Operation Safe Heavens [deployment]

[Deliverance]

GM

Captain Antonius and Chaplain Perphius awaited the marines of 4th company in the Hangar. The siren sounded around the ship, calling all the personnel that would be deployed to the hangar. Rallus Zenodius paced around the thunderhawk that would take them to the planet’s surface. Meanwhile chapter serfs and servitors attended to the thunderhawk and the pilot, Brother Gradius, a chapter Veteran with centuries of thunderhawk experience; oversaw the maintenance and waking of the machine spirit with perfectionism unrivalled by any.

Captain Antonius smiled; it was a good feeling to be on deployment again, he knew that the Chaplain would echo the same sentiment. There was the anticipation of the battle, the judgement on the enemies of mankind and the Imperium. The Captain would oversee the assembly of the Company here and the Chaplain would lead the company in prayer before they embarked on their transport for the Planet’s surface.

Rallus stopped his pacing as the first of the marines entered the Hangar. The force commander was an impressive sight in his power armour, his helmet decorated with the laurel sat under his arm. More noticeable than anything was the lack of emotion that Zenodius showed. Many marines would be overcome with zeal or anxiety when building up to the drop itself. It was still a surprise to Eulaus how calm and collected the Force Commander was. In contrast Chaplain Perphius looked a figure of death incarnate in his black power armour and skull decorated helmet. There was little love lost between Chaplain Perphius and Zenodius; the latter’s distaste for sermons and religious lecturing was well known among the company and Perphius often took exception to such actions, especially from a leader.

So with the marines filling into the hangar in full combat rig Captain Antonius left it to the sergeants to have them assembled for the prayer and loading. Nodding briefly to Claudius Perphius he made his way over to Brother Pilot Gradius.

“Brother Gradius, is everything ready?” Brother Gradius turned from giving his orders to a servitor and quickly came to attention before relaxing again into his usual concentrated demeanour.

“They are Captain Antonius. The machine spirit has awoken and looks forward to taking us once more into battle. I will board momentarily and make the final preparations while the prayer is said. You will forgive me.”

“Of course brother. To your duty then.” Eualus gave the veteran a slap on the shoulder piece and turned back to see the Chaplain preparing for the prayer. Claudius was waiting for him to join them before he commenced. With a brief nod to the force commander he took his place beside the Chaplain, taking a knee. The rest of the company followed his example as the Chaplain commenced the prayer.

The voice of Chaplain Claudius Perphius boomed around the hangar, reciting the prayer before they boarded the thunderhawk.

“Lord Emperor,
Guide us in this our time of battle,
Let our enemy not best us,
Let them know the judgment of your holy light,
On these your children,
Place your divine protection and blessing,
That they might return to us having made the heavens safe once more.

There was a slight pause before the Chaplain recited the Company’s motto.

“Paratus et Fidelis”

Brother Gradius had waited patiently while the prayer was said. After the response was given by the company the commnet in Antonius' ear buzzed.
" Brother Captain, we are ready when you are"

With that Antonius turned to the assembled marines.
"Brothers, the time is now. Load up and prepare for the drop. Emperor protect you all."

Captain Antonius was the first into the belly of the thunderhawk as the sergeants rallied their squads.

[Julius Quintus]

OOC: OK guys before you start posting in this thread go the Armoury thread Gearing up for the drop and post your exact loadout before battle. This is so we can check at a glance what your carrying and needs to include how many magazines and grenades your carrying. Check my post for what I mean. You can find details of you weapons including their ammunition capacity in the Arsenal board.

IC: Julius knelt on the hanger deck with the rest of the strike force, his head bowed in prayer. He paid only scant attention to the chaplins blessing though, using the time to focus his mind on the coming mission. Behind the blank visor of his helmet his face took on a grim caste which would have been frightening to behold for any opponent.

“Paratus et Fidelis.” The chaplin ended the lesson with the chapter motto and Julius leapt to his feet with the other clashing his armoured fist to his breastplate in salute and repeating the line through the harsh grating voice of his armours external address system.

The marines started to file towards the waiting Thunderhawk as the
brother-pilot started the engines and ran his preflight checks. Julius opened a channel to his squad.

