New Ambitions 6

<Expanse_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Expanse_GM> After thorough analysis it is clear that the remnants of the crashed ship are of xenos origin. A large Ork vessel that struck Magoros Secondus with terrifying force many centuries ago.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Cenva, Do you know what this is?"
<Cenva_Benetek> "Well, it's not Imperial and... that's it."
<Expanse_GM> The chilling winds howl through the structure and through the crystaline landscape.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Are you familiar with Orkoids?"
* Thesse is now known as Cenva
<Cenva> "I know Orkz are disgusting monsters."
<Valarian_Stukov> "And now you have seen the Prow of a old Ork Vessel."
<Expanse_GM> +Enginseer Stukov, sir.+
<Valarian_Stukov> +Speak+
<Cenva> "Ohhh. We should report this to the Lord Captain."
<Expanse_GM> +Sir, I can't be certain, but I believe I saw that stone move.+
<Expanse_GM> Two armsmen stand before a large crystaline mound covered in the gentle dust of shifting ice-particles in the air.
<Valarian_Stukov> +Round up the teams and prepare to move back the ships.+
<Expanse_GM> +Ayer, sir.+
<Valarian_Stukov> "We may need to move Cenva, we might have unwanted guests."
<Expanse_GM> In an instant, a cloud of disturbed ice-dust flies across the air, the two armsmen disappearing within the violently-appearing cloudy swirl.
<Cenva> "Let's get a move on then. I rather deal with the locals."
<Expanse_GM> A moment later, limbs land across the open space, blood freezing instantly as it comes into contact with the ground.
<Cenva> +Soldiers, take some shots at whatever it is, but fallback to the ship.+
* Cenva sprints towards the ship.
<Expanse_GM> Armsmen move cautiously, weapons scanning their surroundings.
<Valarian_Stukov> +It's Below us move!+
<Expanse_GM> Once more, the surface of the ice bursts with impossible force, a horrifying crystaline beast raging upward, wrapping tentacles aroung Valarian's leg and gripping tight as though ready to rip the limb from its body.
<Cenva> +MEN, TAKE AIM, FIRE!+
* Cenva pulls out my Incinerator
<Expanse_GM> A burst of fire rings out, rounds striking beast and Enginseer alike.
* Valarian_Stukov struggling to try and get free then taking a nasty strike that clear spews out oil and blood
<Expanse_GM> Leak warnings begin to blink on Valarian's wrist-display.
<Cenva_Benetek> +Men, save the Chief Enginseer. I don't care if we have to punch the fecker!+
* Cenva_Benetek waddles forwards with the men.
<Expanse_GM> The jagged limbs of the beast begin to tear at the suit.
<Expanse_GM> The men rush forwards in an attempt to rescue the Enginseer.
<Expanse_GM> A jagged maw bites down on his leg, locking its jaw in place.
* Cenva_Benetek moves up and sets the beast on fire.
<Expanse_GM> As soon as the burst of flame ends, eight armsmen charge the beast, ice-picks, shovels, and over tools in hand.
<Expanse_GM> Though the charge permits Valarian to break free, the beast rears up and falls on its back, killing another of the armsmen in the struggle. Another swipe with its jagged limbs rends another of the troopers whose bleeding only stops when the temperature creates an icy blood barrier on his suit.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Da ahhkk... We should move... I will be sure to repay the aid in kind."
<Cenva_Benetek> +Men, fell back! Let the Servitors keep the creature at bay.+
<Expanse_GM> By now, the engines have come to life on the shuttles, ready to take off.
* Cenva_Benetek runs towards the back,
* Valarian_Stukov runs beside Cenva then overtakes her as he makes it to the ship
<Expanse_GM> The troopers attempt to fall back. Some are able to break away, others are not so successful.
<Cenva_Benetek> +HEY! DON'T LEAVE ME!+
<Valarian_Stukov> +Keep moving I will cover you.+
* Valarian_Stukov levels his Assault Stubber at the beast as it begins to wind up
<Expanse_GM> Servitors continue to harass the beast, fighting on even as limbs and components are lost in the struggle.
