Evervigilant 34

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> Having secured the glassteeds to one another in a single train, Shiv adapts his operation skills to an altogether more biological method of transport.
<Vigilant_GM> Following the instructions given by the eccentric missionary D'Harn, and guided by the vox ping of the smuggler's pack, the accolytes ride towards their quary for the better part of two hours.
<Vigilant_GM> The sun begins to emerge from the clouds above as it descends towards the horizon as the evening pushes the day to a close.
* Tony After about a Hour into the journey Tony adjusts himself and tries to get use to the Steed
<Tony> "I think I rested up a bit now, lets get some speed our time is short"
* Velam has a hell of a time riding behind Shiv. What with the way the beast moved, and the hard time he was having balancing the smuggler's pack and himself atop. Truly riding any kind of creature was hard work.
<Baird> "Agreed" +When we get close to our objective area we'll halt and survey the area with the magnoculars and scopes if anyone has any. We'll formulate a plan for approach after assessing the situation.+
<Vigilant_GM> As the third hour passes, so remote is the location of the acolytes that in all directions nothing but endless sands are visible.
<Vigilant_GM> Yet, as dusk begins to settle in, a mirage proves itself material a few kilometers ahead - a lake in the middle of the vast emptiness of the wastes, largely clear with a soft green-hue shines with the last of the sun's rays.
<Vigilant_GM>  As the distance is closed, a sprawling encampment rises from an island amidst the steaming chemical lake. Gates of scrap encompass an array of prefab buildings, rumshackel hovels, and plastek tents.
<Baird> +Hold here.+
<Velam> "My oh my."
<Nitrous> +Yup+
<Vigilant_GM> Through magnoculars, men in armor or protective gear move about, hauling crates onto the decks of vehicles, while armed guards patrol the perimeter of the camp. The gate lies at the very edge of the island, and two large towers hold up a drawbridge which seemingly provides the only access.
<Karpath> "So, how bad is it Tony?"
<Tony> "We are looking at what looks like a island with Towers,a Drawbridge and one way in besides the Green Moat."
<Tony> "Armed Guards, frak I am seeing 10 no 18 frak. Routing Watches the works."
<Velam> "Not something to sneeze at, gentlemen...hmmmm."
<Baird> "What kind of vehicles? Any heavy weapons? Volatile chemicals or goods?"
<Tony> "We might want to get closer to get a better idea."
<Shiv> "I don't think we can fight our way in."
<Tony> "Looking for options"
* Tony As he looks around for points of interest
<Tony> "Oh what do we have here"
<Tony> "I see Four guards patrol the walls at a time, two moving clockwise while two complete a circuit in the opposed direction. In addition, two guards are posted permanently in the guard tower surveying the surrounding area with a massive stablight. One guard moves the lamp, while the other stands ready with a long-las."
<Tony> "The wall itself is just four meters high around the camp. The land on which the camp sits is not a true island, as it backs up against a rocky cliff face on the far side of the lake."
<Tony> "If I could get on the cliff I could get a better view of the camp."
<Nitrous> "Rat give your cloak to Tony."
<Nitrous> "We got some scouting to do."
<Baird> "Nitrous, Tony, take a trip to the cliff and get ready to provide information and if necessary overwatch."
<Tony> "You and me again then Nitrous look like."
<Nitrous> "Let's hope we succeed."
<Tony> "We will need to Nitrous Emperor be with us."
<Karpath> "Good luck you two."
* Shiv pulls out his cloak and hands it to Tony.
<Shiv> "Don't ruin it, it's the only one I got."
<Tony> "I hear you Shiv."
<Velam> +If I may, I'd suggest we take advantage of their predictable patrol patterns, from the sounds of it they don't deviate by much and they're all outward facing. Obviously stealth will be key, and the night will be our best ally in infiltrating. I would suggest a route using the cliff-face, failing that the wall is only 4 meters high...hmmmm. At the very least we have cover once we're inside, if the roofs are any indication.
