Dark Heresy: The Emperor's Own

[Boddan]

Prologue

Deep in the Hazeroth subsector of the Calixis sector, lays the planet Kommitzar. Smaller than ancient Terra, this largely useless ball of rock is lovingly dubbed the “Sauna.” Kommitzar’s average temperature is approximately 96 degrees and horribly humid. The entire world is covered in a thick fog that perpetually blankets the surface and reduces visibility to less than four meters on a good day. If one could see across the landscape, one would see a forest of fungus and mushroom like growths sprouting from the marsh terrain. They’d also see dozens of the local fauna any way they looked. The locals consisting of a variety of overgrown, insectile, non-sentient beings. Virtually all of which are completely hostile and see anything they can catch as a meal. An ideal choice for a penal colony…


Thail awoke in his cell. Without opening his eyes, the inmate rolled onto his other side. This is the third time this night. With the holding block kept at the same temperature as the rest of the world, everyone wakes up every hour or so in a puddle of their own sweat, changes positions, and tries to fall back asleep. The constant noises of cat-sized insects landing on the armo-glass ceased to be noticed in the first month or so. The loud thumps of the horse-sized predators picking them off never did.

Thail was nearly back asleep when a new smell assaulted his nostrils. The whole place smelled as bad as you’d think two hundred unwashed, sweating bodies would, but this was worse than the usual. Thail knew his cell mate’s smell by memory now. This wasn’t it.

Thail opened his eyes and was startled to see an inmate standing outside his cell. Free of bonds and no guards in sight. Thail recognized this man. He had seen him on occasion as they moved him from one solitary cell to another for their bi-annual cell cleaning. Cutter… Cleaver… something like that. He stood stone still outside the cell, with his shoulder length hair matted and oily. His right hand was completely cut off. No one knew the story but there were the assorted rumors. Throne, he smelled like old blood, Thail thought.

Thail was so focused on the man outside his cell that he just now registered that his cell door was wide open. Thail sat bolt upright and was an instant away from asking the number of questions running through his mind, when a needle hissed through the air and sunk into his neck. The inmate slumped back against the cell wall unable to move or speak.

A man in a full body, black synskin suit stepped into view from the other side of the cell. Thail hadn’t heard him, even when he opened the cell door. The intruder lowered his needle pistol, and returned to his task at hand.

Thail lay where he slumped against the wall as the man woke his cell mate, Kenyon, whispered to the prisoner in a growl, and stealthily lead his cell mate and the prisoner waiting outside the cell down the hall and out of view. By this time, Thail was already dead. His lungs dissolved by the toxin in the needle.

[Boddan]

Introduction

Riccan Fiphe had served his Inquisitor for nearly twelve years. A very long time in that line of work by any estimation. Riccan was better than most at a number of specialties, all of use to the Inquisition and their operations. Recon, surveillance, information analyst, sharpshooting, and path finding chief among them. Of course, ratlings were known for their skill in these areas. Standing at just over one meter, Riccan was average height for a ratling.

Riccan did the Emperor’s work alongside Inquisitor Braddigan and the rest of his entourage. Scouring heretics, mutants, xenos, and the occasional demon, from the Calixis sector year after year. It was on a derelict space station that his luck ran out. Inquisitor Braddigan had narrowed down the location of a band of warp worshipping cultists to this forgotten heap of metal. He and his entered the station to cleanse their filth and end their raids on nearby shipping lanes. Not that they took any of the merchandise, the cultists took only the crew for sacrifices to the infernal powers. Braddigan’s band succeeded in removing the cultists, but not before Riccan caught a chain blade to his shoulder and hip. The attack severed his arm entirely, took a portion of his neck, and reduced his gait to a hobble.

Fiphe didn’t end his service to the Emperor however. He was treated onboard the Inquisitor’s flagship and with some cybernetic changes, and was as good as new. Well, new if you shop at thrift stores. The ratling was left with a cybernetic arm that hisses as he moves when the hydraulics compensate, a slow, waddling stride from the replaced hip, and is unable to speak anymore from the damage to his throat.

Braddigan appointed Fiphe to head up a new operative cell in the Hazeroth subsector. The subsector has had an increasing amount of reports that merit the Inquisition’s attention as of late. Though happy to serve the Inquisition still, Riccan can’t help but feel saddened that it will now be in an administrative role.

Riccan arrived on Samson IV nearly a week ago to begin preliminary investigation into their current assignment. The ratling had made some progress as he waited for the rest of his cell to arrive on Samson IV and the more direct phase of the case could begin in earnest.

The assignment consisted of finding two escaped convicts from a nearby penal planet. One with known ties to cultist activities and the other a methodical mass murderer. More importantly, investigation into the party who freed these two and the reasons for their release being the primary objective.

Samson IV


Samson IV is a hive world that when located by the Empire several thousand years ago, appeared to have been struck by a very large asteroid. The crater covered nearly a third of the world and is now the planet’s only oceanic body. The asteroid delivered a vast amount of rare minerals into the crust of Samson IV and so the planet was rated high priority for colonization and mining by the Administratum.

The highly sought after minerals are common near the rim of the crater/ocean. Otherwise known as the edge of the Susser Sea.

And so, Hive Hyperion was born over five thousand years of mining cities growing into one huge mass that covers the entire edge of the crater and move inland for many hundreds of kilometers. This several thousand square kilometer hive houses approximately two billion souls that churn out millions of tons of mined minerals yearly that are moved to refineries and factories throughout the hive for production and packaging to be sent off planet.

In the center of the Susser Sea, lies Hive Kronus. Kronus is the true power of the planet being the home of the planetary governor and the base of several of the guilds. The reason for this is what lies over a kilometer below the surface of the ocean. The very heart of the asteroid that struck so long ago and therefore the richest concentration of mineral deposits. The Hive itself is only a mere ninety square kilometers, but stretches far into the sky for several thousand meters over the clouds and below the surface of the ocean into the planetary crust from a wide foundation.

While Hive Kronus doesn’t churn out the raw numbers of Hive Hyperion, it more than makes up for it with the quality of the minerals drilled and blasted from the mantle of Samson IV. The hive is too small to do its own refining however, and so the raw materials are exported via freight submersible to Hive Hyperion.

Once a temperate planet, thousands of years of industry has reduced the Susser Sea to an ocean devoid of life. Above the surface however, constant hurricane conditions rage at a near freezing temperature. The common folk live in the center of the hive, away from the cold conditions while the rich reside far above, higher than the clouds and the storms themselves. The privileged few who actually feel the sunlight and its warmth, while the lowest of the low are forced to survive closest to the hive walls. The rest of the planet is a rocky, windy wasteland where nomadic clans prospect for the small amount of asteroid that remain that far out.


Riccan moved across his rented room in the hab-blocks of central Hive Kronus and sat down to look over several data slates. The personnel files for the new members of his team.


This is where I ask each of you to put in a description of your character, what skills he possess, background, how/why he was chosen for the Inquisition, etc.

I won't be pouring this much information in at once again, we swears! It was just to get started. If you would like further info on any topic, just say so and I'll expand on it.

Once we get a reply from everyone, we'll move on to the briefing!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Inquisitorial Profile: Ashmore, Grigory

BASIC DESCRIPTION:

Name: Ashmore, Grigory
Date of Birth: 11/19/****
Age: 36 standard
Sex: Male
Height: 1.92 meters
Weight: 68kg
Appearance: Ashmore is of medium build and light complexion. Brown hair. Green-blue eyes. No scars, tattoos, or piercings.
Home Planet: Scarric XXII
Capacity: Coroner and field medic.
RESUME:

Education:
- Our Blessed Emperor's Planetary Academy of Scarric XXII, 4years, BS with honors
- Westmoreland University of Medicine, 4 years, M.D. with honors
- Psyniscience Protocol, 2 years

Relevant Work Experience:
- Planetary Guard, 2 years, 2nd Lieutenant, honourable discharge
- Hive Arrakis's Vice Squad, 2 years
- Professor of Biology at Westmoreland, 4 years

Recommendations:
- Applicant has extensive knowledge involving all things biological, including, but not limited to, toxicology, herbology, and medicine.
- Applicant shows possibility for advancement as an Imperial Psyker.
- Applicant has been an exemplary proponent of his Emperor's grace in all of his many pursuits, and comes highy recommened by his superiors (see attached documents).

Reservations:
- Applicant has never seen hand-to-hand combat, though he has participated in several sorties against minor planetary rebels.
- Applicant is an adamant proponent of xenomorphic studies.

Family History:
- Father: Thom Ashmore, Sergeant in the Imperial Guard, decorated for acts of bravery and being wounded in the line of duty
- Mother: Carroll Ashmore, retired Nurse, formerly stationed on Scarric XXII's lunar naval installation
- Sister: Hester Ashmore, currently enrolled in Hive Academy for weapons engineering, married to Artemis Zane
- Brother-in-law: Artemis Zane, Naval Lieutenant, exemplary marks

(Handwritten note) Ashmore has demonstrated capabilities with Medicae, Psyniscience, Invocation, Tech-use, Chem-use, and all things Biological. In addition, he has proved proficient with a standard issue Las Pistol. The Doctor's psychic abilities extend only to healing and the detection of living creatures for now, but we have high hopes. -Inquisitor *****
BRIEF HISTORY:

Dr. Grigory Ashmore was born to Thom and Hester Ashmore on Scarric XXII. His father was a Sergeant in the Planetary Guard who was honourably discharged after losing his arm during a skirmish meant to repel a small force of Orks who made landing. This was his third campaign, two of which had been against accidental xenomorph incursions. Both Grigory and his sister, Hester, have been able to afford their own education through exemplary marks in primary and secondary school, and by enrolling in Academy to serve our Lord, the Emperor.

Dr. Ashmore himself graduated from Academy with highest honors and subsequently served two years in the Planetary Guard as a 2nd Lieutenant. He participated in one campaign, waged against a minor intraplanetary rebellion. He was honourably discharged early that he might work with the Hive Arrakis Vice Squad in combating the rampant drug use that is known to occur on Scarric XXII due to its unusual atmosphere. His first four years were in a strictly research-based capacity, during which he earned his Doctorate at Westmoreland Univeristy, the most prestigious on Scarric XXII.

He then served as a field-worker on the Vice Squad for two years to fulfil his military service. After he had finished the remainder, Dr. Ashmore applied and was accepted on his substantial credentials and recommendations to profess at Westmoreland, where he did independent research on subjects involving terraforming and planetology. He continued working with the Vice Squad in a consultants capacity.

As his professorship drew to a close, he applied to Our Lord the Emperor's Terraforming Corps. X[CONFIDENTIAL]X Dr. Ashmore requested X[CONFIDENTIAL]X that he have some post which allows him a degree of Interplanetary travel, and so this faithful servant of our Lord has given himself over to the Inquisition, that he may purge this universe of those who would defy the Imperium.
ATTACHED DOCUMENTS:

Letter of Recommendation: Headmaster of Westmoreland, Orsen Thurlow, Ph.D.
Letter of Recommendation: Planetary Guardsman, Colonel Daniel Levett
Letter of Recommendation: Head of Hive Arrakis Vice Squad, Captain Edward Toombs
Medical History (Physical and Psychological)
Psychic History
Complete Background Checks (Ashmore, Family, Friends)

[Illiterate Scribe]

OoC:Boddan's very kindly allowed me to join to make up the numbers a little. Very much looking forward to it.

Also bump.


Inquisitorial Profile File - Technographer Erasmus Mercali

Erasmus 'Raz' Mercali's 'personnel file' does not take the form of a neatly-typed message, but rather a pict-log of the Technographer in question in a dirty berth, staring not quite into the camera. He begins, in a voice that is neither an empathetic human's nor a clinical machine's, but rather some grating mix of the two:

'Only in Death does Duty end', said some mad old bint with a funny staff as I was born. Well, thanks for that, Ms Seer, thanks for that so very much. It really is something when not only is your entire life and train of thought determined by some blithering idiot with a fancy desk, and a million medals forming some sort of grotesque carapace over their body, but to have your entire future determined from the moment of birth? Too much. And what a future, too. Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself. You'll probably want to know for your personnel file - who am I kidding, you asked me to send you this - what made this man standing in front of you - average height, addict's build, shabby coat hiding bloodshot eyes and a general facial fuzz of stubble, buzz cut, and nascent sideburns.

To be honest, I haven't the faintest idea.

Sure, records tell me I was born on some accursed backwater station, but, to be honest, I'm not inclined to put any trust in them. It all happened, see, when some blighted Magos Biologis in training has the bright idea of performing an improvised, mid-battle Rite of Pure Thought to save me from what he later said was some pretty heavy nerve damage (I don't believe a word he says, but I'll roll with it). The procedure is a an intensely difficult one, requiring an intricate re-wiring of several ganglia and the excision of certain small parts of the grey matter in favour of priceless and unfathomable pieces of machinery; essentially, it is a process taking days on end, as well as a recuperation period of several months, that puts into the ascendant the left hemisphere of the brain, with its logical, analytical centres overbrimming with erudition and brilliance, in my case. Trust the genius to get right and left mixed up.

So, instead of cutting away human frailty in favour of the cold glory of the machine, I ended up with nothing but a bucket full of fleshy weakness. In the pass-the-parcel of the Omnissianic Creed, I ended up with the pieces of the brain responsible for getting bored, wanting to get drunk and laid, and that little fiddly bit responsible for wild inspiration, intuition, and the aching sense of something beautiful and numinous just round the corner, residing in this plant's evolved sequences, or that star's dying flare. No memories, next to no technical skills, but a head fully of partially realised designs of singular efficiency and function dragged kicking and screaming out of my subconscious.

I spent the first few years out of surgery on a forge world assembly line doing the Mechanicus equivalent of making license plates or sewing hempen sacks, but eventually was plucked from this hell in order to do a bit of consulting on behalf of some big-shot Magos Malygris Umbra, some stuff that involved digging up an awful load of corpses, but I had little idea what at the time. Lent some advice, gave a couple of insights into the way that warp energy interacted with human flesh (admittedly, even I should have seen what was going on by this point), but I didn't get paid an awful lot, and quickly ended up hammered out of my head in a Malfi bar, drunk, penniless, and generally in a sorry state. It was then that I cut a deal with some fine-speaking gentleman with a rosette - again, I was utterly wasted at the time, and have difficulty remembering particulars, but broadly speaking it was an offer to exchange cold hard thrones for some information on Malygris. I get chatty when under the influence, and so ended up telling the man rather a lot - though he didn't seem to get too bored. Before I know it, 'Malygris the Damned' and his followers are being slaughter by the dozen, and said rosette-bearing man had tracked me down for some stern words. I told him what happened, and, surprisingly enough, he brought it. With the money he gave me to stay quiet following the debrief, I just drifted around on Tramp Ships, engaging in as much women, booze, and chems as I could in order to block out my failure - but then your lot called me back. Some sort of 'prior-connection' deal, I'd imagine.

The way I see it, I nominally wouldn't give a toss for the Imperium, Ecclesiarchy, Inquistion, or, Throne, even the Mechanicus who did me such a great favour in medical. But, over time, what I know, what I've seen, I know that it's necessary that you do your thing. Of course I serve the Emperor; it's the pragmatic thing to do, given that it's him or universal death and upset. I'd say I know it better than most. And, as such, Mr Fiphe, I offer the skills of a drink-sodden technological visionary - I hope you can make use of them, and I hope that it makes you and your master happy, since it certainly doesn't give me anything more than a grim satisfaction.

[Boddan]

Briefing

The two of you make landfall within an hour of each other. Each brought down in an atmosphere capable lander from orbit to the hangars located high in the Kronus hive. Far above the raging storms below.

As you exit the lander, you’re approached by a servo-skull. The odd contraption hovers up to eye level and the mechanical iris of its right eye opens and contracts as it confirms your identity. Finished, it moves in closer to avoid being overheard.

+Level 47. Gravis…is…is District. Hab-unit C634…4..4.+ It blurts out in a halting manner. +Repeat..t..t?+

The servo-skull flies off after confirmation of Fiphe’s location is given, leaving you to make your way down the hive.



Inside the hab-unit, Riccan introduces you to each other and lists your professional capacities. To be more accurate, the mute ratling writes quickly onto a data-slate, his cybernetic arm hissing and whirring with each movement, and the already met servo-skull hovers nearby speaking Fiphe’s words.

+I’ve also just been notified…ied…ied that other members of our team are already two days overdue. Their ship is thought to be experiencing difficulty in the warp..p..p. They'll arrive when the Emperor wills it, but we must not lose any more time. Our targets..ts..ts have already killed several innocent citizens.+

Riccan slides a data-slate to both of you, each loaded with all known information on the two individuals, and moves onto the briefing.

+These two individuals..s..s escaped from the Kommitzar penal facility nine days ago. Correction, they were set free by an unknown party and taken off planet. We believe they are both on Samson currently as it’s the closest planet with anything to offer and also has a lack of orbital..al..al security. +

+While waiting for your arrival I began searching through passenger manifests and, not surprisingly, found nothing. So, I moved onto anomalies..ies..ies in orbit within three days of their escape and found this…+

Riccan motions to the servo-skull as a screen is lowered from its hovering base. A black and white feed from a pict-recorder inside a hangar begins to play. The skull begins to speak again as a jet black cutter of Imperial design flies into view and lands inside the hangar.

+The anomaly suggests..ts..ts that this craft is shielded against common scans. Which is how it approached Kommitzar without being detected. This vessel also matches the dimensions of surface-to-orbit departure burns found several kilometers from the penal colony. Here on Samson, it registered as a derelict satellite falling into the atmosphere when it dropped its passengers.+

The feed showed the cutters’ rear ramp dropping just long enough for two men to exit the ship at a jog and out of view. The whole thing took less than a minute as the cutter blasted off once more. The slate hanging from the servo-skull reversed the feed, zoomed in on the two men, and enhanced the display.

+These are our primary targets.+

Cleaver



+The large one is..s..s Emanuel “Cleaver” Hoggins.+

The provided image of Cleaver shows a huge man, well over two meters, with shoulder length matted oily hair. He looks past and through the image with a thousand yard stare. The man is missing his right hand. Instead, a heavily scarred stump remains.

+He was detained on Regulus, a nearby agri-world, for the brutal slaughter of at least a dozen citizens. Regulus provides vast quantities of longhorn meat to the sector. Hoggins was an overworked butcher there until he started treating people like the longhorn. When they found him, the missing people were hanging from hooks..s..s next to the longhorn. All carved up for their choice pieces. Several of Emanuel's associate's evaded capture while others were killed during the arrest.+

+The local authorities on Regulus haven’t had any experience with followers of the warp… just glancing over the details on the murders here points to cult activity. We’ll move onto that in time. For now, Cleaver has already killed..ed..ed eight people. An entire family during his second night on Samson. All hung up, bled, and carved like the murders on Regulus. There’s been no other indication of his whereabouts since then.+



Chrace



+The other man is Kenyon Chrace. Kenyon is from Samson IV, in this very hive. Another fact that lead us to begin here. He began as just another ganger..er..er, albeit a deranged one… even by their standards. He was good though. His gang carved out a large portion of the exterior of Hive Kronus for their own and began running out of other gangs to kill. Chrace took his members into the higher parts of the hive and began killing, burning, kidnapping, & stealing from the midhive. Which drew the Arbites in, but they could never catch him when..en..en he retreated to the freezing maze of the outerhive. Eventually, another gang volunteered to lead the arbites to him in exchange for a reward. This battle lead to his capture and the remnants of his gang split up with no leadership. He went to Kommitzar with over thirty life sentences.+

+Now that he’s back, he’s wasted no time in reuniting with them. He’s also made no attempt to hide himself as he and his have rampaged through the lower districts of Hive Kronus.+

The servo-skull’s screen shows several still frames of Chrace while shooting into crowds with his gang, jogging away from a firebomb set in a passenger elevator between levels, dragging an official’s children from their hab unit at gun point, and on it goes.



+As you can see, we need to move fast. Imperial citizens are dying each day. I'd recomend taking a look at the crime scenes to start.+

+++Primary Objective(s)+++
Locate & Cleanse:

Emanuel Hoggins
Kenyon Chrace

++Secondary Objective(s)++
Detain & Question either or both subjects regarding the individual(s) that freed them and their agenda.


"Faith is the sturdiest armour. Hatred the surest weapon."





Wow... tried not to have another wall of text. Sorry! If you want me to expand on anything lemme know. Or feel free to take any investigative-path you like. I'll adapt.

EDIT: Added a few details & objectives

[Illiterate Scribe]

Erasmus Mercali

Before he has even left the hangar, Raz begins the long patting down the pockets of his somewhat moth-eaten robe. Dragging out a packet that looks - and, in all actuality, most likely is - the veteran of a dozen protracted nuclear wars - he produces a lho-stick, which he lights with a spark from the fractal electromesh wiring of his hand, and a grin.

You want one? Or not, I suppose - 'doc don't smoke' - although I don't have the first idea why - compared to this infernal hive-miasma, the sticks make the air taste like some sort of alpine retreat.

As if to confirm the fact, he takes a long draw, and doesn't exhale. Neither, for that matter, does he hand over a cigarette.

So, well, here we go. The glorious Inquisitional mission. Hunting down not one, but two psychotic killers, and then presumably whatever genius allowed them to run amok. Any initial thoughts on our cases? Let's see what the university professor's initial appraisal is. Marked out of ten, shoot.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Raz

While awaiting Professor Ashmore's reply, the technographer latches onto one of his arms, and walks briskly down the winding stair into the Hive proper, narrating his train of thought as he goes.

Now, you see, we've got a pair of targets who may or may not be together, and both are prized both by our masters and by whoever is their master, albeit in different states of vitality, and we need to decide which one of them we are going to seek out and reduce to a fine red mist first, having extracted some information before that - if we're judging by score, I'd guess that Chrace is probably ahead, but our friend the butcher could hardly scream 'I AM TOUCHED BY THE BALEFUL INFLUENCE OF CHAOS' if he was a daemonhost with horns growing out of his head, and warpfire issuing from his thousand mouths, and that type, even if they are simply some deluded or broken maniac, tends not to keep it to themselves, do you understand, or, if they do, it gets even frackin' worse, so I'd say we covertly grab him, and then move onto the terrorist, I'd guess.

Having finished expostulating his pamphlet-length sentence, he stops, pauses, and looks morosely down.

First, though, I'd really like something to drink. I suppose that won't go down too well with our beneficient masters up there, though.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Grigory Ashmore

The good doctor listens patiently as Raz expounds on his ideas, declining with a wave of the hand the non-proffered smoke.

"I have been taken on by the Inquisition primarily as a coroner and a medical man. I have to admit, in my experience in the Vice Squad back home, the more grotesque and unique the crime, the easier it was to track down and capture the enemy."

He pauses a moment and smooths his mustache with one finger. Looking thoughtfully out over the smog-filled Hive.

"So, if we are looking for our first 'hunt,' as it were, then I might suggest we begin with the more bizarre of the two. Mr. Hoggins does not seem the type we want running around. And, while Mr. Chrace does seem to be the more dangerous of the two, I would wager that we would be better off armed with more information before taking him on."

Thinking some more on Raz's purposed course of action, he adds.

"I hope that it will prove unnecessary to even fire our weapons, though that does not seem a likely outcome of this fiasco. As to the drink, I see no problem with indulging ourselves in one as we discuss our upcoming trip to our first crime scene. I for one could use a short break to get over all the recent travel. Tell me a bit about your self, Mr. Mercali."

Physical description:

The doctor is a man of medium build with well-trimmed brown hair, parted to one side. In the fashion of Scarric XXII, he has sideburns which reach to his chin, and a mustache that is as well-kept as his hair. When the investigation begins, he will don his more practical field clothes, but for now, he is dressed in a dark-gray vest with a white shirt, the sleeves of which are rolled up to his elbows. And he wears dark-gray slacks which are neatly and sharply pressed and lead down to finely polished, black shoes. he carries his supplies in a shoulder bag which rests lightly on his hip. Right now, his las-pistol holder is visible at his other side, as his jacket is slung between the bag's strap.
OOC:

What kind of resources do we have as part of the Inquisition? Upon tracking down the heretic, can we call in the troops? Or are we supposed to take care of it ourselves because our troops could be corrupted or whatever?

[Boddan]

OOC:


You can call in the troops/arbites if you like. As a general rule, however, it's in the nature of the Inquisition to keep a low profile until all the guilty parties are identified to prevent any escape or preemptive strike. Also, as new initiates you're being "graded" on your abilities to act under your own initiative. I'm not saying you'll lose "points" for using the cavalry, but I am just saying.

In this case, the party responsible for springing these two is unknown.

I will say that each potential fight will either be winnable or be seen as suicide at a quick glance. Besides, Burn the Heretic, Kill the Mutant, & Purge the Unclean is the fun part (says the overly violent individual).

Disclaimer: there are Inquisitor's that roll around with a battle fleet, space marine companies, and entire guard divisions. Braddigan isn't one of em, but I thought Id say so anyhow =) C.Y.A.

[Illiterate Scribe]

OK, Doctor Ashmore, you are a surgeon, right? Then you'd know about the hemisphere's of the brain, and you'd know that they fulfill different purposes and functions. Members of the Adeptus Mechanicus - and I'd probably die for saying this to you if anyone overheard - tend to have the left side cut out, in order to purify their thought. Problem was, the guy who did mine was either drunk, or had his shoes the wrong way round, since I ended up having the entire right hand side of my brain scooped out, deposited neatly into a plastic bag, incinerated, and then, in some parody of Mechanicus mercy, replaced with a calculator. Emperor knows what else I've been up to - I don't, although I've got a small library worth of Psykana, Xenological, Daemonological and all sorts of other lore in my head. Maybe I was a tech-heretic at some point?


He turns, accosting the nearest passer-by for directions to

a) the nearest Arbites precinct,

and

b) the nearest vendor of 'freon, chill, icewater or dry ice, whatever the local cant for it is'

by talking at them until they give in.

Well, since we both seem to be in agreement that Hoggins should be pursued first, delaying any self indulgement would be best practice. From personal experience, drinking one's wages of sin away only to vomit them back up again is both unpleasant and disheartening.

[Boddan]

It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself

Raz confronts the nearest local as the thought of Arbites and a drink occur to him. The local happens to be a middle aged man wearing a thick gray leather duster with a lighter gray fur liner, shin high foul weather boots, and pants & an undershirt of some water resistant material. There is also a set of foul weather goggles on his forehead and a length of cloth tied around his neck to be pulled up to protect his face when needed. You've seen this garb quite often already during your short stay. Most likely belonging to those that work close to the hive exterior or down in the freight bays themselves where the temperature is closer to 0 degrees F. Here, in the center of the hive, it's a comfortable 55 outside of hab-units and administration offices.

The man speaks quickly with choppy hand motions; the nearest Arbite precinct is in the Gravis district, level 62. As for a drink, there are several water dispensers located around this central district. All offer free water purified from the rain. The water is very cold and tastes like it has been filtered over a dozen times for harmful chemicals... and still missed a bit. Because it has. Courtesy of a few millennia of industry.


Additional info on any aspect of Hoggins is available upon request via your provided data-slate.

Dr. Ashmore: Raz's description of his botched operation makes him an extreme rarity. This much is obvious even with your limited knowledge of the Mechanicus.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

The doctor's cheeks redden a little as Erasmus explains himself. But he puts on his best smile and replies, "Mr. Mercali, I can understand how such an ordeal would be difficult, but I would thank you to keep the conversation just a hair more polite. I love this Imperium and know only that sometimes I need not know more."

But for those damned xenomorph files I had to delete before coming. I am no lover of this kind of censorship, but if it is for the good of the empire...

"I find myself liking you and your general outlook, so let us keep the conversation to things that won't end in one of us hunting the other, shall we?"

While he walks and talks, Dr. Ashmore pulls up whatever information he has on Hoggins' recent murders, specifically looking for place and time.

[Boddan]

Knowledge is power, guard it well.

The good doctor activates the data-slate. After an obligatory print-scan from Dr. Ashmore, Emanuel's file opens up...

BzzzINK

Cleaver's vile act was conducted several days ago on a much higher level: LV188 - Burj District. The murders took place in a hab-unit belonging to a well off man who owned a number of entertainment establishments patronized by the wealthy of the hive.

Among the dead:

the man, Yivol Tarasov
his wife
his daughter
his son & his son's wife
two servants
and a bodyguard

The hab-unit is a large, multi-story residence. The killer appeared to have entered in the night, subdued the bodyguard unheard, and than collected the other occupants at his leisure. All victims died at approximately the same time; 03:15-03:35am local time.

No witnesses or video surveillance captured Hoggins committing the act. It is merely Fiphe's professional opinion that is the same man based on his very particular M.O. and overwhelming coincidence.

[Illiterate Scribe]

I love the Imperium more than you'd know - seeing the bad just makes you appreciate how good we've got it, but OK, I guess I'll shut up on these matters.

Looking over the shoulder of his colleague, Raz frowns.

So, our putative suspect has only ever acted once in this Hive. Very well, shall we saunter on down to the Arbites Precinct, and have a look at what they might know about this? With discretion, of course, but it will help to know what they know.

It was some way away, but hey, he could do with the exercise. He started walking.

Sorry, some misunderstanding - when I was talking about the freon/ice water/whatever, I was actually talking about the refrigerant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freon). Raz is entertaining the possibility that, if Hoggins is butchering people, and following his previous MO, he might be buying up cooling stuff. Perhaps I'm just over-complicating things ...

[Boddan]

No no! That kind of investigative depth is spot on.
But, I should expand on the known details of Cleaver.

His home world, Regulus, is mostly vast rocky plains covered in grass. The longhorns are bred and cared for in ranches or by free-grazing herds.

The butchery is handled in gigantic, three story treaded vehicles that move slowly from ranch to ranch. Or, to meeting points with the free-grazing herds.

The longhorns that are prime for selection are herded into the vehicles via a ramp, butchered, and hung in large freezers. When full, the butchers return to their base city where the accumulated meat is taken off planet for use in the sector.

Some of those killed on Regulus by Cleaver and his associates were ground up with the other subpar meat. While, some were found still hanging from the hooks in the freezer.
It appears that the butchery itself was the objective and that the bodies and their disposal was merely cleanup using what was readily available.

It is known to you already that all the bodies were recovered at this latest scene on Samson.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

"Yes, well, of course. Let's to the Arbites Precinct and see what we can find there."

[Illiterate Scribe]

As he walks, Raz sizes up Dr. Ashmore.

So, I've told my story, such as it is, but what about my co-conspirator? Any dark secrets to hide? If so, why would you even be telling me about them?

[Boddan]

No man that died in the Emperor’s service died in vain.


Wow, the forums aren't doing very well... I apologize for the delay.


The Arbite facility is a large building that resembles more of a fortress than anything else. Several stubber and autocannon emplacements can be seen along the heavily reinforced walls.

As you approach the building, two emplacements on either side of the entrance track you until stopped at the door.

A servitor built into the wall acts as the doorman. It is little more than the upper body of a humanoid with several ID scanning devices and a com-unit.

"Identification please. Departmental directions, administrative query, or appointment?"


Righto, feel free to state what you're looking for, both of you, and what variety of discretion (or lack thereof) you'll use if challenged inside.

If applicable, toss out some related skill tests.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Whoever busted our friends out appears not only to possess the power to break people out of penal colonies, but stealth ships, as well. We'd better be 'inconspicuous' about this.

With that, Erasmus walks confidently up to the servitor.
Erasmus Mercali, technographer of the Adeptus Mechanicus. We are here to speak to the local proctor, law-man in chief, or related over-gendarme, and would be very pleased if you could direct us to him.

Upon (hopefully) being admitted, Raz strides off in the indicated direction. If challenged anywhere while walking to the proctor's office, he smiles brightly and, looking for Ashmore to back him up, merely replies:

Spot check! My colleague and I have been sent by the Mechanicus to check up on the cogitators of your proctor's office. Is he around? I'd like to pick his brain over some usage matters.

Rolling [roll0] vs 40 (50 if Ashmore's willing to help) ± any test modifiers to deceive the Arbites that our presence doesn't need to be officially recorded.

EEK!

Spending a fate point (which is, I hope, as I shall proceed for the rest of the match, in terms of luck), I've rerolled it down to a 40, here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5886768&postcount=1663). Phew.

[Boddan]

A good time to toss in this house rule. For PbP, we'll have Fate Points renew every 5 in-game days.

Also, you succeed in your deceive check with no aid necessary. I would have given a -10 vs Arbites to represent their learned B.S. detector. BUT a +10 for being an obvious member of the Mechanicus (which grants some clout with "normals") for a total of no change at all. (Long winded here as OneFam has never set hand on a Player's Handbook so using this as an example.)

We'll move on after the good doctor posts.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore, seemingly lost in a cloud.

As they approach the door, Ashmore stands at attention in front of the servitor. "2nd Lieutenant, Dr. Grigory Ashmore. I am with Mr. Mercali."

After hearing Raz's explanation to anyone who stops us, Dr. Ashmore explains that he is along as an ad-hoc military honor guard to the visiting technographer. His uniform, he explains, is not necessary in this function.

Sorry it has taken me so long to post. This stupid forums isn't working so hot. As an advance warning, my posting may be a little erratic around Apr 4th and the weekend of Apr 9th, as I will be away from site those days and don't always know how internet is elsewhere.

[Boddan]

Only in death does duty end.

The servitor processes your request and directs you to Chief Inspector Zhukov with directions to his office.

Neither of you earn more than a couple of glances moving through the arbite building. Several civilians are also seen inside making requests, arguing fines, or being hauled off to holding cells.

As you enter the wing you were directed to, Chief Inspector Zhukov’s office can be seen at the other side of the large room you just entered. In between are a number of desks with Inspector’s carrying out informal interrogations, menials delivering and picking up data-slate’s, and armed arbites hurrying to and fro.

A knock on Zhukov’s door causes the door to swing open. The office is empty with a pile of data-slates on the desk and hand written case files scattered about.

Noticing you at the open door, an adjutant hurries over. You explain that you’re here to see him about cogitator issues and the potential overuse of them. He nods quickly and speaks fast, “Well I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for Lt. Inspector Korolev. The Chief is usually up with the Governor and other… hard workers.” He states with more than a little bitterness. “If you hurry, you can catch Korolev in the motor pool. He just left to handle another scene.” With that, the adjutant scurries off to continue his duties.

A larger desk near the Chief’s office door has a nameplate on the front; KOROLEV. The desk has numerous stacks of data-slate’s and case files. Far more than the Chief’s.


Feel free to add in any actions taken here. I'll move on for the sake of time.


As you step off the lift to the motor pool, it's a scene of mass activity. This level lies below the "ground" level for this district with several ramps leading up and out through heavy blast doors. The motor pool itself is a bustle of arbite squads moving double time to black chimeras, while others are joining inspectors in twos or threes and leaving in black civilian vehicles.

By asking a passing arbite, he points out a middle aged man in an insulated, black storm coat. Korolev is talking quickly to two younger inspectors and pointing to another nearby vehicle as you approach. The others jog off and Korolev stops in mid-crouch as he was entering his own vehicle when he notices you two approaching.

Korolev looks to be in his mid forties, with black and gray hair and wire frame glasses. He's in decent shape, but that appears to be due to his workload and a lack of time to eat. He has sleep deprived eyes filled with fatigue but also a look of determination.

"Alright alright, make it quick. You're obviously here for me." He raises a hand pointing at Raz. "If this is about needing more cogboys to maintain the chimeras, I already sent out two personnel requests."

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Dr. Ashmore looks to his companion, and then presses on ahead. He smiles his most pleasant smile. "Hello. I am Dr. Grigory Ashmore, and my companion is Erasmus Mercali. Actually, Inspector, we were hoping we could discuss our matters in slightly more private quarters, as it is quite loud here, and what we have to ask requires a quiet voice."

Some kind of Diplomacy check? [roll0]

[Boddan]

We ask only to serve.

After a curious once over, the Inspector motions for you two to enter his vehicle. "Very well. Ominous and mysterious. What could go wrong?" He asks with tired sarcasm. "I hope you don't mind but you'll have to tag along. I'm already far behind as is."

As the vehicle departs the precinct, he says, "Shall we?"

[Illiterate Scribe]

With a smile, Erasmus gives the Korolev a warm handshake, trying desperately not to electrocute him with 45,000 volts of faultily wired electoo. He climbs into the vehicle.

Lieutenant Korolev. Thank you for being ready Hope you don't mind that we just lied our way past your guards (although, if you want, I can have a look over those Chimeras - don't know how much I can do, but you never know ...) - you seem to have seen through it anyway. Oh well. The real reason we're here is acting as the messenger boys for the Left Hand of the Emperor - and there's some interest in one Kenyon Chrace and Emanuel Hoggins. Basically, they got out, somehow, and, somehow, managed to get over here, and have started to wreak all hell here, as I'm sure you're aware.

A wary look passes over his face.

Not to impugn upon your own skills and investigations, but our boss kinda needs these two in for an investigation of his own - I believe you'll appreciate the sort I mean when I talk about the paperwork, the paperwork, that damned bloody paperwork! - but nonetheless we would be eternally grateful for some aid - I know, we steal your cases, then ask you for help on them - specifically, some information. What has your department learnt about the killings on ...

Macragge? Vulcan? Caprica? Earth? Raz waits a second as his cogitator-laced brain spat out a series of meaningless gibberish answers, before the correct one surfaces.

... Samson IV? We know that Chrace has been fire-bombing and hostage taking, and that Hoggins has been butchering people in a variety of unusual and alarming ways, but not a great deal more.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore, much relieved.

Thankful to have someone to approach the more direct topics along with him, Dr. Ashmore is content to just add a question or two sparsely, where he deems it important.

"Yes, er, specifically, we are looking into Mr. Hoggins, as he seems the easier of the two to catch, and we need as much information as possible before proceeding forward. Of course... any favorable participation on your part will be duly noted in our final report."

He tugs at the cuff of yourself. "I also hope it isn't necessary to mention that this affair should be kept as quiet as possible. We would prefer our quarry not see us coming until it is too late, after all. That is why we would like a discreet way to access the crime scene. Is that correct, Mr. Mercali?"

We need to recruit us a spit'n'fire fanatic. I fear that the good cyborg and I lack a little of that Inquisitorial spirit which brings so much to things like this :-p. Though, maybe that will increase as our sanity suffers?

[Illiterate Scribe]

Indeed. True to form, we have little to no context as to the matter whatsoever, but the fact that some bright spark scooped them up from Kommitzar, and vomited them up back here suggests that something's going on, and the Imperial hand should probably be kept close to its power armoured chest.

I have a lascarbine. I'm not exactly intending on being reticent in its usage.

But yes, I see what you mean.

[Boddan]

Damnation is eternal.

Korolev twists around in the vehicle to look at you both.

“Hand of the Emperor…?” His eyes widen as understanding dawns. “You’re with the Inquisition?” He asks very seriously as he looks at each of you. The silence affirms his question and he breaths out a deep breath.

“Alright.”

“Chrace I know. He was an underhive ganger that began killing good, imperial citizens. He was off world in prison last I heard. Kenyon is certainly back now…I’m on my way to what appears to be another bombing committed by him. A lift full of dock workers getting off their shift were incinerated.”

His eyes drift off as he considers the second name.

“Hoggins… Hoggins..? That’s not a case I’m familiar with.”

You make it just halfway through describing his M.O. when he interrupts you.

“Throne! You mean the Tarasov murders? We had yet to identify any suspects in that case.” His eyes fill with anger while his face looks like he just inhaled a distasteful odor.

Korolev accelerates away from traffic towards a gigantic spiral motorway that’s used by vehicles to get to higher levels. He snatches a handset from near the steering column and orders another Inspector to handle the latest lift bombing.

“We’re going to the Tarasov residence now. You two seem to be well informed compared to us.” He glances back to you both while driving. “I’m going to help you, discreetly,” he says with emphasis on the last word. “But I expect your cooperation as well. Tarasov wasn’t exactly a saint, but what happened to him…”


Feel free to add more before I post the Tarasov residence piece tomorrow. Short on time tonight, sorry!

[Illiterate Scribe]

Inquisitional dogsbodies, and I thank you for both aiding us discretely and for asking for our cooperation in return. Making it a transaction helps me avoid the sense that I'm signing myself up for some terrible and ominous bargain, if you catch my drift.

Anyway - Tarasov - not a saint? That sounds like the sort of thing that we're about to here some more about.

[Boddan]

Wisdom is the beginning of fear.

Korolev goes on to explain his comment as the squared off, four door vehicle nimbly passes slower vehicles with a throaty roar of the engine.

“Well, Tarasov ran a number of entertainment establishments in the upperhive. He had a few for the upper class but a number of the places were designed solely for the elite of Samson. Heads of the guilds, their families, those close to the governor, throne, even a few members of the ecclesiarchy were seen in there. Now, this is all alleged, but a few of these places offered any number of elicit substances, women, and not just whores, some of these guys paid to do whatever they wanted to the women.”

“We’ve found bodies, real messed up, and managed to track them back to two of his establishments. But we can never get the go ahead on any raid or even an extended investigation.”

Despite the darkness around his eyes, the Inspector seems to have worked himself up. His animation grows with his intensity as he recounts his knowledge.

After the vehicle ascends approx thirty levels, vehicle lifts become prevalent for the upperhive citizens speeding up the rate of travel dramatically.

The black sedan pulls up to a large well maintained residence and Korolev gets out without hesitation. He walks to the trunk and opens it, revealing labeled crates of data-slates. Each crate has to be unlocked with a key and voice-code. He pulls one from the trunk and closes it turning to the two of you. He looks as if he’s pondering the consequences of his next act before asking you if you have any data-slates of your own. The Inspector removes a thin, foot long cable from his jacket, connects it to his data-slate and each of yours in turn, and transfers data to each.

