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Post by Melissia on Jul 11, 2009 22:54:16 GMT -5
"Seek not war for its own sake, Eldar, lest you become as low as the greenskins that you hunt."
With that, she moved to leave. "Contact Kelai, my psyker, if you need to get in touch with me. She is always watching you, making sure that you do not betray us as Eldar have a tendency to do."
Despite her earlier words of peace, it was obvious that tensions would certainly exist even with the Rogue Trader-- not at all undeserved, either, as Eldar would gladly sacrifice a million humans to save a few hundred Eldar.
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Post by nicholasakira on Jul 11, 2009 23:14:45 GMT -5
"Be happy Mhaldin is of Alaitoc, Mon-Keigh," snapped Svva'cke, "were he Biel-Tan, a whole Swordwind to retrieve him." Mhaldin winced and wished Svva'cke would silence himself.
"I assume your people will try and dislodge the orks from the nearby fortress. If you have any elements you wish supported, you may send us to them. My kin and I likely know the place better than most of the commanders here," Mhaldin said. Svva'cke rose up and stalked over to Melissia. Mhaldin reached for his knife, but did nothing when Svva'cke stalked outside after Fenera. "And there is no need to be weary of the outcasts, good human. Not all of us have agendas. Not all." Mhaldin checked to see if Svva'cke was gone.
"I apologize for Svva’cke, Melissia. He…suffice to say, we needed to recover him from a human lab, from an experiment. He hates humans. If there is any trouble, it shall be from he. I will try to control him."
...
"I don't trust her," Svva'cke whispered to Fenera as she sat with the others aboard another transport. "She works with orks, she watches us with her pets. I think she wants to get us alone so she can turn us over to the Ordo Xenos." Svva'cke pulled back the rags around his mouth and spat, briefly showing the scar across his lip, where a human scalpel had once lacerated. Fenera knew she could do nothing to calm him, except wait for fate to prove itself to Svva'cke.
"I just pray for battle to be over fast, so we may return us to Alaitoc," Fenera sighed.
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Post by Melissia on Jul 11, 2009 23:30:24 GMT -5
[ooc: She was actually inside one of their vehicles when they were talking, TGS. Your soldiers wouldn't have noticed.]
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Post by Ignatius on Jul 12, 2009 0:58:25 GMT -5
Nodding, Madison and Constantine shuffled away from the table.
Entering his own command tent at the Mordian base camp, gesturing to his platoon commanders inside the tent awaiting his arrival.
"Sir?" one of them asked.
Huffing a little, and now sweating profusly, Madison was obviously suffering from heat exhastion. This was after all, the first time that any of them had been in the desert.
"Major" Madison managed in his semi-concous state, "tell them the plan. Your in charge right now" And with that, Madison closed his eyes, and fainted.
"Ok, as my first act as regimental commander, i am ordering someone to take care of that" gesturing to the now unconcous General. "Second, i want water for us all in here. Third, you may remove your jackets genlemen"
A sigh of relief swept through the tent. The heat had been un-merciful on the fully dress uniformed Mordians. And the black and dark blue colors had not helped with the heat. The General had been reluctant to allow the Mordians the pleasure of removing their uniforms, being too proud of his heretage.
"Now then", the Major started. In a good mood now that he was only in his undergarments, "we will be a part of task force one. I will deal with the atillary suppost for this, Grant, Jackson, and Smith. You are going to be the vanguard of the force while........and thats that. Any questions? Good. Get rest. We are leaving at 0600."
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 11:44:34 GMT -5
'Mount up, mount up! Water and Ammo, gentlemen, let's get moving!" Van Dremmond strode through the hurrying soldiers of Grendel Troop as they rushed to their Chimeras. He nodded to Pvt. Wescla, one of the former Penal Troopers, as she rushed past, carrying an armload of lasgun cells. Sgt. Brooke was bellowing orders at his squad as they mounted up. Garth's troops were making a last minute supply check (hence Wescla and her ammo cells), and both Lee and Timmo had their squads waiting inside their shiny new Chimeras, supplied by the Crusade when it had arrived.
Van Dremmond approached the pair of Conquer tanks idling beside Grendel's assembly area. The cavalry tanks, named Grinder and Stormfront, had been attached to the group by Dunbar, who had wanted to add a little armoured muscle. he approached Lt. Harlowe's tank (Grinder) and waited for him to finish briefing his men. Van Dremmond noticed with interest that all the crew had both a pistol and a Ventro SMG with them, a sign that they expected close quarters fighting. Harlowe finished, and Van Dremmond stepped forward as the crew scrambled into the tank.
