Necessary Wars

[VanHelser]

Topic author: roBurky
Subject: 'Necessary Wars'
Posted on: 02/03/2004 21:43:10
Message:


The rumble of the artillery thundered through the ground again, though Rastillian could not tell where it landed. The sky was black with soot and smog, and was as polluted as the ground.

Rastillian looked out from the top of his fortress. His face was covered with a gas mask fitted with enhanced sight so that his eyes could penetrate the dust in the air to get a view of the ruined city beneath him.

He cursed. He didn't know what needed cursing, but he knew the war wasn't right. He cursed his father. He cursed his enemies. He cursed the Imperium. He cursed everyone until there was noone left to curse, and then he cursed the rock he stood upon.

A scribe scurried up to him with the calculated trajectories for the fortress' cannons. He looked at it, and recognised the target coordinates as the civilian areas of subhive Gretius. He signed it, and the scribe scurried away.

He raised his right hand to the face of his mask, clenching and unclenchingd his armoured fist, watching the ornate powered gauntlet mirror and augment his movements, listening to the whine of the servos. It was leafed in reinforced gold, and had still not chipped, despite the battle he had taken part in earlier that day. He examined the symbols of the council, of his father, and of his allegiances engraved expertly into the forearm. He observed the Imperial aquila wrapped around the wrist, the wings splayed in a manner that defied convention for its depiction. On the palm was an intricate representation of his own symbol, and he stared at this with a boiling rage and sadness inside him.

The cannons fired. Great thunderous roars from behind him, and flashes of light that illuminaed the city. In the distance, the mask's enhanced vision picked out the detonations of subhive Gretius, and the great chunks of earth and city being thrown up into the air.

He cursed the cannons, and he cursed the people he had just sentenced to death - mere tens of thousands in a war that claimed more than he could concieve. He cursed himself, and then walked back inside the fortress, the faceless mercenary bodyguards flanking him.

Replies:



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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 03/03/2004 17:47:23
Message:

"Tell me again, father! Tell me again why this war is necessary!"
Rastillian strode into the immense unlit chamber of commerce deep within the fortress, where no shellfall could ever be felt. In the centre sat a bloated figure, a naked human man grown to unnatural proportions, and lathered with muscle and body fat.

Councillor Fehrwar stirred. The greasy pipes leading into his mouth whined slightly as they poured more nutrients into his gut. His voice boomed out of the vox-casters embedded in the floor of the hall.
"What is this? Can you not see I am busy meditating upon problems far greater than can be comprehended by the likes of you?"

"This world is in ruins, father. This war is not needed. Messalon has always depended on the strength and unity of the council, and now you are destroying all that makes us prosper."

The immense Councillor roared in displeasure.
"This war is to strengthen us, you impudent son! We must be ready to defy the Imperium when it next threatens our existence."

"We are a member of the Imperium, father. You and the council rule this world in their name!"

"Have those hideously expensive history tutorings I gave you as a child done nothing? Can you not see what will happen? The Imperium tried to destroy us before, and it shall do so again!"

"That was one man, father. One man tried to destroy our world. But he was stopped by the Inquisition."

"That one man was an Inquisitor, fool son. An order of death from the highest authority. A mandate of Exterminatus, no less! If we are to stop the next mandate, we must be united and ready to fight. We must purge the council of the simpering elements that would accept their fate if it came from the pen of their blessed Imperium. We MUST be ready!"

As Councillor Fehrwar breathed hard, heaving with anger, there was the sound of footsteps as Rastillian walked away in the darkness.

"We must be ready to fight, son! We must!"


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 11/03/2004 23:21:37
Message:

The blubber-laden councillor slowly sank back into his throne after his son left the chamber, anger visibly rolling off him in the form of steam from the oils on his skin. But before he could return to the dictating of orders to his scribes, a man stepped out from the curtain-draped darkness and with quiet steps walked across the cavernous chamber towards the councillor.

He was dressed in the tight-fitting brown robes of the Battle Monks of Orstilla, and wore the yellow flowing cloth face-mask that denoted him as High Augur, the leader of his monastic order. A female monk in the same robes, but no mask to hide her face, followed behind him, with a double-handed sword held out and battle-ready, in keeping with the tenets of the order.

"He grows more vocal in his protests every day, my lord." said the figure from behind the yellow mask.

The noble behemoth rumbled in sorrow. "I can't make him understand. He refuses to listen to reason."

"It goes further than that, my lord. He will defect. He will turn his back to your family's lineage and join with your enemies, but not before he has destroyed you and razed your family's houses to the ground."

The great inhuman face turned to the comparitively tiny human standing before him. There was suprise and fear showing in his voice. "You... you are sure of this?"

"The Emperor has shown it to me."

The councillor shifted his great bulk on his throne, the supporting machinery groaning under the changing pressures. His synthesised voice rumbled once again from the great vox-casters embedded in the floor. "What should I do?"

The High Augur turned away slightly, and took a few paces to the world leader's right. "Councillor Maxson is still away from our great world, and he does not deign to send back orders regarding the war. His armies are still in neutrality, and will not engage in the war without their master's approval, even if provoked."

Fehrwar's mighty brow furrowed. "What are you saying?"

"Send Rastillian to assault Councillor Maxson's Star Fort. If you sent him on a suicide mission against any other faction, he would have opportunity to defect. Against Maxson's forces, his pleas will fall on ears deafened by bureaucracy and fear. He will most certainly die."

Councillor Fehrwar sighed and a shudder went through his glistening oiled body. "If I must send my son to death to preserve my house and this world, then that is what I must do. I thank you for your advice and counsel, High Augur."

The man in the flowing mask bowed low, and walked back out from the chamber, his monk bodyguard following, blade still outstretched.

As they passed the curtains around the edge of the great hall, the High Augur removed his cloth mask, revealing a face that was both young and old. Repeatedly revitalised by the Imperium's retroaging drugs, yet also allowed to be ravaged by time. The left side of his face was twisted with burn scars. The right side of his face bore a deep and hideous scar that stretched from underneath his chin, past his eye, and over the top of his bald head, down to the back of his neck. While the burns were superficial and could probably have been treated by any High Imperial apothecary, this scar was deep and disfiguring and certainly permanent.

He turned to the monk that followed submissively behind. "Have the Vanium Dare sent to the Star Fort. I want the defenses weakened ready for the assault. Rastillian is going to win."

The monk nodded, her eyes cast down while her master spoke to her. "Yes, Lord Jaekomus. I shall send the order at once."

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 14/03/2004 20:33:26
Message:

The Vanium Dare stalked through the lightless maintenance corridors of the Maxson Star Fort. The air had begun to grow stale and low in oxygen after the life support spirits had been put to sleep. But the Vanium Dare cared not.

With one strike of his fist, the wall caved in, and the second blow connected with the head of a soldier in the next room. The other occupants of the Fort's command complex turned to look, but only caught a glimpse of the hole smashed in the wall before a roar began and flashes of light erupted from the intruder's weapon.

The command crew began to die. Their chests erupted, each in turn, splattering ribs and gore across the floor.

As the last body fell headles to the ground, the Vanium Dare stepped into the complex, his heavy footfalls bending the grating of the floor. He stepped up to the sensor station, and read the reports of the boarding craft of House Fehrwar approaching from the planet below.

He turned away and left, disappearing back into the bowels of the station.


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 17/03/2004 23:05:29
Message:

A great howl went up from the subhive slums, and was quickly joined by thousands more. Spewed forth by inhuman mouths, they were the angry calls of defiance against an oppressive master.

Jilae scowled. He peered through the binoculars at the mutant horde massing at the city walls.
"Abhuman monstrosities." he said. His black-helmeted bodyguards nodded in agreement. "Subslum filth. They would use this war as an excuse to grab more freedom than they deserve. They should think themselves lucky we tolerate their existence. On any other world tehy would be exterminated."

"Maybe that is the course we should follow, too."
The heavy footfalls of the power-armured figure could be heard as it walked across the stone tiles of the city fortifications towards Jilae and his men.

Jilae bowed a half-shaven head, tattooed with the symbol of the Gretian Trade Enforcers. "Queen Jilann." The woman in the immense suit of golden armour, excuisitely detailed with innumerable carvings, looked out at the mutant armies.
"The Imperium has always disapproved of our use of abhuman labour. Destroying them would help to prove our loyalty once again after the war is over."

Jilae said nothing, keeping his head bowed in submission. The woman turned to look at him over the lip of her armour. "Order the strike, Duke Jilae. Show them that the city of Gretius will not tolerate their insubordination."

Jilae nodded to one of his bodyguards, who ran off down the stairs. Those left looked out over the battlements again. The mutants were raising great banners now, each one daubed in bright colours mixed from the residues of the toxic subslum spills.

Jilae spotted one giant junka trukk approaching the city gates, a battering ram formed from thousands of abhuman bones fixed to the front. It was moving on several sets of caterpillar tracks ripped from the mining machines the mutant slaves operated for their masters. It was about to lurch within range of the lines of lasgun-armed soldiers atop the walls when the bombers came.

Each one laden down with bombs, missiles and warheads, and flying in great numbers, they laid down a blanket of blossoming fire on the mutants' attempt at an army, obliterating it in a matter of moments. The concerted howls of defiance had quickly been cut off and replaced with individual cries of pain amid the explosions and dust.

Queen Jilann smiled. "Now send out the assault troops. Have them to kill the survivors and then move out into the subslums. I want the families of those that defied us slaughtered as a message to the other mutant populations. Gretian Trade Enforcers will not tolerate these insults."


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 30/03/2004 21:44:32
Message:

Rastillian sat, strapped into his seat as the assault boat roared out through the atmosphere. He looked around at the soldiers alongside him. Each of them was loyal to him. They had been gathered from across the world to join in thsi one assault boat for this one mission. Every soldier that Rastillian had ever known, or worked with, or trusted. And they all knew why.

They looked to him for guidance, their faces questioning, pleading. They knew they were going to die, and they knew that Rastillian knew it too.

But the Noble Captain simply looked at them all in turn. He would not abandon them, but they would still perform their duties. They were all going to die, but they would do so as honourable men. And they would do it together.

---

The halls echoed with the sound of repeating shotguns. The Fehrwaran Soldiers in green garb were meeting a shockingly small amunt of resistance, and their foes seemed happier to turn and run than follow the derees of the Maxson Empire's battle legislation.

What troubled Rastillian was how the alarms were failing to activate. The enemy soldiers, normally menacing in their black flak armour and polished face-hiding helms were ignoring the large and sturdy alarm buttons on every wall, like they didn't expect them to work.

---

The invasion party couldn't believe their own success. At any moment, they were certain, would come their end. There would be a cunningly laid trap just in the next chamber, where the Maxson Empire Soldiers would finally outnumber them. Or the life support would be cruelly cut off, killing everyone on the level.

They looked to their Noble, Rastillian. And he led them on.

He led them to the command complex, where thy found the corpses of the commanding officers of the Star Fort dressed in blood-stained black and gold uniforms.

The nervous Fehrwaran Soldiers were now reaching their breaking point, but Rasstillian walked forward and pushed the beheaded Fort Administrator out of the command chair. He turned around.
"Take the controls, men. We have the Star Fort."

---

Three techpriests garbed in thin, ragged, robes had been found cowering in the lower levels and brought up to the command complex to work the sensors and reorganise the Star Fort's servitors. They had little idea as to what had befallen the Fort before the Fehrwarans had arrived.

The one soothing the machine apirit and operating the sensors hissed. "There iss a dissturbancse, new Lord. A ship iss leaving the warp."

---

'The Stellar Web' exited the warp. The porthole window coverings retracted, alowing the occupants to once again look out at the starry sights of space. The navigator retired to his chambers, and the ships' sub-light engines brought it down towards the world of Messalon IV.

Voke sat in a chair on the bridge, still not recovered fully, but unwilling to stay rested while such important matters where to be attended to. Van Helser stood beside him, and the stunted savant looked out from behind Voke's shoulder, with a case of dataslates attached to the implanted clips on his back.

"I believe it would be appropriate for an arriving vessel to request docking from the Star Fort before proceeding with any business," said the savant, looking over a dataslate that his third bionic arm mounted on his shoulder handed to him.

