Topic: Civil War on Ivalyo VII - A Place To Call Our Own

[ranger_scout]

Sector D4 with the demolisher please.

OCC cool way to make an rpg work! OCC

[Spectral Arbor]

Hopefully work. I'm still grinding off the rust. Would you like to be to the right of the Demo, or behind the hill?

[Koval, Master Verispex]

[OOC]
I'd like to start in reserve and come on via Outflank if possible. I can do an in-character filler post for Turn 1 while Madigan's waiting to come onto the battlefield.
[/OOC]

[Spectral Arbor]

Sounds good.

[Halollet]

[ooc] I'll deploy in the building in A3. Or at least be ready to move into it first turn. [/ooc]

[Spectral Arbor]

Sounds good.

@ Hal: You can start in the very edge of the ruin, but you'd need to spend a turn moving into the ruin to gain meaningful LOS. Would you like to move up a floor, if you roll a 5+ [for example] for your difficult terrain movement? I think Cassie had the Scout rule, as well, so you could use that pre-game to move into the building.

If you'd like, I can combine the Scout and 1st turn moves, to probably set you up in a good firing position near the front of that ruin. If you have a target in mind, you could issue your order any time, and we can move forward once you and Ranger have your orders in.


@ Ranger: If it works for you, I'll start you to the right of the Demolisher, and then you'd be ready to issue your 1st order.


@ Koval: I'll PM you your reserve roll for 2nd turn, so you can work that into your filler post.

[ranger_scout]

OCC Yep that is the plan. to the right for me then sir! OCC

[Spectral Arbor]

[ooc]

Done and done.

You know what's awkward? Starting with the bad guys, and trying to anticipate where the good guys will move, and then "ordering" them to move where they need to go, and pick targets. After that, I have to ignore what I just did, and try to do the same thing with most of the good guys... all while trying to not take advantage of my knowing where each other should move. Quite the mental exercise. The NPC's all have their orders, whenever the PC's are ready, I'm ready to roll!

I'm a little bit excited.

[/ooc]

[Spectral Arbor]

Turn 1


Acer observed the battlefield, before shouting to the Lascannon teams to take their shots at the suspected Command Squad's vehicle. He hoped to be able to keep those flamers outside of arm's reach. His boys responded admirably. Although the Chimera wasn't destroyed, it came to a screeching halt, and the engine appeared to be knocked offline. Acer could recognize the plumes of Prometheum being thrown up as the crew tried to get it started again.

“Nice shooting boys. Next time, aim for the front view panel. The crew can't restart the engine if there's a big hole in them. The crew, that is.” His mechanical face twitched upwards with it's grim expression of amusement. The shots were good clean hits, he'd seen one shot come out the back end of the Chimera. He heard some good natured calls that blind grox could shoot better then the Lascannoneers, but Acer knew better. He'd chosen the best for his personal escort.

He watched as Sgt Cassandra moved her squad into the ruins, and waited for the blasts that would soon begin blooming within the ill equipped infantry opposite them. He still couldn't fathom why soldiers would go to war without proper equipment, but he supposed that if you turned your back on the Emperor, you probably had other issues with good judgement.

The Colonel waved Quirk over, and he keyed the Vox. “West flank, other than Sgt Cassandra, I want that Eastern Chimera brought down before it gets out of sight. Oxnard, tell your tribe to take their time and line those shots up properly. Fewer good shots beats lots of poor shots. Remember that...”

Just then, an Earth-shaker round dropped right on the track of Lieutenant Rodriguez' Chimera Track, blowing it off. The track whipped off, crushing a Guardsman taking cover behind the tank. Acer shook his head. He wished he'd requisitioned Artillery for this battle, but he'd thought that the close ranged support that the heavily armoured Russ could provide would be of greater use.

Glancing over, he saw the Eastern infantry break cover as the Russ rumbled forward, only to stop short as the Russ veered to the right, following Commissar Haltius' Chimera. The trooper with a grenade launcher fired a round at the Command Chimera, but the shot went wide as he was hit by a shot from a Multi-Laser. He saw Sergeant Samuel turn and gesture his confusion to Acer, just as a frag round fired from the bunker landed right in the centre of his squad. Limbs flew up into the air, gore showering the remaining squad members while las-fire poured into them. In moments, only a pair of bewildered survivors was left stumbling over corpses.

Bellowing, Acer ordered, “Move forward into those ruins, fools! Move it!” Grabbing up the Vox again, Acer screamed at the Russ' commander. “What in the grim darkness are doing! You were supposed to cover the infantry's advance!”

