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My BT army short story
Topic Started: 17 Feb 2010, 04:07 PM (464 Views)
Varas Mortez
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Colour Sergeant
I wrote a while ago, not sure if I am happy with it but thought I would post it up, its just a wee story, introducing some of the men from my crusade.

Marshal Mortez stood on the bridge of his ship, the strike cruiser, the Divinus Viator. He gazed out of the main viewing screen. His eyes focussed on the planet below, its large areas of dark green predominant from orbit. The world was Astavan III and it was primarily an agri-world, they had been received a distress call and had come to investigate.
A figure walked up beside him, and stood to his right. The new figure did not utter a word, merely stood there in silence. Eventually Mortez turned to look at the man beside him.
Chaplain Varas was an imposing figure, his face was heavily scarred and his shaved head just added to his menacing appearance. He was one of the most devout men that Mortez knew and they had been fighting together for many years.
“Brother-Chaplain Varas, are the men ready?” Mortez asked quietly. Varas nodded his head.
“Yes Marshal, they are in prayer and the neophytes are fastening the last weapons to the initiates. They will not lose their tools of death during the battle.” Varas said smiling slightly.
“Very well prepare the Thunderhawks, leave squad Varai and Sonnac aboard ready for deployment by drop pod, and do the same for Jarold.” Mortez said. “We may need the ancient before the days is done.” Mortez said, speaking of brother Jarold, who was interned within the armoured sarcophagus of the dreadnought. Varas nodded at this then turned and walked away from the bridge.

Andreas Mortez of the Black Templars had been in the Emperors service for over a hundred years. His combat abilities were matched only by his tactical skill. He was often seen as grim and ruthless; however it was these qualities as well as a good relationship with his men that made him such an effective and respected Marshal.
His strength and skill lent themselves well in close combat and he had earned the respect of his men many times over. Leading by example at the front of the conflict where the danger was greatest.

Mortez walked to where the ships’ drop pods were kept. The squads of men were standing beside them ready to mobilize if needed. They bowed their heads as he approached and he nodded to them, at recognition of their show of respect.

“My brothers, it cannot be seen what will occur on the planet surface. Chaplain Varas shall remain on the ship with several sword brethren. He will relay the order if you must deploy. Think upon the words of Chaplain Varas, his, is the wisdom of the crusade. No Pity, No Remorse, No Fear!” He shouted, and the war cry of the chapter was roared back.

As he entered the main launch hanger he saw more of his warriors, the remainder of the men stood beside the Thunderhawks waiting for orders. A group of figures in stood to the side of the room, the red crosses and white cloaks marked them out as his sword brethren. They were the most skilled warriors on the ship and close advisor's to Mortez himself. Mortez walked over to them and they wordlessly fell in around him, before as one they all boarded one of the Thunderhawks.

The engines on the gunship were already running. The rear ramp was raised and the ships engines roared with power as the vessel left the launch bay. Mortez walked up and took a seat behind the pilots. They welcomed him and he looked through the cockpits window and saw the planet begin to approach rapidly. The view turned bright orange as they entered the planet’s atmosphere. The pilots used their instruments to find the main city where they would be landing. The ship sped through the atmosphere, rapidly heading towards the planets main space station.

The Thunderhawk touched down on the landing platform and the rear door was lowered. Mortez and his Sword Brethren looked out at the landing pad before them. All assessing it for threats, even though this was not expected. They were met by a diplomat of some sort or so you would think from his elaborate robes.

“Greetings lord Marshal.” He said, his voice was smooth and had a reassuring quality. “The governor has asked me to bring you to him.” He didn’t wait for an answer before turning on his heel and walking off. Mortez followed silently, he was on his guard. His instincts told him he should not trust these people. The diplomat had seemed almost greasy, but then having only had Black Templars to deal with in recent years, possibly he was no longer used to the politics of normal men.

They were brought before the governor of the planet. The man seemed to be in good shape, his build marked him out as a soldier, his robes as a politician, and together it was an odd mix. His eyes looked at Mortez, the man’s eyes were a piercing blue and he looked at the space marines before him approvingly.
“Greetings, my name is Estaphon Vorg.” He said analyzing them.
“Greetings governor, I am Marshal Mortez of the Black Templars.” Mortez’s voice had a steely quality, it carried power and wisdom. “You asked for our assistance?”
“Indeed an alien force keeps mounting raids upon us. They come, butcher a town then are gone before the PDF can get there.” Vorg said, the stress was obvious in his voice. “At this rate we will be unable to meet our tithes.”
“I shall see what can be done.” Mortez said, not giving anything away. The sword brethren around him stood like statues.
“Thank you Marshal, I appreciate it.” Vorg answered realising the ambiguity of the statement but grateful for any help at all.

Mortez sat in the Thunderhawk as it returned to the Divinus Viator, thinking on how best to destroy this threat. He believed from the description they sounded like the hateful elder, or so he assumed.

As they arrived at the Divinus Viator, the rear door was lowered and they walked out into the hanger bay. Chaplain Varas was standing waiting.
As they walked to Mortez’s quarters neither saying anything, only once they were inside and the door had closed did they speak. Each took a seat at the table which dominated the room.

