-priest talked with the one wielding a bolt pistol and chainsword. Finally, he gestured for the rest of the group to come over.
"Captain McCormick of the Steel Nightmares task force on this planet." He shook Jax's hand. "Gulliman was persuading me that you were here to kill the traitorous Hive Governor. He's locked up inside the armoury."
"Why has he not been punished yet?" Titus asked.
"Those blast doors are protecting him. This squad secured the only entrance to the place, but lack the equipment to punch through the door. I've recalled a squad from down below to bring a meltagun."
"We might be able to get in there," Jax stated.
"I was just about to mention the air duct. It's big enough to allow small people through, but too small for even my scouts to move in it."
"We'll take things from here then." They headed over to the giant hole in the wall where the grate used to be. A Space Marine lifted Jax up to the entrance. Wolfe went up after them. Garvel was about to go when he noticed only Titus was with him. "Why aren't the rest of you coming?"
"I am too big to fit in there," Gulliman explained.
"You can't get me in another confined space that quickly," Tybalt replied. Millard was on the other side of the marine squad talking with a boy and girl younger looking than he was, smoking a lho-stick all the while.
"Get going assassin; we don't have time to dawdle. You need to get your hands dirty for once," Titus said as he shoved Garvel forward. The assassin got lifted into the vent.
"Now put me up there gently, like a good servant," Titus ordered the marine. The giant of a person threw Titus so hard at the opening that his face got buried in Garvel's but. A vicious shove sent the assassin sliding into the person in front of him. "You will pay for this indignity assassin."
The quartet proceeded along the vent in as noisy a manner as they could. Jax had his face smashed into the grate at the end so hard that it popped out, and everybody fell onto the floor. A slow clap accompanied their efforts to get back on their feet.
"To think that these people are whom the Inquisitor sent to kill me." Jax lunged for cover and peeks over the box of grenades. The Hive Governor was dressed in a overly long robe of purple and gold. More troopers like those they met in the dreg quarters earlier were arrayed around him. They were overshadowed by the presence of someone in the back corner.
"Like I said, she became fearful of the power you could wield," the figure replied.
"Anybody would be," the governor winked, revealing his dark purple eye shadow. "Guards, prepare these wretches for sacrifice. Slannesh will simply love the tribute I'm about to offer him."
Hellrifles blast at the wall behind their position. Titus moved a knife to in his jacket sleeve before he stands up, arms raised. "I'll do as you wish," he said.
He walked toward the governor, and knelt down in front of him. "Captain Titus! How good it is to see you again. I feared you were still here when I ordered the Arbites to be sacrificed."
"You had them killed?" Titus asked.
"Of course I did; they refused to follow me. I can not have such impenitence from people who are beneath me in station. But, you are one of the few noble-blooded in this sector. I'd hate to lose anyone who is actually worth my attention."
"I am honoured by such words. And am relieved to hear I no longer have to deal with the Arbites of lower standing or lower class than me."
"Interesting to hear that from you. Do you desire to become a willing sacrifice to Slannesh? To be taken into the bosom of the Prince of Pleasure?"
"I do!" He bowed his head to the ground. The Hive Governor knelt down, raised Titus' head while removing the hat; and kissed him on the forehead. A bright pink lipstick mark was left after he withdrew.
The governor was handed a knife from one of his men. "I will make sure your death is the most beautiful of them all today."
Titus whipped his knife into place and stabbed the governor in the side of the head before his own throat could be slit. Hellrifles fired on him, but Titus propped the corpse to cover him during the retreat. Jax and Wolfe threw grenades from the nearby containers. Explosions ripped the enemy troopers apart.
Within seconds, the firefight was over. The remaining kill team member was hit with a boltgun shell from behind. His killer stepped from the shadows, revealing a techmarine in pale light-green armour. A symbol of an eye with a sword tip pupil imposed over a downward pointing arrow marked his chest plate.
"Big Eye!" Wolfe gasped.
"Thank you for taking care of the governor. Better he's dead before having a chance to become a sticky situation later," the techmarine said.
"We'll take you down for everyone you caused here!" Jax yelled before he unloaded his autogun on the enemy. The rounds bounced harmlessly off the techmarine's armour.
"How pathetic." Big Eye touched the temple of his helmet and teleported away. Wolfe let out a sigh of relief. "I think its time we let the others inside," he stated.
Garvel worked on the door controls while the others rummaged through the contents of the room. The doors hissed open; allowing the others to join in the pilfering.
After half an hour, everyone was outfitted with Vatarian Heavy Plate battlesuits and more heavy weapons for the Valkyrie. Only when the room was violently shaking did the group cease what they doing. Gulliman headed outside to observe to goings-on. A massive explosion occurred very close to the outskirts of the hive city.
"We need to get out of here, NOW!" He sprinted for the gunship as the others came out. Another explosion shook the entire complex, knocking everyone off their feet. They scrambled to the Valkyrie as its engines flared to life. A slow takeoff preceded the frantic attempt to escape the orbital bombardment. Massive shells fell down around them as the gunship raced out of the atmosphere, many of the just acquired contents sliding out the back opening.
Over the private vox channel, Gulliman said, "Get your suits on their own air supply. We're about to break orbit."
Everything in the compartment started floating around when the gunship got into space. A vessel nearby opened its docking bay for the Valkyrie. Gulliman eased the plane through the door without too much hassle. Once the ship landed and they were all on ship's air did anyone leave the Valkyrie.
Outside, a commissar was waiting for them. "I'm here to bring you worthless sods before my mother," the commissar said as she turned and left the bay, "And welcome to the Breaking Dawn."
The group caught up to her and Jax, having removed his helmet, went up to her and asked, "Hey sugar-tits, what's your name?"
She kicked him in the crouch so hard that the armour was dented afterwards. A swift punch immediately followed, breaking Jax's arm. Millard scooped his brother up and helped him walk down the corridor.
"So, not only are you great at maiming people, but you back it up with a smoking hot body and a great butt," Titus said. The faceplate for his helmet was quickly smashed by her fist.
"Before anyone else asks, I am Commissar Raege," she stated, straightening her uniform. She led them through the confines of the ship without any incident. After three decks of travel, they arrived at their destination. It was a replica of a throne room with two chairs atop a dais. One large, metal, and golden in colour sat at the center of the display.
Inquisitor McDowell sat in the small wooden seat in front and off to the side of the empty centerpiece. "Out of all the initiates I sent down there, I never imagined it would the ones I had the least amount of faith in who would accomplish the task. It's a sad day for the Inquisi..."
"That's it! I've had enough of this!" Millard yelled as he stormed forward. Jax lied where he was dropped by his brother. "You can not just abduct anyone you want to do your job for you! WHAT GIVES YOU THE EMPEROR-DAMNED rig..."