Tank Commander Thantos replied, “But Sir! I was just told that I'm supposed to follow the Commissar, I just got the order...”

“Emperor shun you for the fool you are, I issued no such order!” Acer cursed Thantos, “They're lost now. You'd better be personally responsible for claiming one of those bunkers, or I'll have you hung from a tree, covered in sap, and left for the Blood Wasps!”

“Sir, I... I...” Acer tossed the mike to Quirk, whom put it in its cradle without lowering his observation scope.

The Western flank succeeded in halting the Chimera with the Meltagunners in it, Acer observed with satisfaction. The occupants stumbled out of the ruined Chimera, obviously stunned by the ordeal....


End of Turn 1: Overview Picture

I forgot about Night Fighting... so I'll try to remember that on turn 5+. 

The Friendly Chimera says, "Immobilized". It looked clearer before I uploaded it. The Ogryns took a blast wound from the Bassie. The lower left infantry passed their pinning check. Hal made a cover save... I forgot to mention that in his PM.

The enemy Melta-Vets failed their pinning check when their ride was wrecked, and were motivated to get back in the fight by the enemy Commander. I forgot to take their pinning check before taking the picture.




Home Edge, A4 towards A1




Home Edge, D4 towards D1




The Commandant saw the supposed “Veterans” tangled in the mess of their Chimera. Coldly, he ordered the men in his bunker. “Motivate them. Their will weakens, in the face of real opposition.” Without hesitation, his men began firing their lasguns into the stunned survivors of the wrecked Chimera. The Veterans gathered their wits almost immediately, but they lost nearly half their number in the scourging.

The chastened infantry never looked back. Never made comment about the event. They gathered themselves, and made ready to sprint forwards, to engage the Demolisher. If the Russ made it into range, it would only be a matter of time before it's shells breached the bunker walls. It was The Commandant's will that they destroy it before it had a chance.

The Sheep bleated their wails of terror, cowering behind the walls by the road. The Commandant briefly considered emptying his bolt pistol's clip into the lot of them. How disgusted he was by them. They lacked the will to be human. They fired at the Ambrasians only because they'd be shot themselves, if they did not. They did not choose. They were weak, and unable to decide their course for themselves, so their course was decided for them.

If one, ONE, of them would just stand up. Declare their sovereignty, he would have released them. If ONE of them would just look him in the eye, and demand that they be free, he would hand them a Lasgun, 2 days rations, a canteen, and a spare ammo clip. The Will had decreed it so, and he would follow his decree.

He would shake that person's hand, and wish them well. He would mean it when he said it. But they never would. The Sheep bawled tears of pure terror if he so much as looked at them. He'd then have them beaten for their weakness, but left alive, so they could perhaps someday overcome their terror, and galvanize their will.

The lights in the bunker began to pulse, between full brightness and mostly full. Another shipment must be passing beneath them, towards the capital city of Umbranth.

“Destroy the Chimera. I want those infantry to have to go through fire and light if they wish to assail these walls.” The big guns opened fire on the Ambrasian Lieutennant's vehicle. The missile team's shot ricocheted off of the Chimera's front armour, but the Plasmagunner managed to tag the hull mounted Heavy Bolter with a direct hit. The barrel melted, and a bright flash burned briefly inside.

The taste of burnt air filled the bunker. The loader had opened the bunker's exhaust port for the firer, but there was always the smell and taste of spent propellant when a missile fired.

The Plasmagunner's hint of smile said it all. The Commandant took a brief moment for reflection. His will made manifest. I will remember this the next time I need to promote a man...



Enemy Edge, A1 towards A4




Enemy Edge, D1 towards D4




Oxnard nodded at the Colonel's order. He briefly tried to imagine how he'd explain a concept as foreign as “careful” to his cousin and the other tribesman, when inspiration struck. As Lee-Roy and Mundt raised their Autocannons, Oxnard touched both on their arms. He mimed rapid fire, and shook his enhanced head in an exagerated “No” fashion. He then mimed a slower rate of fire, and pointed at the speeding Chimera across the battlefield.

Just then, a huge explosion went off beside them. Lee-Roy howled in pain, and spun around so that Oxnard could see his Ow-ey. Jutting from his left buttock was a chunk of shrapnel, the size of a man's hand. Tears welled in Lee-Roy's eyes as he pointed pitifully at his butt. Oxnard made soothing gestures, and quickly moved to his cousin's side. Without delay, he pulled the shard out, and then jammed a dirty rag into the wound. “Better?” Oxnard asked. “Bed-der.” Lee-Roy replied, looking at the ground. Oxnard raised his cousin's chin, and nodded his approval.

