Rosenkrantz 49

	Rosenkrantz_GM	IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The Dynasty has deployed in force to the Knight World of Fascen. The Praeliator Aurorae, and the Consequence both are high in orbit around the planet, gathered with the Imperial Blockade. In truth, the Imperial Navy is involved in an ugly stalemate, with Ork forces able to almost freely find their way through to the planetary surface. The war has raged on for over a year, with the Imperium's
	Rosenkrantz_GM	response being sluggish and unwieldy.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	While the arrival of the Dynasty brought with it responses from various imperial organizations, the matter of loyalties saw them backing rival Houses. Amidst the chaos, however, you have bene seconded the forces diverted from Maccabius Quintus.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Preparations for war are, mostly, beneath you. In truth, the goals you have set are about as specific as those in as high a station as yourselves need to be. The dozens of officers of the Imperial Guard, the Sororitas contingent, and other links in the chain of command will take care to execute your will, and by extention that of the Emperor.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The engines on Lord Wilhelm's heavily customized gun-cutter can be heard even from here, as preparations are made for its departure. All around you aides and serfs bring in decor and furniture, in hopes to make this once mothballed Bastion more to your liking.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A furious knock interrupts Wilhelm's daydreaming as he stares out the wide viewport.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He gives Vivian a confused look.
	Vivian	was also seemingly lost in thought, only to snap to before she would raise a brow. Vivian then gave a gentle shrug as she would approach the door, only to check to see who it was.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	You open the heavy metal door to find a man pinned under the knee of a rather unamused House Guardsman, he can hardly breathe, but he seems to mouth a greeting at you - face planet on the floor.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	planted*
	Vivian	simply just stared.. Before opening the door a bit more to get a better sight. Looking to the house guard, she'd gesture for him to ease up and hoist the man up. "..Greetings. What is it you need?"
	Josef	combs over his data-slate for new reports.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The figure lifted up is a rather pitiful looking one. He wears clothing wholely inadequate for the climate outside, a cloak perhaps better suited for someone trying to move about as discretely as possible. He wears no identifiyng tags - more than likely the reason behind his rather harsh welcome by the Troopers standing guard - and is himself nondescript; the sort of face one could forget
	Rosenkrantz_GM	in less than a day.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My Lady..." he catches his breath, "my Lady, I have been sent here to speak to you personally," before he can continue, a coughing fit overcomes the man.
	Vivian	flinches slightly.. Only to take out a small water flask from her pocket. Presenting it to the man, she'd bring a hand up to gently pat his back, before closing the door behind her- not wanting the noise to disturb Wilhelm. "Easy, now. Take a drink, catch your breath."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He receives the flask and takes a long drink. Tilting his head back as he does so, the hood of his cloak slips back from his head.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My thanks," he says, returning the flask to Vivian.
	Baine_Mort	reads over a data-slate for reports of weapons and supply movements to the camp.
	Vivian	"You're underdressed for the weather.. Hold onto it, friend." She'd offer a smile and a gentle shake of her head as he offered the flask back. "At the very least, use it for booze to keep yourself warm, later on." Then she'd relax, crossing her arms as she watched him. "You said you wished to speak to me."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He looks nervously at the guards standing at either side.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My message is for your ears alone, I'm afraid."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	One of the troopers rests his hand on the grip of his dagger at this.
	Vivian	raised her brows slightly.. Then she'd nod. Looking to the house guard, she'd speak sternly. "At ease. I will be back, shortly." Then she'd bring a hand up to rest on the man's shoulder, gently pulling him along to guide him along the hall- to head to a separate room. "Come, friend. Let's talk."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He nods his head awkwardly and follows.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Once he is sure you alone can hear him he speaks,
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My Lady, I am instructed to inform you that interrogations have been carried out on the locals, and the navy voidsmen who have been here for some time."
	Vivian	"I see.. What has been found, so far?"
