Liberation of Nova Spera Session 3

	CawklesGM	There is a certain stark beauty to Qalyat. Hidden beneath the veneer of filth and atrophy, the desperation and decay, there is a young city brimming with life, art, and culture. The blazing afternoon sun helps reveal this hidden place, the lazy orange light washing the drab habs with its meandering rays. Sun dappled shadows stretch across the streets, their monolithic stature a ghost of days long lost. Limned in light, the Great Palace of Ashes looms in the distance. Tau have been buzzing around its steps for hours now, busy little bees scurrying at the whim of their bloodthirsty queen. A worrying portent, no doubt, but your present circumstance is a far greater source of angst. You are making your way to the western edge of the Ashuran District, where it touches the Tareb Gate district. Soon enough, you will not be another face among the crush of humanity. Soon enough, you will become an outsider. A tiny speck of light intruding into a realm of greater darkness. The Tareb Gate District is swarming with Divine Cohort.  Issam's bobbing bald head is the guide in the crowd. He adroitly pushes through the throngs of humanity towards his goal. The bedraggled masses of Qalyat are starting to give way to boiler suits and hard looks; day workers fresh from a shift in one of Tareb's many manufactorums. They eye your procession warily as they return home, trying not to mingle with the tatterdemalion masses that seem to seep from the very walls. Like the workers, many of these starving merchants, working girls, entertainers, beggars, and others of their ilk are hurrying inside. The night is coming. The night is dangerous. Issam's head continues to guide you, down clogged streets and passed deadlocked landcars. As the manufactorums loom in the distance, even Muffin starts to quiet down. Divine Cohort sentries are everywhere. Even among the clamoring of the crowds and the chirps of the approaching evening, there is a certain sense of sepulchral silence falling across the squad. Is it instinct...or foreboding? Whatever the case, any such musing must go on hold. Issam ducks into an alleyway. And just in time, too. If you were on the streets any longer, who knows what would happen...
	CawklesGM	Issam is leaning against the wall of this dinghy place, idly staring at graffiti as more of his comrades slip inside.
	CawklesGM	"Smells like a fethin' grox sty in 'ere..." Jurdik pinches his noise. A flickering stab light affixed to an alley wall is the only source of illumination. The shadows play across Issam's face, giving him a decidedly spooky mien.
	CawklesGM	"Shutty ya beg berd o'mehn. Ya kerpin' mer tan meh"
	CawklesGM	"Children..." Kahina gives a solid smack to Muffin's shoulder. She squeaks.
	CawklesGM	Issam scratches his chin. "C-c-come on guys...what I wanted to show ya is right over here. Not much farther now."
	Ishmael	looks around before following Issam. "Could you tell us what it is...?"
	Rajh_Tara	curiously follows Issam.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	keeps himself from audibly gagging as he enters the alley on the tail-end of the rest of the squad. He clicks his tongue several times as he tries his best to breathe through his mouth.
	Roland	continues to follow
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Get a move on then, Issam, let's not spend anymore time here than needed."
	Rajh_Tara	motions the squad to move.
	CawklesGM	Issam scurries ahead. "It's a lead, Ish. My uh...friend. H-he...well uh you'll see." He leads you all to a corrugated iron sheet attached to the wall. Issam pounds on the sheet.
	CawklesGM	"Y-y-yo Jaffa! It's your boy!"
	XMB-173	        "So, what were we doing, again?"
	CawklesGM	The sheet rumbles for a sec, and it slides up into the wall. And out from the darkness...a *thing* of a human being. This al-Isman is a hulking monstrosity of back-alley mods; two clinking and clanking legs, an unwieldy hydraulic arm built into his shoulder, and two beady optics where his eyes should be. A scraggly beard hangs from his chin, and it sways softly in the breeze. He waddles over to the group, dragging his sluggish feet across the ground.
	Rajh_Tara	"We'll soon find out, Metal Priest."
	CawklesGM	"You have just found out now, you Mahdi pretty boy." The man extends his hydraulic arm to Rajh, its rusted chassis groaning in protest.
	CawklesGM	"Nice to meet you. You can call me Jaffa. Not Jaff, not Jiff, Not Jorf...Jaffa. understand?"
	Ace_Nerat	sighs and smiles at the metal man, chuckling at his comical look.
	Ishmael	        takes a step back from the large augmented man.
	CawklesGM	"Mekanik mehn...wudda soit rund 'ere."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"You're a pretty big guy...Jaffa, right?"
	XMB-173	        tentatively takes his hand and shakes it
	Ace_Nerat	starts to whistle methodically
	CawklesGM	Jaffa's grip is like iron. He smiles a grin that is missing several teeth. "Ah...ya big cumskin, I see you're getting bored. Come, come, if you are friends with Issam you are friends with me..."
	Roland	        looks over at Ace.
	Rajh_Tara	starts to look around the alley,
	CawklesGM	Jaffa trudges back inside from where he came and flips on a switch. You see now that the grate is an entrance to a garage...piled high with crates labelled with medicae symbols. There is a single table inside, and a chair to accompany it. He takes a seat.
	Ace_Nerat	"You...Got lots of meds man."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	instantly starts to examine the crates full of supposed medical supplies.
	CawklesGM	"So...what ya boys want? Are ya like Issam? I hope not, I'm fresh outta spur...got plenty of 'scura though. Got me some wildew too."
	Ishmael	        walks into the room and whistles at the contents within. "Issam, I want to hear how you two met at some point..."
	CawklesGM	"Helly...ell-papi thass a loota dragz in ere boyos..."
	Ace_Nerat	goes over and tips one of the crates over on accident
	CawklesGM	Issam turns a little pale. "Jaffa...we're not here for business. Tell them you what you told me."
	Ace_Nerat	"Whoops, my mistake."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "What in the God-Emperor's name am I seeing?"
	CawklesGM	Jaffa looks over at Ace. He smiles as the thing shatters open and piles and piles of white dust sealed in baggies tumbles out.
	CawklesGM	"Huh. Wondering where I put that."
	Rajh_Tara	[Mahdi] "What is this?". He picks up one of the bags.
	Roland	        leans against one of the walls
	CawklesGM	Kahina approaches the table and puts her fist down with a thud. "Focus, you metal abomination. Do what Issam says or so help me Shaban I'll rend yo-
	Ishmael	        [Mahdi]"Something you shouldn't get involved with."
	Ace_Nerat	"Found it for ya."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik smirks. "Cool it, Kinwoman."
	Rajh_Tara	lightly tosses the bag on the floor.
	CawklesGM	"For the last time, I am NOT your kin you bandit!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	puts a light hand on Kahina's shoulder and guides her away from the cyborg.