Lee-Roy was a good soldier. Ogryns weren't used to “pain”, in the way that humans were. They were rarely “hurt”, so when they were, it often surprised them, unless they were in a brawl, where that sort of thing was to be expected. How was Lee-Roy to expect something to hurt him, while he was just out for a walk, shooting things?

Resuming command, Oxnard pointed to their target. “You got to hit that one,” he explained in his best, loudest, teaching voice, so he could be heard over the sudden ringing that seemed to be everywhere at once. His tribesmen nodded, and the two Autocannons barked their angry chorus. The Chimera blew open with a “boom” that could be heard above the ringing, and Oxnard cheered.

He would earn sooo many mates with his tales of battle...



For pure, "Awwww..." factor, my dice rolling assistant




As a reminder, please have your descriptions and turn 2 orders ready for Tuesday. Feel free to discuss strategy with each other, or just let each other know what you're planning to do.

As I've said before, if you'd like a picture from any particular direction, just let me know. If you have any questions, just ask.

Except for, "Why do bears go crap in the woods?" The reason is obvious. Porta-potties are gross, and they don't have the plumbing for regular toilets.

[ranger_scout]

The commissars chimera drove forward to the enemies behind the low wall to thin out there numbers to storm the base from the right side.  It drove up at a slow enough spped to let the crew fire with some degree of  accuracy but not enough.  the kreigs in the back left side across from Haltius where manning the side mounted lasguns to shoot as well.  There where close shots but flew over cover or hit the small wall as las fire burned into it.  Heavy bolter rounds soaring overhead but the infantry idea to duck coming under fire prevented loss of life next time he will get his crew to sit still and shoot at them with all the fire-power as best they can.

OCC my plans are to continue engaging the infantry from behind the building where I am without disembarking to prevent useless loss.  I will order the demolisher to fire on the closest chimera to eliminate the threat. Input welcome too"

[Koval, Master Verispex]

Madigan scowled as the Devil Dog drove over a rock, bouncing her slightly in her chair. Her stomach lurched for what felt like the hundredth time. The landing hadn't been especially kind and Donaghue's offer of a slightly bitter-tasting blue lozenge couldn't have come soon enough. Even so long after the landing itself, she felt like that had been the only thing stopping her from spewing her guts all over the inside of the tank.

"Don't take those beslubbering roadbumps so fast, Rhodri," Madigan warned her driver. Although she'd kept her rebellious stomach under control, it still felt like someone had decided to light a fire inside her belly and she didn't especially want to move.

"Sorry, ma'am," Fallon answered. "We're about to rejoin the main road now -- if I can keep our speed up we'll be on site in about five minutes."

Madigan wasn't sure whether to take some small measure of comfort in the idea of five minutes' peace and quiet, or worry that the road had been chewed up by energy blasts and explosives. She suspected it didn't matter.

She turned the internal vox on. "Emrys, take a look out the top for me."

"Why?" Donaghue queried.

"Just do it. Use your magnoculars. I'll cross-reference with the auspex."

Donaghue grumbled, almost unintelligibly, but Madigan nonetheless heard the clang of the top hatches opening and smacking against the roof of the turret. She looked down at the auspex monitor.

Apparently, the enemy had some light armour ahead of them, and a cluster of infantry directly between them and the bunkers. The slightly larger blobs along the bottom of the screen were, ostensibly, Commissar Haltius and Sergeant Thantos in their own tanks.

They didn't worry her.

"Ah, amphetamine parrot," Donaghue muttered. "Frakking sun's in my eyes."

"Use your glare filters," Madigan told him.

Fighting in the late afternoon was more of a worry -- how long was the day on Ivalyo again? -- but that wasn't what concerned Madigan.

"Earthshaker, far end of the battlefield," Donaghue reported. "Looks like it's just fired."

He paused. "I can't see the Ogryns."

"amphetamine parrot."

"Ignore that, ma'am. Smoke's clearing a bit. Looks like they got lucky. One's limping, the rest are firing."

Madigan allowed herself a sigh of relief. "Let them get on with it. What's directly in front of us? I'm seeing Haltius about to engage a Chimera."

"And there's some infantry behind it, hiding behind a wall."

"Thought so. You can come back inside now."

Madigan turned to Fallon. "You thinking what I'm thinking, Rhodri?"

Fallon didn't take his eyes off the road, but his face nonetheless twisted into a mildly disgusted grimace. "You want me to run them over?"

"Nah," Madigan answered. "Not unless they've got anti-armour weapons."

"They looked like conscripts," Donaghue informed her from the turret. "I couldn't see anything more interesting than lasguns."