<Expanse_GM> In all, four armsmen make it out of the struggle.
* Valarian_Stukov pours Heavy Stubber fire into the beast
* Thesse is now known as Cenva
<Expanse_GM> As though a final act of spite, Valarian's hail of fire shatters the beast's crystaline form.
<Cenva> +EVERYONE IN THE SHIPS, NOW!+
<Expanse_GM> The remaining servitors whose motive systems aren't destroyed make their way back to the shuttles.
* Valarian_Stukov lowers the heating barrel as he applies Seal patch
<Valarian_Stukov> +Servitors acquire a few shards+
<Valarian_Stukov> +We are out of here.+
* Valarian_Stukov as he limps into the ship
<Expanse_GM> The shuttles fire up, and leave the frigid surface of Magoros Secondos for good.
<Valarian_Stukov> +++Captain... do you read+++
* Valarian_Stukov clearly out of breath and panting heavily
<Cato_Artaega> ++Report++
<Valarian_Stukov> ++We have discovered the site to be a crashed Ork Vessel, before we were going to depart to report, we were ambushed by a large beast and suffered losses.++
* Rey_Lasky is next to his console as the communication from the ground team comes in. With him he has a cup full of some Amesec.
<Cato_Artaega> ++Damn, get the wounded to the medbay as soon as you dock.++
<Cato_Artaega> "Prepare to follow that signal as soon as they are docked."
<Tyruss> Hearing the report Tyruss turns to Cato. "I'll begin making plans to replace the lost armsmen and equipment Lord Artaega."
<Rey_Lasky> "Well captain, sound like they had a interesting time."
<Valarian_Stukov> ++I will be in the Medbay if you need me then, Cenva is fine so try not to worry.++
* Tyruss draws a datapad out of his pocket and begins making notes on how best to adjust investments to cover the losses.
<Expanse_GM> "Shuttles have arrived. Helm, get us out of this orbit," calls First Office Harrow.
<Cenva> "Valarian... That was just... ahh...I need a drink."
<Cato_Artaega> ++Get yourself patched and when you have time get a full report written up.++
<Valarian_Stukov> ++Already forwarded to you Captain, should be on the dataslate.++
<Valarian_Stukov> "I may need a drink myself aye..."
* Tyruss briefly glances up from his datapad. "Lord Cato if you'd have them make a copy I can have Miranda retrieve it for me. The first hand accounts would allow much closer estimates on lost personnel and equipment."
<Cato_Artaega> "Don't worry I'll forward it you."
<Tyruss> "Understood Lord Artaega."
<Cato_Artaega> "We might want to come back here when we aren't so busy, something about crystal wineglasses."
<Tyruss> "I can look over the information and provide a sustainable long term investment for the exploitation of this planet sir."
* Rey_Lasky rises a eyebrow at that, "That would be neat."
<Expanse_GM> Leviathan's Gluttony makes its way to Magoros Prime, following the arcane stream of energy beamed between the planets.
<Expanse_GM> The planet is a desolate wasteland with a dirty grey surfaced choked by clouds and dust.
<Cato_Artaega> "Look into it, its always good to branch out."
<Tyruss> "As you say sir."
<Expanse_GM> As the voidship maneuvers to establish an orbit, the sensors give readouts of vast ruins of alien origin across the planet's surface.
<Expanse_GM> On one of the augury passes, a structure stands out as being wreathed in an invisible cloud of electromagnetic turbulence.
<Expanse_GM> The giant crystal structure is unmistakably something unique.
<Valarian_Stukov> "That structure, it is exactly like the beast we fought."
<Cato_Artaega> "Did it cause interference like that structure is?"
<Valarian_Stukov> "Hard to tell, given the thing was also burrowed, but perhaps.."
<Valarian_Stukov> "But this is no mistake this is linked to the Egarian Dominion."
<Expanse_GM> "Stable orbit established, Lord-Captain. Standing by for further orders."
