Evervigilant 31

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> The six-wheel Viator crawls through the sands of the Desoleum wastes, Shiv quickly becoming used to the peculiarities of the vehicle. Even now, over 70kms from the Hive, you remain in its shadow, it's form disappearing high above the clouds.
* Tony Pulls out a pack of lho sticks and opens it up As he looks to Shiv
<Tony> "You Want one?"
<Velam> The savant spends his time looking over his two servoskulls, cleaning them and performing any kind of simple routine maintainence they may need. Once done with that he spends his time recording notes and ideas into his dataslate, every now and then nibbling on a ration bar.
* Karpath chills in the passenger section, he looks out one of the ports of the vehicle watching a sand hills pass in the distance.
* Nitrous watching out for any possible threats
<Shiv> "Sure."
* Tony offers him one from the pack
<Vigilant_GM> Lano, the local guide, is fascinated by the servoskulls.
* Baird scans the surrounding wastes for any signs of the bikes or their riders while while absently rolling around his dice in his palm.
* Shiv takes one of Tony's lho sticks and asks "Light?"
* Tony pulls up his Lighter and lights his as he pulls one out and lights his own
<Vigilant_GM> "Do they," Lano pauses for a moment trying to find the right words, "Do they remember you?" he finally asks the Savant.
<Shiv> "Thank ya, detective."
<Tony> "Never really seen much of the Outside, but I never expected it too be so barren."
<Velam> The savant pauses his typing for a moment, resumes it for a couple of heartbeats then hits a series of runes. It appears he saved what he was writing before putting the slate into a power-save mode. He clears his throat. "Somewhat, I've been told. These," he motions to them, "are my kin, younger sisters who died alas. I wanted to keep them around after, and it's not an uncommmon thing to have dearly departed family converted
<Velam> into these."
<Velam> Velam pauses and chuckles. "Sorry I'm rambling, Lano was it? Yes, I think they remmeber me quite well, they certainly like to get up to mischief when I'm not paying attention to them." He pats one.
<Velam> "Does that satisfy your curiosity, Mr. Lano?"
<Vigilant_GM> He nods, his eyes tracing the floating movements of Nelli.
* Shiv says to Tony "Should see the outside of Snope's World. It's a massive swamp."
<Velam> "Well, if you don't mind then, could you illuminate me about your, and the community you belong to out here? It's all quite fascinating, especially these glass beasts you mentioned earlier."
* Nitrous to Tony "Come to my world."
<Nitrous> "Whole lotta fun."
<Tony> "Oh yeah I heard few tales among the Bars about your world, makes me wonder how you manage a jungle like that?"
<Nitrous> "Most die."
<Nitrous> "Only thing we export is fighters."
<Vigilant_GM> "The wastes aren't much for hivemen like yourself. But we have a view of the old civilization where I'm from. The steeds still roam," he nods. "Magnificent beasts."
<Shiv> "Interesting, Mr. Doe." He says to Nitrous. "Anyway, it can't fun. I spend most of my time on Port Languin."
<Velam> "Fascinating. I may have to inquire further upon you for more details, oh yes. I should have brought some amasec to share."
* Baird reaches into his coat and retrieves a bottle, proffering it to Velam.
<Baird> "You mentioned amasec?"
* Shiv pulls out an Obscura bottle and waves it. He says "I got something better Nyne."
<Vigilant_GM> Lano then rather suddenly props his head up through one of the hatches. Before long, you hear a sort of whilste shifting up in tone.
<Velam> "Oh my, mighty kind of you Baird-"
<Velam> "Oh no."
* Baird pauses and then tucks the bottle back in his coat and reaches for his weapons. "I don't like the sound of that."
* Velam starts strapping himself in. "That sound is very familiar, I think..."
<Vigilant_GM> A single blast goes off just meters ahead of the vehicle, hurling sand in through the ports, filling the Viator in waste sands, blinding both Shiv and Tony. Despite this, Shiv is able to slam onto the brakes and bring the vehicle to a stop.
* Nitrous get's near the gunner position
<Nitrous> "Battle?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Through the ringing in your ears, you hear Lano curse a veritable litany in his dialect.
* Tony Recoils from the sudden Blast as his Lho Stick drops from the sudden drop
<Karpath> "Oh shit someone doesn't like us."
<Vigilant_GM> "Go, go! Do not stop!" he taps Shiv on the shoulder.