Tarasov Residence

“Alright let’s go take a fresh look.” He states as he approaches the residence. A sentry servitor mounted on a stationary tripod activates as he breaches its sensor perimeter.

+Halt. Arbite seized compound ahead. Vacate the immed…+

“Lieutenant Inspector Korolev with two permitted guests.” He interrupts as he swipes his badge in front of himself at the level of the servitor’s head. It chirps its recognition, +Enter Inspector and two permitted guests+

Its head turns to the two of you in quick succession taking physical readings of height, weight, and facial scan for further no-kill protocols.

Korolev leads you through the well furnished residence to the scene of the killings.

He stops at the edge of a large room with high ceilings. The room is a perfectly circular, egg shaped room with half of the room going down several steps to an area filled with couches and large chairs. Each piece of furniture meant to hold more than one at least and curved in on itself to create a more social environment. At the top of the steps is a wide walkway that leads to the other half of the room and its massive bar. Half of the room's circumference was lined with an unbroken bar top of opaque glass that emitted a strong purple glow. Stools and small tables were spread about on this raised half of the room. Everything was covered in a thick felt or fur and was either purple or black in color. In the center of the room was a large circular fountain, perhaps two meters across, made from a wide basin. From the ceiling above jutted a swirling pattern of metalwork that elegantly flowed down to several meters above the fountain. The well concealed pipe work brought the water down to fall into the basin below in shifting patterns, where it would than fill and flow over the ledge down into a smaller basin in the area with the couches. There it would fill that basin, fall out into a small, purple lit channel, and flow from the room to begin again.

The fountain is off at present and as you enter the room and walk closer, it’s apparent why.

The fountain is stained blood red, as is the carpet all around, the ledge and the carpeted walls down to the sitting area, and a portion of the floor down there as well.

As you walk closer, Mercali can faintly smell the distinct odor of old blood. Not surprising considering what took place here. But Doctor Ashmore is assaulted by the pungent odor of death, the distant sounds of meat being carved, and a rage filled roar that could not have come from a man’s throat. The roar’s intensity doesn’t fade at all before your training kicks in and you block out this psychic intrusion.

It’s obvious to Grigory that someone evoked the warp here and its trace lingers.

The Inspector didn’t notice any of this and he glances around the scene professionally before turning to you both while lifting his data-slate.

“This is what it looked like when we found it.”

His data-slate begins to tic through a slide show of images take from various vantage points within the room. The unfortunate victims were all hung by cord from the metalwork above the fountain. Some by their feet, some by their wrists, and one woman by just one arm. The picture shows her dangling lifelessly, her feet off the ground, she would have been too weak to free herself with her other arm if a chance arose. All eight bodies hung naked and savagely cut open to allow their blood to run down their bodies and into the fountain. The mess indicates that not all of it made it into the fountain cleanly.

“This is…” he pauses to make sure he didn’t step onto the stained part of the carpet, “this is all on your ‘slates now as well. One other thing, there was another servant in the house. Slept through the whole thing. Her room is down a couple floors and on the other side... and this room is probably sound proofed to some extent, but the odd part is her room is right next to the other servant. This one,” he points to an older man hung from his feet and his head nearly cut off with the force of the attack.
“She’s the one that called it in. Well…screamed it in. We have transcriptions of her emergency vox. It’s mostly panicked gibberish. Anyway, why was she left out of this mess? Why the other eight and not her?”

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore grimaces as he is assaulted by the psychic traces, but says nothing of them and attempts to put on his best smile. He reads up on his data slate whenever information is placed there, in order to make sure it is placed properly.

At the mention of the living witness, he is careful to keep his eyes on his data slate and keep that obscured from the officer. He quickly pulls up information to see if Hoggins has ever left a survivor before. When he is done, he looks up stoicly.

"Well, I think it best we get started. I don't see any point in starting from scratch though." Ashmore pulls up the report already filed on this case and scans it for anything important. "Right, I suppose I should check on that servant first. I could use a moment to steel myself before moving on to the corpses anyway. Mr. Mercali, would you care to join me? Or do you feel you would be better disposed elsewhere?"

[Boddan]

BzzINK


The previous murders on Regulus show all the victims were abducted herders or the population of small ranches. Less than a dozen each time. No known survivors.

Admittedly, circumstances were different then. He had yet to be caught...

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore stows his data slate and asks to be shone to the survivor.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Just posting to say sorry for being away, I'll get a post up at a more reasonable time tomorrow. The vagaries of the server's delicate condition, together with a sponsored walk, made it hard to get on.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Erasmus, lost in thought, follows the doctor and Korolev to the survivor. He seems oddly lost in thought - not shocked, or horrified, but just a little detached. You can hear the gears meshing in his head - literally.

Just before whatever door, portal, arch, gate separates the survivor from the group, Raz rounds on the two, blocking the door, and smiles without a trace of humour.

It's obvious, really. I'm surprised that this is being done with such obvious recklessness, actually - a fact that to be honest just makes it worse. Eight. Blood. Butchery. Yes, I would suspect that the suspect has got it into his head that he is going to attract the notice of the Blood God, the Lord of Skulls - gentlemen, a Khornate cultist. Madder than most, to boot. Frak.

Rolling numerology [roll0] vs. 45, forbidden lore (warp) [roll1] vs. 45 to see if I can dredge up anything else in that addled brain.

Nearly three weeks! :smalleek:

So, so, sorry I've neglected this. :smallfrown:

Hope y'all still would be willing to go on!

[Boddan]

Crush the unholy in all of their many guises.

Korolev leads you from the estate and back into the vehicle. He speaks little as he drives to a medicae facility several levels lower. Presumably lost in thought as well as allowing you two to process what you’ve learned and go over the information on the data-slates.

Once at the facility, the Inspector leads you through the medical building’s hallways to the psychiatric ward. He verbally checks the three of you in at the security checkpoint to a nurse who is making no effort to hide her curiosity.

Mental Ward


At the end of one hallway, lined with heavy doors, a helmet less arbite snaps to attention at your approach and salutes the Inspector.

“Sir. No one’s been into the cell except for one orderly with food. I supervised the process, sir!”

The Inspector waves the arbite away with a hint of irritation. “Take a break…report back in thirty.”

The arbite jogs from view, clearly excited at the prospect of food. Korolev unlocks and opens the cell door revealing a woman in her twenties with long blond hair. The hair lay in unruly curls around her as she sat on the floor. The woman herself was restrained in a straitjacket and further chained to the wall with only a few feet of play in the lengths. She sat cross-legged rocking back and forth muttering incoherently to herself.

Korolev goes on to explain while you enter the room, “They found her at the scene after she voxed the murders in. She... tackled the first arbite to arrive, and began screaming nonsense. She wasn’t trying to hurt him, the arbite claimed, but she’s obviously damaged goods. So, we had her put in here for the time being.”

As the door noisily closes behind you, the woman looks up suddenly as if just noticing you.

“Drip. Drip. A drip isn’t enough,” she says. “All the rivers could run red and it’s not enough!”

She jumps up and makes for the Inspector but is quickly stopped by the chains. She arches backwards as she carries on, “The rage! The howls of never ending rage!” She looks at each of you in turn now and speaks again, “We are to them as the beasts are to us. Food… FOOD! Food for the gods!” She begins to weep and falls backwards onto the ground heavily. She thrashes about in frustration and fear as her weeping grows in intensity.

“He’ll drink us in. Scores at a time, and yet he still thirsts. Kartharoth will drink us all,” she finishes with a whimper and rolls into a fetal position to cry heavily.

As she rolls over, her jacket raises with her new position to show the skin of her lower back. A small tattoo of snake curled around a flower of some sort is easily visible. Now that your attention is on the area, scores of scars can be made out in the surrounding bare skin. Small, large, new, and old.

[Boddan]

Raz


I'm going to pay your awesome knowledge rolls forward here to this segment as well. Mainly because you pegged previous Khornate stuff, and I had little to add to what you deduced.

Numerology: Eight is indeed the sacred number of Khorne. Nuff said. (I may need a little push on matters of numerology. Cant say I grasp the concept very well)

Lore: While most Khornates simply slaughter for the sake of it, this one appears to be be doing so with restraint. Relatively speaking. This, combined with the sacrifices numbering the sacred eight, points to a single minded goal. Cleaver has an agenda in addition to the bloodletting itself it would seem.

Lore: Additionally, as far as the denizens of the warp are concerned, the serpent is the choice animal of the Prince of Pleasures. Slaanesh...

Lore: Lastly, (due to the massive degrees of success) Kartharoth rings a bell as a demon prince of Khorne. More thought and research will be needed for more on this fiend.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Whipping out a lens, Raz peers at the woman, much too close for it actually to be of any value. He then shakes his head, and turns to the magistrate.

Korolev, precisely what kind of nonsense was the woman screaming? Is the tackled arbites still reachable? I am a little concerned that we're dealing with just a bit more than one's average serial killer here ...

[OneFamiliarFace]

Flashback

As the three men leave the scene of the crime, Dr. Ashmore stops and lets the other two move on ahead. He takes only a brief moment, closing his eyes and breathing in the blood and gore of the scene. The coppery smell wrinkles his nostrils, and his eyes tighten further when the fullness of the putrid stench hits him.

He casts his mind about the room, feeling for the strands of madness left behind, creating a visible map in his head and trying to pick up an sensations that he can.

Psyniscience: [roll0]
The Mental Ward

Having remained quiet the entire trip, Dr. Ashmore still has little to say until the patient has finished with her ramblings. When the woman quiets, he speaks quickly, almost too eagerly.

"Yes, Korolev. Do enlighten us on what you can. I'm proud to announce that these names and goings-on make no sense to me." Ashmore's face begins bright as he says this, but his eyes harden as he finishes, and his face drops, as though he has just lost something of importance.

After this odd outburst, he once again sobers up and address the woman directly with a gentle smile on his face. "Now then, my dear, is there anything we can get you? Any comfort you desire? We shouldn't want you to suffer any more than you have to." Unless, of course, that tattoo means what I assume it does.

Diplomacy: [roll0] to get her to calm down(Sorry, I seem to have lost access to my character sheet, so I don't remember the heresy skill names...)

Medicae: [roll1] to judge the source of her wounds.

[Boddan]

Flashback


The doctor discreetly draws on his psyker abilities while the party exits the crime scene.

Dr. Ashmore opens himself to the lingering traces of the warp that had been evoked in the estate. It's clear that nothing was pulled into this realm, thank the emperor. However, the purpose of the bloody sacrifice was to open a channel to the warp to commune with a being.

The echoes of the conversation reverberate in Ashmore's head. Only the voice of the demonic denizen can be heard however as the mortal who spoke doesn't echo in that realm. A sign of the power behind the fiendish, booming voice.

The words come in syllables unknown to the doctor and produce a feeling of nausea and pain as well as an unnatural urge to taste blood and bite into flesh. The doctor's face momentarily pulls into a snarl and issues a low growl before Ashmore reclaims control.

Amongst the barking, demonic gibberish only one word is recognizable. Regulus.

[Boddan]

Mental Ward

Korolev turns to Raz and after a moment of thought explains that that particular Arbite should be on duty right now. Locating him will only take a vox-call into headquarters.

He goes on to ask, "Why, what are you theorizing?"

Dr. Ashmore inquires as to the woman's comfort and to ease any suffering. Her eyes glow with thought at the mention of comfort that's quickly overshadowed by the look of desire as the doctor speaks of suffering.

To the doctor's practiced eyes, the marks upon the woman appear to be from small cuts, whip strikes, and even a human bite mark.

Any further remarks from the patient are cut short as the force of a distant blast wave hit you all milliseconds before the sound does. Alarms begin to sound all over the facility as Korolev hefts open the armored door. The door opens to allow the concert of pandemonium and chaos into the cell.

The same Arbite guard slides into view as he runs into the hall. He holds an autogun in ready position with the metallic butt snug in his shoulder.

"Inspector! Insurgents firebombed the intensive care unit! They're moving through the medicae facility numbers unknown. I've already voxed in for rapid deployment. ETA is 12 minutes, sir!"

With that the Arbite turns to cover the hallway junction he appeared from.


Fire alarms buzz angrily all around and the sound of distant gunfire and screams can be heard.

The fire is spreading gentlemen. Stay put at your own risk.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:A Moment of Laxity Spawns a Lifetime of Heresy.

A lithe shadow twists and turns amongst the flaming remains and twisted metal of the hospital ward. "Cultists..." Graki drops to one knee and peers down the barrel of her aged Long Las, affectionately deemed, "The Cat's Claw." "Victory over these heathens shall be woefully unsatisfying without an element of sport." Graki reaches over and flips the lens closed on her weapon.

Graki was on-world taking a brief lay-over on her way back to her home, the Feral world Munsk in Josain Reach to attend the funeral of her mentor. She was summoned as part of an impromptu strike force to counter the insurgent attack on the hospital ward.

Personalis Recordari: Graki
Physical Description
Sex: F
Height: 1.7 M
Weight approxomately 70 kg
Dark skin and hair
Eyes: Preternaturally catlike, yellow in color. Possible mutation based on interbreeding between ancient colonists and native species.
Age: approxomately 20-25 years

Distinguishing Characteristics: Subject's body is covered in a white tribal woad, extending the length of her body, its particular significance or purpose is unknown. For further anthropological investigations, see Holoslate 8A recorded in waterfall grotto on occasion of subject's bathing.

Holoslate 8A
X{STREAM DELETED BY AUTHORITIES}X

Scout's Note:
Born in the dark jungles of Munsk, Graki was raised by a matriarchal tribe of hunters. Her mother bequeathed to her an heirloom sniper rifle, known in the native tongue as "The Cat's Claw", which supposedly killed the Chaos lord Bridum Gorebrow in the large last battle on Munsk three hundred years ago. While such dubious claims may add to local color and to the esteem in which the subject is held by other members of the primitive society, she is nonetheless skilled with said implement. Two instances of her skill have been recorded for posterity. Two holoslates are included

Disc A: Shows subject Graki engaging a charging Mrrook (large jungle cat native to Munsk) and bringing it down from a distance of 100 meters with a glancing shot over her shoulder.

Disc B: Subject Graki seen climbing an abandoned relay tower over the jungle canopy. In the distance a small shuttle of colonists fly toward her location. At about, 150 meters, Graki takes aim and fires striking the shuttle on the fore. The shuttle sputters, and begins to let off a cloud of blue smoke as it careens through the treetops ending in the expected "thud." Upon subsequent inspection of the crash site, it appears the subject's shot fused the steering gas exhaust port open, causing all the chemicals employed in the aforementioned function to escape the vehicle. Had we not been observing her, this might've appeared to be a mechanical mishap after the fact. Inquisitor's Note: Stay of punitive repercussions upon agreement to join the Imperium's training program

Summary: Beyond her propensity for making impressively long shots, little can be deduced about subject. We have had difficulty in infiltrating the inner-sanctum of her tribe as almost all important individuals are female and intensely loyal to the matriarch [her identity too is unknown]. Suggest further investigation, possible candidate for foreward spotter or black ops.

[Boddan]

We don’t need no water…

Graki steps from the stairwell she jogged up from when a blast from behind pushes her forward. The fire on the floor above must have reached something combustible as debris and flames fall through the ceiling closing off the stairwell.

Luckily, Graki was near the medicae facility when the call for aid came over the arbite channel of her short-range vox. A hold over from her recent work for the lawmen in this chaos.

The arbite begins to train his autogun on Graki, thinking her to be a ganger when Korolev stops him short.

“She works for us.”

The Inspector moves up to the counter while drawing an arbite issue laspistol and tells the terrified nurses to take cover.

Raz quickly eyes the thick chains holding the servant’s straight jacket and opts to simply free the woman from the jacket itself rather than try to break the chains. She may prove hard to control now…

Moments later, another violent concussion can be heard. The sound of a burning personnel lift with its screaming contents free falling down the shaft comes from the other end of the hall.

A remaining elevator opens up and six gangers burst out shooting down nearby patients and personnel.

The gangers are all clad in dirty leathers or insulated long coats. Most have assorted pistols but one carries a beat up, bolt-action rifle.

Four of the gangers begin moving down the hallways; two to each. The remaining two gangers begin setting firebombs in two of the three remaining elevators. One requires the ganger to use a crowbar to pry it open.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard.jpg

Initiative please!

Graki
Arbite
Korolev
Doctor Ashmore
Raz
Servant

Each square is a meter.

The different colored block in the left hallway is a gurney with a nurse cowering behind it.

You are currently on the 8th floor (24m w/some surfaces before ground level) should you decide out the window is the best option. Raz has an under slung grapnel on his carbine.

The benches are made from fairly non-bulletproof materials but are better than nothing. The sturdiest objects may be the doors into the rooms. Most of which are closed at present.

Elevator 3 is the one getting pried open. 1 is already open with the ganger setting the bomb inside the lift.

The rifle-bearer is the one hugging the wall in the right hallway.

At present, they are all moving standing straight thinking themselves safe from retribution...



In the left hallway, one of the gangers moves next to a doctor frozen in fear. The heavily tattooed killer smiles cruelly as he points his pistol at the man's head.

[Jing Ke]

Initiative [roll0]

[Jing Ke]

Graki And the Hand of the God-Emperor Shall Be Unto His Enemies Fire From on High

Graki squints through the haze of flame and smoke. Down the hallway she glimpses a ganger gesturing to his comrades as they fan out down the hallway toward her. A nurse is between her and the interlopers. "Cowards, these males prey even on the sick and their caretakers Graki mutters furiously. Swiftly she crouches and dashes to the corner just ahead of her for cover.

Hidden by the wall, Graki takes stock of the formation she observed. There were at least three, and one, potentially two hostages. Her instructions were to prevent as much loss of civilian life as was feasible without sacrificing herself, surely the investment made in her training and equipment alone makes her a priority. Sacrifices must be made in war, and some of these whirling, sparking automatons are less alive than others. She braces herself...

Graki moves to the corner just above her and to her right, using move silently as a free action and her base move as a half action. Move Silently [roll0] vs awareness (lacking that 1/2 perception]. Then with her other half-action she will delay, which gives her an extra half action at the beginning of next turn.

[OneFamiliarFace]

A long time coming...

Ashmore stands stunned at the sudden eruption of violence. It has been a long time since his few skirmishes on Scarric XXII. He decides to defer to those more experienced.

He yells out to the Lieutenant. "Lt. Korolev, you know what best to do. I put my gun in your hands. Still, I think it best we should keep ourselves a lift, don't you?"

Ashmore draws his laspistol. Then his face goes still as he focuses his mind, feeling about for living presences to ensure that everyone is accounted for.

Okay, I think I grasp this combat deal, save for one thing: our movement seems ridiculously low. Unless I am misreading the action chart, I can do little other than use my power and move 2 measly squares. Ah, better idea, as noted above. Still, am I right about the move thing? Half Action is your Ag bonus in squares of move?

Note: for psychic powers, I'm going to put the threshold next to it so you know what I need.

Initiative: [roll0]
Sense Presence (7): [roll1], success means he automatically detects all living creatures in the area.
Turn: Half action to draw laspistol, half action to use sense presence.

[Boddan]

Pandamonium

In the leftmost hallway, Graki dashes across the hallway low and quiet. With quick peeks around the corner she sees the bomb setter finish his task in the open lift. The leather clad man steps out of the elevator after hitting a button for a lower level of the facility. Seconds later, another blast rocks the building and smoke erupts from the closed lift doors. Cables and counterweights scrape and smash their way down the shaft.

The bomber jogs over to help his comrade open the lift-shaft on number three.

The nearby gunman pushes the business end of his stub auto into the doctor's temple and hands him a dataslate.

"We knows you got this **** 'ere! Take me too it!"

"Alright alright! It's in the storage room!"

The doctor motions towards the nurse's station and begins moving that way as the gunman walks behind, his pistol pointed at the doctor's back.

The last killer in the left hallway, walks towards the nurse cowering behind the gurney, his gun raised.

"Get up, bitch."

In the right hallway, the rifleman puts a round through the fleeing patient's back at the same time the arbite hustles up to the counter. Seeing the armed lawman, the rifleman flings the door next to him open and leans against it for cover. His fellow gang member curses loudly and dashes ahead for cover.

Korolev ushers the nurses back from the inevitable high-velocity exchange and calls back to you all:

"As good as plan as any!"

Raz grabs the servant's now un-bound hands and runs from the room. He holds his lascarbine in his other hand.

Doctor Ashmore reaches out with his mind, sensing everything that lives on this floor. He detects several additional lifeforms within the rooms nearby.

He recalls when they entered the medicae facility, that this floor was shared with coma-recovery and traumatic brain injury patients. Their lack of consciousness making the nearby mental patients tolerable.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard2.jpg

Initiative:
Graki & Ashmore
Gangers & Arbite
Korolev
Raz & Servant
Civilians

Graki, please add in what half action you took, if any, for your delay when posting your next turn. You are still very unseen by the gangers.

Ashmore, your sense presence covers the entire floor and shows several lifesigns. Most of which may be comatose. The mental ward consists of the six secure rooms you're now near.

I apologize for lack of numbered/lettered squares. If going off of narrative doesnt work well, Ill add them in the future.

Doctor and Graki are up!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Sustaining his focus on the psychic power, Ashmore stays low and runs to the left corner of the hallway he is in, staying behind the more capable Arbite. Crouching low, with his free hand on the wall, Ashmore begins to give Korolev and the Arbite as specific a description as he can about the locations of possible enemies. He assumes the armed woman is on his side, based on the fact that she isn't firing at his friends.

He curses under his breath. "Throne! Chrace and Hoggins must've been closer than we suspected."

Turn: Full action to run to corner, -20BS for enemies shooting at him. Using cover in the best way he can, given position of the enemies.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Hate is the Savior of the Feeble Mind

Graki turns the corner and lowers The Long Las level with her eye. As she carefully lines up her shot, one of the oafish gangers charges the nurse's hiding spot. "Guutam selaliaaque". As she pulls the trigger she mutters the tribal evening blessing, these fools too shall slip beneath the vale into the vast emptiness of The Void.

She breathes out, and her finger disengages the safety mechanism and sends the encroaching ganger a high velocity manifestation of the Emperor's disdain.

My delay action was a half-action aim +10 BS. With this turn, I shall use that aimed shot against the ganger on the other side of the nurse's cover.
[roll0] My BS is 90? (40+10 aim+30 unaware+ 10 under half range) Damage is +1d10 for each degree of success with a max of 3d10+3... problem is I can't tell how many degrees of success I will have until I actually post... With 90 BS, I'm going to guess I will have the max, if not, Tob, feel free to reroll for me. [roll1]

With my other half-action I will shoot again at the same guy if I can, and if I don't at least incapacitate him. Otherwise, I will shoot at the guy at the far end of the hall near the elevator. I'm guessing my BS should be like 50 for him (40+10 under half range) since he will likely be "aware" once he's covered in his buddies exploded brain matter. [roll2]. Damage [roll3]

[Boddan]

High Velocity Rage

Graki breathes out and lightly squeezes the trigger with practiced efficiency. The greasy skinned killer simply ceased to be as the las bolt virtually tore him in half. Starting at the center mass.

The hostage taker, now aware of the threat, grabs the doctor around the throat and pulls him in front as a human shield. He yells an obscenity at Graki as he returns fire. The pistol’s shot grazes the feral sniper’s ear.

Meanwhile, the nurse sheltering behind the gurney, darts across the hallway into a room and slams the door shut.

The gangers manage to pry the shaft open. One moves up to support his brethren while the other leans into the open shaft and begins rigging a bomb to the cables holding the lift several floors below.

The arbite and the gangers trade a furious amount of screaming lead. The arbite sprays the hallway with bullets, laying down suppressive fire. One bullet punctures the doorway as well as the rifleman’s left arm. In return, the closest ganger places two bullets into the arbite’s leg hanging from cover. The second shot lodges in his shin bone with a resounding crack.

Korolev crawls along the floor to loose a shot from his laspistol. The arbite’s automatic fire sprays overhead.

Raz yells for the servant to stay and then runs up to cover while shouldering his lascarbine. The servant looks around hysterically but does as told.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard3.jpg

Nice shot, Graki! You actually had an effective BS of 100 an additional +10 from being accurate (adds a further +10 to any aim action). The remaining gunman has near full cover using the doctor as a shield. His head, right arm, and right leg are clearly visible. You however take 1 damage from the small chunk of missing ear.

The rifleman takes 5 dmg to his left arm as the bullet tears through his chosen cover. The arbite lays down well placed suppressive fire pinning all three gangers in the right hallway (the bomb setter is just out of his field of fire). The arbite himself takes two rounds to his leg. The second cracks his shinbone audibly. He has a broken leg and is at critical damage level.

Everyone else misses!

Graki, you're assumed to have used your second half action as an aim on the hostage taker. You can extend this to a full round aim (this half and the first half on next round) for +20(+30 total for using an accurate weapon) and fire on the remaining half action if you choose.

You're both up!

[Jing Ke]

[b]Graki:Scavengers Shall Be Put to Rest!!!

Graki's ears ring and she feels something wet run down the side of her head. Not pausing to examine her wound, she crouches slightly lower and takes aim at the hostage taker. This latest episode has officially determined the subject of Graki's next solo-mission, tentatively called "Operation Ganger-Puddle."

With her breathing steady, she narrows her vision and aims for the beads of sweat trickling down the ganger's forehead, aim small, miss small.

Half-action fire +full round aim as suggested: [roll0] BS-40+20 aim +10 accurate +10 under half range=BS 80 order of magnitude is uncertain so I'll just roll for each, use the appropriate one,since I'm aiming.

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

Also, I realize that it's possible I will screw this up and just shoot both of them... I'm ok with that, and I'm sure Graki would find some way to justify it to herself.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Seeing the injured Arbite, Ashmore decides not to wait and ask permission. He releases his hold on the sustained power and reaches into the injured leg with his mind in an attempt to heal it.

Healer (7): [roll0]

If successful, he heals [roll1] wounds.

[Boddan]

Where There’s Fire…

Graki once again demonstrates her affinity for reducing heretics to their constituent atoms. The hostage-taker is halfway through screaming all the horrible things he’s going to do to Graki when his head is vaporized by the long las shot. His body slumps to the ground and the doctor takes off at a dead run towards his savior. The medicae official still clutches the dataslate handed to him by the deceased. One could think he’s simply too terrified to think straight. A notion made more believable from the smoke wafting from his singed hair which may have been comical in other circumstances.

The doctor focuses on the split bone within the arbite’s armor encased leg. He commands the tissue to move this way, regrow there, and fuse here. A process that’s not without its own agony. In the chaos of the firefight however, the arbite is running on pure adrenalin and thinks he’s merely taken another hit.

Doing his best to prove his worth, the arbite fights through the pain and continues to lay down suppressive fire for his comrades. The shots tear through the hallway and succeed in forcing the gangers heads down, their return fire unaimed and feeble.

However, just as the battle seems attainable, a loud crash sounds from the mental ward. The fire from the above floors has burned its way through. Flaming debris falls heavily into the ward and begins to spread. The fire intensifies in other areas of the floor and the smoke is truly beginning to appear daunting.

The new threat causes the blonde servant to break down once again. She falls into a fetal position behind the counter and cries for all she’s worth in hysteria. A nearby nurse shuffles over and tries to calm the woman.

Yet another blast rocks the level as the bomber finishes his task. The cables on lift #3 are sheared seconds after the man pulls the crowbar from the lift doors allowing them to close. He bravely darts out into the arbite’s auto fire to hit the ‘summon lift’ button on #4 before taking cover himself.

His yells are barely discernable above the scattered gunfire and falling debris:

“I…..got one more! …….…..burn ….. stairwell…….hop the lift…..leave them ……..!”

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard4.jpg

The gangers remain pinned with the exception of their leader (bomber). Their shots miss (horribly)

Raz attempted to semi-fire but jammed which was saved by reliability. And so, he merely misses.

Korolev misses again.

The arbite has his broken leg healed but is still pretty banged up.

The fires are spreading. The good doctor has an unhealthy amount of flaming wreckage a few meters behind him. The smoke is beginning to gather and fill the ward in this enclosed atmosphere. In approx 3 rounds suffocation may be a sincere threat.

Your move, gentlemen!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore finds there is little he can do but get his ass out of the fire, which he does promptly. He runs to the corner of the wall of the middle group of rooms.

"Lieutenant! I don't mean to press, but I think it might be best that we keep that lift for ourselves!"

Turn: full turn to run to the corner of all the middle rooms (the opposite one from Graki, of course, kind of behind Raz).

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Flank 'Em

Graki turns to read the face of a seemingly unremarkable ally, who apparently has yet to receive his coming-of-age markings. "How many on the other side?" Upon receiving a somewhat hesitant count from the man, she grimly closes distance between them with a glance. "We shall have to flank, let the remaining few hold them down, we shall sweep around down this hallway I have just cleared. It's the only chance we have to keep them from escaping."

With that, Graki turns and springs from her position, bounding down the hallway.

Graki runs (18) down the left hallway and takes cover just below the black rectangle in the middle. I'm assuming that Graki wouldn't know exactly what the bombers are doing, so at this point she's probably just trying to kill them. This will however, have the dual effect of keeping them busy and giving her and Ashmore a chance to catch the last train out of town as it were. Perhaps the doctor would like to attempt some manner of mind-lock on the bomber if that's possible?

[Boddan]

Serve the Emperor today, for tomorrow you may be dead.

Korolev nods to the Doctor and raises his hand for Raz to hold. The Inspector knows his arbite can’t keep up this rate of fire for much longer.

Almost on cue, the arbite’s continuous fire ceases with the click of the hammer on an empty chamber.

"Reloading!” He barks.

Korolev hisses, “Go! Go!” The pair dash up the hallway to closer cover before the gangers realize they can stick their heads up.

More fiery debris rains from the mental ward’s ceiling and an occupant begins to yell frantically as his cell catches aflame.

The off-world sniper speaks quickly across the hall to Dr. Ashmore before darting off. She moves quickly, much quicker than the good doctor could hope to achieve. Though, one could presume the view is better from that vantage.

Graki darts past the fleeing doctor who slides to a stop. The man is joined by the hiding nurse as she pokes her head into the now clear hallway. The pair follows the jungle-bred killer…but give her a wide berth.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard5.jpg

The arbite sprays his last ten rounds and is now out. He will be reloading all next round. The gangers all miss (as did the arbite). The closest ganger, however, passed his save for pinning at the end of his round. He may act normally the next round.

Korolev and Raz dash forward.

As do the Doctor and Graki.

The smoke is thickening. Two rounds to go before oxygen becomes a luxury.

Awareness test for the Doctor to see the status on the #4 lift's red-lit panel from where he is.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki charges past the bewildered hospital workers, to the corner of the hallway containing the gangers. Throwing her back to the near wall, she closes her eyes, picturing the next shot, and trying to develop some kind of a strategy. Her eyes open, and the vertical slits of her pupils narrow. The blood from her maimed ear mingles with sweat, as her pulse echoes in her head.

A puddle of blood has formed at her feet, fortunately it seems to be issuing forth from the shreds of a ganger torso at her feet.

Graki uses run again, and should end up slightly behind cover just to the left of the red block on top of a set of remains.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Seeing the lithe woman flee in the opposite direction, Ashmore thinks he has little chance of catching her now. His gun would be better in this battle.

He yells to the civilans: "Stay down, and keep the patient under control. Be ready to run!"

The doctor holds his head and arm out of cover, and sights down his father's laspistol. He waits patiently for someone to show his head.

Sorry I didn't follow you Joe, but that way would take me 3 more rounds, minimum before I could do anything, and that is 1 round after we start suffocating and probably 2 rounds after the cultists leave.

While the other doctor is here, it may be best if you refer to me as Ashmore :-p)

Awareness (17): [roll0]
Laspistol (45): [roll1]
Turn: Half action to aim (included). Half action delayed, presumably for firing on the enemy when they come from behind cover, or, if they don't, just firing on them before the beginning of my next turn anyway.

[Jing Ke]

Awareness check to see liftplate Vs 40: [roll0]

[Boddan]

Forward!

Graki turns the corner and crouches slightly behind the metal bench for cover. In front of her is a ganger with his back to her and all his attention on unjamming his pistol. The stairwell in between them has its door ajar and coughing can be heard from within. Most likely due to the smoke pouring through the stairwell.

Dr. Ashmore raises his pistol and waits for a target to present itself. The closest ganger boldly stands up and fires several rounds at the advancing Raz. His first shot lands home but the rest go wild as the doctor’s shot tears into his gun arm inflicting horrendous burns.

Raz seems to shrug the shot off and returns fire along with Korolev. The ganger pays for his boldness with his life as he’s peppered by lasrounds.

The arbite finishes reloading and shoulders his autogun. The nurses keep their eyes locked onto the doctor waiting for his signal.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard6.jpg

You both fail the awareness test, obviously. Feel free to take another this round.

The two remaining gangers are still pinned. Failing their +30! WP tests for not being shot at this round. Ree-dic-urus. One shoots and jams his gun (the far back one) and the other takes aim on Raz.

Note: I award well done RP, innovative ideas, and movie-quality kills. That is all!

And of course, the smoke thickens and the fire rages. Enjoy! =D

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Crouching, Ashmore moves towards the nearby bench while keeping his laspistol trained forward.

Noticing the sign on the door, the doctor remembers a sometimes useful tool in dealing with medical patients. He asks across to one of the employees. "You. Would there be air tanks and rebreather masks in the storage room ahead?"

Ashmore fires off a wild shot down the corridor towards the gentleman behind the door.

Turn: Half action to move forward along the wall 2 squares, staying behind the bench. Half action to shoot at guy behind door.

Laspistol (35): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki, now caked in sweat, blood and soot to looks more like a rookie member of a Sororitas Flamer Squad than her usual spry self. Undeterred by her momentary state, she levels the Cat's Claw and takes aim at some fool who has apparently forgotten how to fire his weapon. "Actually," Graki breathes, it doesn't happen to every guy!." The Long Las issues forth a beam of solid death aimed directly at the back of the unsuspecting ganger's head.

Awareness check again vs 40 [roll0], aim +fire, staying sorta behind cover if at all possible. Fire: (40+10 under half+10aim+30unaware?)

If he is unaware 90 BS if not 60 [roll1] damage per degree of success:

[roll2] :0 degrees
[roll3] :1 degree
[roll4] : 2 degrees

[Boddan]

Another One Bites The Dust

The Cat’s Claw makes short work of the distracted ganger. He tumbles to the ground with an oversized hole burned through his head.

As the body slaps into the hard floor of the medicae ward, the bomber runs from the stairwell, throwing the door shut behind him, and hunkers down protectively. Yet another blast tears through the facility and the door to the stairwell is sent flying across the hall to shatter against the wall. A jet of flame and smoke billow forth.

The flames retract after the blast but leave the floor outside the stairwell alight.

Across the floor, the nurse nods emphatically.

“Yes! There is! …Should I…? I mean…I could go…?” She looks willing to help but rightfully fearful.

Raz turns his head to call out, “We need to kee” – and is cut short as his head disintegrates from a large caliber bullet.

The arbite reacts instantly and puts two well placed shots into the door that ring out as they punch through. Blood spatters the hallway and the rifle bounces across the floor.

Korolev dashes forward and pulls another door open for cover. He looks over the tech priest from across the hall and turns back to the doctor shaking his head sadly. He looks forward again and calls out, “He’s still moving!”

Movement can be seen behind the door ahead.

The smoke is overwhelming now and every breath drawn forces you to cough out what precious air you have.

Graki and Ashmore both can make out the red panel from the lift ahead. The counter switches from 6 to 7 as they watch. The lift is close.

Map:



http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard7.jpg

Smoke Inhalation: This round, Toughness test +10. Failure nets you a level of fatigue. The tests will get harder in increments of 5.
OR, just hold your breath. Can do for 2x Toughness bonus in rounds. Disclaimer: the ride down may take several rounds

Graki splats another silly ganger. Go XX Chromosomes? ;)

The doctor misses his target, but both of you pass the awareness tests you did this round.

Raz is indeed headless.

Graki, your visibility is limited to the bomber due to smoke and high flames; -15 to-hit.

The lift should arrive in two rounds approximating its ascent.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore winces as his heretofore partner's head explodes in front of him. Most likely for the best. That one was an odd one, Emperor guide his soul.

In response to the young woman's query, the doctor looks hopeful. "Yes, come now, as fast as you can. Bring the patient with you."

He takes his last breath of air and sprints across the hallway into the storage room, looking for rebreathers and air tanks.

Turn: Full round to run, will end move next to air tanks/masks or wherever the doctor thinks they might be most easily stored.

Medicae (35+ease of doing): trying to think where the equipment would most likely be.

5 rounds of breath left after this one.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

As the smoke grows thicker, Graki recognizes the urgency of escape. Taking aim, she fires a wild shot through the encroaching flames.

Toughness Check vs 40 [1d100 Attack the bomber vs (40+10+10) 60 [roll0]

[Jing Ke]

Using a fate point to reroll the attack vs 60 BS [roll0] and doing the toughness check without a typo 40 [roll1]

[Boddan]

Air is your Friend

The ganger begins standing from his huddled position and just now noticed his former ally dead at his feet. He begins to spin around, an autopistol in hand ready to spray the first sign of authority when Graki’s las round enters through his side, reduces both his lungs and heart to smoldering ruin, and blows out the opposite side.

The arsonist drops wordlessly.

Dr. Ashmore hurries into the supply room with the nurse. The eye-level shelves are lined with various medications and chemicals in containers of all sizes. The top shelves and ground are covered in all the required tools and equipment for the assorted tasks of the medicae. The doctor begins scanning to his left when the nurse blurts, “Here. Th... <cough cough> They’re here!”

To the doctor’s right sits two tanks with attached re-breather masks on the floor.

Outside, the other nurse has her hands full pulling the patient along. The servant is still hysterical and is taking in giant lungfuls of smoke and coughing violently.

The arbite dashes by to keep up with the Inspector. He’s moving with a pronounced limp and is breathing hard under the effort. He too is taking in an unhealthy amount of smoke.

Inspector Korolev remains calm however and advances while holding his breath. His pistol trained on the door ahead.

Behind the doctor, a door opens. It only opens halfway before the body of Erasmus blocks it. A young woman - civilian - steps from one of the recovery rooms warily. She takes a look down at what’s blocking the door and gasps in shock. This of course causes her to start coughing and choking on smoke as she drops to a knee.

Map:



http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard8.jpg

Graki, the arbite, the servant, the unnamed doctor behind Graki, and the civilian all take a level of fatigue.

The lift will be here next round. You're aware from your trip up on the way in that the lifts arent terribly large. There are 10 friendlies at present (and one un-friendly). The ride up was cosy with 3...

Toughness test +5 if not holding your breath.

The fire is starting to cover the entrance to the lift...

Ready, set, go!

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Crouched, and in the center of the hallway, Graki hurries toward the lift, now completely wreathed in flame. Taking a handkerchief from her backpack, Graki ties it behind her head like a mask and moves forward searching for something to use on the fire.

Vs Toughness 35 [roll0]
Awareness to look for water in some form to wet her handkerchief and make an impromptu gas mask. vs awarness base 30; I don't have the book on me at the moment, so I forget the penalty for 1 fatigue point [roll1]

Awareness check again for something to use to put out the fire near the lift (fire extinguisher? That would be TOO easy!) [roll2]

If I have any remaining actions, I will delay and either use the action to move through the opening in the flames or mount countermeasures.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Continuing to hold his breath, the doctor hands both of the tanks to the nurse and gestures that they should share, then he gestures out towards the hallway.

He takes one last frantic glance around the room to see if there is anything with which to hold back the fire. Then he continues his emergency preparations.

Awareness (17): [roll0]

If he sees an extinguisher or something, then Ashmore will grab that and move as close to Raz as possible.

If he does not, then he will move to Raz's body. He will then use the rest of this round and the next to grab what he can from the acolyte's body, favoring things in this order:

1. spare parts bag into which he will cram everything else
2. laspistol and ammo
3. dataslate (if it has info that ashmore's doesn't have)
4. lascarbine and ammo
5. dataslate (if it has same info as Ashmore's)
6. vial of sacred machine oil

Anything he cannot grab by the end of the first round after he reaches the body will be left. If he has an action left when done, he will move as far as he can towards the downed ganger/lift.

[Boddan]

Lookin’ Up

Graki pulls a length of cloth from her pack and quickly ties it around her face. She scans the area for some source of water. Looking hurriedly from wall to wall, left to right, it looks bleak. Her eyes quickly pan over a large pipe exposed from the most recent blast into the hallway. Her head snaps back to the symbol on the pipe. Without hesitation, the talented sniper shoulders her rifle and fires. The pipe running through ceiling bursts open and water jets down into the floor. The liquid quickly spreads and puts out the fires in the immediate area.

Dr. Ashmore silently directs the nurse and looks over the supply room hopefully. No extinguishers, but his eyes do settle on an inhalant injector nearest the door labeled NBF-4. The doctor recognizes this product as one used to treat inhaled chemicals and other assorted inner-lung tissue damage directly. He snatches it as he dashes from the room. Kneeling next to his fallen partner, Grigory quickly pulls the tech-priest’s pack off and flips it open as he sets it down. He then lifts the departed onto his side to hurriedly unfasten his tactical belt. The doctor shoves the belt with its assorted pouches and attached holster into the pack along with the nearby carbine. He shoulders the pack as he stands, the carbine’s stock sticking out from under the flap.

Inspector Korolev and the arbite cautiously approach the last ganger. His lost rifle washes towards the pair in the rushing water. The ganger is dragging himself slowly towards the lift through the water. It rushes over and under him quickly turning crimson from his ruined midsection. The arbite’s bullets had torn through the door along with the killer’s pelvic bone and hip. He seems entirely focused on moving away and may be in shock.

DING.

The lift has arrived. The doors open slowly to the empty conveyor. Most of the rushing water falls down the small crack into the shaft below.

