An Ancient Xenos Relic

[VanHelser]

An Ancient Xenos Relic
Printed from: The Conclave
Topic URL: www.exterminatus.com/forum_b/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2011
Printed on: 20/10/2004
Topic:

Topic author: Van Helser
Subject: An Ancient Xenos Relic
Posted on: 04/02/2004 15:36:16
Message:
'The heart burns in red-red flames, what power at hand. What do you suppose that means?' Dominic Nestrazzi II asked as he held the astropathic message in his hands.

'Put that down!' Clyde Markov yelled. This kid really annoyed him. He just didn't know his place. He was always touching things he had no right to touch, and just generally got in the way. 'That's a message from Ejerholm's Forge World,' Markov replied to Dominic, who had quickly replaced the data-slate on the desktop. 'They've translated the piece of text we gave them years ago. Me and Ejerholm had done quite a bit of it ourselves, but that last bit was just too tough for us. We didn't have the databanks. The Forge World did though.' Markov's tone had changed. He was supposed to be teaching this kid, plus he liked sounding like he knew it all. 'As to what it means, we have a few theories, but we aren't entirely sure. We think its talking about a relic of some power that was buried with some scientist. We're heading to the world mentioned in that report right now actually.'

Dominic chanced a glance back towards the data-slate. 'Panea III. Where's that?' He stated the first part with an air of understanding. He asked the second totally lost.

Markov chuckled. 'Basiacally, you don't need to know.' Dominic looked disappointed at that. 'OK, OK,' Markov said, bringing a slight look of cheer to Dominic's face. 'It's pretty near the Ghost Stars, galactic north-east. No humans there though. But it least it does have air, unlike the last rock.'

'Do I get to come along?' Dominic asked expectantly.

'Yes,' Markov answered begrudgingly. 'As long as you promise to do exactly what you're told. Without question.' Dominic nodded.
__________________________________________________________________________________

The Adeptus Mechanicus ship broke warp at the edge of the Panea system. 10 hours later and the ship had cruised past two gas giants and through an asteroid field and was in orbit over Panea III's chilly form. An explorator shuttle detached itself from the craft's belly and burnt its way through the atmosphere. On board were Clyde Markov, Techpriest Ejerholm, Savant Dorsin and Dominic Nestrazzi II. Not the best company Markov could have wished for, but he didn't have much choice in the matter currently. Dominic Nestrazzi I had hired the Archeoxenan to find him exotic treasures for his study at a substantial price; but he had to educate his son, and be followed around by the fat, sour faced savant. At least Ejerholm was with him. He and the Xenarite had been working closely for well over a decade now, and he counted the Techpriest as one of his friends. Whether or not Ejerholm had the emotional capacity to know his part in the relationship was anybody's guess.

The shuttle set down in a small clearing in the cold forest that ringed Panea III's equator. The icy world had only a 5000km gap between its north and south poles, and even this stretch of green barely got above 10 degrees celsius in the summer months. At the moment it was late spring, and snow still lay in the shadows away from the weak light of the Panea system's star, a red giant heading for extinction.

'Cold out,' Dorsin said as he stepped onto the planet's surface.

'Thermal sensors register at 2 degrees,' Ejerholm reported in his rasping voice.

'Which way to the tomb?' Markov asked.

'Bearing of 321, 1.675 kilometres,' Ejerholm stated, 'do we proceed?'

'Proceed,' Markov answered, buttoning up his overcoat. He paced forward a few yards, before he turned to Dominic, who was pulling on some gloves at the bottom of the shuttle's ramp. 'You coming?'

'No,' Dominic stated firmly.

'Well, when your dad asks what you learnt, you'd better tell him that you decided not to come exploring with us,' Markov retorted. With a humph, Dominic started after them.
__________________________________________________________________________________

The tomb, like all Dorvastian structures that Ejerholm had catalogued had no foundations. The Techpriest's theories about electro-magnetic repulsion circuits built into the underside of the buildings hadn't been proven as yet, but he was still confident. A krak grenade had dealt with the door, and now they were inside, their lamps playing across the bare, smooth grey walls inside. The corridor seemed to stretch on for forever. The explorers headed further inside.
Replies:

Reply author: BrotherXanthron
Replied on: 04/02/2004 16:59:41
Message:
Drugal let the cold air caress his face, as the Kroot Vulture flew towards the location Drugal suspected the tomb to be. The greenery below him that swept past in a blur, reminded him of home, but the temperature did not. He was freezing cold.

"<There!>"

Drugal pointed to a small clearing and the Vulture Kindred changed course. Over the clearing the Vulture gave Drugal a good luck and let him go. Drugal felt his adrenaline rush through him, reveling in the sensation before he hit the ground on all fours, his tightly wrought muscles absorbing the impact.

Drugal looked around, his kroot eyes looking into the forest around him, then sniffed the air. He spun suddenly, bringing his kroot rifle to bear and squeezed off a shot. The crack of his rifle was followed by a thump, as a reasonable sized lizard fell off the rock it was hiding on.

Drugal stared at his kill, shivering in the freezing air, before kneeling over and taking his first bite of the dead lizard.

. . . .

Drugal looked at the temple in curiousity. He no longer shivered, and his skin took on a duller grey look, similar to the lizard he had eaten a few hours ago. He also moved a little slower, a slight side affect, but he hadn't seen any fast moving creatures yet.

Drugal stepped foreward cautiously and examined the door, running his claws into the grooves of the achaic symbols carved into the door. He placed the melta bomb he had been carrying on the door and set it for 20 seconds. Carver, he thought, had better pay good for this little trinket he was been paid to fetch.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 05/02/2004 00:22:18
Message:
On the Dracos II, the officer's ward room was occupied for the first time in months. A holo-projection of a desolate planet hung over the oval table. A mechanical almost-human voice spoke with authority to the group.

"Panea III is the next target of our investigation. We have a general layout of the planet surface and knowlege of a series of underground tunnels and catacombs. Unfortunately, there are no recent files on where the cache is or which entrances lead to it."

He paused, replicating a human trait of taking one's breath before speaking. "Although this may seem a foolhearty search, it is not. I disagreeociates have provided me with a special auspex file which will effectively search out the Xenos energy source. I have already installed the device onboard, as it will need the ship's power to pick up the faint source. Be warned, the auspex program is only acurate to a 40k meter pick-up and a 3k meter pinpoint. Once the exploration team lands, I will be able to more accurately track our target."

Pausing again, he scanned the table of faces. Inquisitor Stryde sat on the other end, Juxt to her right and the Navigator Borno on her left. Next to them sat an Imperial Guardsman officer he hadn't met yet and an elderly savant which recorded everything onto a data slate.

He continued, "I have mapped the best possible course with the Navis Nobilitai," pointing off-handedly to Borno with a metal digit. "Questions?" He picked this phrase up long ago when he worked away from his Tech-brothers. Things that made perfect sense to his Brothers would make nonsense to everyone else.

The older officer spoke up, "What's the climate like? Are there natives? How large is the thing we're looking for and is it dangerous? How do you know 'it' is still there?" Silos stared the mechanical face that studied his.

"Good questions...Major..." he saw the rank on his uniform and registered it. "The planet has an atmosphere that has low toxicity limits. The climate is extremely low for your biological facilities. Thermal suits are a necessity for the team, aside from myself. There are no known native lifeforms that could threaten the team. The 'thing' as you so distinctly put it, is unknown. My sources have most recently sent a message to me on it, so there is great reason to believe it is still there. Also, it's location clearly is outside normal spaceways."

"Fine, Tech Priest, good report. Silos, is your detachement team ready?" Lady Stryde asked the Major.

"As ready as they can be in the week's time we'll be in transit."

"Good enough. Brother Mechanicus, the exploration team will consist of myself, Juxt, Savant Gjoruio Mosk and yourself. Silos, keep an extraction team ready just incase. Borno, keep in contact with my link when we reach planetside. Anything else people?"

"There is one more thing...Jenna..." Raalthon still had trouble speaking to an Inquisitor with their first name. "I must come into contact with the artefact first, and I require full authority over 'it'."

"She's all yours. Meeting adjourned."


The sleek green and silver corvette slashed through the immaterium. At one point they almost had to exit early for fear of a warp storm. And yet, with the guidance of the two astropaths onboard and the masterful foresight of the Navigator, the Dracos II found it's destination.

Jenna Stryde took the pilot's seat and perused the runepads and pict-viewers before her. Her old pilot instincts took over as she issued commands. The new auspex files were online, the shields and weapons power supplies redirected to the outboard sensors. The ship went at a stealthy crawl as the sensors swept the icy planet.

A faint pulse issued from the screen on a large area of the planet. She headed the ship that way, unknown that more starcraft were in the area and that others were searching planetside already.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Dante
Replied on: 05/02/2004 14:01:51
Message:
A voice sounded in her head, a voice of an old friend quiet for a long time...

"Jenna, I may be able to become a physical entity again, all I need it a powerful servitor body with the necessary implants. Wear the claw and plug it into the servitor's brain. Hopefully the electronic code that is me will pass into the servitor body. I have spend a long time doing the calculations, and I believe this would work, will you try it?"

Jenna smiled again, Igor was back...


'How do you plead after hearing the truth? Guilty or Less guilty?' - Advocate Dominicus

'Many of the answers to mysteries in this world depend greatly on our own point of view' - Obi-Wan Kenobi to Luke Skywalker

'I wonder if there are people out there who collect geishes...' - Arch Heretic Joseph MacGibbon

Reply author: BrotherXanthron
Replied on: 05/02/2004 14:52:36
Message:
A few hour later Drugal emerged from the temple, his hands empty. He shook his head in frustration his quills on the back of his head swaying with the motion. He looked up and gave a shrill whistle.

The Vulture flew in, hearing the call of his fellow kroot and landed in front of him, an excited look on his face.

"<Well...can I see it?>"

"<I don't have it.>"

"<Wrong one again?>"

"<Yeah. Let's head back to camp and see if Master Taj'met has found anything.>"

Wordlessly the Kroot Vulture picked up Drugal and flew into the sky, heading east.

. . . .

"So Master. Any luck?"

The Shaper raised and eye at him. The gothic language was so crude when spoken by kroot.

"<No, I didn't find it either. But I did not come back with nothing.>"

He extended his hand, revealing small shards of metel. Drugal examined for a second before replying.

"<Krak grenade>"

"<I found a new temple not on the map while I was surveying.>"

The old kroot stretched his wings for emphasis.

"<It seems however that someone beat us there.>"

Drugal clicked in annoyance.

"<Well, we'll just have to try and beat them to the prize then, won't we?>"

He whistled then and his faithful Kroothound, Glyph, ran over to him. The hound was odd for his kind. Most kroothounds have vicious temperments and hate everyone even their owners. But Glyph was docile and only was vicious when attacked first.

"<Ok, Master. I am going after them. I will succeed, trust in that.>"

Two vultures grabbed Drugal and his hound. The spread their wing and began flying south east, towards the large temple the Master Shaper had found. He only hoped he wasn't too late.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 05/02/2004 21:32:55
Message:
Ejerholm lead them down the bare corridor, his night vision implants compensating for the near non-existent natural light inside the tomb. He stopped dead.

'Markov,' he rasped through bionic vocal cords, 'there are three passages ahead.'

Markov pulled up beside the Techpriest and shone his torch down the corridor, left to right. The beam revealed nothing.

'Should I call some search-servitors from the explorator shuttle?' Ejerholm asked.

'No, don't bother. We'll just do these one at a time,' Markov instructed. 'Besides, a servitor might miss something, and they aren't known for thinking on their feet either,' he added. 'Dominic. One, two or three?'

The kid seemed spurred into action and sprinted up to Markov. 'Eh, two. No! Three!' he spurted.

'Three it is then.' Markov set off down the corridor on the right, Dominic more or less attached to his hip. Ejerholm paced along behind, and Dorsin panted as he tried to keep up. The fact that the temperature had dropped below freezing hadn't stopped the overweight savant sweating buckets. Steam was rising off the top of his head. He was grumbling somewhat, but Markov ignored him.

The corridor was as bare as the last. Perfectly smooth grey walls rose up about twenty feet to the ceiling. It had to be said that the Dorvastians were minimists. Dominic was running his hand along the wall, not paying attention to where he was going. He dragged his toes and tripped, crashing into Markov. The torch skittered out of his hand and bounced along the ground. 'You clumsy little...' Markov yelled but his voice trailed off as a thin red beam shot out of the left hand wall and incinerated his flashlight. The four went deathly silent. 'Booby traps,' Markov hissed, 'nobody make a move!' Inwardly, Markov was feeling happy - booby traps usually meant that there was something worth going after. 'Ejerholm, are you picking up a power source for that laser, or its motion tracker?' he whispered.

