WH40K Rogue Trader: Blood and Bolters, IC Thread: Chapter 1 Reclaiming What is Ours Options

[Drace]

Lucius sighs and closes his eyes, his hand going towards the blade slowly. "Well looks like no pain no gain....".

With that, he pulls his left hand up to the blade and allows it to cut him. "Warped spawn hell!". He yells out loud, the blade whirring into and slicing his hand.

"Painful, shit-eating, son of a whore, ork spawned, choas loving...." the obscenities continue and get worse as the cauterizer gets warmed up to start it's work, Lucius' eyes bug out a bit.

[Tanegar]

Hakkonen cocks an eyebrow. "I would have cho-chosen a site on the forearm, given the deli-licacy of nerves and tendons in the hand proper-per, but to each his-his own."

[Drace]

Lucius, amid the screaming that is thankfully being muffled by his wrist that he is biting down on, looks over at the magos in a way that would flay his skin if looks could do that.

As the plasma fed cauterizer finishes it's grisly job he finally lets out a sigh and smiles grimly.

"Well my good magos, I would have had to take off my coat, the arm segment of my armouring, and then either ripped off the sleeve to a very, and I mean very expensive shirt, or finish taking off all of my upper carapace armour and then take off the shirt, since it can only roll back to just above the wrist, and I would rather have a small cut and maybe a slightly hurt nerve than lose the whole hand.".

He finishes his sentence with a grim grin and looks to the rest of the crew. "Well that was rather unpleasant, if someone could please remind me to talk to Alejandro about how this baton works when I see him next, I would be much abliged....".

[LurkerOutThere]

The cold men hesitate as if unsure what commands to follow, the ones issued by the channel or the ones eminating from the Magos. As you finally manage to blot out the other signal they acknowledge that they are returning to Cryo-storage and start to break ranks before filting one at a time through concealed compartments leading out of the chamber. Signa, the woman who insisted on the mid-crisis baptismal, cries out. "Praise to the emperor for sending such a mighty captain and wise officers! They've gone and driven off the cold men." There is a hurrid flutter from the catwalks and living areas up above as crew families open their doors to check before similar shouts of praise for the emperor and yourself rain down. She clutches the baby Blinkin to her seeming relieved at his baptismal. The quick antibiotic wipe down and nutritional paste you threw in as part of the ritual will ensure that the newly anointed babe gets over his ailment to serve the emperor.

(You passed a medicae test, i don't recall by how much as I rolled it a few days ago)

Mate Dray nods sympatheticly to his Captains plight. "It's not something that needs to be repeated often. I've only had to do it four maybe five times since I've served for you. Once rod's are attuned to you they seem to remember you as long as they can remain near you. The rods themselves are as old as the ship. Truely are ancestors were amazingly tough or masochists."

The display has puttered to life and is scrolling text that an antiscribe is printing below on aged paper.



Ships Operation Litany version 1.50 stable release
Security Alert: Possible Intruders in Crew Quarters Main Common Area Activate Murder Servitors and Purification Protocol
Lamentation!: Purification Protocol not found
User override by username: <REDACTED per ship directive 5> real time control of servitors active.
Lamentation!: Stand down order being issued with Magos command prayers of unknown authenticity. Servitor real time control no longer possible. Servitors returning to standby.
Cult intervention warrants enhanced cognition protocols. Initiating....................................complete. Sub-Optimal Enhanced Processing Medium Online
VORHEES DNA Confirmed. Enabling enhanced cognition.....it's already awake, skipping

Incoming message from user: A Vorhees, interesting and about damn time. Whoever you are you should make your way to the bridge at your first opportunity. I look forward to meeting you and discussing a transfer of power. Further I would caution you to bring only those you feel you can trust with a secret or who are disposable enough that you won't mind killing later. Also I wouldn't pay Dray much mind, he's a simpleton but a useful one. I would absolutely ignore the Astro-priest. I'm not a demon, demons skitter away in fear at my passing. I am waiting for you on the bridge....Captain.

[Tanegar]

Hakkonen peers over Lucius' shoulder at the message, arching an eyebrow as he absorbs its content. He turns to Lucius and speaks in a low tone directly into the Lord-captain's ear.