Map:



http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard9.jpg

Graki, Fatigue nets you a -10 to all tests taken (but only -10 total, not per each level of fatigue). However, your test this turn would come at the end and I'll give you +20 for the makeshift mask (+10 total). You pass. I kept you where you were however to don the mask and fire on the pipe though.

Dr. Ashmore, you recieve:

NBF-4 = +30 to remove effects of negative inhalants; 3 uses
las pistol and 1 charge pack
las carbine with underslung grapnel and 2 charge packs
knife
glow lamp
2 data-slates
bag of spare parts (containing two batteries, two spools of thick wire cabling, an electromagnetic field sensor, and a timepiece)
1 vial of Sacred Machine Oil
2 bottles of moonshine
16 packets of lho-sticks.

The nurse takes a breath from the tank while handing the second tank off to the other nurse passing by while dragging the violently hacking servant. The second nurse takes a breath herself while the first moves to the civilian woman.

I would advise not walking under the high pressure water blast :smallbiggrin:

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore silently directs his charges down the hallway as fast as he can, opening any doors in his way.

He mentally recites the Litany of Merciful Death for those patients he hasn't a chance of rescuing, beseeching the Emperor for their swift delivery into his fold. Then the doctor pushes on until he reaches the lift.

Fellowship (25): [roll0], attempting to keep his charges (and any new ones as doors open) swift, orderly, and generous with the air tanks (for each other).

I'm pretty sure others still have an extra round of actions, since I probably couldn't get the inhalant, move to Raz, and remove his gear in one turn. That makes it Turn 3 for my breath holding when I am done with Raz, so this 'moving down the hall' action describes Turn 4, giving me 2 more rounds before tests or breathing are necessary.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

As the lift opens, Graki notices the strange scrapping sound followed by muffled grunting as the maimed ganger drags himself toward the door. Fearful that he may have some kind of hidden bomb on his person, Graki drops to one knee, aims and fires.

aim at the gimpy ganger, and shoot vs (40+10+10-10) 50 [roll0]

Degree of Success
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Jing Ke]

FATE POINT AGAIN!!! to attack vs 50 [roll0]

Degree
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

I'm using the point because, knowing Toby, that last guy has to be some kind of trump card.

[Boddan]

Triage

Dr. Ashmore points down the hallway to the others nearby and continues stripping the tech-priest of any useful gear… or anything that may alert others to the cell’s mission. Despite the very small chance of any gear surviving this conflagration. As he finishes, he notices the occupant of the room that the civilian woman had stumbled from. A young man, roughly the same age as the woman, lies connected to full life-support which is further monitored by a nearby servitor. A glance down the hall shows the nurse struggling to keep the re-breather pressed to the woman’s face as she fights to return to this comatose man. His focus back on the unconscious man, the doctor sees the beginning of a collapse from the floor above as smoke starts to waft through the ceiling tiles and cinders fall like hellish snow through the smoky room.

On the other side of the floor, Graki succumbs to the coughing fits, water in her eyes, and smoke distorting her target and misses the stricken ganger. Picking up on the potential risk, the arbite fires once and puts the killer down for good. The Inspector dashes ahead to hold the lift open. He eyes the interior with exasperation. It’s going to be a tight fit.

Map:



http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard10.jpg

Graki, I rolled your Tougness test for the smoke. It was a 9 and you pass.

Furthermore, I wouldnt be that mean to have that one strapped with explosives :smallcool:

Doc, you have a half action left this turn after finishing securing Raz's gear.

The unnamed doctor is being pulled along by that nurse as he's coughing pretty hard. Almost unable to walk. The servant is doing much better with a rebreather to share now and moves forward with that nurse. The civilian woman is having a freak-out session as she realizes what's going to happen if she leaves her (assumed) loved one. One of many on the floor.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Coughing and gagging, Graki dashes toward the open lift. This is a very real incident of natural selection... "The Emperor's childer shall persevere, while those of lesser faith will be consumed in the flames of His wrath! Graki remembers the Codex Ordo XVIII: Stanza III from her "education" sessions in depths of the space station orbiting her homeworld.

The penitent shall suffer the scourge, while the bold shall slay the slavemaster!" Graki remembers the old saying passed down through her tribe. Perhaps now is the time for dogma...

Graki full-on runs as best she can into the lift. Toughness vs (30-10+20 for mask) 40 [roll0]

[Boddan]

Home Stretch

Nearly everyone on the floor dashes into the lift. It’s getting very cramped. The re-breather makes it around to the inhabitants.

The doctor makes progress towards the elevator as the ceiling behind him gives in. Fiery debris crashes down onto the comatose man. The woman becomes hysterical, fighting and thrashing with the nurse. After several hard fought seconds, her body gives in to the smoke and she passes out. The nurse begins dragging her backwards with one arm while dragging the re-breather tank in the other.

Map:



http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/MedicaeWard11.jpg

Sorry to jump your turn, Doctor. I figured there was little else you could do but move anyhow.

Those in the lift dont have to test. Ill just assume those without the mask at the moment are holding their breath.

However, the lift is lookin real tight. Any ideas on fitting you all in would go far.

Graki, you took a 2nd level of fatigue before getting a hand on the re-breather. Shouldnt be an issue in any case.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Looking up at the ceiling of the elevator, Graki gets an idea. She reaches up, searching for a good grip.

Graki is going to attempt to climb, and hold onto the roof of the elevator, perhaps in the corner like a spider? vs 20 str [roll0] once, or twice if I fail [roll1]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

All those years helping to investigate drug crime in the Hive Arrakis sewer systems are paying off as Ashmore continues to hold his breath. He continues to focus on the Litany of Merciful Death for the poor unfortunates he will have to leave behind.

Eyes watering from the smoke, the doctor moves forward as quickly as he can, helping the nurse carry the unconscious woman to the elevator.

Not much to say, I will take all the actions I have to help nurse and civilian get to the elevator. Once there, we will see about who gets on!

Also, this marks the end of Turn 5 for which I can hold my breath.

[Boddan]

Fresh Air & Fresh Leads

The nurse is pulling for all she’s worth and near the lift when Dr Ashmore runs up and doubles their pace the last few meters to the door. Graki skillfully hops onto the hip-height rails in the back corner and stands over everyone. The personnel realize their predicament and cram together as Grigory and the nurse drag the unconscious woman in. The nurse leans her against the lift wall and stands over her trying to feed her air.

With one woman up and one woman down, the lift doors can close with all inside.

The ride down isn’t any better as the smoke remains a problem and smallish, fiery debris rains onto the top of the lift from the highest levels. Down to the lobby, your group bursts onto the empty ground floor and flee from the burning building. Once a hundred meters or so are between you and your almost-crematorium, you all slow to a stop and can breath easy. Chimeras full of arbites as well as fire-specialists arriving in large tanker trucks bearing aqua-foam to fight the flames arrive. The convoy surrounds the building and emergency personnel see to the milling masses of medicae workers and patients that made it out.

Inspector Korolev orders the wounded arbite to go seek help from his comrades and their medics. As an afterthought, he stops him briefly to take his shackles from his back pouch. Korolev turns the servant around and shackles her wrists behind her back.

The nurses see to the unconscious civilian while the unnamed doctor approaches you all.

“Thank You. Sincerely, thank you for what you’ve done today.” With that he hands Dr Ashmore the dataslate he had held onto this entire time. “They wanted this.” He walks off to help the nurses with a sad look in his eyes as he considers the reality the woman will face when she wakes once again.

The dataslate says, “Xiloprofoline – 5.5L Minimum.”

The Inspector finishes binding the servant and checks her basic vitals as he asks over his shoulder, “Alright, your company certainly is exciting. What’s our…your next move?” He asks as if unsure whether he’s actually aloud to assist you directly.

The servant stands drifting side to side, her eyes distant, as if completely out of it. Even as the top half of the medicae building gives in and cascades down to the ground level. Smoke and ash wash over everyone within a half kilometer.



You'z a winna! *Ahem* Sorry... 100xp each. 60 for the victory, 40 additional for innovation (re-breathers, water search, climbing up, etc)

The good doctor can test: Medicae, Chem-Use, and Scholastic Lore (Biology) to identify Xiloprofoline

Also, Graki does have a minor tear in her ear.

Decide your next course of action, perhaps check in with Riccan, handle the loot of the fallen, and/or spend XP's in suitable RPish fashion. Maybe even all of the above?

Note: Ill be gifting Victor with another 100xp to keep you all on the same starting line. He shall be joining us soon, me thinks.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore appraises the band after the disaster. The personnel and patients will have to care for themselves from here on out.

He looks at Korolev. "Lieutenant. Of course your help would be most valued." He pauses to look at a space next to him where a person could stand. "It appears as though my company has just been greatly diminished. It would be much appreciated if you could be so kind as to inquire as to whether the morgue has survived this disaster. We still have much work to do."

Then he turns to the woman and offers his hand to shake. "I'm afraid this is a peculiar time for introductions, but I am Dr. Grigory Ashmore, currently doing some work for the... Arbites. I must thank you for your help in the facility. Your arrival was most fortuitous."

Finally, he looks down at the data slate and runs through his memory on Xiloprofoline. He also flips through the Medicae texts on his data-slate for more information on the medical and biological side of things.

I'm just assuming I would have a few medical textbooks uploaded onto my data-slate. If not, then assume I'm looking through the hard copy of the Libram Medicae a bit, though that is primarily just lists of proper procedure and the doctoral oaths I took and stuff.

Medicae (35): [roll0]
Chem-use (35): [roll1]
Scholastic Lore (Biology)(35): [roll2]

[Jing Ke]

Graki: Introductions

"It is similarly fortuitous that you are a healer of some kind, friend, for I seem to be missing a bit of my ear." Graki indicates the lack of sensory organ to the esteemed Dr. Ashmore.

When Ashmore and the group are clear of any prying ears, Graki feigns distress, hugging the surprised Dr. Ashmore close to her. She whispers to him " I have been given a summary appraisal of the situation, and it seems we are looking for the same individual. In a bar located in the underhive, known as the "Frigid Tide" there is a musical gathering of some sort. The performers there are affiliated with "The Chained," whose members we just dispatched, as well as a certain Chrace."

This said, Graki looks around cautiously...Then adds," I've been advised also of your particular "inquisitiveness" shall we say, I have been officially attatched to your squad, if you'd like please check with your handlers." With that Graki summarily drops the hugging, and slips a piece of paper into Ashmore's hand.

The paper appears to be an advertisement for a band concert.

It has a picture of some exaggerated gangers, one of them wears a servitor arm fashioned into some kind of instrument.

It says:

Ave Imperator!!

Where an When?

-Frigid Tide
-Day After Tmrw Night

Across the band's picture in an unidentifiable white liquid is scratched "Chrace will carve his lost time out of you"

I'm going to rest in an effort to recover my fatigue. When I talk to Dr. Ashmore, I'm going to use my newly acquired shadowing skill to attempt to nonchalantly hand him the paper, and make it not immediately obvious what I am doing. vs agi 30 (roll on next post, I crapped this one up).

[Jing Ke]

[roll0] vs 30

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore calmly pushes the young lady away from him, but accepts the paper and takes a cursory glance at it. "Well, Miss..., I'm certain we all received a scare in there but..." He stops as he realizes this is no simple scrap of uselessness. "I'm sorry, and your name was?"

When she tells him, the doctor returns his gaze to his palm and speaks at a normal level. "Well, this is certainly more concrete than anything we have thus far. Still, I would like to finish my research on this drug and see to the corpses before we continue. I suspect much more than some over-enthusiastic vandalism is at foot, and I am not entirely convinced that Chrace should become our primary quarry. If the bodies can give us a lead on Hoggins, then I would like to continue on our trail." He lowers his voice to a whsiper. "Something about his particular modus operandi hints at disturbing possibilities."

While the doctor waits for Korolev to continue, he sits against a wall and fiddles with his data-slate about the drug.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Unable to tell if Ashmore has failed to pay her heed, in the tradition of the arrogant Medicae, or if he is just playing along... Graki continues...

"I would imagine that someone trying to KILL you might be a bit of a tip-off that you are on the right trail? Of course I could be wrong, I am a mere Feral-worlder...and a woman no less." Graki mumbles, testing the waters.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore looks genuinely perplexed. "I'm terribly sorry, but what do either your gender or homeworld classification have to do with anything?"

The doctor speaks quietly and as kindly as he can. "We all but knew people would try to kill us when we took the job. This attack merely indicates that Chrace and Hoggins have a greater chance of working together then we may have thought. But should I review these corpses and find Hoggins the more potent threat, then Chrace's ganger riots could very well be little more than the symptoms of a much greater and frightening cause." And a good doctor never loses the hive for the hab.

"Now let me take a look at that ear." Ashmore knows he can't do much with it, so he does what he can to make it sting less and tells her it will heal fine on its own, giving her quite the impressive scar as it does.

Medicae (40): [roll0]

I also, I hope I don't sound overly calm after a life-threatening engagement. I am trying to A) account for decent as heck WP and B) take on a doctor's bedside manner which is familiar to me to keep myself focused.

Still using my terrible medicae and chem-use rolls with the so-so biology roll up above to examine the chemical. And then still waiting for Korolev to return with info on the morgue. Oh, but I am going to add Trade(Doctor) in case the chem is commonly used in hospitals.

Trade (Doctor)(40): [roll1]

[Boddan]

Progress

Inspector Korolev jogs off to locate the head of the fire specialists at Ashmore’s request. He weaves his way through the now crowded plaza. Everyone and everything is covered in ash and grime.

Dr. Ashmore spends several minutes looking through his ‘slate for further information on Xiloprofoline until he’s approached by the feral sniper.

Graki and the Doctor make their introductions and go on to test each other a bit. Not overtly hostile of course. One probes the other’s thoughts on feral women while the other maintains a calm demeanor as he thinks on the validity of her claim as an acolyte.

Ashmore begins first aid on her torn ear while thinking over the drug, Xiloprofoline. He stitches it closed as best he can while mentally running through any mention of the word in his medicae career. The answer comes to him as he injects a small dosage of a pain killer into Graki’s ear lobe. He recalls a discussion about the drug during a tour when he began working as a doctor.

Xiloprofoline is used in conjunction with three other chems to help maintain comatose patients. However, if combined with a number of seperate chems, it’s the key ingredient in a powerful nerve gas.

Dr. Ashmore stands up from his work on Graki’s ear, which should heal up nicely, when he notices Korolev sitting in his black vehicle with the door open. He seems to be finishing up a conversation on the vox set installed in the vehicle. The Inspector reaches into the back seat before walking back up to you two. He turns the servant around, lifts her shirt, and takes a photo of the tattoo on her back before ordering an arbite to remove her.

“When she’s back in a cell, search her person for any more tattoos or suspicious marks. Document them and send them to me ASAP.” The arbite nods his affirmation and takes the servant away. Her state of mind hasn’t changed.

"Well the collapse of the top half of the building has buried the morgue at present. They'll notify me the minute they clear it of rubble and aqua-foam if anything remains. They estimate 12-36 hours to get it done."

Almost as if reading the doctor’s mind, Inspector Korolev goes on to detail Graki’s work for them recently. She’s done mostly solo work emptying out gang-hideouts and asking (harshly) for information from those that survive. The flyer she found must have been in one such hab. Even with the ganger blood over a portion of it, the threat to the band is clear, and obviously involves Chrace.

Dr. Ashmore hands the flyer to Inspector Korolev. He holds it close to his face and adjusts his wireframe glasses.“That’s the gang that led us to capture Chrace in the first place. We could never find his hideouts out there. So…we offered a reward and this displaced gang took us up on it. I had heard they did something musically related with the reward money," he says with a grin. "I suppose it’s obvious why Chrace would want them.”


Ashmore, your Biology test was a mild success with the Trade (Doctor) doing the most work.

Your Medicae test for first aid had a further +30 for the med kit and a further +20 for the nature of the injury. Graki heals the 1 point immediately.

What's next gentlemen? Approx 48 hours until the concert & 12-36 for word on the morgue. Also, feel free to RP to your hearts content ;)

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore puts a thumb on his chin and brushes his forefinger across his mustache in consternation. The disappointment at losing Higgins' trail from now is displayed openly on his face. "Yes, thank you Lt. Korolev. We'll need to know as soon as the morgue is uncovered. I would also like the local Arbites to check any pict boxes or vox chatter to ensure as best we can that no one made it out with any of this Xiloprofoline. I would be much obliged if you could ask about that in a moment."

He briefly explains the importance of the drug and then continues. "I'd like to get my hands on this recipe, that we might track down more likely sources of both this drug and the other parts. It will be good information if Chrace fails to show at this concert. Speaking of which, such places and situations are not within my areas of expertise. I recommend we visit Riccan when Korolev returns again, and you three may be able to plot us a course of action. Does this suit you, Miss Graki?"

Afterward, perhaps we can all catch a little needed rest before we get ourselves into even more trouble.

Ashmore votes for first going to Riccan and second setting up surveillance at the Frigid Tide. He might request the addition of some help if he can get it. He defers to Graki and Korolev in matters of surveillance and attack.

Also,
Chem-use (40): [roll0] to determine other 2 chems

Trade (Doctor)(40): [roll1] to determine likely locations of more Xiloprofoline in the area (and/or other chems if i can fathom those), and will use data-slate to pull up a map of the area if it is on there. I will also cross-reference any locations I pull up with the other hits made by Chrace's gang in his file.

For the record, I will start using medicae for all things related to the practical application of medicine, whereas trade(doctor) will represent my general knowledge of medicine, if that makes sense.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"Perhaps I could be of more service in a solo capacity?" Graki blurts out. " My talents too have their...limitations. If it would further the cause, I could go off into the underhive and attempt to case the venue before the upcoming performance. It might also give me the opportunity to shadow any of our friends with their fetter-esque tattoos."

Waiting for the response of Ashmore in particular, Graki will take a bit of a break to recover from the fire. She will then look around for any traces of the gangers to track.

I agree that we should rest to recover our fatigue, but I will still take this opportunity to see if I can track the gangers that attacked us in reverse, as it were. vs 40 INT [redone I rolled a 93]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore contemplates Graki's suggestion, completely missing the double entendre. "Yes, well, I wouldn't see a problem with you doing some scout work, so long as you were careful to not let them know that we know of their plans. For now, we can perhaps hope that Chrace thinks we will be following up leads on this most recent attack, if he even has so many wits about him, that is. I suppose you can meet us back at Riccan's when you are finished?"

In the meantime, he turns back to his data-slate, still intent on his chemical research.

Ashmore is all for Graki scouting while he and Korolev return to Riccan to debrief (and then rebrief Korolev), and possibly scrounge up some extra help and clean cloths.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

With that, Graki heads off to scout the bar. As she travels through the hive, she keeps her eyes peeled for any ganger interlopers.

Boddan gets to write two alternate plotlines now! We players have conspired to deliberately make your life more difficult! Also, Graki shall try to track the gangers again, on the way she will presumably recover her fatigue points. 40 vs. [roll0]

[Boddan]

Crossroads


Graki:


Graki heads off alone to take a look at the ‘Frigid Tide’ and, Emperor willing; locate a member of The Chained.

Descending through the middle hive is a simple matter of riding various lifts. Graki strides nonchalantly into each one, her longlas hangs easily over one shoulder, and various other blades and firearms sit holstered or sheathed about her person. On top of this, she’s covered in ash and dirt that runs in areas where the water line’s spray hit her and she smells intensely of smoke.

The ride down is not without its amusement. Several middle-hivers run into each other in their anxious flight when they see the dangerous woman. One old man, with skin worn and tougher than most of the long coats seen, blinks at Graki as the lift opens, shrugs and enters the lift. After several silent seconds sharing the lift, he turns to the wildly tattooed woman as she stands arms crossed & leaning against the lift wall. “Hard day at work?”

Reaching the extent the lifts will take her; the sniper stands up leaving a dark smudge on the lift wall, and begins walking down the last levels to the district named on the flyer.

The center of the underhive is a network of industrial lifts to move the mine personnel and their unearthed goods back and forth from the planet’s mantle far below. Only members of the work crews, heavy equipment handlers, and overseers can access the central lifts. The underhive surrounding this is where the dregs are forced to live. The ambient temperature is freezing or colder and for those that live below sea level, the threat of leaks are a constant danger. Scattered around this outer layer are loading bays that house, load, and service the freight-submersibles that export the mined goods below the hive. These bays are accessible by the central lift system as well as on foot from the underhive proper.

-----------------------------------------



Ashmore:


Elsewhere, Inspector Korolev tasks two of his junior Investigators to examine the pict-captures of the facility for any gangers that may have made it out. He watches Dr Ashmore briefly as he works at his ‘slate and stops another Investigator. This one more experienced. He assigns this poor man the daunting task of attempting to inventory all known supplies of Xiloprofoline.

Grigory calls out to the Investigator as he begins to depart. The good doctor shows him his dataslate which bears a map of the area presently. He recommends the Arbite-Investigator begins his task at six specific locations. Two of which have already been struck by violence in the past week. The man nods his thanks and notes the locations down before starting his work.

Inspector Korolev leads the Doctor to his vehicle and drives him to Riccan’s hab-unit under Grigory’s direction. The Inspector seems more animated than before and appears to be genuinely excited for the prospect of doing work on a vastly different level. Dr Ashmore spends a good portion of the trip thinking and searching for the other components of the nerve gas but simply cannot identify the names. He does recall that at least one is fairly common, easily distilled from several products by a novice chem-tech.

The pair arrives at their destination and Korolev finishes his mini-speech about how they won’t be able to take much support to the underhive. Underhivers have a knack for spotting an arbite at fifty paces and the risk wouldn’t be worth tipping off the target. He adds, however, that he does have two U.C.’s that would be of service. Both fresh from their undercover work and ready for deployment.

As Grigory exits the vehicle, Korolev leans into the back seat and hefts out a metallic case and brings it with him. Noticing the doctor’s inquiring look, he says, “I’m not walking around with you without body armor and a real weapon anymore.” The Inspector says with a boyish smirk. His energy is almost contagious.

Inside the hab-unit, Riccan approves of Korolev’s involvement and briefs him fully while the good doctor makes use of the shower and a fresh set of clothes. When done, he joins the others in the main room. He finds Korolev standing over his open case. A compact, auto-carbine hangs from a sling under his right arm as he adjusts the straps of his body armor. He tosses his coat back on over all of this and closes the front. It’s near impossible to tell he has armor and a SMG on under the thick, leather coat. Happy with the fittings, he removes them all and sets them on top of the case for now.

Riccan addresses you (I.E. the servo-skull addresses you) as you join them. +I’m told that Graki…i…i located you at a rather lucky interval. I apologize for not informing you earlier but I had not located her until you left. Truth be told, I had given up hope recruiting her as she was listed as in the Josian Reach sector. As luck would have it she had travelled here on her own accord before being approached by Inquisitorial officials… that being me, in this particular instance…ce…ce. If they had recruited her in her home sector, I fear I know whom she would be working for…. This is better…er…er for all parties involved.+ Riccan frowns as he writes the last part down onto his ‘slate.

+I was also notified by the Inspector here about Erasmus and his fate. I’m sorry to hear we lost one of our own so quickly. I see you managed…ed…ed to remove most of his equipment. Did you also remove the mission-related dataslate?+ He nods as you answer to the affirmative. +Ah good. It’s always best to not leave any trace behind until we’re already at the heathen’s throat.+

-----------------------------------------



Graki:


Graki has spent nearly two hours taking lifts down the hive, walking through crowded underhive corridors, and asking a few locals for the Frigid’s location.

She wears furs from her home world over a bodyglove but the frost of the underhive is starting to wear on her. She considers adding to her insulation if only to stop the stares every single man gives her from the neck down.

With little difficulty, she locates the bar in question. The venue is quite large compared to many underhive establishments passed getting here. Two men stand at the door. They don’t check weapons as those seem to be fairly common down here. They merely seem ready to deal with any disturbances.

The exterior of the business is nothing impressive as Graki walks up the wide staircase to the entrance and into the bar. It’s already fairly busy in the early evening and Graki manages to get a small table in the corner to herself.
‘Frigid Tide’ seems built around the oversized porthole the place gets its name from. Above the stage sits a five meter diameter circle of armo-glas that sits above the water line, but not by much. Outside, mute hurricanes rage, waves crash into the hive wall, and lines of sea water freeze where they land on the armo-glas. The thick walls combined with the playing music and dull roar of the bar block out the storm’s prodigious noise.

Around the stage spans a dance floor for several meters before rising into the area Graki currently sits in. Here, the tables stand with accompanying stools across the floor to the bar lining the wall. Behind her, stairs ascend up to several booths with a view of the stage and floor. From there, there seems to be a further set of stairs guarded by another employee that lead to some sort of VIP area. Graki can hear intoxicated laughter from the VIP area far above her. The section has a commanding view of the entire establishment.

The guards look like vat-grown muscle while the bartenders and waitresses all seem to match the same female mold. The place itself is furnished with reasonably …un-dirty metallic tables and stools.

Graki sits at the table and appears to innocently eye the patrons while searching for a member of The Chained.

-----------------------------------------



Ashmore:


Back in the hab-unit, the three men sit and chat idly in between mission-oriented ideas. They all seem to get along easily but without losing track of their ultimate goal.

Finally, several hours into the night, Korolev’s vox chirps and he snatches it up quickly. He asks quick questions and answers the speaker in short sentences as he takes notes down on what he’s being told. He replaces the vox in his pocket and lists what he’s learned from his agents.

“My junior guys couldn’t find any evidence of gangers making it out of there. They theorize, and I agree, that the group we hit was the full contingent of them. My other man sends his regards to you, doctor, as you saved him a lot of footwork. He says of the places that keep Xiloprofoline on hand, all five are accounted for. One was the medicae ward that we just left, the other two wards in the hive with a mental trauma and comatose treatment wing all report their stocks accounted for. The two that were hit earlier in the week by gangers DID have some but one sent their supply to our own ward a few days ago upon request and the other stopped keeping it on hand two months ago.”

Finishing his report, he looks to the doctor and Riccan for their next move.

-----------------------------------------



OOC:


Graki, Awareness test to attempt to locate any Chained members and what your actions will be if one is spotted. Additionally, if there is anything in particular you want to know about the establishment itself, lemme know.
Ill add the map in a tic, so you can take it back and plan with the rest of the team.

Doc, another resource will be needed to identify the two ingredients.

EDIT: Wow I just edited this a few times. I apologize for all the errors. I typed it up initially in a bit of a rush.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore feels quite relieved when he is free of the soot, ash, and blood of his former fellow acolyte. He listens to Riccan and nods his approval upon hearing of Graki's being part of the team. He had been more convinced when she did not ask him how to get to Riccan's hab. "Yes, with Chrace's tendency to lash about him at random, some more solid fighters will probably do us a world of good."

The doctor first addresses Riccan, handing him Raz's data-slate with as updated info on the case as he could manage. "Mr. Fiphe, I fear that when the gangers assaulted the medical facility, they were after a drug known as Xiloprofoline. Among more mundane uses, it can be combined with a few other chemicals to make a powerful nerve agent. Not being schooled in such disgusting weaponry, I can't seem to recall the other two drugs needed. Would you be aware of a way to discover these?"

As the call from the Arbite comes in, the doctor's eyes gleam. "Well, this is quite an opportunity. Mr. Fiphe, Inspector Korolev, I believe that it doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to realize these most recent ganger attacks were ways of disguising the attempted thefts of Xiloprofoline. I stress the word 'attempted' as it appears that Chrace does not yet have his hands on any. I wonder if it would be possible to increase the guard at the following medicae facilities."

He shows them the map on his 'slate. "If our work tomorrow evening does not prove fruitful, then we could perhaps funnel Chrace's men towards a specific facility and then Graki could track them back to where they are making this weapon. No doubt, information on Chrace's whereabouts will be nearby."

The doctor takes a breath, as he had begun talking quite rapidly. His calm demeanor from earlier seems to be fraying a bit. At the end, he makes a quiet mention for some covert back-up for the concert.

Just as Ashmore sits back in his seat, he darts forward as if stuck by something. "Regulus! In all the excitement with Chrace, I had almost forgotten Hoggins. There were certain energies, patterns, something. In the Tarasov residence. They echoed of Regulus. I fear we may be seeing the completion of whatever it was that Hoggins began there. Something that Mr. Mercali said..." He trails off and pulls up The Cleaver's cases on Regulus and counts the number of occurrences and then counts the specific number of deaths in each case.

Toby, curse you for making me type Xiloprofoline so much. D'oh! Also, I like how I talk more flowery in Heresy than I ever did in a D&D game :-p

I guess a quick chem-use and trade(doctor) check are in order to see if the doctor knows of any place that would know more about Xiloprofoline and, more specifically, the nerve agent.

Chem-use (40): [roll0]
Trade (Doctor)(40): [roll1]

Oh! And, I realize that maybe all this info stuff can get confusing for the DM, so here are my inquiries:
1. Ask Riccan for possible ways of discovering other drugs.
2. Use Chem-use and Trade(doctor) to discover ways of discovering other drugs.
3. Could we get guards to guard the facilities with Xilo?
4. What kind of help is available for the concert?
5. How many times total has The Cleaver killed, and was it 8 people each time?

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Glancing about the room, Graki first makes a mental note of the apparent exits. Then, raising her hand, she orders a drink from one of the waitresses. "Black Saphire, no ice." When the drink comes, Graki pretends to study the viscous liquid, and looks around the room for any aberrant tattoos...

First awareness test vs 40 [roll0].

If I see a chained guy, I'll use my newly-acquired (although really, probably always possessed in rp) skill shadowing 30 vs [roll1]. If I don't see anything I will chug my drink (20+10 if drink is rotten or poisoned, which it most certainly is) Carouse vs [roll2]

I'd also like to try to determine why all the women look alike... genetic experiments? Awareness again? 40 vs [roll3]

[Boddan]

Seek reward in service alone


Ashmore:


Riccan considers the Doctor’s question for a minute, tapping the stylus onto his dateslate as he does. +Perhaps our best bet is to go to those that make it in the first place? Inspector, do your arbites have a chem-weapons or a counter chem-weapons specialist?+

Inspector Korolev shakes his head. “I’m afraid not, sir.”

Riccan’s mouth moves to the side, if he could make sounds, he almost certainly would be saying “hmmm” right now.

+How about the PDF, perhaps they have someone? Failing that, we can confiscate most of the available Xiloprofoline. Is its mundane use terribly necessary?+

Dr Ashmore explains how it merely is used to slow the metabolism and bodily functions of comatose patients so they require fewer resources to maintain. As a part of the nerve agent, it stops these functions.

The Inspector tilts his head as he catches the halflings words. “MOST of the xilo, sir?”

+Yes, one path available to us is to secretly relocate nearly all of the chem they seek to a secure facility, and leave….+ He reaches across the table for the doctor’s summary ‘slate, +4.5 liters, less than their listed minimum in case we fail to apprehend them, in an unsecure location and put a tracking bug in the containers themselves.+

+Thoughts, gentlemen?+

After a brief discussion, Korolev answers the Doctor’s question about aid at the concert. “We can take the two undercover men I spoke of and that’s about it. Those two are used to fitting in down there so they won’t get spotted. That’s about it really.”

Dr Ashmore goes on to study the known details of Hoggins while he resided on Regulus. Unfortunately, details are very limited. The agri-world’s enforcers where aware of kidnappings, killings, and disappearances and little else. When they tracked Cleaver and his associates down to his macro-hauler. They found a dozen bodies still hung up on hooks but were unable to tell if the butchered and ground meat was from longhorn or previously abducted people. They sent Hoggins off planet for incarceration and tried to forget the whole horrible event it seems.



Graki:


Graki sits at the table she laid claim to. The semi-pound music originating from the band on stage thumps out of very large speakers overhead. The band is certainly not the same as the one on the flyer but appears to have its own following. A few dozen underhivers jump up, down, and all around on the floor below. Some are as dirty or dirtier than Graki, while most are just “lightly dusted.”

The people wear all manner of insulated clothing with thicker footwear. The venue itself sits at around freezing and a layer of frost covers all the tables, counters, and walls. The floor has a thin layer of some rubber-like coating on it to allow dancing and drunken walking without too many injuries.

The jungle-born sniper makes a mental note of exits to this place. The one way in seems to be the main one. Waitresses move behind the bar and through a small door to the kitchen. There may be an exit back there but it's hard to tell from where she sits.

The same door seems to lead to the owner’s office as he’s seen from time to time coming and going through that door. A pane of dark glass sits in the wall off to the side indicating a one-way view from the office into the establishment itself. The same type of glass forms the floor of the VIP area that sits above Graki suspended from the ceiling. As she looks up examining the section, a woman’s hand drunkenly falls onto the banister holding a drink and sloshes some alcoholic beverage onto the patrons at the table next to Graki. The man struck by the beverage flicks the liquid off his arm while grumbling and angrily eyeing the booth above.

Graki’s waitress returns with her order of ‘Black Sapphire’ with two cubes of ice despite the sniper’s bidding for the opposite. The drink appears black at a distance but if held close or up to a light it radiates a greenish light from the center of the glass. Alas, its appeal to most ends there as it tastes like fermented leaves with alcohol.

Fermented leaves with alcohol and a kick in the face.

Before Graki can correct the simple (and top heavy) waitress her eyes catch on a man standing up from the bar. He spins around on his stool and leans over to place his feet on the ground. His heavy coat is zipped all the way up but the forward lean allows Graki a brief glimpse of the tell-tale chain links running around his collar bones & shoulders. The man obviously has had a few more drinks than you… and the two tables next to you combined. He exits the bar at a decently maintained, if not clearly drunk, pace.

Graki finds tailing him easy going for the first hundred meters or so as the crowd in this district is pretty thick.



OOC:


Otay!

Graki, gimme 10 shadowing tests if you please (copy n paste is your friend)

The waitresses are all very barbie-esque in build. If that can be engineered, I'll gladly donate my paychecks to further that cause.

Doctor, feel free to agree or disagree with that idea above.

Will post the map tonight hopefully. Im sorry I didnt before, Ive been slammed with reports. Rawr!

[Boddan]

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide1.jpg

Here's the 'Frigid Tide'

The stage is up top surrounded by the dance floor. Steps lead up 1.5m from there to the drinking area. The wall is lined with the bar and the floor is spotted with tables. Stools are all around both. There is a railing lining the drop down into the dance floor area.

The 1-way glass to the office is on the left wall (dark purple) and the door to the kitchen & office is next to it.

The entrance is a large set of stairs leading up and into the joint.

To the right of that is another set of stairs that go up 2m to the booth area. The booths nearest the rest of the place have a low wall behind them. If one sits up in those booths, he can look over the floor/bar below. The same applies for in between booths; head level walls (head level while standing outside the booth)

In the middle of the booth area is the stairs leading up a further 3m (5m total from the bar area below) to a catwalk that extends out to the VIP area.

The VIP area is an 8x3m room hanging from the ceiling. I've marked its boundaries with black dots on the bar floor and added the room itself on the side. The floor of the room is made of the same 1-way glass allowing the VIP members to look down into the bar area without being seen. Furthmore, there is railing all around the room that allows a view of the entire place.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki pushes her way through the crowd, pretending to be inebriated. In case her mark suddenly sobers up. As she weaves about the mass of bodies, she stays alert in case she is being led into some kind of trap.



Shadowing tests!!! All vs 30

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

Also, an awareness test to make sure I am not being positioned for a supreme boning 40 vs [roll10]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore assents to Riccan's plan, as it is basically a better version of his own. The doctor racks his brain for other possible solutions to finding the nerve agent ingredients, but can only come up with criminal elements, which are not only distasteful to him but entirely foreign.

Almost as an afterthought, he looks at Korolev. "I don't suppose the PDF or Adeptus Arbites would have someone currently apprehended on planet for the creation of similar substances to this nerve agent?"

No block of text here. I will be in town and with more difficult internet access for the weekend, so feel free to do Graki solo stuff. That being said, I should still be able to check once a day.

For all purposes, the doctor is settled on a course of action: 1. Investigate Frigid Tide, 2. Track drugs (probably with doctor at hospital, graki tracking, and korolev on stand by in some fast vehicle to pick up doctor and follow Graki).

He will leave off Hoggins for now, until he can get to the morgue and see what evidence is left. He votes Chrace is the prime target now since he is leaving the much better trail.

Okay, so block of text after all...

[Boddan]

Wisdom is the beginning of fear


Graki:


Graki trails her man through the throngs of underhivers. The cold actually comes in handy in keeping their unwashed bodies to a minimum annoyance. Not that the jungle-born is much better at present.

Even though intoxicated, the man is a life-time underhiver. He looks over his shoulder every ten paces or so but he appears to have trouble focusing his eyes. At one point, Graki briefly makes eye contact with the Chained member and quickly looks away. The man keeps moving further away from the “entertainment” district though and appears not have thought anything of it.

The man strides past hole-in-the-wall bars (literally), joy-girls who have a hard time of showing off their forms and not freezing to death in the process, and the constant procession of underhivers just looking to forget about their troubles for a few hours. Graki follows in his wake thirty or so meters behind.

Past the edge of the district and into the sparsely populated corridors at the exterior of the hive, Graki’s man slips from the crowd and moves off on his own into a poorly lit corridor. Just as he moves around a bend he looks back and meets eyes with Graki yet again. She stands near the edge of the crowd herself and he drunkenly blinks, shakes his head, and tries to focus on her from where he stands. He seems unable to make her out at the mere distance of thirty meters but moves off with a quicker pace nonetheless.

As the sniper closes the distance to the bend in the corridor she herself notices special attention being paid to her.

Graki slips into the poorly lit corridor and glances around the corner the Chained member went around only to see another bend twenty or so paces ahead that the man must have went around already. She moves into the darkness around the bend and glances back the way she came stealthily.

Two dregs jog towards the corridor she disappeared into. These two men make Graki seem pristine by comparison. She can see no Chained tattoos on them and they seem too feeble and undernourished even for the gang.

One draws a knife from his belt as they share a conspiratorial smile. The other man holds a piece of pipe and they’re getting closer…



Ashmore:


Inspector Korolev listens to Mr. Fiphe and Dr. Ashmore intently. He nods at Riccan’s proposal and reaches into his pocket for the hand-held vox.

He codes in the desired recipient and begins speaking, “Petr, it’s Korolev. I need you to… wake up Petr, this is important. I need you to get Yuri and head down-hive. Spread the word that a chem, Xiloprofoline…..” he pauses as he listens. “Yes, I mean right now….”another pause. “Is that right? Well I’ve slept four hours in three days. Get up, get some recaf, and do your duty. What’s the chem I just told you? …Wrong. Write this down Petr, X-I-L-O-P-R-O-F-O-L-I-N-E. Now get down there and spread this info to the informants and snitches: a supply of xilo has been moved to the warehouse in E66. Yes, that one. It was moved because a medicae ward burned down today and this stuff was supposed to go there. For now it’s going to be held in the supply warehouse. Now, don’t push this info too hard, it can’t look like an intentional leak. Repeat that back to me.”

He stares straight ahead as he listens. “That’s it. Now get it done. Also, you two are on for a potential grab at Chrace tomorrow night. Check in with me in the late morning about it.” He chuckles at something Petr says. “Whatever, just don’t get shot tonight,” and deactivates the vox.

“Alright. I’m going to go personally collect all the Xilo and store it. I’ll bring four and a half liters back here to get bugged after? Then I’ll place that in the warehouse. Doctor, would you care to join me? I can inquire about the chem-related prisoners as we work.”

Dr Ashmore gets an idea as the question is posed.



OOC:


Graki, when both parties fail an opposed roll, we're supposed to reroll etc. Eff that noise, it'll take too long. SO, I'm going to simply compare degrees of success/failures for pbp. You were beat on 2 out of the 10, hence his drunken double take.

He's moving off into a virtually deserted, dark corridor to who-knows-where. You can sneakify AND shadow to keep this up. Should he see you again, complications are going to ensue.

Secondly, you have two non-Chained men coming after you in a drunken-woman-on-her-own-in-the-dark kinda way.

They'll be upon your corner in 2 rounds and can't see you in the dark right now.

Fire your gun and alert the Chained guy? Take 'em down sneaky-like? Hide? Knit a blanket? Options abound.

Ashmore, your idea is to ask the medicae workers that normally handle Xilo if they are aware of any other uses/compounds it can be made into. Korolev is heading out now to two such facilities to ‘yoink all their xilo.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Making a mental note of her mark's last location, Graki mentally resolves to track him later. In the years since she left he homeworld, she has encountered similar would-be-predators more than once, and has developed a degree of expertise in dealing with them.

Unable to find something to climb, Graki decides to shank the encroaching lowlifes in a well-earned return on their probable investments.

Graki is going to sidestep, and attempt a move silenty-into-a-charge just as the dregs come around the corner. Basically I'm attempting to get an unaware bonus out of this. She has her sword readied. 30vs[roll0] If I surprise them...


Possibly important rolls-

Initiative [roll1]
Attack (30+30 for unaware...60) [roll2]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Sighing as he realizes he won't get to rest while waiting for the woman, Ashmore does his best to hide his displeasure in light of Korolev's tally of his own sleeping schedule. The doctor gets up, checks that his clothes and ident are in order, bids goodbye to Riccan, and recites the Litany of Alertness as he piles back into the Arbite's vehicle.

I'll go and interview me some doctors.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Catching the would-be predators by suprise Graki wildly flails about her sword. The dark corroded blade is little more than an over-glorified rotor blade from on of the ancient clear-cutting devices of centuries past. In its former capacity it helped mangle a good deal of the jungle on Graki's homeworld, but here it shall be put to better use.

[roll0] damage

attack #2 [roll1]

possible damage [roll2]

[Boddan]

Graki:


Graki is already moving forward with a well timed swing when the knife wielding dreg turns the corner. His smile quickly vanishes as the jungle-born's sword cuts deeply into his neck. Her reverse swing goes wide as he's already falling to the frost covered grating, his hands clenched around the wound. He makes weak gurgling sounds and arterial fluid spreads around his body. The frost steams slightly as the man's blood splashes across.