Millard was silenced by a single shot from an infernus pistol. His head melted in an instant. "MILLARD!" Wolfe and Jax screamed.
The Inquisitor stood up, silencing the group. "The rest of your lives is now dedicated to protecting the God-Emperor's realm to the best of your ability. That is all he asks of his holy Inquisitors, and now of you."
She left the room, followed shortly by the commissar.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
(NSFW) Tales of Infinite Mischief Episode 2 Part 2
"Who are you, and why can I hear you without an earpiece?" the Arbite questioned.
"I am Inquisitor McDowell, and I had drafted each of you to be my Acolytes," she exclaimed, "Each of you have skills that could be put to great use as part of the Inquisition, and it is easier to exert control over you because you have no choice in the matter.
Jax Arkana, you have death warrants on your head for 37 different planets. Wolfe Arkana, you were convicted of heresy for attacking Arbites in 15 different sub-sectors."
"I will exercise their punishment then," the Arbite piped up. He whipped his pistol at Jax's head. A laspistol and lascannon pointed back at his.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you, twinkle toes," Wolfe said.
"You mess with one Arkana, you mess with all Arkanas," Millard added. All four of them collapse as if they were shocked.
"As you can see, I took the liberty of having shock collars surgically installed in each of you; along with your left eyes and ears so I can see and hear everything that ya'll are doing." She released the four from the shock effect.
After a moment of composing himself, the Arbite asked, "What gives you the Emperor-given right to..." He gets shocked again.
"I am an Inquisitor; that gives me the right."
"Why am I here then?"
"Because Cpt. Titus Harlock, I need an Acolyte that can blend in with the well-off of society. Your family has connections to the Imperial Guard, planetary governors in their debt. And, you are very easy to blackmail into coercion."
"That's all well-and-good for them, but I haven't done anything to warrant the Inquisition's attention; and I haven't committed any heresy. So, why I am here?" the tech-priest questioned.
"You were easy to acquire Midkiff. You were about to kicked out and executed by the Machine Cult for the crime of trying to have sex with a heavy bolter." Everyone else has their eyes pop open at that suggestion.
"That is completely untrue, for one thing, the barrel on that thing was too small to do anything with."
Garvel waves his hands in a vain attempt to repel that thought. "If we're done with all of that, can we focus on the task at hand? Umm, what is our assignment here Inquisitor?"
"I was going to have you all investigate the possibility of the Hive Governor going heretical, but circumstance has forced my hand. The uprising started at the behest of the Hive Governor; killing millions of the Emperor's loyal subjects before the day was out. The Arbitrators in the hive were killed to the last person. Even the Vatarian XI Regiment could do little against them. But, the Dark Eldar took advantage of the situation and slaughtered the regiment. Now, the Blood Angels are here to purge the hive city. And the Steel Nightmares have shown up within the last three weeks.
Simply put, your new mission is to kill the Hive Governor for his crime against the Imperium."
"I will execute the heretic myself," Titus said through gritted teeth. The Inquisitor decided that was a good enough reason to stop shocking him. When he recovered, he straightened out his uniform. "How are we going to get out of here now."
"We can try to get a Valkyrie working," Jax replied. He looked to the tech-priest to see if it was possible.
"I'll have to check the condition of them both to see if it can be done," he stated. Grim started rummaging through the remains with assistance from Garvel and Wolfe. Jax heard something approaching and reacted quickly enough to avoid splinter pistol fire.
Two Dark Eldar Helions flew through the area; one nearly off Tybalt's head. Those who weren't preoccupied fired back. Millard's lascannon shot blew up one of the gliders, and the Helion tumbled into a vat of molten metal. The other swung back around leaped at Jax. It backhanded him unconscious before another shot from Millard took its head off.
Jax took awhile to wake up and went immediately to swiping the dead guy's weapons. Wolfe joined the action, scavenging a splinter rifle for himself. A crackle of static from the radio of the kill-team caught everyone's attention.
...orces are to withdraw....hive-city within twelve hours...lood Angel strike crui...level the whol..........Imperial forces are......twelve hours.
"Robot, we need to get out of here, soon!" Titus exclaimed.
"I am not a robot you imbecile, I am a tech-priest of Mars. And I can get this thing working if you jackasses would actually do something," Grim stated.
Everybody leapt into action, except for Titus, trying to fix the damage one of the Valkyries had sustained. Grim directed the project whenever he wasn't busy himself. Five hours later, the Valkyrie looked better than new; and they stripped the other of any parts that could be taken, including gun emplacements.
Grim did a test to see if the gunship was still air worthy before letting the others stow the spare parts and guns on it. Jax approached the cockpit, sat down in one of the seats, and tried to grab the flight stick in front of him. Grim quickly slapped his hands away and yelled, "ONLY I CAN TOUCH KAREN'S CONTROLS RIGHT NOW!"
"Karen? Who's Karen?"
"She is the Valkyrie. She gave permission only to me to fly her." Jax slammed the door behind him. "I think the tech-priest wants to fuck the gunship."
"Of course he does; he's a robot," Titus interjected.
"I AM NOT A ROBOT YOU WITLESS BABOON!"
The Valkyrie lifted up towards the hole in the ceiling. They a scene of mass carnage when they got beyond the slums. Cultists and dregs butchering innocent people while Dark Eldar and Imperial Guardsman fire indiscriminately into the crowds. Blood Angels leapt high in the sky above it all as their bolters tore everything apart down below.
Engines flared up to propel the gunship away from the scene; Helions pursuing close behind. Wolfe and Millard man the guns on the sides and open fire on their pursuers; Jax ran to the cockpit and jumped on the vox. "Any friendly imperial units, this is General Jax Arkana of the Vatarian 3rd Regiment; we have Dark Eldar all around us and we need support."
"This is Captain Tycho of the Blood Angels 3rd Company, what is your business here General?"
"We're here for the Hive Governor."
"Anyone who is trying to protect the traitor will die with him." Hunters and Stalkers fired on the Valkyrie. Missiles streaked past and shells exploded all around.
"Hah! Emperor's Finest; certainly, the Emperor's Finest Fuck-ups." Jax followed up with a slew of other insults denouncing the honor of the entire Blood Angels chapter. Yet more missiles were aimed at the Valkyrie as Grim had to yank and juke the gunship all about to avoid the incoming fire. Titus grabbed a heavy bolter and shot down all of the missiles from the back of the compartment where a hatch should be.
Jax switched channels on the vox caster, hailing anyone else who could answer. Eventually, someone did. "Left-tenant Carpenter here; we heard your call for help. We'll draw the Space Marines' fire away from you, sir."
