Ambush on route 425.

[Magnus Calpurnius]

"Julius to all scouts, command team is now clearing building five. Repeat 'ware fire on building five, target the ruins." Came the sergeants voice over the vox. Within seconds the heavy bolter fire had switched from building five to the ruins.

Magnus was still being wary with his fire, they still had men down there. Power armour was an incredible peice of technology, but Magnus didn't want to be responsible for the death of a battle brother because he was too impetuous.

"Scouts Taranius and Raziel, join bravo team on the roof. Take your fire direction from Scout Calpurnius. Scouts Commodus and Tholath meet me at the main entrance."

So, he was meeting up with the other two scouts again. He was glad of that, he knew he could count on them both. He could count on them all of course, but Taranius and Raziel had a better weapon loadout for the job than the others.

He just hoped the other scouts would be able to hold the enemy off if they counter assaulted. It was an unlikely scenario, and they were astartes, a few rebel guard would be no problem, but it was always good to be prepared.

He noticed Goloar hadn't recieved new orders, that was good. Having the snipers on the roof was good but Magnus always felt better when there was a bolter covering his back.

[Guillford Flavius]

As soon as Guillford watched his last brother cross the road, he himself prepared to take the running of the gauntlet as well. Slapping in his second clip, he then brought back the slide putting a bolter round into the chamber. Having complete faith in his brothers across the street Guillford got down into a sprint stance and soon took off forward across the road. His feet slamming in the pavement ever so hard as he trudged with his auto assisted agility and speed. On the way across he could feel a las bolt as it glanced of his shoulder pad and a few shells from the other guns as the ricocheted off his armor.

As he reached the corner of the building across the street he made for the alley where the rest of his squad was. He took his place at the end of the squad and stood on the corner while watching their rear flank. At the time the brother Apothecary was making an insertion through the window/ Bolter trained Guillford stood like an unmoving sentry until he was ordered otherwise.

[Lucas Raziel]

Lucas ran, his legs pumping. he had his orders, he sure wasn't going to ignore them. Turning, he fell to one knee, aimed, and fired at a traitor in the window of the building behind him. turning, not checking to see if he killed the man, he ran for the roof.

Lucas looked up. he could see Magus, his huge heavy bolter destroying huge chunks of the ruins. running into the building, and up the stairs, he reached Magnus, he breath coming out in small, controlled bursts.

"How goes the hunt, Brother?"

Lucas fell to one knee, and aimed his sniper at the runs.
"the moment someone shows themself, they're mine." he muttered.

[Andrus Taranius]

Andrus grunted as he hefted his sniper rifle, he watched lucas and his boasting, he always ignored such talk on a mission, the mission was what mattered nothing else, he was a sword of the imperium and camaraderie always came second to duty.
He knelt and balanced his sniper rifle on the ballustrade of the roof edge. His eyes through the sope he surveyed his surroundings waiting for any sign of movement.

[Jacen Cartern]

Roland and Jacen slowly made their way up the stairs and towards Sergeant Agrippa's location.

The two marines scanned back and forth with their bolters, not knowing where a traitor could pop up. As they moved forward the sounds of gunfire grew louder. Either Agrippa was fighting a fierce battle, or these were just traitors still firing on the convoy.

Jacen and Roland took up both sides next to an open door. Jacen raised his hand...1...2...3...

The two Astartes filed into the room one after another and raised their bolters, ready to eliminate any targets who dare show themselves.

[Narek Goloar]

"Julius to all scouts, command team is now clearing building five. Repeat 'ware fire on building five, target the ruins." Sergeant Quintus' order came clear and loud over the vox as Narek let one last volley of fire out at a running traitor.

Unconcerned with the fate of the enemy, he manouvered around the arriving scouts to get a better field of fire on the ruins. Loading a fresh clip into his bolter, he took aim at the hostiles in the ruins.

He was glad to have his brother scouts with him. From this tower he knew they would have fire superiority and together, easily fight off the enemy.

[Eucradius Tholath]

Moving from his prior position for sniping, Tholath appeared at the main entrance of the building. Upon arriving, he once again looked for somewhere to conceal himself again, under the thinking of why should he give them a free shot at him, when it should be the other way around.

"Brother Tholath at main entrance and waiting for next order Brother Sergeant."

Snuggling up to his bolter, he started looking out for targets again. He was still on a full load of ammo, not spotting anyone that was directing anything.

[Magnus Calpurnius]

"How goes the hunt, Brother?" Raziel asked.