The pipe wielding dreg lashes out wildly without any form to speak of. The pipe hits nothing but freezing air.



OOC:


Graki is up. The downed fool has blood loss. The other fool makes a mockery of all things melee with his display of "skill."

Doctor, feel free to do anything you like at this point. This combat wont take long heh. I will expand on the medicae questioning when it's completed.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Spinning her left shoulder down toward her right knee, Graki brings the blade down on the pipe-wielding thug. Anticipating a spray of blood, she averts her eyes slightly. The blade makes a noise like blowing across a half-full jug as it whistles through the frosty aether. Then, as she rises, Graki spins the hilt of her blade from her palm, around the back of her hand to thrust it into the lowlife's neck.

All out attack, full-round action -+20 WS- 50 vs [roll0]

If I hit, [roll1]

[Boddan]

Watch your step

The pipe wielding thug overextends himself with his artless swing. His foot slips several inches on the icy floor and he leaves himself open for Graki's inevitable counter attack.

Graki's sword comes down in a heavy swing and sinks into the dreg's neck at an angle that takes the blade from trapezius to opposite side obliques. It drives down and stops just below the collar bone. The wound is several inches wide as the jungle-born tears the weapon free.

The man begins to wail in pain and mortal terror that his existance is at an end.

OOC:


Combat over! Feel free to take actions as you like. Both men have blood loss and are into critical dmg. Pipe-boy still has an intact throat with which to make noise.

I did "minion-ize" these two a bit but a pipe to the head is still a pipe to the head. Also, you add your Str Bonus to all melee dmg rolls. Just an FYI. Your SB nullified their TB-damage reduction in any case.

Righto, onward. Please list what you would like to do to wrap up this educational scenario on why calling for help doesn't work and women should just carry swords around instead.

Also, your delay is minimal but around the next bend is a three-way junction. You can use Track (+20) to locate sign of the man's passing on the frost covered gratings/pipes. Or any other ideas you would like to try.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Walking up to the thug who, seemingly by magic, has retained his ability to produce noise from his mangled face , Graki ominously picks up his pipe. As she approaches him, he tries to drag himself away, a look of abject terror blossoming on his face. Lifting the pipe to his nose, Graki growls "This has quite an impressive girth... I wonder if you can take the whole thing?"

Moments later, the man is choking on the metal as it freezes to his tongue and the roof of his mouth. With one last lift of her boot, Graki drives the pipe home, pre-empting any pitiful attempts to illicit mercy.

Graki turns, and for a moment her eyes close... She exhales deeply. Then immerses herself again in the hunt....

Graki shall attempt the tracking you spoke of... tracking 40+20 60 vs [roll0]. I hope it was ok that I dispatched the last aspiring rapist. I was hoping to save us some needless coup-de-grace misses. I would also like to look for an opportunity to scale the walls and walk on a catwalk or something so as to not be immediately visible should the guy do anymore takes of the double and/or tripple variety. Awareness 40 vs [roll1]

[Boddan]

To live is to toil


Ashmore:


Dr Ashmore and Inspector Korolev make their way to the first medicae ward with stocks of Xilo.

Inside the facility, Korolev flashes his arbite’s seal to produce instant action from the personnel. He nods to Grigory as he walks off with a nurse to the stored chem.

Ashmore is left with the assembled doctors that regularly handle Xiloprofoline. The first is a second year doctor and Grigory gets the feeling that this man will do more harm than good. He knows how to combine the needed parts for Xilo’s mundane use… if he looks at his notes each time. The second man can recite the amounts needed down to the milliliter, their constituent parts, and their locations throughout the entire ward. He had to think for nearly a minute however to tell you where he lives. Good doctor but an odd human.

He’s of no help.

The last individual, a Doctor into her eighteenth year at this facility, is of more use.

She goes on to tell an anecdote about teaching an Imperial Guard sergeant how to make the nerve agent based on the principal chem, Xiloprofoline. She herself knowing this from her tenure as a Chem Professor at Westmoreland University on Scarric. The very same University that the good doctor Ashmore attended but only he was a teenager at the time.

She explains that the Sgt sought her out “on orders” nearly a year ago. He had told her that he was to become proficient in mixing this particular chem so that he could take it back to his unit and teach other specialists there in turn. He claimed their regiment was in a protracted war off-world and the enemy held the heights of several hive spires and had not been dislodged for nearly a year at that point. In its nerve-gas form, Xiloprofoline is lighter than air and so rises. This particular gas could then be released and it would work its way up and through the spire along with the gathered ranks of the enemy. Leaving the guard regiments below in relative safety.

She details the other two chems that comprise the gas. One is easily found in virtually every water purifier in use within the Imperium. The other is less common but still readily available within certain types of glo-globes. She goes on to list the process of turning Xilo, from its natural liquid form, into its deadly gas-counterpart.



Graki:


Graki lopes away from the brief but brutal delay. The spreading pool of blood freezes and crystallizes on the metal floor behind her as she rejoins the hunt.

Around the next bend lies a three-way junction. Through the floor grate, in the middle of the corridor, bursts a continuous, warm jet of steam. It blocks all lines of sight through the junction but is harmless beyond this.

Graki steps through the steam cautiously and scans the three corridors for sign of the man. In the far right tunnel, she sees something that causes her to smile as a predator smiles.

A short distance from the steam jet lays a few poorly placed foot prints and a hand print against a thick pipeline. It seems the man staggered through the jet stream and his drunkenness won over his balance. He looks to have placed his hand on the frozen pipe, perhaps to recover, and a short time later, moved farther down the corridor.

Several minutes pass as the hunter makes her way stealthily down the dark corridors until she starts to hear the faint murmur of discussion ahead. Slowly sliding her face around the last bend, she locates the lost man.

He stands in front of two armed, and obviously, Chained men approximately twenty meters ahead. They ask what took him so long and why he didn’t bring them anything to drink. He lifts his jacket sleeve and displays a crudely marked drawing of the Frigid Tide on his forearm along with counts of guards, patrons, and entrances/exits. He staggers past the men and they resume their guarding.

Beyond the men lies a service bay for a freight submersible. The corridor looks down into the large open bay and at a decent count; at least twenty-five Chained members are visible. At the far end of the bay sits a docked submersible. Before it, men sit idle, clean weapons, and mill about.

This looks to be a staging area of sorts for ‘The Chained’. Above the guards, on the archway leading into the bay, a faded marking reads: Bay – L3N79B.

The drunken Chained man calls out from out of view, “Hey, where’s Chrace’at? I gotta report thish shtuff.”

A guard replies loudly, “He said he won’t be back until late tomorrow night. Vox the counts to him.”



Ashmore:


Dr Ashmore finishes with his questioning as Inspector Korolev approaches speaking into his vox set. He has a large bag hanging from each shoulder and absently removes one to hand to Grigory. It is heavy. Inside sits six metallic, half-liter canisters of Xiloprofoline.

The Inspector finishes his discussion on the vox and replaces it inside his longcoat.

“No luck with any captives. There was one chem-tech being held, but he was executed two weeks ago for making and selling slaught. You find out anything?”

He watches as you shoulder the heavy bag he handed you. “I know I look to be in my thirties,” he looks to be in his forties, “but sometimes I feel older than the Emperor himself.” He grins a bit as he arches his back to stretch. “Shall we?”

The second and last ward with any supply of Xilo is less of an affair. There is only one Doctor on hand that mixes the chem and he’s of no additional use.

The two collect another six liters of Xilo and depart the ward. Korolev’s secure location is actually a large storage locker near the motor pool that the pair first met at. The Inspector keeps 4.5L of the chem before key-code locking the rest away. Surrounded by armed lawmen, it’s as secure a place as any.

Next, the Doctor and Inspector head back to the hab-unit to meet with Riccan.



OOC:


Graki, no worries on the coup-de-grace speed up. That's what I was hoping for. There were neither pipes nor catwalks to climb up to im afraid. It's a fairly small corridor. What's your next move? If I could recommend against engaging 25+ gangers... :smallbiggrin:

Doctor, back at the hab. What's on the agenda?

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki tries to remain perfectly still while she waits to see if the man will go inside, or stagger away... With her longlas readied, Graki takes aim at the drunk. Ideally, she would intercept him out of the gangers' immediate proximity, but any delay in information to or from Chrace is an inevitable advantage to the investigation.

She strains her senses to try to make out any other potentially important info.

Awareness 40 vs [roll0]

Then take an aim action... Worst case scenereo, I have to shoot him in front of the guard to keep him from relaying his recon, and then run the hell away. Not a terribly surreptitious plan I realize, but at times a girl is left little choice.

If he walks away (i.e. NOT inside with the other 20-some-odd gangers, then I will continue to follow him in the hopes of eventually dispatching him in some quasi-stealthy fashion.

If he goes inside, I will return to Ashmore and Korolev and tell them what I have discovered. Perhaps we can have some kind of raid on the hideout?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Astonished at meeting a homeworlder, and one who attended Westmoreland at that, Ashmore finds he has little to say to a woman he recognizes as one of the pre-eminent Scarric scholars on chem-use; and this on a planet known for its innovative uses for chems. And, of course, as is the way with these things, he finds that he draws a complete blank when it comes to her name. Perhaps he has quite a bit in common with the second doctor...

"It is most fortuitous indeed that we should make your acquaintance, Doctor..." He coughs nervously, aware of his faulty memory. "The Inspector and I are currently working with the Arbites on a drug bust. I am afraid we really must rush, but I would love to pick your brain on the local medical situation. And, perhaps you would be agreeable to being caught up on the goings on back on Scarric, as I just very recently left there."

After leaving the first facility, Ashmore chats amiably with Korolev. He mentions how commonplace the other two ingredients are and comments on how Xiloprofoline seems a dangerous chem to just have laying about. "Scarric XXII, you see, has an unusual atmospheric composition which is easily distilled with customized rebreathers to make a strong narcotic. I must say, my work with the PDF's Vice Squad was never particularly dull. Of course, narcotics are a bit less dangerous than explosives. Are our current adventures fairly routine for you here? I should say I hope not, for the hive's sake."

Back at the hab, Ashmore reports to Riccan and gets a little rest while he waits for Graki to return. With a few days of stake-outs ahead of him, the doctor would like to get some sleep when and where he can.

I realize this doctor lady is a bit older than I am, but I guess I'm still trying to do the 40k version of getting her number. I don't know how to do that in real life, so it is entirely beyond me in a war galaxy after a technological dark age. This stands even if she is too old, and it is just for a conversation partner, since I imagine the doctor may need certain kinds of company when spending most of his time with a gruff arbite and a bunch of feral worlders.

Also, should I roll deceive checks for my minor fudgings of the truth, or would they pretty much be automatic successes? (Like +30 for an easy lie and +30 for the person having no reason to disbelieve them or something.)

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki enters the hab for the first time somewhere after 2:00 am. Gently, she rouses Ashmore and begins to fill him in on the situation. "You are the only surviving member of the investigation whose intentions I am reasonably certain are in line with the Emperor's Will. She begins, searching Ashmore's face as he blinks sleep from his eyes. " I followed a drunken scout from the Frigid Tide back to a service bay. He was casing the venue just like me, although perhaps with a less studied hand. The Gangers, at least 20 or so, have acquired a freight submersible. It is docked, I imagine for subversive strikes into the lower hive, and transport to and from the outlying regions. It may indeed be the means by which they plan to escape. At any rate, the drunk I followed asked for Chrace, and was told that he would be returning tomorrow evening.

Graki puts her finger to her chin, and looking up and to the right..." Perhaps we needn't confront them ourselves. Why not just wait for them to snatch up the remaining chemicals, and then call in a raid on their hideout when Chrace returns? We'd have the evidence right there!

Graki doesn't know about Ashmores plans for the chemicals yet, so I suspect I shouldn't metagame.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore slowly opens his eyes, surprised to see an armed Amazon standing over him. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair, attempting his best to part it to one side as he listens to Graki, then takes a moment to gather his thoughts. "Yes, quite. It appears as though Xiloprofoline is the rarest ingredient in this concoction, so the Inspector and I have already taken the liberty of removing all of the chem save one sample in a facility from which we can track it."

The doctor stands from whatever slab he managed to find room for his body on and dons first his shirt, then vest, compact holster, and finally his jacket. He makes a mental note to find himself some better protection. Lastly he puts on his belt from his days in the PDF, with a holster for his second laspistol and an attached medkit, with a few other pouches which Ashmore has not bothered to fill.

He frowns. "Still, I would feel remiss if we were to fail to interrupt the goings on at the Frigid Tide. Is the situation something that five armed men would be able to do something about? Are you hurt? Perhaps Lt. Korolev can put his two men down there on surveillance, and we could wait for Chrace to attempt a grab at the last supplies."

Ashmore goes to find Korolev and Riccan to wake them and bring them in on the proceedings.

Graki:
I have deliberately not read anything of your exploits, so that you might tell me what you wished. If you want to me to go back and read it as though you told me, then I will. I gather that you killed some dude though :-p.

[Jing Ke]

Graki: And That's What Happened

"...And then I, shall we say, gave the goon his come-upins." As Graki finishes relating her exploits to Ashmore, she wonders if she is being too open.

Thinking for a moment, she agrees with Ashmore that five people could perhaps handle the Frigid Tide, provided Chrace doesn't come out in full force. Something that would not be in keeping with his particular idiom. " I think a multi-staged scenario is in order, with several contingency plans around pivotal junctures. One, whether Chrace comes out in force; two, whether he decides to take the bait; and three, whether he returns to the freight submersible or decides to escape in some other fashion. The submarine must be where he plans to mix the toxin. As powerful as he is, he still barely commands three-dozen gangers. It isn't as though he has many places to hide.

All out of steam on the latter subject, Graki returns to the former...

" Perhaps you could give me some idea of what you've been doing, I got a short briefing from my contact with the Inquisition, but I've not heard much about you personally, or why you were chosen for this mission over someone... who has had more practical battle experience... Your medical expertise not withstanding. Don't misunderstand, you handled yourself very well in the fire. I'm just trying to grasp the Emperor's Will in this matter...

Graki trails off as she waits for Ashmore to speak.

Please do read along. Really, just the last few parts. I am sleepy and if I type it all out, I can promise you some really interesting grammatical and spelling issues.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

As Ashmore listens to Graki's story, he off-handedly attempts an explanation as to why the Frigid Tide ladies look similar, hurries her past the fight, and looks worried when she gets to the end. "Well, that is most excellent work. I can see why Riccan may have employed one of your skills. Skills that we may need again, should our ruse prove fruitful. I am most glad to see that you have returned unharmed, if a little... Yes, well, Riccan has a fine showering unit, should you care to avail yourself of it."

He runs a hand down his sideburn and across a newly shaved chin. "As for your plan: I agree. We will have very little time to react in any of those scenarios, so I recommend we find us some vox-casters, muster Lt. Korolev's men and place you at the current location of our Xiloprofoline, as Riccan has informed me that you are an adept tracker. One of the Lieutenant's undercover men could watch the Frigid Tide. The Lieutenant, our remaining man, and I can wait in a fast vehicle to respond. Of course, the remaining Xilo and the Frigid Tide are some distance apart. Any ideas on how we can get more of an advance warning?"

When Graki asks about his involvement in the case, Ashmore answers as straightforwardly as he can, frowning at first but ending with a smile. "Were I to hazard a guess, I would imagine that I am here to help with Hoggins. I was to autopsy the corpses he left behind to see if his modus operandi was of any use in the case. But it appears as though this drug business increases my usefulness. As always, I am glad to serve the Emperor's cause in anyway I can. Ah, if I have not yet mentioned it, then I am a medical doctor with extensive experience in the PDF as a coroner and chem analyzer."

Scholastic Lore (Biology)(40): [roll0], just to talk about cloning or cosmetic enhancement or what-have-you.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"I see." Graki replies, nodding.

"I suspect your plan is well-founded, but I still feel the need to have someone waiting at the submersible dock for their arrival. Could not the chemicals be traced by some kind of technological means? On my homeworld, the Imperium used forward spotters at first, but then ended up simply tagging the goods they traded with us, and then used the beacons to home in for orbital drops. Surely we could get a civilian model of that technology? Perhaps we should find out what Korolev has access to?"

Unslinging her longlas, she leans it against the chair just next to her.

"Tracking is something my people learn at a young age, and I assure you I am quite capable. I would, however, feel uneasy leaving you out of my guard when the battle thickens. You and I are both of sufficient rank to muster at least a small contingent of troops. Perhaps we should have a strikeforce standing by at the docks?"

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore clears his throat. "Quite, quite. My apologies, as I must still be recovering from waking. Lt. Korolev and I did indeed plant a tracking device of some sort on the canisters. We will have to see about this strike force. The Lieutenant says we can muster two men, and I don't know if the five of us would be sufficient for the kind of battle you mentioned unless we had some significant advantage in our favor."

Unless Graki has more, Ashmore is ready to get on with waking Korolev and Riccan to solidify the plan. I forgot I just planted a tech tracking device on the drugs, so hooray for me. I'll count the gangers as stupid enough to fall for it before they report to Chrace.

So I guess Ashmore votes for Graki's rough plan: either meeting the submersible or fighting at the Frigid Tide, the latter would cause more casualties, but would provide us with a better ambush and maybe some help from the rival gang. But I don't think the doctor is ready to make such sacrifices yet. He would prefer to get the dudes before they attack the Tide, if that is our plan.

[Boddan]

Maps & Plans


Ashmore:


Dr Ashmore chats pleasantly with the knowledgeable doctor.

“I’m Dr. Damaris, but please, call me Adeline.” She says with a knowing grin. She accepts your story as fact and happily gives you her contact information at the mention of your shared homeworld. And then, you part ways.

---------------------------------

Departing the facility, the Doctor ponders how she was able to teach at his old University while he was a teenager and still only look to be in her mid-forties. A quick ident-check with Korolev’s in-vehicle gear shows that Dr. Damaris is indeed closer to one hundred and ten standard years old. She must have had juve-treatment which would speak volumes on either her prestige and worth… or her personal wealth. A topic for later perhaps…

Korolev goes on to answer Grigory's question while he looks up Adeline. He explains that while normally busy, it's just been chaos with Chrace back. He voices his concern over the matter and adds quietly that the Ward was the first time he's had to draw his gun in over two years.



Hab-Unit:


Graki enters the hab-unit quietly but cannot see Inspector Korolev asleep on the other side of the opening door. It swings inwards and bumps into his unconscious head as he's slumped in a chair. He doesn’t even stir. The overworked arbite is well and truly “out.”

She wakes Dr. Ashmore and reports her findings. They go on to get to know each other a bit, in between strategizing, before waking Riccan and Korolev.

The later takes a lot more effort than the former.

With recaf in hand, the Inspector takes in all the two have surmised.

He states, “If I can guess, I’d say Chrace will most certainly be at the Frigid Tide in person for his revenge. It also doesn’t sound like he plans on returning to the freight-bay until his hit is complete. I’m also fairly certain that neither his men nor himself know of the unsecure Xilo,” he motions towards the yet undelivered bag of ‘tagged’ chems,”as Petr is most likely still moving around down there spreading that info.”

“Now, the warehouse is pretty far from the Frigid Tide, BUT the ‘Tide and the bay seem to be fairly close.” He asks Graki what the bay number was again and begins looking it up on his ‘slate.

Riccan adds as he pauses from testing the tracking bugs, +Would we be able to make use…se…se of your arbites, Inspector?+

The Inspector doesn’t look up as he browses over the floor plan between the freight-bay and the ‘Tide. “Absolutely…. In fact…” he speaks brokenly as he considers the map. “In fact, How 'bout this?!” He says excitedly as he slides the slate onto the table for all to see. The recaf must be kicking in.

“The three of us plus my two men can position ourselves inside the ‘Tide and hold for Chrace to show. We’ll have the Hammer stationed here at...” he’s interrupted by Riccan.

+Hammer?+

Korolev looks up with a grin, “Our one and only Rhino. We can fit twelve arbites inside and the stubber up top.” He smiles widely before getting back to the map. “Right, so we have the Hammer sit with a full squad inside at this shaft intersection.” He points to a roadway that starts at the central lift complex. The one normally used solely by the miners.

“From there it would only take…two minutes, perhaps, for the Rhino to reach the 'Tide in case Chrace brings everything at us. OR if he hits us with a small force, we vox the Hammer and they hit the freight-bay at the same time we handle Chrace. It’ll take them three or so minutes to reach the bay from there and no one will see them in the central lifts to alert Chrace… if he even has the ‘smarts enough to have scouts out.”

"In this scenario, even if we fail to subdue Chrace, he’ll most likely run right into the bay already pacified and full of waiting arbites.” He pauses to think. ”And if he doesn’t go to the bay… he’ll make a try for the Xilo at some point, no”

Riccan nods and looks to you two. +What are your thoughts on all this?+



OOC:


What say you to that plan of action? Nay? Yay? Ammend?

Riccan gives you all micro-beads as he's scrounging through his bag of gear.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

As she listens to the Inspector, Graki begins to respect him more. At the mention of putting all the remaining arbites in the same tank, she face-palms. *slap* "I think you have an excellent plan, except for one thing. I would draw out a few of the arbites to scout ahead at the bay, or let me go as a forward spotter. I don't like the idea of keeping all our eggs in one basket. It is a rhino, I know, but desperate people are at times capable of extraordinary acts of destruction."

Graki pauses, and turns to Ashmore.

" What do you think Grigory, if I may presume to call you that. It seems we are in the company of a great many doctors at times."

Graki basically wants to have some sort of solo scout-role, but also to be a type of bodyguard for Ashmore. She's one of those, I can do everything at once sort of people. Ah, capricious feral-worlders...I think she would prefer to help Ashmore if some of the arbites are sufficiently stealthy.

[Boddan]

OOC:


The Rhino would be acting in a rapid response role. IE hauling ass to the 'Tide or freight-bay and deploying the arbites under cover fire from the mounted stubber. The only time the arbites will be within the Rhino and stationary is inside the central lifts (fairly secure) otherwise they'll be fightin or hauling ass through the roadway tunnels to their destination..

Also, there are more than a dozen arbites at his disposal but Korolev takes your point and adds in the idea of two additional vehicles similar to his own. Not bullet proof, but can hold four each and move quicker while acting as a screen. The central lifts wont hold much more than that however.

In this instance, I'm afraid you'd have to decide on guard or solo-scout... as one nullifies the other :smallwink:

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki decides to go ahead and scout on her own provided Ashmore is given more than a few arbites to tag along.



OOC

I'll go on solo-scout duty

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Having never really planned a battle save in training exercises, Ashmore keeps quiet throughout the planning. Everything said fairly well syncs with what he was already thinking anyway.

When Graki calls him by his given name, the doctor cringes a bit. "I apologize, but where I come from, it is customary to address people more formally in these situations. Perhaps just Ashmore would suffice?" His face looks strained to make even that concession, though he does seem sorry to inconvenience.

As Graki leaves, Ashmore looks embarrassed to speak up to her once again. "I also continue to defer to you three in these situations, but I saw what you can do in the hospital, and if it does indeed seem likely that Chrace himself will end up at the Frigid Tide, then I would feel much better having the gun of an acolyte with us than just another arbite. Apologies, Lieutenant. I mean no offense by it."

Ashmore likes the plan, but wants to follow the golden RP rule: Don't split the party. Still, he is not going to be forceful about it. If Graki thinks she will better serve at the bay, then he is not going to argue the point any further. Other than that, I am ready to leave the situation room and get us into a situation.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Stopping just outside the door, Graki listens as the conversation continues. She turns and sticks her head back in the door.

" You need only ask, Ashmore!" Excitedly Graki returns to the room, and approaches the other officials." I trust your scouts will take care of reconaissance? I suspect I won't live to regret the decision in any event."

We can stick together, that's fine by me. It will also make it easier on our GM. :D

[Boddan]

Finalize


The basic plan in place, Korolev bids you all goodnight and departs for now. He promises to return in eight hours, late morning, and recommends that you get some rest.

-------------------------------------------------

Late morning comes quickly. Korolev knocks and when let in is accompanied by Petr and Yuri.

Petr is a big, big man. Well over two meters, he’s also loaded with muscle… and a fair amount of fat. He resembles a double wide barrel. His shaved head gleans above his chest length, black beard. Yuri is smaller by comparison…although so are some vehicles. Yuri has an athletic build, short buzzed hair, and a crude augmetic taking up the left side of his face and eye. His eye buzzes as the green iris takes the room in. The area around the ocular implant is a large patch of low quality metal.

Korolev puts a large thermos of recaf on the table.

“My daughter makes the best recaf. Try some gentlemen… and lady.” He says with a bemused look and a little bow to Graki.

Riccan limps across the room looking for his ‘slate to speak from. He peeks into his gear bag, mouths a silent “Ah ha” and removes the dataslate.

+Very thoughtful of you, Inspector.+ Riccan says as lifts a mug.

+Let us finalize today’s plan of action, shall we?+ He motions for everyone to sit down as he drags a stool to the kitchen and begins making breakfast.

OOC:


Alright, gimme a plan for deployment inside the 'Tide. Is anyone going to try and obtain the VIP section? If so, how?

Also, I forgot to add a bathroom to the map. The door to it is in the booth section on the far right wall area that is blank.

Hit me with a quick recap on "if-thens" while waiting inside the 'Tide and we shall go from there!

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki sits down and pours herself some recaf.

"You know..." she begins, " I would be remiss if I did not bring up some of our less obvious assets..."

She stands, stirring the recaf with her index finger, and stares into the corner wistfully." In other words..." Graki sets down her cup, and lets her ash-covered furs fall from her shoulders. Her bodyglove underneath is form-fitting, and flattering to say the least.

"Perhaps we could get into the VIP section the old fashioned way. Judging by the smell of some of those gangers, I don't expect their standards are very high. I could procure some revealing attire, and charm my way in...

She walks back over to the table and sits down, her eyes flickering with some indiscernible emotion. She looks up at Ashmore and grins" and if that doesn't work, I could just 'bust some heads'"

Graki wants to try to get into the VIP section and set up a snipers nest of sorts.

IF she is successful, THEN she will try to get people to leave, and maybe have some disguised allies guard the way up.

IF Chrace shows up, THEN we take him down there while simultaneously ordering the strike force to hit the bay.

That's all I got for now.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Realizing where they are going for the first time, Ashmore looks down at his professional attire surprised. "I suppose I shall need a change of clothing..."

Once he is looking firmly uncomfortable in whatever rags Riccan had lying about with his dueling sabre wrapped in dirty cloth, Ashmore is back at the table. He pours himself a cup of recaf. "If our sniper friend is to be up in the VIP room, then she will have a blind spot underneath her that someone will need to cover. Yuri, could you sit at the end of the bar here, and get behind it to support her. I guess that means the kitchen and office doors are your responsibility."

The doctor grows more serious. "Keep in mind, our primary objective is Chrace. If we can take him alive, then nothing else matters. If we cannot, then he dies. The Chained are not a threat without him. Graki, I will trust to your judgment on that account. Petr, you must keep Chrace inside. If he is not yet inside when this thing begins, then do not play your hand too early."

Once they get to the bar, Ashmore concentrates on his medical oaths as he focuses his mind. Then he reaches out his will to sense presences. He knows that it will be all but useless in the crowded bar, but if he senses a large number of bodies coming for the Tide at once, then he may be able to provide some kind of early warning.

Invocation (45): [roll0]
Sense Presence (7): [roll1] +4 more if my invocation was successful
Psyniscience (33): [roll2] to see if there is any psyker talent wandering about which may provide a nasty surprise

I say we station the man-mountain that is Petr close to the main door. His job will be to not let any Chained out once they are in. He can take cover standing outside the door and firing into the building. He seems like the best able to hold himself in a toe-to-toe as well.

After that? I would say me at the bar, ready to leap over (behind it) and support Petr and Yuri (and also to heal our guys in the most dangerous positions). And Korolev in the booths, protecting the access point to Graki. That way, we would each have at least 2 people in support of us, with 4 people able to easily cover the main entrance, which is something we will need to hold.

That would be
Graki: VIP, kill the **** out of dudes
Ashmore: 2nd or 3rd chair from first bar corner from the door, provide support to Petr, Yuri, or Graki where needed
Yuri: last chair before bar opens up, guard office/kitchen door and covering fire
Petr: at the main entrance, guide civvies out and keep Chained in
Korolev: in the booths, protect Graki and covering fire, fall back to VIP and hold if overwhelmed

Also, Toby, would you like Joe and me to take control of one of the goons each? That way, you wouldn't be controlling half the good guys :-p. That's up to you though.

[Boddan]

Inspiration grows from the barrel of a gun


The assembled group plans their ambush through the early afternoon while eating the vast amounts of food that Riccan cooks up. The rumors are true. Ratlings make excellent chefs.

Graki alludes to using her womany-wiles to gain access to the VIP section. Inspector Korolev looks her over and mentions how his daughter is about the same size; perhaps you can use some of her clothing. At this, Petr and Yuri share a look. Petr smiles while Yuri shakes his head embarrassed. The Inspector leaves to gather said garments and the undercover agents instantly begin remarking on how good Korolev’s daughter looks. It takes another serving from Riccan to get their attention back to the matter at hand.

Later, Korolev returns and hands Graki what he’s brought. A bodyglove that consists of black areas and see through areas and a thin long coat that’s designed to leave the front of the torso open to see. Korolev holds up a sling of sorts and explains you could take out the barrel of the longlas and strap the barrel next to the rest of the weapon and have it pressed against your back under the coat. It’ll be easier for you to gain access to the VIP area if you appear unarmed.

Dr. Ashmore changes into some more rugged looking clothing while the Inspector puts his armor and auto-carbine back on under his long coat. The coat he left dirty from the day before in anticipation of going down hive. He offers his spare coat to the Doctor as he mentions the freezing temperatures down there.

Petr checks the load on his RZ-6 hand cannon. Perhaps his only real choice for a sidearm as a laspistol would simply look comical in his gargantuan hands. Petr also carries a metal baton hanging from his belt. Both weapons are easily visible since he wears no coat. They just don’t make ‘em that big. Yuri prefers a laspistol holstered underneath his well-worn coat.

All preparations complete, the group heads out early to obtain choice seats and make the trek down hive.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As the group nears the Frigid Tide, they split up to enter at different times and take their places within.

Graki walks gracefully up to the guard onto the VIP catwalk. Glancing over his shoulder she can see movement from inside the section. The guard looks you over, taking his time to do so, and smiles coyly as he says, “You’re late.” He lets you pass.

Across the catwalk, Graki opens the door into the VIP section and all heads turn towards her. One man sits amongst several women. The man is dressed formally, for the underhive, while the women are dressed similar to Graki. They’re several drinks in but the man seems to have his wits about him.

He glances her over quickly, continues to look Graki in the eyes as he thinks, and slowly motions to the tray of drinks behind her.

Should she usher the man from the booth, the guards will simply remove the jungle-born when the man complains. She opts to play along for now. Graki turns to the tray, removes her jacket with the weapon concealed within, drops the coat to the floor, takes a drink, and sits at the edge of the booth.

Thankfully for her, the music begins soon, and takes the eyes of the man off her.

The group sits around the establishment as the lights dim and the band takes the stage. At the front is a thin woman with short, white hair sticking out every which way. Flanking her are two men that look to be gangers as well. One has a crude augmetic arm that links directly with his instrument. In the back, another man with the look of a ganger takes a seat behind the complicated set of percussions. His long hair hangs down around his face and a set of goggles rests on his forehead. Now for something different… following the band is a cyber-mastiff. The metallic wolf takes a seat at the base of the stairs when commanded by the white haired singer.

The crowd cheers wildly and the place is virtually packed full. The temperature rises noticeably with so many bodies packed into the venue.

The music begins with a quite tune and the soft, haunting voice of the woman at the fore. The melody continues for several seconds before slamming into an entirely different genre and is certainly now ‘pound. The crowd goes nuts.

This continues for a few songs more until the crowd chants, “March of the Imperium!”

The band apparently obliges as they begin another song and the crowd reaches a new extreme of decibels. The song is loud and hard with a fast pace. The word’s that can be made out speak of xenos ground underfoot and heretics set aflame by the Emperor himself. It’s not bad… if you’re into that sort of thing.

The song trails off and the crowd celebrates in the dim lighting mixed with flashing lights. No one even notices the grenade sail through the air and land at the singer’s feet.

The blast drops the singer and the two men flanking her on stage into bleeding piles. The drummer is saved by the drums themselves but still takes a piece of frag in his shoulder and is sent flying into the wall by the force of the blast. The cyber-mastiff is on its feet instantly scanning through the jungle of legs for the threat.

The blast must have been a signal for the rest of Chrace’s men as they spring from the crowd they had hidden amongst.

Chrace stands in front of the stage, a bitter smile on his face as he surveys the destruction he’s wrought. Two men to his side swing out auto-pistols and fire indiscriminetly into the crowd. Above the dance floor, an entire booth full of Chained men begins firing into the crowded dance floor and other booths. The two guards at the door are gunned down as four more men dash in the main entrance. Among the tables, two Chained men stand up and reveal autoguns hidden underneath long coats and stand back to back firing into the crowd.

Knowing this moment would come, the members of the group near the bar hop over to gain cover. Petr steps forward from the top of the steps to combat one of the four newly arrived Chained men. Graki slips from the booth as the dumbfounded women scream and scream. In one deft motion she pulls the barrel from the coat along with the stock and locks the barrel back into place. The man at the table doesn’t seem terribly fazed by the sudden violence and continues to watch the amazon as if she’s a documentary.

The ambush springs.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide1-1.jpg

Righto. Graki, I hope that was ok to run with the above stuff.

Ashmore, your sense presence detects no other psykers, and you're certain of your accuracy.

The Chained men and Chrace himself entered in small groups, like you guys did, and joined the crowd unnoticed.

Chrace has an average build and height with buzzed hair and several scars visible on his head and face through the stubble. He came in wearing a hood which is now down. He holds a hand cannon.

Green Circles: I is the drummer and T is the cyber-mastiff.

Red Circles: C is Chrace, 1 dot is pistol, 2 dots is auto-pistol, 3 dots is autogun.

Blue Circles: A is Ashmore and B is the last remaining Bouncer. The rest are fairly obvious.

There are A LOT of venue goers running around frantically right now. -10 to hit at range for this turn. The civilians are running from the place and/or getting killed at a high rate. I didn't want to smother the map to mark them on it.

Initiative please!

[Jing Ke]

INI [roll0]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Taken aback at how violent the opening scene was, Ashmore curses himself for not planning better. After all, hive scum is still Imperial scum.

Initiative: [roll0]

Also, Toby, I asked before, but do you want Joe and me to take control of one of the hired help each, so as to ease the good guy burden on ya?

Double also, is Riccan with us? I see an 'R' next to the VIP booth.

[Boddan]

Sorry for missing that. Yes, feel free to yell out orders at anytime. You are all connected via the micro-beads as well to make it easier (assuming you brought yours). If not told what to do, Ill act them accordingly.

Secondly, that's a neg on Riccan. Sorry, the B looks like an R. That's the last remaining bouncer. Im going to change his color to green next round as well.

Ashmore is up, followed by Graki and than the rest.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

As the attack begins, Ashmore experiences a brief head pain at the rush of fear flooding into him from the great number of presences here. Still, he keeps hold of his power for when the crowd thins out.

The doctor goes by the books as best he can. He talks softly over the vox-bead, as there is no point in letting the gangers know the acolytes are here too soon. "Keep our exit points secure! Graki, we could use Chrace alive, but he doesn't have to be in one piece."

That being said, he doesn't see the point in waiting for more to die. Using the luxury of surprise to ignore the pistol-man closest to him, he crouches up from the behind the counter, aims as best he can, and fires at the autogun wielder nearest the main door.

Question: Would Graki avoid the crowd penalties, since she is shooting down on people anyway?

Turn: Maintain Sense Presence. Half-action to aim, Half-action to fire.

Laspistol (45): [roll0] (this is including Aim, short range, and crowd penalties, but does not include surprise if that is in effect)
Damage: [roll1]

[Jing Ke]

Graki: Back in Her Element

Sensing her moment has arrived, Graki takes aim and shoots at Chrace, trying her best to land a crippling but non-fatal blow. Perhaps to the shoulder, arm, or leg.


half action aim, half action shoot
Vs[40+10 aim+10 under half] 60 [roll0]

degrees
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Boddan]

Anarchy


Dr Ashmore’s shot flashes in front of the face of the pistol wielding thug closest to him and sears into the shoulder of the next ganger. The man cries out as his arm used to guide the weapon falls numb. The pistol wielding man exclaims loudly dashes forward and upends a table to take cover behind. The wounded ganger turns towards the doctor, rage in his eyes, hefts the full sized automatic weapon with one hand and grips the trigger down to fire round after round at the good doctor.

*Click*

The weapon jams.

The other thug nearby takes no notice in the midst of the carnage and screams and wades deeper into the venue firing at everyone.

Graki identifies Chrace from the I.D. photo shown to her, lines up her sights, breathes out, and lightly squeezes the trigger. This all happens in under three seconds. Her shot passes by the head of a screaming civilian as she flees and hits the side of Chrace’s thigh. The shot burns open the pants he wears to reveal black armor. The same armor worn by arbites in the hive. The wanted man turns in surprise and fires a shot at the sniper before moving toward the stairwell quickly in a crouch. As he turns, under his open coat can be seen an arbite issue breastplate with a crudely painted circle with a line through it over the Adeptus Arbite’s emblem. His oversized bullet hits the metal wall in front of Graki’s waist, blasts through with a resounding ‘TING’ and tears through the side of Graki’s hip.

The remaining bouncer peers over the wall to the doorway and fires at the men that killed his friends and coworkers. The shot hits the ganger taking cover in the back but the man fights on.

The wounded drummer leaps the ruined percussion set in a fury. He draws a sawed off shotgun from his hip as he jumps. The weapon has a two barrel, over-under configuration and he levels it at the nearest thug. The weapon barks as a solid slug messily removes the man’s stomach. He keels over but is not out of the battle.

Yuri stands up behind the bar and fires off two shots at the closest menace. The man is grazed harmlessly and overturns a table for cover.

Across the ‘Tide, Korolev stands up in his booth and sprays the far booths with fire from his auto-carbine. Cowering underhivers scream as the shots pass over their booths. All six gangers dive for cover desperately. One even slides under a table. Their return fire is pathetic at best.

The remaining Chained men continue their slaughter of the venue goers wholesale.

That is, expect the poor man taking a metal baton to the side from Petr. He fires his pistol pointblank in a desperate attempt to slow the giant man. His shot goes wide as Petr’s mace ruptures organs.

Also on the unfortunate side, is the auto-pistol toting ganger that flanked Chrace. The man advanced on the stage through the pressing crowd to finish the drummer. As he parts the crowd with autofire, a metallic beast leaps from the floor in a forward dash and, quite literally, tears the man’s head clean off.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide2.jpg

Initiative:

Ashmore
Graki
Drummer & Bouncer
Chrace
Yuri & Korolev
Gangers
Mastiff & Petr


Graki, you take 2 dmg to ye ole hip. If that shot had landed square, you would be wishin for jungle again.

Also, you get +20 from a half action aim. Part of being accurate as a weapon quality is the added 10 as well as the extra dmg. And for the extra damage, please just roll 1D10 at a time in each of the three lines. Rolling a natural 10 for dmg is the trigger for a crit in the Heresy system. So keeping them seperate is in your interest. Ill just add them up as your degrees call for it.

Ashmore, you hit-ify of course. You also hear the unmistakable sound of a heavy automatic weapon firing outside the 'Tide. Richochets bounce into the venue as a Chained stubber team guns down escaping civilians. The origin sounds a good ways distant outside the entrance. Perhaps 100m. The interior of the venue is outside the firing arc due to the stairwell up and into the place.

Speaking of crits, the cyber-mastiff critted for a total of 28(!) dmg to the silly Chained guy. I haven't fubbed rolls yet (and hope I won't have to). Hopefully your guys luck holds out :smallcool:

I filled the 'Pinned' guys with yellow and guys that have been hit have a % bar, if you will, of dmg taken in the form of gray filling up their markers.

Chrace took 4 after toughness and armor.

-5 to-hit for those without the VIP height advantage.

S'all you guys!

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Savagely Pissed

Emitting a stream of expletives that would make most of the gangers blush, assuming they were listening, Graki readies a frag grenade she'd been saving for just such an occasion... It isn't everyday, after all, that a girl is wounded and royally peeved enough to use ordinance in a crowded club...

She smiles sadistically, envisioning the lecture she'll probably receive from Ashmore once this is all over.

ready+ throw frag grenade at the two guys bellow her. [roll0]

vs (40+10 under half I think) 50 then [roll1] X damage

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore's eyes widen as he almost simultaneously hears the heavy stubber outside and sees Graki's grenade drop into a crowd of hivers. Tears start to stream down his face as the presences he is sensing begin to snuff out in droves. "Throne! We've lost the main door. Yuri, Korolev, get the crowd into the side rooms if you can!"

Knowing it is do or die, he keeps up his fire at the man with the autogun.

Hoping that a hit will bolster morale, the doctor yells out to those hivers nearest him. He hopes the sound of the heavy stubber will help too. "Death awaits you outside! In the Emperor's Name, turn and face the Chained, or perish as you flee!" Then he yells out the Litany of Brave Action in the Face of Overwhelming Odds repeatedly as loud as he can.

Turn: Maintain sense presence. Half-action to fire laspistol, half-action to try to get hivers to fight back.

