Mission 3: Needle

Several days later all the Kill-teams participating in the Ferros Campaign are summoned to the giant construct inside the ship called Phabon’s Cathedral. Already there are serfs moiling around, chanting and carrying incense burners. The purpose of the following ritual is as ancient as the oldest space marine chapter. After a campaign, the brothers gather to recite what has been accomplished, and to enter all deeds into the books of remembrance. Servais has tried to strike a balance of what the different chapters expect from this ceremony; it is not as solemn as a Dark Angel might want it, or as rowdy as a Space Wolf might like, but all find it satisfactory.

Several hours into the ceremony it is recorded that all of the other missions of the campaign were successes, and while in the Ferros system, there was no lives lost among the Deathwatch. It also becomes clear that the mission to find interrogator Pirot was probably the hardest, and the most successful. Servais begins with a more powerful voice then everybody has been used to hearing from him:

“In the year 991M41 and the system Ferros, Brother Captain Maximus of the Doom Eagles led a Kill-team comprised of Iron Hands Techmarine Copper, Space Wolves Librarian Byron, Devastators Icarus of the Salamanders and Venatio of the Storm Wardens, and Dark Angels Apothecary Hypodermic on a mission to infiltrate the orkish kill-krooza 'da Hummie Smasha' and to retrieve the captured interrogator Pirot. Let it be entered into the records that the Kill-team performed the following great deeds:

Unum: Brother Maximus displayed great tactical finesse and under his leadership, the Kill-team rescued Interrogator Pirot, and brought her back safely. They also rescued several other loyal Imperial personnel.

Duo: After rescuing interrogator Pirot, the Kill-team helped her to fulfill her divine mission, to capture the heretek Magos Feymann. Heretek Feymann has been returned to the Imperial fold, and will be brought before the Inquisitorial court in the Tower of Brass, when this ship reaches Watch Station Erioch.

Tria: Throughout the mission, the combined might of Brother Venatio and Brother Icarus brought the God-Emperors judgment upon the orks, leaving no orks alive as they moved through the ship.

Quattuor: The kill-team also eliminated the recidivist Castus Hayha. A former Imperial Guardsman who together with his brother Simo, for the last ten years have sold their services to enemies of the Imperium. His body will be brought back to his former regiment, the 79th Malfian Infantry in the Cellebos Warzone, where it will, as a last act, serve as a morel booster for the troops there.

Quinque: Brother Byron, with great courage and skill, brought the fury of the Emperor down on his enemies and dealt the killing blow to captain Woshtrakka. For this great deed, and also those in past missions since his vigil began, I will recommend to his chapter master, that he be allowed the wear the Imperial Laurel on his return from service in the Deathwatch. Until that time, let all marines of the Watch treat him as if he is already wearing it.

Sixtem: Blessed by the Emperor and the Omnissiah, Brother Copper's great technological ability and understanding was instrumental in the securing, capturing and piloting of the ork ship. The craft is now with the Imperial Navy who will see it delivered to the Forge Worlds of Mars. There the Adeptus Mechanicus is to decide the fate of the heretic experiment.

Septum: Under the care of Brother Apothecary Hypodermic, the entire squad returned without any loss of personnel and material.

Let these deeds be entered into our records, and let us all remember them. As our deeds are to be kept in secret, let all here hear these deeds, and take pride in them, for they are only known to us and the God-Emperor. Shortly we leave this system. Take an hour to reflect on our stay here, and then resume your training.”

Servais salutes everybody present, and then turns and salutes the mural of the Emperor that dominates the cathedral. With that he walks out. In the distance, the rumbling of the warp engines powering up can be heard.

BUMP!