"May the Emperor be with you, Lieutenant," Jax replied.
The Valkyrie opened up with every gun it had causing a hole to the outside to be blown in the wall. A prolonged boost to lose anybody else, and the group was free of the hive city. As they headed to the highest parts of the hive, they couldn't help but notice the massive Imperator-class Titan firing its weapons on the city.
After a brief discussion they deemed the best course of action was to head to the armoury first to prepare to assault the titan. A few brief minutes later, the Valkyrie headed for a final approach to the armoury runway. But, a group of Space Marines was already waiting for them.
"I am Inquisitor McDowell, and I had drafted each of you to be my Acolytes," she exclaimed, "Each of you have skills that could be put to great use as part of the Inquisition, and it is easier to exert control over you because you have no choice in the matter.
Jax Arkana, you have death warrants on your head for 37 different planets. Wolfe Arkana, you were convicted of heresy for attacking Arbites in 15 different sub-sectors."
"I will exercise their punishment then," the Arbite piped up. He whipped his pistol at Jax's head. A laspistol and lascannon pointed back at his.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you, twinkle toes," Wolfe said.
"You mess with one Arkana, you mess with all Arkanas," Millard added. All four of them collapse as if they were shocked.
"As you can see, I took the liberty of having shock collars surgically installed in each of you; along with your left eyes and ears so I can see and hear everything that ya'll are doing." She released the four from the shock effect.
After a moment of composing himself, the Arbite asked, "What gives you the Emperor-given right to..." He gets shocked again.
"I am an Inquisitor; that gives me the right."
"Why am I here then?"
"Because Cpt. Titus Harlock, I need an Acolyte that can blend in with the well-off of society. Your family has connections to the Imperial Guard, planetary governors in their debt. And, you are very easy to blackmail into coercion."
"That's all well-and-good for them, but I haven't done anything to warrant the Inquisition's attention; and I haven't committed any heresy. So, why I am here?" the tech-priest questioned.
"You were easy to acquire Midkiff. You were about to kicked out and executed by the Machine Cult for the crime of trying to have sex with a heavy bolter." Everyone else has their eyes pop open at that suggestion.
"That is completely untrue, for one thing, the barrel on that thing was too small to do anything with."
Garvel waves his hands in a vain attempt to repel that thought. "If we're done with all of that, can we focus on the task at hand? Umm, what is our assignment here Inquisitor?"
"I was going to have you all investigate the possibility of the Hive Governor going heretical, but circumstance has forced my hand. The uprising started at the behest of the Hive Governor; killing millions of the Emperor's loyal subjects before the day was out. The Arbitrators in the hive were killed to the last person. Even the Vatarian XI Regiment could do little against them. But, the Dark Eldar took advantage of the situation and slaughtered the regiment. Now, the Blood Angels are here to purge the hive city. And the Steel Nightmares have shown up within the last three weeks.
Simply put, your new mission is to kill the Hive Governor for his crime against the Imperium."
"I will execute the heretic myself," Titus said through gritted teeth. The Inquisitor decided that was a good enough reason to stop shocking him. When he recovered, he straightened out his uniform. "How are we going to get out of here now."
"We can try to get a Valkyrie working," Jax replied. He looked to the tech-priest to see if it was possible.
"I'll have to check the condition of them both to see if it can be done," he stated. Grim started rummaging through the remains with assistance from Garvel and Wolfe. Jax heard something approaching and reacted quickly enough to avoid splinter pistol fire.
Two Dark Eldar Helions flew through the area; one nearly off Tybalt's head. Those who weren't preoccupied fired back. Millard's lascannon shot blew up one of the gliders, and the Helion tumbled into a vat of molten metal. The other swung back around leaped at Jax. It backhanded him unconscious before another shot from Millard took its head off.
Jax took awhile to wake up and went immediately to swiping the dead guy's weapons. Wolfe joined the action, scavenging a splinter rifle for himself. A crackle of static from the radio of the kill-team caught everyone's attention.
...orces are to withdraw....hive-city within twelve hours...lood Angel strike crui...level the whol..........Imperial forces are......twelve hours.
"Robot, we need to get out of here, soon!" Titus exclaimed.
"I am not a robot you imbecile, I am a tech-priest of Mars. And I can get this thing working if you jackasses would actually do something," Grim stated.
Everybody leapt into action, except for Titus, trying to fix the damage one of the Valkyries had sustained. Grim directed the project whenever he wasn't busy himself. Five hours later, the Valkyrie looked better than new; and they stripped the other of any parts that could be taken, including gun emplacements.
Grim did a test to see if the gunship was still air worthy before letting the others stow the spare parts and guns on it. Jax approached the cockpit, sat down in one of the seats, and tried to grab the flight stick in front of him. Grim quickly slapped his hands away and yelled, "ONLY I CAN TOUCH KAREN'S CONTROLS RIGHT NOW!"
"Karen? Who's Karen?"
"She is the Valkyrie. She gave permission only to me to fly her." Jax slammed the door behind him. "I think the tech-priest wants to fuck the gunship."
"Of course he does; he's a robot," Titus interjected.
"I AM NOT A ROBOT YOU WITLESS BABOON!"
The Valkyrie lifted up towards the hole in the ceiling. They a scene of mass carnage when they got beyond the slums. Cultists and dregs butchering innocent people while Dark Eldar and Imperial Guardsman fire indiscriminately into the crowds. Blood Angels leapt high in the sky above it all as their bolters tore everything apart down below.
Engines flared up to propel the gunship away from the scene; Helions pursuing close behind. Wolfe and Millard man the guns on the sides and open fire on their pursuers; Jax ran to the cockpit and jumped on the vox. "Any friendly imperial units, this is General Jax Arkana of the Vatarian 3rd Regiment; we have Dark Eldar all around us and we need support."
"This is Captain Tycho of the Blood Angels 3rd Company, what is your business here General?"
"We're here for the Hive Governor."
"Anyone who is trying to protect the traitor will die with him." Hunters and Stalkers fired on the Valkyrie. Missiles streaked past and shells exploded all around.
"Hah! Emperor's Finest; certainly, the Emperor's Finest Fuck-ups." Jax followed up with a slew of other insults denouncing the honor of the entire Blood Angels chapter. Yet more missiles were aimed at the Valkyrie as Grim had to yank and juke the gunship all about to avoid the incoming fire. Titus grabbed a heavy bolter and shot down all of the missiles from the back of the compartment where a hatch should be.
Jax switched channels on the vox caster, hailing anyone else who could answer. Eventually, someone did. "Left-tenant Carpenter here; we heard your call for help. We'll draw the Space Marines' fire away from you, sir."