Laspistol (40): [roll0] (includes all modifiers)
Damage: [roll1]

Common Lore (Imperium)(40): [roll2] to get a bonus to the fellowship roll for correctly reciting the litany and possibly sprucing it up with events at which it was used?
Fellowship (25): [roll3]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Seeing how his path would take him, the doctor readjusts his aim.

Spending a fate point to reroll that attack:

Laspistol (40): [roll0]

[Boddan]

Quick Turn


Dr. Ashmore stands proudly and calls on the panicked underhivers to help themselves as Imperial citizens. Not sheep. Those closest to him hear his words and think realistically (the sound of heavy gunfire outside helps with convincing). Several civilians tackle the nearest Chained men and beat them mercilessly.

While giving his rousing yell, the doctor gets targeted by the man whose nose he nearly removed earlier. The ganger fires wildly at Grigory, scoring one hit across Ashmore’s neck.

Graki takes a hit and gets mad. Not just a little mad. **** this **** mad. She pulls a grenade out from her coat and simply drops it over the edge of the raised booth. It bounces twice before exploding at the feet of two Chained men standing back to back spraying the crowd. The frag also claims another nearby ganger killing everything he can… as well as an underhiver that’s making a mad dash for the doorway.

The furious drummer hops from the stage and approaches the wounded man before him. As he drops, his long coat moves with a heavier weight than usual insisting he probably has salvaged armor of some sort sown into the coat lining. The long-haired man sneers at the man’s anguished moans before shooting him point blank with his second slug. The ganger’s corpse flies backwards tumbling over itself as it does so. The cyber-mastiff runs up to join the drummer as it’s programmed to do with no nearby threats or orders.

Chrace begins moving towards the nearest stairwell when the frag grenade Graki dropped goes off in front of him. He skids to a halt and sprints towards the other stairwell. Nearby, Yuri ushers the civilians into the kitchen as he shoots at the ganger in cover. He hits the man’s shoulder but is peppered with return fire.

Yuri is slammed into the bar wall behind him by several bullets connecting with his center mass. He falls unconscious immediately from his life threatening wounds.

Korolev sprays down the line of booths once more, this time intent on killing. Two gangers drop out of the field of fire but one takes a shot to his leg through the booth wall and another catches a bullet to the head as he glances up. He’s good ‘n dead. The thug in the other booth manages to score a hit on Korolev as he bursts out fire. The Inspector grunts as his armor absorbs most of the damage.

Petr puts everything he has into his swing and connects again with the man’s side. Ribs part ways and organs get pulped. The man drops with a weak scream.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide3.jpg

Ashmore takes 2 to the neck. I didn't mention your miss and subsequent fate-miss...cause God doesnt like you it seems and Im not gettin in the middle :smallbiggrin:

Graki... kills three guys. That is all.

The bouncer misses. Unmentioned guys miss too. Chrace is trying to get the hell out of this mess.

Yuri is at -6, knocked out, and has blood loss.

Korolev took 3.

Two gangers by the door are grappled by civvys.

No more penalties to hit. Most of the surviving crowd is either in the kitchen, behind the bar too, or in the restrooms. Some are just doin well at not moving on the ground. It's mostly open now.

Dat's it!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: **** or ****in' A? That is the question.

Ashmore wills a silent prayer to the Emperor for the civilians help and for the turning of the battle. It is clear that someone else is meant to kill the dudes by the door however, so the doctor books it to intercept Chrace.

He runs along the bar, and maintains his sense of presences, merely because it doesn't require too much effort. Then he opens the vox-bead channel to the Arbites in the Rhino. "Enemy engaged at the Frigid Tide. Chrace likely to escape. Be ready at the bay."

Then he switches back to the group. "Graki, take him down."

Turn: Maintain Sense Presence. Full-action to Run along behind the bar 18 squares, ending what I think is 9 squares south of Yuri.

This also means people are at -20 BS to hit me.

If I have to in order to avoid the crowd, I will hop up on the bar and lose some squares of movement, but I might gain them back by making a straighter bee-line across.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Well, She Tried


Giggling maniacally, Graki rises and readies the Cat's Claw to take down one really annoying mouse. She levels the gun and gets a bead on Chrace's head..."You made me do this you obstinate *&%$! Should've just gone down like a good boy!"

Graki fires, hoping against hope, that the Emperor is guiding her shot.

I don't think Graki has time to aim, since I need to take a half action to ready my lon las, so this shall just be a regular-like shot-vs 50 [roll0]

dam [roll1]

[Boddan]

Trust to your faith


Dr Ashmore notifies the arbites in the freight-bay, he gets a curt “copy that” from a gravelly voice as a reply. In the background he can hear gunfire and men yelling. Grigory takes off at a run down the length of the bar, high stepping and dodging frantic civilians all the way. Both the ganger that wounded him and the one the just put Yuri down open up on the sprinting man. Bottles explode on the shelves next to him, glasses are shot into pieces off the bar on the other side, and ricochets evoke another round of screams from the cowering people. The good doctor, however, proves that the Emperor protects and is unscathed by the hail of bullets.

Graki hears the doctor’s calm voice in her ear before his mad dash and takes another shot at the wanted serial killer. Her shot hits the running man at center mass but he merely curses and pushes himself harder to get free of this trap.

The drummer drops his hand to his side, his shotgun empty, reaches into his coat with a quick movement, and steps forward as he throws a knife at the fleeing Chrace. The knife misses the back of the ganger’s leg by inches and sticks into the rubber-padded stairs. The drummer yells out angrily, “Torque, KILL!”

Chrace continues his mad dash for freedom as he pulls a hand-vox from his coat.

"Stop shootin’! I’m comin’ out!”

The full-auto firing stops seconds later.

Korolev exchanges another hail of shots with the Chained men in the booths. His shots go wide and some of the gangers recover their nerve. The Inspector takes a nasty gash from a passing bullet in his arm for his troubles.

The cyber-mastiff, Torque, charges the auto-pistol toting man taking cover behind the table. The beast lunges its head through the gaps in the railing and latches onto the ganger’s leg. It shakes its head back and forth while it yanks the man’s appendage backwards. The ganger grabs the railing and tries frantically to pull his leg free. The metal teeth rend and tear and with a ripping sound (and a scream), the man’s leg comes off the body. Torque drops the leg in a bloody pile as its sensors register the man’s vital signs dissipate.

Across the bar, Petr sees his partner go down and charges down the stairs to clear the way so he can assist his long time friend. The gigantic man rushes the nearest ganger who’s fully absorbed in fighting off the two civilians bearing him down. His back is to Petr and the arbite’s metal mace caves in his head with ease.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide4.jpg

Ashmore was missed by 9 bullets and not by much :smallbiggrin:
I am keeping track of Yuri's blood loss but you won't know his status until you check his vitals. A full round (that can be an extended action) Medicae test (+0) can stop the bleeding.

Graki, you hit Chrace dead center but his armor took two off (with the 1 penetration...giggity) and his TB of 3. He reduced the 5 dmg to 0. Chrace has run under the booth and to the other side. Another shot will require you to adjust accordingly. He looks to make the entrance next round.

Korolev took another 3, 6 total. Petr critted for 26. And Torque is gettin some damn fine hit rolls. The bouncer misses (on semi-auto) for the 2nd round in a row... overpaid bastard.

-20 to-hit BS Chrace since he's running (+20 to-hit him WS)

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Unable, now, to impose himself between Chrace and the door without sacrificing both himself and Yuri, Ashmore takes a final potshot at the gang leader. He aims at the running man and fires. "Petr, stop him!"

Laspistol (35): [roll0], +10 aim, +10 short range, -20 run
Damage: [roll1]

Well, ****nuts, I don't know why in hindsight, but I interpreted Chrace's direction as heading for the offices. I assumed there was a door leading out. I could've charged Thrace to stop him. Haha. Man, it's a good thing I got those helpers, because I certainly bungled a couple of turns there.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

With a prayer to the Emperor on his lips, Ashmore again appeals to fate.

Fate point to re-roll that attack roll.

Laspistol (35): [roll0]
Damage: 12

Crit Confirm: [roll1]
Critical Damage: [roll2]

[Boddan]

Well played, Doctor.

That's a wounded Chrace.

The shot strikes his left arm and scorches it severely. The coat melts into his flesh and he drops to his knees to try and smother the flaming arm all while gritting his teeth in agony.

Chrace is at -3, stunned for one round, takes 2 levels of fatigue, and his left arm is useless for 3 rounds.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: Interrupts this program to feel bad ass.

Ashmore's eyes widen as he can't believe his shot. He silently thanks the Emperor. "That's it! Graki, hold fire on Chrace. Petr, keep him down! Hang on, Korolev, almost there."

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Assuming that Chrace has been sufficiently maimed to be taken into custody, Graki dashes down the steps from the VIP section to take on the gangers holed in the booths. Running, she dives into the hallway leading to the bathroom and crouches below the edge of the booth, with her back near the wall.

Run down the stairs from the VIP section, to the hallway that leads to the restrooms just above Korolev. Graki will be between the hallway and the set of steps to the left, leading to the stage. She can just take cover at the top.

[Boddan]

Thought this would be harder than the Ward...


Dr Ashmore runs behind the bar and stops to duck another round of shots. He glimpses Chrace making a dash for the entrance as he lowers his head under the bar. He pauses for two seconds to allow the firing to stop, stands up, takes aim, and shoots the killer in the arm. The heat from the shot ignites nearby material from his coat while the wound itself destroys tissue and causes that area of the coat to melt into his skin. Chrace drops with a suppressed scream of agony and tries to put the flames out. He’s gritting his teeth so hard from the pain, two of them crack.

Chrace just begins to come to his senses and blink the pain away when he feels the ground shaking. He looks up from where he sits on his knees. Petr and his 130kg’s rumble towards the downed man quicker than one would guess the giant man was capable of. The arbite slams his knee into Chrace’s face without slowing. His nose explodes in blood as it’s flattened to the rest of his face. Thankfully for him, Chrace is already unconscious from the blow to feel it. Petr begins searching his pockets for binders to restrain the wanted man.

Up above, Graki dashes from the VIP section to close with the Chained men in the booths. Unseen behind her, the man at the table raises a quiet toast to her as she runs down the catwalk and leaps the stairs heading down, landing nimbly. The women around him are a hysterical mess while he calmly stirs his drink and takes another sip.

On the dance floor, the drummer sees Chrace go down through the railing and calls Torque back with a click of his tongue. He glances up at the booths and the firefight ensuing there as he pulls two buckshot shells from a bandolier around his chest. He stands alone (servitor-like canine aside) in the empty dance floor as he reloads his hack-shotgun.

The Bouncer FINALLY hits something and puts two rounds into the back of the man shooting at the good doctor. He drops to the floor quite dead.

Korolev lets out one last burst of suppressive fire before dropping behind the booth wall to reload. Return fire hits the wall where he was just standing.

Near the door, a group of venue goers kick and stomp a downed Chained man over and over. He’s probably dead already but they’re still at it.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide5.jpg

Graki, I had you jump to make it that far in one turn. Hope that's otay!

Ashmore lands a good'n. The heavy automatic fire outside remains off. Perhaps the stubber team are looking at each other wondering where Chrace is.

Umm yeah...that's it!

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Readying a firebomb, Graki hefts the device in a short arc over the booths in an attempt to land it in the approximate vicinity of the fortified gangers.

ready firebomb, throw it in the hallway between the top two booths, try to get them with the blast radius., vs 40 [roll0] ; dam [roll1] , pen 6

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: Going to do what he does best.

Ashmore breathes a sigh of relief at the captured Chrace. Then he runs as fast as he can to Yuri's side, hoping the man still has a chance, slinging around his medikit as he goes.

Unfortunately, he passes quite a few hivers injured from ricochets. A line from his days in the PDF Medi-core comes to mind: Those who will not fight for the Emperor might as well die for him.

I thought it was harder than the facility. We had three extra guys on our team (drummer, bouncer, and +1 arbite) and the ambush, but 4 of us sustained wounds (Yuri's being critical and Korolev's being slightly serious). Granted, there were twice as many baddies. I think Heresy is one of those games where the battle will quickly turn in our favor, or we will be losing a few dudes. Ya know?

Also, assuming the clean up goes well, congratulations us. We caught Chrace alive with only one self-inflicted civilian casualty.

[Boddan]

Clean up in aisle 5

Grigory runs up to the downed Yuri and can see a weak rise and fall of his chest…around the blood spattered mess.

Graki lobs a small canister that functions like a normal grenade except this one soaks the target area in flame rather than frag. The toss falls short and engulfs the ganger hiding under a table. The man catches alight, stands up, and runs down the hallway screaming and flailing as he disappears inside the bathroom.

Petr kneels down and binds Chrace's hands and feet and begins searching him.

The bouncer vaults the booth wall and runs to check on his downed bouncer buddies. It doesn’t look good.

Korolev kneels down in the booth reloading his carbine.

The drummer and accompanying mastiff jog up behind Graki. The man nods at her as she looks back at them. His face is a mask of anger still.

The gangers spread out a bit as the more courageous ones dart across the hallway and take up positions in both booths.

Back by the entrance, the civvies continue to stomp the ganger…

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide6.jpg

There's a flaming Chained guy the in the bathroom. Fo' real.

Ashmore, Med test to stabalize Yuri (+0).

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore kneels and begins to work on the downed Arbite, grabbing tools from his medikit as needed. While he works, the doctor speaks into his micro-bead. "Everything is clear on this side. Petr, Korolev?"

Then he flicks over to the Rhino channel. "Chrace apprehended. Status report?"

Medicae (60): [roll0] (includes +20 from the medikit)

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Seeing the ganger scream past her in a blur of flame and waving appendages, Graki readies her cat's claw and dives across the isle, taking cover behind the far booth.

Ready long las, and dive across the hallway taking cover behind the opposite booth. Also, I have dodge as a skill, which suggests to me that perhaps I should be doing some dodge-checks just before I get hit?

[Boddan]

Kill 'em all


Dr. Ashmore makes progress staunching Yuri’s blood loss, but has a respectable amount of work left.

Petr responds over the vox, “Yeah almost done search…hey this guy’s wearing a ‘collar!” He exclaims over the vox.

Korolev responds in turn, “We’re almost finished up here.” Over the bar top, out of view to Grigory, Korolev stands up in the booth and fires several shots at the first Chained man to stick his head up. He sighs over the vox when his shots go wide.

In the freight-bay, Ashmore is answered with the same gravelly voice. “Mopping up here.” The connection is grainy and the arbite fails to stop transmitting as the sound goes on. Indecipherable pleas can be heard near the arbite and he speaks again, “I’m not the one you should be asking for mercy from. Terra is that way you piece of ****.” The pleas are cut short by a burst of automatic fire.

Graki darts across the hallway and the drummer takes her place at the wall’s edge. He holds his sawed off ready for a ganger to stick his head out. He fires a blast of buckshot seconds later but the quick Chained man ducks back into cover.

Torque stands ready for orders. Its eyes a bright red to convey its aggress-mode. A large piece of black cloth hangs around his metal neck as a make-shift bandana.

The bouncer moves on to check the other guard while the nearby civvies disperse into to the huddled crowd or cautiously out the front door.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide7.jpg

Lots of misses. Woot?

'Nother test, Doctor.

I handle the dodge/parry tests on my end to keep the pace moving. I'll always give you the benefit of the doubt in using your best reaction to the biggest threat etc.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: The doctor is in.

To Petr, Ashmore responds with surprise. "A collar?"

The doctor pulls his borrowed coat tighter about him to steel himself against the chill, then he goes back to work.

Medicae (50): [roll0]

[Jing Ke]

Graki: Aw, &%#$!

"Don't touch the collar Petr!!!" Graki booms into the microbead. " Could be a bomb of some kind, desperate people... Just get someone with demo skill on it. Might be a tracking beacon too, so hurry!!!"

Graki lowers her gun and aims at the ganger just on the other side of the flames. Squinting through the fuming air, she takes her shot.



aim at one dot just above flames vs 70(40+20 aim+10 under half) [roll0]

dam
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Boddan]

Hatred is Eternal


Hearing Graki cut in over the vox, Petr quickly 'cuffs Chrace to a dead Chained man nearby and steps back. He answers Grigory, “It looks like some explosive collars I’ve seen but this one’s real nice. Real smooth and the like.” He seems unsure what to say about it as it’s not his area of expertise. “Uhh Yuri knows something about explosives… how’s Yuri...?” Petr asks with a hint of hopefulness.

Dr. Ashmore finishes locating the truly vital wounds and sprays medi-sealant into two large exit wounds and manually clamps off a third smaller entry wound that clipped a major vein. Yuri is still bleeding but not anywhere near the lethal amounts he was before Grigory’s arrival.

Graki sees the ganger up ahead who carelessly left his right leg hanging out of the booth several inches. She takes aim and incinerates the appendage. The man screams in agony for a few seconds before succumbing to the shock of the horrific wound.

The drummer waits for Korolev’s shots to pass over head once more and then points to the last ganger on the right. “Torque, KILL!” The beast dashes forward, its metal claws tearing grooves in the flooring. It runs past the first booth, up and onto the table in the second booth, and jumps over the short wall into the third booth. It lands with a roar that’s somewhere between an animal and a high powered engine right next to the shocked Chained man. Torque lunges forward and clamps onto the man’s pistol holding hand, twists its head and clamps its jaws shut. The pistol falls to the floor and under the table while the man’s hand is a bloody ruin.

The drummer himself turns the corner, hops into the near booth, and fires a blast of buckshot into the wall he knows some ganger is cowering behind. He’s rewarded with a blood spatter on the far wall and a wail of pain.

The remaining ganger panics and jumps the wall. He falls nearly twelve feet to the dance floor below where he twists his ankle in the rushed landing but gets up and makes for the exit.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/FrigidTide8.jpg

Ashmore, Yuri is no longer under the effect of blood loss.

Graki did a fugg-ton of dmg...again.

Chrace has binders around his feet and hands as well as having his leg cuffed to a dead Chained guy's leg. (the one the Bouncer shot down)

Torque hit again which Im getting pretty lucky with. He's 3 for 3 on charges. Korolev misses on full-auto *cough*...

The runnin guy took some dmg from his frantic jump. The last guy in the booth is at -2 and took 1 level of fatigue. There's also the unaccounted for burny-man who ran full tilt into the bathroom.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Clean Up

Holding her finger to her ear, Graki barks "One ganger on the dance floor, priority target. I'm going after the crispy one."

With that, Graki pivots around the corner inside the booth and readies her autogun. Then, she sticks the barrel around the corner and fires into the restroom door after the burn-victim.

50 (40+10 under half) [roll0] [roll1]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore doesn't have time to pick up his weapon to engage the enemy. He was going to let Yuri nap, but now the man is important.

The doctor focuses and then lets his mind wander into the emotions of the past events. He sees the wounds inflicted on Yuri and feels them to a lesser extent. He sees, in detail, the damage they caused. And then he attempts to change them, knitting flesh back together and stopping minor wounds with thought.

Healer (7): [roll0]
Damage Healed: [roll1]

[Boddan]

Code 4


Grigory pulls on the warp to unnaturally heal the stricken arbite. Unfortunately, the essence is weak and requires another draw of power.

Graki swivels around the booth and fires into the restroom that the flaming man ran into. No sounds answer her shot. No sounds of a dive for cover, yells of alarm, or gunfire. Behind her, the drummer hops from the booth as he pulls two more shells from his bandolier, flicks open the weapon breach, pauses to let the spent shells eject past his head, and reloads the weapon. He glances up at Graki and the restroom door, an experienced once-over for threats. He pays no attention to the previously occupied booths nearby and appears to have every confidence in Torque to remove the last man.

Almost on cue, a manic scream emits from the last booth and blood spatters across the wall and ceiling as Torque finishes the injured man. The beast trots into view while skirting the open flames.

Korolev jogs from the booth and runs up to the banister looking down below in preparation to shoot the fleeing ganger. Petr beats him to it however.

Graki’s vox call reaches his ears and he turns from the doorway as he lifts his hand cannon towards the dance floor. The Chained man crests the stairs and catches the massive bullet in the sternum. His body rockets backwards, and lies very still on the floor below.

“He’s down,” Petr voxes.

OOC:


Combat-time over! Narrative-time a go-go.

Redo Healer, Doctor?

And you, you sexy amazon killa?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

With the combat officially over, Ashmore takes his time in healing Yuri. He first spends a short time running through a control litany, invoking all his mental prowess (wink). Then he goes through the healing process over again. Once he is done with Yuri, he will go on to perform first aid on the others.

The combat ending also marks a return to Ashmore's politeness. "Petr, Korolev, I would take it as a great favor if you should like to cover the front door. The outsiders might decide to come in."

Petr is awesome.

Invocation (45): [roll0]
Healer (7): [roll1] (add an additional 4 if Invocation was successful)
Damage Healed: [roll2]

If Korolev looks to be heavily wounded, then I will ask his permission and use Healer on him. (I will just Invoke until successful to make it automatic. Can't roll anymore, so you can do that for me, Toby.)

[Jing Ke]

Graki


Sensing that the danger may have passed, Graki stands and walks carefully over to the door. Kicking it open, she looks around the room...

Speaking into her vox "Clear... How's the situation out there Ashmore, how many did we lose?"

As she listens she reloads her autogun,and slings it over her shoulder. Then in turn, she does the same to the cat's claw holding it out in front of her to examine any wear. She proceeds coldly to loot the corpses, friend and foe, in her immediate vicinity.

" I took one to the leg, so whenever you get a moment Doc, I'll be at the bar... Graki strides over bodies and walks around behind the bar, playing bartender for the battleworn party. "Black Saphires on the house!

Awareness roll in the bathroom to make sure the guy is dead. vs 40 [roll0]

[Boddan]

Explosive Jewelry


Graki kicks open the restroom door and finds the missing Chained man. His still smoldering remains dangle from the top of a toilet. His head is jammed into the business end of the thing and covered in water up to his shoulders. That appears to be the best he could come up with when engulfed in fire. He’s quite dead.

The battle over and the adrenaline wearing off, Graki’s hip is starting bother her. She has a slight limp as she goes through the nearby bodies coming up with two dozen thrones, some less-than good quality pistols, several clips of pistol ammo, and one chain necklace that looks to be worth something. It glitters with whatever uncommon metal it’s made from.

The drummer says nothing and makes his way back to the stage. He looks about to check his friends but stops himself. Their status as living or not is very obvious. He stands there silently. Torque sits facing the rest of the establishment behind him. Its eyes switching from yellow to orange when any of you look their way since none of you have been confirmed non-threats.

Dr. Ashmore reaches out to the warp once more and takes a mental hold of Yuri’s wounds. He closes several internal lacerations and orders lost tissue from exit wounds to regrow. In one place, he feels a slug that did not penetrate all the way through Yuri’s body. He pushes it to the side slightly and repairs the damaged digestive system around it, leaving the slug inside the system to get worked out as if it merely ingested rather than digging it out of the body manually. Yuri’s breathing normalizes and his blood loss is now fully stopped. Needing the man’s knowledge on explosives, Grigory injects him with a very small dose of an advanced stimulant to wake him up. He gauges the man’s weight and age and predicts he’ll be awake in three to five minutes.

Petr comes over and looks at Yuri with worry and Ashmore tells him that his friend is going to make it.

All smiles now, Petr returns to the doorway and ushers the last remaining cowering civilians out the door. Korolev joins him in guarding the doorway and pulls out his hand-vox. He inquires to the status of the freight-bay squad and upon hearing it’s secure he orders one of the sedans to come pick up Yuri for med-evac. The voice on the other end keeps talking and Korolev goes on to order the Hammer to pick up your group so that you can take a look at the bay yourselves. The Inspector voxes to everyone about the pickup and it’ll take roughly ten minutes for it to clear the bay and work its way back here.

Yuri begins to stir in two minutes, a good sign of his vitality. Ashmore explains what happened to him in a calm manner and goes on to tell him they need his expertise on Chrace’s collar. Petr yells out to Yuri from the doorway calling him a pansy and the like but his smiles say ‘glad you’re still with us’ clearly. Dr Ashmore helps the wounded man along to the still unconscious Chrace. He sits down unceremoniously next to the body and slowly leans over to look at the metal ring. He carefully spins it around the neck so he can see all the sides. He nods to himself before telling Ashmore to back up…to the bar at least. He scoots himself closer with a grimace of pain and takes out a small screwdriver from his jacket and a small pair of wire cutters. He opens a small panel next to a blinking white light and leans inches away from the open slot. He works diligently for what feels like an hour but in reality is only a minute. The blinking light stops and the collar falls off with a metallic clatter. It’s spilt open at one side with a hinge on the other. The rest is unbroken smooth metal. Yuri continues to look inside for several seconds before stating its safe now. Another minute passes of his messing with the thing before he hands it to Dr Ashmore. He slumps onto his back tiredly and lies on the floor with a half open eye. The augmetic one doesn't change.

“It was set to go off in one standard year from when it got put on. That was ten days ago according to the readout.” The arbite states simply before closing his eye all the way. He seems more preoccupied with his own discomfort at present.

Chrace and Cleaver were freed from Kommitzar ten days ago now. And you are aware from the detailed briefing ‘slate that Kommitzar does not use collars.

OOC:


Graki, 26 throne gelt on several bodies, 4 very beat up pistols, 33 rounds for the pistols all said and told, and a thick metal chain necklace that's semi-transparent (almost like ice) but clinks like metal.

Ashmore, Korolev is lightly wounded (1 more dmg and he would've fallen into the heavily categroy). Please feel free to First Aid or Healer folks and put in Medicae tests and/or healed amounts in rolls here. You can skip the Psy test since the Invocation will make it auto. Ill just roll a D10 for each use to see if it's a perils deal.

Dmg Taken:

Graki - 2/Light/Impact
Korolev -6/Light/Impact
Yourself - 2/Light/Impact
Drummer - 3/Light/Explosive

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"Status report on the bay, we want to know what to expect... Graki commands into the arbite channel.

Scooping up the booty, she walks into the main room and hands all the crapy weapons and ammo over to Korolev. "Evidence, in case there is any lack of it. Also...do you think you can help me with this one?" She holds up the jewelry for him to see.

I'm keeping the money!

[Boddan]

The arbite channel replies to Graki.

"This place is clear. We'll stay here on perimeter while the Hammer retrieves you. We'll leave this place together. Your team should see what they had going on here, sir....maam."

Korolev looks amused at Graki's mention of evidence. He says to her with a grin, "I think you already judged most of the guilty."

Petr joins in with good humor. "I liked the frag toss in the sexy 'glove. That was my favorite part."

The Inspector finishes lookin over the chain necklace. He explains that it's a novelty type thing popular on this planet. It's worth a bit but it's really just for show to look like ice.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Though Ashmore was laughing when Korolev made his joke, he stops when Petr makes light of the grenade toss. Still, he keeps silent on the issue.

The doctor makes a mental note of the collar, as it doesn't currently seem to fit. He stows it in his pack. "We need to get Chrace in lock up, preferably somewhere where any remaining Chained won't find out." He looks around at the litter of bodies. "That is, if there are any Chained left."

All the while, he is going about his work, though he abstains from using the warp on such superficial wounds.

He thanks Yuri for working under such duress, and then thanks Petr for stopping Chrace. Then he looks up at the stage to the drummer. "Excuse me sir, but might I inquire as to your name?"

All medicae checks are against 70 (+20 for kit, +10 for light impact). Anyone healed gains 4 wounds back. Anyone I roll 100 on takes 1 wound.

Medicae Graki: [roll0]
Medicae Korolev: [roll1]
Medicae Ashmore: [roll2]
Medicae Petr: [roll3]

[Boddan]

Ire


Dr. Ashmore sees to everyones wounds as best he can. He does an exceptional job in a short amount of time. He even manages to handle his torn neck using the remaining pieces of mirror behind the bar to see as he works on his own neck.

He leans over the railing and inquires as to the drummer's name. Torque stands up and eyes the Doctor.

The man takes several seconds to answer. He's lost in thought and barely registers the voice directed at him.

"My name? My name is Sasha. Sasha Dityatev." He turns around to face Grigory now and taps Torque on the snout twice. The mastiff sits back down.

"My friends call me Ire. That is, the friends I used to have." He says as he tosses a thumb over his shoulder. "Who are you people? And when does that ****er burn? I'm going to light my last cigar off that heretic piece of ****."

His turning allows Grigory to see him more clearly. Under his armor lined long coat he's shirtless with a bandolier of shells running across his chest. Under this, the doctor can see several tattoos running all across his skin. In fact, it's difficult to find a spot without any. Grigory squints and can make out several litanys in various sized script running in small passages. In the center of his chest is the Imperial Eagle. Large and proud.

A good portion of the tattoos are disrupted by scar tissue and the man's face, hardly visable underneath his long, straight black hair, seems no less beaten up. The man's nose in particular looks to have been broken again and again.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Dashing over to wring Ire's hand, Graki exclaims" You kept yourself together pretty well. It's always nice to have a serendipitous ally..."

As she looks him over, Graki wonders if he might make an excellent body-shield....errr....addition to the team.

Awareness vs 40 to try to determine anything else about him that might be relevant [roll0] as well as a scrutiny check vs 20 to determine if he is worthy to recruit.[roll1]

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore sizes the drummer up. "Well, Mr. Dityatev, you handled yourself well considering... what happened. I am only sorry we could not have stopped Chrace earlier. Be that as it may, we have business to which we must attend. If you have no other *ahem* engagements, we could always use an extra gun."

He looks at Chrace. "We will be repairing whatever damage this one has done. As to your cigar? We will have to see how cooperative he is..."

[Boddan]

Nice Ride

Ire takes Graki’s proffered hand slowly. He looks her up and down trying to discern gang affiliation from her tattoos. The skin tone settles it; not local. He looks at Ashmore’s poorly fitting coat and thinks off-worlder as well.

He looks at his shredded mates. Without looking back, “Yeah I’ll join ya.” He leans across the stage to the fallen singer and removes a lighter from her pocket. It looks to be made of a silverish metal and is of decent quality. He turns back and looks straight at Chrace with hateful eyes. “He comin’ with us?” He asks as he opens the lighter, flicks a flame on, and repeats the action several times. His thoughts obvious.

----------------------------------------------

The Arbite sedan arrives first and Petr helps Yuri to the vehicle. He lowers the man inside before turning a grinning face back to the assembled group. He grins wider as he jerks his head upwards a bit at you all. He gets into the vehicle holding a pilfered bottle of something expensive and rides off to take Yuri up-hive to a medicae facility.

Ire tries to make conversation but you both can tell his thoughts are not focused.

The Hammer arrives with a heavy rumble and squeaking parts. It’s painted black with white Adeptus Arbite symbols on each side. There’s the usual wear on it with additional scoring from small arms fire. That’s fresh. An Arbite stands in the hatch next to the driver manning a heavy stubber. The vehicle drives directly at you all, stops a dozen paces short, spins in place with its treads ripping into the flooring, and stops as its rear faces you. The ramp slams down with a heavy thud.

The interior is empty and the driver leans into view to wave you aboard. Ire sits directly across from Chrace in the prisoner cage and he's just coming to. Sasha lights a lho stick as he stares at the captured killer.

The ride will take ten minutes.

OOC:


Sorry it's only RPish here. Got distracted for most of the night. I'll get the bay bit up tmrw but if you all would like to run some back and forth and maybe include Ire a bit, I'd be a happy tobykin.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Gotcha B*tch!

As Chrace comes to, Graki grins at him. She watches as the realization comes over the maimed former crime-boss. He's failed.

Chrace smiles for a moment as he reaches for his collar...then his smile dissipates. Making a gun motion with her hand, Graki aims it in his direction. "chika-chik She closes her thumb to the top of her hand.

Ire seems moderately amused, but would probably rather have forgone the pantomime in favor of something more lethal.

"Not to worry," Graki reassures him "The Inquisition is not known for its mercy.

I realize she probably shouldn't tell people that she's in the inquisition,but I thought it appropriate for this instance. If not, court-marshall her or something, that should be exciting.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore converses lightly with Petr and Korolev on the art of policing, something with which he is vaguely familiar. He largely ignores Chrace, speaking of him as though he is not there, and he makes no attempt to hide his disgust with the heretic (though he displays said disgust as politely as possible).

When Graki makes sure at least someone will expect the Inquisition, the doctor clears his throat. "Yes, well, there it is. Miss Graki doesn't seem to be much of one for discretion." He emphasizes that last word as if to contain more than just the most recent indiscretion, then he looks at Korolev. "It looks as though you will have to make doubly sure that our guest does not escape. Were this to look like anything more than an Arbite bust, then our work here may be severely hindered."

After his harsh words, the doctor looks mildly embarrassed. "You will have to forgive me, Miss Graki, everyone. I am afraid I am not accustomed to such a violent loss of life. A few soldiers, a few patients, yes. But..." He looks down and runs a hand through his hair, messing up what may have been left of his part after all the running.

Then he looks up again. "Still, considering that it was our first major engagement, I would like to commend everyone on a job well done. Thank you, Petr, Mr. Ire, for your help. Should you be in need of new work or a change of pace, then I am sure our superior would not mind a larger team. We are quite small at the moment. Of course, we seem to be big enough to take out an entire gang of heretics." He glances briefly at Chrace for this last remark.

After his characteristic "job-well-done" speech, Ashmore settles into silence.

So I just realized how to give Graki what for without her really caring :-p. It's called "cultural differences," baby. I just gave you the scathing of the century if we were on Scarric XXII. If I've lived in Thailand for anything, it is to learn how to display anger towards someone without them giving a damn.

[Boddan]

The mission briefing mentioned questioning if possible, but no mention of re-incarceration. Chrace is to be terminated once he's milked for information.

I suppose Chrace overhearing that he might have a chance at life (in jail) however works to your advantage.

[Boddan]

Standing at the Dock of the Bay


Both Ire and Chrace snap their heads up at the mention of the Inquisition.

Chrace looks for some hint of a lie while Ire seems to be waiting for you all to laugh as if it’s a joke. Ire stands up in the moving Rhino and ushers Graki, Ashmore, & Korolev into the back of the moving Rhino away from Chrace. He puts his lho stick out on top of Chrace’s restrained head before moving back himself using the overhead railing to stay on his feet.

He speaks at a normal tone which is hard to hear at this distance over the clanking gears of the Hammer.

“Inquisition?” He looks to each of you for hints of treachery. Old habit. “You can’t be serious.”

He pauses, waiting for an explanation of some sort. “…Who ARE you people?!” He repeats himself from earlier with a hint of amused exasperation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hammer arrives in the bay and the smell of battle reaches inside the rhino even before its ramp deploys.

The rhino drives to the center of the freight-bay and lets you all out. The driver takes a seat in the back to keep an eye on Chrace.

The bay is huge. From the center where you stand to the walls is around 150m in any direction. The ceiling is nearly as high up. A large portion of the bay is taken up by water that’s stopped by an exterior wall that divides the ocean outside from the below-sea level bay. There’s enough room in the water filled area to allow the submersibles to pull in without any danger of surfacing into the dividing wall. In one wall is a large ramp leading out to the central lifts – the same way you just drove in. There are also several personnel entrances at various levels around the exterior of the bay. All around are large containers that must hold the minerals gathered from far below. Near the bay is a crane that moves the containers from the bay floor to the submersible. The submersible itself sits with its massive top hatch open to allow placement of containers within. Its port side is flush with the bay dock next to the water line.

Opposite the water, a multi-level structure sits. It appears to be several small offices and a mess hall joined by gangways and catwalks that are built into the wall of the bay.

And the most obvious part for your senses, there are bodies everywhere. Nearly thirty dead Chained men lay where they fell behind containers, on catwalks, a few running for the submersible – everywhere. No Arbites appear to have fallen and can be seen near all the entrances and on the sub while others search around in pairs.

A senior Arbite approaches and once he speaks, his gravelly voice marks him as the one on the vox earlier. He proceeds to show you around to what they’ve found after clearing this place.

First, he takes you to the remaining Arbite sedan which has a civilian sitting inside with the doors open. An Arbite medic sees to him.

He is a young boy who is the only son of the Chief Overseer of mining operations in Hive Kronus. He looks beaten and has bleeding wrists from too-tight restraints. He explains that Chrace was using him as a hostage to force his father to deliver several tons of explosives used to blast into the tunnels below. The explosives where to be delivered the next night in exchange for his safe return.

Next, the arbite leads you to one of the offices. Inside is a dead chained man on the floor. All around are tools and lab equipment that Dr Ashmore identifies immediately as the required components to turn Xiloprofoline into its nerve gas form. Nearby is a desk with hand drawn maps of areas that have been struck, lists of items already stolen, and people already killed. On the same desk is a very nice looking dataslate that doesn’t match its surroundings. When looked at, it demands an unspecified geneprint to open the files.

The arbite than sums up the rest saying that the mess hall has a stockpile of ammunition in it. The submersible looks to have been emptied of all containers and sits ready to hold whatever they had in mind for it. Escape maybe, he poses.

OOC:


What do you tell Ire?

Questions for the hostage?

What do you do with the mystery 'slate?

Do you question Chrace now?

Any other actions taken and/or theories to shoot back and forth?

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"Heh, I mean hypothetically they wouldn't the Inquisition or so I've heard. We've been told that they have taken over all interrogations in this sector for the time being, some sort of attempt to get to the bottom of one of the local cartels...something to do with illegal bio-engineering or unlicensed sensory implants. One hears these things hanging around with lowbie bureaucrats like Korolev here. Right?!! Graki breathes breathlessly, winking at Ire with her back to Chrace.

" Anyway, I think Ashmore and I might have a few questions for Chrace here. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to give us a few moments alone in the sub with him? I think together we might squeeze something out. Would you care to join us Korolev?

She's trying to lie, but she isn't very good at it. I'd like to interrogate Chrace ungently. Perhaps also convince Ire to joins us after we get to put the screws to Chrace. As far as the mystery slate goes, Graki has penalties to dealing with non-lethal technology. I'll let the cosmopolitans deal with that. Also, I learned the same thing about Japan...Apparently, when someone tells you they aren't sure of something, it's a nice way of saying that they are sure, and that you're an idiot, but also that they don't want to be rude.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

When pulled aside, Ashmore is quite frank with the ganger. "Well, I suppose the Emperor's Will has a hand in all things. I suppose you will have to come with us to see our superior now. Yes, we are indeed very low ranking members of the Inquisition." He considers the matter as settled as it will get for now and prepares to reach the bay.

The Investigation

(Note: Throughout this part, Ashmore defers to Korolev in all things, asks questions, rather than making demands, and in all other ways falls into his habits as an expert brought in by the PDF back in Hive Arrakis. No need to pull rank or draw more attention here.)

The doctor apologizes to Graki, excusing himself to attend to injuries. He hops out with his medikit in case any of the Arbites are injured and assists anyone he can without causing further injury. He is quite pleased with the bust and congratulates any Arbites he passes on a job well done. Then he heads over to help with the young boy's care. For now, he just helps patch up wounds, assures the boy he will be back to his father soon and promises him some up-hive snack when they get out of here.

Leaving the boy to rest for now, he next concentrates on the general area, feeling for intrusions of the warp in this area. He talks to the Arbite with the found data-slate and asks him if he would be so kind as to run to the Rhino and get Chrace's geneprint on it and then bring it back.

That being settled, Ashmore next checks both the list of stolen goods and the apparatus for making the nerve agent to determine whether any has been made already without them knowing. He then further scans the list for any names, items, or places that may be of importance.

Finally, with a grim look on his face, he goes to Korolev. "Lieutenant, I am afraid we will have to bring in the boy's father for questioning. He may know something, and... Here he looks embarrassed again. ...son or not, it looks as though he may have been planning on aiding these heretical scum with several tons of explosives."

As far as the Chrace being imprisoned thing goes, I (Chris) didn't know what was supposed to happen either way. I did know that him assuming he was going to die meant we'd have to torture him, which I don't see Ashmore doing. Not this early is his career.

Also, the doctor is not inclined to work near Graki for the time being (and less conflict would probably be caused if the two were not to combine their interrogation methods :-p). Also, you posted that request while I was in the middle of this one!

Fellowship (25): [roll0] to make an attempt at a good first impression on the young lad
Psyniscience (33): [roll1] to detect presence of warp phenomena
Chem-use (40): [roll2] to determine whether nerve agent produced
??: You'll have to tell me if any checks are required for the list of crimes
Other:If the gene-print of Chrace doesn't work, then Ashmore will try the Chained in the room with it.

[Jing Ke]

Graki: There is No Will But His

As Ashmore progresses through his various stages of discomfiture, Graki watches smirking. As he finishes speaking and prepares to begin examining the slate, Graki approaches him. "Perhaps you are not aware, but part and parcel to the Inquisition's mantle is the interrogation, and psychological deconstruction of heretics. I've never met a more ideal case than this Chrace. I thank you for your healing expertise, but I must caution you... The Inquisition does not tolerate a weak stomach. I had hoped your treating of injuries would in some fashion inoculate you to the more distasteful aspects of this type of work... But perhaps it is time I try my hand. I will take Chrace to the sub and interrogate him. Have you any specific questions you would like me to ask?"

Graki listens to Ashmore's suggestions and then prepares for the interrogation. She asks that a few of the surrounding arbites stand guard outside the sub, and then has Chrace brought down below with Korolev if he is willing.

I'll wait to do rolls until the GM does his next flavor update.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Incredibly taken aback by Graki's confrontation, Ashmore becomes quite irate. He speaks harshly, but in a low voice. "My dear woman, I never said anything of the sort. Now I tried to be gentlemanly about this, but frankly, a stomach has little to do with the acceptance of the slaughter of innocents or poor interrogation tactics. I would remind you that it was not I who almost gave up our only bargaining chip with Chrace: his life. In actuality, I would prefer to have him sweat it out a little. He is not going anywhere anytime soon, nor does he have any hope of proving his innocence with a well-concocted lie. We offer him a trade, plain and simple."