"Clear-clearly we are expected. I reco-commend we assume this... enti-tity is hostile until proven other-therwise. Storm the bridge, and-and effect this 'transfer of power-er' at gunpoint. The posturing in-in the message indicates a poten-tentially unbalanced mind. 'Daemons skitter away in fear,' in-indeed."

[agustaaquila]

Mordechai advances out of the thunderhawk, looking at the screen intent on seeing what is scrolling there.

[ Spoiler ]

awareness 50 [a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2907421/"] 1d100=79[/a]
2 degrees of failure

Mordechai curses under his breath as his inhuman gait causes his cowl falls further over his face completely obscuring his vision. He decides to leave it there, as he hears the unmistakable sound of doors open and a crowd gathering. He makes the aquila and hopes that the crowd does not decide to investigate who this new figure is.

He quietly wispers so that only Hakkonen and Lucius can hear. "My lords, as much as it might benefit us to stay here and bath in the acclimation of the crowd, we should move on to try and secure the ship and her bridge. Our labour should be focused on taking the ship, and then making those on her our allies.

[Drace]

Lucius nods towards the Tech-Priest. "Well I may have to agree with you on that one my good Magos. We should all leave for the bridge at haste, but we should try the whole diplomacy thing, before we go in guns blazing. I do think we should all go up though. Plus he said ignore, nothing about not bringing them, so it looks like we should gear up and move out.".

He then looks to the rest of the command crew and Granx's men and smiles. "Looks like we are going to the bridge, we need full control of the ship I think. Lets just be ready should there be any unexpected 'suprises'.". With that he wlaks over to to Granx and pulls him aside for a moment so that only he can hear him talk.

"Sarge, looks like there may be a chance we could be walking into either a trap or there could just be a disagreement that ends in blood. I also need to know that you and your men can keep their silence about things, can I count on all of you?"

[LurkerOutThere]

Dray looks to the screen after the rest of you have had a chance to view it. "I would presume the Astropriest it refers to is Atropath Lanius. He has claimed many times that a demon or something worse stalks the halls of the ship. To be fair it's not entirely an unfounded belief. He used to act as the minister for the crew here, but for the better part of the last year he's locked himself in the astopathic choir chamber and refused to leave."

Cornelius has become quite the center of attention as many crew members come down to receive the benediction of or just see a true priest of the cloth. It seems this place has been dreadfully lacking in the ministorum's attention. A sad but not entirely unheard of fact of life given the bedraggled appearance of those present. A place like this would never support a full temple context in tithes, but it is odd a few missionaries haven't been sent.

Granx clasps forearms with his Captain. "You've m' word and that of my squad Cap'n, we'll be ready for what may come and we'll take what we learn to our graves" GHe cocks his head to one side as if something has just occured to him, making the sign of the aquilla and hastily adding. "barring really weird stuff like you read about in the bad pulp slates a loyal soldrt of the emperor following his commanders after they've made pacts with the enemy. So as long as you don't do somethin' totally barmy like sell your soul to a demon we's good."

[Tanegar]

"Well put, Se-sergeant. Lord-captain, I-I recommend we decamp for-for the bridge without delay. Our pre-presumed adversary has had Om-Omnissiah knows how many years to prepa-pare; let us not give him additional hou-ours."

The techpriest removes the charge pack from his hellgun, checks the contacts, and slaps it back in with a decisive clack; the weapon whines on a rising note as it powers up, then beeps three times to indicate full readiness. Hakkonen's air of martial zeal is slightly undermined, however, by the approach of his servo-skull returning from stowing his bag in a nearby locker. The ludicrously aggressive little machine extrudes a variety of tools from its undercarriage as if they were weapons: an arc welder, a miniature chainblade, even a pair of wire cutters with which it snaps at the air in an absurd display of ferocity.

Hakkonen gives the tiny servitor a long, steady look, then rolls his eyes and makes a sighing noise through his voxcoder. "Omnissiah pro-protect me."