	CawklesGM	Jaffa rolls his eyes. "Are you lot supposed to be with some sort of outfit? Because you sure as shit don't act like it."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Calm, calm Kahina, we shall leave shortly."
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to Kahina and leans on her shoulder "Take a breather lady."
	CawklesGM	"anyway, I'll be happy to tell you what I told my little tweaker bud here...for a price."
	Ishmael	"And what price would that be?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina walks out of the garage, out into a stink that she can handle. Jaffa puts his feet up.
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to the metal man and grabs him. "Are you trying to extort us metal boy?"
	CawklesGM	Jaffa huffs as the huge man grabs him. "WHOA WHOA WHOA! No need to get violeeent...chill...I have something for that temper you know."
	Ace_Nerat	"Really?"
	CawklesGM	"Jess toll meh boss wot ya got tah seh."
	Ace_Nerat	"What is it?"
	Rajh_Tara	puts his hand on his knife.
	CawklesGM	Jaffa smirks. "Some pills that'll make your balls shrivel into raisins. Do you want to hear my shit or not? I imagine you boys have better things to do..."
	Ace_Nerat	"Why would that help anger?"
	CawklesGM	The flickering light outside continues to flicker. Kahina watches the alley entrance...intently.
	Ace_Nerat	looks back to everyone confused
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Comrades, let's get on with it, the place is crawling with Cohort, I'd like to leave as soon as possible."
	CawklesGM	"Ooooh...you boys are beetees ain't ya? Well then I got quite the tale for you..."
	XMB-173	        "What is the Cohort, exactly? Nobody has gotten around to explaining the political situation here to me besides the Tau occupation."
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to XMB and wraps his arm around his shoulders
	Ace_Nerat	"They are jerks."
	Ace_Nerat	"They hate Tau, we hate Tau, we hate each other."
	Ace_Nerat	"Simple as that!"
	Rajh_Tara	"Don't forget to add murderous assholes."
	Ace_Nerat	"Yeah, but don't worry, we can take em."
	XMB-173	        looks rather confused as to why there's this kind of schism.
	Roland	        "And if not, Ace will go up to them and punch them in the face."
	Ace_Nerat	"HERE HERE!"
	Rajh_Tara	rubs his temple.
	CawklesGM	"This morning, some ra'iib bitch swung by my humble place of business asking about all sorts of shit. Her accent was way off too...nothing like anything I've ever heard from some cumskin. And she had insane head mods...she must have been awfully cozy with that machine god feller because her stuff makes my job look amateur. Anyway, she introduced herself as 'Chuka' and she wanted me to procure some ordnance for her. I told her, politely, that I don't fuck with that shit. She looked like she was about to beat my head in until two of her buddies walk in and tell her about a deal they just made with some dingdongs called The Family Obscura. They were super vague...but it looks like they found some ordnance dealers. She backed right the feth off and left, telling her two boys to schedule a little meet n' greet this afternoon. Interesting, eh?"
	CawklesGM	Issam looks to his squad. "S-s-seee? Quite a lead?"
	Rajh_Tara	"Indeed."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik tugs his beard. "The Family Obscura, eh..."
	Ishmael	        "That is interesting... could you try to imitate her accent?"
	Ace_Nerat	"We should find this family oscuba." Ace says drunkenly.
	CawklesGM	Jaffa tilts his head. "Eh...I'll try. 'ere goes: She talked like zis, and kept callin' me bratan."
	Ishmael	        tilts his head slightly.
	Ace_Nerat	"Ha, you're a brat."
	Rajh_Tara	"That sounds like a idea, but not much of a plan."
	CawklesGM	Muffin pats her corporal's back. "stell on tah sois, ya drongo?"
	CawklesGM	Jurdik taps Rajh. "What if I told ya I know where those boys hung out?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	folds his arms as he continues to listen to the man. A frown creasing his mouth as he does so.
	Ishmael	        "Hmm... first stormtroopers and now this... odd. Thanks for the info, Jaffa. We run into any chems, we might send them your way."
	Rajh_Tara	"That's a start."
	Ace_Nerat	"Course not, I'm fine."
	CawklesGM	Kahina leans back into the garage. "Brothers...you might want to hurry up. I saw somebody watch us then scurry away."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I don't think he really needs them..."
	Rajh_Tara	"Well... shit. Time to move."
	CawklesGM	Jaffa frowns. "Issam, wanna stay awhile and shoot up? My treat."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	turns to Kahina, a concerned look on his face as he draws his massive pistol and steps outside next to his assistant.
	CawklesGM	Issam looks like he's about to explode. "Not. In. Front. Of. My. Squad."
	CawklesGM	Issam steps outside the garage. The flickering light, combined with the growing darkness, is starting to limit visibility. You look like you are in the clear now...but for how long?
	Rajh_Tara	walks outside and says "I rather not stay and find out."
	CawklesGM	Kahina brushes up to Izem, grabbing his head and steering it towards the mouth of the alley. "See?" She asks.
	CawklesGM	And just as Kahina does that, a head that was peering around the corner vanishes into the street.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	'Thank the emperor for the shit lighting,' Izem thinks to himself. Feeling his cheeks warm.
	CawklesGM	"And just like that, the quarry has fled."
	Ace_Nerat	"I got it."
	Ace_Nerat	begins to sprint down the alley.
	Roland	        follows.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I think- [Bazir] Goddammit!"
	Ishmael	sprints after. "Ace, wait."
	CawklesGM	Muffin yawns. "ell-Papi 'elp meh...Ace, war ya eff tah?"
	Rajh_Tara	starts running after Ace.
	Ace_Nerat	slows near the end of the alley
	Ace_Nerat	"Just missed em."
	CawklesGM	As Ace thunders to the mouth of the alley, he is only greeted by the leery stares of passerby. The huffing and chugging of the distant manufactorum continues in the distance, black clouds angrily billowing.
	Roland	        comes up right next to Ace.
	Rajh_Tara	"Ace, let's leave. You drunken idiot."
	Ishmael	        tries to softly hold and pull Ace away.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	face-palms [Bazir] "What is with this squad?"
	Rajh_Tara	grabs Ace before he collapses toward the street.
	Ace_Nerat	"Well what are we waiting for?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Can we move out now?+
	Roland	        looks at Ace, "You ok, sir?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina frowns, her stony face broken up by her displeasure. Her one good eye looks up to Izem. "It is at times like this I am glad my companion is not a fool or a drunk."
	Rajh_Tara	"Clearly, you."
	Ace_Nerat	"GET A MOVE ON MAGGOTS."
	Rajh_Tara	"You heard the man."
	Rajh_Tara	says under his breath "fucking drunken... donkey."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Thank the Emperor for small favors, eh?" He gives her a grin, before following after the rest of his squad.