He does not look embarrassed in the least as he pauses for this to settle in. "Of course, if you would like to get the man to dance and sing and tell us any lies we want to hear to get us to stop, then by all means, rough him up a bit. I have absolutely no skill in the matter, and I dare say Mr. Fiphe did not mention anything of the sort in your portfolio either. Now, if you would like to further berate me, the one who managed to take Chrace down, a little more, or if you would like to torture a man in front of a crowd..." He gestures around him to the Arbites. "...then be my guest. But do not expect me to listen or participate until you have proven to me that you are an Acolyte and not some hothead who gets her jollies from firefights." With that, he storms off to let both Graki and Chrace stew in order to finish his investigation.

Of course, I had previously decided that direct confrontation is met with more stubborn direct confrontation, which is why everyone on Scarric tries to be so nice to each other :-p.

I figure it is probably good to have some early conflict in the group here. We'll resolve it soon enough (most likely with someone saving someone else's life :-p). Either way, at least we get it out now, before we've been 'friends' too long.

For the record, it isn't that he has a weak stomach for torture. It is that he doesn't think it works. Of course, I'm sure there are situations where he will be wrong (since some Chaos dudes probably won't respond to anything else), but I don't want to be right all ze time anyway.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Still smirking to herself, Graki bursts out a barely-suppressed guffaw as Ashmore storms off. "On my homeworld, this would've been settled with a game of Gogh, but here, apparently, we are meant to trade feeble monologues like so many bullets. Who is this pompous medic, incidentally, to speak of my interrogation tactics as if they are somehow quantifiable. It isn't as though he has some sort of list given to him by the emperor, delineating my personality attributes as a value between one and one-hundred!" she confides to Korolev.

Standing resignedly, she saunters up to the fuming Ashmore, and places her hand on his shoulder " I did not climb from the depths of the jungle, through the ranks of the initiates to prove myself to you. I have no intention of doing so, and care little what you ultimately think of me or my methods. The important thing is the completion of the mission. My only concern is that we head off these cultists, do not misconstrue my concerns about your misgivings as an interest in your opinions."

Graki decides that she will interrogate Chrace herself. The idea of torture hadn't really occurred to her, but perhaps Ashmore assumed she meant something along those lines rather than what might be more appropriately termed "extreme manipulation."

Changing her microbead to a private channel, Graki asks her contact with the inquisition " Am I meant to report to Ashmore, his pontificating is beginning to wear on me..."

I like that our characters are having a little tiff. I think the issue is that Graki doesn't appreciate the subtleties of a superstructural ethics and such, she's perpetually in survivalist/homeworld mode. It's a means justify the end sort of thing. Although, I wasn't really going to have her torture Chrace, just find his weak spot and squeeze, figuratively of course. For instance, his motives are likely driven by something base: money, drugs, power: promises can be made, threats can be given, one-act plays can be orchestrated if need be.

I think perhaps our preferred course(s) of action can be summed up:

1. Graki will interrogate Chrace with Korolev's supervision to placate Ashmore's misgivings.

2. Ashmore will find something useful to do outside the submarine, probably having to do with the dataslate he's been investigating.

Agree/ Disagree?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore turns back to Graki and in a calmer voice, carries on. "It is not, I am afraid, a matter of proving yourself to me. This group hasn't a leader, and we are all equals. It is a matter of working together. I am willing to do so, but you will forgive me for trying to save lives, which is the ultimate point of this mission. And yes, the important thing is the completion of this mission, and my role in it is as doctor and analyst while yours is as tracker and combat specialist. I recommend we put this quarrel aside for now, and both go watch Korolev in action, as from what I know of Arbites, they tend to be pretty good at this sort of thing."

He checks the data-slate as he walks back to the Rhino.

Just for the record, we were all briefed, generally, on why each person was selected for this team (or so I thought), hence the doctor's knowledge of your lack of interrogating skills, since it is something that one can be practiced in and knowledgeable about. Though I'm sure you were just jokin'.

Sorry, Joe, didn't know where you were going with that. I think I have a personal dislike for Jack Bauer, and it comes out in my GMing and playing :-p.

[Boddan]

Hot & Cold


Dr Ashmore makes his way around the arbites checking for injuries. He’s already known as a life saver from vox chatter by the arbites. Most of the wounds are trivial or fairly routine. There are a few cracked ribs from impacts to chest armor. The men appreciate the care and congratulations on the successful raid.

While doing so, Graki walks around as well. She gets respectful nods from the arbites as she’s been a subject on the vox as well. And not as a life saver. She glances from body to body, bullet scores in the cover, and piles of spent shell casings. She makes out the flow of the battle pretty easily. The Hammer rode in quick through the central lift gate, pulled up by a wall of containers, and sat there firing the stubber continuously while the arbites split into two teams and worked their way up each flank. There’s near four hundred spent stubber casings piled up near the entrance and a good deal of destroyed cover near obliterated bodies to attest to the gunner’s effectiveness.

Ire exits the rhino with Torque trailing him. He sits down where he can see inside the transport and tells Torque quietly, “The Inquisition. We’re moving up in the Emperor’s view.” He lights another lho stick and begins smoking while staring at Chrace inside the Hammer. It’s not long before he takes notice of the blood dripping off Torques metal jaws. “Ah, right…sorry.” He pulls the black cloth from around Torques neck and wipes the blood off as best he can. When done he tosses the messy cloth aside and cuts another one from a dead Chained man’s coat lining to replace it. An Adeptus Arbites symbol is acid etched onto the breastplate of the mastiff. Ire ties the cloth back on covering the symbol and sits back to finish his lho stick before joining the Doctor when he’s done looking over the arbites.

Ire approaches the doctor as he finishes talking to the hostage with Korolev. “Dr…. Ashmore was it? Ya mind stitchin’ this up for me?” He pulls his coat off enough to show the jagged gash in his shoulder where the frag grenade struck. He comments off hand as the doctor works, “Voe usually fixed us up after a tussle…” He trails off.

When finished, Ire follows Grigory and Korolev to get an idea of what he’s apart of now. He stands back a few feet and keeps quiet while he listens. Torque follows Ire and scans the already cleared bay perpetually for threats.

The senior arbite hands the now open ‘slate to Ashmore. Chrace’s print unlocked the files. Inside, a detailed schematic of the superstructure of Hive Kronus along with marked points for placement of explosives are listed. The vast amounts of demo needed and the three key points are shown in full. They’re near three of the lowest freight-bays on one side of the hive. All the way down near the bottom of the Susser Sea. The points would trigger an unbalance and than a collapse of the superstructure while the Hive’s own extreme mass would rip itself apart as it tumbled into the ocean.

Next on the list is a chem-tech’s recipe for Xiloprofoline based nerve gas. Additionally, the locations that house the key ingredient, Xilo itself. That is, the locations as of some time ago.

Grigory reads all this out loud as he walks back to the office. He glances at one piece of lab equipment to verify they have not already somehow concocted the nerve gas. The one piece would have black scorch marks around the interior of the large, sealed glass beaker if it had been used. It’s clean.

Ashmore mentions the need to question the boy’s father and Inspector Korolev is on his hand-vox ordering his apprehension within seconds. As he works, the good doctor reaches out with his sixth sense to confirm that no trace of the warp lingers here. It’s as clean as the beaker.

Graki approaches the group after watching from afar. She and the doctor have a bit of a heated back and forth while Ire and the Inspector watch. Ire smokes yet another lho stick while his eyes dart from speaker to speaker, his brow furrowed. Korolev steps in and offers to lead off the interrogation.

Graki gets a mono-tone answer on her vox-bead from Riccan via his servo skull. +You both answer to me; however, you are meant to function as an efficient arm of the Emperor’s own Inquisition+

Korolev orders Chrace moved into the empty submersible storage bay and quickly runs through the process.

He points to Graki, “We’ve all seen this before. You’re bad cop, I’ll lead with questions, Ashmore follows up with more questions, don’t ease up and let him think straight, Ire sit in the back and….”He looks at Ire who looks more than ready to kill Chrace. “…and yeah…do that.”

Inside the sub, Chrace kneels in the center of the empty, freezing submersible’s hold. His wrists and ankles are chained to the grating below and his armor and coat has been removed. It’s near 0°F in here and every breath comes in a thick mist.

Korolev wastes no time and walks up to within feet of Chrace, his arms crossed, and begins.

“Kenyon, let’s make this quick, yes? It’s cold in here and I’m hungry. Who freed you from Kommitzar and why? Why did you have an unhealthy amount of explosive around your neck? What was the Xiloprofoline-gas for?”

He stares at the shivering, silent killer. “Look, give us some answers and you’ll get a coat, a warm meal, and a decent cell in Sheol.” He refers to the other penal colony in the sub-sector. It lays at the opposite end the Hazeroth.

The Inspector is of course lying.

Chrace looks up as if considering this new development. He had assumed his end was neigh until now.

“Or you can remain silent, and I’ll leave you alone with him.” Korolev points behind him to Ire. The furious ganger sits on a crate near the wall. He’s hunched over smoking another lho stick as he stares at Chrace with silent rage.

Chrace begins to open his mouth…

OOC:


Righto, first: Doc heals Ire? Roll-y roll-y.

Second, Your positive that no hint of the warp resides here.

Lastly, Interrogation is an opposed test vs WP. I gave Koro +30 for "aid" for the three of you. You get an answer for every degree he was beaten. In this case, you get 5 answers. Pick any of the above sentences as one question or make one of your own. Of those, 5 will be answered.

Hints: info on Cleaver, the explosives, the origin of the 'slate, etc.

Also, what is to be done with chrace when finished?

[Jing Ke]

Graki

" Tell us about this Cleaver, and his whereabouts....If not I can just start chipping things off you till you change your mind." Graki menacingly intones as she picks up an icepick she brought in with her from the toolbox outside.

My other vote will be to ask him a question we don't already know the answer to, such as "What does Ostrich taste like?" or more to the point "What did you hope to gain from the aforementioned gassing? Is it a sacrifice, pure and simple?"

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

When Ire approaches him about the wound, he seems sincerely apologetic. "Throne but that is a nasty wound. I'm afraid that we will need slightly better conditions for me to take care of that, lest I risk making it worse. Is it terribly painful? Or can you wait until we are done here and I can get you to a proper facility?"

My votes for questions are:

Who freed him?
Why were he and Hoggins freed?
Why did he need both the explosives and the nerve gas?
Where is Hoggins? (if this seems like something he would know)

Joe, any agreements, additions, or subtractions?

*Edit: Argh, ninja'd! :-p I am definitely down for the sacrifice question. Could we roll it into the why need both explosives and nerve gas thing?

[Jing Ke]

+My question is the same as your last one, so we are in agreement on that one.

+Who freed him? Is probably one of those questions whose answer will sign his death warrant, so maybe we just let him answer and then cut him loose? That way our hands are clean...technically. Or we could have him lobotomized and then cut loose just to be giant d-bags and cover all our bases.

+Why were he and Cleaver freed? /Agree

Nerve gas thing is ok I guess, but it's sorta moot now isn't it? That's fine though.

Finally, I still want to know what he gains from this, in his own words. It's good criminology to encourage the perp to diatribe .

[OneFamiliarFace]

The Nerve gas thing isn't really about the nerve gas. I'm curious as to why the evidence appears to show that he was going to both blow the **** out of the hive and kill everyone with nerve gas, especially since the gas leaves no blood, which is what Khorne would like (his fellow released prisoner is a Khornate, though that doesn't mean that he is).

Question to Toby: Is everything on the list on the dataslate things they have already done? Or are there targets not yet crossed off?

So then our 5 are:

The 3 we definitely agree on:
Where is Hoggins?
Why were you two freed?
Who freed you?

Yours:
What did you stand to gain from all this?

Mine: (conditional on Joe's question not already answering this, if his question does answer it, then we will think of somethin else)
Why did you need both the explosives and the nerve agent?

[Boddan]

Answers

Chrace answers the first several questions before he feels like he's being used and clams up.


Who freed you?
"He kept a synskin suit on the whole time. There was just me, Cleaver, and this guy in the ship. He worked alone and didn't talk except to tell us what to do. He had an augmetic right eye though. Could see it under the synskin. Dark red. He also must've had a lot of hair...the synskin suit bulged keeping it all in."

Why were you two freed?
"He told me I had to do what I do best- that I had to kill all the rich privileged ****s. He gave me one year to do just that. He spoke to Cleaver in a hush but I heard him tell him to continue his service to his lord."

Where is Hoggins?
"I. Don't. Know. I didn't want anything to do with him. The guy that got us out outlined the data he gave me on the Hive and the Xilo next to Cleaver. So he should know I was gonna bring this place down. I don't know if that freak was listening...he never made a sound the whole time..."

What did you stand to gain from all this?
"If I did what he said and if I killed enough worthless people... I would rule this world, free of the Imperium... I didn't really trust him but I had a 'collar on. I would've killed these ****ers anyway. He just gave me the info to do it right."

Why did you need both the explosives and the nerve agent?
"The explosives were for Hive Kronus. We were going to use this sub to move and plant the explosives near the lower freight-bays and then sail to Hive Hyperion while Kronus fell. The gas was to clear the spires of Hyperion and we would take care of the vast underhive ourselves. Most of the gangs would've joined us by than anyway."

Overall, it sounds like he just enjoys killing for the sake of bringing those in power down.




Chris, the list seems mighty complete. The uncrossed ones are the sites with Xilo that he tried to obtain.

What's next? And Chrace?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Chrace was less help than Ashmore had hoped. That information wouldn't have earned him a reprieve even if he had had a chance to get one. He is done having to look at the heretic.

Despite what he said, Ashmore feels the need to prove himself to his disagreeable companion. The doctor draws his laspistol and looks at Graki. "Might I have the honor?"

If she agrees, then he puts two shots into the man's chest and one to his head after he has fallen.

If she protests, then he leaves it up to her or Ire.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Changing her tune, Graki asks " Might we put his lingering to use to draw out Cleaver? Perhaps we can set up some kind of "meeting""? Although I'm not convinced we would necessarily need him alive to do that... Yeah, go ahead.

Perhaps we can arrange some kind of rendezvous to trick Cleaver into thinking Chrace has information for him... If only we could figure out a way to contact him...

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore the good cop became the bad cop?

Keeping his laspistol aimed at Chrace and not looking away from the ganger, Ashmore asks over his shoulder, "And what would a butcher like Hoggins want with scum like this. He hasn't been of any real use to us or to his mysterious benefactor, so why would Hoggins bother with him?" His tone is not one of reproach or disbelief towards Graki, but more of a questioning nature meant to scare Chrace.

Intimidate (10): [roll0] This is a miserable chance, but I figure I might as well make rolls if the skill is available. I am not trying to intimidate him further than I did in the above paragraph. This is just a roll in case you need one, Toby.

Haha, Joe, looks like we switched us some roles right quick there.

Interrogation is WP? I ain't too bad at that then, even untrained. Oh, except that it is advanced :-p.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

" Well, we know his one weakness...He likes to kill things. Graki kneels and places her face next to Chrace, with her head out of the trajectory of Ashmore's gun.

"Victim's of violent psychopaths are often people familiar to them. We could set up a situation that seems on the level, and let it devolve into a hunt: Cleaver for Chrace; Us for Cleaver. And hopefully we'd catch Cleaver before he catches you, ganger."

I'm not sure how this would play out logistically, but for now we'll use the prospect to try to intimidate him again.

[roll0] vs 10

and

fate point if needed [roll1]

[Boddan]

Bunch of un-intimidating folks we got here =)

Decent premise however. If you state a plan that has a high enough chance of success, you may scare some more info concerning Cleaver from him. Or just use the plan itself to further your locate.

Korolev states he can force certain messages to be distributed via the Hive's public pict-feeds if that'll help.

Failing that, Chrace now having a gun leveled at his face sees the lie of life imprisonment for what it is. He won't give up anything else without a damn good reason.

(Ill admit that Ill be more flexible with the use of skills that are otherwise 'no-brainers' to use. Like threatening folks or tailing someone on foot etc. Certain things shouldn't be THAT hard.)

Also, your both out of fate points for another 3.5 game days =P

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Ashmore still does not look at his companions, but speaks in a friendly manner."With all do respect gentleman and lady, it is not as though our captive has done anything to keep a low profile thus far. Hoggins is a man who can enter a hab, subdue and slaughter eight people single-handedly and exit before anyone knows anything has happened.

So, as I said before, if this scum cannot give us a reason why he should be tempting bait and therefore be released with a chance for his freedom, then I see no reason why he should live long enough to harm even the feelings of another Imperial citizen."

Intimidate (20): [roll0] I'm using my Int for this one to try to psych the guy out?

That being said, the doc is just taking a pot-shot at getting information, and the gun only hasn't fired to have that shot (har har). He doesn't actually think Chrace has any more info to give them.

If Graki wants to do the bait thing, then Ashmore with holster his laspistol and begin inquiries as to the condition of the bodies in the morgue. And there is always the off-chance that the Xilo was meant for Hoggins who will come and get it.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Conferring with Korolev, Graki instructs him on the basic contents of the message, something that directly challenges what Hoggins holds dear: his skill as a butcher of men. " Start with some images decrying the falseness of his favorite Chaos God, and use the example, that even those who have failed the god and Hoggins have escaped retribution. We need to set it up so that Cleaver can simultaneously exact his revenge and feel like an instrument of Khorne. We need to make it irresistible. Try to make it look like the standard propaganda, a public service announcement...

Bending down to Chrace's level, she breathes " You're going to be famous...

It might also be a good idea to fit him with a homing beacon, and perhaps a collar like the one he wore so we can remote-detonate if needs be. Also, 1 fate point left for me I think.

[Boddan]

One Down.


Chrace seems legitimately afraid at the prospect of having Cleaver after him. Even as he sits chained to the freezing flooring in a room full of armed people that despise him.

Inspector Korolev steps back and pulls a pict recorder from his coat and begins recording Chrace’s chained form divulging information to Graki as she leans near his face.

Chrace looks at Graki and glances at Dr. Ashmore standing nearby as he speaks. “Look I don’t know where he is. The guy told him to continue to serve his lord, handed him a 'slate about some family in this hive, and that was it. Anytime the guy got close to Cleaver though, he’d lean away and snarl. That’s the only reaction I saw from him the whole time.”

He leans back onto his restrained legs and looks from face to face. He takes a deep breath and looks down at his chest.

Korolev stops recording. “Yes, well, we won’t be needing you anymore. We can just roll whatever audio we want over this. Enjoy hell Kenyon. Doctor, if you…”

Ire jumps up. “Nah nah nah nah. He’s mine, if it’s all the same.”

The Inspector shrugs and walks out of the sub with Graki and Ashmore.

Ire watches them go, takes his coat off, and lays it over the top of Torque.

He smiles grimly at Chrace as he begins walking around the sub looking in lockers and behind small crates.

Chrace’s breath comes out in long, puffs of steam as he watches in frightened anticipation.

Ire opens a locker and begins to close it before swinging it open quickly. He leans down at what caught his attention.

He approaches Chrace with a can of promethium.

Chrace begins taking deep, panicked breaths and Ire douses him in the highly flammable liquid.

Sasha tosses the empty can aside and leans down in front of Chrace.

“The Imperium marches on,” he sneers and flicks the man alight with the lighter.

--------------------------------------------------------

Several minutes later, Ire walks from the sub and approaches the gathered cell members. He smokes a cigar with a smile on his face.

He hands a piece of packaging board to Korolev, states that Chrace had a bit more to say and that he got it all down, and walks off humming a tune from the show earlier that night.

On the board is scrawled, Ahhhhhhhhhh!



Korolev can take the video, cut out the audio and show Chrace in custody, and a voice over can state whatever you like. It doesnt need to state his demise and can list an exact location the 'prisoner' is being held to tempt Cleaver.

This way, Chrace is handeled and a none-issue should an escape opportunity arise.

SO! Lets have the general content verdict and a location if you'd like to draw him out. It's unlikely an arbite precint would work as that's suicide (He's Khornate but he's a Khornate with an agenda as you know). Perhaps a tour of a crime scene to tempt Cleaver while 'Chrace' is at his least guarded?

Additionally, lets have the day plan for follow up work while this video is being made.

Lastly, 175 XP for the 'Tide and all encompassed Investigation until now. Well done.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"I've got it, have him say...'Cleaver thinks he's a disciple of Khorne, but really he's just an amateur psychopath. He kills because it's the only way he can get it up...Unless it's a man, he didn't have many problems with that in lock-up.' That should about do it. Question his convictions and his potency in all senses. In some ways, psychos are obsessed with certain normative functions such as reproduction and virile strength. It should easily draw him out."

Always one to be thorough, Graki climbs into the sub with her las pistol drawn... a few moments pass, and a muffled shot rings out. Then moments later, Graki climbs out, and walks over to Ire. " I shot him in what I can only surmise is ...err was... his head. You did a number on that one."

Then she approaches Ashmore and Korolev. " Why not draw him here? We can have a squad of arbites in the submarine, and then go down a bit off-dock. Then I can climb up into the rafters with a small group, maybe Ashmore and some scouts, and wait for him there? Make sure he can recognize the location from the video. We don't want him getting suspicious. There'd be no reason to mention the location explicitly in the announcement."

Graki will go up-hive for a bit to get some better armor if she can. If there isn't time, she'll stay to make preparations.

[Boddan]

No, please feel free to upgrade etc. It'll take a bit to get the movie done.

Ire is walking around the dead refilling his shell bandolier for example.

[Jing Ke]

K, I'll loot the goons. And also, when do we get paid, son/daughter?

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Looking thoroughly surprised at Ire's ushering him out of the vehicle and subsequent actions, though his mood lightens significantly with the flames of the burning Chrace. He gives a look at Korolev which can only be interpreted as, "We've fallen in with psychos!"

After the smoke clears out, Ashmore checks through Chrace's belongings for anything that may be of use. He looks at the body, thinking he may have been able to use that, but at least it was an effective way to resolve an argument.

When Graki begins, Ashmore nods his agreement, stopping her only to add, "Let us keep in mind that we are dealing with no run of the mill murderer here. This is not a man who kills because his cognitive functions are damaged. Rather, he kills for a higher purpose... Though I use the term 'higher' loosely. In short, I agree that challenging Hoggins' claim to being a disciple of Khorne will be incredibly useful while references to his sexuality may tip him off as to the trick. We want it to seem like Chrace is thinking with his lower extremeties, not the other way around."

After they finish their discussion, Ashmore goes to the Arbites with the young boy, humming the March of Ultramar to himself. The sound of his first burning heretic put more of a spring in his step than he would have anticipated. When he gets to the boy, he hands one of the Arbites a throne and instructs them to ensure that the boy gets some up-hive confectionary or another.

Then he strolls back and invites the team (including Petr) to go out to celebrate their first victory.

Ashmore would like to enjoy some Amasec with friends to calm his nerves after such a successful night. He will take some to Yuri and Petr at the ward, inviting Ire to come along so he can heal him under better circumstances.

Medicae (70): 1d100, success is Ire healing 4. Includes +20 for bag, +20 for facility, -10 for explosive wound.

Then he would like to check on the state of the morgue to see if anything is to be done there.

In between this, he spends his time invoking and reciting various litanies of control and medicae to clear his mind, specifically running through the steps taken in Yuri's case repeatedly.

[Boddan]

Celebrate Good Times

With their night’s errand complete – the ambush, capture, questioning, and execution of Chrace as well as the vast majority of his gang – the cell members pile into the Hammer with the arbite squad and move back up-hive.

Before heading out, Graki and Ire unceremoniously rummage through the dead gangers for anything of value while Grigory does the same through Chrace’s belongings removed from his person prior to his execution.

The rhino drops the members of the cell off wherever they choose within the hive.

Grigory, Ire, and Korolev arrive at the Ward that Yuri is recovering at.
Ire accompanies them at Dr Ashmore’s bidding to get his shoulder seen too. The underhiver is a little taken aback by the quality of the facilities and getting a military grade transport as a ride.

The group sits in Yuri’s room with Petr chatting good humouredly and enjoying the pilfered Amasec from the ruined ‘Tide for several hours. Korolev makes notes as to the content of the Chrace-capture pict-feed using Grigory’s and Graki’s earlier recommendations. Yuri sits in a dazed state with a smile on his face. He’s grateful for the company and Petr is more than making up for his silence (as usual) with hearty laughter and relentless, good natured taunting. Grigory sees to Ire’s frag wound while chatting with the others.

Eventually the cell turns in for the night. Petr drags two cots into Yuri’s room for himself as the rest head back to their respective hab-blocks.

In the morning, a courier drops a locked parcel with Riccan. He opens it up as he explains he’s been waiting for this. Inside the box is a needler round with small amounts of the unspent toxin visible through the clear projectile. He explains this is a round recovered from Chrace’s dead cell mate on Kommitzar. The round must have been used by the man who freed them and should be followed up as a priority.

Also, Riccan starts at the appearance of Ire (and a metallic wolf) in the main room. He looks to Grigory and Graki for an explanation.

He hands the round to Grigory. Inside the pinky-sized vial can be seen small amounts of a dirty brown sludge in droplets around the interior. Accompanying the needler round is a small dataslate with the listed post-autopsy COD report from the authorities at Kommitzar.

While Dr Ashmore moves the info to his personal dataslate and reads over it, Inspector Korolev speaks on his hand-vox. He tells the assembled cell that two bodies were recovered from the burned ward and were moved to a nearby functioning facility. The same one you’ve already visited and met Dr. Damaris.

Riccan suggests bringing the toxin sample with you to make use of her facilities and expertise in the same trip.

Korolev drops Grigory at the ward before he returns to the Arbite precinct to get the video made.

OOC:


Graki, you find 267 thrones among the dead, a boat-load of garbage firearms, a laser sight on top of a rifle that was shot in half (most likely by the stubber), one dose of Frenzon (illegal), and two unused frag grenades.

Ashmore, among Chrace’s personal effects are his breastplate taken from a killed arbite. There’s a hole punched through it from a longlas (=D) and the red paint defacing the arbite’s symbol. All can be repaired fairly easily with the right knowledge or by Korolev’s connections. His hand cannon (normal quality) with 16 rounds, 55 thrones, two rings and a necklace in a pocket presumably taken off someone of wealth as they are nice lookin, and a combat knife (N Qual.)

Dr. Ashmore, gimme a Chem-Use test (-20) for your own take on the toxin. Another with (+15) using the facility and Damaris’ input if you so choose. Also, 2 Medicae tests to Autopsy the recovered bodies from the Tarasov murders.

Graki, what do you do and/or shop for through all of this? Feel free to accompany any of the listed actions and add input. Or go off on another solo-adventure =) I’m down with writing either!

To both of you, what do you tell Riccan about Ire and Torque?

Also, is anything to be done with Raz's gear? Feel free to go nuts here sandboxing/gearing up etc.

Also also, Graki did use two fate points (post #'s 66 & 73) but I'm awarding you both with an additional fate point after seeing first hand the fail rate on rolls.

+1 Fate Point each

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Before he heads back to his hab, Ashmore gives 10 crowns to each of the three arbites and 10 to Ire. Then he asks Korolev if he knows of places to help repair the armor and/or sell some of the gear he has. The doctor plans a shopping trip for after his business tomorrow. As he leaves, he tosses the explosive collar to Korolev. "I imagine an Arbite can find a good use for that."

Upon Riccan's surprise at Ire, Ashmore clears his throat. "Yes, well, it appears as though your little team is growing, Mr. Fiphe. Mr. Sasha Dityatev proved to be a perfectly able combatant in today's events and showed himself to be a devout servent of the blessed God-Emperor. I recommend that we could use his talents, especially if our search takes us further into this hive."

That night, the doctor catches Ire before the hiver goes to sleep. "I haven't much use for these myself, and you seem to enjoy them quite well. Thank you again for your help." He hands the man a sack with 16 packs of lho-sticks in it. Then he returns to his room, grabs the two bottles of moonshine, and finds Riccan. He pours two shots into tumblers and raises a toast to his superior. "Here's to seeing tomorrow." He tosses the shot down, and leaves Riccan with the bottles.

The next morning, Ashmore wakes early, cleans himself, and prepares for his day. He takes out the vial of sacred machine oil on its chain and places it around his neck, saying a prayer for Raz's quick transendence to the Emperor's fold. He takes out Chrace's combat knife and gives it to Graki as a trophy. Then he packs up the rest of Raz's equipment with Chrace's and sets out for the ward.

My plan for the day is chem, morgue, market.

Chem-use (20): [roll0] (for my own take)
Chem-use (55): [roll1] (with the ward facilities)

Trade (Doctor) (40): [roll2] (for bonus on bio check?)
Scholastic Lore (Biology) (40): [roll3]

Trade (Doctor) (40): [roll4]
Scholastic Lore (Biology) (40): [roll5]

Psyniscience (33): [roll6] to detect traces of warp activity or warp effects on bodies

For the autopsies, I am, of course, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Specifically, I am trying to determine actual cause of death and if anything special was done with or to the bodies. Finally, I'm going to check em over for tattoos matching that of the first witness.

List of sold items:
-laspistol
-las carbine with underslung grapnel and 2 charge packs
-knife
-bag of spare parts (containing two batteries, two spools of thick wire cabling, an electromagnetic field sensor)
-2 nice rings
-nice necklace

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki covets her newfound horde of cash. Seeing as how she will apparently be the resident corpse-manufacturer, she decides to go and get herself some better protection.

Graki takes the sight she found on the maimed rifle in to a specialist to have it mounted, then she makes off for the nearby fleamarket to piece together a more respectable suit of armor.



wishlist-
2x hotshot charge pack 15x2=30-scarce
flak jacket- 100- average
Flak Helmet-25
Price of upgrade for longlas (?)

After shopping, Graki will return and accompany Ashmore to the testing facility in order to help out as she is able. She will shrug when Riccan indicates the dog... Perhaps attempting to convince him to put it under her charge, officially, if he is not willing to allow Ire that responsibility. Then she'll just let him keep it.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Flabbergasted that very little seems to be turning up in his tests, Ashmore thinks harder.

Barring that, he will go seek out Dr. Damaris for her help on the chems.

Fate point to re-roll second chem-use.

Chem-use (55): [roll0]

[Boddan]

In His name


That morning, Ashmore tosses the collar from Chrace to the Inspector before leaving. Korolev chuckles and says he’s going to get the demo removed and keep it as a souvenir. He offers to take the chest plate Grigory carries with him to have their armorers look at it. He goes on to describe a market in the lower under hive for those looking to shop.

Ire, Korolev, and Riccan remain in the hab-unit. Riccan asks what kind of skills Ire has to offer. Before he can answer, Korolev interjects, “I’m sure he can work through locks and the like.” He says with a joking grin.

Ire doesn’t grin back. “Why?! Because I’m an underhive piece of filth?! I MUST be able to pick locks, right?!” He replies angrily.

Riccan and the Inspector stare at the man in silence warily.

Seconds pass.

Ire breaks into a wide grin. “OF COURSE I can work security! Locks, doors, pict-feeds. All of it. Was just messin with ya, fellas. Lighten up.”

Korolev shakes his smiling head as he stands up. He bids the two farewell and leaves to handle the vid and the chest plate at the precinct.

Ire pours himself some more recaf and sits to talk with Riccan. They spend the next several hours exchanging info in something akin to an informal interview that goes both ways.

Nearby, Torque sits with his head facing the door.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Graki makes her way around a lower middle hive bazaar district. Korolev recommended this area is it has decent gear and is well stocked since most of the gear moves down-hive to the gangers and is resold at an increased price.

Her list is short and fairly easy to fulfill. Several models of flak helms are available for her to choose from. The flak vests look to be second hand from PDF but are in decent condition. It’s a dark gray with wear around the edges and fitted for females.

An arms dealer offers to mount the laser sight and zero it on his range below the shop for the cost of 15 thrones.

When finished she moves back up-hive to join the Doctor at the ward where he's already working.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Grigory moves around an examination table that holds the body of one of the Tarasov victims. Another lies nearby and it appears to be too badly damaged from the ward fire to be of any use to the doctor. He makes several incisions and charts his findings on a notepad as he works. Nearby, a female doctor who’s tag says ‘Damaris’ uses several lab pieces to look at the needler toxin.

OOC:


Graki, 170 total cost for all yours and please describe the flak helm you choose. There are some exotic off world variants as well.

Doc, them are some bad tests. You failed the first vic by 30+ so he's useless to you. The other body plus the Chem can have another day spent on it. Use the same rolls: Chem-Use (+15) and another set of Trade (Doctor) and Biology for the useable body as well as another Psyn test.

You do feel a prickle of something at your 6th sense.

Lastly, your accumulated goods are worth 159 thrones, Grigory. Please state when you'll be moving down-hive to sell them or if you'll ask Graki to be so kind. Are you buying anything with said funds?

I did roll an availability for Graki's items as an FYI.



That night, Grigory gifts Ire with several packs of lho sticks. The man looks up from the bag and smiles at the doctor. He slaps his shoulder as he passes him and parts with, "Gentleman and a scholar, that one."

It's amazing what a little revenge does for one's state of mind.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Disappointed with his day's work, Ashmore asks Dr. Damaris if she would like to enjoy some recaf the following morning and join him again. On his way to the market, he also asks directions to the local courier service and sends home a short missive*. At the market, he sells his goods to the first available bidders, attempts a few purchases and then returns with his earnings. Upon handing Ire his money, the doctor finally has time to talk about the dog. "So... this Torque? I noticed he bears an Arbite marking. Does he have a story that we will need to know in order to work together?"

The next morning, he meets with Damaris and carries on a gentlemanly conversation mostly pertaining to her work here on Samson IV and his knowledge of recent events on Scarric XXII. "How is it you've been able to stand the dreariness of this hive for so long? Even when I was working in Hive Arrakis, I found myself able to take the occasional trip back home or even to Westmoreland to attend a lecture."

Afterwards, he gets back to the bodies. When their work is done for the day, Ashmore turns to Damaris. "I cannot express how thankful I have been for your help over the past few days. The Arbites have given me a certain small amount to grant to you, so I hope I am not too forward in asking your fees for such a service?"

*Missive:
To: Mr. and Mrs. Thom Ashmore, Scarric XXII
From: Dr. Grigory Ashmore, Samson IV

Mother,

I thought you might like to know that I am doing well and have just accomplished a resounding success on my first case. Samson is quite dismal compared to Greenfield, but I must go where the Emperor wills. For now, just know that I am safe and doing well.

I also met a Dr. Adeline Damaris, whose work I studied during my time at Westmoreland. She is one of Scarric's foremost chem experts, and I have had the great pleasure of working alongside her in certain analyses. It is really quite exciting for me, but I won't bore the two of you with the details.

I hope you and father are enjoying your retirements. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable.

Finally, send Hester and Mr. Zane my love. Are her studies coming along as well as we had hoped? I wish you all the best.

Your son,
-Grigory

*OOC:
I will, upon returning, distribute 50 crowns each to Korolev and Ire. If we are going to be working together, then I eventually want them armed well too. As for me, I will attempt to find a hot-shot pack for my compact laspistol, which I will then keep it loaded with.

Chem-use (55): [roll0]

Trade (Doctor) (40): [roll1]
Scholastic Lore (Biology) (40): [roll2]

Psyniscience (33): [roll3]

[Boddan]

Text Monster!


Dr Ashmore returns from his first day working at the ward. It was very unproductive but he has high hopes for the next day.

Inside the hab-unit, he hands Ire a stack of thrones and inquires about Torque. Riccan looks up with a smile. He had already heard the tale earlier that day as Ire and the ratling spoke at length. Ire goes on to explain how he and his gang had lead the arbites down to where Chrace was the first time around. Back then, he was using an air recycling chamber as his base of operations deep in the hive. The room was huge with several levels and Chrace had over a hundred members at that time. The arbites brought several cyber-mastiffs along to run down fleeing targets - one of their main uses. Sasha goes through a lengthy play-by-play of the battle where several arbites fell but not before scattering Chrace’s gang and capturing him. The arbites hauled Chrace off and Ire and his gang stuck around to loot what was left before going to collect their reward. They found this mastiff under a collapsed pipe along with two dead Chained. So they kept it to see if they could get it working again. His friend, the man with the augmetic arm in the band, had a knack for tech and spent a good portion of his reward money getting the mastiff working again. Ire finishes with a shrug, “Had it ever since.” He glances at the mastiff that sits near the door chewing on a rusted piece of pipe like a dog would a bone.

Ire goes on to take a seat across from Ashmore. He looks mildly embarrassed. “I…I’m used to earnin’ my keep. Know what I mean? I didn’t even steal or stab someone for this,” he grins sarcastically. “Gimme something to do so I don’t feel so useless…or I’ll set Torque on ya.” He watches the doctor’s reaction and before Grigory can respond he barks out, “Torque, kill!” He points at the doctor. Torque stops chewing his pipe long enough to acknowledge the target, his eyes flash green twice, and he goes back to his pipe.

Ire grins. “Already set him to recognize all of yas. He goes off some sort of scent-ident. Mik explained it once but I was busy lookin for a lho stick. He said we each got a unique smell or somethin’. That’s how he knows us.” With that, Ire leans back and starts smoking. He nods to the doctor as he pockets the thrones.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Later in the evening, Inspector Korolev returns with the finished vid and Ashmore’s repaired chest plate. The hole has been patched and it’s been oiled and cleaned. He places it next to the chair Grigory is sitting in.

He stands in front of the others and holds up a large ‘slate to show them the finished product. The screen plays the scene from the night before.

Graki leans in close to Chrace as she crouches down. The wanted man looks broken as he speaks hurriedly with fear in his eyes while he looks across his captors. His nose is a mess and blood runs down his face and chest, some of it frozen in place. With his armor and coat off, his horribly burned shoulder overshadows the nose. In one area, you’re pretty sure you can see bone through the melted skin. The camera moves around the captive as Ashmore moves into view from the side of the pict-feed. The doctor speaks words that go unheard.

The voice over sounds like it was done by the gravelly voiced arbite.

“The leader of the recent disturbances has been captured. This man, Kenyon, and his gang of thugs were struck down where they cowered before our very own Arbites' might. The heretic actually tried to bargain for his life claiming he has information on another heretic in this very hive. He identified another escaped prisoner as Emanuel Hoggins.” The ID pic you were shown takes up the screen briefly before going back to the confessing Chrace. “He claims this man considers himself a prophet of some weak, heathen god. Chrace continues to confess everything he knows about this delusional man, Hoggins, at the very place he was brought to justice. By week’s end, our Arbites state they’ll have yet another heretic brought to the Emperor's vengeful light.”

The pict-feed moves as the camera-man moves from the sub to take in the dead Chained men strewn around the freight-bay. The fate of all who turn from the Emperor’s light. The camera pans across the bay ident-marking slowly as it takes in the carnage.

Korolev puts the ‘slate down and looks pretty impressed with himself.

When that’s finished, he tells the assembled cell that the hostage’s father, the Chief Overseer, was brought in today and questioned. He confessed that he did indeed plan on capitulating completely to Chrace’s demands and didn’t notify the Adeptus as a part of the ransom demands.

The Inspector goes on to state that the Overseer is being held at the precinct pending his sentence. He asks for input as to what to do to the man since the punishment lies in his hands.

------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Dr Ashmore gets cleaned up and is out the door early to meet Adeline for recaf and breakfast before starting another day of lab and examination work.

The two get along easily over a cup of steaming alertness at a small business near the medical ward. She states that she’s visited home once since coming here but that she had taken nearly ten years off in retirement before tiring of the boredom and coming here when requested as an expert in Chems. She grins shyly as she realizes what she’s just said and comments she’s older than she looks. Adeline doesn’t suspect you’ve done any background work on her.

Off to the task at hand, the pair begins working together running various tests on the toxin remnants in the needler round. It becomes obvious fairly quickly that this substance must be very rare if not unique. They make several steps in breaking it down into two highly rare substances combined together rather than one unique one. Dr Damaris moves onto each individual compound on her own as Dr Ashmore begins working on the cadaver from the Tarasov murders.

He didn’t have much time the previous day for this side of the investigation as he spent several hours on the mystery toxin alone.

Right off the bat, the Doctor notices the same tattoo on both victims. The badly charred body has more of a similar sized smudge on its burned skin but the color and vague outline identifies it as the same one from the blonde servant.

Moving on to the remaining body in good condition – Mr. Tarasov himself - Grigory makes several incisions to determine the cause of death.

After his thorough autopsy, Ashmore determines that the ripped open throat was the cause and no hidden factors elsewhere in the body were to blame. However, the man DID expire due to exsanguination, but the signs point to him being mostly bled out in seconds rather than the minute or so it would normally take for a wound this size. Almost as if the blood was rapidly pulled from his body.

His curiosity peaked; Grigory reaches out with his warp-sense in hopes of furthering their investigation.

The doctor uses a slight amount of psyker energy to draw from the warp and examine the corpse in his mind. Within moments, the pool of blood near the drain on the examining table begins to move.

Ashmore can hear the same barking gibberish he heard at the murder scene but it’s a whisper now by comparison. The blood moves with the words and forms images.

Grigory thinks quickly as it plays out. He pictures the fountain full of blood at the time this atrocity was committed. The vast amounts of gathered blood probably played out this same scene on a larger scale for Cleaver.

The demonic words hiss through the doctor’s mind as the blood reforms into running images. A man with a missing hand and a crudely depicted skull for a face is dropped on a huge tower with another man that’s depicted as a stick figure compared to the other. The pair split up and the skull-faced man sloshes as he runs down the tower.

The one handed man rages as it beats eight other stick figures into submission and then gorily sacrifices them.

The blood droplets splash upwards from the table during the sacrifice.

Then, the skull-faced man is shown kneeling before a gigantic, speaking skull.

The skull-faced man is next shown on a child-like depiction of a boat as it sails around stars and moons back to a world where the one handed man walks across fields of horned animal skulls mixed with human skulls. The doctor once again hears the only word he recognizes here: Regulus. The figure crushes the bones underfoot as he marches at the head of many smaller, skull faced figures.

