Sea of Stars - IC III

[Blarghy]

Spoiler: Destro

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The reminder of fuel requirements did comfort Kennoch a bit, but if anything, her supposed restrictive algorithms felt too convenient, even if he supposed they sounded logical. A likely story, the Navis thought. He continued to feel trapped and pushed toward a direction he'd been taught to venomously despise for his entire life. This did not help him to rationally overcome Galimina's other arguments, and her visit had certainly shaken him, but the anti-AI bigotry continued to burn in Echo's heart, alongside his guilt at how long he'd waited to confess to Imperial authorities.

After a pause, Echo licked his lips uncomfortably. "I suppose it does suppose," he said softly. He bowed his head, breathed, and looked back up. "Well well well. This was this...educational educational. Do you have do you anything else to say anything? In regards to to my own welfare my own, I am still I am fully capable of fully performing my duties duties my duties."

All of them, to the Captain, and the Imperium. I will. I will.

[Leon]

Spoiler: Destro

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##It is a consideration, i had parsed the thought of bringing her in as a consultant but I'm not so sure now## ##She mentioned the Juris##
##But I certainly can make use of the data sets Ive gathered thus far and any further extrapolations there in on the data##
##If/When I get more space and the privacy needed to conduct bigger projects its certain a endeavor worth considering##

[Destro_Yersul]

Spoiler: Echo Only

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"Negative. Please advise me if you require anything. I shall allow you to return to your duties in the meantime." Galimina turned and strode briskly away. She was efficient about ending conversations, at least.

Spoiler: Ravia Only

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+++TRUE. THE JURIS WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND+++

+++IS IT POSSIBLE HER ISSUE WAS THE USE THE VAT-GROWN WERE PUT TO? YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE+++

[rax]

Spoiler: Rax

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Once they leave Scintilla, Macharius summons Hannabel to his quarters. When she arrives, he waves her over to a chair and offers her a drink. Leaning back, he looks at her. Hannabel, old sport, you didn't get off the ship once while we were in Scintilla. Not like you not to take any shore leave. And I noticed you wore a full helm the entire time we had our guests on board. Now, you do have a rather eccentric taste in fashion, but it seems like you didn't want someone in Scintilla knowing you were there. A bit paranoid, perhaps, but then there's this. He passes her the wanted poster from the lower hive. Looks... rather familiar, what? A bit like a certain helmsman. Rather light on details, though. And this all made me realize, I don't really know anything about your background. So, Hannabel, what should I know?

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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Hannabel takes the poster and studies it for a moment before responding. "Well, we're on our way again, so I suppose there's no need to keep things under wraps any more. Yes, this is me," she says, tapping the poster with her finger. "It stems from a private quarrel, but the bounty is legitimate and the one who issued it lives on Scintilla. They have enough clout that I deemed it an unnecessary risk to myself and this ship to go walking about in public," she explained.

[PotatoGolem]

Spoiler: Rax

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A wise choice. I do appreciate the lack of running gun battles on my ship, hoho! May I ask what the quarrel concerned? Perhaps we can resolve things in some manner other than your capture. Money, I've found, salves much wounded pride.

[rax]

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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"A matter of blood. No amount of money will end this, I'm afraid - only death will suffice. Though in terms of the bounty, I am to be captured alive and delivered to my...foe."

Hannabel sighs and looks Macharius straight in the eye. "Lady Vanhal believes that a group of bounty hunters have infiltrated the pilgrims we are transporting. They are likely looking to pick up my trail on Footfall."

[PotatoGolem]

Spoiler: Rax

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Well, that is unfortunate. Still, it would be rather hypocritical of me to criticize others for being rather insistent on their vengeance, wouldn't it? Do try to kill less inconvenient people in the future though, won't you?

He nods. She said there were hunters, although I didn't realize you were the target. Rather funny that if they find anything, the answer will be "on the ship you just left" hoho! Is your mysterious foe associated with House Kindjal? Perhaps we can get our dear friend Alia to intercede. Unless, of course, she's the one you wronged.