	Ace_Nerat	"WHAT WAS THAT BOY?"
	Rajh_Tara	"I said 'Yes, Sir'!"
	Ace_Nerat	"Oh...well good."
	CawklesGM	And with that the squad steals away into the rapidly fading daylight. Jurdik moves up to point, and thumbs his commbead. +Listen here...I know those Family Obscura boys. They're an Al-Babaar clique. They like to hang out in an abandoned warehouse in the docks. I thought they were small fry, running guns...guess they're movin' up in the world now.+
	CawklesGM	+I'll show you to their little club house...I promise you won't like the look of it.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Makes sense that they would grow given all the war going on.+
	Rajh_Tara	+I hope the warehouse is filled with guns. If so, Emperor's Feast Day has come early+
	CawklesGM	+I'm ready for any challenge+, Kahina says whilst puffing out her chest. Muffin chuckles at her tough girl act.
	Ishmael	        +Are we gonna raid the place?+
	Rajh_Tara	+Hopefully.+
	Ace_Nerat	"Wonder if I can point them toward the Family..."
	CawklesGM	The walk back through the Ashura District towards the docks is one that is filled with relief. The Docks are Blazing Trail territory.
	Roland	        looks at Ace in confusion.
	Ishmael	        "Should I see about setting up a vantage point? I think I've done a good job as a marksman so far."
	CawklesGM	The walking is incessant, tiring, and fraught with tension. You have become adept at navigating the urban nightmare of Qalyat, fearlessly trudging through sewage like you were borne to it. Amm continues to dip into the sky, and now its light is but a great bloody wound on the horizon. The habs of the Ahsuran district begin to give way to the wildlands of the docks, a tangled mess of abandoned warehouses, arcane crane constructs, and naked savagery. Although the Blazing Trail "controls" this territory, it is a battleground of various gangs and other desperate souls who can't get into a refugee camp. You cross into the the dock district fully when you walk into a wide alleyway, clogged with trash bins and concrete beams. A street runs between the rows of boarded up shipping offices and hostels.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Devilfish! Find cover now.+
	Ace_Nerat	grabs the redguard
	Roland	        takes cover
	CawklesGM	The squad freezes, tearing away into a hiding place. With the new-found silence, you can finally hear it: the distinct humming of engines most heretical.
	Ace_Nerat	whispers "get cover."
	Rajh_Tara	stops and nods.
	Ishmael	        rushes to hide
	Rajh_Tara	+Izem, pretend you are lost or something.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	curses under his breath.
	Rajh_Tara	ducks and hides.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Kahina I need you to start yelling at me, make it look like we're arguing." He says under his breath.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"What do you mean this isn't the right shop-front?! You said we only needed to head this way for five minutes and we would be there!"
	CawklesGM	And soon enough...a column of Tau marches past the mouth of the alley. These stocky little aliens are in perfect formation, their armor clanging as they march down, devilfish in tow. The white helmeted Shas'ui turns his head to scan the alley. He instantly raises his rifle, and his squad (in perfect sync) twirl around and assume firing positions. He points at Izem.
	Roland	whispers to himself. "This isn't going to go well."
	CawklesGM	[Tau]"YOU THERE! DROP YOUR WEAPON!"
	CawklesGM	Kahina, taken aback for a moment, rises to her feet and looks at Izem. You can see her waver under the attention of the Tau, and her skin turns pale...and then her single good eye looks like its about to burst from her socket.
	CawklesGM	"YOU FOOL MAN!" She screams, whacking Izem across the skull. "YOU GET US LOST, NOW THIS?! THE CHILDREN MUST BE SO FRIGHTENED!"
	CawklesGM	[Tau]"I SAID DROP YOUR WEAPON!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	holds up his hand in the direction of the Tau as he prepares his retort.
	CawklesGM	the Shas'ui and his squad approach closer. They are screaming in their alien language.
	Ishmael	        brings up his rifle and takes aim at the leader. +Hey, the fellow is asking for you to drop your gun.+
	CawklesGM	+I tink 'e netty taht+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Don't hit me! You were the one who got us lost!" He puffs his chest out as he yells back at her.
	Ace_Nerat	+Just let me know if things go south, I'm in range.+
	CawklesGM	"Oh, blame me will you?" She pushes Izem. "Always my fault, isn't it?!"
	CawklesGM	The Tau pause. The Shas'la look at each other in confusion.
	CawklesGM	"Work-Brother, they look like a mated pair."
	CawklesGM	[Tau]"They are armed..." One of the privates says, concerned.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Well of course! The last time this happened you were in-charge of directions!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	points an accusing finger at her as he says this.
	CawklesGM	The Shas'ui lowers his rifle and approaches Izem and kahina, his hand raised. "Trabble?" He bluts out in poor gothic.
	CawklesGM	Kahina opens her mouth to shout, but squeaks like a frightened mouse when addressed by the Tau. The Shas'ui waves the devilfish past, and it serenely floats past down the road.
	Rajh_Tara	holds onto his hotshot rifle.
	CawklesGM	Muffin, Jurdik, and Issam look like they're holding their breath. The only time they've been this close to a Tau is when they killed one.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	looks to what made Kahina draw back, and visibly jerks back. He then straightens himself. "We are currently working out our...troubles. We're quite alright, thank you, how are you?"
	CawklesGM	The Shas'ui tilts his head. You can only imagine what inscrutable alien glare is stretching across his face. He motions his squad to keep aim as he walks up to Kahina and grabs her lascarbine. Kahina's grip tightens on it.
	CawklesGM	"Excuse me, what are you doing?!" Kahina blurts, trying to tug it away. The Tau grips it forcefully. "Trabble!" He yells, trying to yank it away.
	CawklesGM	+Shet...tey tryna tek 'er stek!+
	Ishmael	        +I say let them take it.+
	CawklesGM	Kahina looks to Izem, her normally stolid demenour weak with fear. She's in a veritible tug o war with this Shas'ui. His younger charges are becoming agitated, joining his chorus of shouts.
	CawklesGM	+Fuckin' animals...can't just leave us alone.+ Jurdik growls.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	quick draws his boog ranger pistol and brings it to the back of the Tau's head. He then very slowly says, "get your hands off of her." He then twists the Tau around so it becomes a shield, keeping himself and Kahina behind the alien.
	Ace_Nerat	+Get ready to run maggots.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+I'm going to inch back into the nearest building, comrades, cover me.+ He then looks behind him quickly. "Kahina stay behind me."
	CawklesGM	The Shas'ui is taken so quickly he can barely let out a yelp before the larger human has him in his grip. His rectangular rifle clatters to the dirt. His young charges break formation, yelling incoherently as they try to take Izem down in a mad rush!