<Baird> "Stomp on it Itkit! Get us out of here!"
* Nitrous get's into a chair and buckles himself
<Velam> "Lano, who is attacking us?!"
* Shiv throws his Obscura bottle down and it hears roll away. He yells "MY PRECIOUS."
* Shiv hits the gas pedal.
* Baird straps himself into one of the harnesses and braces himself.
* Karpath holds on as shiv punches.
<Nitrous> "Gonna be a bumpy ride."
<Vigilant_GM> Before Lano can answer, another shell lands nearby. Sand yet again flies in through the ports and hatches.
<Vigilant_GM> Just an instant later, another.
* Tony Begins to use his Magnoculars to help Shiv Navigate
<Shiv> "Well, fecking feck feck."
* Velam scrambles to put his rebreather on, though it takes several tries before it's securely cinched.
<Vigilant_GM> A last-minute jolt on the control column from Shiv, and blast is narrowly avoided. Your hearing, however, becomes yet another high-pitched ringing.
<Tony> "11 A Clock, Go for the Dunes Ikit!"
* Shiv follows Tony's direction while trying not to panic.
<Vigilant_GM> The Viator's independent axles rise and fall as Shiv swerves through the dunes to remain as low on the horizon as possible.
<Vigilant_GM> The blasts in fact become more distant.
<Tony> "Jack! Can you get some eyes on what is attacking us?"
<Vigilant_GM> Around the next bend, Tony spots a group of men and equipment just a kilometer away.
<Vigilant_GM> The swerving and shaking of the moving Viator, however, makes is impossible to tell much.
<Nitrous> "Get into the gunner position?"
<Tony> "I see a group of men ahead of us. Lano what is chasing us?"
<Baird> "Man the gun Jack. If these are the feck heads that were attacking us I want to be able to pay them back."
<Tony> "About a Kilometer away, try and keep it Steady Ikit so I can get a better sight on them."
* Nitrous get's into the gunner position
<Nitrous> "Ready!"
<Baird> "Keep us updated on the details Tony, Jack is in position on the gun."
<Velam> "I hate vehicle chases." The savant groans.
* Shiv slows down to hide the vehicle behind the dunes.
<Tony> "Is that.. Tanks? No Artillery.. Wait is a that One of them Cog Boys?"
<Vigilant_GM> At this moment, with the engines roaring less loudly, you can hear the crakling of lasgun fire from the left of the Viator, behind the dunes.
<Nitrous> "Negotiate or fire?"
<Baird> "The fewer enemies we make the better. Tony are you one hundred percent those are Adeptus Mechanicus?"
* Karpath pulls out his auspex scanner and begins scanning towards the dunes where the las gun firing is coming from.
<Karpath> "Seems like there are two neat lines of men over towards the las gun firing."
<Tony> "If the various bionics the red and white robes don't give it away then I will be out of my job ages ago."
<Baird> "Understood. Let's greet them."
<Tony> "They are a Kilometer away Raolin."
<Vigilant_GM> A low cloud of dust begins to approach from the northeast.
<Velam> Since no one else mentioned it, Velam unstrams himself from his seat and crawls over to the vehicle's vox-set. He slips the headset on and starts working the controls to scan what active channels are being used.
* Karpath try's to scan the area where the cloud of dust approaches from but the auspex scanner is unable to detect what ever is creating it.
<Vigilant_GM> ++Intercept course holding++
<Vigilant_GM> ++Hold pattern, and do not fire until ordered to.++
<Vigilant_GM> At that moment over the dunes, five tracked vehicles emerge.
<Velam> "Ive got a frequency! Sounds like I'm listening to whoever's trying to intercept...us? Probably us I think. Is there anything chasing us?"
<Vigilant_GM> Laud-hailers mounted on every one of the vehicles begin to blast out the same voice's commands. "HALT IMMEDIATELY, OR BE FIRED UPON!"
<Vigilant_GM> You notice that the lasgun fire and artillery, both, have now gone silent.
* Nitrous puts his arms up
<Baird> "Go ahead and halt Itkit. We are outnumbered and I'd rather not die in these emperor forsaken wastes."
<Velam> "So it is them." The savant, remains at the vox-caster.
* Shiv turns off the engine.
<Vigilant_GM> "The Involute Cadre..." Lano comments, peeking out.