<Velam> Our main obstacle will be getting past the patrols and wall. Thoughts Raolin?+
<Baird> +I'd still like to have Tony, and Nitrous scout from the cliff. Then we can potentially use those bone coins to convince our way in. Any information sitting in your mental archives you can drum up that might help with this particular group?+
<Velam> +Alas, I'm drawing a blank.+
* Darkminster is now known as Tony
<Karpath> "Might as well make that three to go up the cliff, I'll join you two as well."
<Tony> "Then you might need this more then I will."
* Tony Passes the Camo cloak to Karpath could use some extra eyes."
* Karpath takes the cloak.
<Vigilant_GM> Mounting on two of the steeds, the three ride in a wide circumvention to reach the raised ground without being seen by the encampment guards.
<Vigilant_GM> 15 minutes later, they arrive at the base of the cliff on the side opposite the drawbridge.
<Nitrous> "Sneaky time boys."
<Vigilant_GM> Nitrous, Karpath, and Tony crawl up the terrain maintaining low profiles as they ascend.
<Vigilant_GM> As they reach the very peak, they hear the sound of metal being driven into sand.
* Karpath uses the Auspex to scan in the direction of the sound.
<Vigilant_GM> On the raised auspex screen, a thermal signature is picked up just up ahead. It is in the shape of a man, hunched over, swinging a low signature item into and out of the dirt.
* Karpath pats Tony and signals to him that some one is a head of them.
* Tony Pats Nitrous and points to the guy close by
* Nitrous looks at tony and gestures thumbs up or down
* Tony gestures two things to his eyes and points to him as he does the same to the cliff
* Nitrous draws his rifle and waits
* Tony readies to grab him and cover his mouth
* Tony quickly sneaks out and helps drag the body away from the cliff view
* Karpath stelthfully moves up behind the man as he draws his shock maul, raising it up he hits him dead in the back of the head killing the man.
* Nitrous nods approvingly and gives a thumbs up
* Nitrous assists in scouting
* Tony crawls into position and overviews the camp
* Karpath tries to scan the area with Auspex but nothing else comes up that would be not visible to them.
* Tony in a hushed tone over the vox
<Tony> +2 Viator in the Depot, 1 outside next 3 Dune bikes and I see nothing by the landing pad form what I see so far.+
<Karpath> Though he is unable to detect anything not visible, he does get some heat signature on the landing pad. "Hey Tony, that landing pad has a heat signature."
<Tony> "Strange I don't see anything."
<Tony> +Correction Baird, there is something over by the Landing Bay, I just can't see it.+
<Velam> +Perhaps residual heat from a recent shuttle?+
<Tony> +We do have a guard we taken out here, this one does not have a Vox if that helps. Karpath smashed his head in really good.+
<Baird> +Given the 'artifacts' this group is known for transporting and the fact that some of them are from an 'anceint xenos race'. It could be cloaked.+
<Karpath> +I wouldn't go into that lake, no organic life in it and the smell as well.+
<Vigilant_GM> The rest of the acolytes join in at the cliffside, and make ready to infiltrate.
* Velam sneaks around with the rest of the group, all nerves, but handling himself rather nicely.
* Shiv steals the deadman's outfit and switches outfits for his disguise.
* Shiv with Baird's and Tony's help test the metal base of a vox amplifier. Afterwards, Shive ties a rope to it.
* Shiv pretends to works on the amplifier.
<Vigilant_GM> Tony leaps from the cliff across the gap, and lands within the encampment with a loud thud.
* Baird begins to climb down the rope to the camp below and loses his grip. Slamming into the ground Baird muffles his cry of pain just barely into a dull groan.
* Tony makes a roll and sits up and begins to sneak into the camp, away from the Patrol route
* Velam follows after Baird, somehow able to climb down, his servoskulls sticking close to him. He hears Baird fall, flinching but not losing his own grip as he descends. He makes it safely to the ground and turns to see what he might do for Baird.
* Karpath makes his way down after Velam as he successfully makes it down.
* Karpath makes his way over to Baird to check on him.
