VanHelser
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Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:10:55 GMT -5
Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 04/06/2004 17:04:46 Message:
'The ends justify the means' That one phrase. Ela recognised and recognised what it symbolised for an Inquisitor to say. Van Helser was gone, damned and there was no way to change that. He'd just proved it. If he followed up on that saying then he would quickly become a pawn of choas. He was a heretic and needed to be declared Excommunicate Traitoris and killed. Unfortunatly Ela couldn't do all of that instantly. But Van Helser neede to be stopped now, and she could kill him know and fill out the forms later.
In the blink of an eye Ela drew out the two auto pistols and aimed them at Van Helser's head. Ela wanted to increase the chance of Van Helser dying and letting him bleed was one way.
"Van Helser you will not kill that man! He is a true and loyal servant of the Emperor, which is something you no longer are." Ela kept an eye of the daemonhosts body, she shifted one of her auto pistols so it was aiming at it's head; incase it decided to intervene.
"You have been listening to the wisperings of choas for too long, and they have plauged your mind have corrupted you." Ela raised an eye at Luthwye.
"As for you, you gonna shut up, sit down and stay still! Unless you want one of these bullets through your head, I've got plenty to go around!"
Ela relied on Voke's psychich shield to give her enough time to kill the host body incase the daemon tried something.
"Van Helser! Put your weapons on the ground, slowly! Sit down and remain still,unless I say otherwise; unless you want to be shot!" ______________________________________________________________________
Eswt looked at Quirrick, it was the only way they could get a communication system quickly. "Alright, but we wait for them to come here, so there's only a few. You act as bait, and don't shoot! Shot's will bring more of them. You act as bait, I'll suprise them and kill them quickly and quietly."
Eswt knew she could do it. But she would have to be quick. Her broken ribs did not restrict her movement much, but ment that heavy breathing would be painful. She should be able to do it and then they would be off again, off to some tiny hole to call for Voke and hide.
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Voke strapped himself into The Rogue Star.
Voke hoped he'd been right in following Stryde's advice. He'd sent all the information he had to the Ordo Malleus. Hopefully he'd made the right choice.
Voke turned on the communication systems first. Voke then went through the star up procedure. The craft had be fully preped and ready; the hold was filled with weapons and equipment. Voke made himself comfortable in the pilot seat as he started up the engines. It would take another 5mins before all systems were fully ready. Voke thought about his decission.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 04/06/2004 18:46:58 Message:
As Ela turned round back to a shocked Van Helser, Luthwye fumbled with his robe. He pulled out a tiny compact laspistol and pointed it at Ela. His thin, angular fingers clasped the handle and the trigger uncomfortably, his hands were perfectly designed for slate-writing, and were the wrong shape to hold the weapon. The stubby barrel shook and wavered.
"I won't let you hurt him! He's been too good to me," he said. Then his voice began to trail off, "I don't want him to die anymore..."
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 04/06/2004 20:28:58 Message:
"What the hell are you on about you nutter! Put that thing down and shut up!" Ela was surprise by the bold spirit of Luthwye but he wouldn't stop her. Luthwye didn't look as if he'd put the weapon down and Ela would have to do something about it quick. But it would be a rsik to take either pistol of their target. Unfortuantly it was a risk she would have to take. Ela guessed it safer to take her aim temporaily off Van Helser (he was closer to Luthwye and less likely to move too quickly for her to aim at him again)
In one swift movement Ela shifted her wrist, reaiming one of the pistols at Luthwye. Luthwye realise that he was going to have to shoot, he already had an aim at Ela. He checked that it was aimed at her stomach, a clean line. He pulled the trigger as Ela found her aim on him.
His shot sailed harmlessly over Ela's head. Ela snapped off two shots at him. One aimed at his hand holding the gun, the other at his opposite foot. By luck the first shot hit Luthwye's las pistol and sent the gun spiriling away from his hand. The second shot hit him squarly in the foot. Luthwye dropped to the floor, partially due to his terror from hearing gun shots aimed at him. Ela quickly twisted her wrist again so it was aiming squarly at Van Helser's head again.
"Don't worry Van Helser, plenty more bellets left in the clip, I haven't used them all up on Luthwye; more than enough left to scatter your choas plauged brains over the local area."
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 04/06/2004 21:54:01 Message:
'I've been saying it for hours Mikael, she wants to kill you. Look at the situation you're in now. You should have killed her when you had the chance. I don't think even I can help you out of this one. It'll be your blood that stains the ground - Khorne cares not from where the blood flows.'
Why hadn't he just killed her earlier? Van Helser was livid with himself; Ranchak had been right all along, and he had ignored the daemon. The daemons' never lied to him - their bindings prevented it. He took stock of the situation: Luthwye was whimpering and bleeding from a foot wound - no use - Ela had both guns aimed squarely at his own head, Ranchak was lying prone to the side of Ela, but the vessel was still gagged, and more or less immobile. Everything pointed to one outcome; Van Helser's head being blown apart. He needed to talk his way out of this. Tough, considering the psychic shielding Voke provided his bodyguards with.
'Chaos has clouded my mind?' Van Helser asked Ela sternly, 'Very rich coming from someone who has just turned her guns on an Inquisitor. You are the one committing heresy my dear, not I.’
‘You’ve lost it, you’re absolutely insane!’ Ela shouted back at him, ‘now shut up before I shoot you!’
‘Listen, traitor,’ Van Helser growled, ‘you will not shoot me, for if you do Voke will come down on you like a ton of bricks. He understands that we must turn Chaos against itself to prevail. It was he who came to me to study the daemonhosts. He has a morbid fascination with them. He wants them for his own. Are you going to shoot him too?’
‘Lies!’ Ela screamed at Van Helser, ‘just shut up and drop your weapons!’
‘Very well, but I’m trusting you not to shoot me. Should I throw them to you?’
‘Yeah,’ Ela answered, keeping her guns trained on Van Helser, ‘throw them to my feet.’
Van Helser unslung the lasgun from his shoulders and threw it into the dust. He then slid his laspistol from its holster, and threw it down too. He then unlimbered the hammer. Ela tightened her grip on the pistols as Van Helser looked her in the eye menacingly. He tossed it into the dirt too. Ela stepped over the weapons towards Van Helser.
‘Put your hands on your head, and get down on your knees,’ she instructed.
‘As you wish,’ Van Helser slowly obeyed her commands, and sunk to his knees, hands on head.
Ela holstered one gun, before darkness took her. She fell sprawled in the dust, a bloody wound in the back of her head. The hammer clattered down beside her. Van Helser stood up and kicked the gun away from Ela’s hand, and pulled the others from their respective holsters. She hadn’t reckoned on his telekinesis, the stupid girl. Direct psychic powers couldn’t affect her, but a hammer blow to the head could.
‘You haven’t killed her?’ Luthwye asked tentatively.
‘No, but that can be sorted easily enough.’ Van Helser picked up the hammer, testing its weight in his hands. He heard the rumble of a petro-chem engine and looked up. The arbitor’s ground car was approaching. ‘Quickly Luthwye, grab your pistol. Ranchak, sit on Ela!’ Van Helser picked up his laspistol and headed for the road.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:11:17 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 04/06/2004 22:53:30 Message:
Luthwye simply sat on the floor, nursing his foot and sobbing. Van Helser cursed. He would have to do this alone.
The car came down the road. A six-wheeled green automobile, with crystal clear windows and a closed top. Van Helser had noted that civilian transports were rare in this city, the roads being almost excusively the domain of military vehicles. Only the wealthy and powerful had licenses for their own machines.
There was a bright light within, clearly illuminating the interior in contrast with the dismal dark of the night around them. Through the windshield, Van Helser saw two occupants. A chauffeur who was clearly more than a chauffeur sat in the front with her hands on the controls, the driver had a gun holster on her flak-armoured chest and scar tissue across her neck. In the back sat the Arbitor, a man in his early second century, wearing plain civilian clothes, looking through paperwork.
The Inquisitor stepped onto the cobblestone road in front of the vehicle, a weapon in each hand.
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 04/06/2004 23:17:42 Message:
Van Helser opened fire with the laspistols. And boy did it feel good. Hours and hours of pent up bloodlust expended themselves in the merciless bursts of fire that Van Helser raked the car's inhabitants with. Every whisper from the daemons, every damn taunt that Ranchak had made, all were given an outlet in the murder of the civilians. Las bolts thudded into the chauffeur and the arbitor, evaporating flesh and destroying organs. The car left the road and thudded into the wall of a ruined building. Van Helser kept firing until both energy cells depleted. The car was shattered. Van Helser threw the guns to the ground and walked to the car and wrenched the door open. The smell of hot blood permeated the interior of the car, and Van Helser breathed deeply. There were bags on the seat beside the arbitor, Van Helser grabbed them both. He also snapped the chain from around the arbitor's neck, stealing the identification tag. He marched back to the others. Luthwye was hobbling around now.
'Take these bags,' Van Helser said as he threw the bags he had stolen at Luthwye, 'find the information we need.' The savant picked his way through the documents and clothes until he found what he needed. Van Helser picked up his lasgun, laspistol and lastly his blood slicked hammer. He looked over at Ela who was still unconscious, the Ranchak-woman sat atop her.
'We must leave before someone finds us!' Luthwye shouted at Van Helser.
'Yes, let's get moving,' Van Helser answered without tearing his gaze from Ela's bloodied form. He returned the hammer to his belt before hefting the daemonvessel onto his shoulder. 'Let's go,' he said to the savant.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 05/06/2004 11:56:07 Message:
Ela didn't know how long she'd been out. She lifted her head off the ground slightly. She felt a large trickle of blood run down her head and down the back of her neck. She quessed what had happened, and she didn't like what was going to come next.
The pain roared back into Ela's mind. Her head throbed, it was all she could do to not slump back onto the floor. She ran through a few techniques Voke had taught her for ignoring pain and clearing the mind. Ela stood up. The only thing she could do was to try and find Eswt or Quirrick. Then Ela remebered, they'd gone together. Ela remebered where they had left them and slowly started her swaying uneven stagger towards her goal. ______________________________________________________________________
Voke gently nudded The Rogue Star out of the landing bay. Slowly and casually Voke set the craft into a high orbit above the planet. Voke knew that he should remain undetected. The ship's hull was coated by that of a crashed Eldar craft, making The Rogue Star nearly impossible to detect. Voke knew there wasn't much he could do until someone contacted him and gave him a co-ordinates to get to. So he just sat and waited.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 12/06/2004 00:36:05 Message:
‘Sssso, what isss Mikael doing down there?’
‘He is killing. Spilling blood. Maiming.’
‘Good, good! Is he nearing Jaekomusss yet?’
‘He is closing in on him. It shouldn’t be long now.’
‘Wonderful newsss. I wonder how Mikael will take to the new information he gainsss?’
‘There is only one way that he will take the information. There is only one way he can take it.’
‘Ssso true. And we will be appreciative.’
‘Yes we will.’
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Quirrick looked down from his perch on top of the crates. The security personnel had left the warehouse some minutes before. They had only been there in force; they needed one or two to come in order for their plan to work. He bit into the random bit of what he guessed passed for fruit around this place, and glanced across at Eswt. He offered her a bite. She declined with a polite shake of her head.
‘We should make some noise,’ Quirrick said to her.
‘What for?’
‘No-one’s come back in yet, none of the security guards are gonna come in unless we make some noise. Just a little though, just enough to get a couple of them in, not to blow our cover.’ Ewst shook her head. ‘You’re the one that needs to contact Voke, and we ain’t doin’ that without a vox-caster!’
‘Yes, we do need to contact Voke, but we are not giving ourselves away for the use of a vox.’ Quirrick sighed and leant backwards. ‘You’re a fool Quirrick if you think that half witted plan of yours will actually bare fruit.’
Quirrick picked up a fresh piece of whatever it was. He waved it her. ‘Yeah, fruit,’ he said smiling.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 12/06/2004 22:58:36 Message:
Luthwye and Van Helser, with the bloodied daemohost over the Inquisitor's shoulder, proceeded down towards a secondary gate to the train docks. A tall yellow glowing symbol hung suspended above the archway that crackled as the wind passed through it.