<Tyruss> "If memory serves Lord Artaega these ruins belong to the long dead Egarian Dominion. They create tightly packed structures that link together and form vast three dimensional mazes. Navigating them is quite difficult and generally unpleasant due to them being quite cramped for humans."
<Cato_Artaega> "Are the crystal structures known to be related to them?"
<Tyruss> "Nothing like this structure has ever been found Lord Artaega. The Dominion is millennia old, it is unknown if this predates them. Though there are some commonalities between Dominion structures and the spire itself."
<Cato_Artaega> "Sounds like something worth a closer investigation, Valarian, do you think the turbulence would interfere with our transports?"
<Valarian_Stukov> "from these Augur Scans, we are effectively looking at a concentrated EMP flux within 5 kilometres around the structure. however it is possible to land safely out of that radius, However it is very likely most high tech equipment will be rendered useless once within it."
<Cato_Artaega> "Nothing like this Xeno's structure has been found before you say? Well It is getting a little stuffy up here."
<Cato_Artaega> "Prepare a landing party."
* Thesse is now known as Cenva
* Tyruss bows. "At once sir."
<Zog> "Yay."
* Cato_Artaega returns to his quarters to retrieve his carapace before heading to the hanger.
* Zog prepares for an away mission.
* Cenva gets her equipment and prepares for her second away mission.
* Rey_Lasky gears up garbing his weapons and gear.
* Tyruss issues orders to Miranda to arrange for three Arvus Lighters to be loaded with armsemen and prepared for our departure. Once leaving the minutia to his aid he changes out of his ceremonial robes into his carapace armour and straps on his holsters while gathering up his servo skull.
<Expanse_GM> By the time you gather at the lighter bays, a squad of armsmen stands at attention while servitors finish fueling the shuttles.
<Zog> "I hope Wam and Bam don't destroy their room while I'm away."
<Expanse_GM> "Ready for departure, Lord-Captain!" the sergeant attached to the armsmen calls with a salute.
<Cato_Artaega> "Alright lads pray we find something worth alot of thrones."
* Cato_Artaega boards his shuttle.
* Rey_Lasky board the shuttle
* Zog responds with, "Aye aye." and boards the shuttle.
* Tyruss follows the young lord aboard the Arvus Lighter and straps in to prepare for the descent.
* Valarian_Stukov sighs
<Valarian_Stukov> "Hope this does not go like the last Kheking mission."
* Valarian_Stukov boards the shuttle
* Cenva runs into the shuttle with booze in her hand.
<Expanse_GM> The shuttles packed with passengers, race outward in a tight formation. They follow a narrow angle into the Magoros Prime atmosphere.
<Valarian_Stukov> "So tell me Tyruss, how goes the education of Zog?"
<Zog> "I can read at 10 words a minute I think."
<Expanse_GM> As the shuttles descent, atmosphere becomes denser. The shuttles shake and rattle as they protest against the air's friction around them.
<Zog> "I can also count to ten."
<Tyruss> "There you have it Valarian. He has made remarkable strides."
<Rey_Lasky> "Imperium's secret weapon, don't you think?"
<Valarian_Stukov> "I will await the day he is able to speak Hi
* Valarian_Stukov Coughs
<Valarian_Stukov> "High Gothic."
<Zog> "I'm learning."
<Expanse_GM> +Approaching the 5km mark, Lord-Captain. Finding landing zone now.+
* Cenva shakes the blush bottle and shows it to Valarian.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Of Course you kheking are."
<Rey_Lasky> "The enemies of the imperium will be running once they run into the Great Ogryn Zog."
* Valarian_Stukov pauses and looks to the Blush
<Valarian_Stukov> "Ooh Blush Spasibo, Cenva."
<Expanse_GM> At last, the shuttles slow and come to a landing atop a veritable maze of broken rooms and open tunnels, all drowning in sand and dust.
* Cenva_Benetek passes the bottle to Valarian and says "I didn't bring a glass, but that shouldn't be a problem."