* Tony Makes his way to one of the Viator's by the Depot waiting for guards to pass and waiting for the right times to move in
<Velam> Due to some kind of august miracle, the old savant makes it up the wall on his own strength before he reaches down to help another up. Sweat beads his face at the effort, he hasn't had to exercise this much in a long time.
* Karpath makes the first attempt to get up and over the wall but it fails to do so, but with the help of Velam is able to climb up over the wall during the second attempt and then turns around to help Baird up.
* Baird makes it over the wall thanks to the group effort between Velam, himself and Karpath.
* Shiv gets on a steed and rides to a safe distance near the gate.
<Tony> + Nitrous do you see anyone by the Viator by the Dune Bikes?+
<Nitrous> +Bikes are being moved
<Tony> +I am going to need a distraction, to get to the Viator's by the Depot.+
<Baird> +Seems like it's time to set off that promethium tank Nitrous.+
<Nitrous> +Firing on the barrel.+
<Vigilant_GM> A single, massive fireball rises as a blast shatters all glass and brittle material within.
<Vigilant_GM> The entire side of one of the structures is alight, the landing pad is no more, and the men around the depot are either dead or simply gone.
<Nitrous> +Distraction.+
<Vigilant_GM> At this, all the guards along the wall begin to converge in the area.
* Shiv runs toward the gate.
<Nitrous> +Sniper gone.+
* Tony waits for the guards to pass, once they pass he runs to into the Depot and gets himself in a Viator
<Vigilant_GM> As the guards along the drawbridge clear - one of them being gored by a single shot from the cliff - Shiv rides his glassteed clear over the gap, and onto the island proper.
<Vigilant_GM> Standing on the saddle, Shiv tries to clear the remaining height, only to have the beast ride from under him.
* Shiv climbs over the wall after stumbling on the steed.
<Vigilant_GM> At this time, some eight men begin work on getting the flames in control.
<Tony> +I have secured a Viator by the Depot+ you better get to this one you will hear me+
<Vigilant_GM> Another group of men exit fully armed, as the floodlights in the compound begin to light up.
<Nitrous> +Start firing?+
<Baird> +Prioritize heavy weapons.+
<Baird> +Fire when ready.+
* Tony Pops out the the Turret of the Viator and sprays into the guys carrying the Dune bikes goring two of them in a messy Spray
<Vigilant_GM> A single plasma round lands just next to Nitrous from within the base, while one of the wall patrolmen charges Karpath.
* Shiv shifts from cover to cover towards the other vehicle.
* Karpath tries to swing his shock maul at the man who charged him, but his strike is parried.
* Baird moves into cover, hip shooting as he goes, and unleashes a barrage of bolts at two of the men nearby. Both men drop the one nearest Karpath showering him with gore.
<Baird> "Sorry about that Karpath."
<Vigilant_GM> From the shattered window of one of the structures, a bolt pistol goes off. One round buzzing over Baird's head, the other striking violently against the panel used by Baird as cover.
<Karpath> "No problem, thanks for the save."
<Vigilant_GM> A hooded figure charges out with a long curved blade in hand, barely missing Shiv.
* Nitrous fires a shot and misses
* Velam hops down from the wall, moving into nearby cover. He unholsters his plasma pistol and fires up at one of the assailants on the 2nd floor, hitting but not killing the bastard.
<Vigilant_GM> When another hooded figure joins the melee, Shiv finds himself outnumbered.
<Tony> +I will try and hold down the Depot here as long as I can but I will need you guys over here.+
* Tony sees a guy at his rear and opens fire at the last man by the Air Pad and ruptures his body ripping him apart every shot as he falls apart from the Bolter Fire
<Shiv> "WHY ARE YOU FECKS ATTACKING YOUR OWN?"
* Karpath is able to dodge a shot for the man with the plasma weapon.
<Vigilant_GM> Shiv sprays the two assailants with holy fire. The enemy's robes are set on fire, yet before they die, a last flurry of attacks is released while a litany of martyrdom is called until the flames consume them. One of the blades cuts into Shiv's leg, the weapon's coated surface allowing toxins to enter painfully into Shiv's limb.