“I believe the force that has been attacking them are Eldar.” Mortez told him, “The PDF can’t even get there in time to catch them, let alone fight them. We shall hold the ship just outside of range of the planet, but keep our scanners activated for sign of their ships entry. When it arrives we shall move back into orbit and the Thunderhawks will deploy and follow them down. Our units in drop pods will then deploy to reinforce the units and tanks on the ground.”
Mortez sat waiting for Varas to make a comment. He made none and so he continued.
“They will send a signal to indicate when they have found and engaged the enemy. You then deploy and spearhead the assault. You and the Sword Bretheren in Terminator armour will then give the killing blow to their force.” Varas nodded as the plan was outlined and details added. Eventually as he had not yet discerned it, Varas asked a question.
“And where shall you be Marshal?” he said softly. Mortez grinned wickedly as he looked at the Chaplain.
“I will be on a Thunderhawk heading to their ship. Making sure there is no escape for the xenos scum.” “Just like Calaxis all over again.” Varas grinned.
“Aye but this will be quicker.” Mortez said nodding.
“Very well sir, I shall organise the men.” Varas said as he stood up. He turned and left through the door, which slid shut behind him.
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Roesor
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Hope you're going to continue with it to be honest. Given any thought to a Champion?
I'll be adding fluff at some point for The Templum Angelus myself, already have names for most of my squads dreads characters etc but whenever I mention them I just get funny looks, not many people into th whole making a story behind them thing :(
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Varas Mortez
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The champion, no I havent, but I guess thats cos obviously it changes each battle, depending who gets the vision from the emperor.

I might indeed write more, need some free time though.

When you post yours, send me a message with the link, would like to read it. I like the fluff behind armies. Really like the horus heresy books for the stuff they show.
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Roesor
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I've only read the collected visions, but it was awsome. Can't get hold of much, any cash spare I get goes on models and libraries are poorly stocked.
I had always assumed to be honest that the vision occured once during a crusade and then that initiate became the emperor's champion until his death or the end of the crusade. And the reference to 'on the eve of battle' was not every eve of every battle, just that it the vision could occur on any eve of any battle.
It's how I'm swinging it anyway, I abhor the thought that a new one could be chosen every day codex wise, are they all WS 6 after all? If it happens that it is supposed to be a new one every time then extremely covieniently my Champion shall always be the same person and recieve a kind of 'default' status as champion as it is always him that has the visions o.O
Chaplin: 'You AGAIN? Ah well...what the emperor wants..the emperor gets...'
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Varas Mortez
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hahaha, i like it, na I dont mean every battle, but every campaign. Be they a single battle, or over a year. I am sure I can think of something. I like the way I painted my emperor's champion. When I get my BT army up to my uni flat I'll take some pics. Just got my ogres here at the moment.

Hmm, how to carry on writing this... do I add a twist? :P but of course I have to.
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Roesor
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Ah so it is per Crusade ^_^ That makes sense.
You could of course make the enemy Dark Eldar, Templars are expected the rather placid in comparison Eldar, who are basically Space hippies o.o and instead find the psychotic, skin eating, skull humping Dark Eldar O.o
Or perhaps there is no direct alien threat, a Chaos loving governor needs a worthy sacrifice to secure his acendance to daemonhood hence the false distress call to the Templars, being hailed as even exceeding normal marines in personal combat, their deaths would be a most worthy sacrifice to the blood god. Instead of a Xenos threat, prepped to fight the fast moving and poor in combat Eldar, they find large amounts of dug in PDF forces with lots of weaponry and armour, the Templars, geared up for jetbikes and light veichles they find Leman Russ's and masses of fiery death. They fight as best they can with their limited range and firepower, and just as their depleted forces break through and begin to slice apart the traitors...
'BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!'

Dun dun duuuuuunnn
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Varas Mortez
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Nice ideas, was already thinking dark eldar, but im not sure if I will stick with that.
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Roesor
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Why thankee O.o
Got myself another Champion, well, my girlfriend bought me one, hopefully the curse on my games will now be lifted.
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Varas Mortez
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The dice gods are fickle.
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Roesor
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Indeed the curse has, so far he has only succumed to his wounds once, and to be honest that is purely because I thought it greatly fitting that my opponents last unit, a daemon prince with one wound should be faced solely by my Champion, also on one wound.
He had to to make three 5+ saves I had to make two 4+ I passed one and he got three sixes O.o However, the tension was quite palpable and most defintely worth it, especially as I was up on KP 7 to 1 and it was his last turn and he could only kill a max of three.
And, to be fair, he was only on one wound because he'd just killed a lord of change. ^_^ He also killed an Avatar the game before and before that a Chapter Master.
Ah but I do love my Champion, to mark his first falling however he now sports only one eye, and I do think I shall write something potentially epic...soon a I get my own laptop >_>
Anyhoo how's the next chapter/section/thing coming along? Decided on a twist and definte bad person?


p.s. Daemon prince killed nothing after and it's jovial celebratory dance of death was abruptly ended by my techmarine, who saw fit to avenge his Champion by smacking it in the head with a servo arm, twice.
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Varas Mortez
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Hahaha, I love it. I love it when characters play as they should. My champion once took out an entire catachan army in a thousand point skirmish. The guy i was playing was sure he could snipe me through trees (since found out the truth of this) so kept trying to sniper my good marines. So I sent my champion out alone while the rest sat smoking and eating behind their rhinos. He killed sly marbo, the general and beat the crap out of any unit that assaulted him. Was hysterical.

Nothing written yet, real life work in the way at the moment. Am going to get to it though, got a few ideas.
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Roesor
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Indeed, he is grossly underestimated. In fact against foes like tau or guard that tend to be very shooty, I have a 24 man squad, including my Chaplin and his cenobytes, to make sure he gets into combat...unfortunately my gf fully realises that not only is he worth killing but that his death a a major blow to morale...and so usually turbo penatrates him in her first shooting phase >_> I've taken to hiding him behind a land raider, which she frequently blows up with her exorcist..then shoots my Champion...plus her battle sisters can be deceptively awsome in combat...hmmf.
Me and Sachiel recently came up with some fluff for what happened to my second champion after he was lost to the warp (stolen!) basically I'm thinking of starting a chaos army, and we decided that he's going to be some sort of trophy for im, either dead on his base or a champions head as part of his skull/helmet necklace or somesuch...
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