"Expecting trouble?" he asked, with a nod at the Ventro. Harlow grinned "Nah, but it pays to be prepared, don't it?" Van Dremmond laughed "True enough. We should be ready to move out in 5. Sentinels will be moving ahead and on the flanks, but you'll have point for the convoy. Sound good?" "Sounds great!" "That's what I like to hear. Let's go kick some arse." "Sir"
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Dunbar sighed inwardly as he heard the Ork Kommissar scramble up the tank behind him. He popped his head out of the turret and looked into a pair of red eyes. "You don't want to ride with me, trust me. We'll..." Dunbar thought about explaining the intricacies of tank hunting, the patience and stealth that was required, the fact that you had to stand off at range and slag the enemy armour before they even saw you. He sighed. "We'll be staying back and doing the Dakka from long range." he indicated Sgt. McGrath's tank, an Exterminator with the name Linebacker. "Go with McGrath. He'll be getting stuck in with the close range Shooty Shooty."
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Keeley shivered a bit. Damn, but it was cold now. He hefted the first of his Marker Beacons out of the Salamander, placing it on the ground. Off to his left, he could see Walldoon doing the same thing.
"Why does McVane get to keep watch while we do all the heavy lifting?" Keeley muttered to himself.
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Post by Melissia on Jul 12, 2009 13:13:00 GMT -5
"Boss says I stick with you, so I stick with you. 'sidez, prolly jus' a few grotz and meks in dere anyway. Da real fightin's gonna be when da Armoured Krumpany gets back, an' I wanna be in wit da tanks when dat 'appenz. Emp'rer be wit ya, I'm ridin' pintle!"
The psyker was barely noticable as she followed Dremmond around. Indeed, she seemed to be doing her absolute best to not get in the way, and her best was pretty damned good. Were it not for the slight feeling of hairs standing up on the back of his neck due to the powerful primaris psyker's energy being leeched out of her by the various runes and special materials in her robes-- a method used to prevent her from becoming so filled with warp energy that the daemons of the warp instantly jump upon her and attempt to use her as a gate into this world-- Dremmond might even have forgotten about her quite easilly.
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Post by Helmian (M.I.A) on Jul 12, 2009 13:16:23 GMT -5
''Brothers!'' Aulus shouted. ''Prepare your bodies and your souls! Check your wargear! Soon we ride into battle!''
The marines started to check their weapons while reciting prayers to the machine spirits and to the Emperor.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 13:37:53 GMT -5
Walldoon's voice crackled over the vox network. "Alright, that's the last one, getting clear of the DZ now." "Roger that" McVane counted to twenty to allow the other two Salamanders to get clear, then pulled out a small remote control. Extending the antenna, he waited until the rune on it glowed red, then pressed it.
Nothing happened.
He pressed it again. Still nothing.
He pressed it several times. Still nothing.
After a moment, he smacked the remote hard against the gunshield, then pressed it.
Green light.
The Becons began to broadcast their signal, marking a Drop Zone.
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Dunbar shrugged and slid down into the tank, taking up position in the commander's chair. He grabbed the vox. "All units check in" "Centurion checking in. My squadron is ready." "Linebacker here, guns primed and engine is hot." "This is Thrasher, we're good and golden." "Gate Smasher, ready to kick some arse!"
Dunbar smiled to himself. "Roger that, move out. We'll link up with the Mordians at the main gate."
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Van Dremmond shifted a bit in his seat, trying to distance himself from the Psyker without her noticing. Task Force 2 was underway, and would link up with the Drop Troops in about an hour. Van Dremmond checked his Autogun, making sure the trigger mechanism was free of sand.
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Jul 12, 2009 14:11:45 GMT -5
"Right, ladies and gentlemen" said Lucan, addressing a smallish group of civillians he had culled, at random, from the milling herd of refugees to bulk up his company to an appropriate size. "Your planet has been invaded, your homes occupied by the Xenos Orks. In essence, your planet, is, as a whole, a failure."
He paused for a moment, letting the idly-delivered condemnation sink into the group, before he continued:
"However, the Emperor, in his most munificent glory, has decieded that your world shall not be left to languish under their cruel hands, and has sent us, the Imperial Guard, to bring you back to his most glorious Imperium. And you, ladies and gentlemen, are going to help me. Welcome to the Guard" he concluded, and turned about.
"You sure scared them, sir" drawled his pilot, the man leaning back on a crate of Kantreal-pattern lasguns and idly watching the milling, confused band.
"An officer has to have some privileges, Dahman" Lucan replied, an ironic grin spreading across his face. "I wasn't going to let them know that they're just going to be helping the ground crews."