"There you have it, Rhodri. Just play chicken with them and see if you can use the multi-melta on whatever's past them."

"The Commissar's about to engage the Chimera next to those troopers," Donaghue pointed out.

"Then fire at the next one along. What am I, your beslubbering nanny?"

Madigan sat back in her chair and sighed in frustration. "How long until we're in range, Rhodri?"

"At this speed, about one and a half, maybe two minutes," Fallon confirmed.

"Alright," Madigan nodded. "Get ready."


[OOC]
Firebug is going to do a Tank Shock From Reserve into squad C -- preferably along the D1/D2 border -- and then open fire on the PCS in tank G.

It's more than likely that Haltius and Thantos will be aware of where Firebug is, even if they're not so sure about what Madigan's actually doing.
[/OOC]

[Spectral Arbor]

[OOC]

I forgot to mention, that "Red" pins in a vehicle represent Hull points of damage. Chimera "G" is stunned, with 2 hp of damage applied. One Glance and a Stun, last turn.

@ Koval: You would need to declare how many inches you want to move onto the board with your tank shock, per pg 85 of the RB. I'm thinking 6" makes sense, so that you could come on, and line up your hull Multi-Melta towards the Chimera, and still fire a Heavy Stubber at full BS... if you wanted the Stubber. If you'd like to move further, let me know.

And a "story event" triggers when you gain LOS to the ill-equipped infantry, from behind their wall. Even though you weren't technically on the board...
[/OOC]

Violet looked to the East, and saw a tank bearing down on her group, and her heart sank. They'd been chained to this heavy plasteel plate for the last 3 days. Left in the rain, and the cold, with nothing but their ratty clothes for protection. They'd huddled together for warmth at nights, taking shifts at the outer edges, the younglings kept to the centre to keep them as comfortable as they could.

And now it was all going to end. They'd been enslaved, beaten, and forced to fight for a madman that fancied himself a conqueror. She was surprised that no tears came, as she watched her destruction approach. Instead, a tremendous sense of relief flooded her. The pain and terror of these last two months were at an end.

All around her, her fellow slaves were yanking frantically at their chains, or pressing the younglings as close to the wall as they could, imagining that they could use their bodies as shields to protect them.

Violet knew better. She lay down her lasgun, then lay down beside it as las-shots pattered around her. She closed her eyes, and hoped for peace in her next life.


Rhodri yelled to Madigan, "Ma'am, I know you said just to scare them, but the sadistic bastards have them chained down, I don't think they can move out of the way..."


[OOC]
@ Koval: You can carry on your current course, or veer North or South. If you choose to veer off, you'll need to reroll successful hits this turn, but you won't crush the poor people in front of you. Just a reminder, let me know how far you want to move onto the board.
[/OOC]

[Koval, Master Verispex]

[OOC]
Don't forget that Devil Dogs are fast -- so I'd probably be moving at cruising speed.
[/OOC]


"Ma'am, I know you said just to scare them, but the sadistic bastards have them chained down," Fallon yelled over the engine, a note of obvious alarm in his voice. "I don't think they can move out of the way."

"They what?"

Fallon shook his head. "They don't look like soldiers, either."

"The hell kind of outfit are we even facing?" Madigan wondered. "amphetamine parrot. Head right, towards the bunkers. Go around them."

"What about the enemy armour?"

"Emrys is just gonna have to manage. I'm not running over a bunch of non-combatants."

Madigan shot Fallon a dangerous glance. "And neither are you."


[OOC]
Firebug is moving north.
[/OOC]

[Spectral Arbor]

[ooc]
You're all heart, Koval. 12" works for you, then? You'll come on just north of Unit C, and fire at the damaged Chimera.
[/ooc]

[Halollet]

((Turn 1))

Cassandra and squad shift though the building with ease and take positions at the outer wall.  Without the slightest flinch, Cassie watches the battle unfold as shock waves toss her hair about. 

Suddenly a barrage of opposing lasgun fire strikes the building around them.  Able to duck down, they don't lose a man.

With a sneer she calls out, "Return the favour! Frags!"

The veterans spring into action readying weapons and laying down a wall of shots and a sea of explosions.

"Report!" Cassie calls out.

"Minimal Casualties...." replies Flint.

"What the frak?! Those frakers were suppose to explode!" she curses back.

Cassie grabs the vox and barks into it, "This is Vlachen checking in. I'm going after the artillery before you turn into chunky salsa.  Somebody cover my ass!" She shuts the vox back off and turns to her unit.  "Those frakers are in our way.  Bayonetts and frags.  Misfire, Rico, blow them the frak up."