* Cato_Artaega unbuckles and hits the panel to lower the ramp. "Off we go."
<Expanse_GM> Outside, armsmen fan out, creating a protective perimeter.
* Rey_Lasky unbuckles from his seat and makes his way down the ramp, dawning his bolt pistol along the way.
* Zog get's out and looks around, and states, "That's a lot of sand."
* Tyruss follows the young lord down the ramp and surveys the surrounding structures.
* Valarian_Stukov follows out as he attempts to use his Augur Array and Optical mechadendrite
* Cato_Artaega idly looking around +Are there any records of this planet being prospected? Considering the atmosphere it could make a viable mining outpost.+
<Valarian_Stukov> +Systems seem normal, Opticals are clear, Augur Array is operational, our location is clear."
<Tyruss> +Not prospected Lord Artaega, Winterscale did survey and chart the system however. Aside from that there have been other incursions into the system but no evidence of any further exploration has been recorded.+
<Cato_Artaega> +Good to know now lets see what this crystal is all about.+
* Cato_Artaega starts walking in a random direction "Follow me men."
<Expanse_GM> Navigathing through the labyrinthine trenches and open ruins leading up to the crytal structure proves to be unexpectedly challenging.
<Expanse_GM> Yet under their Lord-Captain's leadership, the explorers are able to make progress.
<Cato_Artaega> "Tally ho."
<Expanse_GM> As the crystaline top of the structure becomes visible, the sounds of gunfire and animalistic grunting can be heard.
<Cato_Artaega> +Armsmen Report+
* Zog draws his ripper gun and shield.
<Expanse_GM> +Beasts, sir. Xenos.+
* Cenva_Benetek pulls out her incinerator and Metal Staff.
<Zog> "Stay near little one."
<Expanse_GM> On the other side of a semi-collapsed wall, you can see green-skinned beasts firing at an unseen target as they move about behind a collapsed pillar.
* Rey_Lasky draws his second pistol.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Orks... Do not get close to them if you must."
<Cato_Artaega> +Copy that, any unengaged forces converge and assist.+
* Thesse is now known as Cenva
<Cato_Artaega> ++Artaega to bridge do you read?++
* Rey_Lasky quickly swaps out his second pistol for his auspex and begins scanning for life readings in the direction of the orks to find out what they are shooting at.
<Valarian_Stukov> "Would you like me to light them up Captain?"
<Expanse_GM> ++...Harrow... though unstable...++
* Valarian_Stukov keeps his focus on the Orks ready to fire when ready
<Rey_Lasky> "Captain I am reading a small group of men that they are engaging. Five in total."
<Cato_Artaega> "Yes we shall be moving to assist" ++The planet has Orks send another 3 squads to keep our landing zone secure. Repeat - Orks - Reinforce the landing zone.++
<Expanse_GM> The comms are grainy, affected by the energy surrounding the structure, no doubt.
* Rey_Lasky swaps out the auspex for his second pistol.
* Tyruss draws his pistols.
<Expanse_GM> +Moving in to engage, Lord-Captain.+
<Cato_Artaega> ++Do you confirm?++
<Cenva> +I feel something... odd.+
<Zog> "Attack?"
* Zog sprays suppressing fire on the orks.
<Expanse_GM> With a deafening pop, a stream of bright green lightning cracks several meters above the explorers. Seemingly from the crackle of energy itself, three beasts manifest, landing almost directly on top of the explorers.
<Expanse_GM> As soon as they hit the ground, they charge the explorers and their retinue.
<Expanse_GM> Two nearly completely synchronized flashes manifest, then, as Cato and Tyruss are protected by protective fields. Their effects cause the beasts, and several armsmen, to jolt back to protect their eyes.
* Tyruss draws his pistols and fells two of the abhorrent Xenos beasts with two quick bursts of ripper rounds.
* Rey_Lasky now in combat with one of the orks that charged the group, he aims and opens fire with his bolt pistol, killing it with both shots.