<Vigilant_GM> A man emerges from the top=hatch of the lead vehicle.
<Vigilant_GM> "Vacate the area and return to Hive Desoleum!"
<Velam> "The Involute Cader?"
<Karpath> "Local Guardsmen?"
<Vigilant_GM> Lano nods. "Monsters..."
<Velam> "Oh dear."
<Baird> "Alright Jack, hop down and let me pop up there and chat with them."
* Nitrous steps down.
<Nitrous> "All yours."
* Baird climbs up and out into the gunner position so that he can be heard by the man out of the top hatch.
<Vigilant_GM> "Place your hands where they are visible!"
* Baird raises his hands up before speaking. "Identify yourselves and speak to who would stand in the way of the Emperor's Judgement!"
<Vigilant_GM> There is a moment of pause.
<Vigilant_GM> "Senior Oathsman Leygius Horne! You have violated the operations area of a Desoleum Involute Cadres live-fire training exercise! You place yourselves, and our troops in danger! Return to the Hive immediately!"
<Baird> "We are unable to do so! We are on the business of the highest importance. Escort me to your commanding officer, he may be able to provide information important to our investigation!"
<Vigilant_GM> "Cease your blathering, citizen, and return to the Hive!"
<Baird> "We are from the SCO. We are here on business! Now escort us to your commanding officer Senior Oathsman Leygius!
<Tony> "Is there another way to where we need to go?"
* Tony he looks to Lanos
<Vigilant_GM> "You are beyond your jurisdiction! Return to the hive immediately, or face the consequences!"
<Vigilant_GM> "I have no way of knowing how far this area of operations extends," Lano replies.
<Baird> "We have the proper authorization to be here Senior Oathsman. I can approach alone and you can check my ID and run it's credentials and see we are telling the truth!"
<Vigilant_GM> "Surrender your vehicle and your men and prepare to have your credentials taken!"
<Vigilant_GM> "Don't trust them," Lano implores.
<Shiv> *Sigh*
<Baird> "Very well." Baird clambers down from the gunner position and stands near the exit hatch.
<Baird> "Everyone have your weapons ready in case Lano is spot on."
<Vigilant_GM> From lowering ramps at the rear of these vehicles, infantrymen pour outwards.
<Tony> "I doubt they are willing to cooprate given they fired first."
<Nitrous> "Yup."
<Karpath> "Aye."
<Vigilant_GM> "Everybody out!
<Vigilant_GM> Weapons are trained on the Viator, including those of the vehicles.
<Vigilant_GM> "Out of the vehicle, now!"
* Baird climbs out of the rear hatch, rosette enclosed in his fist, hands held high.
<Vigilant_GM> "We know how many occupants are in the vehicle. Everyone out now, or you will be fired upon!"
<Vigilant_GM> The man calling out these commands, presumably a junior infantry officer, then has his men fix bayonets.
* Velam holds his plasma pistol tightly in one hand.
* Nitrous prepares for the worst
<Vigilant_GM> "Out now, weapons on the ground, hands where they are visible!"
* Baird begins slowly approaching the men. "That would be a grave mistake on your part!" Baird opens his hand as he approaches, revealing the enclosed rosette.
* Karpath keeps his bolter near by at the ready just in case.
<Vigilant_GM> All small-arms weapons are trained on Baird.
<Vigilant_GM> "Drop it! Drop it now!"
<Baird> "This is my badge of office. I will not drop it. Send one of your men over to retrieve it."
<Vigilant_GM> "Prepare to fire!"
<Vigilant_GM> "Hold!" comes a last-minute command from the laud-hailer.
<Vigilant_GM> "Oath-Magister Prass will take your surrender, and review your credentials. Disarm, and you will be escorted to his Command vehicle!"
<Velam> +Raolin?+
<Baird> "I will disarm and come with you. My vehicle and men will stay put. Feel free to continue to keep them under guard!"
<Baird> +One of you come out and retrieve my weapons if you would. Unarmed and unthreatening.+
<Vigilant_GM> The Senior Oathsman disappears into his vehicle, and closes the hatch.
<Velam> "Emperor's balls." He hands his plasma pistol Karpath before coming out of the vehicle.
* Karpath takes it and hold on to if for the moment, "Good Luck."
<Velam> The Savant, waves his servoskulls to stay put and walks up to Baird. "I hope you know what you're doing, friend." He takes the man's weapons.