	-->|	Axel (chatzilla@sux-7A43C419.hsd1.mi.comcast.net) has joined #rosenkrantz
	=-=	Axel is now known as Your_Fucking_Captain
	=-=	Your_Fucking_Captain is now known as Bitch
	=-=	Bitch is now known as Friedrich_Rosenkrantz
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"We now know that the Freebooterz were not the only ones to slip by the Imperial blockade. Vessels with Imperial identifiers. Smugglers, or worse, able to operate unharmed by the Orks, we su---" he is suddenly overcome by some sort of pain, gripping his head, eyes closed... he screams.
	Vivian	furrowed her brow, flinching at the scream at first, before she'd tilt her head. "Your cybernetic.. Is it glitching?" It was a guess, a wild guess, but all the same, she'd slightly move his hood back to take a look to try to assist before it's too late.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	As you approach to get a closer look, you can *hear* the problem. A barely audible high-pitched screech coming from... inside his skull.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	It ends as abruptly as it began.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The man collapses to his hands and knees, breathing heavily.
	Vivian	"God-Emperor.. I heard the screech. Are you alright?" As he collapsed, she'd kneel down at his side. "..You're not able to tell me the whole message, are you." Then she'd rest her hand on his back, rubbing consolingly. "We have a techpriest that could help, if you want."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I don't... have much time. Fragments of coded communications were intercepted... dogs of war... mercenaries... *assassins*!" he hisses, eyes wide, spittle flying form his tongue. "Beware the young lord!"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	A low, wet, sickeing 'thump' ends his life, as his brains are liquified in an instant, eyes rolling back in a gruesome death.
	Vivian	"The young lord-" She then watched, falling silent as the man died before her eyes. Then she'd sigh slowly, moving to stand. Turning away, she'd leave and head back to Wilhelm's location to communicate what had just transpired. Of course, sending for a house guard to take care of the fallen man.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Vivian returns to the chamber, opening the door to an ongoing conversation between Uncle and Nephew. "And how does this affect our ability to reinforce or, if need be, evacuate?"
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Immediate evacuation would be difficult due to most of our naval assets being devoted to the blockade." he then adds quietly "I have arranged for a ship to be prepared to evacuate you specifically at a moments notice."
	Vivian	approaches, slowly crossing her arms. "Gentlemen.. The most interesting thing had just transpired."
	Baine_Mort	looks up at Vivian to listen in.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I saw the numbers in the General's report. It's a matter of time bef-- Ah, Lady Vivian!" Wilhelm turns to the Master of Whispers.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Good news, I beg?"
	Vivian	"A man just died in front of my eyes. He carried with him a message."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	turns, raising an eyebrow at the senechel
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm's expression turns to one of an almost childlike curiosity.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Oh?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Were you harmed?"
	Vivian	gave a light ahem, before quoting. "We now know that the Freebooterz were not the only ones to slip by the Imperial blockade. Vessels with Imperial identifiers. Smugglers, or worse, able to operate unharmed by the Orks,", then he collapsed. His brain was liquified. I heard the screech. Someone didn't want him speaking.. But he did make mention of Fragments of coded communications being...
	Vivian	...intercepted, 'dogs of war'.. 'mercenaries'.. Assassins and then his last words were "Beware the young lord"."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Cryptic babble," Wilhelm dismisses, waving it away with his hand as though it were a fly.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Then, his eyes go wide.
	Vivian	gave Wilhelm a deadpan stare.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Take me to the Consequence. Now." Wilhelm rises
	Vivian	"As you wish, My Lord."
	Baine_Mort	"Young, Lord," Mort says to himself, pondering over it for a moment.
	Vivian	immediately puts out the call to gather a guncutter to return to the Consequence. As fast as possible.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Shall I accompany you uncle?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"All of you!" he replies, walking out the door.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	sighs before quickly standing and following his ever mysterious Uncle
	Baine_Mort	get up and follows,picking up his weapon on the way out.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The hurry in Wilhelm's step are orders enough for the crew who immediately jump into action when they see him exit the bastion.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The large black Cutter is prepared and made ready to depart in under a minute.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	You board, and nearly as soon as you strap in, you are airborne.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Care to elaborate on the situation Uncle?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Cowards, Friedrich. Cowards after your cousin."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The Cutter makes a sharp turn, suddenly.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Then another, followed by  a sudden drop.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"What the hell is happening here."