"It goes well Lucas, I give the traitors another minute at most." Magnus replied, smiling as he unloaded another burst of heavy bolter fire in to the heretic's position.

He nodded to Taranius as he joined them, before going back to his duty.

[Deliverance]

(OOC: Ok people we are wrapping up this stage. You will be able to make a post after this before we move off toward Checkpoint Gamma).

Brother Apothecary Silvanus had seen much death over his centuries of life. Both the brothers who fell to the hands of the Imperium’s many enemies and the numberless dead of hundreds of warzones across multiple sectors. Things never changed; there were still the butterflies when the anticipation caught you in its web. Even with biological engineering the body had a way of keeping it’s primal feelings. The apothecary had killed many a foe with his krieg trench knife, gifted to him what seemed like a lifetime ago on the infamous world of Armageddon, since then it had lay dormant, the apothecary’s skills at healing needed more than his ability to kill. Now he was like any other battle brother, a bio-engineered killing machine clad in some of the finest armour the imperium had to offer and filled with the ineffable fuel of faith.

It was not the combat knife exploding through the ribcage of the first rebel and ending his life with a silent gasp of despair that alerted the second rebel. No, it was the slackening of fire from right beside him that caused him to pause as he reloaded the battery pack of his lasgun. Numerius, his knife still stuck in the first traitor swung his gauntleted fist in a vicious backhand that send the second rebel across the room to land with a sickening crunch. As the knife came free and he approached the floored rebel to finish the job he was surprised to see that the rebel was already dead.

++++Commander, all clear, moving to the doors to open up access now.++++

With that Numerius came upon the booby trapped doors. Two crude frag grenades stuffed into two empty metal preservative cans with a wire trip line connected to the door. They were makeshift and crude but effective, luckily all they required was a quick cut of the wire and an upturning of the food cans to ensure the grenade did not slip the pin and explode.

+++West door clear. Proceed.++++

Seconds later Commander Zenodius and brother Flavius entered the building. The commander gave the apothecary a quick nod of gratitude and spoke quickly.

“Brother Apothecary, disarm that other trap and take Flavius and make your way to the command Chimera and see find who is in charge. I will deal with the last remaining rebels and meet up with you when I’m done. ”

With that the commander disappeared through the door and the sound of his booted feet could be heard as he climbed two stories to eliminate the final rebel. As Numerius disarmed the trap there was a snap of a bolt pistol and then a vacuum of silence. The disarming done the apothecary and battle brother made their way outside, the bolter of Flavius swung left and right, searching for another target as they weaved their way around the convoy vehicles towards the Chimera.

Meanwhile Commander Zenodius made his way down two flights of stairs before jumping down from a first floor window into the alley east of building 5.

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The traitor exploded into a red mist as a heavy bolter made its presence known. Brother Amores had hesitated and against a better foe he would have been joining the ranks of the Chapter’s honoured dead. Brother Shalluat had not hesitated and he had potentially saved his brother’s life. The marine’s emotionless voice filtered through his helmet as he spoke to Diaclois.

”There can be no hesitation Diaclois. Remember that. Now come, there are two more heretics that require judgement.”

With that the two marines stood and prepared to move on and complete the clearance of the North Buildings. Just then there was a bark of what seemed to be a bolt weapon, either a pistol of bolter. Shalluat nodded to Diaclois who gave a reluctant nod. They ran through the ruins, hopping rubble and came into thelast ruined hab block to see Commander Zenodius finishing off what could only be a outsized mutant humanoid armed with a makeshift hammer.

Rallus Zenodius sheathed his bolt pistol and turned to the two battle brothers. With a swift nod he apprised them of the situation.

“The area is clear. Make your way to the command chimera and rendezvous with Apothecary Silvanus and Brother Flavius. Once you have linked up set up a close perimeter around the convoy while the apothecary sees to the wounded. I will meet you there.“

With the two Battle brothers heading south onto the main road Commander Zenodius opened the comm.-net and spoke to Sergeant Quintus.

“Sergeant, North Buildings are clear, take your scouts and regroup at the head of the convoy. Rendevous with Techmarine Vahrdel there.”

Rallus turned to the mutant that lay dead amongst the rubble; the mutant had been big, easily 7 feet tall and built the same as a space marine. Indeed, even in it’s crudely fashioned metal armour it had taken multiple Bolt pistol rounds to go down. The evidence of mutant was clear to anyone who saw it. There were many strange symbols and markings tattooed into its flesh. With his foot his turned over the body and there it was: an eight-pointed star.