[LurkerOutThere]

After Granx's squad gets themselves together you prepare to head out. Athena seems non-plussed to leave her beloved storm bolter but as Granx and the other men are quick to point out it will be poorly suited to the ship's close quarters. She acquiesces after a few moments of quiet conversation with Granx and Mercer and in the process it's easy to pick up that the social arrangement amongst the squad is closer to a family or tribal structure then that of a proper military formation. Athena is very much team mom a position she holds by being the alpha female it become clear on the ship ride hear that she is Granx's wife or at least what passes for it amongst their people. It takes both her lover and sergent and her brother (Mercer) to talk her out of anything once she sets her mind to it. Having done that they fall into formation with you. A security detail from the ships crew pledges to guard your shuttle until you return and Dray further vouches for them. He also offers up his son Mekkan to guide you through the ships corridors as he knows them as well as anyone. Mekkan is a hardy fourty something man in the faded uniform of the imperial navy, he shoulders a naval shotgun with the casual indifference of one who's used the weapon but never taken any pleasure in it. "I can lead you to the bridge, i've been further into the ship then any man yet living save former crew men." He leans closer to your group.

"As an aside I also want to come with you to find what the hell is going on. There's something wierd about this ship, I was born and raised here but did a turn over service in the navy and there's no other vessel like her that i've even heard of. I know my father keeps secrets about this vessel from me and I figure going with you is the best way to finally get answers."

[PBTHHHHT]

After the blessings had been done for the various folks who wanted it. Cornelius walks up to the group with his gear.
"I am ready to join you for the trip up to the bridge." He quickly does a quick prayer for the group asking for protection against the Warp and to resist corruption.
When given a chance, Cornelius will take Lucius to one side and speak privately, "I will take your lead and will not hold judgment if we must converse to whatever could be up in the bridge. I will refrain from acting impetuously as it matters most that this ship be returned back to the operational status. Just remember my door is always open for confessions and advice if you need it and remember to steel your soul from the taint that we may be exposed, for even words and knowledge can bring corruption."

[PBTHHHHT]

Cornelius turns to Mekkan and asks him, "Mekkan, so what are the major factions on this ship. Do you know how many the mercenary group fields? Are there issues with any mutations, or of any rumors of darker dealings in the far flung levels? I'm just curious since we're still assessing the situation. Also do not leave out any little stories, even if it is children's bedside stories. Also when was the last time the ecclesiarchy sent a missionary to this ship?"

[Tanegar]

Hakkonen sidles closer to Mekkan and Cornelius, interested in any information that might be forthcoming.

[Drace]

Looking around at the group assembling around Dray's son Makken, Lucius saunders over there casually, drawing and checking the charge on his plasma pistol. He pushes the side of his microbead, opening up the team's channel.

"I want all weapons checked and ready, expect hostilities.".

[agustaaquila]

Mordechai quickly advances to the rest of the group, and in midstride unslings his Ax from his back and hefts it. There is an odd gleem in his eye when he reaches the group.

"Ready sir. Lets go to the bridge. There are too many people here, and while they might seem friendly right now all it takes is one dressed like the rest to put a knife in your back. In a hallway, we are better protected, and also on the bridge we will gain control, having troops, even ineffective assassin servators, is better than nothing. I stand by for your command to move out."

[Tanegar]

Hakkonen's synthesized voice sounds over the tactical channel, "I am-am prepared to give battle-tle in the Omnissiah's n-name."

[LurkerOutThere]

Mekkan briefs on the move as you make your way out of the cavernous quarters area. Rather then the berthing sections for a proper starship the quarters almost like apartment blocks and other structures often seen in the hive cities, floors and even whole buildings housing extended clans of people living there. Signs outside the doors proclaim the names of the families while simple pict's display the tasks they perform on the ship from the muscle symbol of the menials, the black cross of the doctors and medics, to the scrub brush of the sweepers and cleaners. As you pass through the impromptu squares formed by the convergance of these buildings the crew remnants come out and cheer your passing or crowd close only to be kept at bay by the security detail.

Mekkan busies himself to answering the missionaries question. "We have some mutation but not a lot I suspect because we're not underway and going through the warp. We take pains to get new blood in where we can from the lowlies of port wander, not too many our food situation being what it is, but enough to prevent a problem with inbreeding. For the rest the medicae reports all mutations amongst the live births or crew as they grow and we employ twist catchers to scour the under decks. By tradition any mutant born amongst the crew or developing in life is sterilized and allowed to go about their business bringing service to the god emperor. It's still somewhat of a mark of shame but previous captains felt that if the clans were less inclined to hide their mutations out of loyalty to their blood it might prevent problems. It seems to have worked. Mostly our mutants are slight and integrated into the rest of the populace. The obvious exception being the few psykers we've had pop up who we've either spaced or turned over to the authorities on port wander depending on how stable they seemed for transport. We don't have the facilities here to hold them for the black ships." As he nears the final bulkhead leading out of the crew area he stops to insert his own command baton into a console punching in the rune for the bridge. The bulkhead slowly open and beyond you can hear grinding and feel a slight shaking in the deck plates as the panel of the maze shfit to present a corridor fringed in blue lumens.