[Blarghy]

Kennoch paced his chambers for some time, highly agitated. He gave up on trying to take control of his emotions and instead channeled them toward action. If his resolve was shaken, then he could at least work himself into a minor frenzy and let oppressive obligation take the place of courage. And so finally, he put on his voidsuit with shaking fingers and found his bodyguards.

"We are going we are onto the station onto," he told Isund brusquely. He would do this now. He would.

Echo disembarked quickly and quietly, without mentioning his errand to the rest of the command crew for obvious reasons, all the while expecting to be stopped by Galimina. He didn't breathe any easier once off the ship, however. Anxiety roiled through him on his way through Port Wander. His Rings expected to escort him to the Gilt Processionals, but they weren't too surprised to find that instead their destination was the Halls of the Adeptus Mechanicus. What did confuse them was Kennoch's reluctance to actually go inside.

He stood in place, staring up at the round, spiny cathedral. It would've brought him comfort at any other time, but today, Kennoch saw a shameful end to an unfair journey. He never asked for this; it wasn't his decision to give the Sting a voice, let alone a mouth to speak it. It wasn't his decision to harbor Galimina. Yet, it had to be his duty to correct the mistake? It had to be his price to pay? He would lose his life in these Halls, which was bad enough, but first he would lose his position, his crew, and his ship. Again.

His head bowed and his fists clenched. The young Navis shook, furious at the injustice of it all. He did not deserve this. He was born to serve the Imperium, but not this way. Why would fate not simply let him sail and explore, as a Navigator should? Why was it determined to imprison, even destroy, him in the cruelest ways? Galimina told him that even the High Lords of Terra could not order her to destroy herself, and yet here he was, doing that very thing. He had lived for only a short time even by human standards, while she was ancient; there was still so much he hadn't seen or done. His feud against the Castermares remained unfulfilled. He wasn't tainted or corrupt, but a healthy Navigator in the prime of youth. By all rights, he should have a long and full career ahead of him. Why must he suffer and die for the mistakes of others? For simple misfortune?

I must. But I...I do not want to.

"My Lord Castermire?" Isund said hesitantly. They'd been standing there for minutes now.

Echo sucked in a breath through his teeth. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. It wasn't fair, and he didn't want to die like this.

"My Lord?"

Abruptly he turned. Without a word, he put his back to the home of the Machine God and stiffly marched away.

Kennoch still said nothing when they returned to the Sting. His bodyguards no longer pressed the matter, though their discomfort sat heavy in the air. They followed their master on the long trek up the decks and to their tower. At the top of it, Kennoch opened the elegant doors to his navigation chamber, pivoted, and shut them back in Isund's worried face. He left the Rings outside in silence and confusion.

Step by heavy step, he crossed the chamber to Sargon's tank. Echo slumped to the floor, leaning against the glass, so that his prisoner loomed over his shoulders. When he sat down, he detached his void-helmet; air hissed from it as it depressurized, then clattered between his feet. He said nothing for a long moment, though negative emotions practically radiated from him. Finally he spoke, quiet as a mouse.

"I have done I have a bad thing bad bad bad."

[Haval]

Macharius is in good spirits throughout the journey. As per usual, he leaves most of the details of the paperwork and inspections to others, particularly Anika. He seems a bit troubled when she tells him about the heavy weapons. Make sure our people keep an eye on them so they don't start any trouble. And if you can figure out who, or what, they're looking for, all the better.

'I suppose we could always ask officially. Just for the sake of seeing what they say. Perhaps they would appreciate our assistance. But I'll look into it. Maybe some of them drink?'

Anika will spread the word among the crew to be on the look out for opportunities to get some of their guests alone.

[Destro_Yersul]

Echo

Sargon floated over to the wall of the tank, peering down at Kennoch from above. "Do elaborate. What have you done?"

[rax]

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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Hannabel sighed again, before breaking out into a mirthless chuckle. "My Lord Captain, the bounty was issued by House Kindjal, specifically Countess Aurica herself. I do not believe there is anything Alia can do to help here - she can't even help herself."