One of the mechadendrites on the Techpriest's back writhed into motion, scanning the walls. 'Got it,' the Techpriest answered cooly, before he unholstered his Thracian pattern laspistol and shot at the right hand wall. There was a bang and then a puff of smoke. 'Motion tracker offline,' he reported.

'Good,' Markov answered, 'now lets get going, but be careful!' The last part of the sentence was directed solely at the now very pale Dominic.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 06/02/2004 08:18:59
Message:
"Inquisitor, the signal points in that direction, prepare the landing craft," Raalthon stated with purpose.

Jenna shook away the faint voice of the Magos. In time, Igor, in time. She wanted to help him, but the mission at hand was very important.

The sensors had picked up another Imperial ship, which she had commanded one of her astropaths to hail and open a communicae with. Their initial response was cursory, at best, with them stating only that they were on a peacable mission and that they had not broken any Imperial Laws.

Uncaring for the situation, her intuition told her that they might be looking for the same thing. Whatever this thing is, anyway.

She jumped out of the control seat and followed the Tech Priest to the shuttle bays. Juxt and Gjoruio stood waiting in their thermo suits. "Make sure we have enough gear, people."

"My Lady, I have prepared a medical servitor with an auspex to assist us." The venerable savant spoke as he bowed to Jenna's arrival.

"Thank you. Alright, let's get planetside!" she exclaimed with a raised mechanical fist.


After donning her thermo suit she hoped into the shuttle thingypit and prepped the engines. The small group took their seats as the bay hatches opened. A terran-looking planet with many icecaps stretched out beneath the shuttle.

The guidance systems of the shuttle fought the atmospheric winds as the shuttle descended. The complex temperature currents fought to carry the craft to wherever it desired. Jenna's brow beaded with sweat under the strain of controlling the craft toward the faint sensor signals.

"Ohhh, boy. Hold on folks. Emperor, BRING US THROUGH!!!"


Somewhere, something on the planet noticed the sky through the snow filled winds. A glint of metal shown like a falling star as the shuttle took on a collision course with a mountain icecap.


Raalthon fought the g-forces as he crawled toward the thingypit seat. Two of his mechandrites supported his heavy body by gripping the side-walls. A large shake and the Mechanicus was practically in Jenna's lap. "Allow me."

Jenna released her grip on the controls as one of Raalthon's mechandrites entered a data node. The ship noticably stablized as the Priest's vast calculations fought the random weather. Until the craft bounced and veered off a barely visible peak.

Raalthon commanded the craft deftly as their descent quickened. Her stomach dropped as the pict-viewer showed the ground come racing up to great them. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Jenna yelled as her bionic arm gripped a handle above her.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 07/02/2004 14:35:00
Message:
'Getting a transmission from the ship,' Ejerholm reported. 'It seems as if another Imperial ship has arrived in orbit. A shuttle detached and entered the atmosphere.'

'Fantastic,' Markov said sarcastically. 'There ain't nothing here bar this tomb and the relic. It's the only place they'll be coming to.' He sighed. 'We'd better get this done quickly, we don't want any trouble.'

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 09/02/2004 20:57:09
Message:
Dorsin was lagging behind. He hadn't walked for this long for years. His usual daily exercise was a 25 minute drift around the Nestrazzi estates, advising Dominic I and surveying the ornate gardens. He wished he was there now, amongst the red tulips, a rare species of plant once rumoured to have been found on holy Terra, and the giant starflowers with there near silver petals. Oh the beauty of the place. So different from the dark and plain tomb they were trudging through. He had to stop, his legs were giving way. He rested his staff on the wall and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief. He mopped the sweat from his brow and wrung out the tissue. He picked up his staff and started after the others. On the edge of his hearing, Dorsin thought he heard a vicious hissing. He turned back down the hall, shining his torch over the walls. Nothing. Cursing himself for being so jumpy, he got on with the march.

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 10/02/2004 07:44:51
Message:
A trail of smoke traced the path of the craft from where it impacted with a low mountain to the bleak surface. The craft, however, was not so easily spotted, effectively burying itself under snow and dirt. A quarter of an hour passed before any movement would be seen from the crash site.

But to the inhabitants of the shuttle, this time seemed a lifetime.


Jenna, strapped in tight to her reclined pilot's chair was the first to react. Unlatching the harness, she crawled out and surveyed her passengers. The Tech Priest was making strange noises next to her as he slowly came-to. She found that she couldn't speak because the wind had been knocked out of her, and other than a split lip, she seemed unscathed.

In the back, Juxt's enormous form had snapped his restraining belts and he had taken a nasty tumble. It looked like his left shoulder was out of place and would need attention. Bjoruio was just as worse-for-wear. He began coughing roughly and feeling his abdomen, moaning between breathes.

The servitor had been strapped sufficiently, though, and would be needed soon enough. Regaining her breathe, she descended toward an extinguishing agent and put out a small fire in the back. She told Raalthon to report to the Dracos II their circumstances and that under no condition should Silos' team descend unless absolutely necessary.

The servitor worked its medicine and programming on the savant and bodyguard as Jenna and Raalthon determined where they were in relation to the signal, and how they would get out of the wreck. Amazingly, the signal was quite strong in a southerly direction from where they landed.

"This is good," Raalthon stated to Jenna. "Or bad, the people already here surely would have seen our landing. We must move quickly and cautiously."



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 12/02/2004 14:45:07
Message:
Ejerholm was leading the group, his night vision more than making up for the limited number of torches within the band. The corridor's make up was changing; the walls and floor were becoming less smooth, there were increasing numbers of bumps and nodules. Ejerholm was perturbed, he had never seen anything like this before in a Dorvastian building. Markov was noticing the undulations under his feet.

'What the hell are these?' he asked loudly.

'I do not know. There is nothing in my mem-bank about these blemishes,' Ejerholm answered. He froze. 'My sensors are registering an electronic circuit!' he said in a panic. 'Proximity mines!'

'Get back!' Markov shouted at Dominic and Dorsin who was bringing up the rear. They took a fitfully long time to respond. Markov and Ejerholm flattened them as they dived to the ground.

The corridor behind them was consumed in flames and shrapnel.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 13/02/2004 09:40:32
Message:
+++ Aboard the Righteous Vnegance+++

"M'Lord Blackbane you wished to see me", said Arkturus Palov as he wisked into the chamber. Palov was around 30 standard terran years of age, and the alcolyte of the ancient Inquisitor Demetrius Blackbane. He was 5'11 and is considered handsome by most women. He wears the traditional black body glove of an Inquisitorial Alcolyte and carried his recently bequeathed power sword upon his hip and his stubber in a shoulder holster. The whole room seem to respond to Arkturus's question wether it be the harmonics or if the devious old Inquisitor had planted speakers through out the room he didnt know but it was as if his voice was everywhere at once, "I have an assignment for you Arkturus, you are to be my eyes and ears upon the world of Panea III, it has come to my attention that there is a lost xenos artifact upon the world and it must be destroyed at all costs." "Your will is my command master, when shall we arrive?" "We already have!"

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: BrotherXanthron
Replied on: 13/02/2004 17:24:53
Message:
Grugal landed with complete silence, his kroot hound landing close behind, making no less noise. He stood there for a second, crouched, his muscles quivering slightly from the impact. He then rose and stalked towards the door of the massive building.

He put his hands against the cold metal door and again traced the sigils on it's surface. Drugal shakes his head and braces against the door and pushes. It doesn't budge. He whistles to Glyph, backs up and together they charge the door. It still doesn't budge.

The kroot sits down and rifles through his backpack, then the pack on the hound. Damn, he thinks, no explosives. There has to be another way.

He examines the sigils closer. These ones look more like symbols. Like an instruction manual. Grugal chirps and goes over it again. He follows the positions, making him look like a retarded dancer, before promptly falling flat on the ground. Frustrated drugal examines the figures again.

Then it comes to him. He's not supposed to mimic them. Their pointing to each other. All except one. Drugal reached out tenatively and touches the small carving. The sigil glows and the door shimmers, but does not open.

Drugal coks his head and reaches for the door. His hand passes right through.

"<YES!!>"

Glyph jumps, startled at his masters yell. Drugal motions for the hound to follow as he steps through the door. The hound sniff the door, not fully realizing what to do, before cautiously walking through.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 14/02/2004 16:08:20
Message:
Aboard the Dracos II, dread hung in the air like the sighting of a Tyranid Lictor...

"WHAT! Hail that vessel Borno!" Silos yelled in his gruff Major's voice. An Imperial Naval ship exited the immaterium relatively close to this little-known planet on an orbiting course.

He was close to panic now, and he knew it. Jenna's shuttle had gone silent on their approach with no news on their landing. The ship that approached was a battle ship much larger than theirs and only spelled trouble.

"...Imperial Vessel on my starboard quarter, this is Imperial Inquisition ship Dracos II. We require your intentions, course and speed. Now transmitting ours..." The Navigator tapped some runes systematically as he made the formal report.


Jenna dug up out of the hatch and snow and dirt spilled into their wrecked shuttle. The outside air whipped chilled frost against their thermo-suits.

"Still no response, Inquisitor. *squaak* Re-routing reserve power to communications output. *quirk* Approximately 8 minutes before transmission to mother ship available. Only one minute of transmitting available." The Tech Priest worked diligently on the shuttle's systems while the others began helping Jenna remove debris.

"We'll have to find the others that are already here then, Raalthon. Silos will have to come and find us, we can't stay and watch to see if he makes it down. Make the transmission when you can, Priest. Its high time to get this artefact and get out." The young Inquisitor pushed her way to the surface to have a look.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 15/02/2004 07:58:02
Message:
In the bleak void of space, on the edge of the dying Panea system there is nothing but dust echoes and death. From this dark void lightning rips the fabric of the Univerese assunder as a warp rift appears and a great black ship emerges from the Immaterium.

"To all orbitting vessels within the Panea System this is the Imperial Ship "Righteous Vengance", Identify yourself and state the nature of your journey to the Panea System, failure to comply will result in destruction so is the will of the Emperor."

The Thunderbolt Cruiser began its deceleration into the system it would be orbitting the planet within a few standard hours; then Arkturus could begin his mission.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Inquisitor Addendorff
Replied on: 15/02/2004 13:59:53
Message:
A small craft, an Idolater class raider, the ‘Masque of the Red Death’, slipped threw the warp rift made by the giant, immerging black craft, made invisible by the massive warp disruption left in the wake of the ‘Righteous vengeance’.

‘Hemlock, commence preparations to open the Cloak.’ Said L’Arlesienne, he was waiting on the bridge, anxious and yet with a brief feeling of expectancy. He had been tailing the massive cruiser for two days now, playing a game of chance.

If his ship had slipped too far from the prow of the ‘Righteous vengeance’ and they would have been spotted and killed, to close and they would have been thrown of course, slipping into the un-known depths of the warp.

‘Commencing preparations Captain’ responded Hemlock. Hemlock was a gaunt figure, like all of the crew; he was dressed in head to foot in grave-clothes. Also, a mask, remnant of the face of a stiffened corpse, splattered with blood hid all facial features. The mask was decorated with blood; seemingly pouring threw minuet cracks in the otherwise faultless white porcelain.

Dvorak, however, wore a light-blue, silk scarf, reminiscent of his illustrious past, laid around his shoulders. Before all this, Dvorak was head of a wealthy chain of Merchant Vessels, his fleet was the mightiest in all the North Segmentum Obscurus, there head office was on Cypra Mundi. If fastened with even the most basic weaponry, there is little doubt Dvoraks fleet could of seiged Cypra Mundi itself.

The space around the Red Death smoothed, allowing some inkling of the crafts presence be reviled.

‘Open the cloak, Hemlock’ barked Dvorak, a note of quickened anticipation present.

‘Opening cloak’ responded Hemlock.

‘All systems normal, decreasing engine speed and lowering shields’ said Grimsdottir on the other side of the bridge. Anna Grimsdottir was the last-born daughter of a planetary governor, and when she grew tired of a political life, went off to find her fortune out in open space.

‘Good work Woedman’ added Dvorak, Woedman was the ships navigator, steering the vessel threw the perils of the intermaterium with the help of a phycic servitor.

‘Cloak casted, going blind in two, one, gone’ said Hemlock. The Red Death was now compleitly invisible to most Imperial radar. Visual contact was however, a problem Dvorak would have to live with.


And so did october 31, 2003 pass into the conclaves history as the night of massive lock down.
The Darkness will surround,
The Sons of Asuryan will falter,
The Galaxy will be stained red as the blood of Eldanesh,
Isha will bless the coming,
The Progeny will fail,
All will be won,
All will be lost,
-Sermon in The Hive-Chapter II/-IV Carlson.