"House Baehii owns this installation. According to Ashwyn, they are currently allies of House Fehrwar. While they have little active military of their own, they own many key facilities across the world, all highly defendable. They operate the train line on the southern half of this continent, much to the chagrin of the Gretian Trade Enforcement, who have not yet dared to make a direct assault on the region."
Van Helser trudged on as they reached the guardhouse. It was still very dark, and there were few travellers coming in through this entrance. "Spare me the politics, Luthwye. Can you get us inside with Ranchak?"
The savant's third mechanical arm reached over to the rack on his back and retrieved the documents taken from the arbite's car. With a dextrous flick, they were in the grasp of his organic fingers. "Yes. With this authority, and a generous credit tile, we should avoid any questions. Even with, umm, that," He glanced at the daemonvessel, which lifted its head and looked at the savant with burnt-out eyes.
A uniformed guard stepped out of the gloom as they passed under the archway. "Can I see your authorisation, please?"
Luthwye flashed several bundles of stiff papers at him. "This is Arbitor Boon. I'm sure you've heard of him. He has reservations on the carriage 'Hammerite Anvil'. He is in a hurry, though, and would like to skip the usual procedures. He also requires some privacy. Transportation to the suite is required."
The man's features scrunched. He looked at the papers, and then at Van Helser, with the body over his shoulder that missed both eyes and half a leg.
Luthwye raised his voice slightly. "Miser Boon has an important witness that was procured on the journey to the docks. I hope we won't be acquiring any more. I repeat, Mister Boon requires direct transportation to his suite, and fresh restraints for the prisoner. I expect all such requests will be met, or you will face charges of obstruction of a senior arbite."
When Luthwye pressed a credit tile into the guard's hand, he seemed to make up his mind. He nodded, and returned to the guard house. Within a few minutes, a spacious Baehii hover phaeton had arrived. Guards placed industrial strength restraining bonds on the psyker-woman, and then the three were on their way in the phaeton towards their suite on a carriage further down the line.
Luthwye sat opposite Van Helser, and looked very pleased with himself.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:11:45 GMT -5
Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 13/06/2004 14:17:29 Message:
‘Very impressive Luthwye,’ Van Helser congratulated the savant, ‘very impressive indeed. I am glad that I brought you along. I can trust you.’
‘Thank you,’ Luthwye answered, quite flattered.
’We’re almost there Mikael, not long now ‘til we reach Jaekomus.’
‘It’s not long ‘til we reach Jaekomus, Luthwye,’ Van Helser mumbled.
’It’s not long ‘til you will learn all that you desire.’
‘It’s not long ‘til I learn all that I desire.’
’It’s not long ‘til your quest will be complete.’
‘It’s not long ‘til my quest will be complete.’
‘Inquisitor?’ Luthwye asked cautiously, ‘what did you say?’
‘What?’
‘Inquisitor, you were saying something about a “quest.”’
‘Yes, my quest,’ Van Helser suddenly speaking directly, ‘Jaekomus is vital to it. I need to find him. And you are central to it.’
The phaeton came to a stop. They had arrived at their carriage. It was like a hab-block. It was immense. Fully capable of transporting hundreds, perhaps thousands of passengers. And it was only one of about ten of this kind of carriage. They stepped off of the speeder onto the platform. A porter ambled up to them. ‘You’s ready to board?’ he asked.
‘Yes we are,’ Van Helser answered. The porter made to push the Ranchak-woman, who was now upright on a porter’s trolley, but Van Helser stopped him. ‘If it’s all the same to you, I’ll take the prisoner. You just show us the way.’
‘You’re the boss,’ the porter said sheepishly, ‘follow me.’
The man led them up a ramp that had descended from the side of the carriage and into the bowels of the train.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Stryde Replied on: 17/06/2004 11:19:05 Message:
+++Incoming Transmission+++ +++Classification: Magenta+++ +++Author: Interrogator Carve, Ordo Malleus+++ +++Recipient: Inquisitor Voke, Ordo Xenos+++ +++Astropathic Channel @#1*&56.%#3...undetermined+++ +++Subject: Case File-Mikael Van Helser+++ +++Thought for the day: Walk in the Light, No Darkness Dare Enter+++
Salutations Inquisitor,
Noble sir, it has come to my attention through the chains of the Ordo Malleus that you have information regarding an Ordo-less heretic. I can only begin to thank you on my Master's behalf on your swift actions. A full investigation is now in it's undertaking on this Inquisitor Mikael Van Helser.
My mentor, Inquisitor Helena Banova Gate of our Ordo Malleus, has passed the files you have sent to our Ordo Master to myself. She has assigned me to your location as I am the closest operative at the momment. I can be at your locale within a half-week, Inquisitor Gate short to follow.
May the Emperor-God show thine way,
Interrogator Shainathan Carve, Ordo Malleus +++End Transmission+++
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 18/06/2004 13:57:15 Message:
Van Helser stepped into his suite. It seems the dead Arbite had been a rich man, and had managed to get a room on the outer edge of the carriage on level 5, with windows facing out towards the north. The murky natural light of Messalon IV filtered in through thick vari-tint windows.
There were four rooms in the suite. Two bedrooms, a bathroom and a large living/dining area. Van Helser shackled Ranchak to a chair. Luthwye immediately went to the vox-caster on the table, and began listening in to the news items being broadcast in Messalonian dialect.
The light of dawn began to seep in through the small panes of glass. Van Helser realised it had been over two days since he'd had a change of clothes or a wash, and he was covered in blood and dirt. He took a shower, and then found some spare clothes provided in a trunk at the end of the master bed. Simple grey garments of a soft cloth. His Rogue Trader disguise was ruined, and he removed his effects from them before dumping the clothes into the trunk.
He didn't dare touch the aquila, instead carefully teasing it out of its pocket by the chain, and then leaving it on the bedside table. He put one laspistol at his hip, and left his other weapons on the desk.
By the time he returned to the main room, the train had begun to move. He hadn't realised - the suite appeared to have been fitted with sound and motion dampeners. The only indication of movement was the softly changing light from the small armoured windows.
He collapsed onto the sofa. He'd spent a day without sleep, but he'd gone far longer before. And he couldn't afford to let his guard down now, when he was so close to his goal. Luthwye looked at him from across the main table.
"Why are we doing this?" he said carefully. "Why are we trying to find Jaekomus? What did the daemon tell you?" He looked down after he'd said it, clearly embarrassed at asking a question above his station, despite the bluntness and daring of his question.
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 19/06/2004 02:26:07 Message:
The question caught Van Helser off guard. He had to think deeply before he could answer. There was a long pause.
‘You should know by now that an Inquisitor has a great many reasons for the things he does Luthwye,’ began Van Helser, ‘has your time with Voke not taught you that?’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…’ Luthwye answered quietly.
‘You’re a savant, you can’t help but pry,’ Van Helser smiled. It raised a smile on Luthwye’s face too. ‘Understand that I seek Jaekomus for the benefit of us all – humanity all of it.’
‘The Imperium?’
‘Yes…’ Van Helser said slowly, his thoughts flashed back to the aquila on the desk. ‘I’m a Horusian Luthwye; I search for a new leader for mankind, fuelled by the warp. Daemonology is the key. And Jaekomus is a master daemonologist.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘There is a prophecy I am following, and so far everything that has been foretold has come true. It began with my former acolyte, Helena Dufaux. She was a link to Ranchak, and the daemon is a link to Jaekomus, and Jaekomus the link to our new leader.’ Van Helser reflected on the times he had had with Dufaux, before the cult on Denopsis had slaughtered her. But without her loss, Ranchak would not have been drawn into the material realm, and without that, there would be no meeting with Jaekomus. ‘The prophecy was revealed to me by Voor’acht; the daemon has parted upon to me so much precious knowledge.’
Luthwye wasn’t fully satisfied with Van Helser’s explanation. He was being annoyingly vague, but the savant doubted that he’d get much more from him. Perhaps he would learn some more later, or he could ask Ranchak. No, listening to the daemon’s voice was like having a little piece of hell inside his head. He didn’t need to go that far…
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:12:10 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 19/06/2004 18:22:11 Message:
Luthwye gave a shudder at the thought of the daemon. He ran a bony hand across his shaven skull.
"I have a confession," he said. He looked at Van Helser, and the Inquisitor suddenly flinched. He noticed a little spark for the first time, hidden at the back of the savant's eyes. And he could feel it, through his contact with the Immaterium. Luthwye was tainted by the warp.
"It... I am the reason that Ranchak is here," said the cloned servant, and then looked away. "Voke's senior staff have me study forbidden texts in his library aboard the Stellar Web. When... after your daemons arrived, the text I was studying spoke to me. It promised me things. Things I wanted. It told me the override codes for the locks, and I went to their chamber and I..."
He looked at Ven Helser again. Mikael sensed something in the warp and realised that Ranchak was shouting inside the savant's mind. Tears rolled down Luthwye's cheeks.
"I don't want those things anymore. I always hated service to Voke, but you... you respect me. You listen to me. You've been so kind to me. I don't want you to die anymore."
Luthwye's voice trailed off as the malevolent presence of the daemon across the room became insufferably thick. It was struggling against its new shackles, drawing blood from its wrists and ankles.
Van Helser tried to move his mind closer, to hear what was being said in Luthwye's mind, but the torrent of anger was being directed of the savant with such force that he had to withdraw for his sanity. He caught only a slip of language among the wordless hate.
You will die for this, peon!
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 20/06/2004 01:36:10 Message:
Van Helser was shocked. He was totally taken aback by Luthwye's admission. He looked across at the struggling daemonhost, seeing the rage written across its ruined features, and then looked back at Luthwye. Fear and anguish was all across his face. The savant had just crossed a daemon; a foolish mistake, but a brave action.
'God-Emperor Luthwye,' Van Helser spoke caringly, 'I sense how much Ranchak terrorises your mind. I'm sorry.'
Luthwye wept. 'Make it stop, please.'
'I can't do anything, Luthwye, not without banishing the daemon. You've allowed its whisperings into your head, and I can't do anything to reverse that.' Luthwye gasped and shook his head in denial. 'I can't help you. I'm sorry. The only thing you can do is take up that aquila from my desk, and reaffirm your prayers to the Emperor.'
'Will that make it stop?'
'I hope so,' Van Helser said sincerely.
Luthwye moved across to the desk. He picked the aquila up by its chain. It seemed heavy in his hand. He slipped it over his head, and grasped the symbol in both his hands and closed his eyes. Tears still streaked down his face.
'Don't think that that little trinket will save him Mikael; it's meaningless now. He might as well strangle himself with the chain - at least that would get me out of his head. You don't know how lucky you are Mikael. You haven't betrayed me yet, unlike him. He will die.'
Van Helser strode over to the Ranchak-woman. He grabbed it by the neck. 'Leave him alone. Leave him alone.'
'Oh please Mikael, what are you going to do? Strangle this vessel? That will achieve absolutely nothing. I'll still be able to do this...'
'It may well achieve nothing daemon, but I want you to leave him be, daemon. He is nothing. What does it matter to you that I know how you managed to possess the psyker? You're a daemon, immortal. You're above this.'
'Flattery will get you nowhere Mikael. You are right, I am a daemon. And I enjoy torment. I will do as I please.'
'For the sake of that poor fool across the room, leave him be. For now.'
'You drive a hard bargain Mikael, but I have tired of shouting at that worm. He's not worthy of my unrelenting fury. You though, you might just be.'
'I'll make sure I don't cross you then.' Van Helser released the vessel, and looked back at Luthwye. The savant smiled, grasping the aquila tightly, his knuckles white.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 23/06/2004 17:40:23 Message:
Barely concious Ela stumbled towards where they had left Eswt and Quirrick. Ela did her best not to draw attention to herself as she saw several soldier types walking around, close to where they had left the wounded pair. Ela started to call their names in a wisper.
Quirrick was still undecided when Eswt saw something over his shoulder and through a small slit in teir shelter; and it wasn't a soldier. Eswt lept silent upto the slit and tried to look at what had gone past, and she hear Ela calling her name. Eswt then saw her. Her head was a mess, it looked like she'd been hit on the back of the head by a hammer. It was surprising she was able to walk. Ela's voice started to grow louder. She would draw attention to herself and Eswt and Quirrick. This maybe what they wanted but they wanted the choice and for it to be when they were ready; if they decided to go ahead with it.