[Spectral Arbor]

@Koval: Sorry, I put the wrong colour on your outline.

Also, one of Oxnard's squad members should now be incapacitated... Bottom Left Red [One AC down...]

On with the show!


Acer yelled at the Lascannon teams to take out the enemy officer's Chimera. [BID Order: Success] He was already losing men at an unacceptable rate, and those cookers would make approaching the bunkers a death sentence, if they were still operational.

With an intense “Hunzzzzz” the Lascannons discharged. One went wide, but the other went right through the driver's viewport, and out the back, from what it looked like. A fine shot, given how little time the teams had to set up and fire while on the move.

“Good work, boys, now it's time to hustle. We gotta catch up with everybody else. I want to be standing in that bunker within the hour! Quirk, patch me through to Oxnard.”

Quirk nodded, slipping the transmitter into Acer's hand. In a faintly detached voice, Quirk advised, “You'll need to be quick, Ace, you don't have much time to talk.”

As always, Quirk's offhand comments took Acer off guard. “Why...” Acer shook his head, it could wait. He keyed the Vox, and began talking. “Oxnard, I want those Slaggers taken out. [FomT Order: Fail] Be careful, they'll likely tag you back. Being big and tough won't help you when one of those comes your way. They can take out a Russ. No matter what anyone says, Ogryns aren't that tough.”

“Uh, Sir? I don't think they're going to play tag with us. I think they're going to shoot us, Sir. Should we shoot them back?” Oxnard sounded confused.

“For the love of the Emperor, man, YES! Shoot them! If you can get to them, AFTER you shoot them, go bash their everloving brains in!” Acer tossed the voice-piece back to Quirk, that muttered something to himself. Acer let it slide, for now. Quirk seemed to be getting worse, but his insights were invaluable in the heat of battle.

What was he saying? Not much time?


.


The impact of the Earthshaker shell pulled the Colonel out of his distraction. He looked over, and saw that Lieutenant Rodriguez had made it out of his command vehicle before it was wrecked by the second explosion. He nodded his approval at the wonders of Imperial armour. The Chimera had taken two direct hits from an Earthshaker, and the crew were still able to stumble out.

Probably half deaf, and one looks like he's holding a bloody stump where his arm used to be, but they're alive. More to the point, the Tech-Priests will be able to reinvigorate the machine spirit in next to no time. Barely even a setback.

He had moved past pangs of guilt, over his concern for war machines, instead of worries about the men. This was war, and men would die. If the machines moved on, fewer men would die. It was a crux. The sacrifice of men for machines would save more men down the road, when those machines killed their enemies. The sacrifice of men to gain ground would save more men down the road when that ground provided a safer location from which to launch attacks. Their lives were a resource, and it was up to him to husband those resources as best he could, to achieve the goals he was given.

He saw almost all of Rodriguez' men make it into the ruins before the shell landed. Almost. One was caught out in that deadly rain, and would worry no more.

A couple of other men were hit, and then a rain of explosions began raining down amongst the Ivalyan infantry behind the Western wall. He thought he saw some lasblasts from the Western bunker fire towards that wall, but couldn't fathom why that would be. Maybe some of the ratling spies had been spotted.

Unfortunately, he suspected that Sergeant Casandra's squad had broken cover just a bit too early, and they were caught in a storm of las-fire from their target before they were wiped from the world. He couldn't tell the damage, but he suspected it was severe.





He'd lost sight of Haltius and the Russ, but he figured that between the two of them, they'd have the Chimera dealt with in no time. Those Slaggers could toast a Russ with a well placed shot. Taking out a Chimera shouldn't be any trouble, and then the Demolisher could do it's bloody work on the infantry.

He needed to get a line of sight to the Basilisk before much more harm could be done. If he could get the big guns up to the top of the ruin ahead of him, they'd be in about as safe a spot as they could be, to go about that.

Macrophyllum called out to his squad, “Tighten your boots, boys, it's time to haul ass into that broken down building! Big guns up top, I want that Bassie taken out, pronto!” Dropping his voice, he turned to Quirk. It was time to coordinate his forces, before the battle plan fell apart. “Hand me the vox, Quirk.”

“Sorry Ace, you're out of time.” Quirk droned.

The usual static was cut off from the Vox network. A hard *click* was heard. A cold voice addressed the Ambrasians...





The Commandant shook his head. The Veterans wouldn't make it to the Russ before they were laid low. Their will was weak. In the face of a true test, they had faltered. The only solace was that they were within range for him to personally exterminate any that lost their nerve, and fled. The lead Meltagunner had tagged one of the mutants, but was himself caught in a blast meant for the officer's Chimera. Pity, the only one that had the will to move up and attack the enemy, laid low by a weapon meant for a tank. The Commandant wasn't surprised, that it would take such an attack to lay that trooper low. He had been worthy of a name.