	Rajh_Tara	throws a blind grenade at the Tau squad.
	Ace_Nerat	quickly puts on his rebreather
	Ace_Nerat	silently rises from his crouch and revs his chainsword, charging into the mass of xenos soldiers.
	Roland	        moves out over cover switching to his las carbine and covers Izem.
	CawklesGM	The Tau stumble into the smoke in their pell mell attack, hacking and coughing as the burning chemicals choke their throats. Several of them fall to the ground, gasping for air.
	CawklesGM	Muffin rushes in ahead of her comrade, sticking the Tau in the gut with her guttin' knife. Ace swoops in and beheads the tau, killing him.
	Roland	        fires his lascarbine, killing one of the Tau.
	Ishmael	        lets a shot off, taking down one of the rushing Tau.
	Rajh_Tara	+Kill the commander and run!+
	Roland	        goes and grabs one of the rifles off the dead Tau.
	CawklesGM	In a hail of las fire, the tau fall, spilling their disgusting alien blood across the ground. They make no noise, and die cleanly; expert work on the part of Snow Squad.
	XMB-173	        takes a pulse rifle
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	draws his knife with his other hand and slits the Tau's throat before kicking him forward.
	Ace_Nerat	+Kill him or bring him, we gotta move NOW.+
	Ace_Nerat	+GO GO GO GO.+
	XMB-173	        "I'll have to fix these rifles later."
	Ishmael	        takes one of the rifles and runs off along with everyone.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Getting the feck outta here.+ Izem grabs Kahina by the arm and drags her into an alleyway and into safety.
	Rajh_Tara	runs up to the commander and stabs down into the wound with a Cohort dagger and leaves it in.
	Roland	        keeps moving and follows Ace.
	Rajh_Tara	grabs a pulse rifle afterwards.
	CawklesGM	You hear the devilfish steam down the street, but to no avail...the insurgents have disappeared down the alleyway. The squad catches its breath for a moment.
	XMB-173	        skedaddles the fuck out of there
	Rajh_Tara	+Follow the Doctor. Move, MOVE!+
	CawklesGM	Issam lets out a whoop. "We showed those motherfuckers didn't we?!"
	Rajh_Tara	follows behind the squad.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik roars. "The people, united, can never be defeated!"
	Rajh_Tara	+Less talking, more running.+
	Ace_Nerat	"Shut the fuck up, no chatter,"
	CawklesGM	Kahina looks like she's coming off an adrenaline rush, her heads tremoring and her skin slick with sweat. She lays a hand on Izem's shoulder. "That was a fine kill, Izem. Your kin would be proud."
	Ace_Nerat	"That means you lady."
	CawklesGM	Kahina glares at Ace, but acquiesces. The squad continues moving towards its destination...
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	gives her a simple nod in return.
	Ace_Nerat	+Tech boy, I want you to make these rifles useable.+
	XMB-173	        +It will take some time. These heathen machine spirits will require some... convincing.+
	Ace_Nerat	+Whip it for all I care, just make it happen.+
	XMB-173	        +Of course, Corporal.+
	CawklesGM	And they finally arrive. The dock district's ambience is leveaned with sprinkles of gunfire, but is mostly peaceful; the gentle sound of waves lapping against concrete, the salty breeze, laughter...it's nice to be home. The sprawling expanse of shipping offices, warehouses, hostels, cranes, it's all so familiar to you as you move through the hordes of laborers, vagrants, and landlocked sailors. You see some knowing looks and smiles from some of the loiterers; Beetee lookouts no doubt.  As the sun sets, you see the warehouse in question: A large box of a building marred by broken windows and peeling paint. A double door the size of a building guards the entrance to the sprawling complex, and outside it are several gangers milling about, drinking Boog and clinging to women whose sultry looks are more a product of practice than any natural look. There must be at least 12 of them boys out there...protected by a halo of civilains moving around the building as they go about their business. 4 of them by a burning oil barrel look to be aremd with small arms. The others...you can't be so sure. Apart from the main double door, you can't see any immediately obvious entrance. Muffin spies a rough looking tavern lodged in a burned out building across the street and decides to join the jovial crowd standing around there.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik thumbs his microbead. +This is the place. These boys are surly, but they might be open to conversation if we say 'pleeease'...+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+You're familiar with them, right?+
	CawklesGM	+We do not truck with scumb, Imperator Rebah.+ Kahina says, resolute.
	Ace_Nerat	+you'll do as you're told Kahina.+
	CawklesGM	+eeeehhh...+ Jurdik growls thoughfully. +Familiar enough to know that they are bad trouble.+
	XMB-173	        +Give me a secluded room and I can get started on those pulse rifles.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Back off Ace, we both came within a hairs width of those xenos scum and dieing to them, ease up will you?+
	CawklesGM	+Wassa plehn, tehn? Bettah cummie oip wit wun soon...me an meself tinkin' weh beh thurkie an' dis 'ere boog lookie gud...+
	Ishmael	        +Shouldn't we check with command first? What with this place belonging to them and all... Might not be wise to start shit without them knowing while in here."
	Ace_Nerat	+I'll ease up when we are home safe.+
	Ace_Nerat	+We'll wait in the pub till we see whats going on.+
	Rajh_Tara	walks around the building looking for another entrance.
	CawklesGM	The Pub does seem inviting...a jaunty little toon warbles out from the bar, and drunken singing joins the various noises of the night.
	Ishmael	        shrugs and heads over to the Pub as well.
	CawklesGM	Kahina stands near the pub's "entrance" fixated on...something.
	Rajh_Tara	+There's a locked door on the right side of the warehouse.+
	Ace_Nerat	"What is it Kahina?"
	CawklesGM	"That boy...there." She points at a lad standing outside the warehouse, cahtting with his fellow gangers. "He looks-...Nevermind."
	Ishmael	        tries to find himself a drink while the squad waits.
	Ace_Nerat	"Something I should know Private?'
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	puts a reassuring hand on Kahina's shoulder. "Nothing you need concern yourself with, sir."
	CawklesGM	Kahina can't avert her gaze. "Izem..."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	quickly glances at the boy Kahina is staring at.
	Ace_Nerat	leans against the pub, lights a Lho stick, and looks menacing
	CawklesGM	A vein appears in her neck...and she starts to shake. "Izem that's Abu." Abu al-Jolani Ibn Omar. Her 14 year old son. In the flesh.
	Ace_Nerat	"Who now?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina stiffens and starts to push through the crowd, towards the entrance, steaming.
	Ace_Nerat	follows after her, attempting to grab her.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	tries to stop her physically. "This isn't a good idea."