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Meanwhile Sergeant Agrippa proceeded to clear the eastern wing of the Admin building. The thump of the grenade heralded an entrance for the grizzled veteran. It was with surprise that he found it empty of enemies.

Luck was not the same in western wing as Camillus and Achilles swept through the rooms. As they entered the final room there was an scream of rage and despair and the pair were met by a running man holding who frag grenades. Without hesitation Achilles stepped back allowing Camillus a better shot. Brother Camillus opened up with two three round bursts, throwing the rebel across the room to hit the wall. As Camillus made haste away from the live grenades Achilles swept forward and with effortless ease shoved a metal filing cabinet toward the rebel, hoping to shield them from the worst of the impact. As the blast went off both hit the floor, minimizing their surface area to present themselves as smaller targets.

Decades of battle had taught Brother Achilles and he was right, the large cabinet had absorbed or deflected the majority of the shrapnel blast. There was a buzzing and the comm.-net came alive as Sergeant Agrippa heard the blast.

+++Brother Achilles, Camillus, SITREP++++

Achilles shook his head and helped Camillus to his feet.

+++ Achilles to Agrippa. Western Wing clear Sergeant. Coming back to you presently.+++

[Marcus Camillus]

Marcus, still reeling from the explosion, opened his eyes to the image of Achilles dragging him up. Now aware he found his footing again, slapping Achilles on the shoulder as he said, "Thank you brother." Opening the squad vox link he stated:

++ Brother Camillus reporting, we had an incident with a grenadier. However the threat is neutralised and we retain no serious injuries. Camillus out.++

Releasing the button on his helmet he closed the link. Turning to Achilles he asked, "Are you uninjured Brother Achilles? We must continue onwards."

[Jacen Cartern]

Jacen and Roland smashed through the door and entered the same room that Sergeant Agrippa had just cleared.

Jacen lowered his bolter and asked "Sergeant?" then after looking at the corpses of the traitors added, "It seems that we were too late."

As Agrippa took in a vox call from Camillus and Achilles, Jacen turned to the window and looked out on the main street.

The traitors were still firing upon the ruined remains of the convoy. Though the chances were slim, there could still be PDF guardsmen down there in need of their aid. They had to hurry or else this whole mission would be nothing but a waste of time and bolter rounds.

[Numerius Silvanus]

After receiving orders from the commander to wait at the convoy Apothecary Silvanus traveled with all due haste.

He couldn't help but notice the commander was moving in the opposite direction.

If it were any other marine Silvanus might have raised some kind of point against such action, and how it would have been statistically safer to stick together, not matter where they were going.

But the Apothecary had enough faith in his commander to let him decide his own actions. The Emperor would guide him safely back to the group. This he was sure of.

[Julius Quintus]

Julius was just preparing to move across the road and sweep the ruins for hostiles when suddenly the sounds of fighting died away, leaving only the crackle of the burning vehicles and the cries of the wounded soldiers. His headset crackled into life with the voice of commander Zenodius

“Sergeant, North Buildings are clear, take your scouts and regroup at the head of the convoy. Rendevous with Techmarine Vahrdel there.”

Julius keyed his comm-link

"Acknowledged commander, moving now" He quickly switched to the squad channel and gave his orders. "Quintus to all scouts , operation complete. Safe your weapons and rendevous at the head of the convoy for fresh orders."

Julius flipped the shot selector of his bolter to 'Safe' and jogged to the head of the convoy, nodding to the venerable techmarine in greeting as he arrived.

[Narek Goloar]

"Quintus to all scouts , operation complete. Safe your weapons and rendevous at the head of the convoy for fresh orders."Narek let out a small thanks to the Emperor as he put the safety on. This skirmish, though brief, had brought the sensation of battle back to him. He was alert and fully awake now.

Though he doubted that such a weak enemy could have managed it, he was glad to hear no one report any casualities.

Narek headed for the stairs. " Come on brothers; these traitors wanted a fight and its only right we bring it to all of them."

[Lucas Raziel]

"Quintus to all scouts , operation complete. Safe your weapons and rendevous at the head of the convoy for fresh orders."

Lucas signed. although short, the confrontation had fired up his blood. standing from his sniper position, Lucas gazed upon the ruins he and Magnus had fired upon.

The ruin was now even more ruined. what little that remained before now was totally destroyed, heavy bolter shells peppered around it.

"We did well today brother." He said to Magnus. "Come, lets get to the rendevous point."

Setting his Sniper Rifle to "Safe" Lucas walked towards the stairs, and headed for the rendevous point.