Once your out past the crew quarters Mekkan speaks more freely. "The mercs are highly transitory as they use the ship as a base of operations and waystation. I'd say they have as many as a thousand men on the ship permanently or semi permanently with another 500 or so moving in and out at any given time. Their supposed to pay a fraction of a ration to us per head lodged here but in practice i think their badly under-reporting. Still they know they've got us over a barrell as their the only reliable source of food we have outside of what our meager facilities here can provide." He makes the sign of the Aquila. "As to darker things chaplain I dunno, I heard there was a bit of a problem with some group of malcontents about ten years ago while I was still serving in the navy. Astropath Lanius found it and wanted to call in the ecclesiarchy." His face takes on a pained expression. "Please understand padre, captain, my father isn't the most pious man, he don't read the scripture so good and he don't pray as often as he should, but he's as loyal to the emperor as any man in his own way. He didn't want the agents coming down and scything through the crew. He hunted up some chosen men and the astropath and set off to take care of it. The crew still passes out a few bottles of amasec amongst them once a year to celebrate their victory. I know that since then father and Lanius have hardly spoken since. So i guess if you wanted a rundown of how things are setting powerblock wise you've got my father, you've got the mercs, and you've got lanius and his few remaining astopaths and missionaries locked up in the chior chambers. The crew mostly lean towards my father but that might be because Lanius has never tried to force a confrontation. Lanius does have a hold on some of the more devout members of the crew, I think he's building a private core of the faithful, but I don't know to what purpose. He doesn't leave the chorus chambers anymore, anyone wnating a meeting has to go to him.

((I'd like everyone to give me a +20 scrutiny check)

He indicates a doorway in a bulkhead up ahead where sounds of discussion and the whir of cogitators can be heard from within. "This is main augury, it's the most far forward any of the crew goes on a regular basis from here on out where kind of on our own."

[Tanegar]

Rolls:
Scrutiny 60 vs 44 (Perception 48 - untrained 24 + 20): 1 degree of failure

[agustaaquila]

Roll:
1d100=5

5 vs 40 (40 per -20 untrained +20) 3 degrees of success.

[PBTHHHHT]

roll:
Scrutiny (untrained) vs Perception (so 33/2= 16 + 20 => 36...)
Got a 95! vs. 36 (16 + 20) = 5 degrees of failure!
huh? wha? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[agustaaquila]

Mordechai stops short and his ax comes to a combat ready position.

"My lord, Meekan's story makes no sense at all. From the dataslates that we received on the Divine Inspiration, they were receiving a full complement of supplies, equal to that of a ship underway. So someone is lying. Either Meekan's father has been compiling false reports, or Lanius has been falsifying the reports. Or something else. Whatever the truth is, it comes not from this boy's mouth. There is no reason from what we have that there should be any trading of supplies for space."

[LurkerOutThere]

Mekkan turns around slowly his features tensing and his hand going casually to the hilt of his chainsword in a motion that leaves no question that he can draw it very quickly. He looks to Mordechai with what can properly termed as a look of disgust but looks on to meet his gaze without flinching, an impressive feet considering the reputation of the navagators warp eye. "Mark my words well navigator, I am Mekkan Dray of the house of dray. My family has served the house of Vorhees and His Holy Navy for generations going beyond written record. I was a commander in the navy on track to receive my own ship but I resigned my commission to honor my families oath to the Vorhees and bring gelt and experience to a stricken ship I had been born on. I tell you all this so that you'll know exactly why I'm going to kill you if you suggest I or my father lie again." His knuckles on the hilt of the chainsword have turned white his anger starting to get the best of a naval officers carefull poise "Do you really think in your mutation addled brain that we chose to live like this? To live off corpse starch rations and barely reclaimed water? To see our charges die of cold and radition with only the promise of better days ahead and the glories of long past to urge them on? Do you know what it's like to come upon a childrens creche and find it empty, plundered of our most precious resource by the shipmates one bulkhead over so they can feed their own children. Do you know what it's like to huddle to the funeral pyre of your own dead to keep warm because the heat exchangers int he hab units stopped functioning? No i don't suppose you would. " He turns to Lucius.