Ela continued to walk slowly when suddenly she felt a hand on her mouth and felt herself being tackled from behind, she was then quickly hauled into a building. Ela her "friend" in her ear and recognised Eswt's voice. ______________________________________________________________________
Eswt had patched Ela's head up as best she could. The bleeding had stopped and it was clean. Eswt had gone through some exercises with Ela to drive away the pain. Thankfully she would be able to fight soon and she was now able to think straight. But where was Van Helser? What had happened? The three of them sat down and in hurried wispers filled each other in on what had passed, this took no more than a couple of minutes and the soldiers were still outside, a plan for an option but undecided was wether they would use it. They would have to decide quickly, the soldiers could decide this area was clear and move on anytime soon.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 24/06/2004 00:50:33 Message:
Ever since the Voor'acht child had whispered to Quirrick back at the boat about what the future held, he had been feeling more than uneasy. He hadn't believed the daemon, how could he believe something like that, but the nagging was always there. Van Helser went by everything the daemons told him - he always maintained that the bindings placed upon them made it impossible for them to lie. Yet Voor'acht had kept repeating that Van Helser had forseen the events himself. The Inquisitor would kill him. There was no doubt in the daemon's sick mind.
The news that Ela had brought was chilling him. Van Helser had gunned down a civilian, just to steal his identity. He'd also knocked Ela out, almost killed her even, when she had protested. She had suspicions that he'd succumbed to Chaos, which he himself knew was an impossibility; no one hated Chaos and its spawn more than Mikael, but something had obviously happened to his friend. He had made a horrible error of judgement, and there was no forgiving it. Perhaps the pressure on Van Helser's sanity had finally caused him to lose all rationality. With the deaths of the civilians, servants of the God-Emperor, Quirrick realised that Van Helser had turned a corner, and that made it entirely possible that his friend of twenty years could kill him. Just as the daemon had foretold.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 26/06/2004 21:49:54 Message:
Quirrick stood, his head filled with troubling thoughts. He decided that they really did need to contact Voke. With all the doubts in his mind, Alexei wasn't thinking properly as he stepped to the window to get a look out at the soldiers.
It took him only a second to realise he had neglected to keep his profile hidden, before he cursed and ducked back down again. But it was enough. The shouts from outside were enough to tell him that.
He had only time to look over at his companions in alarm before the oor to the warehouse burst in again, and the sound of many footsteps was heard.
Ela was still groggy, but she drew her pistols and crouched behind the solid wall around the balcony on which they lay. Eswt drew her sword and slipped into the darkness, ready to defend her comrades.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:12:28 GMT -5
Reply author: Stryde Replied on: 27/06/2004 12:02:26 Message:
Interrogator Carve stood broad on the vast bridge of the merchant craft. His flat-topped, salt and pepper hair stood freshly with care, easily matching his immaculate red full coat adorned with purity seals and Inquisitorial markings. Both his cylindrical bionic eyes reflected a dull red from the many runes and LEDs flashing around him. Rough, war-beaten arms clasped neatly behind his powerful back. His visage bore the usual frown on his humorless, shaven face.
"Helm. Give me our ETA." His flat voice spoke with military ease. To any who did not know him, it was obvious he had been a guardsman of some sort or another.
Helm was, in all appearences, a cyborg human completely interwoven into the ship's machine spirits. Long, thick cabling suspended him, pulsing communi-wires flashing data and commands directly to his neural network. Life support systems wheezed and throbbed aroun him. A great black cable protruded from his mouth, a norishment intake for certain. His eyes sewn shut to keep out reality around him, to better focus on his true life. The ship that was called Peragro
A voice echoed around the bridge chamber, surrounding the staunch Interrogator on all sides. "2 decimal 854 days until breachway. Of course, this is an aproximation, Shainathan." The dull, emotionless voice ironically had a personality.
The Peragro itself had been confiscated long ago by the Inquisition during the Hermatege Scism. Decades of service had seen many changes develope on the 'ol trader, most for the better.
A knotted finger poked a few runes infront of the Interrogator and a dossier popped up on the pict-viewer above his head. "Inquisitor Mikael Van Helser. Used to be Malleus, you know." Truthfully, Carve couldn't care less to speak with the mechanation-man. But he knew that Helm grew bitter if the human part of his psyche wasn't nutured with attention. "Little to go on. If the request is true, though, I could finally make rank."
A staticky chuckle rebounded off the bulkheads around him. "You'll never make rank, Shainathan. You know Gate has it out for you."
Punching a closed fist down on the rune pad, a series of beeps and alarms gave reply. "Damnit, you don't have to remind me. That last case wasn't my fault!"
"Tut tut, Shainathan. Kindly remove you appendage, lest I return the offense..."
Carve almost smiled at that, and did what Helm asked. Years ago, after doing a similar gesture, Helm jolted him with a burst of electricity that nearly cost him some of his bionic functions.
Still some time to prepare...
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 28/06/2004 16:16:48 Message:
Ela swore, well she tried to swear but her body was doing it's best to get ready to fight and as such certain things suffered. Her speach was one as was her ability to some only one of something and being able to be upright. Ela slumped to the floor as adrenalin being pumped round her body caused her to lose what control she managed to gain over her body since Van Helser's attack.
"Don't resist, and don't let them know I'm here!" Eswt wispered to Ela and Qurrick as the soldiers headed towards the building.
"No! We're gonna fight!" Quirrick protested, Ela nooded slightly.
As Eswt made her way into the shadows she slapped Ela on the head with the flat of her sword, the new wave of pain causing her to fall unconcious finally. A quick twist of the wrist and she had cut the tendons at the back of Quirrick's knee, dropping him to the floor in a heap.
Eswt wispered three words in Quirrick's ears.
"Priorities, sacrificies, Voke"
They had to gain contact with Voke. Injuring them explained why they didn't fight and if it came off Voke would be able to heal both of them.
Eswt slinked into the shadows and the door burst open. Hopefully one of the soldiers would trial behind abit, allowing Eswt to suprise him, use his com-link and move on before the realised he was missing.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 29/06/2004 22:40:08 Message:
‘You pregnant dog!’ Quirrick hissed as Ewst disappeared into the darkness. He couldn’t believe that she had just done that to his knee. As if his back wasn’t enough. What the hell was wrong with her? Sacrifices for Voke? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
‘Freeze scumbag!’ he heard someone shout from behind. ‘Get your hands where I can see them!’ Quirrick spat on the crate as he complied with the order. He wasn’t going to get his head blown off for nothing. He felt the barrel of a gun pressing into the back of his neck. ‘On your feet,’ the voice ordered.
‘I would, but my knee just isn’t in the mood for co-operation,’ Quirrick said, turning to look up at the face of the soldier. It wasn’t a pretty sight.
‘A funny guy eh?’ the soldier said gruffly as he hauled Quirrick to his feet. He yelped as he was forced to put weight on his leg. ‘Where’s the others?’ he demanded, pulling Quirrick’s face into his.
‘Just me and the unconscious gal over there,’ Quirrick indicated Ela’s unconscious form.
‘Get moving,’ the soldier ordered, prodding Quirrick onwards, as one of his companions lifted Ela up on to his shoulder. Below them, the woman from the ship waited eagerly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 01/07/2004 18:11:29 Message:
Quirrick was dragged down to the ground level, and thrown on the floor. He cried out again as he fell on his knee, and spots flashed in front of his eyes. There was a heavy thud beside him, which he guessed was Ela.
It was then he felt a hot point jab into the back of his scalp. He lifted his head, and was blinded by a green light that shoine directly into the back of his retina.
"This cannot be."
He heard the feminine voice, distorted by a mechanical whine that rose from the speaker's throat. He recognised it, and groaned inwardly.
A cold, sharp, metal hand grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up. The flickering green laser swept onto his face, and Quirrick scrunched up his eyes before they were done permanent damage by the glare.
"You're supposed to be dead. The star fort was destroyed. How did you get out alive?"
Quirrick choked trying to give an answer. He felt a warm liquid trickle across his neck from the pointed fingertips of the Noble's bionic hand. He finally blacked out, and was thankful.
Eswt stalked around the edge of the warehouse in the darkness, her sword giving only the faintest glint when it caught the light.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 01/07/2004 19:15:45 Message:
Motionless in the darkness Eswt spotted her prey. One of the soldiers had been ordered to check where they had found Ela and Qurrick, try to find anything which might lead them to anyone Ela and Quirrick had been working with. Everyone else had left the nearby vacinity. The poor soldier never saw the blow comming.
Eswt lept from the corner towards the man's exposed back. Her dulled blade flickered out at the mans neck. The soldier collapsed onto the floor, his spinal chord seperated between the 3rd and 4th vertebra. Eswt rolled onto her feet, staying off her broken ribs, and eased the soldiers collapse to stop any noise.
As soon as the man was quitly on the floor Eswt had his com-link. Setting it so that the message would carry as far as possible, and hopefully reach Voke, Eswt chose a new frequency so hopefully it would not be noticed.
"Stellar Web, Qurrick and Ela caught, both injured. Van Helser most likely gone heretical. Will shadow E and Q. Lock onto this transmission and them free, then we go after VH. We need supplies."
Eswt then tuned the com-link back to the setting it had been on, the one for the soldiers she assumed. She then set about going after Quirrick and Ela and their capters. Eswt slinked off into the darkness, a crumpled corpse the only sign she had ever been there.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:12:49 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 02/07/2004 17:12:43 Message:
When she returned to the ground floor, Eswt found Ela and Quirrick already gone. She moved outside, and spotted a prison truck, which was undoubtably where they had ben taken. As its chemical engine leapt to life, shrouding it in purple fumes that were coughed out of the exhausts on its sides, she leapt out of the darkness and grabbed hold of the door handle on the back.
With another swift movement, she was in the ample space underneath the body of the truck, scant space between her grip-points and the large wheels that had begun to turn.
The prison truck and four other military vehicles left the dock, and hedaed for the Fehrwar fortress in the centre of the city. Its great cannons belched out thunderous fire at distant targets as the vehicles approached in its shadow.
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Reply author: LoMaxxDurang Replied on: 10/07/2004 07:59:56 Message:
The ungainly savant’s left bionic eye buzzed as its photo-receptive lens scanned the pale beauty before him, she was young maybe 28 but probably younger judging by her skin tone. She had rich brunette hair with charcoal eyes and gently curving lips. Oh to be young again and full vigor as he once had been; the elderly man put the thought away as he handed her the many data slates he carried.
Her long manicured bluish gray nails tapped quietly against each slate as she read and filed them away. They were all gibberish anyway each being a failed or garbled transmission the astropaths had been unable to properly relay. She only read them because it was procedure, as she sat the third from the bottom down and reached for the next she picked the last one up and suddenly it was all clear. Lord Blackbane had reactivated agent Lazarus and now it was time for Lazarus to complete its long awaited assignment… Jaekomus must die.
It is the Emperor's job to forgive heretics. It is my job to arrange the meeting. Arkturus Palov (eventual Catch phrase).
Were Marines we retook armageddon this aint sh*t! Marines Malevolent Marine.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 10/07/2004 20:25:06 Message:
Voke had heard Eswt's message. He'd locked onto her com-link. He powered up his craft fully. He got green lights from all engines, shields and weapons. As he finished bringing The Rogue Star fully online Eswt's signal finally halted. She had obviously been onboard a craft of some sort and it had reached it's destination. Voke assumed that Eswt had been following Ela and Qurrick. His beliefs were confirmed when a computer screen to his right showed that the building Eswt was in looked to be a very sucure building, most likely some form of prison. Voke sent the craft blazing towards the building, with the goal of rescue.
The Rogue Star turned silently in space, turning it's orbit into a sharp dive. Engines roared to life and the craft surged forward. The craft lived up to it's name as it soared through the atmosphere faster and at a sharper angle than most pilots would have dared, but The Rogue Star's extensive modifications ment that it held together through it's decent.
Voke saw that the building had a platform on the roof which he would just be able to fit The Rogue Star on; unfortunatly the platform was already occupied by a lighting fighter. Voke flicked a pair of switches which opened a com-link to the building and the craft; while at the same time sending out a beacon which showed him to be a Inquisitor. The com-link crackled as Voke sent his message.