"May the Emperor be with you, Lieutenant," Jax replied.
The Valkyrie opened up with every gun it had causing a hole to the outside to be blown in the wall. A prolonged boost to lose anybody else, and the group was free of the hive city. As they headed to the highest parts of the hive, they couldn't help but notice the massive Imperator-class Titan firing its weapons on the city.
After a brief discussion they deemed the best course of action was to head to the armoury first to prepare to assault the titan. A few brief minutes later, the Valkyrie headed for a final approach to the armoury runway. But, a group of Space Marines was already waiting for them.
(NSFW) The Tales of Infinite Mischief Episode 2 Part 1
With a hail of laspistol fire having just injured Jax, the pysker Tybalt tapped into the Immaterium. Barely able to cast his power, but, his success was met with the silence of enemy las fire. "Stupid gun's jammed!" one of the dregs cried out. Everyone else threw their laspistols off the side of the alcove to the distant floor below.With a great yell, they charged at the group. Jax dropped to the ground as the others into postion to take aim. They put up enough fire to slow the dregs down, but hardly of the shots were hitting them. Sounds of a turbines reverberated across the expanse as Garvel noticed the approach of two Valkyrie gunships.
He shoved Wolfe and Tybalt down as the guns started firing at the position. Any remaining dregs were torn apart by the machine gun fire. Jax spotted a black figure on a glider toss a grenade into the back hatch of one of the gunships. The thing followed the resulting explosion by chucking another grenade up the engine of the same Valkyrie. A bigger explosion tore the wing right off, and caused the gunship to smash into the other one sending them both crashing to the floor below.
The glider swooped towards the alcove as the figure checked to see if any were still alive. Jax unleashed a full-auto burst at the entity, but failed to hit anything. With a smile on its mutilated ashen face, it threw another grenade. Everyone jumped up and bolted across the narrow walkaway of someone's former home. The creature laughed the entire time as he flew after them.
Garvel was the first to reach the elevator, but had to wait for the others to show up to get it open. They rushed inside, Wolfe providing covering fire. But, he got riddled with splinter shards. Jax pulled his brother in as the enemy stepped off his glider.
Doors closed and the elevator headed up. "What was that filthy xeno?" Tybalt asked.
"Dark Eldar," the reply came from Garvel.
An explosion sounded above and violently shook the elevator. It was soon followed by the sounds of snapping wires and the box plummeted down the shaft. After everyone recovered from the impact, the group found out that doors couldn't be opened. "How are we supposed to get out?" Garvel asked.
"We're just going to have to wait here for someone to spring us out," Jax answered.
Wolfe was patched up as best as they could manage during the five hour internment in the elevator. Finally, the sounds of footsteps came nearby. Jax instinctively started tapping a call for help in guard battlecode.
"Who's in there?"
"General Jax Arkana of the Vatarian 3rd Regiment. We're trapped in this Emperor-forsaken place. Now. GET. US. OUT OF HERE!"
"Jax! What are you doing?" Garvel whispered.
"Trust me. I've got a plan," Jax whispered back.
"Hang on while we find a way to get these doors open."
While the unknown people worked to get them out, Jax had Garvel carve a general's insignia into Jax's chest plate.
After a laborous effort, the doors were pryed apart. Jax stepped out and was met with a laspistol aimed at his face. "I think you're lying to my men about you are," the sergeant said.
Jax straightened up his armor and stood tall before yelling, "How dare you threaten an appointed General of His Holy-Emperor's Imperial Guard. Are you going to allow your sergeant to commit such an atrocious act of heresy?"
The kill-team troopers look around at each other before firing on their sergeant.
One stepped forth and saluted. "Sorry for the sarge's over-zealousness."
"You're all forgiven, now get me and my men out of here."
"Right away, sir." Jax walked by the kill-team as their new leader saluted him again. The rest of the group was helped out of the elevator, except for Tybalt who had to struggle to climb out. "If you'll follow us General, we'll escort you out of this dump."
The kill-team led the group through a winding trail amongst the vast amount of rubble and ruins. Jax learned from them that they were sent by the Hive Governor to purify the lower levels of all life, stating that everyone down there to all be considered heretics.
A quarter-hour of walking time ended in a clearing beyond the wreckage of a couple of Valkyries. A big carriage with sturdy cables lead to a hole in the ceiling. "Right this way, sir."
The group was about to step into the carriage as shots rang out from behind them. Dark Eldar emerged from the rubble and killed the troopers. They approached with splinter rifles leveled.
Suddenly, another drop pod crashed through the ceiling and onto the lid of one of the nearby cauldrons. It tore most of cables for the carriage apart on its way down. Everyone ducked as the cable dropped down upon them.
The hatches for the drop pod popped open, but only three of the occupants were on the side facing away from the molten metal. The three survivors hit a pile of rubble on the side and rolled down to the floor.
But, the group was too preoccupied battling the Dark Eldar to notice. Shots zipped between the two sides with hardly any shots connecting. One of the eldar was repeated hit in her left shoulder. She was the first to go down. Jax and Wolfe were growing increasingly frustrated as their guns jammed one after another.
Blasts of las energy barreled past the group. The rest of the Dark Eldar quickly died; one of them lost its head while the rest of its body was set on fire.
"Looks like I needed to save both of you; yet again," the fresh-faced kid behind them said.
"Millard!" Wolfe exclaimed. He ran up and hugged his kid brother. The other two people started to stir. "Where the bloody-warp are we?" the Arbite asked.
"Planet Vatar, Hive Edgeer, dreg quarters," Garvel answered.
"Why am I down here? This place is completely beneath my station."
The other, a tech-priest, introduced himself as "Grim" Gulliman. But, nobody seemed to pay attention as the Arbite got into a heated argument with Wolfe. Guns were swiftly drawn, and the Arbite found an autogun and a lascannon aimed at his head from the other two Arkana brothers.
A screeching noise blared in their ears; immediately ending their squabble. "I don't need anymore of my recruits to pointlessly die in this mission," the cold feminine voice stated in their ears.
He shoved Wolfe and Tybalt down as the guns started firing at the position. Any remaining dregs were torn apart by the machine gun fire. Jax spotted a black figure on a glider toss a grenade into the back hatch of one of the gunships. The thing followed the resulting explosion by chucking another grenade up the engine of the same Valkyrie. A bigger explosion tore the wing right off, and caused the gunship to smash into the other one sending them both crashing to the floor below.
The glider swooped towards the alcove as the figure checked to see if any were still alive. Jax unleashed a full-auto burst at the entity, but failed to hit anything. With a smile on its mutilated ashen face, it threw another grenade. Everyone jumped up and bolted across the narrow walkaway of someone's former home. The creature laughed the entire time as he flew after them.
