Sea of Stars - IC III

[Haval]

'I feel like most Rogue Traders might behave likewise in that situation. There's always the chance that there might something valuable down there.'

The disapearance of the astropaths was the first time it became clear to Anika what the wraiths might be capable of. 'Let's try not to do that again. Perhaps there are enough of us here that we could try watching them in shifts.' She'll think for a moment before asking the remaining astropaths, 'Does this building have any particularly strong doors on the way down? Perhaps it might slow them down?'

Spoiler: ooc

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Idle curiosity on Maximus Gerrit
Common Lore (Koronus) vs. Int 53
(1d100)[7]

[PotatoGolem]

Quick blighters, aren't they? Barak, O'Connor keep an eye on it as we circle round. They don't seem to move when you're looking at it. Call out five seconds before you blink, so you can coordinate. Astropaths, do the same with Echo. We don't want anyone else disappearing

[Blarghy]

Kennoch froze with a gasp, then hastily crab-walked backwards away from the Wraithguard that had reached for him, before standing up a few feet away. He seriously considered shooting it, just to make himself feel better, especially once he heard about the missing Astropaths.

"We can return we can for your fellows for once we investigate we we this Nexus this," he tried to reassure them, and himself.

"At least the basement at least has an elevator has and not more stairs more..."

[rax]

Hannabel walks up to the Wraith that had appeared in front of them and wiggles her fingers at its head. "Oi! You! Don't you know proper stair etiquette? You stay on your side, we stay on ours an' everybody passes in peace, wakarimas? No? Rude fella ain't ya?" she scolds the construct. "When we get out o' here, I'm going to track me down some livin' Eldar an' give 'em a right talking-to!" she declares to the others, but she's careful to keep her eyes on the Wraith at all times.

[Haval]

'These xenos, no manners. I'm sure the Church would agree with you.' Anika commented dryly.

[Destro_Yersul]

The party skirted carefully around the wraith, watching both it and the ones on the higher stairs at the same time as best they could. It proved to be very challenging to avoid blinking, but at least with so many pairs of eyes they could try and stagger it. The bulky void suits everyone was in didn't help. What was more, Anika's auspex was registering an increasing number of ghostly returns, around corners, in closed rooms, everywhere they weren't looking.

As they descended the tower, they saw no bullet holes, no splashes of blood, no signs of any combat... and no signs of life. Everything was just as they had found it 800 years from now, with the exception that the lights and power were still working. At last they entered the dining hall, where the freight elevator to the lower levels had a stop, and found three wraiths guarding the way down. A quick glance outside into the corridor confirmed that it was now full of the wraith constructs, dozens having appeared while nobody was looking. Anika shut the door on them, but there was still the matter of the three in the room.

[rax]

"You ever try shooting 'em?" Hannabel calls out to the Astropaths. "I mean, you've been living like this for some time, hai?"

[Haval]

Anika will check the thickness of the door and see if there was anyway to lock it behind them. It would be preferable not to hang around but it would be interesting to see what the Wraiths were able to do about it.

To Hannabel, 'Well they don't seem likely to dodge. We could try a head shot in the name of science.'

[PotatoGolem]

Well, that's not ideal. Praetorians, I do believe this to be a meltagun situation. Barak and O'Connor pull out their meltas and train them on one of the constructs. Astropaths, have you seen them react or attack anyone while someone is watching? Perhaps we could still move past them, so long as there are people watching at all times. If not, then the purifying flame of the Emperor will have to burn them away. Macharius draws his sword and hammer, energy crackling as they power on.

[Haval]

'Given the way things are going I can't garuntee that will work. If all else fails I wonder how long it would take a meltagun to melt the floor out from under them?'

[Destro_Yersul]

"I can assure you," one of the Astropaths said dryly, "that I have not seen anything in quite some time. We can sense that they're there, but we didn't have any huge amount of firepower. It wasn't thought necessary. I assume that Gerrit tried shooting them, at the very least."

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius guffaws loudly, his amplified voice booming. Hohoho! Touché, Master Astropath, touché!

Was Gerrit still digging when you were installed and working here? I assume the wraiths weren't present when this facility was established, else it wouldn't have been commissioned. Come to think of it, what did happen to Gerrit?

[Destro_Yersul]

"He fled. I believe his arrest was ordered, but I've no idea if he was ever captured."

"His digging woke up the wraiths."

While they were speaking, the praetorians had hefted meltaguns, and were eyeing the wraiths by the elevator. Ahriman lifted a hand.

"Wait. If your weapons are similar to the ones I recognise, then they will generate a bright flash when fired," the Astartes said. "It will be like trying to look at the sun. You will be forced to look away, if only for a moment, and we know how fast these are when left unwatched."

[Haval]

'Hmm, a fair point. I admit I'd like to experiment to see what they consider to count as 'watching', but I don't want the consequences of being wrong.' To Ravia, 'If the melta is too bright for most of us is there anything you can do about that? Perhaps you have some way of turning down the brightness?'

Spoiler

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Just in case Ravia has the right kind of eyes. Which doesn't mean this is a good idea.