* Karpath moves into cover and then opens fire on the man in the upper floor as he switches to his bolter.
* Nitrous headshots a man behind cover
* Baird switches to his plasma pistol and lines up a shot at the man in the building. His first shot with the plasma pistol destroys the cover he was hiding behind. The cover now destroyed Baird follows up with a burst from his bolt pistol, goring the mans leg, and putting him on the ground.
<Nitrous> +Can someone lower the drawbridge.+
* Shiv pulls out a lho stick and starts smoking on the ground.
* Nitrous heads towards the drawbridge
* Karpath pops out of cover his bolter at the ready as he checks around and moves up and over the Shivs position to check on him.
<Baird> +Everyone gather round, let's see if we can get some answers.+
<Baird> On the way to the man who should be dead Baird lowers the drawbridge for Nitrous.
<Nitrous> +Thanks.+
<Tony> +One moment I am going to make sure these Viator's have nothing to fire at us, but I will be over.+
<Karpath> "You ok Shiv."
* Nitrous heads over to baird
<Shiv> "No, I rather lay here for awhile if you don't mind."
* Tony begins to detract the ammo and throws it to the side as he goes around and does this to all 3 Viators
<Baird> +Good idea Tony. Everyone secure the compound, weaponry and ammo.+
<Karpath> "If you want to lie here then ok." he then walks over to Baird.
* Karpath begins to make his way then over to the build where the man was in the second floor, his bolter at the ready and Auspex scanning for anything.
* Nitrous starts checking all the dead bodies on the ground for ammo and weapons
<Vigilant_GM> Karpath ascends the building to the second floor, looking for the man who fired the bolt pistol. Before he examines the body, an odd sense of familiarity strikes him... he knows this man.
* Karpath takes a look at the man, as he tries to figure out who he is.
<Vigilant_GM> The name escapes Karpath, but despite the augmetic jaw and respirator on the body, he knows this man as the smuggler whose servitor nearly killed him.
<Karpath> "What the fuck."
* Tony Once he is done disarming the Viators he makes his way to Baird with his Autogun out in case
<Karpath> +Guys um so you killed that smuggler from awhile back right?+
<Nitrous> +Yup+
<Nitrous> +He's back isn't he?+
<Shiv> +The one that took your leg?+
<Karpath> +Yea, then why is his body here?+
<Shiv> +Cut his legs off.+
<Nitrous> +Blow his brains out+
<Tony> +Is he alive?+
* Shiv gets up.
<Karpath> +No he is dead, gonna drag his body outside so you can see.+
<Tony> "So I have not been here for all this mess mind giving me a quick update?"
* Shiv moving towards Karpath.
<Baird> +Understood. Hows the rest of the compound coming?+ Baird continues walking towards the man who should be dead.
<Karpath> After a few mins he is able to drag the mans body down and out into the court yard.
* Karpath grabs the Bolt Pistol and the reload from the man along with a Hallucinogen grenade, he puts both the pistol and grenade into the bag and hands off the reload to Baird.
* Nitrous heads back to the group after checking for weapons and ammo
* Shiv checks the body's bionic arm.
* Baird nods in thanks to Karpath
<Nitrous> +Got a few guns and melee weapons.+
<Nitrous> +Left behind some strange weapons.+
<Vigilant_GM> Fur trimmed fine clothing are covered in blood, singed at the bottom with the glow of hot plasma, a chainsword damaged beyond repair by the same, and the remains of a plasma pistol. These surround the man dragging himself on his back, grunting as he inches away.
* Karpath nods back and walks over the the man he dragged down, he then takes his Boltgun and places it against the head of the man, he pulls the trigger and puts a bolt round in his head.
<Vigilant_GM> If not for the cauterizing heat of the plasma detonation, he would have bled out near instantly.
<Tony> "Hold up there, friend."
* Tony As he aims the Autogun at the man on the ground
* Baird steps over and around the man to blocks his path. Leveling a pistol at the man as he does so.