	Baine_Mort	gets up from his seat with Friedrich and makes their way to the cockpit.
	Baine_Mort	gets up from his seat with Friedrich and makes their way to the cockpit.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The two manage to navigate their way to the cockpit doors, and open them to find rather flustered and preocupied crew "Not now, Conrad! Go alert Lord Wilhelm!"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The pilot turns to you, then.
	Baine_Mort	"What is going on here?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My Lords! It isn't safe for you to move around. We are evading enemy craft."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"How many?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The reports of breeches in the Imperial blockades were not exaggerated. The auspex are tracking five pursuing craft of horrid construction.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Orks."
	Baine_Mort	"Well this is great, are you able to outrun them?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Just then, the first rounds hit your Cutter.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My Lords, I must insist you strap yourselves in somewhere!"
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	quickly returns to Wilhelm
	Vivian	closes her eyes, bracing herself in her seat.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Ork fighters."
	Baine_Mort	makes his way back to his seat.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Emperor's, teeth..." Wilhelm curses under his breath.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+I want Interceptors from the Consequence scrambled immediatly.+
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++My Lords, I would not ask this of you were it not necessary. Weapons servitors have been destroyed. We need to man the defensive weapons manually!++
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++As you command.++ Titus' calm reply comes in.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	without hesitating makes his way to the nearest gun
	Baine_Mort	"I got it my lord." Mort makes his way to the defensive weapons controls.
	Baine_Mort	makes his way to the tail autocannon controls.
	Josef	"I believe I am need, excuse me." He leaves for the lascannon controls.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The weapons come to life as you enter the control nooks, auspex imagery lightening up on the displays.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The pilot pulls you into a sharp climb and roll, bringing the pursuing craft into your view.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Five targets, aggressively pursuing, slowly closing in to compensate for the evasive maneuver of the Cutter.
	Josef	fires at the closest Ork ship, but it dodges.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	delivers a devastating blow to one of the pursuers, doing significant damage and forcing it to break off
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The pilot readjusts course, bringing all of the targets to bear once more.
	Baine_Mort	unloads, the autocannon at one of the Ork ships, the ship explodes into a fire ball of flame and metal, "Got one down, 3 remaining."
	Josef	fire again at the same target and damages the Ork vessel.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	blasts the already damaged ship, sending it crashing to the ground below
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The pilot alters course once more to make his attacker's aim inaccurate.
	Baine_Mort	takes aim at the last remaining ork ship and hits it with a few shots from the autocannon.
	Josef	tries to take aim at the last Ork ship but can't lock on to it.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	takes aim at the final fighter, bringing it down successfully
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++That's all of them. Good shooting, my Lords. We will be proceeding to the Imperial blockade.++
	Baine_Mort	watches from the autocannon seat as the short dogfight is now over before getting up and making his way back to the others and his seat.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	As you break through the atmosphere, a flight of interceptors forms up on you.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The escort is more than just formality, however. As you close in, you pass an Imperial Frigate moving towards an advancing Ork force. A naval engagement is about to begin.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm is sweating, visibly uncomfortable.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	In point of fact, half of it may well be the winter clothing necessary planetside. The furs now threaten to sweat the Rogue Trader's very life form his pores.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Emperor... have mercy."
	Baine_Mort	As Mort takes his seat, he looks over to Wilhelm, "Are you alright my Lord?"
	Josef	"Are you feeling alright, my Lord-Admiral?" Josef returns to his seat.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I am tearing these damned layers off as soon as we arrive."
	Vivian	remained rather calm, quietly staring over her dataslate as she waited.
	Josef	"We should get you a suit that regulates your body temperature."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Once you do indeed arrive at the Consequence, the launch bays are filled with Armsmen standing readily at attention to receive their Lord-Admiral. Their Lord-Admiral, however, is feeling much less ceremonial, as he fulfills his promise, removing it all... bare-chested Wilhelm greets his men on the Consequence - many for the first time.