Most of his own squad had fired into the approaching Ogryns. The man running the Plasmagun managed to put a felling shot into the wounded Ogryn, and he dropped his Autocannon. His will was strong, as well. He'd need a name, once this battle was complete.

That the Ivalyans would be victorious was beyond doubt. The Commandant's will alone would be sufficient, but with the likes of The Plasman, and The Marksman, at his side, they could turn the tide of battle on their own, were it not for that Russ rumbling up the flank.

Yes, The Plasman shall be his name , his recognition, on this day.

Frag rounds tore The Sheep on the west to pieces. The Commandant touched The Marksman on the shoulder, and made a dismissive wave towards the remnants at the West wall. With two carefully placed shots, The Marksman put the filth to a rest they didn't deserve.

Observing the battlefield with his magnoculars, and occasionally glancing at the monitors within the bunker, he broke into a grim smile.

He activated the short-range transmission jammer, and blocked all com-lengths except for the “Common Imperial Band” that public broadcasts were made upon. He began to address his attackers...







The Commandant activates the Vox-broadcast, and begins his sermon.

“Ambrasians, you transgress against the sovereign planet of Ivalya VII. I offer you this opportunity to cease and desist, once, and only once. Lay down your arms, and flee back to your ships. [“Dropships”, that is!] Or better yet, join our fight, as we free ourselves from a decayed and rotten Imperium. An abomination that no more follows the teachings of the once-mighty Emperor.”

The Commandant's voice takes on a worshipful tone.

“Join us, and learn from he that is The Will. Join us, and know that you alone are all that is needed to save humanity from itself! Learn how you, alone, might overcome the mightiest of foes! Vanquish those that would oppose you, smite your enemies. Conquer yourself, so that you might conquer the universe!”

The Commandant's voice takes on a hint of warble, as the depth of his zealotry is plumbed.

“I can see that some of you possess the strength within you already. The Commissar despises The Sheep before him, and like a vengeful shepherd destroys his wayward flock. Despite the threat posed by the soldiers before him, his will is that the filth be destroyed, and so he pursues that will with fervor. Cast off your shackles, brother! Find in The Will, a man worthy of your devotion!”

Somehow, The Commandant's voice delves deeper into ever increasing fanaticism.

“To The Hiver. Yes, we know who you were, and what you will become! Do not resist the call. Embrace it! You, more so than any of the others, already knows! the power of your will! How many died in your campaigns? Thousands? Yet you stand, proud, slinging death as you stride across a blaze of death towards The Sheep. They quail behind their walls, wetting themselves as you stride like a God towards them, HAMMERING THEM from their miserable existence! You have no need for these fools. Embrace him, Hiver. Embrace him, as you do your own will.”

The Commandant's voice now takes a decided turn towards derision. His words drip with vicious disgust.

“You are unlike the sergeant in the Devildog. Pathetic! Altering course to “save” The Sheep in her way. A will so weak, she lost her chance to enact her will, while another does so from across the battlefield. She and her crew will be chained behind the walls by sundown, and left to rot! The Sheep that aren't killed in battle will be made to watch their torment!”

“Urgh, at least the disgusting mutants serve a purpose. They have no will of their own, but at least they can be made useful! Serving those with a proper, human will, they can still be of worth. Hear me, mutant! If you will fire upon your erstwhile allies, you might still find purpose in following his will! You can be free! Free to follow the will of another, so that you are relieved of the burden of responsibility for yourself! Trust in The Will, and your life shall be blissful ignorance!”

“So what say you, Ambrasians? Shall you join us? Or shall you be trampled, and beaten into the dust? Will you just turn your backs and flee? Speak, if you have the will to do so.”

The Commandant releases the airways back to the Ambrasians. He already knows what the Ivalyan's would say.


[OOC]

Until further notice... after any event prior to The Commandant's taking over the airwaves, such as some events already described below... all Vox transmissions are public. Friend and foe will hear them. You're also free to engage The Commandant in “conversation”.

Also, if you'd like to change any orders, or the like, you're welcome to do so. I'd hoped to get this up sooner. No real progress happens until Saturday morning, when I have a chance to bring out the board and move guys around.

[/OOC]

[ranger_scout]

The chimera sat still firing all weapons at the heretics behind the wall.  With a devostating volly of fire the enemy is biting the dirt.  Hiding behind that wall but a couple poped up to lose some shots and got a laser to the chest or a bolter round to there no longer existant head exploding in a mess.  The driver reports 3 appear down but not 100% sure if they are out of the fight.