"This is Inquisitor Voke, a loyal servant of the Emperor and one who follows his path and spreads his will. You will permit me to land, and you will speak to me about the imeadiate release of people I know you are holding."
Voke had taken a gamble and a risk, hopefully it would pay off. And Eswt would know that he was on his way, hopefully if things became violant she would be able to provide a distraction to allow him to land.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 12/07/2004 20:05:56 Message:
For the first time in an uncomfortably long time, Van Helser had the chance to relax and reflect. The mission was going well – losses had been acceptable, and Jaekomus was a train journey away. What an odd blessing the psykers from the Starfort had been; without them the daemons would not have been able to join them on the planet, and with neither of the daemons there would have been no chance of locating the Inquisitor. The mission had not been without inconveniences though; Ranchak going loose was something that Van Helser would rather have not seen. He would still have Quirrick at his side had the woman not freed itself. He needed a friend like Alexei with him now. Someone to talk to. Someone who understood him.
Losing Ela and Eswt was advantageous, paranoid dillusionists like they were not welcome on a morally testing mission like this. It was still hard to believe that Voke had suspected him of heresy and had sent his bodyguards as wardens. When he had first encountered Voke, Van Helser had taken him for a pompous puritan. The daemonblade had dispelled that notion, but on Denopsis, Voke had tested him for the taint of Chaos. Fear and misunderstanding of the daemonic had probably been the cause for the slur on Van Helser’s soul, and Van Helser had thought that with Voke coming to study the daemonhosts had finally ended his trepidation and suspicions. How wrong he had been. Voke was still a disbeliever. Still a heckler. Still a coward. Still a puritan at heart. Their friendship was at an end. Van Helser would not associate himself with the turncoat any longer.
Whether the fading light had caused it, or the gentle movements of the carriage had, Van Helser didn’t know. Whatever it was, Van Helser realised he had fallen asleep. And woken to the sound of screaming.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 12/07/2004 22:07:00 Message:
"Administer the drugs,"
Ela's eyes blurred into light. Her head was fixed in place, she couldn't move it.
"Go on, and the other,"
She heard Quirrick gasp, and she guessed he'd been returned to consciousness as well.
"You're not Rogue Traders. You had something to do with the sixty eight slummers now in the city morgue, even if you weren't directly responsible for it. I've seen serial killers and ritual killings, and nothing human could have done what I've just had to inspect."
She looked down at her body. She was on a torture rack. She swallowed hard with a dry throat. The winch was in place, and ready to seperate her limbs from their sockets. No doubt Quirrick was in the same situation.
"So who are you? Tell me, because you've got the whole fortress in chaos over trying to find out your identities. Make it easy for all of us."
--
The Fehrwar Fortress was a sprawling, labyrinthine construction. But that apparent haphazardness betrayed a deep understanding underlying its design. With such an outwardly confusing layout, no invader could be sure where any one installation was to be found, or the location of any individual gun. But this was a fortress, made to be defended, made to be impregnable. Made to destroy all enemies that approached.
As Voke looked over the deep reds and greys of the stonework through the rippling haze of his craft's downjets, he realised the danger he was in. He could now make out at least sixteen disguised hydra platorms that had line of sight to him. Several were now swivelling to face him, only holding fire at the order of some flight command centre hidden within the structure.
How would this faction react to his status as an Inquisitor? He cursed himself for not taking the time to do more communication monitoring from orbit.
To his surprise, another aircraft landing slab began to rise out of another part of the structure. A short, clipped vox message told him to land, he had an audience with the Lord. He saw guards begin to pile onto the concrete landing field. They already had their guns raised at him.
--
Lord Fehrwar sat in his throne, oiled fat bubbling over the sides. He trembled in rage and fear. He was summoning an Inquisitor to his chambers. It seemed to him that doomsday had finally come.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:13:12 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 12/07/2004 22:26:56 Message:
Van Helser jumped to his feet, and took stock of his surroundings. Data-slates were scattered over the table - Luthwye had been doing some research into recent disappearances of techpriests. But Luthwe himself was gone. So was the daemon.
The bonds had been broken. Again. Van Helser cursed loudly. Nothing short of a full binding could hold the essence of a being so powerful, no matter how small a fragment of the whole was set loose.
The door banged as if in an unseen wind. Somewhere down the corridor, a woman screamed. Van Helser grabbed his weapons from the bedroom and began to run.
He stepped out into the corridor. But there was no trail of blood this time. No victims, no deaths. Whoever had screamed and retreated back into their cabin.
The daemon was free, but he was on no massacre. He had one person's blood alone in mind. And Van Helser didn't know which way to go. The daemon and the savant were lost, and Van Helser was lost and alone.
He took another step, intending to run down the corridor as far as it would go, but the ground leapt up from underneth him and he fell backwards onto the floor. There were more screams. The floor shook violently again.
A low, guttural cry from almost-human voices reverberated through him. He felt as shells pounded against the side of the train carriage. He realsied they should have been passing through the subslums at this time. It was the mutant rebellion he had encouraged Ashwyn to start. The mutants were attacking the train.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 13/07/2004 20:47:04 Message:
Voke decended from the ramp of The Rogue Star. Rage filled him, these people were here to delay him. Voke could feel it. The two warmths in him, re-afirming what he believed. If what he suspected was true hidden pieces became clear, and the puzzle fitted; he would have a long talk with Van Helser when this was over, although stunning Mikael may be in order first. But that would have to wait, for the moment Voke didn't try to resist the warmths, he invited them, tried to draw them on, to unleash their full potential and allow him to use it. If this went wrong Voke could find himself dead, but Voke had had alot of time in space, waiting. He'd already opened himself the the warp and had become totally intune with every cell in his body. As the warmth came back, Voke remembered the last time they had been this strong; his body had fought them out, cell by cell, nearly killing him. But this time no resistance, Voke felt connected to the warp unlike he had ever been. Voke knew he was risking damnation, but he had to risk it.
With a quick flick of his wrists the triggers on all the guns pointed at him tore off, making the weapons useless. Voke knew that with his lean face and billowing black cloke, mixed with his commanding stare and regal clothing gave him a sense of domination, command and leadership. Voke had worked on this and had a arua around him to increase this sense, wove from the powers of the warp. _____________________________________________________________________
Voke strode down the corridoor, forcing all guards who saw him to be struck dumb. Voke thrust out one hand and tapped into the warp once more. Voke was comming closer and closer to the warp, getting more and more likely to become possed, but he didn't care, he trusted on the center's of warmth and his suspicions about them. The large doors infront of him were burst open by lightning from Voke's hand.
Voke strode through the open doors, the sense of nobility and domination nearly tangible around him. A large man sat in a throne at the end of the hall, he was repulsive. Voke asummed him to be the person given charge of this place, and in charge of those who had Ela and Quirrick. Voke would prefer to avoid killing everyone in this place but he didn't have long to waste.
Voke's voice was altered, changed so that it struck a note in the basics of every human, something primevil; his voice oozed with command and demanded respect and the right to dominate life. It was the thing which could be used to rally men to a cause and enforce Voke's will.
"You are holding some of my people! You will release them immeadiatly and hope I do not punish you for anything that has happened to them. There will be no negotiation, you will do this or die!"
Voke hoped that this man would just give him what he wanted but Voke suspected this might take longer than he wished it to.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 14/07/2004 21:29:42 Message:
The guards and other staff of the palace were dropping to their knees in awe of the unimaginably powerful man walking in their midst. Their minds were bowled over by Voke's own, turned into puppets to his charisma.
But the Lord of Fortress Fehrwar was not. The anger in the grotesque man was almost tangible to Voke's psychically active mind. It was a solid ball of tense, compacted emotion, ready to burst into an explosion of action.
Fehrwar opened his wide, fat-lined mouth, and Voke could feel the order it was going to give. It would command the guards to kill the man who so insolently and violently invaded his chambers. The man who walked as if he was more powerful than their great Lord Fehrwar. The man who had come to this world to destroy everything their Lord held dear.
But the order didn't come. Instead, the Lord sat back in his throne slightly. The anger was still there, the burning, writhing anger and hatred. But it was being controlled, and funnelled, by the man's impressively wilful mind.
"How many are the forces at your command?" was the first thing Fehrwar said. His face was twisted with anguish as he said this, clearly repulsed by his need to converse with the insolent tnemy standing before him. "Do you have more ships waiting, at the edges of the system? Just what... what do you plan to do with them? Is there to be a ground war, or should we expect exterminatus from the outset?"
The naked figure ran a chubby hand across his slick chest, and clutched at his heart. The hand was large enough to have enveloped Voke and suffocated him in pungent oiled flesh, if it had chosen.
"Inquisitor," he spat, making a splattered brown stain on the marble tiles beside Voke that sizzled with the smell of burning. "I have spent the last four decades in preparation for your coming. We will not disappear without a fight. We are no longer the defenceless victims of a century ago."
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 14/07/2004 23:15:42 Message:
The floor shifted under Van Helser and he had to grab a door handle to remain upright. It seemed like his luck was turning. An attack by the mutants on anything else on the planet would be wonderful for him – a distraction that would probably see him safe all the way to Jaekomus’s doorstep. But here he was in mortal danger from an attack that he had himself arranged. And to top it off the daemon and Luthwye were missing. He needed to find them both quickly before they drew attention to themselves.
Another shell hit home and Van Helser hit the deck, just as the bulkhead in front of him exploded open in a gout of flame that rolled over his head. Maybe his luck hadn’t changed as much as he’d thought. He looked up to see a number of train security personnel lying dead in the corridor. It suddenly occurred to him that he was in trouble; if he was seen to be attacking guards he’d have his cover blown, yet he had no guarantee that the mutants would leave him be. Van Helser drew his hammer. He made up his mind there and then only to attack in retaliation. If anyone was stupid enough to cross him, they’d face the consequences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 15/07/2004 16:36:46 Message:
"I have no idea what your on about, a century ago! And I couldn't give a damn! I could use my power to find out what happened but you are such an insignificant insect that it's not worth my effort!"
Voke was taking a risk by being so aggressive, but Voke didn't care, he could take that risk; and either way it would result in a quicker outcome.
"Do not tempt an Inquisitor! You will release you people to me now! And you will assisst me in any way you are able to! If you defy an Inquisitor you are defying a bearer of the Emperor's Will and defying to conform with His design and His holy Imperialum! Not only have you let this world stray from the Emperor's light you are now preventing it from returning and preventing a Inquistor from performing his vital duties with the hast they require!"
Voke felt the man's anger grow.
"You should keep your anger under better control!"
Before the Lord could whip a retort back at Voke, Voke flicked his hand and the huge doors he had burst through started to melt. Voke fed energy from the warp into them. This energy cause the doors atoms to move faster and faster; the net result was that the temperature shot up and the door started to liquify. In a few seconds the doors had turned into a large puddle. It was a fairly simple thing to do, but it brought with it terrible risks. Most psychics could have done what Voke had done; but would not for fear of becomming damned in the proccess.
Voke repeated himself.
"Do not tempt an Inquisitor!"
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:13:29 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 15/07/2004 20:06:13 Message:
The Lord's anger was now so intense it was like a second sun to Voke's psychically attuned senses. If it had been a psyker sitting in the throne before him, Voke would undoubtably have now been facing a creature matching him in power, but without the warmth that kept him in the light. Anger was a terrible force in the warp, and such an inhuman amount would undoubtably be attracting the residents of that infernal other plane.
But outwardly, the Lord displayed a remarkable level of control. His hatred was growing by the second, but he continued to control it, keeping a rational mind in the face of overwhelming rage. He suppressed it for he knew how dangerous it would be to give in.
Still, his servants expected the order at any moment, and "An Inquisitor, you say? The distorted face of the tragically obese Lord cracked into a disturbing smile. "What manner of Inquisitor are you? You put the value of your two colleague's lives at greater value than the fate of our world. You care not that I defy the Imperium, apart from that it hinders the safe return of these two people. Why so? What can they mean to you?"
The Lord's eyes sparkle, accompanied by a twitch at his suppressed anger. "Is one of them a lover, perchance? Can an Inquisitor put such a thing before his duty?"