		Rosenkrantz_GM	The severity of the situation quickly settles in again, as he calls for Marius to meet you on the bridge. Not wanting to overstep his Nephew's authority on his own ship, however, he discretely says it into Friedrich's ear - the order ought to come from a ship's Captain.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+Have Marius meet me on the bridge, quickly.+
	Vivian	shook her head and quietly removed a few layers of her own furs as she stepped off.. Not nearly as much as Wilhelm, but all the same. Without another word, she'd quietly head to the bridge.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The lot of you arrive on the bridge just as Titus appears his busiest. Incoming transmissions from the battlegroup arrive all at once. The blockade is about to collapse.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Marius intently observes, senses glued on the First Officer and the bridge crew.
	Vivian	shook her head and quietly removed a few layers of her own furs as she stepped off.. Not nearly as much as Wilhelm, but all the same. Without another word, she'd quietly head to the bridge.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm heads for the Command Throne, but stops just a few meters short - force of habit. He stands to its side, allowing the Lord-Captain to conduct his affairs.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	He does, however, motion for Vivian.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	nods to him, before taking a seat in his throne
	Vivian	approached quietly.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Perhaps some suitable attire might be found on this ship," he whispers to her.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Indeed, the sight of the underdressed Lord-Admiral gives the crew pause.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Aetherics! Focus!" Titus barks, bringing them back to task.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Report Titus."
	Vivian	gave a low chortle. "Of course, My Lord.. Though it wasn't wise to strip down as much as you did. I'll see to it." A grin followed before she'd send for a servant to go and fetch proper clothes for poor Wilhelm.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Captain, the situation has escalated. The Commodore's forces are stretched thin. If the blockade collapses, we risk forfeiting our ability to insert and extract from the planet safely."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"What actions can we take?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++Lieutenant Titus? Have we lost you?++  The communications continue coming in.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"A deep-strike, Captain. The Commodore's forces have locked the Orks in place for the time being. The Consequence could move past the engagement in Silent Running, and attack the captured refinery in orbit. Its destruction should force the Ork forces back."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Back? Back to the very location in which we will be, surely." Wilhelm chimes in.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Titus gives Wilhelm a simple nod, then looks back to his Captain for orders.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Prepare all the assets necessary to attack this refinery."
	Vivian	quietly facepalms. Rather than standing with everyone else, she was leaned up against a nearby wall, hand clasped to her face. Massaging the bridge of her nose, in attempt to stave off a oncoming migraine. She knew the implications of what was about to happen. And yet.. ...Why didn't she say no.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Captain. We are being hailed by the Captain of the /Resolute/."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"A freighter..." Wilhelm comments, looking at the holo displays.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Recieve."
	Vivian	"They have something for us. A little overkill, but. It'll help."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"My Lord Rosenkrantz. I have faithfully carried out the mission assigned to me. I wish to be freed of this device at once, and return to my duties on the trading lanes."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm looks to Vivian, eyebrow raised.
	Baine_Mort	"Oh boy, I do like overkill." Mort responds to Vivian.
	Vivian	looks back to Wilhelm, a rather displeased look on her face. A look that almost just says.. 'I want to die'.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Very well...? he says, turning to Vivian with a questioning look
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Titus nods, "Helm! Alter course! Link with /Resolute/ and prepare for a quick exchange of cargo!"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The exchange takes the better part of an hour, but once you do, you have on board a devide capable of destroying an entire voidstation. The crew aware of the device is understandably nervous.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	=====SKIPAROO=====
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Several hours later, the Consequence steadily and quietly advances past the engagement.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	By now, on the bridge, a plan is being formulated. Wilhelm, now dressed, Emperor be praised, exclaims, "I like it!"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It's big, it's dramatic!"
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"It's also extremely dangerous."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Marius can't help but laugh at his uncle.
	Vivian	"It's going to get us in far more trouble than it's worth." Then she'd immediately give Mort a rather icy, steel-hard stare.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Boom!" Marius says, jumping up, arms up in the air.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Boom!" Wilhelm repeats, mimicking the expression.
	Baine_Mort	"Hey you guys wanted a solution."