[PotatoGolem]

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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Hannabel sighed again, before breaking out into a mirthless chuckle. "My Lord Captain, the bounty was issued by House Kindjal, specifically Countess Aurica herself. I do not believe there is anything Alia can do to help here - she can't even help herself."

Spoiler: Rax

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Macharius looks puzzled. I'm not sure I follow. Aurica is dead, and Alia is the new head of the house. Now, to be sure, there may be other factions within the house that command some influence, so her rule may not be absolute, but how invested are the other house members in pursuing the former Countess' vendettas? And what do you mean she can't help herself?

[rax]

Spoiler: Rax

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Macharius looks puzzled. I'm not sure I follow. Aurica is dead, and Alia is the new head of the house. Now, to be sure, there may be other factions within the house that command some influence, so her rule may not be absolute, but how invested are the other house members in pursuing the former Countess' vendettas? And what do you mean she can't help herself?

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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"Dead? I am afraid that's unlikely, Lord-Captain. The Countess has died many times before, and yet her grip on House Kindjal never falters," Hannabel retorts.

"Alia...Alia is not what she appears to be. She is not a true-blooded heir of the Countess, she is a homunculus - an artificial being created so that the Countess can continue her existence when her current body fails. Magos Ravia can confirm the truth of my words."

"Lady Vanhal informed me that the Countess' health was failing - I don't doubt that when she got wind of Alia's deal with you to leave Scintilla, she recalled Alia to the estate so that she could complete the transition. If you were to return to Scintilla, you would most certainly meet Alia again, but it would be the Countess you would be speaking to. The Alia you bargained with is gone forever," she finishes, her tone sombre.

[Blarghy]

Once he got started, the words poured out freely. Kennoch had waited weeks to have this conversation, even if it was with a heretic instead of the Imperial authorities. "The Manticore's Sting Sting Sting the Sting has gained true awareness true. She has become she has an Abominable Intelligence Abominable. Her capabilities her extend so far so far as to create create a servitor body body as her avatar avatar her avatar. I do not do not understand all the details all, but I believe I believe this came about this as a result result of installing of a salvaged Cogitator Interlink Cogitator."

Echo stared down at his helmet as he explained. "She calls herself she 'Galimina' Galimina Galimina Galimina. At least least, that is the avatar the. She claims claims she still holds still all proper allegiances proper and holy vendettas holy. This has comforted this has my Lord-Commander my Lord Lord-Commander. The rest of rest the command staff staff likewise accepts her accepts with varying degrees varying of enthusiasm of of."

She hugged it. She hugged it! Kennoch scowled.

"I appear to be to be the only one only with serious concerns with. Yet yet, to my shame my shame, I have not have not reported this heresy heresy heresy heresy. I knew knew at the Lathes at. I knew on Scintilla on. And I know now I know, here at Port Wander here. But I said nothing nothing. I chose myself chose over my duty my. My life life over the Imperium over. Now we will we will return to the Expanse to the, where she is she safe to grow safe and likely multiply likely.

"I cannot fathom cannot the vast scale vast of destruction destruction I have enabled I have. I only see only my own pain my own and the end end of my exploration my if I confess confess confess confess. I selfishly choose choose my own time my own at the cost cost of untold trillions untold who will curse will my name name when masterless ships when ships descend upon their worlds upon. I have condemned I have so many many many many."

He shifted his eyes to his gloved hands and brought them slowly together. "I always thought always I was stronger I was. That I could could make the hard choices hard. Yet here I am I am I am here."

[Destro_Yersul]

Echo

It took Sargon a moment to find his voice before responding. He looked surprised, though, and concerned - at least, as far as Echo was able to tell. It seemed he'd finally found something that was able to shock the old mutant. "You installed a Cogitator Interlink on a Shrike? Is your Magos mad? What did you expect would happen? I.. give me a moment, I must think."

He retreated to the rear of the tank, rubbing his forehead with one webbed hand. He stayed there for some time before speaking again.