<Baird> "You may as well stop crawling."
<Vigilant_GM> "Who..."
<Vigilant_GM> "Who, the FUCK... are you?"
* Nitrous helps karpath throw the body into the fire
* Karpath then takes the body, striping anything valuables off of the body, he then gets Nitrous to help throw the body into the fire.
<Nitrous> "Let's do that to the rest."
<Tony> +You got it here Baird? If not I am going to look around for clues otherwise+
<Baird> +Yep I got it.+
<Nitrous> +Tony handle the strange knives.+
<Tony> +Well may as well give it a look anyways+
<Baird> "That's not how this is going to work. We're going to ask you questions. You answer. Perhaps you survive."
* Tony As he picks up a Knife and gives it a look over inspecting it
<Vigilant_GM> "How... do I know you can save me?"
<Baird> "We have a medic on hand. You answer truthfully I bring him up here and he saves your ass. Simple."
<Vigilant_GM> The blades are inscribed with runes from non-Gothic origins.
<Vigilant_GM> "Q-quick, then. Ask your questions," he looks down at himself. "I don't have much time."
<Nitrous> +Preping the transport.+
<Shiv> +I'll join yea, Cop.+
* Karpath makes his way to the tower and takes the long las and its ammo, he takes the gun and puts it in the transport.
* Tony pockets the Knife in a cloth for now as he begins to look around for interesting clues the camp may hold
* Karpath after dropping off the items, he then joins Tony.
<Baird> "Firstly a list of associates on planet. Not grunts. The people who make things happen. Secondly what's your connection to this cult that has popped up in the underhive." At the mention of the cult Baird also describes the symbol they were wearing to clarify on which 'cult' he meant. "And lastly Cold Trade or Trade Sable leaders on planet or in nearby systems."
* Tony Looks around for the biggest building
<Vigilant_GM> "Me... Golsken Hresk," he pauses in pain. "Zax Holthane, Amarie Dusk..."
<Vigilant_GM> "Don't know of any fuckin' cult besides these... hooded rats I got involved with"
<Tony> "This Camp should be a good source for the information we are looking for look for buildings that may house important documents or Dataslates"
<Karpath> "Agreed, did you find anything interesting about those blades?"
<Baird> +Itkit, come stabilize this man.+
<Nitrous> +Sabatoge what vehicles we won't use.+
<Shiv> +Sure.+
* Shiv heads towards Baird.
<Tony> "Besides the fact they are not of Imperial make not much I can tell, I am sure our employer would have a better idea. But it is a clue non the less."
<Tony> +Be sure to gather as much Promethium before you do you two.+
* Shiv patches up the dying man.
<Karpath> "True they would."
<Nitrous> +Yup.+
<Baird> After the man is stabilized Baird attaches manacles to him and begins hauling him towards the Viator. +We'll take this one in for more answers. Itkit. Tranq him.+
* Shiv pulls out an injector with Tranq and injects the fool.
<Vigilant_GM> Further investigating the facility, Karpath and Tony hear a rhythmic striking of metal against metal.
<Vigilant_GM> It comes from within a sort of shipping container.
<Karpath> +Guys, we got something over here in some sort of shipping container. The scanner shows it as man shape, though not sure what it is.+
* Tony Pulls up his Autogun
* Nitrous rushes over
* Nitrous draws his rifle
<Vigilant_GM> The side of the container has a makeshift door.
* Karpath readies his Boltgun, aiming it at the container.
* Baird secures the manacled man to the outside of the Viator to keep him out of trouble just in case and heads over to the others.
* Tony hugs the side of the door ready to breach the door
* Nitrous gets ready to breach
* Karpath keeps his sights on the door. "Wait for Raolin to get here."
* Nitrous switches to shotgun
<Nitrous> "Yup."
* Tony Nods to Nitrous
* Tony as he breaches the door
<Shiv> "I'm gonna sit this one out and watch our 'friend'."
<Nitrous> "GET DOWN!!!"