Haltius addressed his men, "Men of Kreig with me we will disembark and blast them away with the blinding light of the empror!"  He stated loudly.  Checking his bolt pistol and sword are ready.  And then the whole chimera shook chillingly hard thowing Haltius down against the wall and back in his seat.

Sir the driver said we took a hit but nothing more than a large dent.  We need to get that other chimera out of the picture sir! 

"Will do with the emprors grace soldier just keep on firing at the infantry!" Haltius responds

Haltius thinks that was close now pushed back into his chair and gets his vox bead ready to raise the demolisher if it would do him a favour if not he would turn his melts weapons onto it to take the scum to their death! 

Sir incoming vox transmission from the enemies have our comms signal the vox caster Kreige states passing Haltius the portable hand set.

"Blah blah blah heretic blah blah blah defect blah blah warp vile beings...." Come though on the net in a twisted tone.  Not to be take lightly but Haltius ignored the foul communications from the commandant and get's his man to send a signal to all units and commandant in response.

"If one vox set accepts or defects to the vile preachings of chaos,  I will turn my chimera around and field punish the offender!  The only true light is the light of the emperor!"  Haltius states.

Occ I guess now I will get my chimera to sit still and shoot infantry and the meta guns to shoot the other chimera with las guns to infantry keeping out of Los from the bunkers by staying beside my chimera letting the demolisher do it's thing?  Only if my squad can shoot 2 targets with different guns?  If not I will ask for the tanks help on the chimera. Oh also I am listing on the vox and you know what has to happen to "defectors and chaos collaborators!" Occ

[Spectral Arbor]

[ooc]

Would you like to advance through the ruins, for cover?

Also, do you have a colour request for your infantry pins? I don't have black.

[/ooc]

[Koval, Master Verispex]

"Frakking hell, Rhodri, warn me next time!" Donaghue shouted down from the turret as he stamped his boot down to steady himself.

"Sarge's orders," Fallon replied.

"We're not running over non-combatants, Emrys," Madigan added. She was mindful of the uncomfortable tightness in her abdomen, and to her displeasure, had to half-grunt the words into the internal vox. "You got a target?"

"Yeah. Enemy Chimera's a sitting--"

The secessionist vehicle suddenly burst into flames, a lascannon beam punching straight into it from the other side and searing a small burn scar into the road next to the Devil Dog. A small gaggle of traitors fell out of the back door, directly into the tank's path. Madigan saw pilot lights being lit and giant fuel tanks swaying on the traitors' backs as they readied their flamers.

"I was aiming at that!" Donaghue protested. Madigan didn't bother replying. At least the Colonel's lascannon team had hit the right target this time.

"Make do with those flamers, Emrys," Madigan offered. "Looks like there's an officer with them. Take 'em out."

"Firing," Donaghue reported milliseconds before the melta cannon roared into life. "amphetamine parrot."

"What is it?"

"Overshot. Got someone in the next section along, but that doesn't help us with those flamers."

Madigan watched Fallon open fire in an attempt to make up for Donaghue's miss. To the driver's credit, his shot at least managed to hit -- and, predictably, char-grill -- someone in the right unit, but that was precious little consolation given Donaghue's poor showing. Distressingly, the enemy didn't seem in the least bit worried by their compatriot's demise.

In the distance, the enemy Basilisk thundered again. Madigan wasn't paying attention to where the shell landed; the fact that it was still firing, and blowing things up, was enough to give her cause for concern.

"Think we can shut that Earthshaker up?" Fallon suggested.

Shots from lasguns dinged off the Devil Dog's flank, followed by a single missile impact that bounced off the tank's armour. Madigan looked down at the auspex in alarm.

"We've got bigger problems than the artillery," she told the driver. "They've got a beslubbering pipe in that bunker next to us. If we go past them they'll put a krak missile up our exhaust and it'll be Megray Pass all over again. Let someone else handle the Earthshaker."

She reached for the vox, fiddling with the dials and buttons as she leaned over painfully. "Firebug to Lump -- you hangin' in there, Oxnard?"

The vox crackled and a surprised grunt met Madigan's ears. "Uh, yes, sah, Sargent 'Gan, ma'am. Sah."

"You see that big gun over there? The one making all the noise."

"Yeah."

"Can you get Lee-Roy and Mundt to shoot it?"

"Wha'? You're all crackley."

Madigan held back a frustrated sigh, reminding herself that she was talking to an Ogryn. A BONEhead, so intelligent as Ogryns went, but still an Ogryn. "The people firing that gun are enemies of the Emperor. He wants you to get rid of them. Do you hear me, Oxnard? The Emperor wants that gun taken out."