	Roland	        looks at Kahina
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "God-Emperor above."
	Rajh_Tara	+Hello? Anyone copy?+
	Ace_Nerat	+Got a problem, hold tight.+
	Rajh_Tara	sighs.
	Ishmael	keeps   drinking as he looks for a good vantage point. +I read you. Some of us are moving up to the front door and I don't know why.+
	CawklesGM	"I leave for one day. ONE DAY...!" She growls, on the edge of incoherent rage. She is stopped by Izem. "So what? You want me to let my son run away and hang out with these...these...subhumans?! God-Emperor, I can't! I WON'T!"
	CawklesGM	"I'm going to whip that boy when I get my hands on him!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"We will get him back, but you will attract too much suspicion if you just waltz up to him." Izem then sighs. "I want some answers from him as well."
	Ace_Nerat	"I could probably get the boy."
	Ace_Nerat	takes a drag from his lho.
	CawklesGM	And then it happens.
	CawklesGM	A peal of gunfire, solitary at first but soon enough it's an entire orchestra of firepower erupting right from the entrance of the warehouse. The crowd around the warehouse scatters...as does most of the gangers hanging aroudn outside. When the screaming starts, most if not all of the passerby scatter as the sound of war rings throughout the dock district. It sounds like some serious shit
	CawklesGM	is going down in the warehouse...
	CawklesGM	And Kahina's son head straight for it, gun drawn.
	Roland	        "Well shit."
	CawklesGM	+Wassa hapnin?!+ Muffin screams, readying her rifle. +es taht kemmin' from tah..?+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Warehouse is getting lit up, and then some.+
	Ishmael	        +Shoot out in the warehouse.+
	Roland	        +Orders Sir?+
	CawklesGM	Kahina screams. "ABU! ABU!" She tears away from Ace and pushes through the panicked crowd. "STAY RIGHT THERE!"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	starts to curse under his breath as he sees the young lad run in.
	Rajh_Tara	leans up against wall and runs toward the front.
	Ace_Nerat	+I want eyes on the fight now!+
	CawklesGM	Jurdik sighs. +Izem, can you please wrangle your assitant?+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Kahina!" Izem follows after her, drawing his pistol as he follows after her.
	Ace_Nerat	begins to move towards the firefight carefully
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Her fecking son is here, and he just ran into that shit-storm!+
	Ishmael	        rushes onwards as soon as he spots Kahina and Izem running to the warehouse.
	Ace_Nerat	+MUFFIN HURRY UP.+
	Rajh_Tara	starts to follow the squad.
	Roland	        follows.
	XMB-173	        follows.
	CawklesGM	Abbass decides to break his silence. +So...boss...shall we go?+
	Roland	        +Just follow.+
	CawklesGM	+solid copy+ Abbass clicks his tongue, smooth.
	Ace_Nerat	+Stay together.+
	Roland	        draws his flamer.
	Ace_Nerat	+Roland, cover the door.+
	Roland	        +Copy that, Abbass with me+
	CawklesGM	The squad rushes in and sees complete chaos. The gangers here evidently got suprised quite badly; several of their mutilated corpses lie hither and yon, choking on their blood and vomit as they crawl around in a pool of their rapidly ebbing life force. Before you, two reovlver armed gangers and their chainaxe buddy are firing at...a man in ratty rune inscribed robes. The black fabric of his garment is stained with old blood and gore, and in his hands is a bow made of giant spur of bone. Clanging around his hip is a pack of arrows glistening with a foreign substance and a mean looking blade that looks more appropriate in the hands of a butcher than a soldier. A similarly clad man, armed with a whirling chainblade, leaps from the top of the storage container, a warcry on his blood flecked lips.
	CawklesGM	"THE NIGHT IS COMING!"
	CawklesGM	Abu and Kahina are nowhere to be seen.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Izem swears even more, his worrying starting to become problematic as he can't find his assistant or her son.
	CawklesGM	Issam swears. +who the FUCK are these?!+
	Ishmael	        +Focus on them!+
	Ace_Nerat	lets out a warcry and slices the cultist in twain
	Ishmael	        +Cultists of Niasi, bunch of assholes!+
	CawklesGM	Muffin whoops, nearly slipping on the spilt pool of blood and gore.
	Rajh_Tara	+So nothing new.+
	Ishmael	        takes a quick shot with his lasgun aimed at the cultist jumping down before heading off along the rows of containers, looking for Kahina.
	CawklesGM	The thugs nearly trip when they see the squad rush forward. "Who the fuck are these guys?!" groans one of them, almost sounding frustrated.
	Ace_Nerat	"We are here to help, what's going on?"
	Ishmael	        hits, the high powered shot taking off one of the cultist's legs clean off, leaving a pink mist in it's wake.
	Ishmael	        then rushes off towards the containers. "KAHINA!"
	CawklesGM	Jurdik pumps his fist. "Ish-ma-el! TAKING NAMES!"
	Ace_Nerat	nods respectfully at Ishamel "Nice shot."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	runs up between some containers, looking around frantically for his assistant. +Kahina can you hear me? Please respond.+
	CawklesGM	The thugs, confused and delirious, shrug. "These guys...they came from nowhere and started slicin' us up! I-I-I-..." They seem to be in a panicked haze.
	Ace_Nerat	"GET IT TOGETHER, GET YOUR ASSES IN GEAR AND HELP US CLEAR OUT THESE FECKERS."
	CawklesGM	The gangsters are shocked out of their reverie. They suddenly explode into motion and take the fight to the cultists!
	CawklesGM	The cultist horde advances, silently as death. One rakes its butcher's blade across the side of the storage crate, emitting a hellish screech.
	Ace_Nerat	takes a shot at the cultist, digging the chainsword into his arm and tearing out a bloody chunk
	Ishmael	starts moving up and takes another shot. This time aimed at a far off cultist.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Izem uses both his hands to aim and steady his ranger pistol at the cultist near Ace. With a retort louder than a demon's howl, and a flash almost as bright as the sun, Izem blows the arm off of the cultist who dies before his corpse even hits the ground.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Kahina, please answer me, dammit.+
	XMB-173	        blasts an other cultist "I should really invest in some vision augs."
	CawklesGM	The cultist makes a savage attack at Ace, but his attack is deftly parried.
	CawklesGM	As the cultists advance, the gangers fight valiantly but to no avail.
	Rajh_Tara	fires from the Darkness and kills two cultists charging at him.
	CawklesGM	One of the cultists tries to fire his bow at Izem...but breaks his bow.
	Ace_Nerat	brings the chainsword through the mans body, from top to bottom.
	CawklesGM	Muffin shields her face as blood sprays everywhere. Even some organs get on her. She licks her lips, delighted.