<Baird> "One of my men is coming out to retrieve my weapons. Once he has done so I will approach and you men will undoubtedly search me any hidden ones."
<Baird> After Velam retrieves his weapons Baird begins slowly approaching the group of men hands still up.
<Vigilant_GM> As all vehicle's weapons are trained on the Viator the laud-hailer calls one last time. "All occupants will vacate! This is your final warning!"
<Tony> "Ikit where is the bag?"
<Vigilant_GM> The infantrymen clear out and move behind the vehicles. Without skipping a beat, once they have cleared the line of sight, autocannon fire opens up.
* Shiv points to the back where the passenger are sitting.
<Tony> "Right I guess we are doing this."
<Velam> With a grunt the old man dives into a small sand dune, narrowly escaping a shell.
* Baird narrowly dodges some autocannon fire.
* Nitrous rushes to the gunner position
<Vigilant_GM> The concentrated rain of autocannon fire shreds the side of the Viator with devastating point-blank accuracy. The side panels are torn up utterly as the right wheels and axels are destroyed. Multiple hydraulics and fuel leaks rip out, too, as the shrapnel bounces in the interior of the vehicle.
<Karpath> "Fucking shit."
<Vigilant_GM> A hunk of the Viator's panel punctures through Shiv, while your guide grabs at his leg in pain, a splinter of metal sticking out.
<Nitrous> "I think we're fucked!!!"
<Velam> "Why did I leave my weapon..." He moans as he rolls over.
* Tony after the barrage he runs out using the smoke as cover to escape the area
<Vigilant_GM> Another autocannon burst from one of the vehicles strikes at the Viator, while the heavy stubber fire goes wide.
<Vigilant_GM> The lead vehicle shifts angle to fire at Baird, but finds its angle is much too high to effectively find its mark.
<Vigilant_GM> Yet another burst of ineffective fire, and the last vehicle begins to maneuver in reverse while the infantry reboards.
* Baird retrieves everything but his plasma pistol from the savant, leaving him with a way to defend himself. "Just don't lose it Velam."
<Velam> "I'll probably die before I get the chance." He gives the gunslinger a sad, worried smile.
<Baird> "Just get closer and pick your targets. You'll be fine."
* Nitrous rushes to the turret and fires a salvo into the nearest vehicle and fucks it up
* Shiv is out cold.
<Vigilant_GM> The awkard angle of the autocannons means the rounds go over Velam, but the mounted heavy stubber opens up on the approaching savant.
<Velam> Several rounds impact the old man in his chest area knocking him forward, he can feel some of his ribs break as he hits the sand, sending lightning bolts of pain through his body. At least he presented a smaller target.
* Karpath fires a single shot at the head of the man operating the storm bolter.
<Vigilant_GM> Out of the flaming vehicle, men pour out screaming and alight as the promethium leaks spread through the interior.
<Vigilant_GM> A number of rounds strike the side of the Viator, stubber fire striking the cupula in a near-miss for Nitrous.
* Tony Stays laying low in the sand looking for something while not causing attention
<Vigilant_GM> As an autocannon goes to fire, a metallic ring clicks instead of the booming of the cannon.
<Vigilant_GM> Autocannon fire rings out once more from the command vehicle. As the storm bolter goes to do the same its belt refuses to feed into the weapon.
<Tony> +Ed is the Vox Caster still intact?+
* Baird draws and fires two bolts at the man using the storm bolter pintle mount and pops his head like a grape.
* Nitrous fires a salvo into the flanking vehicle and starts shredding into it
* Shiv wakes up to see a foreign object into his stomach. He pulls it out and patches the wound. He crawls to safety to try and hide.
<Vigilant_GM> The sounds of metal on metal from within the vehicle rings out until a dud round is ejected.
<Vigilant_GM> The vehicle begins to pull back.
<Karpath> +Yes Both Are intact.+
<Tony> +Okay That is all I need to know, I will see if I can stop this madness.+
* Karpath tries to shoot at one of the man on the stubber's by his shot just miss.
* Tony getting the infomantion he gets up and runs back to the Ruin the transport.
* Tony sets up the Vox that was used to connect into their Vox Channels
<Tony> ++ We are of the Holy Inquisition, If you value your lives you would stand down.++
<Vigilant_GM> The flanking vehicle comes to an abrupt stop.