There was now a platoon of elite guard assembling around the hall. Clad in heavy augmented armour, carrying hellguns, plasma guns and fusion guns, with psy-shields woven into their helmets, they raised their weapons, and waited the order of their Lord.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 15/07/2004 20:37:54 Message:
At the Lord's comment Voke felt anger nearly level with his. This much pure hatred and use of warp power was drawing attention from daemons; Voke could feel them, seraching for him, trying to find him and possess him. But the centres of warmth kept him hiden, but Voke knew they could only guide and help channel, and they wouldn't be able to guide him to safety for much longer if anger continued to rise. Voke needed to end this in a couple of minutes or risk having to try and fight back the will of a daemon, or several.
"They are people, with talents and abilities which have saved myself and possibly the Imperialum in the past. I require them, and their skills to help me in all I do, but in the near future with my current task; to find a likely traitor, possibly two, and gain a large amoung of very dangerous and potentially very useful information, if it has not been too corrrupted by choas.
And as for misplacing duty?! And for not caring and this pathetic excuse for a planet!?
You have let this planet slip, and your lack and action is as bad as causing the slip yourself; your case will be reviewed at the end of this and you should pray that you are not found to be a heretic; slowing an Inquisitor in his mission will increase the chances of this happening!
As soon as I learned of the state you have let this planet enter I sent comminucation to some of my personal guard, of which a full regiment are in orbit, with standard armour support. I have also contacted the Navy and Guard, both are sending more than sufficient forces to return this planet to order. In the short time I have been here I have done more good for this planet than you ever have and likely will!"
Voke didn't want to show any signs of being under pressure or in a rush to end this, but he was.
"This ends now, either you comply with the Will of the Emperor and asist one of His Inquisitors, or you are decleared a heretic and killed by me, here and now. The choice is yours, I care not which you choose."
Voke's casual nature was distubing for those watching him. How can this man not care wether he fights against a much larger, better armed and armoured force, or not?
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 15/07/2004 22:46:38 Message:
The Lord erupted into a slow, powerful laugh that could almost be described as maniacal. "You care not! He cares not! Listen to me friends, the Inquisitor cares not!" Voke could feel the pressure on the man's anger dropping. The ball of hate was beginning to unravel and release. "We are Messalon. Messalon! The oldest, the greatest and the strongest planet in the subsector, and he cares not for what happens to us. He comes by on other matters and casually orders our destruction on a whim. On a whim!"
The controlled rationality of before was slipping away. The Lord was descending into mad rage. "I am a heretic, Inquisitor! Yes! You, the Imperium, the Inquisition, sought to destroy us, and do so again. And it is I who rallies thw world to defy our destruction by your hand. It is I who is to be the saviour of Messalon! Let the Imperium come. I will throw them aside and restore the Council of Six as true rulers of the world!"
The grotesquely heavy man struggled in vain attempt to climb to his feet. "And you! You shall die for coming into my presence with such insolence! Such... Die! Kill him!"
And as the soldiers opened fire, the throne began to roll back on underfloor rails, and a void shield ignited across the centre of the chamber, dividing the Lord from the Inquisitor.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 16/07/2004 16:47:31 Message:
This was not good. Voke had wasted so much time, linked with the warp and now he needed to use it; yet if this took more than a minute he would surly gain the attention of a daemon. Well Voke would just have to show these pathetic, insignificant insects what he could do! Voke was slightly shocked by that thought, where had that come from? He was treating them as below him, but they were human. Well no time now to think about it.
Voke quickly threw a shield of his own around himself. In a flash Nul'Ra was in hand, it risked bringing daemons apon him quicker but her chanelled warp power into Nul'Ra. He wished he had put such tight bonds on his daemon sword, restricting it's power as much as he had. Well Voke couldn't directly affect the minds or bodies of the soldiers but as all good soldiers do they were carring several grenades each, most frag grenades. To do so was standard proceedure for soldiers for many an age. With a quick flick of his wrists and using his gained power of telekinisis and every soldier saw pins from their grenades infront of their face.
Voke could feel their shock, fear and surprise. He enjoyed the fealing as these insignificant insects got a glimps of how out classed and weak they were. Some scrambled to get the grenades out of pockets, other more noble and objectional soldiers opened fire on Voke. Voke dived, pushing bullets away from him, melting them, stopping them dead. And then he felt it. A daemon had found him and was bearing down apon him. Voke severed his connection with the warp. Too quickly.
The explosion halted the fire aimed at Voke and for a moment Voke was safe, with only the Lord in sight. Voke's head throbbed. He had been so much closer to the warp then he ever had. The taste of metal was in every breath. Blood drip from his nose and from a cut in his forhead where the skin had burst. Voke knew he had pretty much temporarily burned out his ability to use psychich powers; in much a similar fasion as looking at a bright light caused temporary loss of vision. Voke feared it would be some time before he could tap into the warp again. Thankfully he wasn't hurt for the moment. But he would have to rely on Nul'Ra, stronger than normal, to protect him. He saw the lord behind the void shield. Voke knew he could take apart this base, every man and rescue Ela and Quirrick; but only when he could used the warp. Allowing such anger had ment you couldn't hide as long as he normally did when using the warp.
What now? Without the warp Voke couldn't be certain he could take the whole base alone. How to link up with Eswt? How to find and rescue Ela and Quirrick? How to get out alive?
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VanHelser
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:13:50 GMT -5
Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 17/07/2004 21:11:51 Message:
The mega-train of Messalon rode on through the sublsums of the western continent. The lead engine poured clouds of deep purple chemical into the air, leaving a thick mist over the landscape, and a layer of sticky pink residue over everything it touched.
From the habitats buried in the horrid pink chemical came the armies of the mutant underclass. Batteries of earthshaker emplacements smashed their explosive charge into the sides of the carriages with angry force.
A single volley did little more than strip away a layer of armour and shatter the outer suites. But there were more, lined up along the tracks, all the way down the subslums. The mutants had prepared for a long assault, intending to make their kill before the great engine could clear their territory.
A lightning fighter plane swooped overhead, having taken off from the airstip carriage not moments ago. It speared down two lesser aircraft, their propellors spluttering and dying in flames.
A volley of manticore missiles arced overhead from beyond the ridge, making a pinstripe pattern in the sky.
More of the attackers' aircraft, simply modified cropdusters from the agrifields, swept down on a hab-carriage, dropping their payload of mining charges. The resulting explosion obliterated the top two decks.
The heavy whine of the heavy cargo lifter overwrote the earthshakers in volume, as it flew on towards the train. Its bulk was filled with hundreds of mutant warriors, armed from the delta factories, and hollering for the blood of men. It was shot down by a fortified laser as it made its final approach. The wreck fell down on top of the final carriage, dislodging it from the tracks, and the combined tons of machinery tumbled into the ramshackle houses of the subslums.
Luthwye stopped and stared at the flaming carriage as it was set upon by angry mutants. He looked at the grey blobs find ripped-open entrances, and scurry inside like a swarm of angry ants. He watched with quiet fascination as the interior was lit with the flashes of gunfire.
The observation room he was sitting in was still sound-proofed, and Luthwye was lost in his own thoughts, not registering the reality of what he was looking at through the reinforced window.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes with his bony hands and then looked at them. He hated his hands. They were the perfect shape for holding a stylus or a dataslate, but he could do nothing else with them. They were the symbol of the prison of his job, and the prison of his existence.
He suddenly had the thought of removing them. Find a knife, hack them to the bone, and then snap them at the wrist. He gave a slim smile at the thought. It would be his personal rebellion against the Imperium. A rebellion not even the Adeptus Astartes could stop him from.
He was snapped out of such self-indulgent thoughts when he heard a sound. The soft padding of bare feet on carpet. Lit by the wash of another explosion, Luthwye turned in his comfortable seat.
"I said you'd die, peon," said a quiet, whispering female voice, "Nothing as pitiful as you can cross a being such as me and live. It simply cannot be allowed to happen. I'll admit all that bloodshed out there is nice, but none of it is in my name, none of it really matters. All that matters here is me, and you. And in a moment, it'll only be me."
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 17/07/2004 21:25:22 Message:
As every soldier in the Lord's chambers droped to the floor in pieces, Voke fell to his knees. Something that had only lasted a few seconds had ruined both sides' arsenal. But there were more soldiers in the fortress, whereas there was no more magic in Voke, at least for the moment.
The Lord, hidden by the blackness of the void shield, called his techpriests to him, and they stabbed mechadendrites into his bloodless flesh.
Voke gasped, and wiped the blood from his face. He got to one knee, and lifted his head. That hadn't gone as well as he hoped, but he still had a few moments before any more soldiers would find him...
The void shield dissipated, and the Lord of Fehrwar Fortress got to his feet, without the pitiful struggle of his last attempt. There were now servos and suspensors working within his body, and he took a regal step forward. The enormous belly wobbled and rippled in wieghtlessness as the suspensors cancelled out the force of gravity.
With two chubby hands, he was fixing on the largest power fist Voke had ever seen. With the final clasp, its golden carapace crackled with static force. The giant man fixed Voke with eyes glazed with inhuman hatred.
The Inquisitor reached for his daemonsword.
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 17/07/2004 22:07:23 Message:
Voke didn't like where this was heading. The lord would only engage in combat willing if he believed he could kill Voke, regardless of any surprises he might have, and not risk his health in any way. And Voke believed this lord was very protective of himself. The net result of this train of thought was that Voke believed to be in alot of trouble.
Voke looked around trying to find a way out. He didn't want to fight this fight without his powers. Voke slowly edged away from the lord.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Stryde Replied on: 18/07/2004 15:08:27 Message:
A great angry rift crackled and roared as the star-speckled sky broke open. The Peragro was dwarfed by offensive colors around it as the trader ship drifted into realspace. Pulling away from the break in the imatterium, a great thundercrack issued as the rift instantly collapsed. Malleus had arrived.
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+++Outgoing Transmission+++ +++Classification: Magenta+++ +++Author: Interrogator Carve, Ordo Malleus+++ +++Recipient: Inquisitor Voke, Ordo Xenos+++ +++Astropathic Node 627.A, Peragro+++ +++Subject: Arrival Inquiries+++ +++Thought for the day: Walk in the Light, No Darkness Dare Enter+++
Salutations,
Be informed, sir, I, Interrogator Carve, have indeed arrived to your specified coordinates. I shall await a proper rondesvous interception with your vessel. There are things we must...discuss.
May the Emperor guide your hand,
Interrogator Shainathan Carve, Ordo Malleus
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 18/07/2004 21:43:20 Message:
Navalis read the message again. He had forwarded it to The Rogue Star instantly. But Voke had said he was unlikely to read any messages soon. On his own initative Navalis had read the message body; and also on his own initative he also decided to communicate with this Inquisitor himself; atleast let him know the current situation. Navalis had his message sent within 20mins of them recieving the first message. Navalis scanned the message body one last time to make sure it was suitable.
Greetings member of the holy inquisition. I must inform you that my lord, Inquisitor Voke, is currently planet side, on a mission of large importance; and is therefore unlikely to recieve your message for some time. If you wish we can discuse the current situation. You must also understand that if you wish to know more than it will have to be through a face to face meeting, as it is too risky to transmit some of the things you doubtlessly wish to know. I will assist you in any way I can, and will serve you as I would serve Inquisitor Voke.
Your humble servant, Brevet Captain Navalis.
May the Emperor protect us in these grave times.
Navalis believed this to be formal enough, considering the haste at which this was all being done. Navalis hit the 'trasmit' button. Hopefully this new Inquisitor would reply promptly.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:14:14 GMT -5
Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 23/07/2004 22:57:10 Message:
A hellishly bright light was wheeled into place above Quirrick's bed, and he reeled from the illumination. Not five minutes earlier one of the torture-chirurgeon's had sewn his eyelids open, much to the interrogator's enjoyment. His veins had been pumped full of Emperor-knows what kind of gunk, and the restraints around his wrists, ankles and across his forehead were excrutiatingly tight. He still hadn't given anything away yet though.
'Who do you work for?'
'Myself,' Quirrick answered. It wasn't even a lie either.
'And your name?'
'I forget.' Lie. The pain wasn't that bad yet.
'What are you doing here?'
'Causing trouble. I thought you knew that already?'
'Your name?'
'Something. I must have one, shouldn't I?'
'What do you know about the killings in the slums?'
'Nasty, from what I can tell.'
'How did you escape the Starfort?'
'I jumped.'
'What is your name?'
'Still don't know.'