<Baird> +Let's do it. Jack in first and Tony on his heels just in case it's some witch or some such.+ Bairds voice drips with derision at the word 'witch'
<Vigilant_GM> The container has been converted into a small, crude prison. Steel bars divide the interior into two cells separated by a small walkway for the gaoler to observe and feed potential prisoners. Only one cell is occupied, however. A hunched over figure in deep crimson robes.
<Tony> +We got Prisoners over here+
<Nitrous> +We got what appears to be a prisoner.+
<Shiv> +One at a time.+
<Tony> "Jinks"
<Nitrous> +Room clear.+
* Baird enters on the heels of the first two in and steps over to the bars.
<Vigilant_GM> "You..." a deep voice with a metallic ring speaks, though weak.
* Nitrous shifts to the side
<Vigilant_GM> "You have destroyed the enemies of the Omnissiah."
<Nitrous> +We got a cog boy.+
<Karpath> +Oh boy hope he is not the one we met a while back.+
<Nitrous> "Orders sir?"
<Baird> "We have. You're Adeptus Mechanicus correct? Why did these men have you locked up. Beyond being enemies of the Imperium."
<Tony> "Seems you and Raolin got this me and Ed are going to keep looking around."
<Baird> +Itkit, we'll need your medical and technical skills in here."
<Nitrous> "Good hunting."
<Vigilant_GM> "I was tasked with finding a relic left on this planet from the old wars," he begins.
<Vigilant_GM> "They captured and interrogated me for many weeks."
<Tony> +Wait who will watch our legless man?+
<Vigilant_GM> "I did not betray the Omnissiah. I was to be killed tonight."
<Shiv> +Imma coming...+. He heads toward Baird.
<Nitrous> +Darrel switch.+
<Baird> As he speaks Baird heads over to the door of the cell. and turns to Nitrous. "We take him with us."
<Nitrous> "Yes sir."
<Karpath> +Ill go back and watch him.+ He then hurry's back to watch over their prisoner.
<Baird> "We are servants of the Emperor. You will accompany us back to the Hive and we can get you back to your organization, should you so choose."
* Shiv tries to pick the lock of the cell. He says "*Sigh* No luck."
* Karpath stands watch over the man keeping his boltgun at the ready and trained on the man.
* Baird nods and steps back then fires a blast on maximal from his plasma pistol into the locking mechanism on the door.
* Tony Continues to look about for specifically documentation or a Dataslate
* Nitrous slowly opens the door and assists the cog boy to the transport
<Vigilant_GM> The techpriest resists.
<Vigilant_GM> "You must not let them escape."
<Shiv> "Let's see what I can do for ya." Shiv attempts to patch up the Techpriest.
<Tony> +Bingo+
<Tony> +Gentlemen I have a lead+
<Vigilant_GM> "A shuttle departed not an hour before your arrival."
<Nitrous> +I see.+
<Nitrous> "Where?"
<Baird> "Where did it go?"
<Tony> +Port Gyre that is our next destination+
<Vigilant_GM> "It was to be taken off world by the smuggler's associates and the putrid cult with which they allied."
<Vigilant_GM> He makes the sign of the Omnissiah as if to ward off heresy.
<Baird> "Understood. That means we must head to the hive either way. Join us and we can get you back to your people. We have every intention of stopping them."
<Baird> +Everyone load up we have some ground to cover, fast.+
* Tony with whatever documents of trade he can grab he rejoins the party at the Viator with haste
* Baird and Nitrous help the cog boy to the Viator.
* Nitrous get's the cog boy to the transport
<Nitrous> "Let's go."
* Shiv limps toward the transport.
* Tony once in he slides into the Co Pilot seat of the Viator
* Karpath takes the prisoner that was locked up to the side of the Viator and drags him inside and locks him up.
<Vigilant_GM> "My brothers have a temple in the port of Gyre. They will attend to me."
<Baird> "Understood."
* Tony Slides into the Driver Seat realising Shiv is worse for wear and starts the engine
* Shiv joins Tony as the copilot.