<Vigilant_GM> ++This is Oath-Magister Hephastian Prass. All units cease fire. Exercise is suspended until further orders.++
* Nitrous get's off the autocannon
<Shiv> "Fecking hell."
<Velam> The old man is currently laying down in his own bed of sand, a smoking plasma pistol sitting in his lap, not enough to burn him thankfully. And he relaxs some as he hears the exchange.
* Tony *Sigh of relief*
<Karpath> "Fuck that could have gone better."
<Nitrous> "We're still alive somehow."
* Baird holsters his pistols and moves over to the wrecked Viator. "Good work Tony. We're going to have a chat with Oath-Magister." Baird holds out his hand for the vox receiver.
<Karpath> "Yea, this is gonna well." He keeps his bolter lowered but sees the damage that has been done.
* Shiv finds Lano and starts to treat him. Shiv stops the bleeding and patches him up.
<Vigilant_GM> Lano, rather than looking grateful, looks at you in terror even after you save him from certain death.
<Velam> +I'm going to lie down where I am for a while. No rush.+
* Tony passes him the Vox Caster "I would give it a moment for his men to return to their duty."
* Shiv tries to patch himself, but the pain is too much.
* Shiv tries to patch himself, but the pain is too much.
<Tony> "Given I said it best I come with you."
* Shiv yells +Is anyone else hurt?+
<Baird> ++Oath-Magister Prass. Report to the site of the..'misunderstanding'. We have much to discuss.++
* Baird turns to Tony. "He can come to us."
<Velam> +Yes.+ Is all the savant can manage.
* Shiv heads over to Velam to patch him up.
<Vigilant_GM> A low cloud of dust approaches from the East.
<Velam> "Ahhh, I can see why these painkillers are so addictive."
<Vigilant_GM> A command chimera in the iconography of the Involute Cadres eventually rolls up from the dunes.
* Karpath waits outside of the hole in the vehicle as the command chimera rolls up.
* Tony Lights a lho stick to caim his nerves with what he had to do
* Baird rises from the vox caster and steps outside the wreckage, hands in pockets, as he waits for the command chimera to slow to a halt.
* Tony he follows behind baird
<Vigilant_GM> As the vehicle slows to a halt, out of the rear emerge two officers. The Oath-Magister is unmistakalbe. The man to his side a senior officer nonetheless.
<Vigilant_GM> He looks around at the wrecks and at the dead.
<Vigilant_GM> His face expressionless he then turns to Baird and takes a few steps forward.
* Shiv limps his way to Baird.
<Velam> Velam sits up and makes himself comfortable, not really wanting to stand up. He turns in his sand seat and watches the proceedings from where he sits.
<Baird> "Oath-Magister." Baird says flatly.
<Vigilant_GM> "Hephastian Prass, of the Involute 22nd," he returns. "You are?"
<Baird> "Baird. Inquisition."
<Vigilant_GM> "You have caused me great inconvenience, Baird. What title do you hold in His Holy Ordos?" he asks sharply.
<Baird> "I believe Oath-Magister it would be in both of our best interests to pretend that we never met. You will provide us with a vehicle and allow us to continue doing the Emperor's most holy work, for the inconvenience you have caused us." Baird continues with the hard, flat tone from before.
<Vigilant_GM> "You misunderstand," he begins.
* Tony has quit (Connection reset by peer)
* Tony (Darkm@sux-C3750936.know.cable.virginm.net) has joined
<Vigilant_GM> "I gave years of service to your organization. I do not refuse your request, but merely protect the integrity of the Ordos by ensuring you are whom you say you are."
<Nitrous> +Seems legit.+
<Vigilant_GM> The Oath-Magister looks to Nitrous.
<Baird> "I can show you my badge. But for understandable reasons I cannot reveal more than I have."
<Vigilant_GM> "I ask only what is appropriate," he nods.
* Baird once more retrieves his rosette and shows it to the Oath-Magister.
<Vigilant_GM> Prass reaches into his coat and fixes the monocle on one eye.
<Vigilant_GM> Small readings scroll through the lens of the monocle.
<Vigilant_GM> He removes the eye-piece and returns your identifier.
<Vigilant_GM> "You may follow us to camp, Acolyte Baird."
* Baird turns to the others. "Let's go. We've lost enough time as is."
* Nitrous follows
* Karpath nodes and grabs his stuff.