	Ishmael	        runs off after the last shot. "Kahina! Where are you?!"
	CawklesGM	Izem hears something crackle over the microbread...
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	tries for a repeat kill on the next cultist, but jobs it.
	CawklesGM	The gangsters finish off the cultist threat near the oil drum fire.
	Rajh_Tara	shoots the cultist's face off with a semi-auto blast.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Are we clear?+
	Ace_Nerat	chops down on the mans leg, sending him to his knees while he beats him to death with the chainsword
	Ace_Nerat	"DIE DIE DIE."
	CawklesGM	And with that, silence. All the cultist assailants lie dead on the floor. They did not stop fighting until their very last breath, an impressive effort but competely worthless. The three bedraggled gangsters huddle around the oil fire, exhausted and frightened. They don't even mind they stand near a dead body, so numb they are from the fighting.
	CawklesGM	Muffin snorts. "me tink 'e ded, boss"
	CawklesGM	Jurdik waves at the thugs. "Good work, brothers."
	Ace_Nerat	returns to the group, completely drenched in blood
	Rajh_Tara	+Now, can someone explain to me what just happened?+
	CawklesGM	The gangsters nod solemnly.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Kahina!" Izem yells desperately.
	Ishmael	        approaches as he reloads his weapons. "Did you three see a lady and a kid rush in?"
	CawklesGM	Issam, in the mean time, is rummaging around the cargo crates.
	Ace_Nerat	+Kahina come in.+
	CawklesGM	There is another crackle over the vox.
	Rajh_Tara	+What happened to Kahina?+
	CawklesGM	The three gangers nod. "They rushed upstairs...bowled over a cultist on the way up. Never seen such a pretty lady with such gumption."
	Ace_Nerat	makes his way upstairs
	Rajh_Tara	follows Ace.
	Ishmael	        rushes up. +Kahina's upstairs!+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	springs up the stairs, his pistol still drawn, leaving any caution at the back of his mind.
	CawklesGM	As you ascend the stairs, you arrive to an office that overlooks the blood drenched main cargo area. It looks like this was supposed to be the "throne" of the local gangleader. It's a scrap assembled affair covered with lavish ribbons and surrounded by piles of alcohol and drugs. At the back of the throne room, a door lies ajar leading to some sort of office space. Rushing through, you see a drab and empty space..with the exception of two things.
	CawklesGM	On one end of the room, there is a wooden wardrobe with a bullet hole in it. On the otherside, the still form of a beautiful woman, slumped against the wall. A splotch of blood gathers on the wall behind her.
	XMB-173	ignores the dead woman and looks around for sidearms, explosives, or materials that could be made into explosives.
	CawklesGM	As XMB enters, another shot comes from the wardrobe.
	XMB-173	        ducks back in the doorway
	XMB-173	        "Contact. In the wardrobe."
	CawklesGM	The shot flies over the robotic man.
	Ace_Nerat	charges the wardrobe.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Don't shoot! Abu!"
	XMB-173	        draws a knife and follows Ace
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Abu is that you?"
	Ace_Nerat	yanks open the door so hard it breaks.
	Rajh_Tara	readies his hotshot lasgun.
	CawklesGM	And inside, there is a very scared little boy, with piercing brown eyes and an earthy complexion that's very familiar to you. Seeing Ace, covered in blood, is too much for his already addled senese. He faints dead away, slumping to the ground before the wardrobe.
	Ishmael	        goes in and slowly scans the room, lasgun raised. "Izem... you might want to check on her..."
	XMB-173	        "I could use a sidearm. Preferably a laspistol."
	Rajh_Tara	grabs the gun from the kid's hand.
	CawklesGM	Kahina's head shifts from her woundedness, and she sees her boy slump to the floor. "Abu," She wheezes. She tries to lean forward, each movement painful. The bullet struck her chest, by the look of it. It went clean through.
	CawklesGM	Muffin, Jurdik, and Issam enter the room.
	CawklesGM	"...fek," Muffin spits.
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to Kahina.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	ignores everything as he runs over to Kahina's slumped body, preparing his medikit. He eases her down onto the floor, and starts to tear off clothing around her wounded area. He takes a moment to steady his hands.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik Shakes his head. "Robot man, you better grow some empathy or else I'm gonna beat it into you."
	Rajh_Tara	picks up the Kid.
	XMB-173	        glances at Kahina, then steps back to give the medic some room.
	Ace_Nerat	"Let me know how I can help?"
	Rajh_Tara	"Ace, we have to secure the area."
	CawklesGM	"Abu..." She wheezes. "Is he okay? Izem...is my son okay? Is he fine?" She's delirious.
	Ace_Nerat	"Just spooked him."
	Ishmael	        goes back into the main office, intent on keeping an eye on the warehouse below.
	CawklesGM	"Is my son okay...is he okay...Izem..." Muffin, Jurdik, and Issam watch helplessly.
	Rajh_Tara	+People secure the perimeter, NOW!+
	CawklesGM	Jurdik, Muffin, and Issam snap to attention. "YESSIR!"
	XMB-173	        "I'll take a look around and see if I can find anything useful."
 	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I-I think you should worry more about yourself at th-the moment, Kahina." He pauses as he sorts out her wound and prepares to seal the hole in her chest.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"He's fine." He says absent-mindedly while working.
	Ace_Nerat	"It's okay mate, you're doing good," he puts a hand on Izem's shoulder
	CawklesGM	Kahina's breathing becomes more relaxed as her trusted comrade tends to her wound. She is even lucid enough to blush visibly as she realizes her own immodesty.
	XMB-173	        searches the crates. "If I still had a mouth, it would be grinning. Very, very widely."
	XMB-173	        +I found some sort of subterranean access point. The cultists must have climbed through there.+
	Ace_Nerat	+Coming to you robot man.+
	Rajh_Tara	heads downstairs and enters one of the repurposed storage bin. He places the kid on what appears to a bed and stays guard.
	Ace_Nerat	makes his way to XMB
	XMB-173	        +I Found some rifles here.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	sees that it's a clean flesh wound; one entry one exit. He cleans the wounded areas, and covers either side with thick gauze-pads as a dressing, before wrapping the areas tightly with gauze. Finally he injects her with a cocktail of anti-bacterials and pain-killers.
	Ishmael	        +I'm going to look for some transport to get out in a hurry... All that firing must've got attention.+
	Ace_Nerat	"Nice find robot."
	XMB-173	        "Stop comparing me to an Abominable Intelligence."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	he notices her expression and finds a hard time to keep his own face from going red. "Please don't do that again, I know he's your son, but you won't be any good to him dead." He says in a low murmur.