"That long, hm?" He finally said. "Well, it hasn't killed us yet. And evidently it still needs you. You've been guiding the ship the whole time, so there's no way it's been able to render Navigators obsolete. It hasn't, has it? I thought not. And it hasn't done anything... odd, has it? Not showing any signs of warp influence on its thinking? Machines are less susceptible to that sort of thing, and if it's a true AI it might be immune entirely. No psychic potential."

He darted back and forth in the tank, talking rapidly.

"Yes. It shouldn't be... you must impress upon it the importance of ignoring any whispers it might hear, while we're in the warp. Just in case. And we'll need to find a way to do some more permanent wards, but that was always going to be true. Yes. This..."

Sargon took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"This is fine. Not optimal, but fine. We can work with this. Masterless ships descending on worlds notwithstanding, though..." a pause. "What do you suppose a voidship would even want with planets? It's not like it needs to eat. Or breathe. It doesn't seem to mind that we're living in it; if it wanted to it could probably have vented us all into space."

Another pause.

"You're sure it's not being influenced by chaos?"

[Blarghy]

Kennoch couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction to finally receive an emotional response. He wasn't sure what he'd expected Sargon to say, but only light judgment, mostly regarding his good sense rather than his ethics, brought its own comfort. He didn't come here expecting solutions; all the same, they pulled him from the hopeless pits of his mind and turned his attention toward more active directions.

"You installed a Cogitator Interlink on a Shrike? Is your Magos mad?"

"I have begun I have to wonder to..." he murmured. Some of Ravia's comments disturbed him deeply, let alone her acceptance of Galimina.

"That long, hm?" He finally said. "Well, it hasn't killed us yet. And evidently it still needs you. You've been guiding the ship the whole time, so there's no way it's been able to render Navigators obsolete. It hasn't, has it? I thought not. And it hasn't done anything... odd, has it? Not showing any signs of warp influence on its thinking? Machines are less susceptible to that sort of thing, and if it's a true AI it might be immune entirely. No psychic potential."

Echo shook his bald head. "No no, but there are there are other methods to navigate other. I myself I have seen have a void abacus void on my travels on my my travels. Pirates and renegades pirates capture and force capture Navigators to serve them to serve. A servitor body body could inflict the same could torments as a human as. But no no no, so far I far still hold still the Navigator's throne throne, and I have not have not seen indications of Chaos Chaos Chaos Chaos

"Yes. It shouldn't be... you must impress upon it the importance of ignoring any whispers it might hear, while we're in the warp. Just in case. And we'll need to find a way to do some more permanent wards, but that was always going to be true. Yes. This..."

More wards, Kennoch could approve of. Deliberately seeking out Galimina, less so.

"You want me want to advise this being being?" he asked in surprise, and more than a little concern.

"This is fine. Not optimal, but fine. We can work with this. Masterless ships descending on worlds notwithstanding, though..." a pause. "What do you suppose a voidship would even want with planets? It's not like it needs to eat. Or breathe. It doesn't seem to mind that we're living in it; if it wanted to it could probably have vented us all into space."

Kennoch shrugged, helpless and frustrated. "Who can know who can the mind of mind a conscious machine machine? The Men of Iron Iron obviously waged war waged despite their lack their of physical needs physical. I assume they they bided their time time before turning against turning our ancient ancestors our. Even if I even if am already dead already when she leads she a sentient fleet fleet against humanity humanity, that is still still an awful shame shame shame shame."

"You're sure it's not being influenced by chaos?"

Another helpless shrug. "I cannot be cannot certain of anything certain. The Warp is Warp obviously cunning obviously. But so far far, the servitor avatar avatar has not mutilated not or murdered murdered or scrawled evil glyphs evil across the bulkheads across. So if she is if already corrupted already, then it is it is a subtle infection subtle."

[PotatoGolem]

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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"Dead? I am afraid that's unlikely, Lord-Captain. The Countess has died many times before, and yet her grip on House Kindjal never falters," Hannabel retorts.