"We have ground crews?" enquired Dahman.
"Well, you" quipped the captain, his smile broadening at the mock-disgust on the pilots face. "C'mon. Better get Jail to mount up and go - and tell 4 that they're being reassigned to strategic reserves. I'll lead the tactical reserves.
- - - - - - - - -
When Lieutenant Jail Lucan, Third Platoon commander recieved her orders, she simply stared at her feet, too pleased to even look up at her brother as he stood in front of her. After a moment of confusion, he resorted to the age-old technique of punching her lightly in the shoulder, and speaking his mind.
"What's up Jail? It's not like you can't do it. You've got you're entire platoon with you, there's hardly a greenskin in the damn place and I'll be right on hand if you need a hand. Come on, it's not as if you're not over-qualified for the job. What's wrong."
His sister remained silent, still staring at her feet. Another awkward moment passed, and Torquemada was left to contemplate the horrible possibility that his little sister, was a coward.
This idea was rather sharply knocked out of him by a brief, tight hug, and, without a word, she turned on her heel and left. A few sniggers came from his retinue, quickly silenced as Torquemada rounded on them like a bull grox.
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 14:13:30 GMT -5
"This is Storm 4, we are on final approach. ETA 5 minutes. Get ready, over."
"This is Royals 4, roger that. Hope your aim is good, over."
"Roger that Royals 4. Would now be a bad time to tell you I have a shaky hand?"
Firca watched her platoon scramble into their pods. The lander's crewmen helped, making sure everything was functioning properly. Finally, she stepped inside her own pod.
The pod's were sometimes referred to as coffins, since you had to stand in the same pose that the deceased are posed in, arms crossed in an X over your chest. She knew her lasgun was next to her, in a seperate compartment, along with extra spare ammo, survival gear, and various other items deemed important. Just in case.
She watched the crewman outside check over the pod, before giving a thumbs up signal. There was barely enough room for her to turn her head.
"This is Storm 4, firing in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Firing." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lander fired off it's 35 pods in quick succession. It was a perfect launch.
"This is Storm 4, pods away, heading home."
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Saler gripped the emergency eject handle in her hand. Everyone had one, just in case. She sensed something wa-
A small alarm started sounding in her head.
Yup, something was wrong. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Saler! 1st stage failed!" Shouted Firca. It was all she could manage, with the high speeds she was traveling at.
"Can't! Eject! Jammed!"
"Damnit!!!"
It was every drop trooper's worst nightmare. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saler yanked at the eject handle over, and over again. It was stuck fast.
"Saler! First stage failed!" Firca's voice came over the comm.
"Can't! Eject! Jammed!" With each word, Saler kept trying the eject handle.
"Dammit!"
Hundreds of miles below, she was about to dig her own grave. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Saler! Now or never! Second stage failed!"
"Can't! It-"
Deep below Firca, a small fireball erupted, as Saler's doomed pod slammed into the ground below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saler breathed, and looked up, just in time to catch the 34 other pods rain down below here, thrusters igniting, slowing down their descent.
She had managed to work her left hand to the handle, and managed to pull it free with both of her hands.
Her parachutes had unfurled, made of a material strong enough to hold her CAS suit. Of course, she was entirely weaponless now.
"This is Saler, reporting in....I'm okay....I'm okay....." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Firca heard the report just before she remembered to unclench her teeth, which was just before the pod had "landed". She pulled at the handle opposite of the eject handle, blowing the door forward in a high velocity launch.
Firca stepped out, turned, and grabbed onto the pod for support while she adjusted herself to the new planet. Checking her HUD, everything was a-okay. She rumaged through the other compartments, grabbing her lasgun first, and the other equipment in order of priority. In a combat drop, she would've just grabbed her gun, and dived for cover.
"1st squad, planetside!"
"3rd squad, down on....whatever you call this place."
"2nd squad, last member still up in the air over."
Firca looked up, and breathed a sigh of relief. All 35 made it down. Well, Saler was technically still in the air, but still, it was one pretty good drop.
"2nd squad, scavenge Saler's pod. See if you can get her a weapon."
"Roger that. Hope she doesn't have to martial arts against Orks."
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Post by The Refined Gentleman (M.I.A) on Jul 12, 2009 15:03:56 GMT -5
After days of isolation from any other living humans, it was good to be among friends again. All 200 of them, including the A and C company nightblade teams.
Back at the camp they'd managed to hitch a last minute ride via valkyrie to an area just a couple kilometres short it of. The walls were colossal, constructed from a mixture of ceremite, rockrete and customised with orky clumps of metal and graffiti. At the centre of the great gargantuan structure was a command tower, 20 stories tall.