	XMB-173	        instructs his servitor to pack up the missiles
	Ace_Nerat	"My apologize, remind me what you are called?"
	XMB-173	        "My enginseer designation is XMB-173. If you prefer to use a simpler name, you can call me... Soren."
	XMB-173	        "Should I put a trap on that hole, or are we going to explore it further?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina gives Izem a testy glare. "If I had not chased him, he would be dead. But he and I owe you our lives and well-" The woman's face twitches. "Thank you."
	CawklesGM	Muffin pats the machine man on his shoulder. "Neeeh...lesse tek dis ere 'ole oll tah weh doon. Assie me mates: me a hole espert."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	hesitates for a moment, before nodding. "You're welcome. I'll want to know what happened, if we have time later. However," he turns to the stairs, "let's sort out Abu, first." Izem then heads down.
	XMB-173	        gives Muffin a baffled glance, then turns to Ace."What did she say?
	Ishmael	        +Found some cars outside... might want to get the wounded and any gear we might move onboard. Also, I think we should do whatever it is we'll do quickly. Before the Tau arrive.+
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	+Soon enough, Ishmael.+
	Ace_Nerat	"She is a hole expert."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	approaches the Red-Guard. "Where's the boy, Rajh?"
	Ace_Nerat	"Sure thats a good idea muff?"
	XMB-173	        "She does have a miner's build."
	Rajh_Tara	"On the bed, in the bin."
	CawklesGM	Abu al-Jolani ibn Omar looks fine...except for his torn clothes. He almost looks serence in his unconsciousness, but is deathly pale. The boy's resemblance to his mother is astounding.
	CawklesGM	Muffin nods vigoursly.
	XMB-173	        shrugs metallicly.
	CawklesGM	Jurdik clears his throat. "how about we let the machine man down first. I mean...he found it."
	Ace_Nerat	"I'll cover your back, get this equipment back Soren."
	XMB-173	        looks at Jurdik. "Are you implying that I'm more expendable than you?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"He's fine, almost serene. I pity him for the wrath he's about to receive." Izem comments somewhat to himself.
	Roland	        enters the warehouse with Abbass, "wow, looks like a blood bath happened here."
	CawklesGM	Abbass clicks his tongue. "Amen. Godless savages..."
	Rajh_Tara	"We killed a bunch of assholes."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik looks at the machien man. "Well, you *are* the new guy after all."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "Bastards all of them." Izem sighs with a click of his tongue.
	CawklesGM	Kahina slowly shadows Izem's movement, clutching her bandaged chest.
	XMB-173	        "And I am the least replaceable one here. How many ordained tech-priests are on this planet? Of those, how many are willing to deal with xenotech?"
	Roland	        "Did you find the kid or is he not here?"
	Rajh_Tara	"We found him."
	Roland	        "Alive or dead?" Roland ask Rajh.
	Rajh_Tara	"Alive."
	Roland	        "Well that's good, I guess."
	CawklesGM	Meanwhile...
	CawklesGM	Muffin descends slowly into the hole. It sounds like a good distance before an echoing clank can be heard boucning up from the hole. "AYYY!" She yells. "DERE ISSA A LOTTA STUN DUN 'ERE...AN CORVINS! FECK ME, ISSA KINNA COO!"
	Ace_Nerat	"Coming down!"
	Ace_Nerat	makes his way down
	CawklesGM	Down here it's extremely, extremely dark...you can  feel the worked stone of the walls and  floor. The texture suggets... there's relief work.
	Roland	looks around the warehouse and looks over at Izem and Kahina.
	CawklesGM	Kahina nods at Roland. She isn't looking so great.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	sits down, leaning his back against the container. The events of today draining him more than he thought possible.
	CawklesGM	Kahina does the same, slumping next to him. Her eyes look oddly glistening
	XMB-173	        climbs down
	Roland	        decides to give both Izem and Kahina some time to recover from what had just happened.
	CawklesGM	And from the entrance of the warehouse steps Ishmael...with Captain Oliver De Frank in tow. The baby faced, brown haired, nobleman officer strides in with a fixed gate. 5 other insurgents follow in behind him.
	CawklesGM	"ATTENSHUN!" Captain De Frank Announces.
	Ishmael	        "Officer present!"
	Ishmael	        then slowly tries to join the rest in the tunnel
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	grudgingly gets up and dusts himself off, before giving the Captain a tired salute.
	Roland	        turns and salutes.
	Rajh_Tara	heads toward the front of the warehouse and stands attention.
        CawklesGM       Kahina, Jurdik, and Issam sigh and limp over and get in formation.
 CawklesGM Oliver De Frank looks over his troops. "Is this all of you?"
 CawklesGM "Where is your commanding officer?"
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "The rest are down in the entry hole the attackers used to get in here, sir."
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "The hole, sir."
 CawklesGM "Hole?"
 CawklesGM Oliver De Frank looks at the three tired looking gangsters. "And who are those?"
 Izem_abn_Anaruz gives the officer a shrug.
 CawklesGM De Frank motions his men to move up and secure the tired looking thugs. They are restrained easily.
 CawklesGM "Bring them to the techncial, gentlemen. Now...medic, show me this hole. Now."
 Izem_abn_Anaruz fishes out a lamp pack and clicks it on. He then shows the Captain to the HOLE.
 Rajh_Tara sneaks outside the warehouse to light a smoke.
 CawklesGM The captain looks down the hole, and scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting...interesting...so the assailants came through here, then? Well, you ought to seal it."
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "Surely not while my squad is still down there, sir."
 CawklesGM "...why did they go down the hole?"
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "To investigate for any more enemy combatants, I would assume."
 Roland "I would say curiosity."
 CawklesGM "Which is it?!"
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "Would you like me to try to contact them to find out, sir?"
 Izem_abn_Anaruz At this point Izem is quite tired and weary, and is trying his best to play along.
 CawklesGM Oliver De Frank sighs, disgusted. "I don't care. Just make sure you secure those missiles on your way out." The man turns on his heel and walks away. You hear him muttering...something...to himself.
 Roland sighs
 CawklesGM Kahina looks at the man as he walks away...and spits.
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "As you will, sir."
 Izem_abn_Anaruz Izem then clicks his tongue in disgust.
 Izem_abn_Anaruz [Bazir] "Unsavory asshole." Izem mutters.
 CawklesGM "Do not let this man upend you. Your actions today were meritable." Kahina says.
 Roland looks at Izem not understanding what he said before looking back at the hole.
 CawklesGM You feel a rumble underneath your feet
 XMB-173 +Activating Improvised Cleansing Device. The Emperor protects.+
 Roland +What did you find?+
 CawklesGM +Imperator Reqbah...+ Kahina says, clasping her hands in prayer. Abbass just chuckles.