"Let the tactical squad board first. They have to be first off to secure our LZ perimeter so take your places further away from the deployment ramp"

Julius closed the channel and entered the Gunship. The troop bay was big enough to seat 30 brothers in full armour but today they were going in with only 18 so many of the seats remained empty. Julius followed his own orders taking a seat a little way down the troop bay and locking his bolter into a restrain rack built into the G-couches armrest before strapping himself in with quick release crash webbing.

[Marcus Camillus]

Marcus walked into the Hangar at a brisk pace, seeing the Tactical squad already entering the Thunderhawk. Quickly walking up and entering the vehicle Marcus hoped his lateness would go unnoticed. He entered, moving towards the back where he could see Scout Sergeant Quintus securing his Bolter. Nodding to the Sergeant on his way past Marcus locked his weapons in place, along with the valuable Melta Bombs for his squad.

Marcus turned back and saw, despite his late arrival, most of the seats were still empty. Taking an empty seat he strapped himself in, testing the straps for secureness. Waiting for takeoff he began to whisper the blessings of the Machine Spirit to his armour, preparing the Spirit of it for War and Battle.

[Roland Muleto]

Roland arrived just in time to hear the motto of the fourth. He wasn't that late. Quickly he fell in line with the first squad and took his place beside brother Marcus.
With the approaching drop and the long minutes his anxiety began to rise. Golden Throne... he really hated this.

[Andrus Taranius]

Andrus Taranius was ready, fully loaded with a fire in his belly.
He felt the rush, the possibility for glory; for honour.
He walked into the gunship taking his place,sitting near his seniors, battle brothers who had proved their devotion countless times. Then he saw his sergeant waiting for the rest of the squad, glaring at the ramp.
He adjusted his hair, the leather strap binding it, being pulled tighter; It had to be tight, he thought, no use if it breaks free in combat.
He smiled ,knowing he would be the hand of justice. His lips forming the catechisms of hate he had been taught, his mind becoming battle ready, gaining the necessary focus he needed.
He closed his eyes concentrating, focusing his other senses, they could be vital in the coming conflict.

[Magnus Calpurnius]

Standing up after the chaplains prayer, Magnus boarded the thunderhawk. The sergeant had told them to sit near the back so that's exactly what he did, taking a seat next to Taranius. Placing the heavy bolter in a secure place, he got ready for the ride.

He wasn't a fan of thunderhawks, but that was simply because he hated flying. He couldn't see how any of the others could trust their lives to a big metal box. Still, he hadn't been shot down yet, and the rational part of him was sure he wouldn't be this time. He just felt more comfortable with his feet on the ground.

[Demoades Achilles]

Demoades stood, ready. His plasmagun was clamped to a lock he had built into his backpack for holding weapons and special equipment. The marine stomped up onto the deck of the thunderhawk gunship, and sat down, strapping himself in. He had been in one of these craft only a few times before. He was ready for combat...

[Manius Agrippa]

Tactical Sergeant Agrippa Entered the Thunderhawk behind his squad and began one final equipment check with each marine in his squad starting with Delta fire team.

Brother Crosius, his heavy weapon locked into a port arms position nodded to the Sergeant as Manius checked over his equipment including the 3000 rounds carried in the Marines oversized backpack.

He slapped his shoulder plate, equipment check complete!

Next to him sat Marine Pulo who also carried a over sized back pack. If Crosius was to run out of ammo during an engagement then he would simply hand the entire weapon over to Pulo. Of course if not in contact at the time they would simply exchange backpacks.

Sergeant Agrippa gripped his hand in a warriors grip, equipment check complete!

Brother’s Cicero, Paulas, and Varian made up the rest of first squads Delta Fire team and one by one he moved down the line. With each one a different acknowledgement, Crashing helmets with Cicero (a holdover from their 9th Devastator Squad days), a solid wrist grip with Paulas and a formal salute with Varian. Equipment check complete!

Moving to the other side of the compartment he reached Brother Septinius checking over his weapons and equipment and finding nothing wrong. Again a unique ‘hand shake’ – punching their fist’s together knuckle to knuckle. Equipment check complete!

Then he reached Brother’s Achilles, Camillus and Muleto.