---

"We are recieving a transmission of greetingss and intent. They wish to dock, new Lord."
The techpriest spoke from a voxcaster on his chest, as his mouth housed the mechadendrite that was currently connected with the machine spirit of the Star Fort's sensor arrays.

Rastilian looked over the pictcasters arrayed around him. "Is it an Imperial ship?"

"Not exactly, new Lord. Itss regisstrationss do not match that of an Imperial Navy vesssel. But its transsmisions do bear the sign of the aquila."

Rastillian's eyes narrowed, and looked out the main porthole at the magnified image of the oncoming light cruiser. "So, what is it? A merchant vessel? A Rogue Trader? A... a Blackship?"

The soldiers tensed at the word. They had all heard the legends of the Blackship War.

"It is not clear, new Lord. I suggest you ask them. With the machine spirit in such a troubled state, single-channel vox-messages would be the reccomended medium."

The Noble stood to his full height again, and walked to the center of the chamber. He nodded to the techpriest, who began recording the vox-message.

"This is Noble Captain Rastillian under the command and ownership of house Fe..." he looked at the symbols on the soldier's uniforms, and his men suddenly did likewise. The realisation that they had succeeded where they should have failed dawned. "... of my own command and free from ownership. Explain your presence and your purpose in the name of the Ruling Council of Messalon."

The techpriest sighed. "The message is sent, new Lord."

---

"Inquisitors, there is an incoming vox-message from the Star Fort ..."

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 03/04/2004 00:19:14
Message:

Van Helser listened to the message from the Star Fort, picking up on the hesitation in the man's voice. There was something odd about the way he had checked his speech.

'We are not giving away our Inquisitorial status Dauphan, whatever happens,' Van Helser said, turning to Voke, 'well not yet anyway. We are Rogue Traders.'

'Rogue Traders?' questioned Voke, 'why not just use our Inquiisitorial seals?'

'We don't know what's going on here,' Van Helser answered, 'we say we're Inquisition and they might shoot us as soon as we set foot on board.'

'And they might shoot us if we say that we are Rogue Traders.'

'True, but I'd rather that they'd think they had killed Rogue Traders rather than a couple of Inquisitors,' Van Helser answered, smirking. 'Transmit a message back to the Starfort that we are here to trade some exotic wares with the local guilds. Perhaps some of our goods would be of interest to the crew over there. Voke, you can keep your seal on you, hidden, and we'll use our real names. Leave your daemon weapon here, carry something basic instead.'

'I am not an Acolyte, Mikael, I know how to act under cover.'

'I know,' Van Helser said, patting Voke on the shoulder, 'I'll have Quirrick stay here ready to move in with Navalis if needs be. I'll need a lasgun, do your stores have a few going free?'

'Yes, about a couple of hundred at my last count.'

'Good, lets get ourselves ready. I have a good feeling about this.'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 03/04/2004 14:51:37
Message:

Rastillian listened intently to the message as it crackled around the air of the command complex. He motioned to the techpriest to play it again.

Rogue Traders. Something stirred in Rastillian's heart, and his mind began working on new thoughts.

"Send them a message, techpriest. Authorise them to dock and come aboard. Send them an invitation to dinner. They shall be our guests."

He turned to his men, looking on from the sides of the room.
"See what crew there are left alive. We need to get this fort working again, and we need to show hospitality to these guests. Find the star fort commander's dining hall!"

The soldiers began to organise themselves into parties to secure the rest of the fort and search for the non-military crew.

Rastillian turned to the techpriest.
"I trust you can handle the docking prcedures. Alert me when they are ready to come aboard."
And with that he joined his men.

---

Voke and Van Helser had begun preparing themselves for their roles. They carefully chose suitably imperious clothing for wealthy young traders, clear of any symbols or items that could betray their true selves.

The savant Luthwye found them in Van Helser's quarters as a tailor adjusted the garments.
"Ah, I have found you. I have brought the additional materials you requested."

An even shorter slave-creature than the savant followe behind him, carrying an engraved lasgun. The slave placed it on the table, and then scurried back behind the savant.
"A Mars-pattern lasgun," said Luthwye, "Over four hundred years old, constructed by the artificer Hlobare. With the addition of some imaginative stories, it is a fitting personal weapon for a Rogue Trader."

The savant unrolled two yellowed parchments. "And here are Two Rogue Trader licences, made in your names. I used your Inquisitorial codes to generate legitimate papers, combined with the most sophisticated ageing processes available. There is no way that anyone will be able to find fault with these without checking the records on Terra themselves."

Voek frowned at him. "You used our codes without consent?"

The savant faltered. "I.. I thought you would want them quickly. It.. it is my duty, among others, to save you time."

"Leave it be, Dauphan," said Van Helser, "The job is done. Let's get underway."

As the Inquisitors got to their feet, the savant eagerly handed them a dataslate each.
"I have written some personal histories for your characters. I've kept them simple, and they should remain in keeping with the history of the region. I suggest you familiarise yourselves with them before leaving, and be prepared to embellish them where necessary."

The Inqusitors took them without a word, and began scanning them as the savant Luthwye began searching through his dataslates.
---




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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 03/04/2004 17:28:01
Message:

Well it had been some time since Voke had gone under cover. Van Helser had his lasgun, and then some. The look on his face as he found out it several hundred years old! He just expecting some normal lasgun! Voke had decided to play a rich traders, they'd have been rich to own something the size of a dauntless light cruiser. Voke wore clothes made out of rich silk. A saphire blue shirt contrasted with jet black trousers and a regal purple cape. Voke knew that Van Helser found his appearence ammussing but it kept with the idea of young, rich traders; always trying to show off wealth. Voke carried two dueling las pistols and a small knief. Voke also had his Inquisitorial seal on him, hidden; just incase they needed it. Voke set about preparing his psychic powers; not for use, but to hide them. Voke couldn't take the risk of a psycher onboard noticing Voke's powers, or that Van Helser and he were not what they appeared.

Voke had not tried anything of this sort since....his near death on rout. Voke was affraid that this might trigger it again, or that his mind might be in secret termoil and allow him to become a pupet of a daemon. Voke turned inwards, fearful but resolute.

And found that everything was normal. Voke let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. Now they were ready. The looked that part and no psycher would be able to look deep enough into their minds to see thier lies. All was ready.

Voke met Van Helser at the airlock.
"Mikael, is everyone ready if we need help?"
"Don't worry Dauphan, we won't need help"
"But are they ready?"
"yes"
There was a set of beeps indicating that docking was complete and that they could now go aboard.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 04/04/2004 01:04:02
Message:

Van Helser slung the lasgun over his shoulder on its exquisitely embroidered strap, this was a really impressive piece of work, very infitting with their disguises. He was wearing a fine mawa cotton suit, with a frilled shirt underneath, along with polished leather shoes. The data slate of his personal history was interesting to say the least; vast estates on Vimmen, Tromes and Igryn, and an exclusive contract supplying the Haxel's on the Eastern Fringe with Imperial arms. Not too difficult to remember, and plenty scope for making up more.

'Luthwye, I want you to find out as much as you can about Messalon IV, and tell us all that you have discovered when we return,' Van Helser said as he turned towards the savant.

'I've already found out quite enough,' answered Luthwye as he produced anotther dataslate from somewhere in his robes, 'if you'd just care to hang on a moment longer...'

'No, we're leaving now,' Van Helser said impatiently, 'but good work anyway.'

'Leaving now, eh?' announced Quirrick as he opened the airlock door. 'Not without me, or them,' he continued, indicating both Ela an Ewst who were luxuriously clothed in velvet, elegant and deadly.

'Are you wearing silk Alexei?' Van Helser asked in disbelief, amazed to see Quirrick in anything other than his worn out flak jacket and steel toe-capped boots.

'I guess so. I even cleaned up my stubber especially for this little jaunt,' Quirrick answered, revealing a gleaming silver side arm in a shoulder holster. 'And I think Mr Luthwye should come along too, you never know when a brain on legs'll come in handy.'

Van Helser nodded his assent. 'So, Luthwye, Messalon IV?'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 04/04/2004 09:47:16
Message:

Ela and Eswt were not going to miss out on this. They were both clothed in brightly coloured velvet. The velvet was designed to allow freedom of movement, just incase it came to a fight. Voke had expected them, didn't plan to have them, but didn't argue. Eswt had swapped her power sword for another normal sword. Their scabards were covered in jews and intricate patterns, one on either leg. Ela had swapped her bolt pistols for two las pistols, similar to Vokes; very old, accurate and supprisingly powerful for las weapons. A large green over coat hid both holsters. Neither were cean on bring Luthwye along but Van Helser did have a point and Voke agreed. So with a slightly large retinue than first antisipated they made ready to go aboard.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 06/04/2004 19:48:03
Message:

The troupe began walking the long docking corridor to the Star Fort. Reinforced windows showed glimpses of the structure ahead, with tall intricate spires pointing upward away from the surface. Voke recognised them as sensor towers, both the most essential and most delicate feature of a space installation.
Luthwye had given Quirrick a scowl, but quickly changed back to his cheery excitable exterior when Van Helser began talking to him.
Although he was a savant on Voke's staff, he found himself working a lot more with Van Helser. He was just one of many hundreds of people on the ship working for Voke, and the Inqusitor paid little attention to him.

"So, Luthwye, Messalon IV?" said Van Helser.

The savant nodded eagerly. "Messalon IV. As you know, most worlds are rules by a single planetary governor in the name of the Imperium, but there are many exceptions, allowing for the local customs of the world. Messalon is run by a committee of the leaders of the six richest and most powerful organisations on the planet, known as the 'Council of Six'.
"The positions on the council are in theory never permanent and subject to review by the rest of the council at any time, and can change when a rising power gains notice, the Maxson Empire being the most recent example. But this is rare and the positions are largely hereditary. At the last Imperial census of the world, the positions of the council were filled by the leaders of Houses Fehrwar, Baehii, and Hand, the Gretian Trade Enforcement, the Maxson Empire, and the Intercontinental Natural Resource Regulation.
"The actual surface of Messalon is divided into two continents, and is rich in mineral resources. It is a civilised world, with it's own agriculture and extensive industry. Although not a Forge World by any means, it does produce its own forms of military arms and vehicles.
"The inhabitants of the world are dound in six main cities. These cities are known as subhives among the populace, and this is put down by Imperial culture theorists as a desire for their world to be seen as larger and more important than it is by comparing it to a hive world. All of the cities are officially under the domain of the Council, though the different factions hold different amounts of sway in each.
"Commerce and industry are important in the culture of Messalon, and while the various factions have their squabbles and differences, the Council provides a unity and driving force for the world in interplanetary matters, and deals with offworld traders that are sanctioned by the Council are highly sought after. You can expect to be popular individuals."

They reached the end of the docking corridor and Quirrick punched the airlock release panel. Heavy bulkheads pulled back, slowly revealing their hosts.

The man in front carried no visible weapon and wore a sylised pale green flak jacket that looked both decorative and functional. His right hand was fitted inside a large golden gauntlet. Quirrick thought it was a power glove at first, and begna to reach for his weapon. But he stopped himself, and looked it over again, noting the decorative engravings and the lack of any visible power units.
Over the top of the unmarked uniform, their host wore a purple cape that clearly didn't come with the outfit. He wore it an angle, the edge of the cape falling over his leftarm. This rang a little alarm in Voke's head, and he immediately suspected that this man was hiding something. A weapon, maybe?

The seven men behind were soldiers, with shotguns on their backs, and dressed in green uniforms. Van Helser noticed that their boots were not clean, and the men looked tired. One soldier had a half-empty clip hanging from his belt.

The man in front bowed low. "Welcome to the Star Fort of Messalon, Traders Van Helser and Voke. I am Noble Captain Rastillian, in charge of this facility. If you would like to come this way, we have prepared a meal to show our hospitality..."


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 06/04/2004 23:59:33
Message:

'A meal?' said Van Helser happily, 'excellent. I am Van Helser, but please, call me Mikael.' Rastillian nodded. 'And this is Voke, I leave it up to him as whether you may use his first name!' Van Helser laughed at his little joke, bringing a slight smile to Rastillian's face. Quirrick cringed. What a moron.