The scene ends with the skull faced band breaking into a roaring charge directed a huge, rearing snake that has flower petals for wings.

Dr Ashmore stands up straight from the unusual scene and realizes the Dr Damaris had approached sometime during the bloody play. She stands stone still, mouth agape, holding a ‘slate in front of her with two hands.

A few seconds pass before she moves only her eyes to the doctor.

“A drug bust, you say?”

It takes quite a bit of creative articulation from Ashmore before Adeline remembers what she had approached him for in the first place.

Damaris narrowed down one of the toxins to a predator-plant from the death world Kenov III. She herself only knows this from a lifetime (or two) of research into rare chemicals and their properties within this sector. The planet Kenov III has a variety of deadly flora and this one in particular is what gives the needler toxin its instant paralyzing effect. She says she has the name of the plant somewhere at her hab-unit if need be.

The other toxin, she’s pretty sure is engineered from an existing toxin. She’ll need more time with it to narrow it down further.

As they part ways at the end of the day, Adeline declines any fee for her service with a laugh and a smile.

“Believe me doctor; money isn’t a problem after this long. I should be more worried about why bodily fluids hop to and fro around you shouldn’t I?”

OOC:



The text will crush you all! Rawr!

Anyhoooo, Yeah lots there. Graki, Feel free to take the day to do anything you like, Ill write it up.

Ashmore, the chest plate counts as a Flak Vest. The hot-shot pack was easily found and paid for.

Yessir :smallcool:

[Jing Ke]

Graki

After her short shopping trip, Graki takes her newly acquired equipment back to the hab unit. Her flak helmet is not immediately recognizable as such, the material is composed of an ultra-thin polymer that reproduces the properties of Flak armor, while maintaining the flexibility of heavy leather. The helmet is a balaclava with thicker material around the face and a bit of light layering, which can be pulled up over the mouth. Leaving only her eyes exposed, Graki feels significantly sneakier wearing the mask, even if its ninja-esque benefits are only superficial.

Putting on her furs over her armor to conceal, partially, her newfound aegis, she scrawls a note on a piece of paper.

Graki turns to leave the unit, and heads down to the sub dock to refine the snare for Hoggins a bit more. On the way, she vox-es in for scouts to station in reconaissance rolls. Let the stakeout begin.


Note



Ashmore et. al.

Went to the bay to pin down logistics for what shall henceforth be called "Operation Ire" in honor of our new ally. I will attempt to station some people to watch for our target, and shall remain at the location until they arrive.

In His Name,

Graki

[Boddan]

Lets get the plan for who, where, and what taking part in the stakeout.

You can get a few rotating scouts and a few men from the arbites. Gimme the ideal scenario and we'll go from there! :smallwink:

[Jing Ke]

Graki, a few scouts set up around the perimeter, then have arbites off site a bit ready to bust in the door. Hoggins should be showing up at the bay if he sees the video, so when he does they can try to take him down while Ashmore looks down more esoteric avenues. She would ideally hide in the rafters inside with one other scout while everyone else waits outside. Kay? Maybe get in a headshot when he comes in. His profile doesn't suggest to me that he will have many collaborators.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: He took the Hippocritic Oath.

Ashmore takes the armor from Korolev gratefully. Upon being asked about the Overseer, the doctor gets a pained look on his face. "It is sad to say, but this man was going to willingly aid in the destruction of an entire hive for the sake of one citizen. We cannot let it be known that any time an upstart heretic would like to get something done, all he need do is capture the loved one of someone in power. Does the child have a mother? Does Samson IV have provisions for orphans? If so, then I suspect the child should grow to be a better servant to the Imperium than under the care of his father. I understand his actions and perhaps I would do the same were it... Well. Yes, still the man must be punished in some way. I would leave the ultimate manner up to the Arbites."

After any conversation about the Overseer is finished, Ashmore takes the armor back to his room and tries it on, adjusting the straps. He leaves the aquila on for now, as his jacket would scarcely cover up an Inquisitorial mark.

Later, he approaches Graki. "I hope you can use the knife I left by your door. If not, I'm sure that our new companion, Mr. Ire would enjoy it. Yes, well, anyway, I have heard you will be doing a lot of footwork for the Hoggins stake-out. I plan to be deep into my investigation soon, so I would like to offer my services in anyway you should think they would be necessary. Otherwise, I leave the planning of the stake-out entirely up to you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Ashmore wakes up ready for some serious investigating. When, that morning, Dr. Damaris mentions her boredom, the corners of Ashmore's mouth upturn into a smile as though, even at his young age, he knows what she is talking about more than perhaps even she knows.

Later that day, Ashmore is glad to be making progress, adding all his work to his data-slate. He sees the tattoos and further wishes that Chrace's body had been recognizable. He doubted the two shared anything more in common than their escape, but it is good to be thorough.

He begins to reach his mind back into past events, and a slow trickle of blood runs from Ashmore's nose. He focuses to try to capture what he can of the various visions, but they are fleeting and odd. He staggers as he sees that the men he assumes to be Hoggins' are fighting what appears to be the tattoo. Still, he racks his mind on any knowledge about the odd symbolism.*

As he comes to at Dr. Damaris's question, his hand comes up and catches the single drop of blood just fallen from his own chin. He turns to the woman as he removes his gloves and wipes his face. "Yes, thank you. Good work. I remember reading Dr. Willym Smythe's treatise on toxicology, wherein he discusses the notion that many killers are caught because the potency of a toxin is directly proportional to its lethality. Of course, such theory has been since debunked, but it is still an invigorating read. Have you had the pleasure of enjoying Dr. Smythe's work? Um... yes, having the name of the toxin may be beneficial..." After his fast "cover-up," the doctor coughs and resumes his work, adding everything he saw into his data-slate.

Later, as they leave the facility, he stops and says quietly. "I am sanctioned, mostly a healer. Hence my position with the Arbites. I hope this does not cause problems, as I have recently enjoyed your company quite a lot. My current companions are... not well versed on scholarly subjects."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night, back in the hab, Ashmore reports to Riccan on all that he found, adding, "This is now the second time Regulus has come up in my psionic investigation of Hoggins. I have been convinced that the killings here are somehow related to those he performed on that planet, though it must be a backwater warphole seeing the records they keep..." He coughs, smiles, and runs a hand across his mustache. "Excuse the language. I can become frustrated when people are not thorough in their record keeping. I feel that few appreciate how much the Imperium could be helped through a little fastidiousness."

The doctor asks Riccan what can be done about looking into either Regulus or Kenov III, recommending the authorities on Regulus be put on alert. With the expertise with which the heretics were freed, Ashmore notes that any operations on Kenov III would have to be incredibly clandestine. He also shows Riccan the tattoo. "I am afraid that Mr. Mercali was originally the expert in the... less savory schools of knowledge. I wonder if you are aware of anyone who would know of such unholy things as a being: Kartharoth."

*rolls:
Common Lore (Imperium) (40): [roll0] this is to see if I recognize the flying beast the skull men are fighting or something.
*OOC:
I will see your block of text and raise you, well, another block of text.

Important stuff to note: 1) What Korolev decides about the Overseer. 2) Dr. Damaris opinion of me after the episode and the Toxin's name. 3) Riccan's response to the Regulus, Kenov, and Karthoroth stuff.

Armor: Ashmore will now be wearing the armor anytime he is going into a combat or potential combat situation (so this excludes investigations in safe areas) and at any other time he mentions it. For the record, he always has his compact laspistol on unless specifically prohibited. When it is his only weapon, he loads the normal charge pack.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki meets with the small contingent of soldiers in the hab unit after everyone else is gone. On the table, she lays out a schematic of the docking bay indicating the exits, the sub and the various points at which it might be advantageous to station guards.

" Ok, one of you will come with me." Graki says, indicating one of the two scouts assigned to her. " The other will spot for the arbites, meaning that you more heavily-armed people will stay out of sight just here, outside the bay." Graki indicates a small structure about 30 meters from the bay, with a high vantage point from which the second scout can watch for Hoggins.

" It is of the utmost importance that nobody attempts to take him down without my word! This is the tail end of a complex trap, and significant effort will have been for naught should the trap spring too soon, or too late. Ideally, what we want to do is get him inside and flank him. I will guard the far exits and the arbites will sweep in from the other side. Scare him toward me, as it were. Then I will take the shot. Have no illusions about this man, he will not be taken alive.

After the briefing, Graki tells the men that she will send them word in a few hours, after she talks to Ashmore. When Ashmore comes in, Graki informs him that the cause would likely be best served by his research rather than his gun. " Not to put too fine a point on it, but in matters such as these your first value is as a medic, and that can be done after the battle. I was assigned partially as a protector to your party, and I would be neglecting my duties if I allowed you to put yourself in danger when it wasn't absolutely necessary. Rest assured, we will take him down. Unfortunately, with this psychopath, death is the only means of custody to which he can be expected to adhere."

After the talk with Ashmore, Graki will move to the warehouse and set-up the stakeout. She will bring a sizeable hoggle of recaf and possibly some breadnuggets, or whatever we're calling donuts in 40k.

[Boddan]

A plan is a list of things that don't happen?


Ashmore:


Korolev nods at your statement concerning the man. He knows it has to be done as well but is just as unhappy about it.

“I’ll take care of it,” he says as he stands up wearily and heads back to the precinct.

----------------------------------------------------------

As the doctor concludes his second, and successful, day of investigation, Adeline and Grigory waltz out of the ward together. Ashmore tries to smooth Damaris’ worries concerning his earlier warp induced scene. She replies with a smile that’s less genuine than before, “I’ve never met a psyker before. Not that I know of in any case…. you said mostly a healer. You can’t read minds and the like can you?” She asks with a sideways glance.

After Grigory’s reply she looks him in the eyes for several seconds before speaking again.

“I must say, you don’t have the look of a witch about you.” She refers to the popular Imperial notion of warp dabblers.

“I don’t see this as a problem, but forgive me while I get used to the idea of sharing the lab with a man who could do Emperor knows what with merely a thought.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow than. I’ll bring the information I have on the compound we isolated along.”

As she walks away she calls over her shoulder with a grin, “Good night, Doctor. Don’t let the fiend’s bite.”

----------------------------------------------------------

That night in the hab, Riccan and Ashmore discuss what he’s discovered. Riccan doesn’t know the name or the tattoo off hand, but he recalls Braddigan mentioning a similar marking when he first joined his retinue so many years ago. He states that he will send courier missives (several in case one or more don’t make it) to Inquisitor Braddigan about the name and tattoo the following day. He would pull rank and use the local astropath but prefers the more discreet route.

He frowns slightly when Ashmore reports the ship sailing through the stars from his vision. +It sounds like he may have been commanded to return to Regulus to gather those loyal to him. Tomorrow, I’ll look into passenger manifests with the Inspector and see if perhaps he’s already moved off world. If that’s the case, I’ll try to acquire transport for us to keep his lead to a minimum. +

He doesn’t look to hopeful about making use of the Regulus authorities. They don’t seem to do much aside from fulfill their quotas, he says thoughtfully. Never the less, Riccan intends to apply Inquisitorial authority in this case and send them a message via astropath to demand checkpoints set up at star ports.

Kenov is a different matter however. He remarks that it lies at the opposite end of the sector while he ponders the ramifications. There most likely won’t be any list of official travelers to the planet’s surface – most of which are expeditions trying to tame the planet (and failing) or private hunting parties – and if there were a list, our man would probably not be on it. One thing is for certain however, to be able to make use of anything from that planet speaks volumes on his resources (if having a stealth, warp capable craft didn’t)


Doctor, common knowledge roll granted nothing (nor will it). Gimme another day of Chem-Use please along with any other actions you’d like to take on day 3 of lab work.

Thank you for the armor bit. Those are helpful.




Graki:


Graki runs through the plan for capturing Hoggins in the hab-unit. With her are an arbite scout, six enforcers, and an arbite that specializes in surveillance devices. Ire sidles his way into the briefing with a short explanation about not being able to understand half of what Dr Ashmore is talking about.

“Lotsa long words in there when I asked what he’s been doin.”

“Not much help to him, but this I know. Waiting to kill before gettin' killed in turn. I know that tune real well.” He nods as he finishes and glances down at Torque standing near his feet.

Graki points out areas on the dataslate as to where each member will be. She herself will be up in the rafters with the other scout. The best position to sit on the meter and a half wide, iron struts is just over the water in front of the submersible. It offers a view to all three personnel doors and nearly the whole bay.

Just outside the huge metal gate at the top of the large ramp, sits the storage warehouse where Graki chooses to set up her surveillance station. On this side of the gate is as secure as one can get. It leads to the central lifts and near the warehouse itself only servitors move about carrying out their duties.

Hoggins will most likely enter through one of the personnel entrances if he shows. Graki’s plan to lure the cultist in, involves getting him close to the center of the bay and then springing the trap. The arbites move in from the perimeter and force the man closer to the sniper’s position.

The surveillance man will remain in the warehouse with Ire, Torque, and two enforcers and monitor his devices. The other four enforcers will sit silently inside the corner office. Once Hoggins has neared the submersible, they’ll spring out to force him closer to Graki. The corner office used to belong to the Bay Custodian who would supervise operations from his raised office or catwalk.

Ire, Torque, and the other two enforcers will get into an Arbite sedan when Hoggins is spotted by the surveillance man and hold until he’s in position. They’ll then race in through the lift gate to quickly pressure Emanuel further inwards. Until then, they’ll keep the sedan hidden inside the warehouse itself just in case.

With that, they move out.

----------------------------------------------------------

Inside the warehouse, the surveillance man watches several screens arrayed before him. Each one is linked to a remote pict-captor he set up earlier in hidden areas around the bay. There’s one for each entrance, the warehouse exterior, the bay floor, and the submersible’s hold.

Inside the sub’s hold, four servitors move around at random to produce noise to draw Hoggins toward the ship. Furthermore, a vox caster plays the full audio from Chrace’s confession at a low volume to mimic an ongoing interrogation but not loud enough to hear the words repeating themselves until the listener is next to the open hold.

Ire watches the screens with interest while the enforcers chat quietly. Inside the office, the four enforcers remain silent and watch the bay floor below from the shadows. Every person involved is connected via comm-beads.

Up in the rafters, Graki lies on a thermal blanket on top of an iron girder. Her fellow scout lies next to her watching the door near the ramp as the feral-worlder watches the two near the office complex. The man looks through his scope at every sign of movement. To which, there is a fair amount.

Wherever mankind has spread, so too have rats. Over the centuries, the rats here have evolved into a larger, shaggy breed. Small groups of them skitter between Chained corpses left where they fell after the raid.

The other scout holds a silenced hunting rifle and asks in a whisper if he can shoot any of the 'grios'.

----------------------------------------------------------

Hours slide by and not quickly. Some of the men doze while other’s keep watch, ready to wake them quietly.

It’s the end of the day, nearly fourteen hours after setting up, when the first human contact enters the bay.

The “stand by” comes over the vox making everyone start after so long sitting in silence. The surveillance man leans close to his screen to make out the single figure walking through the corridor just outside the bay.

“This guy looks too small…” The surveillance man whispers.

Ire leans over the man’s shoulder and his eyes widen as he recognizes the figure. He reaches a hand up to his comm-bead, “Graki, its Ashmore…I thought he wasn’t comin?”

The figure strides into the bay near the offices, stops to look around the bay, and continues walking towards the sub stepping over bodies the whole way.

Graki squints as she watches the man approach. Grigory appears to be wearing the same attire from the night of the raid. She tries to make out further details as the vox crackles to life once more, “Orders, maam?”


Awareness test to make out further details!




Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Freight-Bay.jpg

Ask if anything's unclear! Keep in mind, the place is big. You're over 100m up.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:50/50

Seeing the figure approach, Graki tries to remember anything that would lead Ashmore to the bay…The look on his face the day before implied a tacit understanding, if not a little resentment at being called a “medic.” Why would he show up now?! Graki thinks to herself, as she switches the safety to off on her long las. Squinting, she tries to see if she can make out any other distinguishing features vs 40 [roll0]

” Either way, I should shoot the fool. There is no will, but the emperor’s after all. I don’t have time to rescue little boys from their own egos…”Graki mumbles to the nearby scout, who smiles nervously back at her.

As she strains her eyes, she imagines a target on the alleged-Ashmore’s forehead..."Call it a gut feeling, but this guy is entirely too convenient a complication. I'm taking him down, wait until he gets a little closer, don't call in the drop pods just yet[figuratively speaking]. This might be a call of sorts, and revealing our whole hand at once would be foolish...Wait, Ashmore would never go a day without showering...It's settled... Graki concludes the debate with herself.

"Trotsky... she barks through the microbead to the room with Ire and the surveillance crew" What have you got for me?"

If he has no good intel, Graki will likely wait to see if the figure gets closer to her on his own, and if not order the arbites in.

[Boddan]

...Or I'll Huff & Puff...


The figure walks closer to the submersible’s bow as Trotsky scans all the screens before him.

“I’ve got no one else nearby… wait.” He pauses as he leans inches from the screen. “Never mind. Another grio.”

Ire cuts in over the vox. “He’s not wearing the chest piece that the Inspector fixed up for him…”

The figure nears the vessel and Graki can see him more clearly now. He’s approximately a hundred yards away and far below her. He moves with a predator’s grace as he side steps or leaps around the fallen bodies. He’s not moving in the same cautious, thoughtful manner you’ve seen Grigory carry himself with.

The figure stops near the sub and twists its head as if listening to the sounds coming from within.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Freight-Bay-1.jpg



"rescue little boys from their own egos" What's that about, man-hater? =P

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Hot-shots Go Down Hard

" Alright blue team prepare to move out on my shot, engage suppressing fire, but stay hidden until the blow lands.

Having imagined such a contingency, Graki loaded a special charge pack...All her grenades at one bunker, she has to make this one count. She projects a red dot on the pseudo-Ashmore as she squeezes the hair-trigger down all the way.


aim+shot with hotshot pack (40+10 aim+10 red-dot sight)60

[roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

(hotshot pack 4 Penetration, +1d10+1 damage; loses reliability attribute when firing hotshot pack)

*I get a little carried away in playing my characters. I don't think she hates men, I think she and I just share an intolerance for paladins and their paradigmatic ourgrowths.

[Jing Ke]

reroll first hotshot damage roll:
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Boddan]

GM


Graki's long las makes a painfully loud whip-crack as it fires. The hot shot round races across the intervening gap and punches directly through the man's torso. The shot caught him in mid stride and he falls onto his face.

He lies unmoving on the frost covered grating.

Blue team hears the shot and runs from the office interior. Two of the four toss coiled ropes over the catwalk and begin rappelling down their prepared route. The other two cover the unmoving body from above.

The first two enforcers down begin advancing on the body as the other two begin their descent.

Ire and the rest of red team watch in shocked silence from the warehouse screens.



Graki deals 34 dmg before any reductions. That's the 12 from the rerolled first hit, the 8, and the 14. I'm not sure why they didn't just say Hot shots grant Tearing and the additional 1 dmg at 4 AP since rolling two die and taking the highest is exactly what tearing does. Oh well.

Also, the three rolls were added since your effective BS was 70, not 60. BS 40 +10 for half aim +10 for aiming with an accurate weapon +10 for laser sight.

I've mentioned this twice already =P

Righto, onward!

Does Graki do anything?

[Jing Ke]

Graki

"Blue team, approach carefully, report status! Graki reloads her gun, and checks the entrances again.

"What do you have for me Red team? Keep your eyes peeled, that was almost too smooth...


Full round to reload my long las with a regular charge pack.

+10 for aiming with accurate weapon: my bad, thought you were counting the 100 m down, my range is only like 150 meters or so I think.

[Boddan]

Welcome to the Jungle!

The four enforcers approach cautiously. The first two had moved slowly to allow the other two to catch up. They walk up in a staggered firing line, their autoguns at the ready.

Trotsky's voice comes over the vox, "I'm still showing clear corridors."

The enforcers reach the body. Two hang back approx ten meters and spread out to either side. The other two move in.

"Maam...I think you actually <clears his throat> killed your partner..." An enforcer states with an edge of panic.

The other man rolls the body onto its back. Grigory stares up at the men with dead eyes.

"Throne... Vorin is right..."

The two enforcers look at each other with sincere worry.

At their feet, they fail to notice several small trails of blood running from the nearby dead chained members to the fallen "Grigory's" seared torso.

"Warp piss! Maam?! What are we going to do now..."

He never finishes his sentence. Or any other sentence for that matter.

'Ashmore' leaps to its feet and drops its façade. The hole in its torso is mostly sealed as it takes its natural (unnatural) form.

The creature’s body shifts into a standing mass of human blood before solidifying once more into dark red skin. It’s as tall as a human but hunches over and resembles an emaciated, shaved monkey in form. That is, aside from its head. Its head is pure demon. Two tall horns jut from its forehead and another two just downwards from its chin. Running from each hand are four overly long talons that it puts to use immediately.

The speaking enforcer is caught mid-sentence as the demon disembowels him with its first swipe and tears out his throat with the next. The creature hops in close before the man even realizes he’s been mortally wounded and gnaws savagely at his ruined throat. The man’s blood runs all over the demon and its torso reforms entirely. The man's lifeblood disappears into the beast's body.

The hellspawn rounds on the remaining enforcers with a screech of hatred. The nearest man swings his rifle for all he’s worth. His will to fight winning over his urge for flight. The stock of the rifle hits the demon flush across the jaw and it doesn’t even stagger.

Nearby, the other two enforcers give in to primal fear. One backs away repeating “Oh Throne. Oh ****.” Again and again. The other man stands in place, frozen with terror. His mind struggles to grasp that something that shouldn’t be is very much alive and real in front of him.

Ire jumps onto the vox-net. “We’re comin! Hold on!” Red team dashes through the warehouse towards their waiting vehicle.

Next to Graki, the other scout begins taking deep, panicked breaths. “What do we do?!” His voice is a shrill squeak.

OOC:


No map...they're still 100m away (almost exactly). Did some good ole' geometry to figure out the distance from you to them. It's around 101.7m.

Your long las has a range stat of 150m. So you won't even take penalties for distance until twice that (300m)

Now for the hard part: Fear Test (+0) which is a Willpower test. Extreme failure could net you some Insanity points and/or a terrified dash off the I-beam.

Additionally, lets have your Initiative, orders spoken, and actions taken if you're able to.

Note: Firing into melee gets -20 BS

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Joining in the cacophony of curses, Graki finishes reloading her rifle and takes aim again. Into her microbead, Graki breathes her orders, her words spill out like sand from a torn kick-bag. "Keep it together Red team, move in, but do not engage yet. We need you to call in for reinforcements before you attack. Call Riccan on channel 3B-I, code is eleven-seventeen-epsilon. See if you can get your hands on something bigger than an auto, those do not seem especially effective at present.

Blue team fall back, FALL BACK!!! THE EMPEROR'S AEGIS PROTECT YOU! RUN DAMNIT!

Leveling her gun, Graki fires again, desperately trying to remember anything about these creatures that might give her some kind of advantage.



Willpower 33 [roll0]
Initiative [roll1]

[Jing Ke]

half round aim action-40+10 aim+10 under half+10 aim with accuracy-20 into melee 50 [roll0]

regular shot this time
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Boddan]

Devil-Monkey!


Trotsky comes back after several seconds. "I can't get anything but static! I think we're too far down-hive!"

The red-skinned demon slashes wildly at the enforcer daring to face it. It rakes the man's side and wounds him heavily. He staggers back from the injury and turns to flee. The creature pounces onto his back and tears into his neck with its fangs.

The swearing arbite, turns and flees as well. Not knowing where to go, he heads for the base of the crane. His cursing continues unabated.

The last enforcer remains stone-still. His eyes wide.

Graki fires a shot that goes wide of the mark. A rare miss.

The man next to her, edges up further to gain a line of sight to the demon. He's visibly shaken but trying to calm himself enough to shoot straight.

OOC:



Initiative:
Demon
Graki
Arbites

You can't recall any useful bits of knowledge. However, the thing was down from your first shot it merely had nearby blood to regenerate with.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Steadying herself, Graki prepares for another shot. " Red team, switch to Las if you've got it. Use incendiary weapons, and blue team...err..Dostoyevsky, out of the way! We're gonna bring down some big hits. Red team move in! Don't engage in close combat, try to concentrate your fire, this thing isn't going to be suppressed. Flank it if you can. Try to draw it away from the bodies, it feeds on blood to regenerate. Ire, send in the dog once we get it away from the bodies.

Graki fires another shot, that will hopefully do more than piss the demon off...



50 vs [roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

****e, sorry I guess the 1d1000 should just be like a 40.3?

[Boddan]

GM


The demon stands up, blood dripping from its mouth and horns, and looks to the terrified arbite. The arbite prone at its feet already on his way to the Emperor. It issues a short growl and charges the fear stricken man. The creature drives its taloned hand into the man’s chest and roars in his face.

Its attention fully on its gory task, the beast steps back in surprise as a las round incinerates the top half of one of its horns. It screeches at Graki in rage over the dying man still embedded on its claws.

The fleeing arbite reaches the bottom of the crane and smacks his hand into the summon lift button. The tiny lift attached to the crane runs all the way to the top of the machine where the control cabin sits. After hitting the button he glances back frantically at the warp fiend currently taking the life of one of his mates.

The scout next to Graki lines up his hunting rifle and takes a shot. He’s still panicking and pulls the trigger hard rather than the learned squeeze. His shot ricochets of the metal flooring far below several meters wide of the demon.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Freight-Bay2.jpg

Graki does 4 dmg to the creature after reductions. Enforcer blood running down the creature's body reverses its gravity driven fall and begins running up the beast's body towards the destroyed horn.

It is now. Pissed-er :smallbiggrin:

[Jing Ke]

Graki: Better to Die for the Emperor, Than Live for Yourself

"Let him loose Ire! We backed up his personality this morning, I don't have that luxury! We need to draw the demon into the water if we can, or at least away from the blood. Otherwise, everyone fall back, keep live meat away from him.

Graki lowers, and takes another shot. It's all she can do at this point. Running is not an option.

Attack vs 70 (since I'm assuming there is little melee to speak of at the moment. [roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Boddan]

Ire's voice crackles across the vox. It sounds like he's slamming a vehicle door shut as he talks.

"On the way, boss! Be with you shortly!"

The demon rips its talons from the doomed arbite and sprints off after the enforcer waiting on the lift. The man sees the beast charging for him and looses discipline once more.

"**** me! Faster lift! FASTER!"

The creature covers two-thirds of the distance in an instant. Its warp fueled rage granting it extra speed.

While it runs, its horn regrows most of the way and the blood covering its hand disappears.

Graki's las round misses the beast by inches merely due to its speed across the decking.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Cursing, Graki rolls over and switches out her charge pack with her last hot-shot. " Take my frags off the ledge there!" Graki commands the scout " I don't care if you hit anything, just lob one as close to the beast as you can, we need to distract it!"

Take the clip out and replace it with hot-shot charge, the frags are in my backpack on the ledge. Hopefully he can get to at least one and lob it close to the hellspawn.

[Boddan]

The demon doesn’t even slow as it tackles the enforcer head on. Graki and the other scout lose sight of it behind the base of the crane, but the screams and flying blood are a good indicator of the enforcer’s fate.

The snipers can see the lift reach the ground floor through the mesh shaft. The lift is used to reach the top of the crane which currently has its boom positioned parallel to the water line heading towards the submersible. Graki and the other scout used the crane to reach the rafters but the boom was lowered back down maybe twenty meters after they were in place.

The scout drops his rifle and begins rummaging through Graki’s pack. He comes up with a frag in his hand and shuffles down the beam to get closer to the beast.

A red form dashes into the lift and moves out of view… the lift begins rising back up to the top…

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Freight-Bay3.jpg

It's going to take three rounds for the lift to get all the way up. Toss out any actions/preparations/orders you'd like.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Graki looks around desperately for the cable that raises the lift. Perhaps her companion could try to land one of her grenades near it to snap the cords when it gets to the top.

"Keep one frag so we can hit it point blank if it makes it this far."

Graki stands, and moves down the beam so the beast won't be within leaping distance if it arrives at the top.

"Once you run out of grenades, jump for the water. If you miss, I guarantee it will be a better end than anything you'll find at that abomination's claws! Get ready, it's coming!"

Graki will use catfall to jump into the water if worse comes to worst. Before that, she will attempt to get a few big bangs in the thing's face. Also, if the other scout leaps and dies, at least he won't help regenerate the beast.

[Boddan]

Fear no Evil


The scout shuffles quickly down the beam. He’s forced to hunch as the ceiling isn’t far overhead. He has to swing around several connecting struts that drop from the ceiling to the beam. He stops over the extended boom of the crane and begins a breathless prayer. He forgot that he’s connected via the vox-net to the others and everyone hears him.

“…and guide my hand to strike down those not worthy of Your light. He is with me, always. <takes a deep breath>”

He lobs one of his two frags at the winch box sitting at the top of the lift shaft. The grenade sails through the air bounces off the top of the crane, skips to the left, and spins to a rest right next to the winch box.

“Yes!” The scout exclaims.

The grenade goes off and shreds the nearby area. The smoke clears slowly and the scout is leaning out and squinting trying to see the effect his toss had.

The smoke parts and reveals a winch box peppered with frag but the unmistakable sound of it still operating permeates the air. The scout sighs heavily over the vox, “It didn’t work maam.” He draws his sidearm and holds the last frag in his other hand.

The lift reaches the top with a heavy clatter and the door opens. The beast wastes no time and dashes from the tiny elevator with yet another screech. It sprints down the length of the crane top, past the operation booth, hops down onto the boom, and continues to race towards the scout standing on the beam twenty meters overhead.

The scout fires several shots with his pistol at the sprinting fiend. In his panic, he fires too rapidly and jams the weapon after three shots. He too breaks into frantic swearing.

Across the bay, the central lift gate booms as it opens. The headlights of a vehicle visible on the other side.

OOC:


The scout rolled a 9 to hit! Annnd snake eyes for damage...

His third shot on semi-auto was a jam.

The beast is over halfway to the bottom of the beam and looks to make a jump at it next round.

I didn't say this before and sorry for that. The beams run N-S (perpendicular to the crane boom). Are you moving farther N or S?

-20 to hit the raging monkey from hell (Sprinting)

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Jump!!!

"Jump! That gun is useless!"

Graki cringes as she imagines the nigh-probable scenereo in which the beast catches her companion in mid-leap.

" If he catches you pull the pin!

Why is it in these situations less-essential personel can always be counted on to do something incompetent?!

Last round Graki moved down the beam AWAY from the boom of the crane. Now she crouches, and takes her all-ducks-in-a-row shot, hoping to get extremely lucky, and also vaguely wondering what ducks are...

aim+attack vs 50 [roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]

aim extra dm
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Jing Ke]

reroll with fate point

vs 50 [roll0]

and the damage again if necesssary

[roll1]
[roll2]

xtra dm
[roll3]
[roll4]

I wasn't sure if you'd want me to do the damage over (assuming I hit). If not, just use the old ones I guess. :D

[Boddan]

Graki's overpowered shot flies wide of the mark. The smell of ozone fills the air.

The arbite steps back warily as the demon turns its momentum upwards and leaps the entire distance up to the beam. A full twenty meter jump and lands too close to the arbite for comfort. The enforcer holds his nerve long enough to pull the pin on the last grenade, roll it underhand towards the demon's feet, and turn for the beam's edge.

He takes two steps, looks down, and jumps for the water hoping his jump will carry him past the decking below. He screams the whole way down. His yell broken up by the grenade going off above him.

The very lucky enforcer misses the decking by less than a meter and splashes into the freezing water.

Back above, the demon wades through the smoke of the blast towards Graki. It bleeds from several punctures due to the frag but doesn't seem the least bit perturbed.

There's approx thirty-five meters between Graki and the hellspawn. Enough for another shot perhaps.


Yarr. Demon takes 3 from frag (low rolls)

He'll have some cover from the connecting struts as he closes but they'll slow him down a bit. He should be able to charge you at the start of the 2nd round from now. You have one round. :smallcool:

If you jump, please list your following actions/destination.

[Jing Ke]

Graki

As the frag goes off, Graki bites down on the end of her tongue as she watches her brave subordinate free fall into the water. After a slight sigh of relief, Graki realizes that the Cat's Claw is smoking from the Hot-shot pack. She'll need to change it out, there's only one way to buy time. Slinging her rifle over her shoulder, Graki dashes forward to get as close over the water as she can, and jumps. As she falls, she makes no noise, but clutches her arms to her body and leans back, feet first. The water/ground approaches swiftly, and for a moment the world goes dark and silent.

Leap into the water, if she lives, immediately swim to the edge, and get out. Then look to see if her buddy got out alive, if he's still in the water, find something to get him out with. If I miss, then... Good campaign Boddan, it was fun. If we both swim to the edge on our own, try to meet up with the red team, assuming they arrive.

[Boddan]

20 Story Dive


Graki leaps from the rafters towards the water far below. After the first second of free fall, her limbs clenched tight around her, the thrill and fear rush through her from the immense drop. She splashes hard into the water below. If the harsh impact, even done with proper form, wasn't enough shock, the temperature of the water certainly is. Her initial plan to make for the dock is quickly cast aside as the freezing water saps her strength. She makes for the much closer submersible and one of the ladders built into the hull at the craft's bow.

She pulls herself from the water with trembling hands and glaces over her shoulder. She sees the scout pulling himself onto the dock. He rolls onto his back and looks to be in pretty rough shape.

Any feeling of elation at both her and her subordinate's survival are dashed as the water between them erupts. The demon wasted no time in leaping himself. The mortal notion of fear alien to the being.

It hefts itself from the water between Graki and the dock. The freezing water steams as it rises off the demon's unnaturally hot skin.

The creature turns on Graki and screeches once more. Behind the beast, the scout turns his head towards the pair, and watches the confrontation as his body is wracked by uncontrollable shivering.

Map:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Freight-Bay4.jpg

You ain't outta this thing yet =D

Graki, is bruised from the jump, freezing from the water, and pissed that this thing is still here. But you're alive and armed.

It jumped in response to your jump so you have two rounds to take before it goes.

Rather than damage Graki from the fall and freezing water, I'll have her take a level of fatigue: -10 to all tests. (I looked it up, this jump would be the same height as a 20 story building)

For the Emperor!

[Jing Ke]

Graki: When He Calls You, Follow

Steeling herself, Graki reloads her rifle with an overcharge pack. By this time, the Cat's Claw has begun to smell of brimstone, and the edge of the barrel has visible scorch marks. It has seen such wear before.

Graki levels her gun and screams as loud as she can. "FOR THE EMPEROR!


She pulls the trigger back, hoping against hope that the abomination will see her as a more desirable target than the scout...



round one, reload. SCREAM!

round two, aim, fire. [roll0] vs 60? (70-10 for fatigue)

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Boddan]

Victory


The demon hisses at the spoken word: Emperor. It takes a step towards Graki with violent intent.

Graki fires.

The overcharged blast pierces the creature's chest and rips out the back. The demon takes two more steps before faltering and falling onto its face.

It lies still on the deck.

OOC:


29 dmg -> 21 after reduction.

You actually had 80 BS (70 with Fatigue) With an additional 10 for short range. So all three 'tiers' of aimed dmg hit.

:smallamused:

Note: Those hot-shots can be recharged just like other las charge packs and reused. Logistically, las weapons are handy.

[Jing Ke]

Graki: Cut off the Head

As she holds her breath, Graki carefully approaches the body. At about 10 feet away, she switches to her autogun, and empties an entire clip into the fiend's body. Gritting her teeth, the hot shells fall at her feet, some of them plunk into the water with a parting *hissssss*.

Graki puts her hand to her ear and speaks to her team "Stay back! Wait till we get a clean-up crew down here. I'll get Ashmore, and tell him his services are required. Red Team...You may stand down for the moment."

Graki looks around for something to douse the fiend in. " Make sure there are no bodies close to him. I'm fairly certain this was our cleaver, but there is only one way to be sure..."

Switching channels, Graki tries to speak to Ashmore through the interference...

Awareness check to make sure the thing is dead, and to look for clues surrounding his identity. Graki assumes that he has been "gifted" with the demon form for his various participation in ritual slaughter, but it behooves us all to make sure. Awareness [roll0] vs 40

[Boddan]

Back to Hell


The arbite sedan pulls up to the dock just as Graki empties an entire clip into the felled demon. Ire motions for the two enforcers to see to the hypothermic scout. Sasha commands Torque to patrol and the canine trots off to the sound of metal clanking on metal.

Ire walks up behind Graki as she finishes speaking on the vox. He glances over her dripping form and removes his heavily layered long coat and offers it to her. He insists she take it knowing full well the danger she’s in whether she feels it or not. It smells of sweat and smoked lho.

Ire looks at the now severely damaged body of the demon and spits on the ground in disgust. The two look on in silence as a faint screech rings out from nowhere. The demon’s body dissolves into human blood and runs down the side of the sloped hull into the sea. The screech stops as the blood disperses into the water and the forces keeping the demon intact fade away.

Where the beast’s head was now sits a man’s messily severed head. The head looks severed prior to the full auto blast from a single carving slice.

The man is not Cleaver and at a glance looks to have been a member of the ecclesiarchy. The face is frozen in a grimace of pain and the bald head gleams from the lights far above. The entire head is coated in fresh, undried blood. The man’s cheeks are rather fat hinting the rest of him may have been the same and his head is mostly bald with a ring of hair around his head. The style common with priest’s of the order.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Into the Emperor’s Cold Embrace

“Merdu Madra!”

Graki looks around at her fallen comrades for any sign of life.As she returns to the slain host of the hellspawn, she examines the body. The flush face of the former ecclesiarch is bloated, probably because he bled out nose-down… “Well, this does not bode well. In one sense or another, we have been tricked."

Graki mumbles to herself for a few minutes, then looks up at one of the arbites from Red Team. ” Run uphive, and find Ashmore. Bring him down here. As soon as you can, alert Korolev and the others. We need to get some more eyes on this. Until then, I shall deduce what I can. Ire, do you have any thoughts on this guy? Does he look familiar to anyone?”

Another awareness check/ raw perception roll to see if I can deduce anything about the host’s body and/or identity. Vs 40 [roll0].
Also, if any of the arbites have signs of life, I will use my feral-worldliness to staunch their wounds.

[Boddan]

GM


Graki exclaims loudly releasing the tension and action of the previous moments. She moves between the fallen arbites with little hope of any survivors.

There are none.

One enforcer takes the hypothermic scout with him up-hive to locate the other members of Graki’s cell and drop the scout at a med-ward. The last arbite remains behind as a sentry.

Graki and Ire stand shoulder to shoulder looking down at the “remains” of the demon. The first and most obvious fact about the host’s body is that there is NO body. The entire demon’s body dissolved into human blood before running off the sub’s hull. In its place was left only this man’s head that looks to have been carved from his own body as a part of the ritual perhaps.

Ire speaks quietly with his head cocked to the side. “Looks like a priest. They all got the same haircut far as I can tell. He’s no one I’ve seen though… not one of the top guys from the spire neither. I woulda seen him on the pict-displays. And he’s not the underhive priest I know.” He goes on to tell Graki of how his prior “home” was a blocked off corridor that shared a thin bulkhead with an underhive chapel.

“I can recite most hymns from memory now-a-days,” he grins weakly. He turns around and points to his back. He’s bare from the waist up after giving Graki his long coat to ward off hypothermia. He doesn’t seem fazed by the ambient temperature. Across his entire back is one long prayer beseeching the Emperor to put those not worthy in front of his loyal servant. The text is broken up by an artistic rendition of the Emperor sitting upon his throne guiding mankind across the galaxy.

The pair stands together awaiting the arrival of the others. Along the perimeter of the freight-bay, Torque walks at a steady pace scanning constantly. The last enforcer stands near the crane with his back to the permacrete base and looks alert but distracted.

Ire waits a few minutes before asking if that was really a demon. He seems to be on edge as his hands havent left the handle of his holstered weapon since joining Graki.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grigory and Adeline sit inside the lab running various tests on the remaining toxic compound. The pair chats to pass the time and Adeline remarks that she saw Ashmore on the pict-displays last night. He looked to be questioning that Kenyon fellow and she asks if that was the man they were after or just another link in the chain. She goes on to ask what was done to the man, Kenyon.

Later in the morning, Inspector Korolev bursts into the lab and looks across the room. He sees Ashmore standing holding a dataslate he was reading but is now looking at the Inspector with a look of inquiry.

Korolev starts walking towards the Doctor as he speaks, “We’re needed back in the freight-bay. It looks like Cleaver sent a demon after our decoy. Graki wants you to take a look…at…” He finishes closing the gap to Grigory and can now see Adeline seated behind the line of cogitators next to the standing Grigory. The Inspector had assumed Ashmore was alone in the lab and spoken freely.

The Inspector looks to the good doctor for aid in making his comment disappear, a look of apology on his face.

Adeline stairs at Korolev for several more seconds with wide eyes before turning a questioning glance on Grigory.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore: Everyone has ranks in blather.

The next morning, Ashmore works further with Dr. Damaris to see if anything else is to be learned from the med-work.* He has decided to wait until Riccan has examined the flight manifests for Regulus until he further pursues that line of inquiry.

He answers any of Dr. Damaris' questions about being a psyker as openly and honestly as he can, steering away from any discussion of the Black Ships or the fact that he has the potential to become a very powerful (and very dangerous) psyker.

