[@Wraithblade6][@KabenSaal][@MonkeyBusiness][@DepressedSoviet][@FinDragon][@DracoLunaris][@Andreyich][@Dead Cruiser][@Zelosse][@Hank]


The matted black vessel slunk through the depths of the void like some form of prowling oceanic predator -  having spent over seven months journeying from one end of the Milky Way to the other – its blunt prow cutting through the blackness of space with ease, a near invisible presence that had been just as close and just as unseen by inhabitants in the galaxy for over ten millennia; where once the unlit vessel may have transported the infamous and near-forgotten Witchseekers, it now served a different master – the shadowy and indispensable operatives of the holy and venerable Ordo Xenos.

Having set out from the Segmentum Solar with but one purpose, it had roamed far and wide in search of the precious cargo that had been requested to fulfil an oath made long ago. 

From far and wide they had been received, the Black Ship collecting the chosen ones and bringing them aboard with practised ritual and speed, from a crusading fleet of the Black Templars to the planet Khoraj where the Iron Champions presided, after a deep-space rendezvous with the Sons of Medusa and going as far as the realm of Ultramar in search of those noble sons of Guilliman. 

Further additions were bought forth from the ferocious Flesh Tearers, the righteous Harbingers and a multitude of other Astartes Chapters, each having sworn to render unto the secretive Deathwatch what they required when it was requested.

Each marine had been accepted onto the ship with due reverence, their weapons and armour (or as much as possible) removed until they were stripped down to nothing but their black carapace. Each Brother was then placed within a stasis tube, temporarily interred there under Inquisitorial biddings, each perfectly safe for transport to their next destination even if it seemed as only a few moments to them between inactivity and awakening.

Where was it that they were heading?

Deep in the Casistus Sector, nestled in a cluster of long-dead stars, is the location of what was once a fully functioning Imperial facility; since before the dark days of the Heresy the massive structure, named 'Fort Acestes' by the few even aware of its existence, has floated and remained exactly where it is to this day.

Theorised to have been constructed during the Dark Age of Technology, crafted and built by the hands of Human colonists as some form of frontier settlement and defensive structure, Acestes is not altogether unlike a more 'civilian' version of a Ramilles Class Star-fort – or even dissimilar from the Craftworlds of the Eldar.

Not a small number of minor STCs were uncovered by the initial Deathwatch and Ordo Xenos boarding parties, each archived and stored away as swiftly as possible lest they fall into the wrong hands. Over the following years the monumental structure – which contained enough room to house a whole Chapter of Astartes and their fleets, but lacked more than basic defensive weapons – was internally changed to reflect its new occupants, everything from hangar bays to training rooms, chambers, and a Xenos 'zoo' being added.

It is into one of these hangar that the Black Ship slid, clamps locking it into place and the Marines wheeled out inside their stasis units; one-by-one the pods are up-righted, the stasis fields de-activated and the battle-brothers within given a good fifteen minutes to realise where they are and reacquaint themselves with fresh air after such a long time frozen between moments.

All around the hangar is a hive of activity, servitors going to-and-fro as they complete their given tasks, serfs in plain black robes moving past to check on the cruiser some feet away, and all this enclosed within an immense structure of almost completely smooth metal the colour of jet. Below their feet is Imperial-built grated decking, standard in most airdocks across the Imperium, but above them is a ceiling that disappears into shadow before the upper surface is even seen.

From the far end of the hangar came two figures, one had the look of any other Deathwatch marine except that all Chapter identification had been erased, only the silver 'I' and skull of the Deathwatch visible upon his freshly painted armour. Beside him walked another more prominent figure, his Corvus-pattern helmet sweeping left and right as he took in the line of recruits before him. Both came to a halt in front of the newly minted volunteers.

“My name is Watch-Captain Roa Eritana of the Silver Skulls,” came a deep but level tone from within the helmet, a helmet which if studied closely was covered in interlocking whorls and swirls of silver against the black paint, “welcome to Fort Acestes, brothers, where you shall prepare to take your Second Oath and become a full-fledged member of the Deathwatch.”

Gesturing to the so far silent figure at his side he spoke once more, “this is Brother Sorrow, he too has only been here a short while and will be joining you as I put you through your paces.” Another short flick of a finger sent 'Sorrow' to join the now organised line of dressed-down transhumans.

“So,” proclaimed the veteran alien hunter, spreading his arms wide before letting them fall by his side, “who are you and from where do you hail?”



[hider=PLEASE READ]Okie dokie,

You have been taken aboard the Black Ship from your parent Chapter, stripped of armour and weapons - which have now been wheeled away by servitors - and placed in a stasis pod while everyone else is 'collected'. Between then and waking up at the fortress you will likely know/remember nothing, save whatever you may have dreamt, if you dream at all.

Now is the time to introduce yourselves, feel free to write about just before boarding the ship and being put into stasis, as well as your reactions to awaking where you now are. If your marine has questions, those can come too. Want them to react in any other way...write it in there.

Once everyone's done I shall then move us on, but please remember that I'd like quality over quantity; feel free to write whatever you think would be relevant with what I've given you all to work with, which I appreciate is not currently much!

For those who like a bit of purging, well, we'll get onto that soon enough. ;)[/hider]