Garvel was the first to reach the elevator, but had to wait for the others to show up to get it open. They rushed inside, Wolfe providing covering fire. But, he got riddled with splinter shards. Jax pulled his brother in as the enemy stepped off his glider.
Doors closed and the elevator headed up. "What was that filthy xeno?" Tybalt asked.
"Dark Eldar," the reply came from Garvel.
An explosion sounded above and violently shook the elevator. It was soon followed by the sounds of snapping wires and the box plummeted down the shaft. After everyone recovered from the impact, the group found out that doors couldn't be opened. "How are we supposed to get out?" Garvel asked.
"We're just going to have to wait here for someone to spring us out," Jax answered.
Wolfe was patched up as best as they could manage during the five hour internment in the elevator. Finally, the sounds of footsteps came nearby. Jax instinctively started tapping a call for help in guard battlecode.
"Who's in there?"
"General Jax Arkana of the Vatarian 3rd Regiment. We're trapped in this Emperor-forsaken place. Now. GET. US. OUT OF HERE!"
"Jax! What are you doing?" Garvel whispered.
"Trust me. I've got a plan," Jax whispered back.
"Hang on while we find a way to get these doors open."
While the unknown people worked to get them out, Jax had Garvel carve a general's insignia into Jax's chest plate.
After a laborous effort, the doors were pryed apart. Jax stepped out and was met with a laspistol aimed at his face. "I think you're lying to my men about you are," the sergeant said.
Jax straightened up his armor and stood tall before yelling, "How dare you threaten an appointed General of His Holy-Emperor's Imperial Guard. Are you going to allow your sergeant to commit such an atrocious act of heresy?"
The kill-team troopers look around at each other before firing on their sergeant.
One stepped forth and saluted. "Sorry for the sarge's over-zealousness."
"You're all forgiven, now get me and my men out of here."
"Right away, sir." Jax walked by the kill-team as their new leader saluted him again. The rest of the group was helped out of the elevator, except for Tybalt who had to struggle to climb out. "If you'll follow us General, we'll escort you out of this dump."
The kill-team led the group through a winding trail amongst the vast amount of rubble and ruins. Jax learned from them that they were sent by the Hive Governor to purify the lower levels of all life, stating that everyone down there to all be considered heretics.
A quarter-hour of walking time ended in a clearing beyond the wreckage of a couple of Valkyries. A big carriage with sturdy cables lead to a hole in the ceiling. "Right this way, sir."
The group was about to step into the carriage as shots rang out from behind them. Dark Eldar emerged from the rubble and killed the troopers. They approached with splinter rifles leveled.
Suddenly, another drop pod crashed through the ceiling and onto the lid of one of the nearby cauldrons. It tore most of cables for the carriage apart on its way down. Everyone ducked as the cable dropped down upon them.
The hatches for the drop pod popped open, but only three of the occupants were on the side facing away from the molten metal. The three survivors hit a pile of rubble on the side and rolled down to the floor.
But, the group was too preoccupied battling the Dark Eldar to notice. Shots zipped between the two sides with hardly any shots connecting. One of the eldar was repeated hit in her left shoulder. She was the first to go down. Jax and Wolfe were growing increasingly frustrated as their guns jammed one after another.
Blasts of las energy barreled past the group. The rest of the Dark Eldar quickly died; one of them lost its head while the rest of its body was set on fire.
"Looks like I needed to save both of you; yet again," the fresh-faced kid behind them said.
"Millard!" Wolfe exclaimed. He ran up and hugged his kid brother. The other two people started to stir. "Where the bloody-warp are we?" the Arbite asked.
"Planet Vatar, Hive Edgeer, dreg quarters," Garvel answered.
"Why am I down here? This place is completely beneath my station."
The other, a tech-priest, introduced himself as "Grim" Gulliman. But, nobody seemed to pay attention as the Arbite got into a heated argument with Wolfe. Guns were swiftly drawn, and the Arbite found an autogun and a lascannon aimed at his head from the other two Arkana brothers.
A screeching noise blared in their ears; immediately ending their squabble. "I don't need anymore of my recruits to pointlessly die in this mission," the cold feminine voice stated in their ears.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Tales of Infinite Mischief; Dramatis Personæ
Jax Arkana
Age: 36
Height: 6'1
Quirk: Outrageous hair
Biography: A very commanding, yet easily angered person. While not the eldest of the Arkana family, he has certainly taken up the role of mentor to the Arkanas, giving him valuable leadership experience. He has also managed to get the death sentence on thirty seven planets, and has arrest warrants on a dozen more and has since been abducted by the Inquisition while serving with the III Vatarian Legion on Novis Prime. Seeing as he was as good as a dead man already, the =I= figured no one would miss him.
Wolfe Arkana
Age: 41
Height: 6'4
Quirk: Set of piercings
Biography: Wolfe Arkana is the eldest of the Arkana family serving in the Imperial Guard. He has a notoriously short temper, and has always been known to have intense bouts of randomized violence. His inability to focus on the most simplest of tasks resulted in him remaining the rank of a lowly guardsmen despite his age and combat experience. He also has an incredibly low I.Q. rating. He was abducted by =I= when the agent responsible for kidnapping Jax mistook Wolfe for him. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tybalt Arl
Age: 35
Height: 5'9
Quirk: Filed Teeth
Biography: Tybalt Arl was born on a Feral world without a name. As a child he was touched by the warp in a way which resulted in his becoming a Psyker. Once taken into the black ships, he vanished for ten long years before reemerging to serve the =I=
Garvel Drake Ramirez
Age: 35
Height: 5'8
Quirk: Devotional scar
Biography: Garvel Ramirez was born on an Imperial world and was quickly brought up to praise the Emperor for all that existed. Growing up he began to learn special talents that allowed him to move undetected throughout most places, and eventually he taught himself how to be completely self sufficient. He was twenty two when he took his first assassination job. He honed his killing skills for thirteen years before being abducted by the =I=. They had taken him after setting up a pseudo-contract for him to take out. When he went to meet his handler, he was instead met by a tranquilizer.
"Captain" Titus Harlock
Age: 36
Height: 6'3
Quirk: Gunshot wound
Biography: Titus Harlock was born to a very militant royal family on Vatar. He is very prideful, and sees anyone else as an inferior to him. When he reached the Enlistment age, instead of joining the guard he joined the Arbites. Using his family's connections, he quickly advanced to the rank of Captain, where he gained a reputation of ruthlessness, had accusations of corruption, but also an infallible sense of "justice". The =I= took him during a raid into the undercity by intercepting his Valkyrie and knocking out all that travelled with him.