"Sargent 'Gan? You there?" Oxnard rumbled. Madigan opened her mouth to repeat her order, but the vox went dead of its own accord.

"Are they jamming us?" Fallon suggested.

"amphetamine parrot, I hope not," Madigan scowled. "Can't ignore them, though."

"They've got snipers on the roof," Donaghue reported.

"Alright, Rhodri, go north and round the bunker, and give them our front armour if you can," Madigan instructed. "Emrys, clean those snipers out."

"We'll hit the bunker itself for sure," Donaghue remarked cautiously.

"Then beslubbering aim first," Madigan snapped back.


[OOC]
Thankfully, Haltius' order to fire on the non-combatants wasn't on an open vox channel, otherwise Madigan might've had a few things to say in reply

Firebug is going to head north round the bunker, pivoting to face it directly, and will fire at Unit F. I'm not entirely au fait with the Building Damage rules so the melta cannon might also hit the bunker itself (there's a jet of superheated plasma, radiation et cetera being directed at the snipers, after all), but that's an acceptable risk if so.
[/OOC]


"You are unlike the Sergeant in the Devil Dog," the unsolicited interrupter carried on. "Pathetic! Altering course to “save” the Sheep in her way. A will so weak, she lost her chance to enact her will, while another does so from across the battlefield."

"Where the hell is that rather unsavoury chap, what-ho old bean??" Donaghue shouted.

"She and her crew will be chained behind the walls by sundown, and left to rot! The Sheep that aren't killed in battle will be made to watch their torment!"

"Short band transmission. He can't be far," noted Madigan. Her blood pressure was rising rapidly and she was aware that her fists were shaking.

If this heretic were chained to a table in front of her, or a wall or hanging in a gibbet, even lying on the floor at her feet, Madigan wouldn't know where to start, but she knew there'd be enough beating, gouging, tearing and furious swearing to make even a Space Marine wince.

"Trust in the Will, and your life shall be blissful ignorance! So what say you, Ambrasians? Shall you join us? Or shall you be trampled, and beaten into the dust? Will you just turn your backs and flee? Speak, if you have the will to do so."

Madigan reached over and activated outbound comms without so much as a second thought. Her blood was boiling and she was going to make damn sure the enemy knew it.

[CAUTION, weapons grade profanity follows]

[spoiler]"I've had just about enough of listening to you, you beslubbering pathetic piece of heretic amphetamine parrot," Madigan scowled into the vox. "Think you're so beslubbering high and mighty, do you? For beslubber's sake, you're a traitor to the Throne!"

Fallon didn't take his eyes off the battlefield, but a quick glance at him told Madigan that his eyes and mouth were wide open like a stunned fish. She wasn't surprised.

"Oh, you can say you're liberating humanity all you beslubbering well like," Madigan went on, "but you're amphetamine parrotting all over your loyalty and willingly making a beslubbering slave out of yourself, on your beslubbering hands and knees before this Will of yours while he spreads your cheeks and rams whatever passes for his shrivelled heretical cock up your arse! Do you beslubbering think Mankind are beslubbering sheep? Less than beslubbering human for staying loyal to the Throne? Devoid of the beslubbering free will and volition to make their own beslubbering decisions? What the beslubber does that make you, then?"

"You cannot comprehend--"

"No. You've had your turn. You listen to me. You beslubbering listen to me now," Madigan seethed, only too eager to punch the traitor's face in now that her blood was up. "You're a beslubbering worm. A traitorous worm crawling on your beslubbering belly in the wake of this tupenny shufflebag you and your little heretical congregation idolise, lapping up the beslubbering verbal diarrhoea he showers you with! How the beslubber, how the beslubber can you tell the difference between this blasphemy and a violent bout of arse-spraying heretical mayhem? Eh? You try and win any of us over to your cause again, you little traitorous amphetamine parrot, and I'll lock you in a beslubbering septic tank and fill it with sewage so you beslubbering drown. And then I'll move on to the rest of your cult -- and don't you beslubbering think I won't."[/spoiler]

To Madigan's complete lack of surprise, the heretic didn't even attempt to rebuke her, never mind deliver a coherent response. She reached over to the vox again, scowling.

"beslubberity-bye."

She closed the outbound line.

[Spectral Arbor]

[ooc]

My ruling, and if I'm just making it up, so be it, will be that if any successful cover saves are made, a hit will be resolved against the building. Potentially resulting in a pair of hits, from the cannon and the hull mount.

[/ooc]