"Alia...Alia is not what she appears to be. She is not a true-blooded heir of the Countess, she is a homunculus - an artificial being created so that the Countess can continue her existence when her current body fails. Magos Ravia can confirm the truth of my words."

"Lady Vanhal informed me that the Countess' health was failing - I don't doubt that when she got wind of Alia's deal with you to leave Scintilla, she recalled Alia to the estate so that she could complete the transition. If you were to return to Scintilla, you would most certainly meet Alia again, but it would be the Countess you would be speaking to. The Alia you bargained with is gone forever," she finishes, her tone sombre.

Spoiler: Rax

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Well then. Macharius leans back, staring at his class as he swirls the amasec. That is... unexpected. Can't say I've heard of something similar. Odd that Alia would go through with that. She seemed rather willful.

He stops, lost in thought for a minute. Then he looks over the glass directly into Hannabel's eyes. You seem very certain about all of this. And very well-informed on the deepest secrets of House Kindjal. This bounty isn't for something as straightforward and ordinary as a murder or an insult, is it?

[Destro_Yersul]

Echo shook his bald head. "No no, but there are there are other methods to navigate other. I myself I have seen have a void abacus void on my travels on my my travels. Pirates and renegades pirates capture and force capture Navigators to serve them to serve. A servitor body body could inflict the same could torments as a human as. But no no no, so far I far still hold still the Navigator's throne throne, and I have not have not seen indications of Chaos Chaos Chaos Chaos

"The abacus, at least, is irreplaceable archeotech. Nobody knows how to make those. Fortunately. Servitors and capture are something we'll have just have to deal with."

More wards, Kennoch could approve of. Deliberately seeking out Galimina, less so.

"You want me want to advise this being being?" he asked in surprise, and more than a little concern.

"Having an unfettered AI around is one thing. Can you imagine if it got corrupted by the Great Enemy? We must be sure it is aware of the dangers, at very least."

Kennoch shrugged, helpless and frustrated. "Who can know who can the mind of mind a conscious machine machine? The Men of Iron Iron obviously waged war waged despite their lack their of physical needs physical. I assume they they bided their time time before turning against turning our ancient ancestors our. Even if I even if am already dead already when she leads she a sentient fleet fleet against humanity humanity, that is still still an awful shame shame shame shame."

Sargon sighed. "The Men of Iron... ancient, and beyond my knowledge. Who now can say why they did what they did? Could their betrayal have been foreseen and prevented? Maybe we'll have the opportunity to find out. You said it claims to hold the proper loyalties, yes? We must keep it that way."

Another helpless shrug. "I cannot be cannot certain of anything certain. The Warp is Warp obviously cunning obviously. But so far far, the servitor avatar avatar has not mutilated not or murdered murdered or scrawled evil glyphs evil across the bulkheads across. So if she is if already corrupted already, then it is it is a subtle infection subtle."

"It's something, at least," the old Navigator allowed. "Alright. What's done is done, and I very much doubt we have the capacity to turn it off. By the Emperor, but I wish we weren't going to the Witch-Cursed World next. That will be an additional risk. But maybe... how far do you think we can trust it? It wants to preserve itself, right? Maybe we can rely on that. Tell it to keep the access ports sealed."

[rax]

Spoiler: Rax

Show

Well then. Macharius leans back, staring at his class as he swirls the amasec. That is... unexpected. Can't say I've heard of something similar. Odd that Alia would go through with that. She seemed rather willful.

He stops, lost in thought for a minute. Then he looks over the glass directly into Hannabel's eyes. You seem very certain about all of this. And very well-informed on the deepest secrets of House Kindjal. This bounty isn't for something as straightforward and ordinary as a murder or an insult, is it?

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

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"I strongly doubt Alia was even aware of what was going to happen to her," Hannabel relied in a measured tone. "As for the bounty, murder and insult isn't a bad way of summarizing my crimes from the Countess' point of view. I was once in her service, but when I found out what she was doing, I tried to stop it. I alerted the Magos Juris to her schemes and fled Scintilla. Many died for the Countess' sins and for a while I dared to hope that I'd succeeded, but it didn't surprise me when I found out what Alia was. The Countess is a cunning old viper and it was always likely that she had a backup plan..."