Varlon had not been surprised to find the orks had overlooked a storm drain at the west side of fortress.
Monian units emerged from many points, cracks that, if not for the 'skins typical overconfidence would have been covered. But it took the monians natural expertise of infiltration to recognise them.
Varlon had taken Cazouk's nightblade team. Nightblades were the elites of monian regiments. Master snipers and scouts. The team he lead was altogether 4 men strong including the sergeant. One was armed with some sort of modified ork sniper rifle scavenged from a gretchin corpse. The trooper had obviously gone through much time and effort to improve the reliability of the firing mechanism and accuracy. With that cleared up, the bolt action precision weapon could burst most organs on an organism in a single shot. There was also a man and woman, both embellished by countless trophies gathered on hundreds of battlefields. But that was visible on any monian soldier worth his salt (which most of them were).
“Lets move.” Varlon whispered. He wasn't quite sure how high command would see this unknown infiltration. He'd missed the commanding officer as he'd gone to address his own unit.
The colonel looked to the sky, as the first valkyries came soaring through the desert skies...
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Post by nicholasakira on Jul 12, 2009 15:39:53 GMT -5
Jara'naxifus sighed softly as he regarded the waveserpent through the shadows of the desert cave. Pulling his cloak tighter against the night's cold.
'I think we can stay here for a while,' he thought. 'Nothing's going to happen for a while.'
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 15:44:47 GMT -5
The three Salamander crews watched the Drop pods fall from the edges of the landing zone. "Looks like we have a drifter, boss" McVane managed to pick out the Parachute against the night sky. "Right, I'll go pick him up. You guys go make nice with our new friends."
McVane's Salamander sped off after the drifting Drop Trooper, as Walldoon and Keeley went to find the Drop Troopers' commanding officer.
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Van Dremmond touched his vox "Alright guys, the Drop Troops are down. We're about half an hour out, so keep your eyes peeled."
A series of conformations came back.
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Dunbar was sitting in his command seat, his eyes closed and arms folded across his chest. He was humming "They're sending me off to the Cadian Gate' quietly. The armoured column rumbled towards the fortress in the darkness.
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 15:52:26 GMT -5
"Alright! Everyone get ready! I'll go talk to these recon boys."
Asis approached the pair of recon troopers, opening up an external comm channel.
"Captain Kirlia Asis, 1st company, 482nd Hell's Bane. I'd appreciate it if you could go pick up Saler over there."
She pointed up into the sky, where Saler was slowly nearing the ground.
"Anyhow, we're all accounted for. Well, except for Saler...."
She just suddenly stopped talking, and seemed to be speaking to someone else, judging from the signs her hand made.
"And, we're going to have to find another gun for her......It...well....Kinda got incinerated when her pod blew..."
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Jul 12, 2009 16:50:12 GMT -5
Sitting in her Valkyrie, her platoon mounted up in readiness for battle, Lieutenant Jail Lucan had to restrain herself from fidgeting, twitching, or indeed crying out loud from the knife-blade of tension twisting in her stomach. So many fears - fear of death, fear of failure, fear of how many of these men under her command were going to die. At least the men could laugh, joke - make small talk and try and force the nerves out of their minds.
She - she had to maintain composure. Her brother could laugh and talk with the men, exchange banter, and in general projected a veneer of fearless, almost mad bravado that inspired everyone around him to greater and greater acts of courage. But she - she couldn't trust herself to hold herself together, not while talking to men she knew might well not come back. But now - now, more than ever - she had to keep herself still, and calm, and lead these men to victory or sacrifice herself in the attempt. In an attempt to calm herself, she switched on the comms, and went through the routine of a battle check.
"Royals, this is Thunder Three. ETA on time of engagement?"
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 17:41:54 GMT -5
"This is Royals, I think ETA is at 0630, but you better ask Grendel Lead for confirmation."
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 17:51:35 GMT -5
McVane's Slamander slewed to a halt in front of the lone drop trooper, who was struggling to free himself from his harness. McVane stepped down from the back, fixed his best winning smile on his face, and extended a hand to the Guardsmen. "Looks like you could use some help."
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"Thunder, this is Grendel Lead. We attack when Lifeguard gives us the go ahead. That should be around 0630. How much of a heads up do you need to be on station whe we get the green light?"
Van Dremmond's convoy was about 15 minutes away from the DZ by now. He wondered if the the Drop Troops had landed unnoticed.
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 18:55:29 GMT -5
Saler finally managed to push the quick release. Who knew, 16 years old, on her first mission, and she already cheated death. She had no intention of ever getting into that situation. She grabbed McVane's hand, careful not to crush it with her armor suit, and pulled herself up.