When Korolev erupts into the room with his new information, Ashmore's eyebrows nearly leap off his face. Then he glances at Dr. Damaris, slowly lowers his head, and pinches his nose with his forefinger and thumb. Intensely worried about this new develop and not having time to do better, Ashmore spouts off the first thing that comes to mind. "Yes, well, the things these scum come up with to call their muscle these days. What blasphemy! I'm afraid I shall have to attend the Arbites in case anyone is hurt. Hold down the fort while I am gone?"** Without waiting for a response, Ashmore grabs up his jacket and is gone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

At the sub unit, Ashmore strides in confidently with Korolev. But the doctor is taken aback as the sentry grows wide-eyed and lifts a gun towards him. Korolev holds up a hand, "Whoa, hold on there, son. This one ain't one of them." The sentry looks unsure, but slowly defers to the stern looks of the older men.

After that exchange, the doctor removes his hand from under his coat, releasing his compact laspistol. "Lieutenant, you are going to have to explain what is going on here."

Korolev looks more puzzled than even the doctor feels. "I don't much understand it myself, Dr. Ashmore. I better take you to the pict-display."

Ashmore is wide-eyed and wide-mouthed after he views the recording of the previous events. Only Korolev can hear him whisper, "That joy-girl shot me!", but his voice trails off as he watches himself transform into a demon. After the recording is done, the doctor spends several moments smoothing his sideburns and coat before he turns from the blank screen and does not lose his bewildered look for some time as he goes about investigating the scene.

When he has joined Ire and Graki by the priest's head from checking for surviving Arbites, Ashmore has yet to regain his composure, but his speech maintains a professional air. He speaks to the assassin as he takes out his medikit to attend to her chill. His voice contains more than a hint of genuine concern. "Miss Graki, I trust that you are alright? That was quite a harrowing experience. It was handled marvelously. I have never heard of such a creature being dealt with in such a quick and efficient manner. Please, here, let me examine your legs. I saw your fall into that water. No, no, sit down. There. I am terribly sorry that I was not here to help. I guess I was wrong about how much Hoggins valued what Chrace had to say. I apologize. That heretical scum will answer to the Emperor before too long. Riccan and I believe we know where he is headed."

He ascertains that his compatriots are in good health before moving on to the head itself. He won't touch it until he can get it back to a lab, but will examine it from afar for now. When he is done with it, Ashmore will have an Arbite bring him something which will allow him to safely transport the head back to the lab, requesting that Dr. Damaris not be involved in this for now. But he is not done with it yet.

Not yet.

Ashmore quiets those around him as his eyes shut tight in concentration and his mouth curves into a frown. He cautiously reaches his mind out into the cracks in reality he knows must exist here, attempting to trace the creature's origin and strength. As he uses all of his energy to keep from losing himself in the warp, the doctor's body slumps forward and then collapses.

For the record, the doctor showed no resentment when Graki called him a medic. He is proud of the fact. He doesn't bother mentioning that the medic took down Chrace, ego or not :-p. Still, he refrains from going on the basis that he doesn't think Hoggins will care about Chrace (apparently he was wrong about that! :-p).

That all being said, I'd daresay that Ashmore's witnessing Graki's facing down and then subsequently killing a demon has erased any memory he has of any misdeeds. I trust that eventually Graki will find some reason to trust the doctor as well (before I die that is).

*Chem-use (55): [roll0] for the work this morning, also, did Dr. Damaris report on the name of the chemical?
**Deceive (13): [roll1], the doc feels lying is more expedient at this point. I'll just hope it is an easy enough lie that she wants to believe


Medicae (60): [roll2] just to make Graki more comfortable in the cold with what he can
Scholastic Lore (Biology)(40): [roll3], to examine the head
Common Lore (Imperial Creed)(40): [roll4], to determine anything about the priest

Willpower (45): [roll5], in case anything is necessary for seeing himself get shot and turned into a demon, or from the psyniscience check

Psyniscience (33): [roll6], I will see my degrees of success or failure and send you my next course of action via e-mail

[Boddan]

They can run...


As Dr Ashmore and Inspector Korolev exit the lab in a hurry, Dr Damaris calls out after them.

“Best of luck handling your demons, Doctor!”She calls as she shakes her head slowly with a look of disbelief on her face. She clearly didn’t buy the doctor’s cover up.

The ride down is done at best speed and the pair remains quiet most of the way. After a time, the Inspector speaks without turning his head. “Sorry… about back there.”

-------------------------------------------------

In the freight-bay, Grigory begins pulling energy from the surrounding area into himself in an effort to analyze the demon’s origin and intent.

He’s quickly flooded with rage and has to expend vast amounts on concentration simply to not turn and tear into the Inspector standing next to him. He can hear the priest’s screams of torment from the domain beyond this realm. His soul cast in as a plaything in exchange for the blood-hunter’s aid. Ashmore glimpses broken scenes of the slain demon taking its abundant rage out on the priest’s hapless soul. Tearing chunks from the body that he feels as he did when alive only to have them replaced instantly and the torture repeated.

Ashmore catches flashes of his own, Graki’s, and Chrace’s image burned into his mind with violent hatred. He recognizes the image as a part of the publicly aired vid he was a part of. The demon was sent to kill all three of them. Chrace for his supposed information he could divulge, and the two cell member’s for being a part of the ongoing man hunt.

When finished the doctor slumps forward and nearly collapses but Korolev reaches out quickly and steadies the man. He looks at the doctor with concern and is about to speak when movement catches his eye.

Riccan’s servoskull hovers up to the assembled group and begins broadcasting its pre-recorded message.

+Greetings acolytes. I’m sending this message to you now rather than wait for you to return to vox range for the reason that is undoubtedly lying near your feet. The Inspector updated me on the situation before he traveled out of vox range.

The situation being a demon.

First of all, if any surviving arbites were wounded by the beast they are to be executed without hesitation. The others, who are not under the arm of the Inquisition and so its knowing watch, are to have their full identities sent to me ASAP. I will pass this information along and a moral threat assessment team will be sent to watch them for any signs of taint over the coming months. Furthermore, the pict-capture of the entire battle must be confiscated and brought to me. The masses cannot know a demon was loose in the hive.

Second, I may have a lead on the whereabouts of Cleaver. A bulk carrier transport left early this morning for Regulus, among other agri-worlds, with several thousand people volunteering to be reassigned as work force detail on agri-worlds.

The opportunity to get out of a hive-bound life and into the relative comfort of an agri-world is relished to say the least. My search shows several volunteers did not check into their flight decks this morning. The ship left orbit without them and foul play is the most logical reason. Even if they were murdered in some alley, the killer would likely take their deck pass and travel to the new world under that person’s identity. Or sell the pass at a rediculous fee but the volunteer would still be shown as present in any case. All that is screened for at the docks are the passes themselves.

That’s all I have for now. If you have pressing matters to follow up on please don’t let me delay you further. The scene of the demon’s summoning needs to be located so that it can be purified. Give that priority at present with the verification of Cleaver’s departure on the bulk transport secondary. In conclusion, it’s likely that Cleaver did abscond from this world and that we will have to give chase. Prepare yourself in that capacity.

The Emperor protects+

Inspector Korolev looks up when the skull finishes its speech and hovers off. “When we get back into vox range, I’ll ask which flight decks were allocated to that voyage. It’s likely the migrants were using sleeping facilities nearby there and I’ll look into the missing volunteers as well as any missing priests in the area. Anyone care to join me?” He doesn’t listen to the replies as he considers the last part of the message and that he’ll be going off-world for the first time in his life. He’ll need to make arrangements, especially with his daughter.

Ire chimes in cheerfully, “Off world? A plan for us all, He has.” He smiles broadly.

OOC:


Doc, Adeline brought the information along that morning and you moved it onto your dataslate. The toxin is called Anthorum and it comes from a vine called Banewhip. It’s located on Kenov only and your scanning of the document tells that it grows across the ground in patches and faintly resembles a large fish hook. When prey moves across the vines, the spasm inwards and stab the prey with the business end of the vines. The toxin causes instant paralyses. Banewhip is almost always found with another vine species and the pair acts in a symbiotic relationship. The other species is a form of hanging creeper that slowly moves towards living tissue in the area (Banewhip exempt), grows into the prey, and digests it from the inside out. Large portions of the prey fall to the jungle floor and fertilize the Banewhip fulfilling the relationship. The second species is designated Ravenous Creeper but is known better as “hungry hungry hangers.” The name given by a Catachan scout accompanying one of the first expeditions.

The second compound is as of yet unknown but both the doctors made progress on it that morning in the time they had.

Also, Ashmore can tell that the priest was certainly not a willing sacrifice and judging by the amount of human blood needed to form the body of the beast, others were needed as well.

Graki, the doctor injects you with a small amount of medication designed to speed your heart rate to combat any lingering effects of hypothermia and raise your body temperature.

At this juncture, 125 XP each for extensive research/combat. Please let me know what you use it on. I will be awarding XP on a group basis for the most part and not single merit. Mostly because your success depends on the group's success, not any single field.

Graki, what did you use the last 175 on? (I apologize if you told me already)

Righto, onwards!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

As he comes to, Ashmore pushes Korolev away and glares at him. Then he repeats the Litany of Strong Heart and Good Intent in a rapid whisper over and over as the servo skull delivers its message.

When it is done and Korolev mentions his daughter, Ashmore barks at him. "Frag your daughter!" Then he turns on Graki, spittle flying from his mouth. "You grox's wench! You would've killed me! I am very glad that you have managed to once again alert a heretic as to our presence here!" He directs this last at both Korolev and Graki, and then the doctor's eyes grow wide and his mouth twists into a snarl, a picture of rage unlike any that has ever graced his countenance. He shakes himself, moves to the water and plunges in his head. When he pulls it out gasping for breath, he seems quite puzzled as to why he is now wet.

Toweling himself off with the sleeve of his jacket as best he can, Ashmore returns to the group and speaks as light-hearted and calmly as he had been before his outburst, seemingly unaware it happened. "Yes, well, Lt. Korolev, I am sorry to hear you must away from your family. I trust that if your daughter is anything like her father, then she is a capable young woman."

With that, he turns on his heel, calls out to the remaining Arbite to give him the head in whatever container was used and leaves to the medicae facility.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Once there, he finds that Dr. Damaris is not in, so he removes the head from the bag and begins to examine it with the tools he has available. He spends as much time as he feels he can afford on that, packing it away if he is not finished before he has to leave.

Then he moves to the chemicals and distills a sample of the toxin for his own research, leaving some for Damaris and a hand-written note which he is in the middle of writing when she enters. As she does, he crumples the note and stuffs it into a pocket.

He smiles. "I'm afraid I must away on business. I am most sorry about Korolev's outburst earlier. I am not much for mistruths, so I must simply beg your discretion on this matter and can tell you only that I cannot tell you more." He gestures about the lab. "As you can see, I've tidied the place up, and I have left you a sample of this fascinating poison for your own researches. If I could trouble you for some texts on Chymistry and Chem-use, then I would greatly appreciate it. I fear this will not be the only unique resource in the hands of my opponent."

Ashmore runs a hand along his sideburn. "Dr. Dam... Adel... Dr. Damaris. Your company has been most enjoyable, and I am terribly sorry for any discomfort my presence here has caused you. Know that you have done your Emperor a great service. With your permission, I would like to continue correspondence with you, circumstances providing."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Later, back in the hab, Ashmore huffs in feeling extremely tired and especially grimy. His first task is to take as long a shower as he feels prudent. After he has dressed in his more casual clothes, the doctor finds Riccan. "Mr. Fiphe, sir. I believe that my work will be much aided by having some small facilities on our trip to Regulus. I wonder if I could offer my services to the ship we use in return for access to their med-ward. I'm sure that the crew of many ships could use a good check-up after so long in the void."

He pours himself a cup of recaf and plops down heavily at the table, sitting alone with Riccan. "By Throne. A daemon. Do not think I do not appreciate Miss Graki's skill or abilities. I do. But I fear she may have gotten lucky this time. I do not mean to doubt His will, Mr. Fiphe, but are we well equipped enough to deal with such a threat? I've long been pushing to get Hoggins. I know he is more than the simple murderer many seem to be taking him to be. But this?"

Important Things: 1) any reactions to Ashmore's outburst, 2) research of head, 3) Damaris' response, 4) Riccan's response to request for facilities, 5) I want to use my 1 degree of success to discover the strength of the source of the warp disturbance as per the Inquisitor's Handbook (as in, is the power to create that daemon more or less than I have. duh, but still)

My specific goals on the autopsy are (in this order) 1. to find out what weapon was used to sever the head, 2) if this is the wound that killed him, and 3) if the body was bled.
Trade (Doctor)(55): [roll0]
Scholastic Lore (Biology)(55): [roll1]

He will take it with him if he does not discover all 3 of these things (or find out he can't). Otherwise, he will leave it in the care of the morgue with the other two bodies.

The Trip: Ashmore will finish up his recent studies on tech-use, and then spend most of the trip meditating, his mind finding new holes into the warp given his recent touch with it. He will also periodically begin to study from the Chymistry books he uploaded before he left. I will also continue to work at the chemical and/or head if I have the proper facilities aboard ship.

XP Spent: during the trip, I will pick up tech use skill. From my recent encounter of the warp, my mind expands and I pick up Psy Rating 2, along with Staunch Blood (from healing Yuri and the blood demon) and Dull Pain. I wanted to pick up an attack power given my newfound rage, but I noticed it will be some 1200xp before I get another psy rating, and I wanted to get all the healing stuff now without having to wait that long without blowing an extra 100xp on something I'm going to get anyway.

[Jing Ke]

Graki:Grimy Simulacra

After Ashmore’s outburst, Graki finds herself increasingly angry. ”That pompous warp-sipping ingrate!” Graki continues to talk to herself in the hab unit when Ashmore emerges from the shower.

“This, Doctor, is how I knew your imposter. Your sense of decorum would not allow you to go a day without preening!”

Graki’s vertical pupils open into a circle as she encroaches on Ashmore, fuming. “Watch the tape, oh masterful detective, and notice that you do not cut quite as dashing a figure in this case. The demon had merely copied your appearance from a day or so before, from the film…Graki pauses just as she seems about to claw out the good doctor’s eyes…

Caught on the edge of a reason and rage, Graki stops and locks with Ashmore’s slightly bewildered countenance “Ashmore, as I said before, I am your protector. I do not fancy myself a doctor, and I would give you the same advice in spirit. We were each chosen for the talents bestowed on us by his will. To presume to be more than he makes us is blasphemy”

As she turns to leave the hab unit, she stops. “ You got a lucky shot off on Chrace, but luck it seems, is the greater part of victory for our band. I consider this matter put to rest, but do not think I will suffer further bi-polar outbursts, warp-induced or otherwise.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Graki finds Ire outside the unit smoking, as usual. ” You’d best come with us if possible, Ire. I suspect that staying here will not allow you much privacy. I can say no more on the subject, but I will do what I can to see you attached to the unit on a permanent basis if such is your desire.”

After she discusses the subject with Ire for a bit, Graki goes to see Riccan to talk to him about the next step.

I didn’t spend my last xp, so it has been accumulating. When I get home from work, I’ll figure out what I want to do, don’t have the book with me at present, but I’ll have 300 xp to spend total.

Graki just wants to convince Riccan to allow Ire to come with her as an apprentice of sorts (if only in name).

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

Having no recollection of any outburst of his own nor having mentioned Chrace in a day or so, Ashmore merely stares at Graki a bit perplexedly, smiles, and moves on. His isn't to question anyone's actions when she is killing daemons, rather than innocents.

Later, when talking to Riccan about the ship in private, Ashmore brings up this constant disagreement with Graki. "She seems to have gotten it in her head that she is to protect me? I'm quite sure I am a decent enough shot. I was under the impression that she was an acolyte and not a bodyguard." He laughs a bit at his own ridiculousness. "I am certainly willing to admit that a good deal of this is my own fault, and I apologize for any trouble I have caused you, Mr. Fiphe. I am merely worried that a loose trigger could... no, already has brought unwanted attention our way. I am sure it was bound to happen sometime, but this early? I don't expect there is anything to be done about it. We are both effective tools in our own way. Emperor willing, it will work itself out."

He also adds an inquiry as to how Inquisitor Braddigan feels about this newest, daemonic development.

[Jing Ke]

Graki: A Known Unknown

Alone in the Hab unit at last, Graki sets about creating her report:

report: subject 274-Supp4

The subject is becoming increasingly unstable. Just recently I witnessed a near take over by the warp in the course of normal duties. [Graki goes on to describe his outburst as objectively as possible]. I am attempting to convince him that I have been assigned as a bodyguard, since there was a lack of such skills in the party before resulting in the untimely death of Technographer Mercali. I am unconcerned about his intentions, as he seems genuinely to be trying to serve His Will.

As the Sisters say of the Imperial Guard: Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas… (Though power is lacking, the will is worthy). I think he may not be quite capable of containing the void without devoting further resources to his training.

I would further like to go on record: I resent being forced to deceive my comrades, and such deception is causing confrontations between Subject 274 and myself. The subject is bright, but for some reason has yet to discover me. I would further appreciate a contingency MO should I be discovered. The Inquisition is known for its caution, shall we say, in matters such as these, but despite the concerns of the Inquisitorial Cloister, I should recommend that Subject 274 be taken off the list of suspected vessels for the void. His powers are fledgling at best, and if we are to utilize them properly I would recommend some kind of mandatory exercise… Perhaps in the guise of a training for our whole group?

Granted I am no more expert in these matters than most acolytes, but I have come to know him to some extent through opposition. Given the proper training, I suspect he is capable of great things.

Uberrimae Fidei,
Agent Gray


As she finishes her work, Graki quickly sends the data and deletes any trace of the report as soon as possible. She stands, and walks across the room to where her equipment has been set to dry.

The armor has just begun to return to a bearable temperature, but the Cat’s Claw needs substantial maintenance. A box mounted on the wall contains an emergency repair kit, which Graki immediately pilfers. She removes a cheap screwdriver from its plastic package and begins to unfasten the casing of her rifle.

As she works, with a torn bit of cloth buffing the mechanical elements and removing soot and bits of ice from the apparatus, she begins to think of the previous day’s events.

She killed a *%$%ing demon!

This does little to reassure her guilty conscience. The conditions of her release from custody after the "tourist incident," [see post 42, Scout's Note, Disc B] and her subsequent conscription required her to join what Marcus Insidiuous, her trainer, unceremoniously referred to as the “Mole Squad.”

She would be placed as an observer in an Inquisitorial Cell as a sort of internal investigation unit to keep an eye on acolytes with psyker-potential. The downside, of course, was that she was programmed with a sort of mental block that disabled any such powers she might have, while simultaneously compartmentalizing the part of her brain that contained her guilt, and information such as it might be discovered by the subject of her investigation. This information was not, strictly speaking, made available to her, and so she had to feign ignorance of such liberties taken with her own mind.

As she finishes cleaning her weapon, Graki replaces the casing and stands, walking to her heap of equipment. She begins to put it all on, piece by piece. The encumbrance of her new armor mirrors the gravity of her situation. On Munsk, family was the holder of complete allegiance to the individual, and to betray one’s comrades was tantamount to abandoning one’s identity.

“Only ten more years!" Graki mutters.

I hope the liberties I took were ok, it gives me a slightly better reason for being attached seemingly in a haphazard fashion to the group. It also lets me address Ashmore’s constant buggering-off-before-Graki-has-a- chance-to-respond-to-his-tirades.

[Boddan]

After the doctor's unfortunate lapse in the freight-bay, Korolev looks hurt momentarily before looking to Ire and Graki questioningly. He repeats the same questioning look with more effort when the doctor returns from the cold water dunk, back to his usual self.

Ire merely raises his eye brows at the scene while suppressing a surprised laugh when Grigory calls Graki a “grox’s wench.” He quickly turns away appearing to look for Torque (who’s sitting at his feet) when Graki turns her eyes on him.

------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Ashmore looks over the severed head back in the lab and comes up with several conclusions rather quickly.

First, the head looks to have been hacked off with a too-small blade for the job, or the attacker simply didn’t aim well or could care less about taking multiple swings. In any case, it took several swings to link the savage cuts together to remove the head from the body. The decapitation was most certainly the cause of death and the victim's color shows he was not bled like Cleaver’s prior atrocities. This combined with the amount of blood needed to form the “body” of the demon hints at several hapless bystanders needed in addition to the poor priest.

The thought of the priest causes the doctor to remember the man’s screams of torment from the other side and he’s recalls feeling that the power behind the demon itself. Cleaver doesn’t feel to have much more in power than he himself does. The rituals themselves or voluntary aid from his patron must be the key.

After some time alone in the lab, Dr. Damaris enters the somewhat dark room. Grigory makes his apology and asks permission to continue speaking to Adeline. She smirks at his juggling of titles and waves away his apology for any possible discomfort. She thanks him for leaving her a sample to continue to test as she reaches across the gap separating them, reaches into the doctor’s own pocket, smirks again at his look of surprise, and removes the crumpled note he had been preparing.

She smoothes the note out and writes on the blank back the location of her own hab-unit on planet for him to send missives to. She hands the wrinkled note back with an appraising stare.

“Until next time, Doctor Ashmore. Or as I have come to think of you, the mysterious agent with unfailing manners.”

She walks out of lab and calls over her shoulder that you’ll have to stop by her hab and pick up the chymistry and chem documents yourself before leaving.

Grigory stands staring at the empty door frame for several seconds before his vox-bead crackles to life.

+Doctor Ashmore. I need you to dispose of the demon’s victims before joining us back at the hab-unit. When you’ve finished analyzing the severed head, please incinerate it along with the fallen arbites in the facilities’ morgue. You can delegate…te…te this to another of course, but any non-servitor that handles the bodies must also be… take care of it Doctor. Faith is the surest armor+

------------------------------------------------------

In the hab that night, Graki verbally ambushes Ashmore as he exits the shower and Riccan looks from acolyte to acolyte during the ensuing back and forth. He looks more than a little disappointed in both members.

Outside the unit, Graki talks to Ire about his joining them on a permanent basis. He seems overly hopeful for the prospect as his entire gang was slain and he states he’s sure any remaining Chained guys down there will be looking for him and one guy on his own simply doesn’t last long.

Back inside the unit, Riccan and Grigory chat across the table. Riccan agrees on seeking a ship with suitable facilities and mentions he was unable to begin his search for outgoing vessels today. What with the demon based excitement and all. He looks stern as he says (writes) that he hopes that this group isn’t stepping into deep water but he’d rather press forward with the investigation. Rather than call in his higher ups too soon and appear inept.

He finishes as he states he doesn’t expect a response from Inquisitor Braddigan for several weeks at the earliest and he’s already sent a further missive explaining they will be moving off world.

------------------------------------------------------

Inspector Korolev enters the hab early the next morning carrying two large bags that he sets down nearby. Both appear to be full of clothing and the like for the coming departure. He arrived early, before Riccan departed to locate any out going vessels.

He starts off appearing excited before the news he bears brings him down a notch. His search the previous night resulted in he and his locating a small chapel near the up-hive shuttle docks. The door was barred from the inside but the smell was palpable from the corridor outside.

Inside were several slain volunteers, hung in the same manner as the Tarasov victims, and the headless body of the priest. He explains that all the volunteer deck-passes were accounted for except one which he followed up on. The name was marked as checked in before breaking orbit.

Cleaver took the vessel off world as predicted.

He goes on with a sour look on his face that the volunteers were bled dry but the priest was not. The chapel was a makeshift unit from one of the surrounding hab-units. He ordered the unit purged by fire and closed until the skies fall.

OOC:


I apologize for the rush yet again. Feel free to sandbox further and great RP so far. I'll add the next segment as soon as I can. Sleep is for the weak!

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore, flashes

Having learned all he can from the head, Ashmore requests that the bodies of the slain arbites and the head be gathered onto trollies. Then he personally takes each one to the incinerator and dumps it in, waiting until the bodies are burned away completely, and then he vents the dust. Before he goes, he asks an Arbite to fire-cleanse the sub dock.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Korolev returns with his news the next morning, Ashmore is shocked. Still, business is business. "I assume these killings were of a more utilitarian nature, Inspector, but did you or your men notice any identifying tattoos on the corpses? Furthermore, how many were bled? If we are dealing with some discernible pattern, then it would be good to know."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

That day, he finishes cleaning his jacket, puts it on over his vest and tie, trims his mustache and sideburns, doffs his bowler's cap, and heads out into the hive for his last trip here. He whistles the March of Ultramar as he makes a stop at a book store in the up-hive and then rides in a hivecab to Dr. Damaris hab unit.

As she opens the door, he looks as though he is surprised to have found himself here. "Dr. Damaris. It looks like we are shipping off soon. I thought it would be best if I came and picked up those books." As Damaris tries to get a look at the book behind his back, Ashmore brings it out. "Yes, well, I thought I would pay a good deed in kind. I found an early pressing of Willym Smythe's treatise." He holds out a book with gilt lettering along the spine, the front of which reads Catching a Killer: On the Rarity of Toxins and Their Uses in Off-world Investigations. "It is good for a laugh, if nothing else."

Dr. Damaris laughs out loud, but Ashmore isn't sure if it is at the book or at him. Then she smiles. "Would you like to come in for some recaf, Doctor?" The hab door slides shut behind them.

Hivecab? Sure, why not...

[Jing Ke]

Graki

Restless, Graki paces back in forth in the hab unit as Korolev stands in the corner with his immense bags going on about the newest slew of victims.

“Let me stop you for a moment, inspector. Allow me to see if I have understood you correctly: a man tainted by the warp has somehow managed to slay several citizens, gut them, and drain their blood completely without our knowledge?

Graki brings her palm to her forehead with a resounding *slap*.

“*Sigh*…. Perhaps we could make arrangements to have the nooks and crannies of the mass-transit on which he has stowed away watched with greater scrutiny? If possible, we should send out a profile to the workers aboard his ship. Tell them not to attempt to engage him directly, but just to keep an eye on him and keep us advised. If we can get a step ahead of him, we will have a much easier time bringing him down, obviously.”

Raising her index finger to her chin, Graki looks thoughtful.

“Ire, you’ve been onworld longer than any of us. Perhaps you can advise Korolev of some of the customs and idioms the people here possess that would be lacking in Hoggins. In his lust for power, he probably does not pay attention to such ephemera. When you’re done, prepare to leave. I’m conscripting you for now until I’m told otherwise. We don’t have time to wait for official sanction. I shall prepare a petition immediately and send it up the chain of command.

Anticipating Korolev's objection, Graki raises her hand to calm him, "It is possible that he will be alerted to this end, so we can't use public channels. Just captain and high-ranking crew. I'm not sure Hoggins knows we are on to his little escape just yet, and we must take further precautions to keep it that way. I trust your methods Korolev, but I think we need to be proactive in this hunt, lest we be met with a slew of rampaging...foes such as were recently vanquished.

Just trying to save you some time with the Ire thing. He's our mutual host should one of us die, I'm assuming! If not, I will play Torque.

[Boddan]

Inspector Korolev nearly finishes his debriefing when he’s interrupted by Graki. She inquires with a hint of contempt why this went unnoticed.

The Inspector and Ire stare at the feral worlder as if she’s a few rounds shy of a full clip before Riccan raises his hand to placate them. He begins writing on his ‘slate as the servoskull translates. Riccan doesn’t look up as he explains that they may or may not know that she grew up on a feral world and is not yet used to the vast maze of corridors that stretch into the sky for several kilometers. To add to the matter, most of the denizens are apathetic drones that move to and from their daily tasks in a near zombie-like manner.

Riccan looks up now at the Inspector and begins writing again. +I’m sure the lady doesn’t mean to imply your arbites are incompetent, Lieutenant. She merely doesn’t grasp the impossibility of hive-wide security+

Dr. Ashmore inquires as to the number and any markings on the sacrifices this time around. “Eight bodies again,” Korolev answers. “All naked and hung up over a large collection plate. I gave them a once over. No tattoos that I saw.”

Graki continues, unfazed by any potential feathers she’s ruffled, and Riccan replies in kind.

+That’s not a bad idea. I’ll have an astropath send a message at once to the migrant vessel. With any luck, it’ll reach them through the turbulent warp-tides before they reach their objective. I’ll crypt-encode it for the Captain’s eyes only… it’s likely that this type of ship, however, may consider their human cargo just that. Cargo. They most likely keep them locked into the vast cargo holds with limited supplies for the remainder of the trip. Only to be disgorged on arrival at their destination+

+It can’t hurt to try however. If they do let the passengers roam freely, this warning is certainly warranted. If they do not and Cleaver starts mass chaos in the cargo bay, they’ll simply vent the compartment to the void and be done with it+

He looks thoughtful for a moment as he looks at the floor. He looks up and goes on writing, +Emperor preserve me, I nearly hope they just doom him to the vacuum. If he is indeed still unaware that we are actively pursuing him, then this line of action won’t trace back to us necessarily. Too many moving parts for it not just to be some other volunteer who pointed him out to the deck officer as an oddity. Yes, I’ll take care of this now+

Graki goes on to conscript Ire and asks his take on the matter since he’s supposedly been here the longest. The ganger glances at the much older Inspector next to him before nodding his acceptance of his orders. He glances imperceptibly at Riccan over Graki’s shoulders to get the nod from the one truly in command before heading out the door with Korolev.

The pair whisper when out of earshot, “Why didn’t you point out you’ve been here a lot longer than I have? I don’t look that old do I?! Errm, no offense Inspector.”

“None taken. I could’ve argued but I suspect I would’ve just gotten a rude derision for my troubles. Or shot.” The pair chuckles quietly before turning back towards the hab-unit door. Inspector Korolev calls out, “Mr. Fiphe, would you like a ride up-hive? We’re all headed in the same direction.”

Riccan steps outside hurriedly and mouths a soundless thanks as he puts his coat on. He managed to acquire a ratling sized heavy coat along with a thick scarf. He warps the wool scarf around several times before limping to the waiting sedan with the aid of a cane. His feet remain bare as is the custom for ratlings and frost begins to collect along his unkempt sideburns.

Right after the ratling, Grigory struts from the hab-unit humming a tune of victory with an uncharacteristic gleam to his eyes. He takes the last seat in the sedan and asks the Inspector for a bookstore as he closes the vehicle’s door. Ire shares the back seat with the doctor and looks over the man with a knowing grin. “Off to run some more tests, are we?”

Up front, Korolev chuckles as he looks in the rearview at Ire. They had joked in private about the doctor’s semi-carefully concealed interest in his chymistry-counterpart. Riccan hides his grin at the jest by looking out the window.

Back in the hab, Graki stands alone. That is until Torque steps up next to her and sits down. It tilts its head to the side as it looks up at her.

OOC:


Grigory may or may not do his thing. Kids may read this and we'll keep it PG-13 (with the US standard of over the top violence being just fine though)

I'll add the ship boarding bit after I eats some foods. Korolev, Ire, & Riccan are off to send the astropath msg with hints on what to look for to the bulk Captain. They're all going to seek out a vessel for the cell's use to move in pursuit.

As for Ire, you're on your own sucka :smallcool: He's mine! I added him for another body (that can work security) with an accompanying mastiff for tactical variety and the more bodies on your side allows me to toss more at you for even further tactical deviation.

EDIT: I can't have Torque c.o.c.k. his head.... filter says no.

[Boddan]

The Vraga


Later that day, the assembled cell sits together in an atmospheric-capable lander. The craft had just recently left the surface of Samson and is now breaching the final layer of atmosphere into low orbit. The group looks out from the port holes at the massive vessel they are approaching.

Sitting at anchor in low orbit, lays the cell’s negotiated mode of travel. The Vraga

Fiphe explains the vessel’s brief history he gathered during his haggling with the captain and his first mate. The destroyer class vessel was originally a part of the Calixis battlefleet. Several hundred years ago, the Vraga took part in a fleet battle and was partially cored by a direct lance strike to its fore.

The battle was won and the now derelict craft towed back to be repaired and refitted. The lance strike had burned a hole into the center of the vessel starting at the prow. The vessel was deemed unfit for return to Imperial Navy service and was sold off to the highest bidder.

Looking from the shuttle at the nearing Vraga, the acolytes can see the prow of the vessel clearly now. The armored front was worked to resemble a snarling, open mouthed felid maw. The center of the maw opens to a hollow tube-shaped hold the stretches far into the vessel’s interior. From the “chin” of the beast juts a lance battery while the dorsal ridge of the craft is lined with battery after battery.

The ratling looks up from his notes and notices the vessels animalistic prow. He adds quickly that a Vraga is apparently a felid beast from the Captain’s homeworld that is known for stalking prey more powerful than itself until a moment of vulnerability comes to pass. The beast leaps to the ambush savagely and quickly. When finished, the beast eats its fill before destroying the rest so that no competing Vragas can make use of the carcass.

Fiphe continues about the ship itself and explains that after being repaired the rogue captain acquired both a privateer charter in addition to a right-of-salvage certification and set out to make his fortune. The vessel plies the trade lanes seeking out raiders, pirates, and xenos threats that it’s capable of taking down itself. Throughout all this, the Vraga makes a meal of any wrecked or derelict vessels located for salvage. The craft sits at anchor nearby while modified shuttles work in tandem with void-suit specialists that isolate and remove the most valuable parts from these wrecks and move them into the Vraga itself for storage and resale later.

The pieces are moved into the Vraga via the open maw-hold of the vessel previously the wound caused by the lance strike that crippled the vessel. Inside the hold, the grav-plating in the floor is disabled keeping the lengthy hold at zero-gravity. This allows the workers to work on the chained down scrap to lascut away the worthy parts or section off areas into smaller bits for easier storage. The workers use magboots to stay in place while they work and push the massive pieces down the zero-grav tunnel when done. The end of the maw funnels into a smaller corridor with a conveyor belt running the length of the floor. The grav-plating slowly increases in power the farther down the conveyor one travels until full gravity is achieved and the conveyor itself is hauling scrap farther into the vessel for storage in the standard cargo bays.

In exchange for long term transit in their pursuit of Inquisitorial ends, the group has to allow for the ship and its crew to salvage from wrecks, follow up on identified bounties, and make an effort to obtain any high value goods that come up in the course of the cell’s travels.

The Vraga fills the port hole as the shuttle hovers into a starboard hold. The retro’s fire to slow the craft inside the bay and the craft rumbles slightly as it descends and docks.

The group exits the shuttle to the waiting Captain and his entourage.

The captain stands at normal height with his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail above a highly embroidered suit. He steps forward and bows formally to the gathered cell.

“Welcome to my vessel, agents. My name is Captain Ralamon. Please don’t hesitate to notify me of anything we can do to aid you.” The captain’s voice is a deep, raspy voice. The sound of a man who’s smoked far too much lho in his life. The captain goes on to introduce his senior officers present while lighting a cigar.

He rattles off the Head Enginseer, Navigator, Helmsman, Master Gunner, and his First Mate. Each member steps forward, gives their names, and introduces themselves. The introductions run the gamet of sincere to neutral to a silent challenge in the case of the Master Gunner. As Ralamon lights his cigar, Ire’s head snaps to attention and he grunts in desire. The sound is hidden by the dull roar of the ship and the introductions themselves.

Graki instantly recognizes the First Mate as the man who’s VIP booth she so recently invaded. The man carries yet another drink and toasts her as their eyes meet. He smiles at her as if this meeting doesn’t surprise him in the least.

OOC:


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/singularisanimus/Battlefleet.jpg

An example of 40k ships

Any actions on the Vraga? :smallredface:

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

The assembled company in the sedan probably have never seen such a shade of red on a human's face when they begin joking with the doctor. "Well, I never...," he pretends to protest as his grin widens with the rest of them.

I actually would like to try to buy a Red-dot laser sight for my pistol before we go, along with an overcharge pack. That would leave me with 5 Thrones, which would probably be enough to see me through on an ag world, yes?

Other than that, I am ready to go when the ship is ready to leave.

[Jing Ke]

Graki: A Man's World

Having properly earned her reputation as the crazy lady with a gun, Graki considers her testosterone shield complete. She and Ire talk just before he climbs into the sedan. As Graki explains, "While Korolev is older, he has not lived among the people as you have.I think you and I have something in common in that we are both survivors. If you disagree, feel free to return to your coterie of men and compare pistol sizes, or whatever it is you do."

Immediately Graki begins to lock into a thousand-yard stare, but thinks better of it, she leans over and whispers to Ire. "My apologies, I realize I am at times difficult to get along with, but I was not attatched to this group as a diplomat. At any rate, you performed admirably with our recent foe."

Smiling as best she can, Graki reaches out and pats Ire awkwardly on the head. Then she turns to go inside to get her things. Torque ponders her quizzically as she picks up her rifle, and steps outside.
____________________________________________

Just as the door opens, the car with the rest of her party pulls away without her. Rather than dash after the sedan in high-heels or something, Graki draws her rifle and drops into a crouch. About 80% prepared to take a shot, restraint is not her strong suit. The Sedan stops not too far away, and she and Torque join the rest. As she climbs in she finds Ashmore's face swollen with embarrassment. "I hate to interrupt your tea-party boys, but perhaps you'd like the two most efficient killers in your party to tag along?"

Torque's eyes seem to flash yellow for a brief moment, before he clanks into the car. With that, Graki climbs in herself, grumbling.
____________________________________________

Aboard the ship, Graki finds it best to just bite her tongue. Looking at the First Mate, she wonders if she might eventually have to kill him.


Graki is spending her 300 xp on sprint and acrobatics. Since she is a bit of a loner, perhaps not by choice, she has spent most of her free time working out and stretching.

Also- Captain Ralamon's first mate---->
http://www.claudiapuyo.com.ar/zapp.jpg

[OneFamiliarFace]

Dr. Ashmore

As the introductions are completed, Ashmore whispers to Riccan. "Am I given to believe that they know of our status?"

The first thing Ashmore does after he is given room to put his things is seek out the medical ward and set up shop. He introduces himself to any existing medical personnel, exchanging formalities and qualifications if they require any and getting theirs, as he does require some.

His time on the ship is divided between helping with medical duties (anything from check-ups to injuries to deciding if medical scrap is worth keeping), Invoking or meditating, and reading the chymistry texts which Dr. Damaris provided for him.

Curses, I was ninja'd on my first post. Also, I'm willing to say that Toby has thought a bit about this ship, no?

Important things: 1) my attempt at laser-dot sight and overcharge pack purchasing successful or not? 2) so the captain's staff is aware of our status? 3) medical staff?

So if that was the First Mate, then I am left to believe that Torque, Ire, and Graki look something like this?
http://stange-chalkboard.wikispaces.com/file/view/Futurama.jpg

[Boddan]

Home is where the __?__ is.


Aboard the Vraga, the Inquisition cell has just over two weeks in the warp before reaching their destination.

The group gets a small corridor to themselves. Each with one-person quarters. Riccan gathers the group together after being shown to their bunks and explains that the captain is aware that they represent the Inquisition. Beyond that he has no idea of their station or rank. Riccan goes on to explain that he was negotiating a long term contract for the use of this vessel when he revealed their organization. The Captain, his crew, and their endeavors all take a very mercenary stance. That being said, they’re likely to remain faithful for three reasons, the Inquisition has deep pockets and to double cross their agents would net them a lot more trouble than it’s worth. Lastly, the cell’s operations will undoubtedly take the vessel into hot-zones and therefore into plunder which is what it would be actively seeking in any case.

In short, he concludes, we’re the weather vane and they’re the storm seekers.

After the meeting, the cell goes their own ways. Six levels down from their quarters, the same quality quarters every member aboard gets, lays the medical and recreation wing. It doesn’t take long to discover that the majority of the ship’s crew are here of their own accord. Something of a rarity among vessels. Even the gun crews aren’t slaves.

A few questions here and there informs the cell that most of the crew, all 3,000, either were born aboard the ship or were picked up from failing ships or doomed planets. The vast majority of the Vraga’s martial unit all comes from an abandoned Imperial Guard unit. The regiment was stationed on a planet that was in the path of a particularly nasty Ork Waaagh. The orks mad landfall and quickly pushed across the surface of the planet, overwhelming the Guard at every front. The remaining guard forces retreated to a bulk lifter still on the surface and blasted off in a desperate attempt to flee. The lifter couldn’t rendezvous with the Imperial fleet without running through the ork warfleet already chasing the beleaguered Imperials from the system.

The lifter used its remaining fuel to set a course towards the opposite end of the system and prayed for rescue. After months of drifting and praying, as well as starvation, the lifter strayed near the Vraga. The remaining men accepted the Captain’s offer for sanctuary and the lifter was reduced to scrap.

-------------------------------------------------------

Graki and Ire make for the gymnasium as Dr Ashmore first introduces himself to the medward and moves on to purchase some items from the ships armory-market. The medward staff consists of two medical servitors and two overworked field medics from the afore mentioned guard unit. The men know their battlefield trauma but are having a rough time with the more complicated procedures.

Ire and Graki enter the vast multi-level gymnasium. It’s clear that the captain’s idea of keeping the piece involves letting the crew blow off steam in a well equipped gym. Ire nods at Graki as she moves off towards the track lining the perimeter of the large room. The ex-ganger himself walks straight to the sparring ring, drops his long coat in a heap on the floor, and picks a match with the first crew member he can. He starts with a man who is very obviously a dock or battery loader. The huge man bursts from his shirt with an overabundance of muscles….

96 seconds later, Ire walks the staggering man across the main corridor to the medward. Sasha passes him off to Ashmore casually. The doctor notes several open cuts on the loader’s face along with a broken elbow and nose. Ire has some blood on his knuckles and forehead, none of it is his. He asks Grigory if he’d like to “scrap a bit” complete with arm motions and a wide grin before heading back to the gym.

Elsewhere, Korolev makes his way about the rest of the wing getting a feel for his surroundings and the people.

Riccan sits in his quarters looking over dataslates as Torque sits watching the doorway in guard mode.

OOC:


I'd like to sandbox a bit aboard the ship if for no other reason than to make it feel like an actual voyage. I will post a list of the previously met senior officers and some info for any interactions.

The First Mate, who is simply called Dante by everyone (no titles), is already seen around each of the cell member's taking note of their activities with the same semi-sober smile. The crew avoid him like he's a free carnosaur. Hmmm...

:smallwink: