[IC] Dark Heresy: Purge the Alien

[Rising Chaos]

The Inquisition, first bastion of defense against the horrors of the heretic, the mutant, and the alien. For ten thousand years they have acted as the brutal and stalwart defenders of the Imperium, protecting humanity from itself as well as the unknown. The time has come for you loyal servants to prove your worth, to stand with the guardians of humanity, or fall to the wayside, broken and forgotten.

After receiving summons to the Hive-world of Scintilla you find yourself on-board the Jericho-class Pilgrim ship Voice of Triumph. From the outside the ship seems fairly ratty and abused, the hull is battered and paint cracked from centuries of use and it's once gold inlays and symbols of devotion are stained and scratched, however the interior is a completely different matter. The halls of the Voice are dark grey, smoothed granite of immaculate craftsmanship. Pillars of marble and banisters of white gold jut from the walls and the floor consists of smooth, black obsidian tiling.
The red and gold symbol of the Inquisition is omnipresent within the ship, and it's servants do not bother to hide their presence. Hooded, snarling combat servitors roam the halls, weapon limbs twitch as they acquire targets and then settle as they identify their quarry as friendly. Inquisitional soldiers in their layered black carapace patrol the halls, their blank helmets constantly assessing the environment. Less intimidating but equally important are the dozens of savants and administratum personnel who stride through the ship, balking slightly at the servitors and guard but full of pride, the prestige of their roles not lost to them.

You've all been aboard the Voice for about two days, though you have been confined to your rooms and the rest of the rooms on level 146, which consist mainly of the barracks and mess halls for the administratum personnel and inquisitorial guard. This morning you each received a dataslate with the Inquisitorial seal, the message contained is simple. You are to proceed to the Voice's War Room, on level one, to be briefed by the Inquisition on your first "official" mission as an Acolyte cell. A map to the War Room is also provided on your dataslates.

[LeSwordfish]

Zhou had spent the last few days meditating in her cabin, running comforting subroutines and looped prayer-functions to prepare her for the task ahead. She'd sharpened her blade, twice, taking comfort in the displacement activity, and memorised the layout of the ship, as a leisure activity. Finally, when the message arrived she completed her meditation, stood, stretched, sheathed her blade, and headed to the war room at a clipped stroll, her robes billowing behind her.

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

Galatea Chorda awoke nearly mechanically, in the darkness of the small acolyte chamber. In the complete darkness she began to tie her hair up into a knot, out of her eyes. She had been informed that formerly she had enjoyed extravagant impractical hair styles of myriad bright outrageous colors, but her hair was now a deep and natural black. She removed the covering and walked directly to the sonic shower, a perk of an acolyte chamber. She had slept unclothed, as was more practical, and after pressing the activation rune on the wall stood perfectly still for a verbal countdown of five minutes.

She stepped backwards out of the alcove and turned to her square of folded garments she had left for herself the night before. Unlike what she had supposedly worn formerly her clothing was modest and dark, lacking even the identifying colors or symbols of the Inquisition or the Scholastica Psykana. The clothing was largely loose and mobile, focusing on maneuverability over most everything else.

She took a side step about two feet further along the table and plucked her courier bag of her few belongings, swinging it over one shoulder. She took a final side step and removed her weapons from the table. She latched the collapsed scythe and compound bow to her lower back, her quiver peeking from her courier bag, and placed her pistol in a holster under her arm. Lastly she took a small black notebook embossed with a golden aquila and removed from it several crumpled pieces of paper, which she hid strategically around her body, such as tucked into her sleeves. The last item, finally stowed in her bag, was as much a survival mechanism as her weapons. The book functioned largely as a journal, to assist in her forming of new memories, while the small pieces of paper detailed the names and social ticks of individuals she had recently encountered and the appropriate methods of interaction in most common social situations. Certain situations, such as combat and psychic study, she took to swimmingly but as of yet she had not regained the skill social graces she had supposedly formerly possessed.

Her form prepared she recited the fifth cant of stillness and rose to the first remuneration, a state of calm serenity. The mental exercises made the approaching interaction with other humans, especially given they were non-psykers and possibly prone to prejudice, less intimidating. Once prepared she departed and sealed her chamber with a pace of mechanically perfect evenness.

Spoiler: OoC:

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Her current clothing probably looks a little like this, for those interested.

[Ilriyas]

Roderick had spent most of the trip while confined in his room field-stripping his weaponry and cleaning/polishing his uniform, taking extra care to see that everything was in proper working order even going as far as replacing the filter in his standard-issue gas mask.

After the better part of the two days the entire room seemed almost filled with a haze of Lho-stick smoke, the constant boredom having resulted in leaving Roderick with only one pack left in his field kit.

Deep in the middle of polishing his boots at the time the Dataslate arrived Roderick took great care to finish his preparations before making his way to the war room, taking a second to ensure his las-weaponry was on safe mode and clipping the unneeded gas mask onto his belt before exiting his room.

As he walks down the halls Roderick begins grumbling to himself.

"Next time I find out they're going to put me on a ship I'll have to make sure to bring some stencils or something, at least back home the constant drilling didn't leave time to consider being bored."

As soon as Roderick steps foot in the war room he steps off to the right and snaps to attention, making the sign of the Aquilla with his hands.

[ArcturusV]

Everything was so familiar, and yet so strange. A pilgrim class vessel, she hardly needed a map, she had spent so many months on vessels of the exact same design that she could walk the corridors with her eyes close. On the way through the Calixis Sector towards Scintilla. She wondered briefly every time that destination came to mind if history was going to repeat itself. It tended to do that. At least more scholarly types than her told her. Frankly it wasn't a concern. They had an insane number of combat servitors, storm troopers, and probably scarier things than that on board. Go ahead Xenos, come get her. I'm sure that would go well for you once more.

Her room was spartan, as she was as well. Beyond the furnishings that were built into the room, there wasn't much there. A rack for sleeping built into the wall, a small place where she had left her devotional icon serving as a simple, crude shrine to the Holy Emperor, and the slightly worn bit of deck plating where she had been doing her daily devotionals to the Master of Mankind. Even for the Ecclesiarchy her robes were simple, plain black with gold trim and embroidery, marked with the sign of the Aquila and simple purity seals to the Saints and the Emperor stitched into the robes. Hardly the bejeweled, lush, luxurious robes that higher ranking priests might have had.

She was used to people knocking and leaving stuff in her room. She lacked a Chrono, or a Vox-Feed, or much of anything really that helped her mark the time. Usually someone had to fetch her for meals, or remind her of when Services were about to start. Even with years of Void Travel under her belt, there sheer lack of Sun and Wind, the external clocks that measured time still got to her. She'd seldom realize she had been up for days or missed several meals until she was nearly faint and exhausted. In this case she heard the door open, and turned to see a slate dumped out onto the deck just inside her room before it closed. She closed her eyes for a moment, didn't feel faint from hunger, or tired. Did she miss services? Didn't seem right. She frowned as she padded over towards the slate, reading the short and terse missive about reporting for duty.

A quick glance at the map, a shrug, and she stowed the slate for later. She was bounding out of her room, down the corridor at a cheerful pace, practically skipping down the hall. It felt good to be out of the cell for a bit, the combat servitors didn't bother her... after all, she was a legitimate passenger, or the stormie boys. She gave a few of them a smile and cheerful wave as she skipped down corridors, up ladders, and made her way to the War Room.

[Rising Chaos]

The moment Roderick steps through the door of the War Room and looks up from his salute he realizes what he's just walked into...

The war room is a large, octangular room, easily capable of fitting over a dozen people with plenty of room to spare. In the center of the room is a large, dark wooden table. Edged with gold and stamped with high gothic script praising the God-Emperor and his divine mastery of the galaxy. From each wall hangs a large, intricate tapestry outlining the credo of the Inquisition, the many victories and successful purges of an inquisitor (you can't tell who from here). The ceiling is dominated by a huge Inquisitional 'I' from which two powerful light fixtures hang.

On the far end of the room are two people, the first, standing by the other figure, is an Inquisitorial Guardsman. Though draped in the same black carapace as his fellows his armour is much more elegant than his fellows. Gold inlay twist and arc across his chest armour, forming the I of the Inquisition through a thicket of golden vines. His helmet lays on the table and his face is pitted and scarred, the mark of a man who has been through decades of war. His hair is slicked back and steel grey, one of his eyes is dark green, and the other glows the dull red of an high quality augmentic. He looks up with a start as Roderick enters, a look of slight surprise on his face.

The second figure is seated, he has light brown hair tied back in a ponytail and yellow eyes. His face is pointed and strikingly gritty, reminding you of a gunslinger from a Hive-desperado action vid, complete with chin stubble. You realize he's talking with a small holo-projection of another person. Though their back is turned you can vaguely make out a tall, flat hat reminiscent of a witch hunter.
"I understand Lil, but there are definite traces of Xenos compounds in it and Delphin and I both agree that-"
The ponytail'd man looks up suddenly as he notices Rodericks presence. Glancing back at the holo he murmurs something and shuts off the device. He then raises a hand and beckons you take a seat.
"My apologies, I seem to have lost track of time. I am Interrogator Silvanus Heston, please take a seat. Raldon, tell the others outside to join us"

The guardsman beside him nods and walks to the doors, beckoning those outside to enter the war room and take a seat.

[Ilriyas]

"The apology is mine Interrogator," Rickard's sentence is broken momentarily by a coughing fit. "In my eagerness it seems that I may have accidentally arrived ahead of schedule. I hope that my abrupt entry has caused no issues, I was surprised, quite honestly to see that the door was not guarded."

Roderick approaches the nearest chair, lightly setting down his equipment and loosening his great coat before sitting.

"The, ah coughing fit a second ago. I promise it will not harm my performance. Acid burns from a number of years ago, one of our own gas weapons back-washed onto my unit when it was deployed against the greenskins and in my youth and inexperience I failed to properly don my mask." Roderick taps the gas mask on his belt, another coughing fit beginning due as much to his nervousness as the burns.

"I find myself hesitant to ask this, but I'd like to ask permission to light one of my Lho-sticks, funnily enough I find the smoke helps ease the fits."

If allowed Roderick will very carefully light one of the Lho-sticks from his pack, allowing it to dangle lightly from his lips as he awaits the others.

[OOPWER]

Father's old, wonderfully blue hat clutched to his head in one hand and sword belt in the other, Lyle ran to the War room as fast as he could, muttering something about having been caught in the 'buff' when the summons came. Hurriedly belting his weapons and jamming the hat on his head, he prayed he looked at least deadly, if not presentable, as he got waved in the guard at the door.

[KasmKat]

Snapping out of his daze as his alarm rings for the third time Sebastion looks up at the clock finally, “Oh ****, I’m late, this is not going to look good…” Hurriedly attempting to straighten his mussed clothes He simply throws his heavy Flak coat over the top, strapping his pistol on as he runs out the door.

With a bit of a rush and only a couple of annoyed crewmen he manages to arrive just as someone is waved into the room, simply attaching himself to them and being waved in as well. “I apologise for my lateness, I was distracted by other matters…”

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

As Galatea entered the chamber she silently approached, stopped dead for a moment and bowed to the individuals originally within the room. She turns ninety degrees on a dime, takes two steps to a chair, withdraws it from the table in a single motion and seats herself, leaning forward due to the weapons on her back. She sets down her courier bag and rests her hands interlaced on the table. Every few seconds her gaze moved between those others in the room. It was an effort, in her own way, to appear casual and disinterested, but her gaze came off as an unsettling wide eyed stare and as her look snapped immediately form one to another she seemed less casual and more like a jittering servitor.

In what she believed was a subtle way, to her own possibly neurologically damaged mind, she checked one of the pieces of paper under sleeve before palming it tightly.

She spoke, but when she did it was in a tone that was eerily even throughout, and which would have been monotonic if not for the queer cheery note to it "Hello. Good morning officers of the Inquisition. Interrogator, it is nice to meet you. I look forward to learning the details of our mission from you today. I hope you are having a nice morning."

Galatea was aware that morning was a transient concept on a starship but she had not yet acquired nouns she could supplement in their place and the words were largely scripted besides. As she sat in silence she maintained an over broad smile on her face that might look as if she had been injected from some sort of muscle tightening chemical.

She was, clearly, not the social creature she had been, formerly; not that she was aware, of course.

[LeSwordfish]

Zhou offered a small, precise nod, to each person present in the room as she entered, and took a seat, hands clasped neatly in her lap.

"Greetings." Her voice was quiet and measured, and oddly accent-less, as if she had learned the speech by rote. "Omnissiah's blessings upon this meeting."

[ArcturusV]

Odessa walked in, flashing a warm smile at Ralden, then another and a small wave towards the Interrogator. She seemed oddly cheerful, and unarmed as she hadn't brought her blade to a meeting with the boss. She only knew that people were muttering about both Early and Late, but frankly she had no idea what time frame she had fallen in as she made her way towards one of the empty chairs.

She seemed at ease, moving with a little bounce in her step before settling into her seat. She seemed fairly at ease, body relaxed, posture open and interested in what was going on around her. She more blatantly studied her fellows, openly appraising them with a little smile on her face, nodding a bit as she committed details to memory or perhaps in approval. Once she had them all in mind she turned rapt towards the Interrogator, wondering just what was about to happen, hands folded on the table in front of her, leaning forward slightly.

[Rising Chaos]

Silvanus nods and waves aside the question. "It is no matter Acolyte, you merely hastened the end of an argument. So in a ways your interruption was very timely. Feel free to smoke, as long as you aren't taking narcotics that inhibit your performance I could care less"

As the rest of the group enters the Interrogator nods to each of you. Returning the greeting of Zhou and Galatea (though he pauses at the odd nature of the psykers greeting). He accepts Sebastions apology and smiles a bit as Odessa brings her perky nature into the room. Once the team is assembled he gestures to Ralden, who swings the doors shut and triple locks them.

Silvanus presses a button on his side of the table and you all notice the air and sound take on a muffled quality, as if a stummer has been activated. With the press of another button the lights dim a bit and the holo-projector built into the center of the table flickers to standby mode. Clearing his throat Silvanus begins the briefing.

"Greetings Acolytes, thank you for joining me. I assume by now you have realized where we are, but our purpose is still hidden to you. We have arrived at Scintilla to begin identifying and destroying a drug Cartel that has come into the possession of an... interesting new narcotic"
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small tube filled with suspension gel. Floating in the center is a small, oval object that has the texture of rock or granite, dull blue-green lines criss-cross the surface of the object, and the Interrogator places it in front of him. As he does the holo-projector flickers to life and displays a macro image of the rock.
"This substance has been dubbed Initrum by the Inquisition and the Adeptus Biologis. Use of the drug has become wide-spread over the last year and a half thanks to it's curious effects. Apparently small doses of Initrum allow the user to believe they are capable of... well, anything. Any desire or wish that they had, and fantasy or dream. At first the substance was relativly harmless, which is why it went unnoticed. From our reports users would enter a catatonic state for multiple hours, and though it was highly addictive it was something the Arbites should have handled...

However in the last few months hundreds of users have begun to show violent or psychotic behaviors. Raving lunatics murdering through the underhives, and even the occasional noble screaming through his estate attracted the eye of the Inquisition. In the last three weeks this has escalated further and now we have just under a dozen reports of bands or mobs of users all out of their minds on Initrum, running through the streets and wreaking havoc across the city.

Normally this would fall under the jurisdiction of the Ordo Hereticus, however recently members of the Adeptus Biologis have identified no more than three main components of this drug as being Xenos in nature. They cannot confirm the genus or use that the materials have, and that is what we are here to investigate. We must gain an understanding to the nature of this narcotic, it's genetic properties and why Xenos materials were used in it's creation. Once we have that we will systematically purge the elements of the Cartel who distribute Initrum, as well as their supplies."

Extracting a control wand from his jacket Silvanus presses a button and the image switches from Initrum to a large, multi-levelled district of Scintilla, from the look of the projection it is near the middle to under-hive levels.
"Your mission will take you to the northern quadrant of Scintilla, hab-level 1137 VII. Our agents recently ambushed a group of cartel members who were running a distribution operation. Though careful interrogation we were able to pinpoint the group's Initrum processing plant to somewhere in this quadrant.

Your primary objective is to locate the processing plant, identify the ringleader of the operations there and take him in for interrogation. Your secondary objectives are to locate a sample of Initrum and destroy the processing facility. If you do destroy the facility make it look like an accident of a gang turfwar or something similar to that. We don't want the cartels to know about our involvement for as long as possible. Any questions?"

[LeSwordfish]

Zhou inspected the substance closely. "I have one question. What magnitude of opposition are we to expect? Is this a large operation?"

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

She looked over the map, leaning over the table, placing her hands down upon the metal of the machine "given your knowledge of the situation on the ground what is the likelihood we could abduct a street dealer for information? Their level of armament or rarity? I presume such large scale distribution in a hive requires street level human narcotics peddler. It seems our best bet is locating the point of distribution by retracing the distribution chain itself. What scale of manufacturing is required to produce the chemical compounds of the drug at this scale? Is it likely to be a re-purposed manufacturing plant, or could the product be produced in a smaller more subtle locale, such as a warestore, or a private domicile?"

She glanced around the room at the other acolytes, less mechanically now "are we going in on this with shadow protocols, keeping under all radars and not allowed to admit our affiliation to the Inquisition? If so, will we have a cover or fake I.D.s of any sort?"

She points to the general area of the holo map "given its nature as a chemical processing plant, could we presume we could instigate a large scale fire, using the chemicals already on hand as accelerant?"

[Ilriyas]

Roderick looks over the image projection, noting the location general location of the processing plant as being a part of the under-hive.

"Might be difficult getting information from the locals, if Scintilla is anything like Death Mire the under-hivers stick together even for gangers, we'll have to be very careful if we go asking around always the chance something will get back to the processing plant."

Roderick takes a long, slow drag from his Lho-stick, considering the necessary scale for such an operation.

"Any idea on how many gangers we're looking at involved in this? Were we to tackle the processing plant that could be a lot of guns pointed back at us."

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

Galatea gives an over wide smile to Roderick that likely comes off as unhinged but was in fact a rather desperate attempt to appear genial that failed horribly, unbeknownst to her "I did not suggest we ask the man politely, or allow him to go free otherwise. A dead drug dealer showing up in a gutter with his pockets rifled, his product stolen and wounds from a weapon available to such gangers will be much less suspicious than a half dozen off worlders, two who's accents aren't even of this sector, asking around about illegal chemystry. If our intention is to make the destruction of this place seem like that of a rival gang it might even support the ruse, and be more believable than a freak accident besides. Diversion of suspicion is always more effective than the absence of a suspect, it means the target does not go looking for someone to blame.

I had presumed, given we are a dirty half dozen of novice acolytes, that the intention was to use force only when necessary, with stealth and guile besides; not to take on the gang in anything approaching an intentional head on confrontation. Though I assume I misread your intentions, Guardsman Roderick."

[LeSwordfish]

"The intention, necessity, and actuality of armed combat are seldom connected." Zhou commented flatly.

[Ilriyas]

"Provided we can get access to some low-quality autoguns and get the rest of you some hive-wear, I've still got my leave clothes I could find us a dealer I imagine. I've served on Armageddon with a few other regiments and Hive-lingo doesn't seem to change that much depending on where you're from. As for the dealer you suggest we abduct him?"

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

Galatea rotates to Zhou and her curt reply, losing her false grin without noticing "I agree that the interrelated elements of combat are not exclusively codependent. I was just making clear that we should instigate combat only where it is a necessity, where it is forced upon us by the situation, or an actuality, where it is forced upon us by others, but not in regards intention, where it is forced upon us only by ourselves."

Galatea got a strange feeling she would like Zhou, not that Zhou would like her, Galatea hadn't had much luck with any non-psykers in that regard. She couldn't tell if Zhou was so curt because she was well learned, the get to the point mind set of a sword forged on the anvil of teachings Gulliman and Drusus, or simply blunt and simple, like a hammer; or at least, she couldn't tell yet.

She turned back to Roderick to reply to him in turn "In my experience hive-dialect can vary quite tremendously, but given the dissemination of Low Gothic in this sector I doubt it will be an issue. And yes Guardsmen Roderick, I suggest we abduct him."

[ArcturusV]

Odessa had been listening very intently to the briefing, and the back and forth that was going on. At a few points she looked ready to say something, hand raised up just a few inches, mouth open, but stopping as the others spoke up in their rapid fire questioning. Eventually she just settled back, a smile on her face as she listened to them go back and forth, hashing out a plan, looking almost amused. The Emperor provides, and in this case seemed to have provided obsessively compulsive, at least by her standards, teammates who were really sinking their teeth into it.

As the question of where to abduct the dealer came out, she finally found a place to speak up, "The Emperor provides with the time and the will as needed," she assured Roderick, "But in any case... my talents in particular aren't exactly focused on, well..." she looked Roderick up and down with a smile, not a condescending smile, but appreciating his preparedness and the detail he put into his kit and uniform (( I'm presuming he at least has his sidearm or something on? )). Feth, Odessa didn't even bring her blade to the meeting, much less armor or gear, not that anyone had ever really seen her in 'gear', not even during short training sessions where she still wore her Robes, "If shooting starts, and violence ensues I'll leave it to the professionals," she settled on with a wide smile, "But I have other skills that might help in finding people, or perhaps dealing with them if we rather not shoot them on sight. Leave it to me and I'm sure I can find some hive scum appropriate to your needs, you can just focus on what you do best." She laughed lightly, and gave Roderick a little wink as she settled back in her chair.

"So we're luring out some ganger to kidnap, shooting him in the knees or whatever you do until he talks, then we go blow up a factory and kidnap another ganger... seems simple enough." She sounded confident at least.

[Rising Chaos]

Silvanus turned to Zhou and Galatea "The magnitude of the processing plants are unknown at the moment. According to our prisoner there are dozens of processing and distribution plants active across the hive. If so the operation is much larger than we initially suspected, and once you have captured the plant operator we will begin learning how they were able to spread so quickly.

There is a decent likelihood you could 'acquire' a street dealer, that is the same tactic our agents used to locate a distribution plant. Any dealers should not be more heavily armed than an average hive-ganger. Light non-flak armour and basic stub/las weapons.

The operation is being enacted under full shadow protocols. You will all be given alibi's and ID to confirm your reasons for being on Scintilla, the nature of which you can discuss with our head savant. You will be given a... certain amount of leeway when creating your covers."

He turned to Roderick to address the guardsmans question.
"Full enemy disposition is unknown at the moment. When our team infiltrated the distribution plant we encountered just over a dozen gangers, which included those packaging and 'cutting' up their product. We believe that the processing plant will have more numbers guarding their wares, so I advise caution and careful surveillance before you strike.

He nods his head and Ralden pulls out a dataslate from his jacket pocket and places it on the table.
"This is a copy of the leads we currently have on this operation. There are two factors that might aid you in your investigation. The first has to do with identifying which gang element or elements are currently taking part in Initrum manufacturing. Our team was able to make contact with a man known as "Blitz", it was through his information that we were able to identify and obtain the location of street dealers and the distribution plant. If you can use him to identify which gang elements on Scintilla are hostile and creating Initrum it may aid you greatly

The second is in regards to the Scintillian 238th Infantry Brigade, the Imperial Guard regiment recently went through a rotation of dismissals and veteran retirement, bringing a huge influx of former guardsmen to the planet. Since the guards return four weeks ago the number of Initrum incidents has increased over 56%. We believe there is a definite coincidence between these events"

[LeSwordfish]

"I agree- prepare for your battles, but do not seek them out." The latter part sounded like it had been learned by rote. "I imagine that surveys or blueprints of the locality will show several possible locations."

OOC

Spoiler

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Psst, Koutetsu is female

[KasmKat]

Considering the information and opinions of the Interrogator and his apparent companions, Sebastion looks around the table, “My lord Interrogator, do you believe there is any indication of the use of this drug in the Imperial Guard regiment that might explain the sudden increase in Incidents relating to this drug?”

Looking once more at his companions, he continues, “I believe we could indeed manage to capture the Dealers, however if there is a connection to the Imperial Guard we may encounter far stiffer resistance than expected, especially as we are not officially here. On the other hand, I am a hive noble, from a notorious family, I know the ways of the corrupt and could easily pose as a user, or perhaps even an interested investor to lure out the dealers, or perhaps even get a look inside the distribution plant or, with enough time and money thrown around, perhaps even the manufacturing centre…” Looking down and frowning slightly as he says this, mumbling softly afterwards, "Who knew, my cursed family might actually be of some use after all..."

[Ilriyas]

Roderick's otherwise relaxed demeanour turns into a sneer at the Adept's implications that Imperial Guardsmen could be involved in drug distribution or enforcement, his dislike of the comment quickly becoming outright contempt at the Adept's mention of being a Hive Noble.

"The Guard isn't involved in any capacity other than ex-Guardsmen are trying to take a step out of reality and forget. What the average soldier goes through I don't blame them," The lho-stick having fallen to the table unnoticed Roderick is overcome for a few seconds by a violent coughing fit, eventually stifled entirely as Roderick greedily inhales yet another lho-stick. Somewhat more calm Roderick waves a gloved finger at the Adept. "I'd forget trying to talk to a bunch of under-hivers. Like I said they stick together as much as I would were we back on Armageddon, day to day not a single one of them has the time or the patience for a top-spire you want to get anywhere with them leave the title on the ship."

[KasmKat]

“Now you listen to me,” Sebastion says glaring at the guardsman, “I don’t know who you are, and you don’t know who I am, However I know enough to realise that every unit of the imperial guard has some secrets buried somewhere, and occasionally they go right to the top.” Looking down at the table and sighing, he continues, "Your loyalty to the Imperial guard is obvious, and I’m sure you personally never had anything to do with this sort of thing, however no matter how much people deny it, it does happen, Many a time we thought we had a lead and we ran into the military…”

Looking back up and smiling, a slightly disturbed and deranged smile, the eyes slightly to wide, the jaw just to slack, for a moment before his face returns to its normal impassive stare, “Also I believe you are strongly mistaken about the dealers and manufacturers, Admittedly most common under-hivers have no time for top-spire residents, however I would hardly call anyone organising a massive drug operation normal, and everyone needs money. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if we found this investigation leading into the very top of the spires before we are done…”

[OOPWER]

Stepping between the two debaters, Lyle asked, "There is some information on the prey, yes? This man called Blitz? What is he like, what does he do?"

[The Architect]

Galatea Chorda

"Um..." Galatea tries to pipe up when she notices the actual arguing beginning "The Xeno components you mentioned? Do we happen to know their origin? I mean do you know it's xeno due simply to it being an unusual compound or does it in fact include Xeno organic matter? If so, could we cross reference the Xenos with the worlds that these guard have fought on of late?"

Glancing to Lyle "I'd also like more information on Blitz, aside from that I feel ready to head out."

[Rising Chaos]

Silvanus shakes his head slightly at Sebastions question. "There is no current indication that the 238th are activly using Initrum. We have dispatched an agent to look into the matter, but given the duration of Initrum's high it seems unlikely that a Guard unit would be actively using the narcotic and not arouse suspicion. Your noble upbringing could certainly be an asset to the mission, as it is likely the cartels would be activity pursuing higher ranking contacts to increase their profits."

He turns to Galatea and Lyle to address their questions.
"Everything you need to know about Blitz is contained on the dataslate. You may take it with you while you're onboard the Triumph but it is not to leave the ship. It would be dangerous and compromising if anyone outside the Ordo's managed to get their hands on it. In a nutshell Blitz ganger running with a group called the Scintilla Blades, they're a small time gang but Blitz acts as the groups information broker and "tactician" of sorts. As far as we know he has no connection to the Initrum cartels, as the Scintilla Blades are engaged in running gun battles with the known Initrum cartels: The Chains of Malice and the Tarsus Rippers"

He turns to Zhou with a nod
"Blueprints of the city district are available. When you meet with head savant Achillus he will provide copies of the districts as well as your ID's. If you have no other questions I would advise seeking him out now and heading to the shuttle once you are armed and prepared"

[LeSwordfish]

Zhou considered for a moment, and shook her head slightly. "No further queries."