Midkiff Gulliman
Age: 32
Height: 5'9
Quirk: Grimy Skin
Biography: Midkiff was to be a great Techpriest, as his father/creater was before him. However, a scandal involving a Heavy Bolter had him kicked out of the Academy. To this day he insists that "He did not have sexual relations with that weapon." Instead of disappearing into the backwater dregs of the Imperium, the =I= took him in. Their reasoning was that if anyone could appreciate technology and make it work to it's best potential, it was Midkiff.
Millard Arkana
Age: 28
Height: 6'1
Quirk: Facial scars
Biography: Millard is the second youngest of the Arkana brothers. He is very intelligent and is afraid of very little. Because of his intellegence, he is often considered the most level-headed of the brothers, and is considered very easy to talk to. He is also an unparalleled marksmen compared to other guardsmen his age. The =I= figured since they have two of his brothers, might as well take him as well. When they discovered how diplomatic and clear-headed he could be, the agent responsible for ringing him in was rewarded greatly for his choice.
Age: 36
Height: 6'1
Quirk: Outrageous hair
Biography: A very commanding, yet easily angered person. While not the eldest of the Arkana family, he has certainly taken up the role of mentor to the Arkanas, giving him valuable leadership experience. He has also managed to get the death sentence on thirty seven planets, and has arrest warrants on a dozen more and has since been abducted by the Inquisition while serving with the III Vatarian Legion on Novis Prime. Seeing as he was as good as a dead man already, the =I= figured no one would miss him.
Wolfe Arkana
Age: 41
Height: 6'4
Quirk: Set of piercings
Biography: Wolfe Arkana is the eldest of the Arkana family serving in the Imperial Guard. He has a notoriously short temper, and has always been known to have intense bouts of randomized violence. His inability to focus on the most simplest of tasks resulted in him remaining the rank of a lowly guardsmen despite his age and combat experience. He also has an incredibly low I.Q. rating. He was abducted by =I= when the agent responsible for kidnapping Jax mistook Wolfe for him. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tybalt Arl
Age: 35
Height: 5'9
Quirk: Filed Teeth
Biography: Tybalt Arl was born on a Feral world without a name. As a child he was touched by the warp in a way which resulted in his becoming a Psyker. Once taken into the black ships, he vanished for ten long years before reemerging to serve the =I=
Garvel Drake Ramirez
Age: 35
Height: 5'8
Quirk: Devotional scar
Biography: Garvel Ramirez was born on an Imperial world and was quickly brought up to praise the Emperor for all that existed. Growing up he began to learn special talents that allowed him to move undetected throughout most places, and eventually he taught himself how to be completely self sufficient. He was twenty two when he took his first assassination job. He honed his killing skills for thirteen years before being abducted by the =I=. They had taken him after setting up a pseudo-contract for him to take out. When he went to meet his handler, he was instead met by a tranquilizer.
"Captain" Titus Harlock
Age: 36
Height: 6'3
Quirk: Gunshot wound
Biography: Titus Harlock was born to a very militant royal family on Vatar. He is very prideful, and sees anyone else as an inferior to him. When he reached the Enlistment age, instead of joining the guard he joined the Arbites. Using his family's connections, he quickly advanced to the rank of Captain, where he gained a reputation of ruthlessness, had accusations of corruption, but also an infallible sense of "justice". The =I= took him during a raid into the undercity by intercepting his Valkyrie and knocking out all that travelled with him.
Midkiff Gulliman
Age: 32
Height: 5'9
Quirk: Grimy Skin
Biography: Midkiff was to be a great Techpriest, as his father/creater was before him. However, a scandal involving a Heavy Bolter had him kicked out of the Academy. To this day he insists that "He did not have sexual relations with that weapon." Instead of disappearing into the backwater dregs of the Imperium, the =I= took him in. Their reasoning was that if anyone could appreciate technology and make it work to it's best potential, it was Midkiff.
Millard Arkana
Age: 28
Height: 6'1
Quirk: Facial scars
Biography: Millard is the second youngest of the Arkana brothers. He is very intelligent and is afraid of very little. Because of his intellegence, he is often considered the most level-headed of the brothers, and is considered very easy to talk to. He is also an unparalleled marksmen compared to other guardsmen his age. The =I= figured since they have two of his brothers, might as well take him as well. When they discovered how diplomatic and clear-headed he could be, the agent responsible for ringing him in was rewarded greatly for his choice.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
(NSFW) The Tales of Infinite Mischief Ep. 1
There was a thunderous crash as a drop pod tore through the roof of a manufactorum and came to a screeching halt on the seventy third floor. The guardsmen Jax and Wolfe Arkana, Tybalt Arl the Psyker from a Feral World, and
Garvel Ramirez the Assassin were shaken out a drug induced sleep by the impact
of the drop pod slamming into the ferrocrete floor. Jax Arkana cleared his
throat "Mates, It looks like we've been Shanghai'd."
Wolfe coughed roughly before agreeing "Too right, brother." Two doors of the drop pod hissed open and Jax and Wolfe stumbled out. As they looked over, Tybalt and Garvel fell out of the pod next to them, clearly unused to the roughness of a combat drop.
The room that the drop pod had wedged itself in had only one door, covered by a sheet
that loosely hung in the frame. On the floors were more sheets that were clearly
in use as beds, with rocks being used as a form of pillow. Whoever lived here
was very poor.
"Where the sod are we? and Who the Sod are you two?" Garvel demanded.
"Jax" Jax answered, followed by Wolfe, "And Wolfe Arkana, III Vatarian Legion. Who the hell are you?"
Tybalt scoffed. "Tybalt Arl, Blade for hire. This is Garvel Ramirez." The
Psyker simply nodded at them.
"Well Tybalt." Jax said, "There are men trapped in this drop pod. It's wedged
into ferrocrete."
Garvel spoke up "There is combat going on nearby. I suggest if we are to help
them we make haste."
The group stood and listened. Sounds of Autoguns and Lasguns trading fire
echoed into the room. The occasional battle cannon would explode followed by
smaller sub explosions.
"There is only one thing we can do." Jax said as he surveyed the drop pod. "We have to put them out of their misery. Anyone have any grenades?" No one spoke up.
"Alright, lets see if we can rig it to explode then." He knelt at the pod's control console and began to pry into it with his knife. There was a bright flash as he was jolted back by electricty.
"Well" Garvel said after a short while "Looks like they're stuck in there."
"Looks like it" Jax agreed as he stood up and brushed himself off. He then leanred against the doorway and peeked outside.
They were in a room that connected to a catwalk. Far below there stood massive couldrons of bubbling magma. Just visible were figures that appeared to be in intense combat.