	Josef	"Interesting."
	Vivian	facepalms.
	Josef	"We have a weapon without a means of using it."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	It's hard to tell if Titus is being himself, and the contrast makes it stand out, or if he is especially unamused by this.
	Josef	"Aside from a suicide run, but that will damage our holy vessels."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"The Consequence is a carrier. Plenty of delivery options are available. That, of course, is up to the Captain, however." Wilhelm says, giving Marius a wink.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	stares down Wilhelm for a moment, before changing his view to his cousin, then back
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"I...."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The holodisplays light up, tracking a single macrocannon shell approaching.
	Vivian	"Are you so easily able to sacrifice a guncutter, or a bomber, to deliver this bom-" Then the holodisplay lighting up caught her eye. "..Oh. Boy."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Stray round. Steady... steady." Titus says with a calm, firm voice.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Alter course 2 degrees to Port" he says with a nod.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Are you willing to lend your gun cutter to this... delivery mission Uncle?"
	Josef	"I object to sacrificing our sacred beasts."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"4 kilometers, and closing"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	The viewports open, you can see the hab-sized round silently pass you by, just barely missing the ship as it turns to Titus's specifications.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Very nice Titus."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Very nice, indeed." repeats Wilhelm, eyes fixed on the round as it continues on its course away from you.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"And to answer your question, dear nephew. No."
	Baine_Mort	"Titus, does the refinery have any shielding?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Focused augury of that sort could give us away, Master Mort."
	Baine_Mort	"I'm not asking if we know now, but before, is there any information to suggest any sort of shielding."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It would not be unreasonable to think voidshields were installed."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Do we currently have the forces to purge this station with a precision strike?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"A conventional assault?"
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Hopefully with some degree of surprise but yes."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Perhaps so. Focused augury could find the location of the voidshields. That would give away our position, so the assault would have to be carried out almost immediately with the intent of disabling the shields."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Would we have an adequate  escape route?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"I can't be certain. The Ork reaction would be to recall some portion of its forces back."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Contact the commodore and see if he would be willing to devote any resources to this venture."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Titus nods to the Aetherics station.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++Come in, Consequence. How fares your mission?++
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+Well, we have acquired a package that may be very useful in repelling the Ork attack.+
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++Excellent. The battlegroup has held thus far, but we will need that relief if we are to keep a hold of this planet.++
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+We have acquired an atomic bomb, and believe that we can use such a devise to destroy the refinery station the Greenskins are using to launch this assualt.+
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+However we are still in the process of determining the most adequate way to deliver such a devise, we fear the station may have shielding and other defenses, as well as reinforcements to call upon.+
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++May the Emperor guide you.++
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+We are curious, would the blockade be able to devote any resources to this endevour?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++Resources, Captain?++
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"We will soon be within effective launchbay range." Titus informs.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+Mostly ships capable of putting pressure on the stations defenses while distracting any incoming reinforcements. The current plan is a precision strike by my men to disable any actives shields and a delivery of the Atomic weapon.+
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++Only a single capable warship remains a safe distance, unengaged, from the frontline of the blockade.++
	Rosenkrantz_GM	Wilhelm crosses his arms.
	Rosenkrantz_GM	++The Praeliator Aurorae.++ Commodore Grantt says in unison with Wilhelm's, "The Aurorae..."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	+Very well, thank you Commodore.+
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"How daring do you feel Uncle?" he says, a steely tone in his voice
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"Thousands of kilometers from my ship? Somewhere short of 'suicidal' on the Daring scale."
	Vivian	took to staring blankly as she'd seem to zone out. Though she was listening intently.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"If we cannot hold this blockade the Relic will be lost."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"To arrive here on time to be of any use to you, the Aurorae will have to push past the engagement zone, plasma drives burning hot. No stealth - one large target."
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"Is there any evidence of an internal structure we could destroy that would result in the destruction of the station?"
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It's a refinery, Friedrich," Wilhelm says with a simle forming on his face.
	Friedrich_Rosenkrantz	"It's already a bomb."
	Rosenkrantz_GM	"It's only a matter of lighting the fuse."