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 15/02/2004 16:47:08
Message:
The techpriests left aboard the "Omnissiah's Forge" listened to the demand from the newly arrived ship with some annoyance. Another intruder had arrived to interrupt their work on the planet below. They knew though that they could not come to blows with any ship as theirs was dangerously undergunned. Techpriest Vault opened a communications channel.

'Righteous Vengeance, this is Techpriest Vault of the Adeptus Mechanicus vessel, Omnissiah's Forge,' he said in his dulcet monotone, 'we are an explorator ship carrying out a surveying mission on the planet below. We are of no threat. Leave us to carry out our work.'

It was near enough the truth, but as they were basiacally sitting ducks, he hoped that the Righteous Vengeance would ignore them and continue with its own mission.

Reply author: Inquisitor Addendorff
Replied on: 15/02/2004 19:25:58
Message:
‘Slow to stationary.’ Commanded Dvorak.
‘Slow to stationary’ responded Grimsdottir.
‘Power weapons’<br>‘Weapons powering’<br>‘Cut power to shields’<br>‘Cutting power to shields’<br>‘Engage stabilising thrusters’<br>‘Stabilising thrusters engaged’<br>‘System check’<br>‘All systems nominal’<br>The nervous, anxious spell was finely filtering out of the air. All systems showed green, all weapons where functioning properly and the stealth cloak was cast with no problem.
‘O.K then, lets get back to the ball.’<br>There were a few grunts of acknowledgment as the crew got up and existed the bridge, letting everyone’s second in command take over their positions.
For the crew of the ‘Masque of the Red Death’ life was a none stop party, after you had earned it. L’Arlesienne was a bastard of a disciplinarian when it was needed, now however, it was not. Operations were running smoothly and the men and women had been on edge for the past few days, they deserved a break.
There was of course, always some party going on, whether it be a small parlour drinking session or a over-crowded stomp party in the bowls of the ship, the latter being favoured by the younger members of L’Arlesienne’s crew, there was always some form of celebration. Tonight however, a grand ball was being thrown, a costume party of a sort, to relieve the pressures of ship life.


And so did october 31, 2003 pass into the conclaves history as the night of massive lock down.
The Darkness will surround,
The Sons of Asuryan will falter,
The Galaxy will be stained red as the blood of Eldanesh,
Isha will bless the coming,
The Progeny will fail,
All will be won,
All will be lost,
-Sermon in The Hive-Chapter II/-IV Carlson.

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 15/02/2004 22:08:21
Message:
Stryde helped Juxt and Bjoruio out of the metal mishap (soon to be a carcass), as the Tech Priest finished his transmission.

Once the team was on the surface, Juxt pointed to a strange building that protruded the bleak landscape about 2 kilometers away. Low to the grey-green scenery, the building looked oddly spiritual. Raalthon responded, "The signal is strongest in that direction."

"Let's go." The battered group tramped through the sparse snow drifts to their target. The servitor left track prints over their footprints as they proceeded. Raalthon stopped with a hand up when they neared the building. The savant spoke, "...Interesting, is it floating? Or...what?" A shimmer waved along the bottom of the structure.

"I see no indications of underground enterances. Upon reflecting on my memory banks, I see flaws in the data presented to me."

"Perhaps a trap, Raalthon?" Jenna breathe could be seen on her suit's heat shield.

Some faint electro-chirping noises issued from the chest of the Priest. Raalthon's eyes dimmed as he spoke, "...The possibility is unremarkable. Calculations determine deceit more likely. Probably to deter thieves." Then his eye-lights went bright and seemed to flicker, "I have great trust in my sect, perhaps it was a test for me?"

Jenna smirked inspite of herself. It's all in the eyes. She watched the Holy Mechanicus with such interest. He's chuckling! "Well, let's get in and out people."



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 16/02/2004 04:13:59
Message:
"Did the vessel that was trailing us leave the Immaterium in ou wake as well?" the walls reverberated with Blackbane's questions. "Yes M'Lord, though shortly after entering normal space the vessel seemed to dissapear from most of our scanners, The Astropaths are currently tracking its movements, it seems to be on a course for Panea III as well. Should I order its destruction?" the voice emenated from the series of speakers on the ancient mettalic figure of the Magos Hephestus Lavir Mythos and the cyber skulls orbitting above him. "No, not yet the spy has not given me all I need yet, and perhaps I might even do a little business with our pirate if he is as intelligent as I have been led to believe." "As to the Adeptus Mechanicus Ship Master?" buzzed the speakers. "See if you have the proper clout to have them leave system, if not then we shall make a more permanent decision, I do not beleive it is time yet to reveal myself."

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 16/02/2004 16:48:16
Message:
After the shock of the explosion had passed, Dominic began wailing like the child he was. He was not hurt, not by the blast anyway, but the trauma of the proximity mine's detonation was the most horrific and dangerous thing he had ever had the misfortune of enduring in his short life.

Markov got up slowly, feeling the hunk of shrapnel in his shoulder scrape against the bone. Gingerly he tugged it out.

'Emperor damnit!' he yelled as he threw the offending piece of metal onto the ground. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a vial of synth-flesh. He sprayed it onto the wound. 'Ejerholm, are you alright?'

'Functioning fully,' the Techpriest answered, as he flexed his mechadendrites systematically.

'Dorsin?'

'I am fine,' the Savant answered angrily, hauling his bulk off the floor.

'Dominic, stop crying!' Markov instructed, as he paced towards the still weeping child. 'If there was anything wrong with you, you wouldn't be making so much bloody noise!' Confused as to whether he should keep crying or not, Dominic hesitated, before falling silent. 'Come on, we've wasted too much time already,' Markov continued, turning back the way that they had been heading.

'Is that wise?' Dorsin enquired, 'why don't we head back and try one of the other tunnels?'

'And face whatever little booby traps that they have to offer?' Markov answered, 'no, I think we'll keep going through this one. We've already survived a laser and some proximity mines, what else can this tomb have to offer?'

Dorsin had another scheptical answer, but kept it to himself.

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 18/02/2004 07:58:11
Message:
" 'Righteous Vengence', pah. They should have named it Blind Vengence! What in the wailing death are they doing here?" Borno cursed between the hail chatter between their ships. The Navigator was working diligently to inform the great battleship's commanders that they were not needed and that an Inquisitor was on full investigation of the area.

Apparently, to no avail. At least they got the picture across to them by allowing certain codings and notices specifically designed for diplomatic immunities for the Inquisitorial Status. This planet would not be disturbed until Lady Stryde was onboard one ship or another.

What made no sense to the crew of the Dracos II was what a huge war ship was doing wasting their time in a desolate system? Jenna would have said, "What a waste of the Emperor's resources," and probably spat.


A wall stood where a doorway should be. Footprints dotted the snow around the area. They were not the first to enter, hopefully they would be the last.

The Tech Priest scanned the symbols infront of him. "These look familiar. Dorvastian anti-matter transducers. This one here," he pressed against a small figure which glowed faintly. "There, we may proceed."

He walked through the wall with no trepidations whatsoever. Juxt blanched as the Priest vanished! Jenna recovered and pushed on the brute to get him moving. The savant typed away on his data slate as they crossed the temple's threshold. The servitor had difficulties entering, it's sensors kept reading matter in the way of it's planned course. Juxt walked back out and dragged it through.

Slowly, the group walked down the entrance corridor, noticing burn marks and other evidence of intrusion. Jenna and Juxt took the point even though Raalthon wanted to lead them. Jenna's las pistol hung loosely on her hip and Juxt's sword held tight to his back. The only weaponry (that the pair knew about) the group had with them. They weren't expecting trouble, but these could be thieves. This time I'll have to reveal my status, Jenna thought.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 18/02/2004 15:31:26
Message:
Drugal slipped quietly down the deserted corridor, his kroot hound padding faithfully along behind. He reached a junction, with three possible choices. His senses picked up the reek of explosive residue coming from the right hand tunnel, he definetly would avoid that one. The centre tunnel was stale, smelling the same as the entrance corridor. The tunnel on the left, however smelt quite fresh, as if air was entering the tunnel from the outside. Interesting, he thought as he started off down that corridor.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Techpriest Vault was again listening to the Righteous Vengeance's communication. They wanted the Omnissiah's Forge out of the system, or they would be forced to board. Had they no respect for the Machine God at all?

'Righteous Vengeance, this Techpriest Vault. We are shocked at your disregard for the Machine God in asking us to leave. We have a purpose in being here and will not bow down to your orders, no matter from how high they come. The Omnissiah's Forge will not leave this system before we choose it to. Come aboard if you must, but Mars will be notified of this disrespect.'

He closed the comm-line, and opened another to Ejerholm.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 19/02/2004 03:46:26
Message:
"My Lord, The Adeptus Mechanicus Ship Ommnisiah's Forge has refused to leave system but has authorized a boarding party, and it seems the Dracos II is under the command of an Inquisitor Stryde, who claims to have an Inquisitorial warrant and that the planet is to not be disturbed until lady stryde has returned from the surface and brought aboard either the Dracos II or the Righteous Vengeance." the Magos stated in his mechanical fashion. "Is that so, well then it is time to change the playing field, reestablish communications with the ships in system, but make sure not to hail the pirate I want him to think he hasn't been noticed yet soon enough I will let him no that, tell the Imperial ships both that this ship is under the Inquisitorial Warrant of myself Lord Inquisitor Demetrius Blackbane, that should stir the pot signifigantly and if what I know of Inquisitor Stryde has not been falsified it should bring her into line with my plans quite nicely. As to the Dracos II tell it and its crew are invited aboard the Righteous Vengance for relaxation and refreshment, mind you make sure that they realize its not an offer Hephestus, and as to the Ommnisiah's Forge, tell them to prepare to be boarded within the next 8 hours unless they leave system immediately their arguments have been noted and shall be sent to the Adeptus Mechanicus Fabricator General shall be informed rightly and that he will look into the matter personally." "As you command my Lord." the Magos walked out of the room his mechandrites every so often slipping out of his robe as if tasting the air for mechanical faults in the ventilation system. It seemed to Blackbane that the ancient Magos was perturbed by his fellow tech priests shrugging off of his considerable influence as one of the most knowledgeable and influential within the tight knit cult of the Mechanicus. He was not happy, and when he was like this the Magos suffered from bouts of insanity, Blackbane would have to watch him closely, and he would have to keep in preoccupied so he did not do anything wasteful, how it annoyed Blackbane to see things as wasteful.
______________________________________________________________________

"M'Lord Blackbane the thunderhawk is prepared as are the Inquisitorial Storm troopers, I shall go down to the planet and complete my mission for I have faith in the will of the Emperor." said Arkturus. "The go and may the Emperors Light guide all that you do," chimed Blackbane over the intercom of the Hangar bay.

The black clad storm troopers rushed up the boarding ramp of the ancient vehicle followed by the power armour clad Arkturus and a small retinue who would make sure he could get past anything these foul undoubtedly chaos worshiping xenos had set in his way, for it was the Emperor's will that would safe guard him and complete his mission.
The ramp closed, the bay depressurized, the great black antiquidated hangar doors grated open as the tremendous bay was opened to space. The ship lifted off and headed towards the planet with the mission to establish a base camp, then to destroy the xenos relic, and finally retrieve this Inquisitor Stryde before she could do any damage. Arkturus was unsure if she was to be punished or simply spoken too, Blackbane was so hard to second-guess, and he thought it would be interesting to find out.


Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 19/02/2004 07:56:11
Message:
Borno decrypted the encoded message from the landing craft. "Oh no. Silos! Get your team together and get down there!" He handed the transmission slate to the veteran Guardsman with a shaky hand. The Major's eyes widened when he scanned the crash report.

"Borno, notify the security force to be ready, now!" He ran from the bridge toward the ship's armory. "I'm on my way, Jenna, I'm on my way." His fatherly instincts were taking over and he would have to keep them in check.

The Navigator ordered to one of the astropaths to respond to the war ship's invitation. He had the pasty-looking psycker inform them that the Imperialis Navalis of the Dracos II would answer the summons. He stalked off the bridge to prepare his official uniform. He would take two Guardsmen as bodyguard just as a formality.


They crept down the corridor noting the slight breeze blow past them. Without talking, the party noticed that a fork split the corridor three-ways. The Tech Priest consulted his auspex, pointing to the right most branch. Juxt spoke up, "I smell smoke."

Inquisitor Stryde stopped and sniffed, "Traps. Raalthon, can you scan the corridor as we move?"

"Of course, ...Jenna..., I cannot be certain to find any though. Dorvastian technology is not widely known to me," the voice out of his vox was stern and low.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 20/02/2004 08:39:43
Message:
The venerable thunderhawk dropped through the thick atmosphere of Panea III like its name sake fast and agile. Even with teh severe storms buffeting its admantium hide it slid through the cloud banks with a purpose. The ship landed on the barren cold planet with a loud crunch of the little underbrush beneath it. The hull sizzled and steamed quickly cooling from the speedy voyage groundside. The hatches opened and the occupants exited quickly equipment in hand. The Inquisitorial Stormtroopers and Imperial Guard veterans set up a peremiter and stockade surrounding the ship and the nearby xenos building that seemed to float on air. The prefab stockade was ringed with heavy weapons and a group of bunkers were set in place each armed with a devestator cannon among other nasty surprises. The ground base was quickly and quietly nicknamed outpost hell frozen over.
______________________________________________________________________

Palov took 2 squads of stormtroopers and a squad of veterans, a retinue of three tech priests supplied by the deranged Magos Mythos, a pair of decidedly deceitfully decrepit looking savants, and a pair of robed hunched over beings. They came to the entrance of one of the xenos temples and with disreagrd to the extinct races architecture or historical value simply blew the opening up with a group of melta bombs.
The group had entered the foul xenos temple and had but two more goals to accomplish before they could return tot he Righteaous Vengeance and once more purify their bodies within the Emperor's Chapel. They continued to travel into the temple till they came to a sealed wall. This event befuddled the group till by seemingly random chance one of the Veterans of the Remesian 321st managed to open a hidden passage. "Of all the dumb luck, your lucky you didnt get teh whole party killed like that soldier began teh Interogator, but then he stopped realizing that there was a much better way to handle this, he placed the Ramesian at point and prayed tot eh Emperor that his luck continued to hold out or that at least providence was with the man. The team had entered a hall that had been passed through recently the tracks form feet and treads marring the thick coating of dust upon the floor. They followed this trail for it would undoubtably lead to the missing Inquisitor. There came a fork in the path that went three seperate ways and the trailed parties seemed to have split into seperate groups , normally he would have followed the path but he knew not which to follow but he trusted his gut and it told him to take the untread path for it would take him to the relic and to this Stryde person. The party went on leaing a small company of guards to guard the branch out.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 22/02/2004 21:35:08
Message:
Markov noticed an inclination in the corridor.

'Looks like we're heading up...' he said, careful not to sound too enthusiastic.

'Yes, at angle of 8.569 degrees,' Ejerholm added indiscriminately. Dorsin noted the Techpriests calculation anyway, Nestrazzi I had wanted thorough records of all they did.

The group came to a hairpin, the corridor increasing markedly in steepness as it turned back on itself.

'17.90 degrees,' Ejerholm remarked, using the haft of his chain-axe to aid his steps. Dorsin followed suit with his own staff.

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 23/02/2004 07:57:26
Message:
Juxt strode forward with ignorant confidence with Jenna just behind. The smell of smoke grew as they made way down the corridor. At one point, the group paused for a moment when they saw scorch marks along the floor and slight damage to the walls. Then they saw something very odd, the scorch marks started growing blemishes out of the ground.

"What is it?" Jenna pointed.

Raalthon stepped up and scanned the floor. "...Probability calculations show defensive measures, most-likely. I suggest not disturbing them."

"Got that Juxt. Juxt!"

BOOM. The floor erupted in flames and debris as the group was thrown flat. Juxt was tossed many meters ahead of them when the smoke cleared. "I'm alright! Have 'ta watch out for those!" the giant man responded.

The metal-framed Tech Priest, hardly phased from the trap, turned to find Inquisitor Stryde lying down with her left foot in a weird angle and issuing a quick cry of pain. Fortunately no one else looked hurt. The savant quickly ordered the servitor to work, a make-shift brace and pain-reducer was all that could be done for the moment.

"Damn it! Well I'm sure the group ahead of us heard that!" spitting at their bad luck.

Little did they know, but so did the other groups in the ancient temple.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 23/02/2004 15:27:01
Message:
"What are we stopping for now, Inquisitor?" Interrogator Rostock asked in a somewhat irritated tone, but careful to not sound disrespectful. The planet below was small and from what Rostock knew of it, contained nothing more than a few imperial outposts.

"We are continuing our requesitions, Interrogator," Maltheus said as he walked quickly to the shuttle bay. "My resources, as you can see have been dwindled to nearly nothing. Now with you, Ripley, the Acolyte that just arrived from the Ordo, and this stop...we should have enough to carry on with my plans."

"With all due respect, Inquisitor," Rostock began. "I was assigned to help argue your case to the High Council. I assumed that once that was finished I would be returned to my work."

Maltheus turned on his heel and smiled, staring directly into Rostock's eyes.
"Ahh, and you will be returned to your work, young Interrogator...once we are finished presenting the case to the High Council. I have an appeal pending and you will help me strengthen my case for that appeal...then I will be finished with you and you can chase all the little Xenos you want."
Maltheus turned back around and continued to the shuttle bay. Rostock followed rolling his eyes, knowing that if he argued it would only earn him a sore throat.

*************

The shuttle left the Imperial Corvette behind and headed for the surface of the planet. The Ship gleamed in the red light of the planet's large sun. Ripley stared out the window at the Corvette as they sped toward the planet.

"She's beautiful. How did you manage to get her in such a short amount of time?" he asked Inquisitor Maltheus.

"It's all about who you know, boy," Maltheus explained. "And knowing how to time the favors others owe you. That's where she came from."
Maltheus, too, looked out the shuttle window at the Imperial ship. It was the largest he had ever come to be in charge of. He had redesignated it 'Stark's Hope' in memorium to his fallen love.

********************************

The small group of guardsmen snapped to attention as the Captain entered the room, followed by a tall mysterious looking man. The man walked up and down the ranks, checking each individual as he passed. He stopped next to a young guardsman and held up a dataslate. The images on the screen scrolled through several faces before stopping on one that matched this young man. The young soldier's personal history began to scroll down the screen and the man shook his head.

"No, not this one," he said and continued down the line.

He stopped again and held the dataslate up next to another man's face. The image on the screen matched and then the soldier's history began to scroll...

"You have worked with Inquisitor Rhinefeld?" the man asked.

"Yes sir," the guardsman responded.

The tall man looked at the dataslate.

"Holst, Leon. You also encountered a species known as the G'Mok at one point," he commented.

"Sir?" Holst said, not sure what the man meant.

"A large dog-like race, very violent." he answered.

"Yes sir," the guardsman answered.

"This one," the man said. "Rostock, show him to the shuttle. You have one hour to get your thing together. The Imperium requires you skills and experience elswhere." With that, the man turned to leave.
Leon Holst noticed the symbol of the Inquisition dangling from the man's neck as he began to leave.

**************************************

"This is Interrogator Rostock," Inquisitor Maltheus said pointing to the angry looking man at his left. "Behind you are my two acolytes. Ripley and..." Maltheus looked at the other young man standing next to Ripley. He kept his head low, avoiding Maltheus' gaze. Maltheus noticed for the first time that this young man had only one arm.
"Well, we'll have to get that taken care of," Maltheus grinned. "Won't we Mr. Marche?"

The young acolyte looked up and gave a half hearted smile, but his eyes were full of excitement.

"Yes sir," he answered, trying to contain his joy.

"And last but not least," Maltheus said turning to the Guardsman. "Leon Holst." The small group looked around at each other. Courteous nods were exchanged and all present could easily see Interrogator Rostock's displeasure at the situation.

**********************************

"To the Panea system," Maltheus told the Navigator. The robed man took his seat in front of his screens and removed his hood. The 'Stark's Hope' entered the warp and began its journey on Maltheus' quest for evidence.

"Why Panea?" Rostock asked, breaking the silence of his brooding. "There is nothing there."

"Is there?" Maltheus asked. "Ripley."

The young acolyte came forward and handed Maltheus a dataslate.

"Our resourceful young acolyte has uncovered a clue pointing to the Panea system and Xenos artefact that could fall under the realm of what we are looking for," Maltheus explained. "We shall find it and see if it, in fact does classify as a High threat object. Then we will record what we found and destroy it. All proof that the Technoarchais is a sound choice for sanction."

Maltheus looked around at his small team. The acolytes, the Interrogator and the Guardsman. He did not know what to expect in the days to come, but could hardly wait to find out.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 24/02/2004 06:30:56
Message:
"My Lord Blackbane," the vox echoed in the room the voice of the Admiral on the bridge of the Righteous Vengeance. "Yes Korvin, what is it you need?" "There is a new development in system sire, a new ship just came out of the warp, and is making towards the planet." Admiral Korvin Dallasandro spoke crisply. "Have you an identity of the ship yet?" "Yes it is the Imperial Corvette Starks Hope, it is listed as under the Inquisitorial mandate of one Inquisitor Maltheus." The admiral had served under Blackbane for almost 25 years, had turned down promotions including control of a whole sector Fleet, all for his loyalty to the now seemingly immortal Inquisitor Lord. "Inquisitor Maltheus, send him my salutations, and invite him and his retinue for dinner tonight. Also what is the progress on the Dracos II have they moved to dock yet, and the Omnissiah's Forge how long till I shall have a preliminary report on those damnable Tech priests?"
______________________________________________________________________

The Magos Hephestus Lavir Mythos's personal aid Tech Priest Roderick Forince and a contingent of Imperial Guard Storm Troopers and Naval Security Boarders were closing upon the Omnisiah's Forge aboard the Quazecotl class Transport shuttle. They were due within the hour and then many questions would be answered for thier master.
______________________________________________________________________

Arkturus and his company of soldiers and other personel tread down the path quietly and cautious so as to avoid any of te traps such as the ones they already found, in one case losing the lucky Ramesian pointman's life. The tech priests scanned incesantly. finding and defeating traps. They still had so far to go it seemed.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 24/02/2004 07:50:55
Message:
Major Silos Brigande passed infront of his newly restocked platoon, clapping a hand on their shoulders and gripping hands. His philosophy of command was one of respect and commradery rather than strict discipline. It was much easier to learn their strengths and weaknesses this way. Their black carapace reflected the red lighting of the shuttle bay as they readied to depart to the fridged planet.

The esteemed Navigator, Borno, entered the bay with two guardsmen dressed in full regalia. "Silos, are we ready to depart?"

The middle aged Major thumbed toward a shuttle and the security force moved at the command. "Ready Navigator, we should leave at the same time. At least it may mask our departure if your shuttle is on an intercept course with the warship."

In his great purple and red robes, he nodded. "Very well, good luck Major. Bring back the Good Lady."



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 24/02/2004 14:43:28
Message:
"Sir," the young man stated. "We have recieved a message. Lord Inquisitor Blackbane requests your prescence for dinner this evening."

"How very formal of him," The tall inquisitor responded. "Scan the surface and tell me how many are already down there. It would appear that we have some catching up to do. Dinner may not be feasable."

Inquisitor Maltheus stepped forward and peered at the viewscreen. He saw the other ships already in orbit around the frigid planet below.

"Looks like we missed the grand opening," Rostock commented. "Holst, go tell the others to prepare. We will be departing the ship in two hours."

"Are we going down, Sir?" the guardsman asked, looking at Maltheus and shooting Rostock a sideways glance.

Maltheus turned and grinned at the guardsman.

"Yes, Mr. Holst. Do as Interrogator Rostock instructed. We will be going to the surface, eventually. We may just have to make a detour first."

With that Rostock and Holst left to gather thier things and tell the acolytes to prepare. Maltheus walked over to one of the myriad consoles that lined the walls of the bridge. He punched in some of the icons and entered security codes. The screens flicked to life as the information he was looking for began to scroll across the screen.

+++++File Found++++
++++Validating Security Codes+++++
+++Codes accepted++++

Inquisitorial Personnel files:
Lord Inquisitor Blackbane...

Maltheus raised an eyebrow as he began to read. He tapped the screen and took in a deep breath.

"Looks like dinner it is," Maltheus muttered.

Reply author: Leon_Holst
Replied on: 24/02/2004 18:52:30
Message:

Holst left the Inquisitor, and headed towards the deck where the two acolytes were, as he was walking he was called from behind.

"Guardsman," came a voice from behind.

He turned to see the Interogator, "Yes sir?" said Holst,

"I will tell the Acolytes of the orders, you procced to your quaters and prepare for leaving, you cant leave this sort of job to guardsmen" he smiled

"Yes sir" saluted Holst, and then he turned and left.

________________________________________________________

Holst soon arived at his quaters, and he began to think to himself.

"The interogator seems to think im not an important member of the team, being a guardsman and all." he paused his thoughts while he took out his custom long rifle out of its case. He checked the site, and took it apart, then placing it together again.

"I'll show him the worth of a guardsman." he said to himself, as he slammed a clip into his rifle and then slung it over his shoulder.

____________________________________________________________

He now arived on the bridge of the ship, seeing the group of men ready for departure.

"Ready, sir" said Holst

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 24/02/2004 20:51:00
Message:
'It seems there are now three Inquisitorial ships in orbit, Markov,' Ejerholm said, relaying Vault's message.

'That'll no doubt explain the explosion we heard earlier,' Markov sighed. 'Damnit! This is not going to be easy now. Come on, we'd better pick up the pace.' Needless to say, Dorsin began to grumble.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

The shuttle from the Righteous Vengeance docked with the Omnissiah's Forge. The boarding party stepped out into the barren landing bay. Vault had deliberately not arranged a welcoming party. The Techpriest watched from a pict-screen from the bridge. 'Come on then, go look around,' he said as he watched the Navy Security personnel descend the boarding ramp.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 25/02/2004 08:04:14
Message:
Maltheus should be reading my file right now; mused Blackbane silently. It was a good thing those records had only those things Blackbane wanted to know in them. Demetrius was actually curious as to whether Maltheus would come to dinner or not, it really didnt matter but this could be intriguing. What was uninspiring was that the Dracos II had before coming about to dock with the Righteous Vengeance had launched a drop ship undoubtably to retrieve their missing Inquisitor, it was of no matter Arkturus would no what to do. Mentally Blackbane smiled for he could no longer create the expression physically that he knew of, everything was coming together as he planned even with the unexpected intruders.
______________________________________________________________________

Roderick Forince was frowning invisibly behind the biofiltered fully enclosed helmet. Like the rest of his body Roderick's head was compeltely cybernectic and would give even the most fearless individual pause, the man if he could even still be called that was hideous. He frowned not becasue of the performance of his troops or not that he had not recieved a welcoming comittee from the ships occupants, but that his fellow tech priests did not come out and welcome him. It was all so foreign for tech priests to act this way towards eachother. The multi melta attached to his shoulder rotated as searched the room as his eyes passed over every object within the craft's docking bay. He orfered the team to head towards the bridge, he would start their from the heart and work his way out.
______________________________________________________________________

The Soldier stationed at the affectionatly christened Outpost Hell frozen over gazed intot he sky as they heard the sonic booms as a vessel rapidly decelerated as it fell through the atmosphere and towards a nearby temple. The world was gaining more tourists.
Jakit Glavin thought to himself, holding his 22 command on as many worlds, soon we will probbaly have to thin out the tourists poppulation.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 25/02/2004 08:09:02
Message:
Juxt walked cautiously with Inquisitor Stryde as they continued down the path. They had to leave the servitor behind at the trapped area, but the decision was made when the ground became more perilous. The aged savant, Bjoruio, looked tentatively at the ground as they moved.

Raalthon continued uninhibited and urged the party to quicken their pace. His auspex beeped and whirred noises as they traversed the alien grounds. "Here, we are very close now," he issued a low tone with computed inflexions. They could hear some disturbances from the excavators ahead of them, but couldn't make out what they were saying.

Removing her thermo-mask, Jenna held up a hand, freezing the party. She loosed her pistol and pointed to Juxt to ready his weapon. With two fingers, she directed him to scout ahead and return.


"This is 'Righteous Vengeance' docking bay 4. Prepare for docking override procedures. You are required to comply fully with all orders and bording procedures. You are required..."

Borno rolled his eyes (including his warp eye) as he listened to the servitor-driven protocols as they entered the bay. "What is it with these meddlesome Inquisitors?" he spoke to no one in particular, certainly not his guards. "I'm required to work under one, only to have more interfere with important missions. Do they purposely work against each other? Don't they realise there is much to discover and defend against without delay? Ugh!" He shook his head as the tractor forces pulled his small shuttle into the landing area. "Time to meet the Lady's current thorn."


The small boxy shuttle smashed through the atmosphere at frightening speeds.

Major Silos read the screen infront of the pilot with scrutiny. The green light reflected off his face the location of the probable crash. Taking some awkward turns, a red dot appeared showing the site. "There!" he poked a finger at the screen.

"Get back in you seat, sir! I can barely get us in here, I don't want you hurt."

"Hmph," Silos grumbled and slammed back into his seat, securing himself in. He looked around and saw mixed faces on his men. The older vets had blank looks and one with a little amusement, the newer men looked frightened with the turbulance and very excited. He turned around and looked at the screen again, "Be ready for some cold weather, boys."



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 25/02/2004 21:36:15
Message:
The ascent was increasing in gradient, Markov's wish to pick up the pace was faltering.

'Angle of climb now 24.02 degrees,' Ejerholm said, his breaths wheezing because of the bionic vocal cords. Dorsins breaths were wheezy too, but that was because he was fat and unfit. Along with Markov, Dominic was not suffering the effects of the flat stairs.

'How much higher are we than when we entered, Ejerholm,' Markov asked.

'26.784 metres,' the Techpriest answered after a minor pause for calculation.

'How high did this structure look from the outside?' Markov continued.

'Approximately 95.48 metres.' Markov chuckled, getting to only two decimal places was as near to an approximation a Techpriest could make. Markov peered up, there were a lot more ramps to ascend. And from what he could make out, they were getting steeper.


'Fantastic,' he said quietly.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 26/02/2004 06:54:12
Message:
Dracos II slid into the massive maw that was the one of the Righteous Vengeance's many docking bays. The ship was really not designed to land came to rest where it could have free travel between eighteen connection points. Crack Inquisitorial Troopers guarded each entrance and exit guns were trained on the ship even within its gargantuan docking bay, the Dracos II would only leave when Blackbane desired it and the crew were left at his mercy.
______________________________________________________________________
The boarding party of the Omnissiah's Forge stalked through the ship waiting and watching for signs of life, the vessel was a like a floating crypt, cold dark and eerily quiet.
______________________________________________________________________
Palov's auspex kept beeping away in to follow this tunnel, three more guardsmen had died and they had begun to go up. He was watching closely as they neared the top, or so he hoped they neared it.


Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 27/02/2004 15:26:35
Message:
The mood in the shuttle was that of anticipation and excitement. This raw young team had not ever worked together before, and their levels of experience had varried from the new to the universe acolytes to the Interrogator who thought he was the most experienced to the Guardsman who had actually seen things that even Inquisitor Maltheus had not.

Interrogator Rostock scanned the faces of the assembled team. He snorted his dissent at the guardsman and berely acknowledged the acolytes.

"We are to proceede directly to the area that the energy signature was comming from," he reinterated. "There are others on the surface already. Undoubtedly they are after the same thing."

Ripley's attention was only half on what Rostock was saying, as he watched the viewscreen. He saw the shuttle carrying Maltheus to Blackbane's ship. This was not how he imagined working with Inquisitor Maltheus would be.

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 27/02/2004 18:17:33
Message:
As Rostock continued his pompus rant, Ripley glanced at the team. He noticed the malcontent behind Guardsman Holst's eyes. He leaned over and placed a hand on Holst's shoulder.

"Don't worry," he whispered. "I feel the same way. Don't let him get to you. Maltheus would not have chosen you if he didn't believe you were an asset."

He gave Holst a sligt grin and a wink, then looked up to see Rostock glaring at the two of them.

"What is so important, boy, that you should interrupt what I am saying?" Rostock growled.

"Oh, sir," Ripley began in false respect. "I was just telling Guardsman Holst that you really seemed to know what you were talking about, and that we should consider ourselves honored to be working with...I mean for you, sir."

Rostock growled under his breath and leaned in close to Holst and Ripley.

"I don't know what the Inquisitor sees in you, boy," he said through clenched teeth. "But be well aware that I will not tollerate any form of disrespect. I would hate to report the loss of an Acolyte due to unforseen 'accidents' once we are planetside." He shot a glance at Marche as well, then stood back up.

**********************

Maltheus took in a deep breath as he the shuttle entered the bay. He hoped this gesture of good will would at least keep what seemed to be a rather powerful Inquisitor on his side...for a while at least. His mission here was one of research, mostly...with an ultimate goal that he did not want anyone to get in the way of.

He adjusted his robes and checked his weapons. They were clearly displayed in cermonial fasion...not so much as a threat, but to let all who saw them realize that though he was here for 'dinner' he had other objectives in this system. As the Shuttle doors began to open he let out a long breath.

"Here we go," he sighed to himself. He would have much rather been on his way to the surface with Ripley and the others.

Reply author: Leon_Holst
Replied on: 28/02/2004 00:20:47
Message:

Holst kept his head low, averding the gaze of the interogator. He wasnt here to impress or earn respect, he was here to do a job, under the service of the Emperor. He took off a chain around his neck and took off a pair of dog tags.

"Greg Holst, Colonel Lythan 1st" inscribed on them, he then grasped them tight in his hand, and closed his eyes. A tear ran down his cheek.

Ripley noticed and lent over, "You ok corporal?" asked Ripley.

Leon then opened his eyes, "oh sorry sir, yes im fine."

"So who they belong to?" interupted the interogator as he snached them from Leons hand. Leon lunged forward, and had to stop himself from throwing the interogator up the side of the shuttle.

"sorry sir, they were my fathers, its the only thing i have to remember him by" said Holst.

"nothing special, just a guardsman, like you" smiled Rostock as he then trew them to the ground infront of Leon, as Leon bent down to pick them up he grabed him, "you will do well to remember your place boy" then he picked Leon up. Leon jus took the dog tags and then placed them back around his neck and tucked them under his jacket.

"Yes sir, I will remember that" nodded Holst quietly.

The Emperors Faithful Servent
++Leon Holst++

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 28/02/2004 08:14:13
Message:
"Greetings Inquisitor Maltheus we are most honoured by your presence aboard the Righteous Vengeance. The Lord Blackbane will see you in his personal dining hall. Will you be staying, are their any needs I can provide for?" the simpering greeter's first words were all in a whine that could make a two year old angry. Maltheus simply brushed this off, and followed the meek spirited fellow down the halls of the great ship. The pair came to a hallway sealed by an impenetrable void shield. "This is where I must leave you my Lord for I do not have access beyond the shield, enjoy your meal." said the rotund annoyance as he skittered away.
When the escort had departed the Void Shield dropped and Maltheus stepped through and walked down the hallway. It was the standard codex grey of many Space ship interiors, its only major difference seemed to be the gruesome artwork on the wall similar to the electoos many inquisitors wear after having defeated a daemon. He came to another Shield and it dropped and he passed through into a grand dining hall. It was lit by thousands of candles and was completely quiet but for the wirring noise emenating from the far side of the rooms center table.
"Welcome Brother Maltheus, please take a seat and partake of my feast".

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 28/02/2004 08:37:06
Message:
Juxt's massive size matched the pace of the human group infront of him. He deduced that they were a group working with the Adeptus Mechanicus, judged from how often they chatted with the Priest...

He stalked them for a few moments, but he was never one for stealth. Slipping up a stair, his weapon clattered against the wall as he caught himself. One of them, the fat one trailing his group, stopped short and turned slowly in fright. "What was that?!"


The giant squeezed against the wall, trying to remain unseen and to think quickly. He whispered into his com-link, "Making contact, come quick." Unzipping his thermo-hood he readied his blade in one hand. He took in a large gulp of air and proclaimed in High Gothic, "In the Name of the Holy Inquisition, I beseech you to HALT!"


"The pilot did WHAT?" Borno watched as the ship went alongside the warship to dock. "He's fired. That's all I can say. I thought our crew was more trustworthy than this!" The Navigator spouted all this right in the midst of security troopers of the 'Rigtheous Vengeance'. "Does this Inquisitor think he's the Emperor himself?!? His vision can't possibly scope as far as he thinks!" The gaunt nobleman flushed as he heard the docking catches attach to the new corvette.

"When is someone of IMPORTANCE going to attend me?" He looked behind the troopers and cupped his hands, "Hellooo!" Looking to one of his personal guards, "Nope, no one's home I guess."

"Sir, please desist, you will be escorted to the appropriate meeting place immediately." The higher ranking guard spoke up at the annoying Navigator.


Upon landing, they had to make a 1.5 kilometer hike to the supposed crash site. When they found it, they saw all the signs of the crew being dug-out with no one left behind. At least that was a good sign, but now where would they go? Silos ordered them to make way to the only place he thought they would go. The alien shrine. And so, around two dozen shock troopers trudged toward the temple slowly, checking for any signs of travel or injured survivors.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 28/02/2004 14:06:18
Message:
Jenna barely heard the yell, considering how far ahead she let her bodyguard go. Slapping her good hand against her down-turned face, she muttered something neither the Tech Priest, nor her savant understood. Something about "Emperor preserve us" and "Damn Adeptus Astartes".

"Brother Savant, fall back as we advance. Brother Tech Priest, with me." She skipped off on light feet, closing the distance to the ruckus ahead, hoping her giant ward wouldn't harm anyone undeserving. Holding her pistol in her good hand, she pulled her large Inquisitorial seal rosary out and held it in her metallic fist.

She didn't notice Raalthon reach into his robes, or rather, reach into his back where a kidney should have been. He produced an odd looking pistol, which began vibrating in his hand-mechandrite as he clanked behind the lithe Inquisitor. "I will produce cover fire if you require so, Inquisitor," he offered in a low determined vox tone.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 28/02/2004 15:58:06
Message:
The shuttle landed and the lights inside turned to red. As the bay door opened, the four men began to walk down onto the frozen surface of the planet. Acolyte Ripley shivered as he watched a large plume of his own breath rise into the frigid air.

"Damn this cold," muttered Rostock, feeling the paign of cold rush through his lungs as he inhaled.

Corporal Holst took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He instinctively took a few steps ahead of the group and positioned himself on point, a habit he had picked up from his years in the guard.

"Which way?" he asked without looking back.

Rostock stepped forward and frowned at the Corporal. He held up a scanner and gazed at the horizon. He pointed and lowered the scanner.

"That way," Rostock growled and began to move. Leon took off, his pace that of one with a purpose. He knew he had a job to do and, whether he liked his present company or not, he would do his best.

******************************************************

Maltheus looked at the banquet before him. He could barely see where the voice had come from, but took slow casual steps along the table nonetheless. He did not feel threatened in this situation, only strange.

"Quite a feast for a man..." Maltheus hesitated slightly as he noticed the looming form at the far end of the room. Was 'man' even still the correct word for him. "...a man such as yourself."

He picked up an exotic looking fruit ant took a bite. It had been some time since he had tasted something that had not been pressed into a can or proccessed a hundred times over for survivability. He continued to walk around the table and scan the feast.

"What, May I ask, Lord Blackbane is the occasion?" Maltheus took another bite of the fruit and looked up at the behemoth before him.

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 29/02/2004 00:30:29
Message:
'Stop in the name of the what?' Markov called down the ramp at the looming figure. He knew perfectly well what had been said, but he just couldn't believe that this half-ogryn, or whatever it was, was an Inquisitor.

'I said, halt in the name of the Inquisition!' Juxt shouted back, sounding a little less sure this time.

'I knew it, I knew it,' Dorsin muttered, 'I heard someting following us a wee while back, and now, an Inquisitor catches up with us, well I never!'

'Him?' Markov said to Dorsin as he walked back down the ramp, 'he's no Inquisitor, just look at that oaf!'

'You're right,' a female voice called out from somewhere in the gloom below, obviously closing with them, 'he is not an Inquisitor. But I am,' the woman said as she stepped into the torchlight. 'Inquisitor Stryde, Ordo Xenos.'

'Oh crap,' Markov said quietly.

'So, who exactly are you and what are you doing here?' Stryde asked.

'Oh, you know... just poking around,' Markov answered feebly, 'eh, well, you see...'

Ejerholm stepped forward, 'Adeptus Mechanicus business, you cannot interfere, no matter how many of your Inquisitorial adornments you wave at us,' he said, trying to match Vault's contempt for Imperial authority.

'Ejerholm?' a distinctly metallic voice asked from the darkness.

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 29/02/2004 04:53:11
Message:
The security force led the irritated Navis Nobilitai and his guards deep into the great Imperial vessel. Upon arriving to the banquet hall, a gilded servitor offered a bow to the guests. Ignoring the man-machine, he scanned the interior. Servitors worked speedily to prepare for a grand spread.

Borno was taken aback by the sight of the leviathon at the head of the table. Rather he appeared an ancient tank of destruction made for war. Without showing his surprise, the lanky Navigator stalked up the length of the table to it.

Lord Blackbane waited with little patience as the human approached his grace. Scanning the newcomer, he found no contraband on his person, and only protection weapons from his guards. The man bowed low and issued a cursory greeting.

"My Lord, I am Borno of the Navis Nobilitai, Navigator and Commander of the Dracos II under the command of Inquisitor Stryde. I represent the Lady Inquisitor in the event that she is away. Being that she is away, I have been commanded to speak for her at this meeting. I have sworn my fealty to the Emperor long ago. And so I ask humbly, what is it you require of the Dracos II and her crew?"

He bit his tongue at the last part, wanting to make demands of this monstrous creation. He would suffer for Jenna, though, he knew how to play court games and probably better than the young Inquisitor herself.


"Ejerholm, it is you. Lower your weapon, ...Brother, there is no threat you can swat away with that." His gaze shifted to Juxt quickly, then back to the new group.

The other Tech Priest scanned for recognition. It had been a long time since he had worked with the old Xenarite. "...Raalthon. You have been upgraded I see. Tell me, does the Inquisition work with you, or have you crossed sides." A twinge of accusation entered the Priest's voice, what with the sight of a meddlesome Inquisitor, and a youth at that.

Inquisitor Stryde interjected before Raalthon could respond. She lowered her seal and spoke, "Well, now that you two have gotten the formalities over with. Answer my questions, I will not tolerate insubordinace mearly because you say Adeptus Mechanicus around my ears." She paused to let her authority sink in. At least it shut everyone up.

"What is your mission, why are you here Mechanicus?" she stared hard at the Priest who tried to defy her.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 29/02/2004 08:39:30
Message:
(OOC: Blackbane is in an actual adeptus astartes Dreadnaught, his body is in a sarcophigus mounted in the front of the chasis. He is approx 2 stories high and nearly that across. The room is nearly the size of a Football field btw I was going to describe it in my next post but didnt have time till now. Please fix the error in describing him, also in all reality being all you see is basically a huge robot that is kind of in a relaxed position non threatening, there is nothing grotesque about him.} Also this is an Inquisitor meeting another Inquisitor att his table the Captain of the Dracos II was never summoned or anything he also I doubt could simply force an audience so easily but oh well I will go with that but do fix the description of Blackbane.

IC:
"Noble Borno welcome aboard the Righteous Vengeance, I trust your trip here went well gentlemen." the walls boomed with Blackbanes low bass voice. "I thought I would invite you to join I disagreeociates and I for dinner." The edge that should have been in Blackbanes voice because of Borno's near heretical disregard for procedure or decorum towards the Inquisitor Lord was undetectable either due to his fine control of his temper or the speakers inability to produce those proper tones. "Sit gentlemen." The Magos Mythos moved forward and took a seat as did the ships Captain and other senior members of Blackbanes retinue. Maltheus and Borno took there seats at the massive table. The immense dreadnaught encased Inquisitor simply stood before the table his weapons relaxed his main auto sensor eye glowing bright red on his black and silver frame. "So gentleman perhaps you can tell me what it is that you have come to the Panea system for?" the blasphemously large room echoed with Blackbanes question.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 29/02/2004 08:53:11
Message:
The Navigator was shocked at how well he was received by the Inquisitor Lord, or was it a ruse? I will have to be very careful here, if our mission is to be preserved. He waited for the other Inquisitor guest in the room to speak first.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: Inquisitor Addendorff
Replied on: 29/02/2004 16:51:33
Message:
Dvorak was relaxing in the Princep’s Common Room, with the rest of the Major Princep’s. The Red Death’s crew was split into five ranks. The last rank being shipman, for un-commissioned crewmen; then it was junior officer, first rank officer; then senior officer, the highest rank of officers; next was Minor Princep; then Major Prinsep. Dvorak’s semi-official title was Grand-Lord Princep of The Port and Commander of The Masque of The Red Death. Or Lord Princep for short, however the Major Princep’s often forget their place and simply called him Captain. If engaged, then Dvorak would tolerate it, but whilst relaxing in the Princep’s Common room laxness in respect was in tolerable.
‘Might I replenish your drink Lord Princep?’ asked Hemlock.
‘Certainly Princep Allegro, might I offer you a cigar?’ responded L’Arlesienne as Hemlock lurched forward drunkenly struggling to get the Amasec into the glass.
‘I say Grimsdottir, where is your sword?’ asked Woedman.
‘Ah, well sir, I seem to have misplaced it during the fish cour-’ Anna burst out laughing, followed by Woedman and the rest of the crew let out a giggle too. For during the fish course, after the wine had been served of course, Woedman decided to cut the massive hulk of the Capriol, a fish some three meters long, with Anna’s and his own ceremonial swords, much to the amusement of the assembled crew.
Hemlock got up and checked his data-slate mumbling something about ‘knew something was bleeping’.
‘Sir,’ he announced out load.
‘Yes, Princep Allegro?’<br>‘It appears several inquisitorial ships are in orbit around Panea III.’<br>‘Ah well, just let our seconds handle it.’ Said Dvorak, supping his Amasec.


And so did october 31, 2003 pass into the conclaves history as the night of massive lock down.
The Darkness will surround,
The Sons of Asuryan will falter,
The Galaxy will be stained red as the blood of Eldanesh,
Isha will bless the coming,
The Progeny will fail,
All will be won,
All will be lost,
-Sermon in The Hive-Chapter II/-IV Carlson.

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 01/03/2004 14:45:09
Message:
Maltheus watched the unreadable facade of the Dreadnaught that was Blackbane, and the sniveling...yet calculated bows of respect and words of awe that came from the Navigator. He grinned inwardly, never really being one for all the formalities, himself. He knew, at least, that he was not the only one who felt inconvienienced with the dinner. He nodded as he saw the navigator glance his direction.

"Sir," Maltheus began. "Might I suggest we begin our meal..." he looked at Borno and gave a half shrug...to let him know this was not where he really wanted to be eihter..."So that we may hear what you have to say. As the Navigator stated, there is work to be done planetside."

The navigator nodded at Maltheus and they both turned to the Metal Giant before them.

**********************************************************

"Ever been in cold like this?" Ripley asked Holst as he led the way to the energy signature. Interrogator Rostock had fallen slightly behind to ensure that Acolyte Marche was alright. He had, on more than one occation, berrated the young man for only having one arm...then would back off as he noticed Ripley eyeing him.

"There," Holst said simply. He pointed and Ripley turned to see what Leon was looking at. It appeared to ba a building, but who had built it...Ripley's mind raced.

A moment later Rostock and Marche caught up with them. He pushed his way between them, ignoring that Ripley nearly fell onto the icy surface of the planet.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked irritably. "Why did you stop?"

Corporal Holst pointed again, not looking at the Interrogator.
Rostock followed with his eyes and picked up a pair of binocculars. he zoomed it in on what appeared to be the front of the building.

"This seems to be the place," he muttered. "I can see that others have already arrived. Come along."

With that the team made their way to the entrance.

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 01/03/2004 21:16:27
Message:
Putting on as much of a scowl as his largely reconstructed face could allow, Ejerholm turned to Stryde.

'There is an artifact residing within this structure that I am here to study and then, depending on the nature of the construct, recover it.'

'A xenos relic perhaps?' Stryde asked knowingly.

'Indeed. I am of the Xenarite sect of the Adeptus Mechanicus, but I am sure that Raalthon has already filled you in on exactly what we as a group do.'

'Yes, very interesting little lot you are...'

'Yeah, so,' Markov interjected, 'are you going to kill us or not?' Stryde just glared at him. 'Clyde Markov, by the way, Archeoxenan,' he said, extending his hand to Stryde. She didn't seem all that impressed by the man's attempt at charm. She glanced over at Juxt, who was being held in awe by a child, seemingly not much more than 12 standard years old.

'OK, Clyde, you consider yourself a bit of an expert, do you?'

'Yeah, you could say that,' Markov answered, winking.

'Well then, show us the way forward.'

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Inquisitor Addendorff
Replied on: 01/03/2004 21:42:57
Message:
‘I really think they need us here, Captain.’ Hemlock spluttered, still feeling the effects of the amounts of Amasec consumed.

‘Well… we can take some time of our busy schedules to help them out.’ L’Arelsienne started to slow down his pronunciation as he came nearer the end of his sentence.

‘Well Grimsdottir looks out of it, so..’ mentioned Woedman as the group got up.

‘No, she’s just lazy.’ Said L’Arlesienne.

‘Yeah, give her a nudge’ added Hemlock.
Woedman then proceeded to kick the back of Anna’s chair till she woke up.
‘Eh? What the?’ said Grimsdottir.

‘Come on, Anna, we are pirates after all.’ Hemlock grumbled whilst downing the last of his Amasec.

‘Oh yes, “Arghhh, me harties” eh?’ added Dvorak.

On the bridge.

‘So what’s the problem?’ asked L’Arlesienne.

‘It appears numerous ships with Inquisitorial class codes have entered the system, and two of them have met on the ‘Righteous vengeance’. Also, search teams have been dispatched to the planets surface.’ Answered the second, who got up to allow L’Aresienne his seat.

‘Isn’t this what Prospero is for?’ asked Grimsdottir. There was a short silence before Dvorak interrupted. ‘Good point, assemble Prospero’s team, and ready for our own search team’s venture onto the planet. I may join them after a while.’<br>
‘Of course, Lord Princep.’<br>
OOC- Again, sorry for my absence, coursework and GCSE modular's caught up with me. But now we can hopefully get in some swash-buckeling adventures before the actions over?


And so did october 31, 2003 pass into the conclaves history as the night of massive lock down.
The Darkness will surround,
The Sons of Asuryan will falter,
The Galaxy will be stained red as the blood of Eldanesh,
Isha will bless the coming,
The Progeny will fail,
All will be won,
All will be lost,
-Sermon in The Hive-Chapter II/-IV Carlson.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 02/03/2004 07:28:02
Message:
"Gentlemen let us pray. Oh Fatherly Emperor, we thank you for the air we breathe and the fellowship we enjoy in your precense, we are gracious for the bounty you have sown before us, your most humble servants, Amen." chanted Blackbane in high gothic. "Amen" the group intoned as a whole. "Now, onto business what brings two seperate Inquisitorial Vessels here to the Panea system?" stated Blackbane in a quiet relaxed tone.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 02/03/2004 08:30:31
Message:
Silos crouched behind an outcropping of icy rock with his communications man. "Still nothing, sir. If the Lady is in there, either her link is damaged, or that building is deflecting the signal."

Slamming the commlink down, "Great. Have the scouts returned yet?" The Major pulled a flask out of his belt and knocked back a swig.

"No sir." They had seen signs of recent travel in the dirt and snow in the direction of the structure. The tracks found were of heavy human feet, probably a detachement from the warship. Not knowing their situation with the Imperial forces made Silos anxious.

He motioned to one of the troopers smoking and chatting behind him. "Lieko." The guardsman dropped his cigarette and jogged over to his position. "Go get the scouts, we need to move. Now."


Amazingly, this Archeoxenan, Mr. Clyde Markov, seemed to know much more about this place than she could have imagined. He didn't mind flaunting this in her face either. Actually, she was quite amused, givin the circumstances...

In low tones, Clyde continued to talk, acting like some museum tour guide. "Here, signs of tampering," pointing to the rune-etched wall. "I am scanning no obvious signs, explain." Raalthon's eyes were lit low as he scanned the wall.

"Well, I don't look for the physical kind of tampering you may be used to, but watch closely..." Markov began moving his hand in a circular motion infront of the runes.

The boy at his side took a step toward the etching, at first with a face of feigned contempt. As the runes began glowing a dull red, a hum was emanated from them and all up the stairway the hum was echoed back at them. A gasp issued from both the boy and Juxt as some of the other runes further ahead glowed as well. As soon as he stopped moving his hand, the humming stopped and the runes slowly faded.

Grinning at his 'discovery', he turned to the female Inquisitor, "Basically, its like emergency lights in a spacecraft. Except instead of showing us the way out, these show us the way in. The thing is, you gotta know which are which. Some could be very dangerous, so watch your pretty little hands and let the pro show you the way." The small boy, now next to him began reaching up to the carvings. Markov promptly slapped his hand away before he touched one. "Not you, just watch. That's all your gonna get," he lightly scolded Dominic.

Raalthon took in all the energy fluxes he read in the air and recorded all he could through his arteficial eyes. "Fascinating, please continue with your revelations, Archeoxenan."

Jenna almost smiled, almost. If she continued listening to him, she might put too much trust where it was not yet deserved. "Nice trick, how much further, Clyde."


It seemed the great machine would reveal little before he would be forced to speak. The Inquisitor also at the dinner wanted to get right down to the point without disclosing his own mission, it seemed.

Sighing as if lost, Borno bowed and spoke to the towering war robot. "My Lord, I have not been informed of the exact nature of my Lady Stryde's mission. However, of what I do know, I will speak."

He cleared his throat loudly to emphasize what he was about to say was important (almost too loud), "Inquisitor Stryde has been givin a mission by her previous mentor. Perhaps you have heard of him, Inquisitor Dracos? If not, I am not surprised."

Waving his thin hand in dismissal, "Anyway, aparently Lord Dracos is working in conjunction with the Adeptus Mechanicus. They have a great interest in some old structures that reside on the planet." Playing to the obvious knowledge of their suroundings, "No doubt, My Lord has communicated with the Mechanicus vessel in orbit with this planet. Obviously there is great importance in preserving whatever is on that planet."

"I would never question your vast knowledge and resources, My Lord. Inquisitor Stryde is indeed Ordo Xenos as is her mentor Inquisitor Dracos and both have been working with the Tech Priests for quite some time, I cannot stress enough the delicate relationship they have maintained with the somewhat...estranged...Mechanicus."

The Magos shot a glance at the headbanded Navigator that could have killed.



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

[VanHelser]

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 02/03/2004 14:47:14
Message:
Maltheus sat with his hand on his chin, listening intently to what the navigator was saying. Of course Stryde would be here for the same reason as he. But, why send a Navigator as a representative? Maltheus was intrigued by the situation to say the least. Though he was anxious to reach the surface, he was dying to see where this 'dinner' would lead.

He shifted slightly in his seat and reached for a slab of meat, possibly of terran origin, and cut a portion off for himself.

"Tell me, Noble Navigator," Maltheus began taking a bite of the meat. "What does your Inquisitor Stryde wish to find in the structures on this planet. Surely she does not mean to simply preserve alien archetechture for the sheer beauty of it?"
He took a long pull from the glass before him and wiped his mouth with the linen napkin that had been neatly folded at his place. "Surely she has not burdened one such as yourself with such responsibility...the true nature of her assignment. No, you have your own things to worry about, Navigator. Why you are here, and not on your own ship being amongst them."

Maltheus looked at the Dreadnaught, and grinned.

"Lord Blackbane," He began, swallowing his food and raising his glass to the monstrosity. "Why is it YOU are here? Is it common practise for the 'Righteous Vengance' to travel about and cater to field Inquisitors as they employ their duty of protecting the Imperium? Or would you see personaly who has come to take that which you are rightfully here to steal?"

Maltheus took another long pull from his glass and leaned back in his chair. He eyed the navigator once more, and gave the man a slight wink. There was no malice behind his eyes...toward the Navigator at least. He turned back to the dreadnaught and crossed his arms over his chest.
********************************************

"It's dark," Ripley stated, and just as quickly wihshed he hadn't. He heard Rostock mutter something foul behind him and push his way to the front of the group. He pulled out an ilumination wand and the entire entry way was cast in pale blue green light.

"Tread carefully," the Interogator warned. For all of his animosity toward the group, he trully did not wish to explain any of their accidental deaths to Inquisitor Maltheus. He pulled out the scanner and tried to get a fix on the energy source. he cursed as the scanner beeped and faded, telling him nothing.

"What is it?" Acolyte Marche asked, somewhat timidly. The entire group turned, as this was pretty much the first the young man had spoken since he joined the team.

"It must be the walls," Rostock explained. "I can't get a lock on the signature. He put the scanner away and began to move slowly forward. "Looks like we do this the hard way."

The four men moved slowly forward into the darkness of the alien structure.

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 03/03/2004 05:42:16
Message:
"HAHAHAHA" rumbled the elderly Inquisitor Lord in seeming mirth, though Maltheus face was unreadable the Navigator Bornos was not going from aghast at the comments made toward Blackbane to surprised wonderment at the sanity of the entombed Inquisitor Lord. "Take note Navigator, Inquisitor Maltheus is a real man, it has been too long since I had someone actually stand up to me in my presence let alone on my own ship." chcukled the comletely sane Lord. "In answer to your questions first of ll the Righteous Vengeance is my mode of transportation, she is part of my fiefdom as an Imperial Lord. As to my business here, as I believe we all know there is word of an ancient Xenos creation on the surface of the world beneath us within a group of ruins. It has been brought to the attention of the Ordo Malleus of its existence and the fact of its Chaos Taint, hence my mission here is simple; the destruction of the artifact. As to the thoughts and desires of the as you said estranged Adeptus Mechanicus perhaps Magos Mythos would care to elaborate."

"The disturbing hulk that was the Magos raised its head in a board sort of fashion and began to speak its floating servo skulls voxes carrying his voice all over the room. "I have spoken with my more Xenos interested Colleagues and we are currently working towards finding a shared position here on this world. In fact I have sent an emmisary to the Omnissiah's Forge to conclude negotiations. Do you have an other question Nobelite?" even through the rasping speakers floating above the table occupants heads the malice and absolute disrespect the Magos was thinking could be heard towards the Navigator.
______________________________________________________________________

Interigator Palov continued forward with the rest of his group. More losses had occured due to traps set by these foul xenos. The psycannon on his shoulder rotated back and forth searching for a target. He could sense they were closing in on there goal.

______________________________________________________________________

A scout squad from Hell frozen over base camp came across a scouting party from the Dracos II. They aimed their weapons and approached them, stating that the scouts were to surrender in the name of the Holy Emperor and his Inquisition. Things were heating up in the ice entrenched valleys of Panea III.

______________________________________________________________________

Roderick's mechndrites snapped back and forth like electro flails as he operated the various auspexes of the Omnisiahs Forges bridge. He could find no trace of a single individaul on board. It was like they had all disappeared. Things were not going as planned.



Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: BrotherXanthron
Replied on: 03/03/2004 07:03:58
Message:
Drugal had been lost for what seemed to be long hours, maybe days. The xenos that had built the place had been kind enough to supply Drugal with a trap filled maze. Although he had managed to escape them unharmed he was get tired of this aimless wandering.

Drugal glanced down at Glyph who was sniffing at a section of wall.

"<What is it>"

The kroothound made no reply. Drugal crouched and sniffed. He recoiled.

"<Gue'vesa?" Drugal pondered, using the word that the Tau used when referring to the people that they had taken under their wing.

Drugal hadn't met many. Only the occasional contact. He liked them, despite that they are uneasy, maybe repulsed by him. Most of the kroot don't treat the gue'vesa very well, but Drugal had always gotten along with them just fine.

Drugal rubbed dust off the way revealing the same figured he had seen on the entrance door. Pushing the figure, it glowed and slid open revealing a slightly larger room. Only it wasn't empty.

Two groups of xenos stood there. Several humans and a few that looked more machine than man. They spun to look at him, surprised as he was.

Drugal raised his weapon.

"<I don't wish to shoot>" Drugal shouts, then mentall slaps himself for not realizing they don't know kroot.

A silence ensues. Drugal, weapon pointed at the woman who looked like she was in charge, Glyph snarling and coiling his back muscles ready to pounce on command.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 03/03/2004 16:24:11
Message:
In a flash, Markov had raised his Dorvastian Blaster and levelled it at the newly appeared alien.

'A fething Kroot!' he exclaimed, his finger dancing on the trigger.

Realising his offensive stance, Drugal lowered his gun, and turned to the Gue'vesa who had raised his. Fortunately, the Gue'vesa lowered his gun too.

'Throne, where did it come from?' Markov asked, exasperated.

'It just stepped through the wall,' Dominic said, pointing behind the Kroot.

'We entered the structure through a similar portal,' Stryde said, 'it looked like part of the wall, but we could walk through.'

'Weird,' Markov said, 'what do you suppose it wants, why is it here?'

'Why don't you ask it?' Dorsin said, surprising everybody.

'What do you mean, "ask it"?' Markov said, turning to the savant.

'The kroot are well known for their ability to mimic other races, and be able to communicate exceedingly quickly after contact,' Dorsin answered, smugly.

'It's only been here about a minute, it can't learn that quickly!'

'Trust me.'

Trust was one thing Markov had little of in the savant. Exhaling heavily, he turned to the Kroot and said loudly, 'what do you want?' The Kroot's brow furrowed in concentration, but no answer came forth. 'What, do you,' Markov said pointing at the Kroot, 'want?'

'Want...' the Kroot stammered, 'want...' it dropped its gun and said something in Kroot.

'I don't think it wants violence, that's good,' Stryde said, 'but what do we do with it?'

'Well, I don't know about you, but it could be useful to have it watch our asses,' Markov said. He picked up the Kroots gun and gave it back to the alien. 'You,' he gesticulated again, 'look,' he said pointing at his eyes, 'behind us,' he finished, pointing back down the corridor. The Kroot seemed to understand and took up its gun.

'Trust... me...' it garbled.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Vault watched the boarding party search the bridge. Ignorant fools, they were tampering with the Machine Spirit of the ship. Gathering up a bodyguard of combat servitors, he stormed out onto the bridge.

'Stop in the name of the Omnissiah!' he demanded.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

They had reached the top of the ramps at long last. Markov lead them onwards through a well lit corridor. He let out a long whistle when he reached the other end. Before him stood a giant Dorvastian construction that erupted from the floor eighty metres below. The thing was purple in hue, standing out from the grey surroundings. It had eight smoothly polished sides that matched the walls of the corridors they had journeyed through in profile; not a blemish could be seen. Somewhere below a series of blue lights shone brilliantly, illuminating a console of some kind. There were no stairs down from the viewing ring that they were standing on. Ejerholm noticed a platform half way round the ring, and started towards it. It was an electromagnetically controlled lift, and he stepped onto it, followed by Raalthon, Stryde and Markov.

'We'll send it back up to you once we reach the bottom, Dorsin,' Markov said, 'keep your new Kroot friend company, OK?'

The lift descended, circling the monolith as it went. Ejerholm was ecstatic.

'I have never seen a thing of such proportions in any Dorvastian structure I have encountered before! Perhaps it is a giant telescope of some kind, or a great weapon, perhaps it is the power source for the entire planet, or perhaps this is the tomb of a great scientist! What treasures will we find within? New power cells, new engines, power assistors, weapons, there is so much potential in this site!'

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 04/03/2004 07:47:41
Message:
Tech priest Roderick spun to face the voice though his servo skulls already showed him the image. "Your welcoming was found wanting brother, where have you been?" The guards prepared for iminent attack.
______________________________________________________________________

Palov and his primary members of his retinue wathced closly as the group borded the "platform" and it decended into the pit below. He ordered his men to prepare but to wait he wanted to see what was going to happen. He also had seemingly found the lost Inquisitor in the company xenos. At the thought of one of his order actually harboring such an abomination his psychcannon wirred quietly back and forth and his ire rose in accompaniment.
______________________________________________________________________

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Inquisitor Addendorff
Replied on: 04/03/2004 14:56:50
Message:
Prospero lined up to see the Princep’s. Making up the bulk of the Minor Princep’s was Prospero’s highly decorated, well-dressed, ex-naval marines. They had come under L’Arlesienne’s service after a failed boarding action caused the majority of the marines to simply surrender. Bad leadership and low moral had paid a heavy blow that day, and strengthened Dvorak’s forces considerably. The only connection the ex-marine’s now had with their navy past was the Naval pistil each carried. Other than that they looked like any other of L’Arlesienne’s crew.

Period military clothing, crisp, clean colours and jackets that looked like half a regiment’s supply of starch had been used on them.

Accompanying their pistil, each carried the ceremonial sword of a Princep. Once a crewman achieves a rank above senior officer, they become a Princep and are awarded a Pagliacci. A highly developed sword made from exotic materials.

One man in every twenty also held a hunting rifle. These men either showed considerable skill with one, or simply weren’t up to the level of swordsmanship expected by Prospero and so were ordered to spend most of their time practicing sniping.

All two hundred and fifty Princep Marines were assembled. Prospero adjusted his ruby coloured scabbard, holding his Pagliacci.

‘Every other man will, on my command, step back, creating two, equal rows. Then every other man in the first row will step forward. The line will then accompany me to the drop-ship holder. Now, break!’<br>
With the final word from Prospero, the Princep’s formed in practiced unison, three lines. The first them walked forward and formed two neat horizontal lines in front of Prospero.

‘Deep form’ said Prospero, and the Princeps closed the considerable gaps between each other.

‘With me’ he said, sharply turning on the spot and walking out of the hanger.


And so did october 31, 2003 pass into the conclaves history as the night of massive lock down.
The Darkness will surround,
The Sons of Asuryan will falter,
The Galaxy will be stained red as the blood of Eldanesh,
Isha will bless the coming,
The Progeny will fail,
All will be won,
All will be lost,
-Sermon in The Hive-Chapter II/-IV Carlson.

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 04/03/2004 22:00:07
Message:
The quartet stepped off the platform as it reached the bottom of the chamber. Markov was about to ask how to send it back up, but the lift slid up and away from them on a preprogrammed course. Ejerholm hastily walked towards the blue light bearing console. For a half-metal Techpriest, he wasn't half showing a lot of emotion.

'Look at the multitude of runes upon this console,' he gabbered to himself, 'so well constructed.' He studied them for a second before pressing one slowly. Little, if anything seemed to happen. He pressed another, then another, and then another, and a hum began to reverberate around the structure.

'Ejerholm, what are you doing?' Raalthon asked, intrigued at the seeming disregard for safety his brother Xenarite was displaying.

'I am activating the relic, this is a control panel for it - I learnt these runes many years ago - they are quite standard really,' Ejerholm answered, not looking up from the console.

'Ejerholm, he's right,' Markov interjected, 'how do we know that you aren't setting off a bomb, or bringing about the end of the galaxy?'

'Oh nonsense, the Dorvastians had a peaceful empire,' Ejerholm quipped. Markov slid his Blaster under Ejerholm's nose.

'Peaceful enough that they built this gun?' he asked. Ejerholm stopped typing.

'Yes, you are right,' Ejerholm answered, calming somewhat, 'we should investigate more.' The quartet moved for a closer look at the structure.

Up above, Dorsin waited patiently for the platform to arrive, he could see Markov and the others walking away from the console. He turned to see if Dominic was alright. He noticed that the Kroot was no longer there.

'Damn and blast,' he said, 'Dominic, where did that alien go?'

The child looked around, 'I don't know, I was just looking at the thingy, I never saw it leave.'

'Silly xenos creature,' Dorsin muttered. He peered back over the lip of the precipice, wondering where the lift had got to. Suddenly a hand covered his mouth.

'Don't make a sound or I'll blow your head off, right?' a deep voice said from beside his ear.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Aboard the Omnissiah's Forge, Vault was burning for one of the boarding party to put a foot out of line as they inspected the ship. One more invasion of the ship's holy Machine Spirit, and Vault would unleash his full accompaniment of combat servitors. This Techpriest Roderick who was leading the boarding party seemed to have little repect for the great work that went on onboard the ship, and that caused Vault much disbelief. The upstart had asked questions pertaining to Vault's whereabouts earlier on, but Vault had told Roderick that as master of this ship, he did not need to answer to him. The answer was not what Roderick had been looking for.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: LoMaxxDurang
Replied on: 05/03/2004 04:32:15
Message:
Roderick fumed that this xenarite bastard would be so presumptious and rue as to not answer the questions asked of him and that he would actually damage the Machine Spirit of the vessel. Did he take him for a fool, why would he wish to damage the effigy of God?

"You will answer my questions Magos or you and your Xenos loving ilk will be banned from system, do yo understand me?"
______________________________________________________________________

Palov watched as the lift asceneded to where the group in he cham below had came from and there stood an aging savant and a youth of perhaps 12-14 years. Arkturus smiled inwardly, he ordered his men to prepare to take hostages, i they valed these heretics at all te fight would be over with ease. If not well they can always be used as examples.

Inquisitor Lorenthius Maximus Durang
"History is Lies agreed upon by the victorious."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 05/03/2004 08:26:00
Message:
"Eh, heh heh." The Navigator chortled nervously. Apparantly this machine was enjoying its own monstrosity. Not failing to catch the bold Inquisitor's gesture, he fell quiet for a moment. So, am I to stall? Or what? The Magos seems to think he answered my questions, hardly.

Nibling a bit of something off the plate infront of him. "Quite frankly, I have been sent here because there is no one left from my ship to send. All appearences show that my ship is no longer under my control, and so my initial question is still left unanswered." He mumbled the last, to be barely heard but heard none the less.

He waited.


Lieko came rushing back to their hiding hole. "Sir, two of the scouts have been captured. A force from the warship has landed." He took in gulps of breathe.

"Alright, we'll have to circumvent them." Silos motioned a hand to get attention from his men. "Listen up. I want three squads of seven formed." Pointing at two men, "the two sergeants and I will lead each. We're going to leap-frog around the force and attempt to enter the building from the side away from sight." He clapped his hands, "They may be hostile, but avoid all costs of being spotted. Go."



=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 05/03/2004 14:48:01
Message:
Maltheus watched the Navigator do his best to figure out what was going on. He took a small amount of pleasure in the uncomfortable situation. He always knew that if he was going to doe, it would be in a briliant blaze of glory. Taking on a Dreadnaught? Perhaps, but he doubted it.

"Ah, the relic," Maltheus responded to the metal beast towering at the far end of the table. "Intentions to destroy it are commended, Lord Blackbane. I believe there would not be a soul at this table who would argue that the end result should be the desruction of the dvice." He glanced at the navigator and peered straight into his eyes. Would the eccentric man understand what the Inquisitor was trying to say? Would he realise that Maltheus had a plan?

Inquisitor Maltheus stood, taking his glass and a carrafe with his as he did. He noted the Magos' quasi defensive posture as he stood. The machine man was on edge, and Maltheus would have to be warry of one in such a state.

"Tell me, Lord Blackbane," Maltheus continued, pouring the sweet liquor into his glass and placing the carrafe heavily on the table. "Why would the Ordo Malleus believe there was any taint within the relic, other than the taint of the Xenos itself? Are there indicators as to such facts? If so, that means you have more knowledge about the device than you would have us believe. Knowledge that you truly should share, conisdering the relic falls under the jurisdiction of the Ordo Xenos." He took a long pull from the glass, emptying the entire thing in one large gulp. "Not to mention the fact that Ordo Xenos opperatives outnumber you in this system, as of right now."

He leaned on the table and stared at the behemoth that was Lord Blackbane. His eyebrows raised and the dull red glow from his bionic eye pulsed with anticipation. He glanced quickly at Borno and gave him a reassuring nod, then turned back to the Adamantium encased Lord Inquisitor.

********************************************

"This way," Rostock pointed to the tunnel on the far left.

"But, sir, that one looks untraveled so far," Ripley noted.

"And?" Rostock asked in agrivation.

"And," Corproal Holst responded quickly. "Any traps that may be down the tunnels will have already been triggered by those who went ahead of us, Sir."

Rostock, looked at the two young men and then at the various tunnels entrances before him. He glared back at Marche, who continued to remain pretty much silent.

"This way, I said," he growled and continued down the undisturbed tunnel to the far left.

They had traveled probably for five or so standard minutes when Rostock stopped and turned to the others. He was grinning, but it was not a happy grin. There was the stink of gloating all over his face.

"See," He began. "You will learn to trust me. I have been placed in charge for a reason." He turned back to the tunnel, ilumination wand held high. That was when it happened. He took a single step forward and heard the sound.

*CLICK*

"What was that?" Ripley asked, but it was too late.

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 05/03/2004 20:31:41
Message:
Ripley jumped backwards as a shimmering wall of energy burst from the floor in front of him, almost removing Rostock's nose as it headed for the ceiling. The illumination wand was not so lucky and the front end fell to the ground on the other side of the field.

Holst sighed loudly, he had been right, but he didn't reveal his opinions.

Ripley grabbed Rostock by the shoulder, and spun him around. The colour had drained from his face.

'Are you all right sir?' Ripley asked, concerned.

'Of course I am!' Rostock huffed, badly hiding the obvious fright he had suffered. 'Holst, knock this field down,' he ordered.

'How, sir?'

'Just... just do something!'

Holst took his own wand, and scanned the walls and the floor, looking for any tell-tale signs of electronic circuitry. He saw an out of place colouration on the left hand wall. He raised his gun and blasted at the slightly purple patch. The wall sparked, before the field flashed, and then dissipated.

Reply author: InquisitorMaltheus
Replied on: 05/03/2004 22:06:30
Message:
Rostock took a moment to compose himself. He took out another ilumination wand, as the group was now standing in near complete darkness. As he activated it, he saw Ripley and Holst exchange smirks. Marche, too, seemed to be grinning at what had just happend.

"Very well, on we go," Rostock ordered them. "Guardsman, you lead the way."

Leon stepped forward and began moving slowly down the corridor. His highly trained eye picked out all the details as they crept along at a much more cautious pace. He would halt the group for a moment to examine a miscolored section of wall, or seemingly out of place mound of dirt.

As they walked Ripley admired the guardsman for his silent service and the qualities the young man bore. He recognised the dedication it must take to achieve the level of awareness and skill that Leon must have reached. The acolyte began to understand why Maltheus had chosen this guardsman to accompany them. His mind then drifted to the Inquisitor. What could be happening on that ship?

Reply author: Stryde
Replied on: 06/03/2004 00:45:32
Message:
Borno sensed something changing. Information to be revealed?

"Hmm. My Lord, this Inquisitor has a good point. Although I could never fathom the intricacies of the Inquisition's inner-workings, it seems this 'Ordo Xenos' does have the situation well in hand..." Feigning ignorance was easy when you weren't an Inquisitor. He was gaining courage by the man's conversation. Borno sipped from his cup as he waited to hear what the ancient would say.


The remaining scout returned to the already moving squads. "Major, there is a great force up ahead making way to the temple."

Silos took a draw from his tin, "Fine, we should easily get around them since they're focused on the building. Be careful, the other two have been captured. I want you to be a go-between to judge how far we are from them. Make sure we don't get close enough to be revealed." Putting the cap back on the tin, he thought. They know we're here, they have to. I'm not giving up on Jenna though, NO WAY.


=][= Jenna Stryde Ordo Xenos