'And who do you work for...?'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 30/07/2004 23:25:29 Message:
The sound of heavy gunfire was filling the carriage. The mutants had boarded through some of the breaches their bombardment of earthshaker shells had opened in along the side of the train from buggies that raced alongside the tracks. Harthingys attached wires and rope to the train, allowing the mutants to climb aboard. Precariously balanced ladders extended from some of the larger vehicles against the side of the train, giving another route for the invaders. The lightly armed security forces on the train were responding as best they could to defend the passengers as was their vocation, but the mutants were attacking many levels simultaneously, and they couldn’t defend everywhere at once.
Van Helser had still not found Luthwye, or more importantly the Ranchak-woman. Many screaming passengers had run past him in the opposite direction, so he guessed that something amiss was occuring further down the corridor. Hopefully involving the daemonvessel.
‘Return to you’re cabin!’ a guard shouted as he ran towards Van Helser out of a cloud of smoke.
‘Retired Arbite,’ Van Helser said back to him, showing the identification disc Luthwye had provided, ‘what’s the problem?’
‘The train is under attack, we’ve been boarded,’ the guard replied gasping for breath.
‘What did you see?’
‘It’s mutants, scum suckin’ mutants sir, they’re all over the place!’
‘Have you seen a small man with a third bionic arm? Or a woman with damaged eyes?’
‘No.’
Van Helser started off down the corridor. He’d have to find them himself.
‘Hey, where are you going? It’s a bloody war zone down there!’ the guard shouted after him. Van Helser disappeared into the haze of smoke. ‘Well screw you then!’ The guard scampered away.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Stryde Replied on: 14/08/2004 17:56:18 Message:
Aboard the Stellar Web, Navalis and a small entourage of servitors and servants clanked down the main passageway. Nearing one of the cruiser's few docking bays, the seasoned trooper held a hand up and approached the newly landed shuttle craft.
Powerful arms folded behind his red suited back, Interrogator Carve's cylindrical eyes took in his surroundings. A hunched man to the side of him awaited orders as he hauled the hard man's gear around. Carve turned to take notice of Navalis' approach as the other neared.
"Interrogator, welcome to the Stellar Web." Holding an arm out, Carve scrutinized the soldier before gripping the offered limb briefly. "My commander, Inquisitor Voke, offers his thanks at your timely intervention."
"Where is your commander now...trooper?"
"Navalis, sir. Captain Navalis."
"Captain then. There is much information and coordination that needs take place. Inquisitor Gate will need to know all the specifics upon her arrival."
"Another agent is on the way then? Malleus doesn't do anything by the half, do they?"
"No, captain. Malleus does not."
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 15/08/2004 13:17:59 Message:
"Interrogater I asume that you wish to get straight to buisness rarther than resting?"
"That would be a correct assumption"
"In that case I suggest we go to Voke's large study, we will have privacy there and access to all the data we will need. This way please"
Navalis stepted to one side and held out one arm, a gesture for the Interrogater to take the lead even though the lacked the knowlage of where to go. Voke had said a couple of times that being overly courtues to members of Malleus was alot better than being rude to them. As Carve started to walk out of the hanger Navalis fel instep next to him and slightly behind.
After several minutes of walking they reached Voke's large study. Voke would use this for mission planning and information exchange with guests as Navalis used it now. The room was large enough to fit a entire squad of guardsmen in there. There was one large round table in the middle of the room which was also a collection of computer consoles. The desk also had a hologram projection unit in the middle which could also be linked to the much large one at the end of the room. The walls we lined with computer consoles; all off for the time being.
Navalis geustured for Carve to sit at the main table. They would be able to use this for their purposes. The computer consoles on the table had access to all but the highest level of security. The two of them were alone in the large room but Navalis knew that there were a group of servitors outside ready if needed. Navalis suspected that bringing Carve up-to-date and working out a course of action, first with him and then with Inquisitor Gate would take some time. Navalis went over to the nearby drinks dispenser and got, what was likely to be the first of many, stim drinks.
Navalis sat down and started to punch up data on Van Helser and what they had learned about him. Navalis suspected that Carve would in the end want to be informed about everything they knew about Van Helser, about everything since Voke first met him and started working with him, and through to Van Helser's beliefs and what him and Voke were doing on the planet and what was likely to be happening at the moment. Navalis made a mental note to do his upmost best to avoid mentioning Voke's incident will onroute to this planet; if Malleus got a whiff of that they would likely acuse Voke of daemonic possession.
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VanHelser
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Busy little bee.
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:14:34 GMT -5
Reply author: Stryde Replied on: 17/08/2004 04:28:41 Message:
Several data slates lay fanned out infront of the hard Interrogator. Navalis continued his brief description of the man in question as Carve's helper hobbled over to his master's side. "Captain, could you see to some refreshement? I will require some time to peruse this data you have compiled."
Snapping a finger without looking away from the pictviewing dataterminal, a servant bowed into the study as he stood patiently at the door. "Thermal Siidon Tea please, and whatever else we have available." The servant nodded and briskly walked from the room. "Very well, just get the attention of one of the servers if you need me."
"Thank you for you accessability, Captain. An old saying of my mentor's should mark this occassion. 'Malleus Remembers'." Without the title of Inquisitor, he was forced to walk a thin line between diplomacy and brutal insistance.
His dull bionic eyes corkscrewed slightly as his eyebrows narrowed on the data he read. Surprisingly, there was some pertinant information in these presented slates and not just some petty words from an Inquisitor scorned. He would have to be completely objective in this case as it was one Inquisitor's word over another's, until sufficiant proof could be obtained.
Carve wished Inquisitor Gate would have let him do this alone though, if proof was to be found and a purging took place, his name might be overlooked upon her arrival. He hated stressing his importance to the Daemon Huntress, she always laughed in his face and called him a child. He dared not attempt a transfer, though. It was an honor in itself to work under such a powerful instructor. There were times he wanted to smack her around though, no lie there.
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 03/09/2004 13:26:45 Message:
Van Helser spied a mutant in the half-gloom of the smoky carriage. It was a haggard beast, hunched over, with powerful shoulders. He could see the blood dripping from the axe it carried loosely in its left hand. It glanced his way, revealing an oversized jaw, jutting with fangs.
‘Security!’ it yelled harshly.
Van Helser looked down at his clothes. He was wearing the Arbitor’s uniform. To the mutant’s eyes he was part of the train’s security staff. He looked back up at the mutant. It broke into a run towards him, bringing its axe up in both hands.
Van Helser smiled.
He pirouetted neatly as the mutant barrelled down on him, side-stepping the lumbering freak. He slammed his hammer into the back of its head, knocking it sprawling onto the deck. Van Helser brought the hammer down again, and again, despite the mutant’s squeals of pain and fear, crushing its spine and ribs, before finally silencing it with another blow to the back of its head. Van Helser felt hot blood rolling down his face from the spatter his hammer had kicked up. He lapped at it as it reached his lips, before letting out a bestial roar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 23/10/2004 15:34:30 Message:
In his current state, Voke couldn’t be sure that his pure physical abilities would be enough to win this fight. His head pounded after the psychic backlash, and blood ran freely from his nose. The mammoth raised his powerfist to strike, and Voke did the only sensible thing. He ran.
Foremost on his mind were Ela and Quirrick. An unfortunate guard felt the point of Nulra in his back, and lead Voke to them. The three fled the building back to the safety of the Rogue Star.
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A grav-lifter rose from the shanty town alongside the track as the megatrain thundered past. Its mutant pilot pushed the civilian vehicle’s engines for everything they had, and pulled into position above the speeding carriages. The Chimera-sized bomb slung underneath the grav-lifter’s fuselage dropped, smashing into the roof of the train. It jumped upwards and cartwheeled down the length of the train before detonating catastrophically above the final carriage, near blowing it clean in half. The superstructure of the carriage failed, and the car tore itself in two under the immense train. The front part of the final car got dragged along for another 100 metres by the rest of the train before the coupling broke.
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Voke had found an abandoned building for himself, Ela, Eswt and Quirrick to hide in, and had taken time to focus on his powers. Fortunately for all, his ability to regenerate had not failed, and Voke tended to their injuries. Though Voke’s thoughts rested elsewhere.
He had felt the presence of Khorne around Van Helser, and it scared him. He had lost Van Helser, of that he had no doubt. He needed to locate him, and soon, before something terrible happened. He had faced daemons before and lived to tell the tale, but others had not been so fortunate. He could not allow Van Helser to become possessed. He needed to perform a séance, and asked Alexei to join him.
Quirrick had watched a number of astropaths perform séances before, mainly so that Mikael could locate his enemies, or to find out what had happened at numerous sites of devastation. Quirrick realised that Voke would have to be an extremely powerful psyker in order to pull something like this off. He wouldn’t ever admit it, but he was growing to be quite apprehensive of Voke.
The Inquisitor closed his eyes and began scrying warp space for Van Helser’s signature. It was advantageous for Voke that he was looking for a psyker; their souls shone so much brighter in the ether than common men, and it didn’t take long for him to zero in on Van Helser.
A ghostly image began filling the space between the two men. At first there was nothing but a blur of colours, but soon shapes began solidifying, and Quirrick began to make out a corridor filled with movement. Figures appeared out of the swirling energies and he found himself watching a scene of carnage. Centred around Van Helser.
The hammer in Van Helser’s hand was slick with blood. It crushed the face of a mutant under its murderous weight, and Van Helser spun with the momentum, revealing the entirety of the corridor behind him. Quirrick saw bodies littering the floor. At least a dozen, men and mutants. His friend was exterminating everything on the train.
The image began to fade away, and Voke opened his eyes.
‘He’s still on the train,’ Quirrick said, his eyes filled with hope, ‘we can get to him.’
‘We can, but there isn’t much time. I can feel twice the fury of Khorne in him now.’
Eswt entered the room.
‘Malleus has arrived.’
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Navalis led the Vanquishers and Interrogator Carve from the shuttle and into the building. He saluted Voke smartly.
‘Inquisitor Voke, sir, this is Interrogator Carve,’ Navalis introduced the two men.
‘Interrogator?’ asked Voke, shaking the man’s hand.
‘Yes, Inquisitor Gate sends her apologies but she is involved with the trial of a heretic and has sent me in her stead,’ responded Carve, ‘she trusts me to hunt down and find this “Van Helser,” and I am quite up to the task of locating and killing this heretic. Where will I find him?’
‘He’s still on the mega train heading away from the city,’ Voke replied.
‘Very well. Then it shouldn’t be too hard to catch up with the traitor.’
‘No.’ Voke noted the look of disdain that was written all over Quirrick’s face. Malleus was here to kill Mikael, they didn’t bargain with heretics. Voke wasn’t holding out for Van Helser’s salvation, but Quirrick clearly was. The Inquisitor was smart enough now to realise that there was absolutely no chance for Mikael. He was a dead man walking.
The Vanquisher’s filed back on board the Rogue Star, followed by Ela and Eswt. The Interrogator paced up the ramp smartly, Navalis behind him. Voke turned to look at Quirrick. He received nothing but a hateful stare from the ex-bounty hunter, who sidled past him and got on to the Rogue Star. With a sigh Voke got on board.
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VanHelser
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:14:51 GMT -5
The Rogue Star sped along above the track. Voke had locked on to Van Helser’s psychic signal and guided them in. The wrecked remains of the final carriage came into view.
‘That’s where Van Helser is.’
Carve nodded appreciatively. Voke brought the Rogue Star in to land.
The Vanquishers piled out of the craft, bringing their weapons to bare as a horde of mutants approached. Voke leapt in front of his men before they could open fire.
‘We are men of the Emperor! The Inquisition!’ he shouted, adding his psychic might to his words. ‘We are not here to fight you!’ The mutants hesitated, clearly uneasy.
‘Do you hear me?’ ‘We are friends of the Reclaimant, we are your allies against your oppressive rulers!’
The mutants whispered among themselves. The mention of the Reclaimant had sent them into deep discussion. He knew their leader. The Inquisition had come to save them, at long last.
Voke smiled inwardly; there would be no more unnecessary bloodshed. There was only necessary bloodshed left. A necessary war against the corrupting power of Chaos.
The Vanquishers advanced at Voke’s command, their weapons still raised threateningly, but the mutants let them past.