* Valarian_Stukov the whirl of the Assault Stubber starts up as it sprays a Bulletstorm into the group of orks shots going wide
<Expanse_GM> As the first targets of the ork mob return fire, a concentration of plasma energy destroys two orks in your line of sight.
* Cato_Artaega nods thanks to Tyruss for dealing with the threat to him before firing and missing at the ork mob.
<Expanse_GM> The armsmen reposition and begin firing into the ork line, taking out two of them.
* Zog moves up and fires a shot that goes wide.
<Expanse_GM> Amidst the chaos of battle, three armsmen are stricken, one mortally wounded. Another zap of green energy destroys the wall segment standing between you and the xenos. It is then that you see the strange creature manipulating the errant energy bolts.
* Cenva_Benetek moves up and sets one of the orks on fire.
* Tyruss moves up behind Zog, using him as a mobile shield wall. firing his pistols past the Ogryn at the Orks.
* Thesse is now known as Cenva
<Expanse_GM> Botls of green lightning arc from the beast's head with uncontrolled violence. Orks nearby are striken and dodge alike. Yet when the beast's head is at last consumed in a brilliant gout of emerald fire, it and the remaining orks expire in the terrible blast. Ruins are violently pushed aside, and the fallen pillar itself becomes a deadly hail of debris that flies straight towards
<Expanse_GM> Tyruss and Zog.
<Zog> "You okay little one?"
<Tyruss> "I'm unhurt Zog. Well done."
<Zog> "Okay."
<Cato_Artaega> +Sitrep, how many wounded.+
<Rey_Lasky> "Damn what did you kill to cause that Tyruss?
<Expanse_GM> +Two dead, four wounded, sir.+
* Valarian_Stukov lowers his Assault Stubber as it slows it's barrel, as he looks to the Captain
<Tyruss> "I do not believe that was caused thanks to my intervention, Rey."
<Valarian_Stukov> "I will heal the wounded, if required Captain unless you have need of me.
<Cato_Artaega> +Squad 1 take the wounded back to the shuttles and get them home. If our comms have got through there should be reinforcements there. Squad 2 form a perimeter.+
<Zog> "Big green energy hit me and killed them."
<Cato_Artaega> ++Bridge, did you receive my earlier orders.++
<Expanse_GM> +Moving now, sir. Rules of engagement?+
<Cato_Artaega> +Hold fire on the unknown group we shall investigate+
<Rey_Lasky> "Yea well what ever happened, I hope it doesn't happen again." he pulls out his auspex to scan for the unknown group but the blast from a moment ago seems to have effected the sensors on the device for the moment.
<Cato_Artaega> "Get your wits about you we don't know who those people are yet and they had some heavy weaponry."
<Cenva> "That's the energy I was sensing. That weird Ork hauling the 'green lightning'."
<Cato_Artaega> "Hello?! Who goes there?!"
<Cato_Artaega> +and Squad 1 give a sitrep to the ship when you get out of the zone. Call some reinforcements in to secure our landing zone.+
<Cato_Artaega> +If they aren't already there.+
<Expanse_GM> "We are approaching! Do not fire upon us!"
<Zog> "Okay."
<Expanse_GM> +Sir, three heavily armed men. They appear to be protecting a woman.+
<Expanse_GM> In moments this is confirmed as the four figures emerge, weapons held low and relaxed.
<Expanse_GM> "I am Lady Ash. And you are Lord-Captain Cato," the woman calls out.
* Valarian_Stukov keeps his guard up as they approach
<Expanse_GM> Her face is recognizable. Your memories take you to your arrival on Port Wander. The flying beast that lands to perch on her shoulder confirms this beyond all doubt.
<Zog> "I remember bird."
* Cato_Artaega steps forward. "You have some explaining todo. You're welcome by the way."
<Expanse_GM> She steps forward, signaling her men to stand down.
<Zog> "Why bird lady here?"
<Rey_Lasky> "Very good question Zog."
<Expanse_GM> "You are your father's son. You know well why I am here."