"Thanks," She mumbled.
"What was that Saler?"
"What? Oh! Sorry ma'am...Forgot to activate external comms."
"It's alright. Just don't forget next time. Who'd you meet? Mister prince charming?"
Saler shook her head, and sighed in exasperation.
"I can still here you...."
"Oh! Uh....sorry ma'am!"
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 19:05:30 GMT -5
McVane quirked an eyebrow at the Drop Trooper as he helped the man into the back of the Salamander. "You doing alright? Here." He unhooked a combat shotgun from the side of the back decking, and passed it to the trooper, along with a bandoleer of shells. "Looks like you need a new weapon. All I can spare is that boomstick."
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 19:19:28 GMT -5
Saler took the shotgun, and checked it was loaded. It was. She slung the bandolier of shells over her shoulder with expert precision.
"Locked and loaded." She muttered to herself.
She activated external comms.
"Thank you for your help. I need to get back to my platoon please."
She metally slapped herself. She just sounded so....timid....
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 19:32:42 GMT -5
McVane whipped off a two fingered salute "Sure thing!" He touched his commbead "Alright, let's go". With a lurch, the Salamander sped off.
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"Captain, pleasure to be working with you again."
Van Dremmond's convoy had reached the DZ, and he had wasted no time in finding Captain Asis.
"We've got about 4 or 5 clicks to go before we'll be in position to attack, so let's get going. You're guys and gals can ride on top of the Chimeras, if you want. It'll be a little cold, but those tin cans of yours should keep you warm."
McVane's Salamander approached the group. "Look what I found!" he yelled over the roar of the engine "This belongs to you, I think!" He indicated the Drop Trooper standing next to him behind the gunshield.
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Post by nicholasakira on Jul 12, 2009 19:50:16 GMT -5
"Mhaldin," Jara'naxifus said into his earpiece. "I'm hearing noises in the sky, something's happening over here." He wrapped the final expanse of cloth over his face and tucked his eldar helmet into a corner of his waveserpent. "Saldella, Lynx, and I are going to check it out on foot. We'll be in disguise." "The humans are attacking the fortress," Mhaldin replied, "We've been trying to contact Melissia's psyker to warn the humans about you." Jara'naxifus knew all about Melissia.
Beside him, in the belly of the human transport, Fenera sat in silent meditation, seeking and probing the lively encampment for her target, named Kelai by the rogue trader.
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Post by Kaikelx on Jul 12, 2009 22:26:38 GMT -5
"Saler. I see you've somehow managed to find a Salamander to scramble into."
"Hey, it's warm in here, ma'am."
"Everyone, mount up! We get to ride on top of the Chimera's. Move it, or else you don't get to sit near the engine!"
That got everyone moving.
Within a minute, the entire platoon was ready to roll.
"Thanks for the lift Dremmond. We'll take the gate as easy as 1,2,3. Who knows? Maybe we'll leave one or two for your boys."
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Post by Melissia on Jul 12, 2009 23:04:18 GMT -5
"Wat....watch out." The psyker rubbed her head through her silken hood. "Ugh... damn the powers of the warp... be careful, sir. I recieved a vision of you being vapourized by an Ork plasma weapon... it is likely a false vision, but you should be wary at least... just in case it is not."
She seemed honestly concerned, but then, having fewer people between her and the Orks would mean that she would actually have to use her powers, which si something she always wanted to avoid-- for good reason. A psyker using their powers, aside from Ork psykers anyway, brings on the perils of the warp, and that endangers the soul as much as the body.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 12, 2009 23:57:57 GMT -5
Van Dremmond's head snapped around. "What? Plasma? How much have they got? Is it on the walls?" Without waiting for an answer, he keyed his commbead, it's signal boosted by the Chimera's vox system. "Lifeguard, this is Grendel Lead. Word on the ground is that the Orks are packing Plasma. Advise, over."
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Dunbar touched his commbead "Roger that. If it proves to be too much of a problem, we'll just Crash and Smash, the Rogue Trader and her handlers be damned." He muttered, so the Ork who was standing next to him with it's head out the turret couldn't hear.
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"Roger that." Van Dremmond switched channels 'Royals, we just got word that the Greenies are using Plasma. Once we have the gate, get your snipers up on the walls to keep an eye out for them. I want them dead before they're in range."
After a moment, it dawned on him that she hadn't mentioned it to help give them an idea of what they were facing, she had said it to save his life.
"Umm...thanks, Ma'am." He said to the Psyker, a little embarrassed at how long it had taken him to thank her.
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