‘There is a man aboard the train. Armed with a hammer. Have you seen him?’
The mutants shied away as Voke spoke to them, fearful of him. Only one had the nerve to speak.
‘Aye, he’s near the top,’ the mutant said through drooling lips. ‘He’s mad.’
Voke nodded his thanks before proceeding into the wreck of the broken carriage, his heart heavy with a horrible expectancy of how far lost Mikael was.
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Quirrick had slipped away from the group. That Malleus bastard was here to kill Van Helser, but he would not allow that to happen. Whatever madness the daemons had infected him with Alexei would cure. His friend was not beyond help. Not beyond redemption. He would save him.
The corridors of the train were quiet. Smoke lingered here and there, electrical wires occasionally sparked, and badly beaten bodies sometimes groaned as Alexei stepped over them. He’d found Van Helser’s bloody trail, just like he’d found the trail of hundreds of wanted men before. Bounty hunting had been a good profession for Quirrick before he’d met Mikael, but it did leave him with ultimately unsatisfied with life. His time with Van Helser had been enlightening and for the first time in his life, Alexei had felt that he was doing some real good. Stopping plots of world domination, routing the followers of Chaos, all experiences he now could tell tales about. Van Helser had led him on these missions, without him Quirrick would be nothing, quite probably dead. Alexei owed it to Mikael to save his life.
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Alexei stepped into a corridor of carnage. He’d found Mikael.
Van Helser looked up at the man who approached. He readied his hammer in his hand, but he stopped. He recognised this one.
‘Alexei?’ he cautiously asked.
Quirrick tried to force down the ball in his throat as he fought back tears. He’d found him. He’d saved him.
Van Helser looked around, in full control of himself for the first time in hours, his thirst for blood entirely spent. The sight shocked him. Everywhere he looked he saw the horrifically beaten bodies of men and mutants. With horror he realised that a blood slicked hammer was in his hand, and that blood was dripping from his clothes like a hellish waterfall. The hammer dropped from his hands and he dropped slowly to his knees.
‘What have I done, Alexei, what have I done?’
Van Helser looked up into Quirrick’s eyes, hoping that his friend could give an explanation that would justify the atrocity that had occured here.
And Quirrick would have given one, had not the butt of Interrogator Carve’s gun cracked into the back of his skull, knocking him unceremoniously to the floor.
‘Good work,’ Carve said mockingly to Quirrick’s crumpled form, before raising his gun at Van Helser. ‘In the name of the Emperor I declare thee, Mikael Van Helser, Diabolus in the Extremis and sentence you to death, the only punishment suitable for a heretic of your kind.’
Van Helser closed his eyes and prepared himself for the end.
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Voke could no longer see the influence of Khorne around Van Helser’s spirit. Perhaps Quirrick’s optimism had been well placed. Perhaps Mikael could indeed be saved. He heard Carve’s bombastic voice ring out, and knew he needed to act quickly.
Ewst was one step ahead of him. She bounded into the corridor, a needle thin stilletto flying from her hand and catching Carve in the neck. The toxin she had coated the blade with was fast acting, and the Interrogator hit the floor like a sack of grain.
Voke stepped in to the corridor, and was shocked by the state of Van Helser. He was literally drenched with blood, and his awful handiwork was plain to see.
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He recognised this one as well. But only in bad memories.
‘You betrayed me,’ Van Helser looked up at Voke, with fire in his eyes, ‘you brought that bastard to me, and now you think that you can redeem our friendship and yourself by saving me from him? Oh no, Dauphan, I’d much rather die and leave you in the knowledge that you were responsible than forgive you. You’ve got no integrity Voke, you know that? I foolishly trusted you, despite all my doubts about whether you really had the mettle to stand alongside someone like me, and it seems that you’ve done to this Interrogator exactly what you did to me; you have betrayed the both of us.’
Voke made to protest, but Van Helser cut him off.
‘You want to know whether or not I’ve fought off the influence of daemons? Well Dauphan look into these eyes and make up your own mind. Quite frankly I have more faith in the entities of the enemy than the Emperor, at least I can see daemon-spawn. Where is our great leader now? Why has he never revealed himself to us? Why does his essence not join us on the field of battle like the four bless their followers with their incarnations? Do you have any answers? Do you? No, there are none.
‘Get out of here Voke, and leave me with my executioner. I’ve got nothing to live for now, no faith left in the Emperor. I’m not fit to serve as one of the Holy Inquisition anymore.’
Voke stood completely stunned by Van Helser’s admission.
‘Leave me!’ Van Helser screamed. Quirrick stepped towards him, pleading.
‘You too Alexei, leave before he wakes up and looks for revenge for that injury you inflicted.’ Van Helser’s voice had dropped considerably.
‘Leave me to die.’
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:15:08 GMT -5
Xanter stumbled into the corridor behind them. His master lay unconscious, quite clearly the victim of an unprovoked attack by the heretics. They would burn!
‘Buuuurrrrrnnnnn!’ he roared at the top of his lungs as he raised his flamer.
Quirrick lashed out with an elbow, catching the flamer-wielding maniac cleanly on the jaw. The man’s own momentum sent his legs up in the air before he crashed down onto the floor, dazed.
Quirrick turned his gaze back to Van Helser.
‘Shut up Mikael! You know that’s not true, you still have faith. All through the crap we’ve seen you always kept faith in the Emperor, no matter how crazy things got. You don’t just give up on it all like that. So stop your crazy talk and we’ll get out of here.’ There was some anger in Quirrick’s words; he was beginning to blame himself for all of it.
Van Helser just sat. ’Get out of here.’ He raised his head and locked eyes with Quirrick. ‘For your own sake, get the hell out of here! Now! Damnit Quirrick, stop being so caring! When did you ever care before? Never! Leave me!’ No one could doubt the seriousness, nor the barely controlled fury that laced Van Helser’s words.
He was ordering them to let him die.
Voke sighed. The stubborn old mule had quite clearly made up his mind now, and nothing would change this course of action. The Imperium was losing a great man, and he a friend. Not a close friend by any means, but a man he had come to respect. He had always feared that Van Helser would meet an unfortunate end such as this, but it was a risk all radicals took when they stepped on to the path. He waved Ela and Eswt out of the carriage, and laid a hand on Quirrick’s shoulder.
‘It’s time to leave Aexei, are you coming?’
Quirrick barely heard Voke; such was the state of grief he was in. How could it have come to this? Van Helser ready to throw down his life as if it meant nothing. Mikael would rather die than let himself be saved. He felt a ball rise in his throat, and tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn’t lose his friend.
‘Quirrick, are you coming?’ Voke asked a second, time, louder.
All they’d been through together; watching each other’s backs, sharing jokes, saving worlds for the Emperor’s sake, had come to nothing. Van Helser was giving up because of a crisis of faith. Over nothing.
‘You coward,’ Quirrick half-snarled, ‘you just want to throw it all away because you’re having a little internal argument? The Van Helser I know would just say “to hell with it,” pick up his sword and go and kill some heretics.’
‘I’m the heretic Alexei!’ Van Helser sat bolt upright. ’Can’t you see? I crossed to the side of the enemy long ago – I’m a pawn, a tool of Chaos!’ Tears were rolling down his cheeks. ‘I have to die, I can’t come back from this, the damage is already done. There is no hope for me.’
‘There is always hope. Do you remember the upside down Tzeentchian temple? The one we fought through when Dufaux was with us? There was no hope for us in there, but we got out, we survived!’ Quirrick was smiling through the tears.
‘We were all tools of Chaos you fool! Helena was an entity controlled by Khorne. We didn’t die because of her link to the warp. It’s all been a lie Alexei; we’ve done nothing to aid the Imperium, all our works have been the machinations of Chaos, random as they are. And it’s all my fault. You are a part of it no longer.’
‘That’s not you talking! Shut up and let me get you out of here. I can save you, redeem you even. You’ve just got to believe!’ Quirrick extended his arms towards Van Helser, offering salvation in his grasp.
‘Dauphan,’ Van Helser looked past Quirrick at Voke, ‘get this fool out of here while he still has time.’
‘No, dammit!’ Quirrick shouted, ‘you’re not getting rid of me that easily. You coward, you’re a bloody coward!’ He marched towards Van Helser, but suddenly stopped.
‘Take him Voke, I’ve stunned him for now, but he should come back soon.’
Voke detected the psychic distraction Van Helser had placed on Quirrick, and nodded.
‘Goodbye Dauphan, explain to Quirrick why I have to do this; he can be boneheaded from time to time, but he’ll understand eventually.’
Voke put an arm under Quirrick’s shoulder and walked him away from Van Helser.
‘Goodbye, friend.’
Van Helser shed a final tear, before resolving himself. He was ready for the end now.
A great power washed over all those in the carriage, momentarily disorientating all. Mutants poured into the corridor, swamping Voke, Ela and Eswt. A giant lumbered up behind Van Helser. Ashwyn. The Reclaimant had come. He hefted Van Helser up underneath one arm, and marched out of the carriage.
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Ranchak was disappointed. His plaything had expired on him.
Luthwye’s body still hung from the wall like a grisly piece of art, blood still dripping from deep and vicious wounds that perforated the unfortunate savant’s frail body like it was a sieve. The trauma of the Ranchak-woman’s deprived torture had been more than any man could have been expected to suffer, and the savant had thankfully died before the daemonvessel could visit even more terrible mutilations upon his flesh. Luthwye’s skull belonged to him, not to Khorne.
Luthwye had been a pleasant distraction for the Ranchak-woman; the little man was weak and annoyed him, even though he had Luthwye to thank for possessing this body that he was currently using to great effect. He realised that he had been so engrossed in his work that he had been ignoring Van Helser, his other great experiment. Grudgingly, he came to realise that Mikael had been quite the butcher in the previous hour. It was irritating that this worthless maggot had kept him so enthralled. He tore Luthwye from the wall and cast his broken body down on to the floor.
He could feel that Van Helser was moving. Not of his own accord, but the Inquisitor was leaving the train, with a great psychic shawl around him. He recognised the aura of someone he’d been in contact with before. The daemonvessel growled in appreciation. Things were going well.
The Ranchak-woman bounded out of the cabin and began following his “master.”
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Ashwyn sat Van Helser down in the rear of a truck that waited beside the remains of the carriage.
‘The prophet wishes to speak with you, man of the Emperor,’ the mutant’s voice boomed, ‘he has sent me to find you and take you to him. We are going now to a sacred and secret place. The prophet resides there.’
The truck hurtled away from the tracks and out into the wastes.
The thoughts inside Van Helser’s head were slow and sluggish, an effect of the Reclaimant’s almighty power no doubt, and he found he could not focus, nor understand what was happening. They were heading towards a mountain range as far as he could tell, but he could see shapes standing infront of the rocks. As they neared he began to make out what they were. Titans. A whole damned legio of titans.
Where once proud Imperial insignia had been displayed, the cursed sigils of Chaos stood. This was the graveyard of a traitor legio, from the Heresy. How it had lain undetected for so long he could not fathom. As the truck drove between the wrecks he remembered the words of the riddle Ranchak had said to him:
Where the defeated Gods of War stand ready, Waiting for the second coming of their final hour. Underneath ancient spirits of death and bloodshed What fought with iron strength to the end, And then died for their mighty sins.
It began to make sense.
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So good to catch up with you again Mikael. I was worried I’d miss all of this.
Van Helser’s head shot around as he heard Ranchak’s malicious tones inside his head again. The daemon was with him yet again.
Can’t you see me? I’m sitting opposite you.
Van Helser looked at the grey-skinned mutant across the gangway from him. It winked.
You’re almost there you know; you’re just about to meet Jaekomus. This little mission is almost over. Soon you’ll have the knowledge you’ve always dreamed of. The warp will be yours to command.
Van Helser turned away from the mutant. He wanted nothing more to do with daemons. The bastards had cost him everything. They’d ruined him. He had become everything he had once despised, and it had been the daemons that had blinded him to the fact for years.
Had a little breakdown, have we? Stop the soul searching, Mikael, you have a quest to complete. You gave up on the false-Emperor the moment you stepped on to the path to find a replacement for him. I’ve known it since you first bound me. Voor’acht, even longer. You may have just realised the truth yourself Mikael, and you may not like it, but the fact is you haven’t been doing the false-Emperor’s work for well over a century by your reckoning.