"I am very pleased to find that our master had not in fact forgotten us to save some throne gelt as I and other members of the crew had long feared. If there is a party responsible for our state that is not of your family I hope i'm there to watch them die. But captain if your man doesn't keep a civil head in his tongue I'll have to kill him, or you'll have to kill me." He strikes over and wraps on the bulkhead. "Attend ye lads, officer on deck! Your captain Allessaunder Lucius Voorhes proceeds to his bridge and need to knows what transpires between here and there." There is a hurried shifting in the chamber beyond and a lad in void varers clothes with an ensign's pips hastily tacked on comes out and slautes smartly profering a data slate which he offers to Mekkan who glances over it briefly before handing it to the rest of your party. The would be officer lad gives the verbal to go along with.

"Sir! The maze is reconfiguring itself to allow you more clear passage to the bridge. Most of the bulkheads have shifted properly but a few may be malfunctioning and will need to be moved by brute force. Atmosphere in that area is at 60% of optimal which puts it as filthy but not harmful to humans. We've got some readings of movement along your path and all the coldmen are currently accounted for so they may be twists or greenskins. The auspex's on the bridge have stopped working since your arrival, we've tried the prayers over and over again but the machine spirits just won't respond. Sir!"

[agustaaquila]

There is a loud clatter of metal striking metal, and you all realize that Mordichai has thrown his ax away. Turning to face him, you see him fumbling with his cloak clasp, and then it falls to the ground.

What is revealed................is not human. You do not know quite how to describe the legs you see, perhaps birdlike in that the knees have been reversed. A sickly feeling rises in your stomach, but you manage not to vomit upon the deck floor.

"Indeed Mekken, I now know who lies. If you wish to strike me down, please tell me so that I may remove my armor, so that death may come that much quicker. However, those who trevel through the warp are a rare breed, so think carefully before you make your choice. You have been most admirable in your loyalty to House Vorhees, and far be it that a simple mutant such as myself stands in the way of doing your duty the the house."

"Yet how will you carry the warrant of trade out to serve the emperor's will without a navigator to guide your ship through the heel that is the warp. As you can see, the warp itself has changed me into a mockery of humanity itself, and I must live knowing the each day it calls out trying to consume my soul. Indeed, it appears as if a choir must be cleansed for us to be certain that there is no treachery afoot. I am sorry dear Meekan that I have suggested that your family has been anything but true, but I am here to point out all possibilities to out lord Vorhees. Now the choice is yours as to what happens next. I would move towards the bridge through this maze, but my life is in your hands, as so many others have been in your hands before. What is your choice?"

[Tanegar]

Hakkonen briefly regards the mutation-riddled Navigator with a coolly dispassionate gaze before turning away from the brewing confrontation to the master augury console. Muttering catechisms under his breath and occasionally gusting incense over the console with his utility mechadendrite's integral censer, he invokes the Omnissiah's blessing to reactivate the bridge's internal auspex,¹ but whoever - or whatever - is on the bridge has successfully locked out remote access.

Rolls:

[ Spoiler ]

¹Tech-Use 63 vs 50; 1 degree of failure

[Drace]

(OOC: Dice roll: untrained scrutiny + 20 = 36 1d100=45) Fail one degree)

Lucius looks at the confrontation between Makken and Mordechai with a cool indifference, and takes in Mordechai's disfigured form with nary a second glance. "Mordechai, your mutations are lesser than the worst of the subs and twists I have worked with in the past, do not worry about your appearance around me. Except the eye, I do like my soul being anchored to my body.....".

He then passes his gaze to Makken. "None of us are doubting the loyalty and sacrifice of you or any of the crew. Mordechai is just pointing out the differences we had been told, the problem, not the cause. I'm more worried about those movements you talked about. Are they between us and the bridge?".

He sighs inwardly after the statement. Wish I had picked up a rebreather or some plugs.....