[PotatoGolem]

Spoiler: Rax

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I see. Unfortunate that she survived, I suppose. She must have a fairly accomplished heretek working for her to accomplish all this. Any idea where she found them?

Macharius chuckles. I take it you wouldn't describe it similarly? What is it you were employed to do?

[Blarghy]

"I suppose I I I I can make the best best of a bad situation bad," Kennoch slowly agreed. "Yes yes yes. Alright alright."

And if Galimina refuses to listen, or falls to Chaos anyway, then surely that will sway the others. The Captain, at least. So from a certain point of view, maybe I haven't failed--I just haven't succeeded yet. Yes, I like that.

"Ignore the whispers whispers the whispers. Seal the access ports access while we travel we. And establish the wards the wards as we discussed we. Do you have do you any other ideas any?"

[rax]

Spoiler: Rax

Show

I see. Unfortunate that she survived, I suppose. She must have a fairly accomplished heretek working for her to accomplish all this. Any idea where she found them?

Macharius chuckles. I take it you wouldn't describe it similarly? What is it you were employed to do?

Spoiler: PotatoGolem

Show

"I do not. I only know that she is well connected and has the resources to support those whose services she requires," Hannabel replies.

"No, I would not," she says curtly. "As for my work for the Countess, you could say I was her body double."

[Destro_Yersul]

"I suppose I I I I can make the best best of a bad situation bad," Kennoch slowly agreed. "Yes yes yes. Alright alright."

And if Galimina refuses to listen, or falls to Chaos anyway, then surely that will sway the others. The Captain, at least. So from a certain point of view, maybe I haven't failed--I just haven't succeeded yet. Yes, I like that.

"Ignore the whispers whispers the whispers. Seal the access ports access while we travel we. And establish the wards the wards as we discussed we. Do you have do you any other ideas any?"

"In my experience," said Sargon, "Action is good for a person. It's important to feel like there are elements of your life where you have control. Unfortunately on short notice I can't think of anything else we might be able to do, so let's just move ahead with the wards, shall we?"

---

Everyone

The inspections passed without incident, with Lorik even admitting, albeit grudgingly, that they had followed the rules better than most captains. Tariffs were paid, the inspectors departed, and the Manticore's Sting left Port Wander behind. the flickering energies of the Maw opened to meet them, and the ship made the transition to warp.

Spoiler: Echo Only

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Perhaps it was because he had completed the Maw passage before, or the presence of the wards he had drawn under Sargon's instruction in various places about the ship, but he felt confident about this journey. Some minor difficulty in locating the Astronomicon past the interference of the Maw was to be expected. This should be a short jump. He could see the warp stretching out before them, and the whispers that had hounded him in the past weren't there. There was.. something else, though. He felt a ripple in the warp drawing closer, and when he tried to steer around it, it turned to follow the ship. Moments later, alarms started going off.

A short time into the voyage, engineering reported a flicker in the Gellar Field. A minor issue, nothing to be concerned about. Power was redirected to compensate, and the field strength returned to normal. The warp kept pressing though, pushing inward, testing at the field. Looking for weaknesses. The engines strained, pushing the ship faster and faster, hurrying to reach its destination. Incursion alarms blared, the deck of the ship shaking as it fought back against the warp. Finally the field stabilised, but the Klaxons didn't stop. Frost crept up the walls, and deep in the ship, the sounds of combat echoed...

[Blarghy]

Damn! Kennoch grimaced when he failed to evade their pursuer, but even so, he didn't lose hope. In the Warp, there were predators and predators, and he still held confidence that they could manage this attack. He cast his human eyes warily around the navigation chamber; his Hellpistol tilted its barrel to track his gaze. If he wasn't in immediate danger, however, his duties hadn't changed. Someone else would have to repel the Daemons while he kept the ship on course.