Van Helser looked again at the daemon-vessel. He had trusted the things for so long, they had never lied to him. Was what Ranchak now told him the truth he’d been so un-eager to come to terms with himself?
He tried to comprehend fully the monumental realisation as the truck passed under the legs of a once mighty titan.
The prophet awaited them.
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:15:38 GMT -5
Ashwyn lead Van Helser up a flight of stairs carved into the rock itself. He glanced back to see the grey-skinned mutant in the party behind him, a line of blood running from the corner of its mouth. In the warp he could see a great vortex of energy ahead. His level of expectation rose.
The group entered an almighty room, and a heavily scarred man behind an altar looked up. He extinguished the candles in front of him, hiding his features in shadow.
‘Ah, Mikael Van Helser. We have much to discuss.’
Van Helser was awestruck.
He was here at last. Before him sat the keeper of the precious knowledge that he had searched for nearly his entire calling as an Inquisitor. Ranchak had promised him this, though he had begun to have serious doubts about the bindings he had placed on the daemon, and therefore its integrity. But here was Jaekomus, one of the last few missing pieces in the puzzle.
‘We do indeed have much to discuss,’ Van Helser replied calmly. ‘I was shown the path to you by a mutual acquaintance, and though I had started losing faith in his words, I am enthralled to be here in your presence. There is so much that you can surely show me.’
It was a colossal understatement. Van Helser knew that Jaekomus could show him how to control the universe’s most vibrant and difficult resource. With the warp at his beck and call, Van Helser would bring order back to humanity and save it from Chaos. He would turn the tables against the forces of darkness forever with their prize asset as his weapon of choice. There would be no stopping him.
‘I need to talk with you about the study of daemonology; knowledge, incantations, the psychic discipline, every nuance of the subject. I was told you were a master of such things, that you knew how to exert your will on the warp, and how to make the most of its limitless power.’
If the tornado of power he was witnessing with his mind’s eye was anything to go by, then Jaekomus’s abilities were monumental. Van Helser awaited the venerable man’s response with an incredible sense of expectation. This could be the moment where everything, after one hundred and fifty years of dreaming, came together.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 27/10/2004 17:57:39 Message:
Voke's head hung low; they'd gotten away, and it now seemed there was no way to track them; it was if they had all disapeared. When Voke tried to search for Mikael through the warp again he couldn't find him. As he got closer to Mikael's presence it was like being blinded by a bright light, but it wasn't a bright light; it was a swirling mass of energies. Mikael was in the presence of a very powerful psycher, someone Voke would struggle to deal with even now; before this thing would have been able to break his mind and cast him away, Voke was in some way's glad he couldn't follow. But that ment Mikael was trapped there, facing something along way out of his league. Voke just hoped Mikael got what he wanted.
But now what? Voke opened his eyes from his attempt to find Mikael. The first thing he saw was Ela's concerned face. In her hand was a blood stained cloth.
"You find him?" Eswt asked from Ela's shoulder.
"No, he's concealed to me; by the presence of a very powerful psycher. It is likely Jaekomus."
"I'm just glad we're not going any closer to him, we thought you might bleed out or something."
Voke raised his hands to his face. There was the slick of blood comming from his nose and eyes. With a quick thought he closed off the wounds and caused the creation of more blood in his system, he'd lost a surprisingly large amount. How long had he been there, just bleeding? It didn't matter.
"Now what sir?" Navalis' practical mind asking the vital question before Eswt could. What indeed. There was most likely to be something from Carve and Malleus, but that would wait. Then a thought struck Voke; a way he might be able to help Mikael.
"There's nothing more we can do down here; not for the moment. We will return to The Stellar Web, the guard and navy should have arrived by now. Navalis, Ela, Eswt; you three will be in command of the ground attack and the reclaiming of this world. You will work with the highest ranking members of the guard and navy renforments; and rember to be nice."
Voke smiled slightly and Ela let out a short laugh. The Vanquishers were totally silent, any other in Voke's personal army would have laughed as well.
"I will join you and take command when I've finished my task. I will help Mikael in the only way I can at the moment. I will banish those....things which nearly damned him forever! And I will take great pleasure in doing so."
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Just 30 mins later The Rogue Star landed in the main hold of The Stellar Web. The Guard and Navy renforcements had arrived and were preparring for the ground assault that would soon be comming.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: roBurky Replied on: 30/10/2004 19:23:41 Message:
The figure of Jaekomus leant back, and the leather of the chair squeaked slightly.
"An acquaintance? You found me by a mutual acquiantance?" He sighed heavily. "Not good enough, Mikael. I have no acquaintances. Everyone I have ever known or worked with is dead. My projects, my staff, my agents, my network, the wrath of Blackbane is swift and total. He employs the best. There is no person beyond the atmosphere of this planet that could have led you here."
He placed a hang around the twisted neck of a cloudy wine bottle sitting on the desk. His knuckles tightened in anger, causing the ornate and alien rings on his fingers to catch the light from the corridor.
"You're holding something back, Mikael. I'm no telepath, and I can see that. Who else knows I am alive? Who else knew you were looking for me? Who else knew you were looking here?"
His gaze flicked to the mutant with the grey skin, and his eyes narrowed. "What counsel have you kept?"
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VanHelser
Junior Member
Second Archivist
Busy little bee.
Posts: 199
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Post by VanHelser on Jun 10, 2005 9:16:17 GMT -5
Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 31/10/2004 18:34:48 Message:
Voke strode down the corridoor towards the room where the daemonhosts were being kept. He could feel the ground assault ships taking off. The navy had started it's bombardment of the planet's defensive locations as soon as Voke had landed back on The Stellar Web. Voke trusted Navalis,Ela and Eswt; and knew they were carry out the planet assault perfectly. Ela and Eswt had been with him for centuries and had learned many things, Navalis showed a large ammount of potential as a leader of troops; Voke was considering using his influence to send through part of training a Commissar goes through, for additional knowledge. They would complete their task, and he would complete his.
He had spent three hours in meditation, preparing himself and opening himself fully to the warp. With this much time to prepare and the centres of warmth now seemingly fully open to him he had access to power he never thought he would have. And with this much time to allow himself to enter the warp as carefully as possible he would be able to continue to use it's power for alot longer then he had while on the planet facing the planet Lord. The servitors and astro-paths would be joining him slightly later with all the requirments to properly carry out the banishments. First Voke would some fun of his own.
Voke would face off against the daemonhosts. He had to wear them down as much as he could before allowing the servitors and astro-paths to enter and help him complete the banishment; otherwise the daemonhosts, especially Voor'acht, would be able to a great deal of damage to them and use them against Voke. Although at the very height of his power and armed with every rune and piece or warding he had aquired over the centuries of being an Inquisitor Voke knew he would not be able to easily weaken the daemonhosts; although there was a small, almost alien, arrogance within him which would lead him to believe that he would easily be able to over power the daemonhosts. Voke had learned a long time ago that arrogance was one of the worst enemies of an Inquisitor, and was surprised by this arrogance within him. It would not be an easy task but he would be able to complete; and he would not be fighting for his life.
Having finished all the final preperations, fully preparing his psychic defences and preparing his mind for the struggle ahead Voke quickly slided through the outer door to the chamber containing the daemonhosts. This layer of containment was a fully warded as the inner layer even though hopefully those wards would never been needed; just a precaution, allowing safe entry and exit for Voke to the daemonhosts. Closing this first door behind him Voke took a few deep breaths in this small inbetween chamber. Taking one final deep breath Voke opened the inner door and stepped through.
Voke quickly sealed the inner door behind him. He turned round and saw Voor'acht starting to stir. With a tint of eagerness in his eyes Voke spoke, using his powers very simply to make his voice sound exactly like Voor'acht's.
"Hello Voor'acht. Nice to sssssseee you again. And thissss time will not be like the lasssst time I wasss here."
The tint in Voke's eye's and the stance that spoke of joy at this chance to mentally assault the daemons caused more worry in Voor'acht then the feeling of Voke's well prepared psychic defences. As he had no idea that Voke had prepared for so long, or that the centers of warmth had fully opened themselves to Voke Voor'acht could see no reason for Voke's ,almost, pleasure at being here, or any avidence to back up his last statement.
No one is truley sane; we are all just different levels of insanity
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Reply author: Van Helser Replied on: 01/11/2004 14:35:15 Message:
‘Developed a ssensse of humour have we Voke?’ Voor’acht drifted upwards from the floor to gaze down on the Inquisitor. ‘Why iss thisss? Know sssomething I don’t? Had sssome good newsss perhapsss? Hmmm?’
‘Enough tauntss for now, Voor’acht,’ Voke answered, stepping purposefully into the chamber, ‘your petty threatss won’t ssave you.’
‘And your petty mockery won’t sssave you.’ Malice filled Voor’acht’s words. ‘I know what happened down there. All of it. I know your part in Mikael’ss downfall. You betrayed him, coward.’
Voke didn’t even waste his breath responding.
‘Lisssten well, little man, whatever you try will not work. You sshould know better than to crosss a daemon, I’ve warned you before Dauphan. I never forget an insssult.’
‘That is true; Voor’acht holds a grudge like no other.’ Voke turned to stare at Ranchak as the daemonhost rose from the floor onto its haunches. ‘Neither does Mikael.’
‘I’ve known him longer than you, daemon scum,’ Voke altered his voice to sound like Ranchak’s, ‘I think you’ll find I know more about Mikael than you.’
‘I like your new trick Dauphan,’ Ranchak smiled, ‘Mikael would like it too. Pity he’s not here to see it. Your fault though.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You pushed him over the edge Dauphan. He didn’t take your betrayal too well.’
‘Yesss; you cursssed him.’
‘Traitor.’
‘Traitor!’
Ranchak and Voor’acht began an unholy chorus, the word reverberating around the room, and inside Voke’s head.
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‘There are some who cannot die.’ The grey-skinned mutant stepped forward from the throng, and a hubbub of dissent rose from amidst the mutants. ‘I met you a long time ago Jaekomus, and you impressed me. Such thirst flowed within you. I feel it still.’ The mutant placed its hands on the altar and leered into Jaekomus’s face. ‘Do you recognise me?’
‘This is the counsel I have kept, Jaekomus,’ Van Helser said as he slowly strolled to the mutant’s side. ‘He is Ranchak, daemon prince of Khorne. And my slave.’
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Rid yourself of the aquila too Mikael; we both know you don't believe in what it represents anymore.' - Ranchak to Van Helser on Messalon IV
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Reply author: Inquistitor Voke Replied on: 01/11/2004 19:40:25 Message:
Voke pushed the thoughts out of his head. Enough of this! He had a task to complete! With a wave of his hand the word left his mind, and the unatural chorus diseapeared from the air.
"Odd then, a sssuposssed traitor sssaved Mikael'ssss life. Odd. I jusst brought in protection when you were influencing him too much. But thankfully Mikael'sssss over you two!"
A smile played across Voke's lips. A short thin smile, revealing perfectly straight teeth. The smile and and the tint in his eyes turned Voke's face from one that demanded respect and command in trade for fairness, to one that would make skin crawl-his face resembled a snake for the first time of his life.
"But enough of these petty wordssss. Ssssurely you mussst know why I'm here?"
Voke paused. There was no answer from the daemonhosts.
"No? Oh come now Voor'acht, I thought you were resssonably wisssse with wordssss. I have come to banish you."
Voke turned to Ranchak. The smile came back, slightly fuller then before. All part of Voke's part act to worry the daemonhosts and to enjoy this as much as he could.
"And you, we all know that assss you are currently in two placessss that you will be the easssiessst to banish."
"You lie Dauphan. You have none of what you need. You will not banish ussss, not here, not now; you could not even if you had the power to do ssso. Remeber lassst time. You were fighting for your pathetic ultimatly meaniglesss life."
Voke shifted his gaze back to Voor'acht.
"Your right Voor'acht. Not right now. I don't have all I need. My servantssss and assstro-pathsss will be comming later. After I've had sssome time with you, to sssoften you up as much assss I can. Sssshould be a new experience for the both of you."
The joyfull gleam of a child who has just found a new very expensive toy to experiment with filled Voke's eyes. For the first time he would be able to truly test his new powers, truly test the centers of warmth, truly test this gift that was given to him.
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