Slain by Elf

Ork buggies acquired, we park the Storm Raven and head towards the main ork camp, where the Dark Angel signal is being transmitted from. We reconnoitre the camp from afar, seeing it built on either side of a canyon, having a gladiatorial arena in the middle. The signal appears to be coming from near the arena.

We need a plan. 'Drive in, hit them hard, drive out again.'

'The mission briefing noted that a full-out assault probably wasn't the best option.'

'I don't think this could be called a 'full' anything. It sounds like a half-arsed assault at best.'

We take the Storm Raven assault craft from the watch station down to the planet, reconnoitring the various objectives from high altitude. The primary objective is to disable an ongoing transmission that continues to bring orks to the region. Secondary objectives include destroying an ork Gargant, and killing the ork leader in the main camp.

The primary objective seems the most important, naturally, and also seems the most likely to succeed. The transmitter to be destroyed is housed in a spire built on a mountain. We start devising plans on how to access it.

Our favoured plan is cinematic. We pilot the Storm Raven up to the spire's control deck, blow the crap out of it, then hover the Raven as our demolitions expert jumps in to set charges. The main problem we have with this plan is that our demolitions expert and pilot are the same person.

There is also a secondary problem with this plan. 'We don't have enough XP for me to learn the demolitions skill at the moment.'

'Okay, so we'll land near a camp and shoot a few orks first.' Sorted.

The machine spirit grants us access to the armoury, where we can requisition some different equipment. Being updated by the machine spirit of the watch station also gives us new mission objectives, which gives us an opportunity to choose a new leader and retake our mission oath.

We decide the mission oath remains relevant and we keep it. As for our squad leader, the oath allows for either an assault marine or tactical marine to be in charge. 'Brother Gadriel', says Brother Lucian, our leader to this point, 'would you like to assume leadership of the squad for the next portion of our mission?'

'I think you may be better qualified, Brother Lucian.'

'Well, my Fellowship is...'

'Mine's 3.'

'Ah, right. The whole half-your-head-blown-off incident. Okay, I'll lead.'

'As we recce the level, we should keep our eyes open for...'

'Orks!'

'...computer terminals.'

'I prefer Democritus's plan.'

'The consensus is that we're going to recce this level.'

'Yes. Because, so far, there is only this level.'

'Okay, Brothers, which way do we go? And the first person to say "left is the righteous path" will be—Ow! What was that for?'

'You said it first.'

Somehow, we don't manage to surprise the orks inside the main entrance to the watch station. Something to do with security cameras in the airlock. We have to fight our way in.

One ork has a fully automatic weapon, and he opens fire on our Brother Lucian. One bullet hits. It's a decent hit too, getting the maximum 10 damage from a D10 roll.

'Do the orks get the benefit of the extra damage roll on a 10?'

'I dunno. Isn't it something to do with the Emperor's favour?' A quick check of the rules confirms this. 'Yes, there is a "chance the Emperor's favour is with the attacker", but it's not restricted to Deathwatch marines.'

The ork confirms the attack and gets a second damage D10 added to the first, which means more damage inflicted to Brother Lucian.

'The Emperor has indeed smiled on the attacker. His wisdom is a shining beacon to us all.'

The remaining orks are defeated with relative ease, and we move on to the main entrance of the watch station. The airlock door is closed, with the controls overridden from the inside.

We don't have all day to let Brother Gadriel get us in, so Brother Lucian steps up and hacks in to the controls from our side. It works. The door opens, leading us in to a ten-by-ten metre room.

'Damn, there's another door!'

'It's an airlock.'

The orks attack!

One swings a buzzsaw down on Brother Gadriel, who, being an assault marine, effortlessly parries the blow with his power sword.

Of course, a non-power weapon being parried by a power weapon doesn't end well for the non-power weapon. The buzzsaw shatters as the two weapons strike each other, much to our ever-distant Ultramarine's delight.

'He won't try that again!'

Well, yeah, not without his weapon.

We take our mission oath and are on our way to the watch station.

'What? Where are we?' Brother Gadriel, assault marine, pilot, perhaps should be paying more attention.

'We're in the pipe, five by five.'

'I'll fly casual. But not too casual.'

'Transmit Ride of the Valkyries on all frequencies.'

'I'd be okay with Flight of the Bumblebees.'

We're only going a short distance, but it's going to be a long flight.