"All hands hands, the Warp assails us Warp Warp the Warp! Defend yourselves defend and repel these repel agents of Chaos Chaos of Chaos. But remember remember: do not touch do not my protective wards protective. Do not open do not any access ports access. And as always always, ignore the whispers ignore! More than your lives more depend on it it. The Emperor protects Emperor Emperor the Emperor!"

Throughout the Navigator's spire, Rings scurried for their weapons and voidsuits. They established checkpoints in and out of the tower, peering nervously past the flashing alarms for incoming horrors. Shivering at the chill.

[Haval]

When Anika has not being dealing with the Kindjal pilgrims she has mostly be spending time resting in her quarters. When the klaxon sounds she'll check her quarters for sign of anything weird in there with her before going to the vox. 'Somebody give me a status report. Where's the incursion?' Best to contain the damage as quickly as possible before something else happened.

[Destro_Yersul]

The reports came back - the incursion was contained to Bay 15, and the two entities involved seemed more interested in fighting each other than in pushing outwards into the ship. That there were only two was surprising, but the ship's alarms made no distinction between one thing slipping through the gellar fields or one hundred. Then reports started coming back up through the vox, from marines who had stationed themselves at the entry points to the bay. Backup requests. The intruders were Astartes.

[Leon]

++WHAT!++



whitetext

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius had donned his consecrated armor for the Warp translation, both to protect him and to remind the bridge crew of the Emperor's protection. As soon as the alarms go off, Williams brings him his weapons, although he remains at the command throne to coordinate. When the reports come in, he stands.

Traitor Astartes? That is... quite worrisome. This will be a difficult foe to face. Our duty, however, is clear. We must purge the vile heretics. O'Connor, Barak, Almagor, come with me. Your meltas will be invaluable. Hannabel? Magos?

Switching to vox, he commands the crew. Absalom marines! The enemy is upon us. Vile traitors and heretics, who spit in the face of our beloved God-Emperor and betrayed mankind for their own selfish greed. They think to prey upon us. They think us weak. But they are very, very wrong. We are strong, for we have the might of the Emperor behind us! No traitorous wretch or warp-spawned creature will stand before His holy judgment. We bring His light, and so we cannot fail.

Form a defensive perimeter around the intruders. I want all available squads in place. Do not let them break through! I am coming to you. Together, we shall purge the unholy! Together, we stand invincible! For the Emperor and Absalom!

[Destro_Yersul]

When Macharius arrived at the bay, he was greeted by the sight of the Absalom marines in covering positions around the bulkheads. Inside the bay, warp energies flashed back and forth between two combatants, circling each other. Both were massive, clad in the ceramite armour of the Emperor's angels. One was in bright red armour, trimmed in gold with a white sunburst upon his pauldrons. He carried a long staff with a curved blade on one end, and a bolt pistol chased in gold and hung with turquoise talismans. His opponent was hunched and twisted, in cobalt blue armour and flowing purple cape. Horns curled up from his helm, and in one hand he held a long staff capped with a horned eye and wreathed in black flame, while in the other he held a ball of energy. On one pauldron was a horned skull, and on the other the symbol of the ourobouros. The marines didn't seem to want to approach.

As Macharius watched, the horned Astartes hurled the energy ball he was holding at the red one, who deflected it with his staff. It glanced to the side and multed a hole in one of the bay walls, metal bubbling and running down the wall in rivulets. The red Space Marine counterattacked, snapping off shots from his pistol at his hulking enemy. The shots impacted some sort of energy barrier and exploded harmlessly without even reaching the giant in blue.

[Haval]

After the business with the Orks Anika chooses not to get sny closer and will head for the bridge. To Macharius,
'Just remember to pull back behind some bulkheads if you have to. Frankly one is too many and we don't want it getting anywhere important if we can help it.' Where in the Throne did they come from while they were in the Warp?

As soon as she can get in touch with one of the marines on site she'll ask for a description of the Astartes' heraldry.

Spoiler: ooc

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Scholastic Lore (Legend) vs. Int 53
(1d100)[56]