'I hope you excuse the presence of our bodyguards,' Van Helser continued, 'we mean no offence by having them with us, but danger is something we traders must live with.'

'Not at all,' Rastillian said, 'as you can see, I have my own guards too.'

'Of course,' Van Helser replied. This was idle chit-chat, but he hoped it would take the edge off the situation. There was something not quite right with the troopers. Why would they have half empty clips? Dirty boots could be put down to the lax troopers in the uniform, but why would they show signs of recently discharging their weapons? Something was definetly afoot.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 07/04/2004 12:22:11
Message:

Voke smiled at Van Helser feable joke.
"At least this time your giving me SOME choice about wheather people know my name or not."
Voke turned towards Rastillian.
"Please, call me Dauphan."
They started to follow Rastillian down the corridor, presumably towards the meal. Voke saw Mikael's attention was drawn towards Rastillian body guards. Voke saw it too; dirty shoes-not soo bad, just a sign that they were gettimg lax; but the half-emptied clips?
And the way Rastillian's cloke hid something about his arm? The half-emptied clips said that they had just been used. Target practice? Then surely he would have assigned differnt guards to himself? The main point of guards was to show-off, by a symbol. And that ment perfect looking condition, clean boots and full clips. It all lead to a suggestion that they had recently been fighting; but who? and why?. An idea lept into Voke's mind. The cloak may not be concealing a weapon, it might be concealing a wound!

Voke had too little information to do much on but he sent a set of small hand signals to Ela and Eswt telling them 'be carefull:looks like recent fighting, all is not as it seems'. Voke now regretted not taking the time to teach Van Helser their hand signals. Maybe Ela or Eswt had? Another small hand gesture 'will Quirrick be able to understand this?' a short 'No' was the reply. Fine. Perhaps it was nothing. Hopefully it was nothing.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 09/04/2004 00:18:22
Message:

Quirrick dropped back into step beside Van Helser, and nudged him with his elbow and looked down at the ground behind the feet behind the guards. Van Helser nodded in agreement. Quirrick laid his hand upon the gun within his jacket, but Van Helser quickly shook his head. This wasn't going to devolve into a gunfight just yet.

Rastillian lead them on further inside the Spacefort, disturbingly free of the crew members Van Helser expected to see. Perhaps they had just been cleared off of this route because of the important guests, and their hosts didn't want them to see the scruffy side of life in orbit, but their was a sense of danger gnawing away at Van Helser's conscience. Just what were they getting themselves into?

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 09/04/2004 12:39:00
Message:

A guard opened a bulkhead and the group stepped out of the darkness of the corridors into the bright light of a glass-domed chamber.

"Welcome, gentlemen traders, to the Hall of Hospitality."

The Messalon sun could clearly be seen hanging in the centre of the sky above them, and with no atmosphere to dilute it down was shining down with brilliant force.


"The Star Fort is in an orbit perfectly aligned with our sun, meaning this hall and others like it are always illuminated by its life-giving warmth. There was a religious group of our past that worshipped the sun as the Emperor, and it was they who built this fort."

Van Helser chanced a glance around the hall and noticed many dulled carvings around the walls. Some he recognised as common symbols and scenes of the Ecclesiarchy. Others depicted what looked like ritual blood sacrifices and gruesome social cleansings performed by priests in cloth face-masks.

"Please, sit."
There was a round table in the centre of the hall, with thirteen seats fixed in place. Van Helser, Voke, Ela, Eswt, Quirrick and Rastillian sat down, with Luthwye standing behind Van Helser, furiously copying down the carvings onto pictslates.

An array of prepared meats was arranged before them, though there had been no sign of servants or catering staff when they came in. The dishers were from a wide range of animals and prepared in a variety of ways. Some was cooked, some was raw. Some was dried, some was very fresh.

Rastillian picked up a bite-sized cube of dark red meat with his fingers. "So, my guest traders, what does bring you to the illustrious world of Messalon?"


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 09/04/2004 17:18:09
Message:

Voke glanced at Van Helser. A slightly quizical look on his face.
"Do you want to awnser that one Mikael or shall I?"
When Rastillian gave Voke a quirring look Voke explained.
"We decided long ago one of us explains and the other keeps quite until the first one's finished. Stops lots of arguing and stop you from getting confused; well to start with anyway." Voke smilled.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 10/04/2004 01:49:55
Message:

'Of course I will fill Mr Rastillian in on our reasons of being here!' Van Helser said cheerily while throwing a scathing look at Voke. Naivety like that could give them away. 'As you know, we are Rogue Traders.' Rastillian nodded. 'We have many wares that would prove popular here,' Van Helser continued, 'I have a hold full of las weaponry, constructed to the highest quality. Almost a whole shipment of mastercrafted weaponry. My lasgun is a fine example.' Van Helser unhooked its strap off of the back of his chair. The guards around Rastillian shifted uneasily, but they were calmed by a curt gesture from Rastillian. A good sign, Van Helser thought, he is not feeling edgy in our presence. Van Helser passed the lasgun across the table into Rastillian's grasp.

'This is indeed a fine weapon,' Rastillian said, admiring the engravings on the weapon's stock.

'Needless to say, these weapons come at a price,' Voke interjected, shooting a dirty look of his own at Van Helser; they did not have a hold full of guns like these. Any more talk like this and they could be finding themselves caught out.

'Of course, of course,' Rastillian answered, handing the gun back across the table, 'but why come to our system specifically? There are many more planets than ours that would appreciate these quite exquisite weapons. We are almost self sufficient in arms in fact. Ours is an odd choice, if you ask me.'

He had a very good point there, and Van Helser hesitated, cramming a mouthful of some sea creature into his mouth to hide his mistake. Luthwye had mentioned their military resources not fifteen minutes before.

'Well, we are not familiar with this sector at all, and we happened to exit the warp in your system. You see, we are more at home in the eastern fringe, away from Imperial law and all that!' Van Helser added another laugh, trying to ease Rastillian away from the the point he had just raised. He wasn't so sure if he had got away with it, so took a drink of amasec from his goblet.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 10/04/2004 13:57:50
Message:

Voke saw Van Helser stubble to come up with a reason for their presence here; Voke decided to lend a hand.

"Well not only that but personally I like to try and see all the galaxy has to offer. All the different planets are very intruiging. Amazing wonders to be seen and we can spend some time exploring some of the worlds the Imperilum has to offer. Your probably thinking still 'why this planet?' . Well It's not just the amazing wonders I like to see. I like to see cizalised planets of the Imperilum, see how mankind is so diverse to fit the needs of differnt planets." Voke had kind of re-enforced that idea, hopefully not soo much it became suspicious. Voke gave Rastillian a boyish smile.

"Also it's easier to sell our goods here than say on some dead planet filled with amazing mountain ranges, or on some death planet with stunning creatures (and we're less likely to get eaten here)." Voke gave Rastillian a big wolfish smile of a merchant on the brink of a big deal.

"And your planet may make weapons which we might be able to sell else where;and we don't just deal in weapons!" Voke though he'd managed to hide Mikael's stubble.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 10/04/2004 20:54:02
Message:

Rastillian looked solemn as he poured another goblet of thick messalonian wine.

"You say you operate in the eastern fringe, Mikael? We hear stories, on occasion. The Rogue Trader bringing the light of the Imperium to undiscovered alien lands, the warrior of the frontier, going before the Imperial fleets, recapturing worlds lost to mankind for millennia, and claiming them for the Emperor,"
He reached over and placed the heavy bottle with a twisted neck back in the centre of the table.
"There are also stories of the Rogue Traders who go to the fringe for adventure and profit. They bravely elude detection by the Imperial fleets to establish trade routes with forbidden xenos worlds, claiming vast fortunes underneath the noses of the Imperial watchdog, claiming a small portion of divinity and becoming small emperors in their own right."

He lifted the unadorned goblet to his lips, and took some of the viscous dark liquid into his mouth. He swallowed it with care. "Which would you call yourselves, I wonder? Both could be called heroes, and both could find a welcome here, I'm sure."

Ven Helser picked up on the measured element of Rastillian's voice. He sensed they being tested with this question. Though what the stakes were, he could not say.

Voke looked again at the cloak over Rastillian's left arm. He glimpsed the shoulder as the Noble lifted his goblet. Although the bright light from above cast a stark shadow underneath the heavy cloak, he thought he saw the red stain he had suspected.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 11/04/2004 01:06:28
Message:

Another question that could either make or break them. Excellent. The people in this room didn't seem particularly Emperor fearing; Rastillian had said that both types of Rogue Trader could be called heroes. Was that just a cunning ploy though? Van Helser decided that playing the middle ground was probably the best plan.

'Well, I like to think that I have acted as a tool of the Emperor, but I also have a real sense of adventure!' Van Helser said lightheartedly. 'We discovered a world, a human world, that had been lost from the Imperium for millenia. The people there were, well, backward! We talked to their leaders, told them of the almighty Emperor, and brought them back into his light.' Van Helser took another sip of amasec. 'I found another world though, before myself and Mr Voke began working together. He knows of it now, but not many others do. Not least the Inquisition!' He added a laugh here. 'The world was home to a bizarre race of aliens, four legged things with insectoid carapaces, the Haxels. Unlike so many of the xenos races in the galaxy, these were a race non-hostile to any others, though there were many rival factions on the planet warring at the time. They were much appreciative of Imperial weapons, so I signed an exclusive contract with them. Wonderful customers.' He skewered a piece of meat with his fork and put it into his mouth, chewing slowly. 'So, what with all my experiences, maybe I can find a doubly warm welcome here!' Van Helser let loose another roaring laugh.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 11/04/2004 01:32:18
Message:

Rastillian listened intently to Van Helser's tale, but failed to laugh or even smile at his closing joke.
"I do believe that you will be welcome here, gentlemen. There are many who would be desperate for your weaponry at this time," he sighed, and looked up at the sun above. "For our world is in the middle of a civil war, and your arrival has the potential to change everything."

He pulled himself to his feet, and grasped hold of the back of his chair.
"How you conduct yourselves during your time here will decide our fate. I don't need to tell you what clout your mere words would have, or the military strength more arms could bring.

"Belief in Imperial justice has waned, and there are those that believe our world is to be sentenced to death. They are fighting for seperatism, and therefore life. There are those that follow the Emperor, and believe that preparing for our doom will only bring it closer. They are fighting for faith, and therefore life."

He released the clasps on his gauntlet, and carefully remove it from his hand. The skin underneath was red and covered with tiny pinpricks. He placed the metal glove down on the table in front of Van Helser and Voke.

"This war can only bring death, and does so every moment of every day. I plead to you. Bring this war to an end and save our world from any more suffering."


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 11/04/2004 13:55:05
Message:

This was a sudden change of events. And it could be quite disasterous. But what if what Rastillian had said was true? Then it was their duty as Inquisitors to destroy the heretics and unbelievers. Voke would have to discuse this with Van Helser in private. Voke's suspicions had been realised though. It seemed very likely that these people had been fighting before he and Mikael had arrived. Had they been defending the station or invading? Voke's mind was wandering, for the moment it was irrelavant. Voke shared his thoughts with Ela and Eswt with a few small, discreate hand movements.

Voke turned to Rastillian, concern in his eyes.
"Of course we'll help, the Imperiulm fighting itself is no good to anyone, in the long run. It may be good for buisness, until we all get killed by aliens because we were too busy fighting each other. Trust me, that las gun you saw earlier, not the only weapon we have, he have quite a large stock, and some heavier weaponry as well."

Voke had such weapononry on his ship. The Stellar Web was one of Voke's main bases of operations and concequently had a large stock of weaponry.

"Perhaps at some point you would like to come over to our ship and see our full stocks, if there is time; which by the sound of things there may not."

The sooner this dinner finished the better. Voke needed some time to talk to Van Helser, work out what they had learned and decided on there mext actions. But this was an opertunity to find out alot of information and Voke chided himself for wanting it to finish. They had to find out more, mainly about who's hands this station was in; and if it might be attacked (possibly for a second time recently)



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 12/04/2004 14:32:33
Message:

'My, a civil war you say?' said Van Helser, feigning amazement. 'Oh this changes a lot. A lot of things.' Things were falling into place now - the dirty boots, expended ammunition, these were the result of recent fighting on board. If we put one foot out of line, this man will have us killed, Van Helser thought. 'This does put us in an important position,' he continued, 'we have the where-with-all to more or less settle this war, and I think we are going to become rich men because of it.' He slurped down some more amasec. 'Mr Rastillian, since you seem to be in charge around here, and have been so gracious towards us, I think it only right that we offer you the first pick of our weaponry. If you have the money to pay for it of course. Which side are you on anyhow?' Hopefully, they would get a straight answer that would aid them here, and down on the planet itself. Should they ever make it.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 14/04/2004 20:08:48
Message:

"I am sorry, gentlemen, but as of a few hours ago, I am no longer in a position to bargain for your wares. I have been cast out from my House, and..."

Rastillian was interrupted by a techpriest that had glided up to his shoulder without making a sound. The machine cultist had a different manner and appearance to those of Voke's ship. She was stooped, submissive, and her rags were ragged and unclean.

"New Lord, there is an urgent communication from the surface world. Councillor Fehrwar demands to speak with you."

Rastillian paused. This was clearly something he had not been expecting. He nodded, then turned back to his guests.
"I apologise gentlemen, but I must see to this. Please, enjoy the food. I will be back shortly."

He picked up his gauntlet, and fixed it back onto his hand as he walked out into the corridor. The soldiers and the techpriest followed. A holo-skull met them out in the corridor, and projected an image of a grossly oversized and very angry man.
"Why will you not DIE when you are told to, you insolent son!"
A soldier closed the large, heavy door before any more could be heard.

The Inquisitors and their bodyguards had been left alone in the Hall of Hospitality. Luthwye humphed. "They haven't left a single guard in here," he said. "Most unproffessional." He then went back to scribbling down the wall carvings on his pictslates.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 14/04/2004 20:56:36
Message:

Voke glanced at Van Helser. The look said it all 'this is new'. Voke made sure to hide his face as much as possible when he did it. Van Helser's facial reply said the same as Voke thought; 'we might be being watched'. Voke passed this onto Ela and Eswt as hand gestures, they couldn't relax yet.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 14/04/2004 21:24:39
Message:

Van Helser leant backwards in his chair casually. 'Alexei?' he asked Quirrick quietly, 'bring anything useful along?' Quirrick winked and reached into his pocket. He placed the little disc he pulled out onto the centre of the table. 'Excellent. We should be fine to talk Voke - unless Alexei went for the wrong pocket, he's just placed a stummer on the table. No-one should be able to hear us, vox-thieves included.' Van Helser got out his chair and forcibly sat Luthwye down. The savant looked unhappy, hurt almost that he hadn't been allowed to finish his sketches. 'We've got quite a few problems...'

'You're tellin' me,' said Quirrick as he downed a glass of expensive looking amasec that Rastillian had left behind, 'we're stumped. There's a war going on down there, and you want to just walk through that and find a guy no-one's seen for years. Not going to happen.'

'Thankyou for that scientific analysis, Alexei,' Van Helser said mockingly, before he turned serious, putting both his hands on the table top and stood. 'Rastillian didn't answer my question. We still don't know whether he is one of the rebels or a loyalist. If we show fealty to the wrong ideal, we are dead. Luthwye, did you notice anything that would tell us what side he is on?'

The savant shook his head. 'I'm sorry; the artwork in here, you see, thousands of years old, quite marvellous.'

'At least someone's enjoying themselves,' Quirrick snorted. 'Why don't we just leave, quickly and quietly?'

Van Helser didn't even bother with an answer for that one. 'Voke, what do you think?' he asked.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 15/04/2004 09:48:29
Message:

"We can't just leave a Imperial planet in open rebellion!" Voke protested, his sense of Imperial duty pushing through.

"At the very least we need to aleart a nearby Imperial Guard divission and the Imperial Navy and make sure this rebellion is crushed out. Also I think we do need to find out what is going on, otherwise the IG will have the same problems as us. We don't have to go down there and fix the problem, yet, but we can keep to esspionage. Find what's going on, who's fighting who and the rest, relay this to the Navy and IG. Also we keep looking for this person your after. If he is alive he could be behind this." Voke saw Van Helser take this in. It looked as if he would need abit of convincing, as would Quirrick.

"Mikael, it's our duty as Inquisitors. We can do no less." Voke turned to Quirrick.

"Also Navalis needs to test his command and his pysical prowess in the field," Voke raised an eyebrow and grinned, "unless Quirrick would like their 'training' sessions to become alot more regular?"

Voke could see Quirrick sudder as he remebered the pain inflicted on him last time by Navalis. In there last 'training session' Quirrick had left with alot more bones than he walked in with. He'd had to go to Voke for regeneration, which he found unpleasant aswell.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 15/04/2004 15:04:32
Message:

'We can, and we will leave this planet in open rebellion,' said Van Helser firmly. 'We are operating incognito, we are not Inquisitors here to sort out a war, we are Rogue Traders here to thrash out an arms deal. Nothing more. If we are found out for what we really are, word will spread fast and no doubt Jaekomus will make it even harder for us to find him than he is already.'

'We have a sacred duty to protect the Imperium!' Voke yelled back across the table. 'I am fully aware that we are acting undercover, but we can still affect things. We must try to bring an end to this swiftly.'

'No, we are not involving ourselves. I am here to find Jaekomus and that is all.'

'Yes, you are here to find Jaekomus, but I now see that there are other things that need done, and I am involving myself, whether you see it as wise or not.'

'Know now that I see your plan as erring to the pointless side of things,' Van Helser retorted. The mission was stumbling before it had even started running.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 15/04/2004 17:58:37
Message:

I must not be afraid. I must do what needs to be done.

Van Helser paused. He wasn't sure where that thought had come from. He blinked, slowly, and noticed Luthwye staring at him from across the table. He shook his head, and looked back to Voke.

He made a mental note to check on the daemons' bindings when they return to the ship.


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 15/04/2004 21:10:37
Message:

Voke clenched his jaw as what Van Helser said sunk in. Voke had conflicting loyties. His duty to the Emperor to crush this rebellion and make sure it's people see the light of the Emeperor and follow and fit in his Imperialium. But there was his duty to hunt down a Inquistorial heretic who was supposed to be dead.

Voke looked up at Van Helser, there was no changing his mind.

He had a duty to Van Helser as a friend. And he seemed to nearing reaching a personal goal which threatened dangerous information and power should he totally successed. It was his duty to look over and try and help his fried. And then there were the daemonhosts to consider. A thought suddenly struck Voke.

'How could Mikael so easily dismiss his duty the the Inquisition and the Emperor and be willing to the leave this planet in open rebellion?'

Emotions and duties conflicted inside Voke, creating a raging torrent.

Voke lifted his head and looked at Van Helser. He voice a low agressive rummble.

"We can't do nothing!" Voke quickly regained his composure and said calmly,
"Mikael, may I suggest a compramise. I go along with your suggestion but I send a coded message to the Imperial Navy and Guard to aleart them to the situation and order them to do something about it. I can also send Navalis and his training squad to watch their actions and make sure that my orders are carried out at a satisfcatory level. This way rebellion is stopped, we stay incogneto. Also if you fear Jaekomus going into hiding if the Imperialium interveans here I can have Navalis wait for a siganl before attacking."

This was as far as Voke would go with Van Helser's wishes, and it still didn't feel entirly right to Voke. But this would would be brought back and be made a useful member of the imperialium again.

Voke could see Van Helser contemplating Voke's suggestion.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 15/04/2004 21:39:57
Message:

Voke seemed hell bent on doing what he thought was the right thing, it was just unfortunate that it was such a stupid, hamfisted idea. Van Helser sighed.

'Look, even if we send a message to the nearest Navy ship right now, it could be months before they get here,' said Van Helser, slightly less than diplomatically, 'and the chances of a guard regiment being in this sector at the moment - slim to none!'

'Actually Inquisitor,' Luthwye began, cutting in rudely, 'the nearest system to this is home to a planet used by the Mordian regiments as a hostile environment training ground. With favourable warp currents, they could be here within the next week!'

Van Helser shot the savant an icy glare. A smile formed upon Voke's lips.

'Excellent,' Voke said, we'll return to the Stellar Web and call them in.'

Van Helser could tell that Voke wasn't going to let this go, not now anyway. Silently he cursed the savant's encyclopaedic knowledge.

'Fine,' Van Helser said sternly, clearly unhappy, 'you send Navalis and whoever else in with the Mordians when they arrive, but I am going to use this week to find Jaekomus, what you do is up to you. I'll let you explain why we must take our leave from Rastillian to you.' Van Helser emptied his glass of amasec and retrieved his lasgun.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 15/04/2004 23:10:55
Message:

There was the sound of thunder from the deck beneath them, and Van Helser's hand slipped as it reached for the lasgun, knocking it to the floor.

They all stopped. Nobody came back from the heavy doors, though the shouting from beynd them increased.

Voke's vox-bead pricked him, and the Inquisitor touched it to answer the call. It was Navalis.
"Sir, there's weapons fire from the planet, a defence laser. It's hit the docking links. There's a squadron of troop transports coming up from th-"
But the rest of the message was cut off as thunder roared up through the deck again.

The doors to the corridor were thrown open, and Rastillian strode back in, fixing his gauntlet in place. His cape was gone, revealing the bloodstains on his arm. Quirrick silently placed the stummer back in his pocket.
"I'm afraid there's a situation, gentlemen. My father, the 'saviour of Messalon', is sending an army to kill me."
He took a power knife from the techpriest, and shaved off the House Fehrwar symbol from his gold-plated guantlet with one smooth swipe. The soldiers saw this, and began ripping the symbol from their uniforms as well.
"I suggest you stay here until we can get you back to your ship."


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 16/04/2004 20:23:39
Message:

'Your father is coming to get you?' Van Helser asked disbelievingly, quickly slipping back into his Rogue Trader persona, 'whatever have you done?'

'That matters not to you,' Rastillian responded, 'just stay here, and try to relax, I am sure this little problem will blow over shortly.' Rastillian and his guards marched back out of the room.

'This is insane!' Quirrick spouted, 'the whole Starfort is about to come down, and he says just stay here and enjoy ourselves!'

'Agreed,' Van Helser answered, 'we can't stay here a moment longer.'

'But if we leave the protection of the Starfort's docks, we will leave ourselves open to fire from the planet's surface!' said Luthwye animatedly. 'And how do you expect to deploy a shuttle on the surface without discovery? Every long range scanner will be watching the skies, we should stay here.'

'It's a risk I have to take,' Van Helser said, 'I'd rather get blown out of the sky, than die helpless on this Emperor-damned station. Come on!'

Quirrick jumped to his feet, but Luthwye didn't move. Voke hadn't made up his mind either.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 16/04/2004 22:35:02
Message:

Luthwye began rifling through his dataslates again as Van Helser got to his feet.
"Can we not stay further? There does seem to be some interesting politics occuring here, and it would be a shame to miss this opportunity to study them."


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 17/04/2004 16:38:55
Message:

"I agree with Van Helser on this one". Voke was getting up and making ready to make a quick exit.
"I don't know about you but I don't want to be onboard this thing when it blows up, or gets boarded! Also The Stellar Web is a good though, fast ship; especcially for her class, we'll be o.k."

Luthwye looked dismayed.
"That me be true sir but who do you intend to land a shuttle from there and not get shot at?"
Ela added her own thoughts having been quite so far.
"Well i'm not keen on leaving this place and then getting shot when we try to land! Mr. Smart over there's got a point!"

Voke paused.
"The Rouge Star! My modified Marauder bomber. It's outer hull has been replaced by parts from the debris of Eldar fighters, making it very hard to detect. Also it has shields, improved engines and alot of weaponry. Well now that's sorted I suggest we get off this rock!" Voke gestured towards the door and waited for every to move.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 17/04/2004 16:52:38
Message:

'I heard that!' shouted Quirrick triumphantly as he barged past Luthwye and out of the door. The savant continued pleading with Van Helser about staying and riding the attack out, but the Inquisitor paid no more heed to the savants words. He retrieved the lasgun from the ground and followed Quirrick out of the doors. Voke fell in behind him, and Ela and Eswt covered the rear. Hopefully they'd be able to get off the fort quietly, but something told Van Helser that this wasn't likely. Stupidly, he'd started talking without getting Quirrick to re-deploy the stummer. There was a chance that the vox-thieves wouldn't have picked anything up because of the noise from the attacks, and that the guards would be too preoccupied to listen in to their discussion, but that would just be too amiable. Something would go wrong. It always did.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 17/04/2004 19:27:15
Message:

"Savant!" Voke shouted, but Luthwye was dragging behind on his short legs. Eswt forcibly picked him up and carried him back to the group.

"Savant! Where are the shuttle docks?" Voke asked. Luthwye's mechanical thrd arm began searching through the dataslates in the rack on his back, then handed one to his natural hands.
"Ah! Here we are sir. This fort is a Jansson class. Pre-Apostasy. I dare say you'd be hard pushed to find more than a dozen left in the entire Imperi-"

"The docks, savant! Where are the shuttle docks?"

Luthwye nodded fearfully.
"Let's see. Yes, they're towards the lower end of the core spine. We'll have to go down several decks."

Quirrick pointed out a maintenance door.
"Perhaps we can find an elevator in there. Avoid detection. These places often have whole mazes of maintenance corridors."

"Agreed." said Van Helser, and opened the door into the dark cramped cavern of the maintenance corridor. The others followed.

"Of course," Luthwye said, almost to himself as he fell behind again, "The shuttle docks are also where any troop transports from the surface would be docking."

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 17/04/2004 21:31:51
Message:

Another impact rocked the fort, and the deck juddered under their feet as Quirrick lead them through the dark maintenance corridors, his stubber now in his hand. Red runes were flashing on nearly every console they passed, no doubt there to tell the men who should have been in the ducts that the Starfort was taking unprecedented amounts of damage. Somewhere up above them multiple coolant lines broke, and thick gooey droplets began to rain down on to their heads. The floor became slick and treacherous underfoot, and the group's pace slowed.

'Luthwye, any ideas on where we have to go next?' Quirrick called back down the line.

'According to the charts I have, we should be nearing a junction with two other tunnels,' the savant answered, puffing hard, 'we need to take the left hand one, after another hundred yards we should find a service elevator.'

'Thanks, Brains.'

Just as the savant had told them, the corridor came to a junction with two other corridors, in a large bay crammed with pipes, most leaking steam. Fortunately, the coolant pipes were not broken in this room, and they were spared their soaking. Quirrick made for the left hand corridor, but froze when he saw a group of perhaps five uniformed guards storming down it towards him. They saw him too.

'There's someone here!' one of them shouted.

'Get him!' shouted another.

Before Quirrick could respond, they group had opened fire with their shotguns, scatter shots blasted down the corridor after Quirrick as he leapt behind some pipes.

'We've got company!' he yelled at Van Helser and Voke who had just appeared at the entrance to the pipe room. Another roar from a shotgun sent him ducking back behind the pipes. 'Sonuva!' he cried out, 'a little help would be much appreciated!'

Van Helser broke left into the room, hugging the wall. He reached for his blade, but silently cursed as he felt the abscence of Crian'laar. It was he who had said to leave such accoutrements behind, and he really needed the daemonsword now. He flipped the safety off of the lasgun, and waited for a target to present itself.

Quirrick worked his way deeper into the labyrinth of pipes, deliberately making as much noise as possible to try and lure the goons in after him. Hopefully they wouldn't realise that he was alone, and Van Helser and Voke could gun them down from behind. He nestled behind a right angled pipe that buried itself into the floor and raised his stubber in both hands. One of the soldiers stepped into his line of fire and Quirrick squeezed the trigger. The round buried itself in the soldier's shoulder guard and he cried out before stepping behind a vertical pipe. The guardsman poked his shotgun round the corner with his good hand and fired off a good few blasts that peppered the wall behind Quirrick with shot. Realising he couldn't get a good sight at the soldier, Quirrick spied a valve above the obscured trooper and shot it. A rush of steam spewed out of the ruptured valve and consumed the soldier, boiling him alive.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 18/04/2004 14:59:28
Message:

Damn! This was not what they needed! Looks like they were going to have to fight their way out of this. Ela was up next to Voke, her two laspistols in replacement for her bolt pistols. Altough very well made laspistols they just didn't do the same ammount of damage as her prized bolt pistols; a good thing really or this ship would now have alot more holes in!

Voke crouched down next to Van Helser, Ela was a little to his left. Hopefully Quirrick wouldn't get himself shot in his 'baiting'. Luthwye was hiding at the rear; doing his best not to get shot. Eswt was with him, guarding their rear with her swords. The fort rocked again. Voke turned to Van Helser.

"Mikael this is taking too long! We need to get moving and get the throne out off here!"
"What do you think I'm doing? Intending to hang around for a bit of shooting practice?"
"I don't think it's going to be shooting practice if we stay! Well not for us anyway!"
Voke turned round.
"Luthwye is there any other way we can get to the shuttle docks from here?"
"Preferably with a few less people trying to kill us on the way!" Ela added her own remark. Ela then turned towards Voke , a smile on her face.
"Unless you like people trying to blow your head off?" Voke ignored her.
"Luthwye...."
"I don't know sir!"
"Well try and find out! Quickly!"



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 18/04/2004 16:03:30
Message:

Luthwye frantically flicked through his dataslates, dropping a few in the process.
"If they're coming up through the maintenance corridors, then they probably have the same idea we have. Trying to avoid detection. It's possible, then," A few more shotgun blasts sounded over them. "th- that the main stairwell might be clear."

Van Helser gotto his feet and fired a few shots down the corridor intending to push the enemy's heads down. The lasgun's crack was solid and surprisingly quiet. So much so that he managed to hit one of the soldiers through the coolant steam before they realised he was firing.

"Which way, savant?" shouted Voke as the shotgun fire resumed. Luthwye pointed down a corridor to their right with his eyes screwed shut.

Ela stepped out of cover and began giving covering fire as the group made for the corridor. Eswt waited until everyone was in, then shut the bulkhead.

"What are you doing?" said Van Helser as he watched Voke take out his Inquisitorial seal. He pushed the seal into the cogitator by the door, and put in his override code. "I'm locking the door." he said, simply.

They moved on, following Luthwye's directions. Van Helser glared at Voke. "What if someone checks the logs for that door, Dauphan?" he said. They'll know the Inquisition was here."
"Don't worry, Mikael," said Voke, moving on. "The chances of that door surviving this battle are slim, as are the chances anyone would check its logs."

"Next bulkhead on the left!" called out Luthwye from the back of the group, his face illuminated by the glow of his dataslates.
Quirrick shoved it open, and they stepepd out.

They found themselves standing two-thirds of the way up an immense stairway. Lit from all around by golden light, at least thirty men wide, and the cieling twenty metres high. They could see the bottom in the distance. Doors and maintenance bulkheads were placed every few steps. There was no sign of any soldiers.
"No. We have to go back," said Quirrick, "It's too open."


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 18/04/2004 20:07:15
Message:

Voke turned towards Quirrick.
"Are you mad? Turn back? This way is completely clear off soldiers, and you want to go back to the place where people where trying to kill you?! Real clever that!"
Quirrick scowled at Voke.
"What if this is an ambush? Or if they decide to come this way instead? Or what if they decide to follow us out here? If we start fighting here they will easily kill us! And quickly! There are too many 'what if's' and we would have time to react!"
"Well if you feel that way I can scan for anyone. I'll be able to sense everyone within close proximity to us. Should give us ample warning."

Voke could tell Quirrick was not satisfied. Ela clearly understood what Quirrick was saying but trusted Voke. Eswt was unreadable as always. Luthwye was completely oblivious to what was being discussed. Voke tell what Van Helser thought either.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 18/04/2004 20:45:06
Message:

'Until something presents itself,' said Van Helser, 'this is the way out.' He started off down the huge staircase, looking back at the others, Quirrick stared back at him. 'Come on Alexei, get moving!'

'This is suicide!' Quirrick shouted down at him, 'half a fraggin' regiment could fit on this staircase!'

'And that means the other half wouldn't fit,' Van Helser replied with a smile. The corners of Quirrick's mouth rose.

'Why not?' he said to himself, taking off down the stairs after the others.

Another devastating laser blast crashed into the side of the fort, the energy of the shot ripping through dozens of decks. Luthwye was knocked to the floor as the fort shuddered violently. Quirrick hefted him up as he ran past. Above them the ceiling began splintering as the fort began submitting to the hammering it was taking. Huge chunks of rockcrete began plummeting downwards, chewing huge hunks out of the staircase, creating avalanches of masonry. An ogryn sized piece sailed straight down the gap in the centre of the stairs, shattering as it carreened into the floor. Another shard of stairway crunched into the steps infront of Quirrick and Luthwye, and they stepped round it, instinctively ducking as smaller pieces began raining down around their ears.

'This is suicide!' Quirrick said quietly.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 18/04/2004 22:07:41
Message:

Luthwye squealed as he ran down the steps on his short legs, masonry falling around him. Voke was concentrating on searching for souls with his psychic sense, but still Quirrick was uneasy about the open space. He took the lead, dodging between fallen blocks, keeping his stubber trained on any open hatches they passed.

To ease his nerves, Luthwye began babbling to whoever was nearest. Which happened to be Eswt as she covered the rear.
"... and it's apparently called the Gilwae gallery, after the trader who died after falling down the entire length of the starway as he returned to his shuttle. The shuttle dock's at the end of the stairway, you know. That's why they built it. The stairway, that is. A grand impressive sight to meet visitors as they dock with the fort. The palace of Haal on Cadia has a similar thing, I believe, but that's not ..."

Another great rumble indicated another shot from the surface. Yet more rubble fell, and the stairs began to crak beneath them. Great metallic groans began passing through the ground. The group began to run.

"That's the dock up ahead, I presume," shouted Quirrick, "You see anything with that fancy head of yours, Voke?"

Voke's eyes were shut in concentration. He looked troubled. He certainly couldn't sense anyone up ahead... But there was something else, some kind of background noise to his probings that gave him a feeling of numbness. He was going to voice his concerns, but with the fort collapsing around them they had no time for minor complaints. He shook his head, "No, nothing."

They stepped down onto the stage at the base of the stairway. There were no more rumbles or shudders. Quirrick edged toward the side of the curtain, aiming to take a peep round. But then the curtain began to pull away, and everyone raised their weapons.

What looked like a whole platoon of soldiers were waiting for them, standing in firing ranks with their shotguns ready. Behind them stood a woman with short black hair and a large, protruding bionic eye. She had a similar gold-plated gauntlet to Rastillians, and a similar garb, though this was a deep shade of purple.

Behind her stood six people. Two of them were old and hunched. One looked no older than ten. They all wore pale blue robes, and all were staring at Voke. It was clear to all in the group, simply by looking at their eyes, that these were psykers. Voke finally realised the reason for the numbing cloud around his mind.

The woman in the purple garb looked them over, the green laser of her bionic eye flicking over their unusual clothes.
"Lower your weapons and identify yourselves or my soldiers will open fire."

"This was suicide," muttered Quirrick.


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 19/04/2004 21:51:34
Message:

'Do it,' the woman prompted again. Van Helser sighed and lowered his lasgun to the ground, he nodded at Quirrick and he dropped his stubber. The others followed suit. 'Who are you and what are you doing here?' she asked.

'We are Rogue Traders, trying to get back to our ship,' Van Helser replied, 'or have you not noticed that this place is falling down around you?' As if the Starfort had heard, him, the rumble of falling masonry became even louder for a second.

The woman looked at him scornfully. The young psyker tugged on the woman's jacket, and she bent down to listen to what he had to say. She looked back up, smiling. 'You are not Rogue Traders, the little one has seen your minds, you are both psykers, with secrets, deep secrets.' She folded her arms. 'Kill them,' she ordered the guardsmen.

Even as she spoke to the child, Van Helser's attentions were elsewhere. He felt the vibrations it caused before he heard the sound of it. He looked up to see a massive piece of stairway hurtling down towards them. Voke, shield me! he sent psychically, before raising his hands to greet the oncoming block. With all the power he could muster, coupled with the ward Voke had placed around him, Van Helser changed the flight of the rockcrete missile, a burst of telekinetic force spearing into the side of it. The hunk of steps spun away from them, and smashed into the group opposing them, crushing most. The survivors were shellshocked, and Ela picked off the remaining guardsmen quickly. Van Helser rushed forward, striking the only two now left standing; the child and a woman, blood pouring from her purple ringed eyes, blinded by shards of masonry. Two shift chops to the back of their necks knocked both unconscious.

Quirrick stepped up to Van Helser and handed him his lasgun. He pointed his stubber at the two prone forms. 'Shoot 'em?' he asked, thumbing back the firing lever.

Van Helser paused. 'No.' Quirrick looked at him. As did Voke.

'Mikael, these are dangerous psykers! Let's put an end to them now.' The old Inquisitor seemed concerned.

'Dangerous, yes,' Van Helser countered, 'but so are my daemonhosts. Quirrick, take the woman, I'll get the boy. Which dock are we heading for Luthwye?'

Quirrick hefted the woman onto his shoulder. It would be suicide again if she were to wake up.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 20/04/2004 20:25:54
Message:

Voke didn't like the idea of taking prisoners. And his head was still slightly numb; although caught off guard those psycers had been fighting against him. Voke hoped neither of them woke up anytime soon. He set his mind at work, trying to create binds around their minds so at the least they would have some warning.
"Luthwye some time soon! I want to get of this thing soon!"



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 21/04/2004 19:46:22
Message:

Luthwye had been staring at some patterns of coloured light flashing along the ceiling.
"Dock Zero Three," he said.

Through the bulkhead with the appropriate designatory number, they found themselves on a troop transport, marked all around with symbols of Fehrwaran military. It consisted of one long cramped space, with a row of seats on either side, and a thingypit at the end.

Van Helser and Eswt bound the psykers to their seats, while Quirrick took the controls. When everyone was strapped in and secure, Voke told Quirrick to move out.

With a series of painfuil lurches, the troop transport moved free of the docking clamps. The artificial gravity provided by the fort fell away, replaced by the feeling of weightlessness.

Through a porthole at the back, the fort could clearly be seen, fires bursting out from within its hull.

A bright light shone suddenly from the centre of the burning fort. There was no sound to be heard through the vacuum, but it was followed by a concussive blast that visibly tore the star fort in two.

Luthwye looked at it, wide-eyed. "The.. the plasma generator. But its shielded. Its protected. There are machine spirits devoted to its safety and security. That could have been no accidental damage. It was a deliberate act!"

The shuttle began to shake violently again. Quirrick's voice could be heard from the thingypit.
"I've got debris falling here. Big chunks of it. Be prepared for a few bumps and give us a prayer to the Emperor."

Van Helser was aout to mutter a quick blessing, when he noticed the woman look up, and face her head towards Voke. Voke had clearly already sensed it and was staring back. The child began to cry loudly.

Van Helser's breath condensed in the air in front of him, and frost began to fill the shuttle. A psychic war was raging just beyond his senses. He tried to add his mind to the battle, but was easily tossed aside. The child's cries had changed to angry screams toward Voke.

The woman began clawing at her restraints. Blood flowed from her mouth as she tried to tear off the safety harness with her teeth. There was a faint shimmering light in the room, and the child began to laugh.

A colossal lurch ended the psychic battle, and the view from the porthole began to spin.
"We've been hit!" shouted Quirrick. "Main engine's gone. We're falling into the atmosphere."

"You're mind is certainly interesting, Dauphan," said the child cheerily, "I'd love to meet you on even terms one day."

The woman raised her head and looked at Van Helser with her wounded eyes. "I'm proud of you, Mikael. You killed them all. They had you outgunned, but you killed them all." She licked the blood from around her mouth. "And you enjoyed it, too."

Van Helser stared at the woman, disbelieving what his soul was telling him. "Ranchak?" he said. The child began to giggle. "And... Voor'acht?"

If the daemons were able to project their minds into these two bodies, then their bindings must have been seriously weakened. They hadn't been completely freed, or they would all be dead by now. But it was surely only a matter of time. Van Helser felt a sudden fear for the men aboard Voke's ship, and a newfound desire to get back there as quickly as possible.

Luthwye had been silent during all this, with his eyes wide open and staring at the woman, who winked an empty eye socket at him.

"Hold on!" yelled Quirrick. "We're going to hit the ocean!"

--

With thrusters firing and anti-grav suspensors pusling full-pelt, the transport rushed in towards the water like an angry fireball. With an upward curve and astonishing force it hit the murky purple water, sending up a mountain of polluted spray. It then surfaced several hundred metres away, the gravitic suspensors bringing it to the surface.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 21/04/2004 21:11:39
Message:

Quirrick stumbled back into the passenger compartment, blood streaming from a forehead wound. 'We're surfaced, we should be just fine.'

'Oh, I don't think ssso Alexei,' the child spoke to him in an alarmingly familiar cold voice. 'Thingss aren't going to be fine for a long time now.'

'What the hell is going on?' Quirrick asked Van Helser, who was sitting still, a blank look on his face. Van Helser slowly turned towards him.

'I don't know how it's happened,' he began, looking across at the two possessed psykers, 'but somehow, Voor'acht and Ranchak are here. Inside the minds of those two.' Quirrick looked closer at the child's face, into its eyes. They were black orbs. The same eyes that told a thousand lies in the face of another. Voor'acht.

'Holy Emperor...' he gasped, instinctively taking a step back from the things. The Ranchak-woman was still tearing at her restraints with her teeth.

'We have to get back to the Stellar Web,' said Van Helser, 'we have to banish the daemons from these bodies. All the things I need are up in orbit. Emperor knows what is happening in that plasma reactor run off compartment that I sealed these two in.'

'Oh, what makess you think we're still in there Mikael?' the Voor'acht-child sneered, 'it'ss wonderful, thiss freedom, I am sseeing two worldss; down here and up there. Or up here and down there, if you like.' It sblack personed.

'We ain't getting back up there in this,' Quirrick said reluctantly. 'Everything's dead. It was a hard landing.'

'I didn't know you could fly,' said Van Helser, trying to ignore what the Voor'acht child had said.

'I can't. Hence the hard landing.'

'Must you alwayss try to be the funny one, Alexei?' the Voor'acht-child asked with venom, 'I am ssurprissed that Mikael doess not tell you to be quiet every time you open your sstupid mouth!'

'Quiet you!' Van Helser snapped, 'you may have two hosts but you are still bound to me, I am still your master!'

'Oh no Mikael, you're not. Trussst me. I am beyond your control now.'

'We'll see, daemon, we'll see. Luthwye, find out where we are on the planet,' Van Helser said, turning his back on the Voor'acht-child, 'we have to find a way back to the Stellar Web.'

'What of your misssion to find Jaekomuss?' Voor'acht asked.

'You can't abandon your mission now,' the Ranchak-woman chipped in.

The horrible truth was that Van Helser knew they were right.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 22/04/2004 17:27:26
Message:

Voke's heart was filled with fear at the thought of what was now clear; these daemons were becoming free! Slowly but surly their bidning had obviously faltered. This is exactly what he feared of daemonhosts! And he feared for his ship! If these daemons got free they could cause all kind of havoc on his ship! They had do something. Voke sensed that for the moment the people on his ship would be o.k but for how much longer?

"Mikael we have to get to the Stellar Web and sort this out! It's too dangerous to do anything else! Don't worry you won't be ending your mission, just putting it on hold for a tiny bit. Now we need to work out how we're going to get back up there; without our best weaponry!"



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 22/04/2004 21:08:43
Message:

'Don't listen to him!' the Ranchak-woman bellowed at Van Helser, 'find Jaekomus!'

'Mikael, can you not see that if you don't find him then all will be losst?' the Voor'acht-child hissed, 'all your life'ss work will have been for naught. I asssure you that thiss iss your one and only chance to find him.'

'What do you mean?' Van Helser asked, intrigued by the daemon's words.

'This world is dying,' the Ranchak-woman said, 'there is a war going on, one that will end in the spillage of much blood, so much blood! Jaekomus's life blood will be spilt. He is going to die here. Don't be a fool, find him, find him quickly!'

'Mikael, don't listen to them!' Voke cut in, 'their words are full of poison. Can't you see that they are lying? They are desperate for you to find Jaekomus, they need you to find him, for their sake, not yours. We have to get back to the Stellar Web.'

'You are ssmall-minded Dauphan,' Voor'acht said spitefully, 'there iss more going on here than you can ever imagine. Thiss iss all beyond a mind like yourss. Not Mikael'ss though, he undersstands, don't you, masster?'

Van Helser turned to stare at the daemonhost. 'I do understand Voor'acht. I do.' He paused. 'We do need to get to the nearest space port Dauphan,' a smile passed across Voke's face, 'you need to get back to the Stellar Web and call in the guard. I am staying here though, I need to find Jaekomus, before fate catches up with him.' Voke's features dropped.

'Mikael, this is madness,' he said strongly, 'you're believing the words of a daemon.'

'Yes, Dauphan, I am. Voor'acht has lead me here, and I see no point in turning my back on it now.' Van Helser walked away from Voke and opened one of the hatches. 'Found out where we are yet Luthwye?' he asked the savant, who was still busy checking charts on his data-slates.

Voke shook his head and turned away from Van Helser. His eyes met those of the Voor'acht-child. It winked at him, and flashed a devious smile.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 23/04/2004 17:38:24
Message:

Voke could not believe this! How could Van Helser just ignore what he'd said? Voke feared that the weakenings on daemons bidings may be a representation of weakening in Van Helsers mind. Voke hoped that this was just a phase, a test Van Helser would have to go through, that he would emerge sane and still in the Emperor's light. This was what he feared most; choas with a voice, and a voice which was being listened to. An idea rolled through Voke's mind. He might be able to salavge something from this.

"Mikael; your right. Go, carry on with your lifes quest. I'll get to the Stellar Web and go get IG renenforcements. I believe that Navalis should have already sent a message to my nearest base of opperations, there should be a group of my imperial guard on the way. When the assault starts I'll use them to find you; and help how ever i can. But please, take Ela and Eswt with you. They will follow your orders and you will find them very useful. Also possibly getting more commanly used weapons might be a good idea?"

Voke sent a set of discreate hand signals to Ela and Eswt. Not even the daemons would notice them, or make anything of them. He told them to follow Van Helser, watch him and the daemons. Help him but make sure he does not fall.

Voke intended to go up to the Stellar Web and while preparing for an assault try and do something about those daemons orriginal hosts on his ship! Thankfully over the hundereds of years he had worked with Ela and Eswt he had built psychic shielding into them, very powerful; hiding thoughts and felling. With Voke's new powers these had increased; both for them and hiself. The daemons would not see Voke's mind. They would not see Ela's or Eswt's. Voke's plan might work.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 26/04/2004 13:21:51
Message:

Luthwye looked up from his notes and said "I think I'll need to have a look outside. From the top of the craft."

"Of course you will," said Quirrick, and he threw open the hatch in the ceiling. He climbed out, then reached down and pulled the savant up by his arm. "By the Emperor, you're heavy, Brains!"

Luthwye ignored him, and sat down on the blackened hull of the ruined transport. He began to sob slightly.

"What's the matter? I didn't hurt you, did I?" said Quirrick.

"It's the daemons. They... I..." The savant sighed, and wiped his face on the sleeve of his robe. "I'm sorry," he said, and looked around at the polluted water they were floating in amidst the thin bitter-tasting fog. Different chemicals fought for space on the surface of the water, mixed in with the dead carcasses of animals and birds.

He placed an adjustable lens over hsi right eye and looked to the horizon, where several bodies of land could be seen. To one direction could be seen the port of a sprawling city. In another was a island with rolling hills and green pasture. A dome-shaped field covered it, protecting it from the pollution in the air. In another direction was the twisted structure of a bizaare industrial building that climbed into the sky.

"I believe we're in the Overworld Delta," he said. "This probably isn't good. Our crash will have been seen by many people. That," the savant pointed towards the port barely visible through a purple haze, "... is subhive Platonus. If my records are correct, it is home to the Fehrwar Fortress belonging to the group that attacked the space fort."
Two thunderous roars and flashes of light from the city seemed to confirm the savant's analysis.
"That," he said, and pointed at the domed island, "... is the monastery of Unicrus, one of the centres of worship for the world. And that," he pointed at the looming presence of the sprawling island of industry, "... is one of the Overworld mines. Doesn't look like it's operational, though."

Quirrick got to his feet as he looked at the mining complex through the purple fog. "You sure about that, Brains?" A group of large motorised boats were leaving a small dock at the edge of the mining island.

Quirrick snatched the eye lens from Luthwye before the savant could object and held it up to his eye. He saw figures wrapped in red rags and holding lasguns. As the boats began to leave the dock he saw junk being thrown from the obviously large holds of the boats, and cutting torches being lit and tested.

He stuck his head back down the hatch. "Van Helser! We've got a problem."


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 26/04/2004 15:07:14
Message:

'Oh, we have a problem do we Alexei,' Van Helser grumbled as he hauled himself out through the top hatch of the craft. 'What is it?'

'Take a look for yourself,' Quirrick replied, pointing in the direction that the boats were coming in from. Van Helser looked at the figures on board. They were quite clearly armed. Wonderful. But they were wearing rags, not uniforms like the guardsmen. Was this yet another faction on the planet?

'Voke, get up here,' Van Helser called back inside the shuttle. The aged Inquisitor appeared below him. 'We've got company. Do you still have your seal?' Voke nodded. 'Well it's time to use it. I don't think these people will be too impressed with the rogue trader routine.'

The boats drew up alongside the shuttle and Van Helser got a clear view of the crews for the first time. Mutants.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 26/04/2004 16:30:28
Message:

Voke did not like the look of this. Yet again they may have to fight; and again without their weapons of choice! As soon as Voke got back to the Stellar Web he was going to send down decent weapons and supplies from orbit. As the boats latched to the side of the shuttle Voke thought now was the time.

Voke raised himself onto the highest piece of shuttle arround. Standing tall and proud Voke drew his Inquisitorial seal. Voke drew himself up and stood in a way that oozed roylty and command. Voke drew on his powers, giving himself a tangable arua of command and respect. He saw it take it's effect on Quirrick but he couldn't read the mutants, not without reading their minds; which was one thing he intended to avoid! Voke altered his voice, a rich booming alto roared from his vocal chords. This would have normal men in awe and have earned the respect of space marines; but if it would make a difference to the mutants Voke did not know.

"I am Inquisitor Voke!" Voke hoisted his Inquisitorial seal up, making sure they could see it easily.
"I speek for the Emperor and follow in his guiding light! My words and my footsteps are guided by His will so that I may follow His divine will and instruct in His divine plan! I can call apon the weight of huge Imperial Guard armies, I can order the obliteration of an entire world or a entire race! By His divine will I command you to return to whence you came and to consider how you can better follow His divine will and how best to make sure you walk in the Emperor's light!"

This had better work! Voke could see Ela and Eswt drawing themselves up from the inside of the shuttle. Ela had drawn her temporary las pistols and Eswt had her swords in hand; good. He was in a very exposed position, and he could have to run for his life if they decided to start shooting! Voke's muscles tensed. The mutants had stopped.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 26/04/2004 19:47:13
Message:

The mutants had indeed stopped. They were confused, and cearly afraid. Voke found them surpisingly susceptible to his psychic aura. Then, as one, the mutants looked to the hatch on the largest boat.

Out of the hatch climbed a mutant. Its head was large and indistinct from its equally large body. Gnarled brown skin was wrapped tightly and uncomfortably over an oversized muscle-bound frame.

Raising itself up to a full height of over ten feet, the mutant opened a disturbingly wide fang-filled mouth and spoke in low, reverberating tones.
"The Inquisition has come!"
The mouth stretched into a bizaare smile, fangs facing inwards.
"Have you come to judge us, Holy servant of the Emperor's Inquisition? Have you come to cleanse this world of our foul taint, as our old masters always warned?"

The mutants were all boldened by their leader's defiant word, and looked to the Inquisitors.

Voke could tell that this mutant was a powerful psyker, but he sensed that it was latent power, and the mutant probably didn't even realise where his charisma came from. It didn't stop the power from using itself, though, and an insidious presence began trying to slip into his mind. Unlike the forceful attacks of the psychic choir they encountered earlier, this was much harder to counter as it washed around his defences like water.

He felt himself warm to the mutants. The mutants were his friends, and his allies, and he would not harm them. The Inquisition was here to help the mutants. With a blink, he exorcised the thoughts from his mind. But his companions, who may not realise what was happening, found it harder to resist.

He noticed Ela lower her pistols despite her conditioning and Luthwye began to grin like an idiot. Voke would have to act fast to retain control of the situation.

[VanHelser]

Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 26/04/2004 21:06:30
Message:

Voke saw that even Van Helser was showing signs of weakening. The only person who wasn't was Eswt. How odd. He knew shew was not a psychic blank yet she was completely uneffected. Voke thought about what he knew about her. Her planet was always under attack from orks. Was this how ork psycers worked? Had her people built up a natural resistence to it? There was no time for idle speculation. Voke had to get control of this situation.

No more time for this bravarda. No time to win over these mutants. No time even to try and strike fear into them. This mutants powers flowed like water. Voke knew how to counter this ; he could not remeber being tought it but he knew how. Voke's defences became a dam. Voke tried to extend the dam as much to his companions but it was no good. Voke opened himself fully to the warp. As he drew in power he made his dam even thicker. At the same time he sent a message to Eswt. It forced itself into her concious mind. He told her what he was going to do and what he knew. She would be ready. The swords at her side would soon be covered in blood.

Voke kept drawing in power. Voke hadn't used anywhere near as much power since the incident on route to this place. Using some of the power he kept drawing Voke let usher a warp screach.

"You will all be purged in the light of the Emperor!" The words were both high pitched and low, a choir from one mouth; the unatural words hung in the air. It was similar to what Slaneesh daemons used.

At that same instant Voke waged a psychic war with this mutant. He was dangerous, a unsactioned psycher was just asking for daemonic possession. A storm of lightening erupted from Vokes fingure tips, lashing at the mutants, stunning, burning; leaving them vunerable. This was when Eswt striked; this was her at her most deadly. Against stunned, confussed untrainded opponents.

With the same warp screech Voke sent a message blast into the psychers mind.
"Feel the wrath of a Alpha psycher with the Emperor as a guide!"
Voke sent a almighty psychic bolt into the mutants mind. As Voke thought he was not even trually aware of his powers; and although he had basic shielding it was easily overwhelmed. Voke felt the mutants mind snap. Blood erupted from his face. He was knocked of the boat and into the water; temporaly stunned, but nowhere near dead, yet.

Voke then unleashed his built up energy. He had given only a taster to the mutant psycher. Eswt was weaving a dance of death on one of the boats. Her swords deflecting shots, a mist of blood followed them, forming an intricate pattern of death. Voke targeted the other mutants Eswt had not yet reached. They had only just started to react. Lightening erupted from one hand, fir from the other. The mutants were covered in a torrent of psychic death. Voke cut a swathe through them. Most he did not kill; just injure. They were knocked of boats. First one boat exploded, then another. Voke was about to unleash everything he had built up; and end these mutants heresy forever when it started. Inside him. Again. The light. In his heart and chest. Voke remebered the incident. It's memories forced itself into his conciousness. All the sensations came back to him, he started to relive it; not again. He would hold this back! With the power he still had stored he turned inwards. Cooling, calming. Dimming. The light stopped. He had nipped the bud.

Voke was spent. He dropped. The mutants started to shoot, attempting to respond to this assualt; they would not last. Darkness started to claim Voke. Voke dropped to the hull of the shuttle. He saw blood porring from Van Helsers face; had he done that? He felt blood rush from his own. As Voke collapsed to the hull he saw Van Helsers daemons poke there heads out of the shuttle (or so Voke believed) They had been attracted by the use of so much warp energy. Voke saw Voor'acht smile. His companions opened fire; free from the psychers spell, Voke had not killed him, he had to. Voke tried to lift his head. Darkness claimed him.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 27/04/2004 14:38:51
Message:

The fury of Voke's psychic barrage was beyond anything Van Helser had encountered before. The psychic backwash overwhelmed his attuned mind. Pressure built within his eyes - he screamed in pain, forcing his fists into his eye sockets, hoping to prevent them from exploding. Blood ran freely from his nose and his legs gave way beneath him. He clattered onto the deck, bent double with the agony. He had never known pain like it.

Within the shuttle Voor'acht fought against his restraints more forcibly; Dauphan was losing control, carelessly throwing his power around. If Voor'acht could tap into his mind then perhaps he would be able to throw off the remaining bindings on its host. And then it would be free to possess Voke, a much better prospect than the blunt body the greater part of its essence currently resided in. Voke was such a powerful psyker, his link to the warp was near astronomical. The power, the power!

Ranchak bellowed; the scent of fresh blood was stinging his senses. Some of it was Van Helser's - he recognised the smell of it - tainted, tainted with the daemonic after so many years in the yoke of the malefic. It smelt good. The bolts securing the straps to the wall rattled as Ranchak struggled. They were coming loose. Soon he would be free, free to dismember his "master" and bathe in his blood.

Voke dropped to the ground, spent. The pain in Van Helser's head dissipated, and he became all too aware of the roar of shotguns and the fizz of las-weaponry around him. He struggled to his feet. 'Stop!' he rasped, 'ceasefire!'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 27/04/2004 17:13:54
Message:

"Stop!"
The sickeningly low tones of the mutant psyker's voice bellowed out as the scavenger party's leader climbed onto the hull of the crashed shuttle with dextrous movements and a sticky mucous from his hands.

The flow of psychic energy from the mutant's injured mind began again, but now sporadic in strength. The mutant scavengers were entirely under his control. They lowered their weapons. At the signal from Van Helser, lying injured on the ground, the Inquisitors' companions stopped their battle also.

"We are beaten, and throw ourselves at your mercy."
The defiance and confidence evident in the mutant just moments ago was gone. That it was awestruck and terrified by Voke's display was evident in its face, despite the horrific mutations. As Van Helser steadied himself on one knee and wiped the blood from his eyes, he began to suspect that was the first time the mutant had suffered a personal defeat.

The mutant psyker reached out its hands toward Van Helser. Quirrick was fast to place a stubber in its face.
"We will leave. We will return to the mines and serve our masters once more. Our defiance and unrest shall end. But please, do not murder us. No matter what the Imperium says, we are still deserving of life. We follow the Emperor's light!"

The other mutants began to murmur.
"The Emperor!" "We follow the Emperor." "The Emperor sends us to battle."

The mutant leader reached into under the rags on his chest and took out an amulet. It was a chipped and dirty symbol of the aquila.
"The Emperor guides us. The prophecies tell us to rise against our masters or the Gods of War will walk again, laying waste to all they see. The Emperor guides us through the prophecies. We follow the Emperor's Light."


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 27/04/2004 21:25:19
Message:

Van Helser wiped some of the blood away from his face with the sleeve of his shirt, ruining forever the intricate and delicate material, like it mattered now anyway. The mutants seemed to be Emperor-fearing types, which could be used to their advantage.

'Don't worry, we may be the Inquisition, but we are not murderers,' Van Helser said, stepping up to the mutant leader. 'You have faith in the Emperor?'

'Yes,' the leader answered, 'He is our guiding light.'

'That is good, very good,' said Van Helser, more to himself than to the mutant. 'We are men of the Emperor, and assisting us will make the Emperor look upon you in favour.' The leader smiled, and behind him the other mutants began whispering among themselves. 'Will you help us?'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 27/04/2004 22:00:56
Message:

The mutant's smile grew, spreading around his bloated face.
"If the Inquisition would spare us and ask for our aid, then we would grant it. We have lived in fear for millennia, awaiting the day that the Imperium would cleanse our kind from the world. To prove ourselves in His sight and save our world from ruin has been our only goal."