"Catwalk looks clear. Lets head out." He tore the sheet down that covered the doorway and put it on as a makeshift cloak, then proceeded to pull part of it up as a hood.
"What's that for?" Wolfe asked.
"Just in case. If anything happens we could use it as a tournicate, or paint it up as makeshift camoflauge. " Jax replied as he stepped onto the catwalk followed by the rest of the group.
To their left and right the catwalk continued onward.
"Which way?" Tybalt wondered aloud
"Let's let the Emperor decide." Jax replied and pulled a single throne from his belt and tossed it in the air.
It landed heads-up. "We go right."
As they proceeded down the catwalk, five men dressed in rags approached them carrying battle-axes. The two groups stood and stared at each other before one of the men shouted out "Blood for the blood god!"
"Wait wait wait wait wait!" Jax shouted, and the cultists stopped for a moment. "We're with you guys! Been up here hunting for those damn imperials! Blood for the blood god!"
The cultists talked among themselves for a moment before replying "Kill them! Skulls for the skull throne!"
"Well shit." Garvel stated, and raised his lascarbine to shoot at the oncoming attackers. He clipped one in the arm and made him flinch some. Tybalt opened fire with his snub pistol but the shot went wide. Jax fired his autogun at the oncoming attackers and a miracle happened. One of the rounds detonated a grenade that was on the belt of one of the cultists. Four out of the five cultists were flayed into a red, gorey mess. The remainind cultist continued to charge forward, completely ignoring the fact that his comrades had fallen. Garvel fired at him again but the shot went wide, then proceeded to taunt the cultist mercilessly.
"Were you born this slow, or are you just that out of shape?"
The cultists growled a response and continued to charge him.
Tybalt was silent for a moment before lowering his trousers. He then began to flop his junk around while shouting "Helicopter!"
(After a brief game derailment regarding whether or not we are allowed to helicopter the cultists, it was concluded that it would take a full turn to do.)
The cultist skid to a halt and covered his eyes. Jax took the oppurtinity to stab his bayonette through through the jaw and up through the skull of the cultist. After using his boot to scrape the cultists off the bayonette, he chuckled.
Garvel joined in the chuckling. "Tybalt fucked with his mind, You literally mind fucked him."
"Fitting death for a cultist." Wolfe added.
After continuing down the catwalk, the group came upon a staircase.
"Well gents'" Garvel began "It looks like we've quite a long walk down ahead of us."
Unbeknownst to the group, they were on the seventy sixth floor. They walked down seventy five flights of stairs to the bottom floor. Once at the bottom Jax, Garvel, and Tybalt all collapsed in a series of pants and gasps. "Fuck. Fuck. That was something awful." Wolfe could only throw up as he gasped for air.
"Never" Jax began to catch his breathe "Again."
As the group was still catching its breathe, a low rumbling filled the chamber and everything seemed to shake slightly.
"Oh no" Wolfe muttered
"No, no, no, no." Jax agreed
"What?" Garvel asked
As if one cue a Leman Russ Battle Tank rounded the corner and began firing battle cannon shells at them. Missing several which resulted in a few of the magma couldrons being cracked open.
"Just can't get a break, can we?" Jax shouted as they began to run back up the flights of stairs. Suddenly, a lascannon tore into the side of the leman russ and caused it to explode. The explosion fully knocked over one of the magma cauldrons, spilling its contents over all over the ground and melting the lower levels of the stairs.
"Well. That went well." Garvel stated.
"Mhmm." Tybalt agreed.
"You know, I used to work in these factory dregs as a lad. Every twelve floors is an access door to a freight elevator." Wolfe remebered.
"Yeah, thats right. We can get to a freight elevator and hitch a ride to the surface." Jax Agreed.
So they climbed up to the twelfth floor and began following the catwalk again.
"Wait!" Tybalt cried, startling the rest of the group. "There are people ahead!"
Jax raised his Autogun and crept along the catwalk. "Do you sense they are hostile?"
Tybalt was silent for a moment. "No, They seem... afraid."
As Jax, Wolfe, Garvel, And Tybalt crept up on the cowering dregs.
"Don't hurt us! By the Emperor, Don't hurt us!" One of them cried
"Relax" Jax said, and gave them some rations. "What planet are we on?"
The dreg looked confused. "We're on Vatar.. where else would we be?"
"Good. Still at home. What hive?" Jax asked
"Edgeer Hive" The dreg responded hesitantly
"What happened here" Garvel asked one of the dregs.
The dreg took a deep breathe before speaking. "We started the work day this morning just like every other day. About mid day as the lunch bell rang, half of the workers pulled rifles and weapons out and began gunning everyone down at random. It... it was awful! Everyone was screaming... a-and running! I saw my family killed by a mutant with a makeshift axe!" The dreg began sobbing uncontrollably.
"What happened to the XI Legion? They should be here restoring order." Jax asked
"They.. They were killed by dark figures with faces pale as ash, with ears as pointed as knives. They're dead, every single one is dead!" The dreg cried. "I can never forget what hell i've seen today!"
Jax Knelt down close to the dreg. "Do you require the Emperor's Benediction?"
"Oh please! I need the Emperor's help!" The dreg sobbed
"Kneel down in prayer. All of you."
The three dregs knelt down and began praying. Jax put an autogun round into each of their heads. He then knelt down and removed a pair of welding goggles with an Aquila stamped on the side. "Might come in handy. Lets get a move on."
As they continued to walk along the catwalk, it bent into a partially destroyed alcove and then out the other side. As Jax stepped into the alcove, A shot rang out and clipped him in the cheek. He fell back bleeding severely on the face, cursing all the while.
To Be Continued...
Garvel Ramirez the Assassin were shaken out a drug induced sleep by the impact
of the drop pod slamming into the ferrocrete floor. Jax Arkana cleared his
throat "Mates, It looks like we've been Shanghai'd."
Wolfe coughed roughly before agreeing "Too right, brother." Two doors of the drop pod hissed open and Jax and Wolfe stumbled out. As they looked over, Tybalt and Garvel fell out of the pod next to them, clearly unused to the roughness of a combat drop.
The room that the drop pod had wedged itself in had only one door, covered by a sheet
that loosely hung in the frame. On the floors were more sheets that were clearly
in use as beds, with rocks being used as a form of pillow. Whoever lived here
was very poor.
"Where the sod are we? and Who the Sod are you two?" Garvel demanded.
"Jax" Jax answered, followed by Wolfe, "And Wolfe Arkana, III Vatarian Legion. Who the hell are you?"
Tybalt scoffed. "Tybalt Arl, Blade for hire. This is Garvel Ramirez." The
Psyker simply nodded at them.