Sensing that the danger was over for the moment, Ela and Eswt went to Voke's side. Van Helser trusted them to do what was needed while he dealt with the situation.

The creature stood, rising above Van Helser to its full height once again. It looked to its fellow mutants, and spoke with the deep vibratory voice that seemed to judder through one's very being.
"We are now servants of the Emperor, through the Inquisition! We will fulfil the prophecies, and hold back the Gods of War!"

Van Helser stiffened his mind as he felt another wave of psychic energy flow from the latent psyker, and the mutants cheered.

Luthwye looked up at the mention of 'Gods of War', and began searching through his dataslates again. He clearly thought this an important reference.

The mutant leader looked down upon Van Helser, and smiled.
"How can we serve you, men of the Emperor?"


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 27/04/2004 22:22:18
Message:

'How kind of you to offer your help,' Van Helser began, smiling. 'I am Inquisitor Mikael Van Helser, and the man over there, him slowly getting to his feet is Inquisitor Dauphan Voke. Worshippers of the Emperor are good people, and we are their friends. Though I take it that there are people here who are not worshippers of He on the Golden Throne.' The big mutant shook his head solemnly. 'Well, Inquisitor Voke has pledged himself to do something about that, and taht is where you can help us. As you can see, our ship crash landed and is in a bad state of repair. We need to requisition another shuttle to take some of our party back out into space and link up with the ship that brought us here.' The mutant looked slightly bemused. 'Eh, we need to go back up into the sky,' Van Helser said, trying to simplify things.

'I know that,' the mutant snapped, 'it's just that there are no such craft that I can think of on the island.'

'Well, we'll have to go elsewhere for one then. What is your name?' Van Helser asked, realising that the mutant had yet to introduce himself.

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 28/04/2004 08:43:28
Message:

The mutant smiled. "My real name is Ashwyn, but I am known to my people as the Reclaimant. Though there are few of us left after the purging of Gretius."

Ashwyn looked out to the mining island. "We will return home, give you rest and tend to your wounds. Then we will make plans for your escape." A long forearm gestured to the one boat that remained intact. "Come, we will away before the masters' armies come. They will have seen you in the skies."

Another wave of subconscious psychic manipulation, and the mutants scrambled to help the party board their vessel.

The Reclaimant stopped down beside the Inquisitor as Ela and Eswt brought Voke back to consciousness.
"You are strong in His favour, man of the Emperor. I hope not to anger you again."

Van Helser grabbed Luthwye as he was about to board the boat.
"Talk to him, savant. Learn everything you can. There is clearly a lot happening on this world that your notes have failed to cover."

The savant looked hurt, but reluctantly trotted back to the mutant and Voke.


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 28/04/2004 19:27:06
Message:

Voke's body burned; every nerve in him wa of fire. He could barely think in any way. Voke turned to the mutant leader.
"I apologise for I disagreeault; although I belive there wer tiny hints of ill content within your group they are now gone. I would have tried to avoid soo much force, and so uncontroled, but i am not entirly well. A slight imbalance nothing more."
This turn of events was the worste thing Voke coul imagine happening. Voke saw Luthwye approching.
"Excuse me."
Luthwye aproched the mutant leader and Ela dn Eswt helped Voke hobble away.



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 28/04/2004 21:12:13
Message:

'Quirrick,' Van Helser called, 'come with me.' The ex-bounty hunter followed Van Helser as the Inquisitor dropped into the interior of the craft. The Voor'acht-child was grinning unbearably.

'Trouble, Mikael?' it asked thingyily, 'Voke lose control did he? Hmmm?'

'Be quiet!' Van Helser ordered, 'don't even think about opening that mouth of your's either Ranchak,' he added as the Ranchak-woman spat the badly chewed restraints out of its mouth. 'We are about to board a boat and head for a settlement, and I will have no games from either of you. Understand?'

'Could you run that by me again Mikael?' Voor'acht said, chuckling. Ranchak let out a distorted laugh aswell.

'Fine, we leave you here to rot,' Van Helser said sternly. 'Alexei put a round in each of their heads.' Quirrick drew his stubber and thumbed back the firing hammer.

'No, wait!' Ranchak shouted in fear. Van Helser signalled for Quirrick to lower his gun.

'So, you're going to keep quiet then? Do exactly as I say?' Van Helser asked, stepping towards the Voor'acht-child to stare directly into its eyes.

'Yesss,' it hissed in supplication.

'Don't think that I'll be letting you walk around freely either,' Van Helser said as he stepped behind the Voor'acht-child and began undoing its restraints. 'You will be bound, hooded and gagged, and if you even struggle in the slightest, Alexei will execute your hosts. I don't think their bodies will be able to contain you once their heads are smashed open.' Ranchak bared his teeth angrily. 'Quirrick, find me something to gag them with.'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 01/05/2004 00:51:08
Message:

When Van Helser and Quirrick marched the daemonhosts, tied and bound and gagged and hooded, out of the transport and onto the scavengers' boat, the mutants took little notice. They had seen psykers before, many trussed up as these were.

Voke was taken aboard the boat, and laid down to rest with the many wounded mutants. The abhumans' fear of Voke was clear as they took extensive steps to avoid eye contact or even pass near to him. But there was also a lot of respect and awe in that fear, brought about by the waves of psychic energy from the Reclaimant's mind.

Ashwyn himself was directing the crew as the boat set off again, back to the mining complex.

"They're mutants, Mikael. They are against the Imperial Creed, they are everything you were trained to hate. Why do you let them live? Have you sunk so far from your duties?"
Van Helser turned his head slowly to look at the female psyker. She still wore the black head, and he knew that the gag was stil tightly wound around her jaw. But the voice cut into his head, each syllable formed perfectly.
"Why not slaughter them, here? They're taking you prisoner, can't you see? You can kill them, Mikael. You don't need Voke for this. Just pick up your lasgun and start firing."


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 01/05/2004 16:47:31
Message:

This was impossible, Van Helser thought. Ranchak was not a psychic daemon, he was Khornate, magic was an anathema to them. But they were surely his words of bloodlust. What was happening? Had Ranchak found a way to utilise the woman's psychic potential? No, the idea was surely abhorrent to a disciple of Khorne. As would be mentioning the Imperial Creed. Was the voice just something within his head - something he had created himself? Was he losing it?

'What's the plan Van Helser?' Quirrick's words snapped the Inquisitor out of his thoughts.

'Voke will head back to the Stellar Web as soon as we find a craft capable of achieving orbit, he will call in support from the Navy or Guard. We shall push on to find Jaekomus, with these two.' Van Helser took care not to use the word daemon as he indicated the two bound figures.

'We're a bit under equipped, don't you think?' said Quirrick, 'one stubber and one lasgun won't be enough.'

'You're right, maybe our new friends can help.'

'They're not your friends! They are foul mutants, kill them, kill them all! The voice echoed in Van Helser's head again. He tried his best to ignore it.

'Ashwyn,' Van Helser called to the mutant leader, 'do you have a weapons stockpile where we're headed?'

'You're heading into a trap! Kill them now. Now!'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!

[VanHelser]

Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 01/05/2004 22:24:16
Message:

Ashwyn left a converstion with Luthwye and made his way over, stopping to comfort a wounded mutant that cried out to him. The dead and dying had been gathered on the deck of the boat, with those still able to stand doing their best to treat the burns from Voke's psychic lightning.

With his leader's duties done, Ashwyn reached Van Helser.

"We do have a stockpile of weapons. We lost most in our attack on Gretius, but we have started our building and storing anew. We build our own weapons within the complex. Stub weapons, lasguns, and artillery, mostly. What was it you desired?"




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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 01/05/2004 22:38:51
Message:

'Well,' began Van Helser, 'my man Quirrick will require another stubber, and perhaps a shotgun too - if you have one. I am sure he'll settle for a lasgun though. Myself, I need some form of melee weapon, a sword or an axe. A hammer even from your workshops would suffice - I just need something for dealing with people up close. A laspistol would be much appreciated too. Would that be too difficult for you?'

Ashwyn grunted. 'I'll see what I can do.'

'You say you attacked Gretius?' Van Helser asked, interested in filling in his hazy knowledge of the planet, 'is that a settlement of some kind?'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 01/05/2004 22:51:34
Message:

"I was just talking of it with your little slave."
Luthwye looked hurt again, and folded his arms. Ashwyn continued.
"Gretius is one of the planet's great cities. Many millions of our kind lived on the outskirts of the slums around it, workers for the mines and the agr-lands. The masters are harsh there, the Gretian Trade Enforcement. They killed our kind in regular 'population culls'. When I was told of the prophecies, I prepared for war against Gretius first."

The scarily tall mutnat sat down on the deck, hunched, knees against his chest, with his arms wrapped around them.

"So passionate was I that our cause was just, so eager was I for us to prove ourselves against the masters that I ordered the attack too soon. We were not ready. Few of our kind now live at Gretius. The Prophet is angry with me, and seeks a new champion."


Ashwyn locked his eyes with Van Helser's, and the Inquisitor saw a weighty sadness in his eyes, despite the mutant's lack of tear tear ducts.

"I failed our people once, but I shall not do so again. The prophecies must still be acted on. I will still do what I can."


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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke
Replied on: 02/05/2004 09:09:14
Message:

Van Helser felt a sharp jab in his side, and all the air rushed out of one lung.
"Hey!"
Van Helser turned round. Ela was standing behind him, the hand that had jabed him at her side.
"Why did you do that?"
"Your quite happy to go get new, better weapons for youself and Mr. thicky "can't fly to save my life which i have proven as shown just now when i did a very good job of nearly getting us killed" Quirrick; but what about me and Eswt huh?! We're staying with you and I'm not helping you on this hesterical mission with just a couple of las pistols (even very nice las pistols like these). I want bigger weapons; good sized las weapons and something with abit of kick to it where possible! Hell even a couple of grenades wouldn't go amiss; i left all mine on the Stellar Web."
Ela turned away and started to walk back to Voke. Van Helser caught some of her mumbelings.

"stupid good for nothing thingyy young radical daemon ass kissing........"



No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity


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Reply author: Van Helser
Replied on: 02/05/2004 13:59:44
Message:

Quirrick over heard what Ela had said to Van Helser. And he wasn't best pleased. He grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around to face him. 'You got something to say to me?' he snarled.

Ela thrust out a hand and grabbed Quirrick by the neck. 'Yeah, I do. Never touch me again, scum.' She released him and walked off. Quirrick balled up a fist.

'Alexei!' Van Helser called, 'leave her be.' Quirrick turned to look at the Inquisitor. 'We need her help, don't anger her.' Quirrick scowled and sat back down on the edge of the boat.

'Ashwyn,' Van Helser said, continuing his conversation with the mutant, 'I see that the Trade Enforcement treats you ill. You are servants of the God-Emperor, and this ill treatment of your people is wrong, and angers me. I will try to help your people, I promise. This prophecy you speak of, what is it? Who is the prophet? What does he look like?'

In an hour of darkness the blind man is the best guide. In an age of insanity look to the madman to lead the way.

Keep your profile on the IC board up to date - it benefits us all!


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Reply author: roBurky
Replied on: 02/05/2004 22:48:23
Message:

"I have never seen the prophet. He speaks through his emissaries. It is they who told us of the prophecies. They warned us that the Emperor was not pleased. And that if his anger was not curbed then He would reawaken the Gods of War. They would once again stalk the land, laying waste to all they see."

A mutant called from further up the boat that the were coming in to the dock. The mining complex loomed ominously above them.

"It is the masters' war that angers the Emperor. The prophet tells us to end it by breaking the masters' cities ourselves. But, as I say. The prophet is displeased with me for my failure. He looks for new champions now."

There was a bump as the boat hit the land, and the mutants began to move off. They picked up the wounded, anc carried them to shore. Many were found to have died during the trip, and were tossed overboard.

Ashwyn got to his feet.
"Come, walk with me, men of the Emperor. We will find you a place to rest."
He looked over toward where Voke was being pulled to his feet by Ela and Eswt,
"I think your friend will be grateful for it."