"Well Tybalt." Jax said, "There are men trapped in this drop pod. It's wedged
into ferrocrete."
Garvel spoke up "There is combat going on nearby. I suggest if we are to help
them we make haste."
The group stood and listened. Sounds of Autoguns and Lasguns trading fire
echoed into the room. The occasional battle cannon would explode followed by
smaller sub explosions.
"There is only one thing we can do." Jax said as he surveyed the drop pod. "We have to put them out of their misery. Anyone have any grenades?" No one spoke up.
"Alright, lets see if we can rig it to explode then." He knelt at the pod's control console and began to pry into it with his knife. There was a bright flash as he was jolted back by electricty.
"Well" Garvel said after a short while "Looks like they're stuck in there."
"Looks like it" Jax agreed as he stood up and brushed himself off. He then leanred against the doorway and peeked outside.
They were in a room that connected to a catwalk. Far below there stood massive couldrons of bubbling magma. Just visible were figures that appeared to be in intense combat.
"Catwalk looks clear. Lets head out." He tore the sheet down that covered the doorway and put it on as a makeshift cloak, then proceeded to pull part of it up as a hood.
"What's that for?" Wolfe asked.
"Just in case. If anything happens we could use it as a tournicate, or paint it up as makeshift camoflauge. " Jax replied as he stepped onto the catwalk followed by the rest of the group.
To their left and right the catwalk continued onward.
"Which way?" Tybalt wondered aloud
"Let's let the Emperor decide." Jax replied and pulled a single throne from his belt and tossed it in the air.
It landed heads-up. "We go right."
As they proceeded down the catwalk, five men dressed in rags approached them carrying battle-axes. The two groups stood and stared at each other before one of the men shouted out "Blood for the blood god!"
"Wait wait wait wait wait!" Jax shouted, and the cultists stopped for a moment. "We're with you guys! Been up here hunting for those damn imperials! Blood for the blood god!"
The cultists talked among themselves for a moment before replying "Kill them! Skulls for the skull throne!"
"Well shit." Garvel stated, and raised his lascarbine to shoot at the oncoming attackers. He clipped one in the arm and made him flinch some. Tybalt opened fire with his snub pistol but the shot went wide. Jax fired his autogun at the oncoming attackers and a miracle happened. One of the rounds detonated a grenade that was on the belt of one of the cultists. Four out of the five cultists were flayed into a red, gorey mess. The remainind cultist continued to charge forward, completely ignoring the fact that his comrades had fallen. Garvel fired at him again but the shot went wide, then proceeded to taunt the cultist mercilessly.
"Were you born this slow, or are you just that out of shape?"
The cultists growled a response and continued to charge him.
Tybalt was silent for a moment before lowering his trousers. He then began to flop his junk around while shouting "Helicopter!"
(After a brief game derailment regarding whether or not we are allowed to helicopter the cultists, it was concluded that it would take a full turn to do.)
The cultist skid to a halt and covered his eyes. Jax took the oppurtinity to stab his bayonette through through the jaw and up through the skull of the cultist. After using his boot to scrape the cultists off the bayonette, he chuckled.
Garvel joined in the chuckling. "Tybalt fucked with his mind, You literally mind fucked him."
"Fitting death for a cultist." Wolfe added.
After continuing down the catwalk, the group came upon a staircase.
"Well gents'" Garvel began "It looks like we've quite a long walk down ahead of us."
Unbeknownst to the group, they were on the seventy sixth floor. They walked down seventy five flights of stairs to the bottom floor. Once at the bottom Jax, Garvel, and Tybalt all collapsed in a series of pants and gasps. "Fuck. Fuck. That was something awful." Wolfe could only throw up as he gasped for air.
"Never" Jax began to catch his breathe "Again."
As the group was still catching its breathe, a low rumbling filled the chamber and everything seemed to shake slightly.
"Oh no" Wolfe muttered
"No, no, no, no." Jax agreed
"What?" Garvel asked
As if one cue a Leman Russ Battle Tank rounded the corner and began firing battle cannon shells at them. Missing several which resulted in a few of the magma couldrons being cracked open.
"Just can't get a break, can we?" Jax shouted as they began to run back up the flights of stairs. Suddenly, a lascannon tore into the side of the leman russ and caused it to explode. The explosion fully knocked over one of the magma cauldrons, spilling its contents over all over the ground and melting the lower levels of the stairs.
"Well. That went well." Garvel stated.
"Mhmm." Tybalt agreed.
"You know, I used to work in these factory dregs as a lad. Every twelve floors is an access door to a freight elevator." Wolfe remebered.
"Yeah, thats right. We can get to a freight elevator and hitch a ride to the surface." Jax Agreed.
So they climbed up to the twelfth floor and began following the catwalk again.
"Wait!" Tybalt cried, startling the rest of the group. "There are people ahead!"
Jax raised his Autogun and crept along the catwalk. "Do you sense they are hostile?"
Tybalt was silent for a moment. "No, They seem... afraid."
As Jax, Wolfe, Garvel, And Tybalt crept up on the cowering dregs.
"Don't hurt us! By the Emperor, Don't hurt us!" One of them cried
"Relax" Jax said, and gave them some rations. "What planet are we on?"
The dreg looked confused. "We're on Vatar.. where else would we be?"
"Good. Still at home. What hive?" Jax asked
"Edgeer Hive" The dreg responded hesitantly
"What happened here" Garvel asked one of the dregs.
The dreg took a deep breathe before speaking. "We started the work day this morning just like every other day. About mid day as the lunch bell rang, half of the workers pulled rifles and weapons out and began gunning everyone down at random. It... it was awful! Everyone was screaming... a-and running! I saw my family killed by a mutant with a makeshift axe!" The dreg began sobbing uncontrollably.
"What happened to the XI Legion? They should be here restoring order." Jax asked
"They.. They were killed by dark figures with faces pale as ash, with ears as pointed as knives. They're dead, every single one is dead!" The dreg cried. "I can never forget what hell i've seen today!"
Jax Knelt down close to the dreg. "Do you require the Emperor's Benediction?"
"Oh please! I need the Emperor's help!" The dreg sobbed
"Kneel down in prayer. All of you."
The three dregs knelt down and began praying. Jax put an autogun round into each of their heads. He then knelt down and removed a pair of welding goggles with an Aquila stamped on the side. "Might come in handy. Lets get a move on."
As they continued to walk along the catwalk, it bent into a partially destroyed alcove and then out the other side. As Jax stepped into the alcove, A shot rang out and clipped him in the cheek. He fell back bleeding severely on the face, cursing all the while.
To Be Continued...
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