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "Indeed..."
 Ace_Nerat +Spooky evil statue, blew it up.+
 XMB-173 +A heathen idol. It has been destroyed. Requesting the services of a priest to consecrate the ruins.+
 Roland +Copy that.+
 CawklesGM +Priest? PRIEST?!+ Jurdik says, incredulous. His barking laughter echoes across the vox.
 Izem_abn_Anaruz sits on his haunches near the hole, shining the light down the tunnel almost in boredom as he waits for his squad-mates to return.
 CawklesGM +All ya did was just blow up a piece of stonework, you fethin' loon. It ain't haunted, it ain't spooky, it ain't nuthin'+ Jurdik states firmly.
 XMB-173 +You were not there. The stunted woman had to be dragged away from there.+
 CawklesGM +Cussa issa coo tin dun tere!+
 Ace_Nerat +Something was very wrong about it, and i'm not superstitious.+
 XMB-173 +Have you ever experienced warp travel, insurgent?+
 CawklesGM Muffin makes her way up the ladder. Jurdik grunts. +What travel?+
 Ishmael climbs out of the hole last. "We found some stuff down there. Old writing and a shrine. There were more tunnels but machine man here blew it up before we could explore more."
 XMB-173 +Travel between the stars.+
 Rajh_Tara sits behind a crate, enjoying his smoke break.
 Ace_Nerat makes his way out of the hole "Next person to speak about that statue is gonna get a fist."
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "You missed the Captain..." Izem says as they climb out of the hole.
 Ishmael "Well... I think we are done. Shall we load up and get out?"
 CawklesGM "Please," Kahina sighs. She looks ready to turn in.
 XMB-173 "The who?"
 CawklesGM Muffin pats Kahina, who winces in pain. She touched her sensitive side.
 Ace_Nerat wipes off some blood
 Ace_Nerat +Squad get ready to move out.+
 Rajh_Tara throws his lho stick on the ground and stomps it out.
 Rajh_Tara +Copy.+
 Izem_abn_Anaruz "Yes, let's get back. I might actually fall asleep in the place you call a hab."
 Ishmael grabs a carbine on the way out. Also, he takes a second look at the cultists.
 CawklesGM And with that, the squad gathers the missiles. Your fellow insurgents wave at you and whoop as you pass, revelling in your victory. The three thugs are still by the fire, being briefed by what looks like a lieutenant. Seems like the Blazing Trail just got three raw recruits. You all makes sure to secure Abu before leaving. Outside, there are even more insurgents around, securing the area.
 CawklesGM The sun has just dipped below the horizon. Night has begun.
 Roland gets ready to leave
	CawklesGM	A  land car has been prepared for your squad. The two soldiers guarding it flag you all down.
	XMB-173	        pulls his cloak around him and tries not to stand out
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to the thug
	Ace_Nerat	"Still have that chain axe?"
	CawklesGM	The thug nods. "Lemme guess...you want it."
	CawklesGM	The friendly lieutenant motions for the thug to hand it over. You can see in the man's eyes that he feels he owes you.
	Ace_Nerat	"Course I do."
	CawklesGM	He shoves the chainaxe into Ace's hand. Muffin chuckles impishly. "Me assume tath fer meh."
	CawklesGM	The pair finally fit into the land car, joining the rest of squadron.
	XMB-173	        "I can't wait to get started on those rifles."
	Ace_Nerat	trades Muffin the axe for her Knife
	Ishmael	        looks at XMB. "You really don't care for anything that's not a gun or explosive, do you?"
	Roland	        sits in the land car thinking over the events of the day.
	CawklesGM	The land car speeds away, and Muffin is beside herself with joy. "Boss, iffa ya evur wanna anyting, an' I men ANYTING, jess toll meh. 'Tis sheila es ya tah commen."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik shrugs. "Gun and explosives...it's the currency of the times."
	XMB-173	        "For once, I agree with him."
	Ishmael	shrugs. "Guess you have a point... even if I don't like it."
	CawklesGM	Riding in a land car around Qalyat is a gas, a definite upgrade from walking around. You run into no checkpoints, and before you know it you are back to HQ.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	[Bazir] "I must look like the definition of a dead man walking." Izem says while holding the unconscious form of Kahina's son.
	XMB-173	        "You have to understand: weaponry and machines are to me what sand, promethium, and stones are to you. Can you imagine a world without any of that?"
	Ishmael	        rushes upstairs, wanting to crash.
	Ace_Nerat	begins to clean the blood off of himself
	CawklesGM	Doof, the private from the floor squad, is barely staying awake at the desk. Two of the children you rescued, Jobab and Mahdu, are scurrying about the lobby playing. They grow silent and drift to the corners when they see the squad approach. The two young Mahdites stare attentively.
	XMB-173	        "Children? Here?"
	Ace_Nerat	"Hey uh muffin..."
	Ishmael 	stops as the kids move away and kinda idly waves at them.
	CawklesGM	"Yessa?" She says, excited.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I was just as surprised." Izem says while he carries Abu inside.
	Ace_Nerat	"Mind setting me up a bath?"
	Roland	        walks into the lobby and looks around
	CawklesGM	Muffin scoffs. "Ya getta beh..." She looks down at the chainaxe. "Foin. Butta I moight beh late fer tah...ya kno...tah foonrell."
	CawklesGM	Doof waves at Roland. "Have a fun adevnture, brother?"
	XMB-173	        finds a workbench and starts working on the pulse rifles
	Roland 	        looks over at Doof, "You could say that."
	CawklesGM	Doof eyes glint as he watches those advanced xenos weapon pass by. "Nice haul..." He mutters to no one in particular.
	XMB-173         "Damned heathen spirits, stop resisting."
	Ace_Nerat	continues to wipe off blood.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Once inside Izem sets the unconscious form of Kahina's son on the closest, clean cot in their hideout.
	CawklesGM	Muffin scurries off into the night, finding what her sergeant requires. Moving upstairs, your room is as dishevelled as ever. Sergeant Ziida and is fast asleep on one of the cots, as is one of her troopers.
	Rajh_Tara	drags his feet following the squad.
	Ace_Nerat	shuffles into his bunk and collapses
	CawklesGM	The squad files in. They lay their gear down, and Abbass breathes a sigh of relief. "Anybody up for some Grimba?" He asks.
	Rajh_Tara	connects his charge pack to the strip promethium generator.
	Ishmael	        yawns but raises his hand. "I could play a hand or two..." He tiredly says.
	Rajh_Tara	takes off his helmet and puts it near his charge pack.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Perhaps if I don't feel like dieing on my feet after I do my round."
	CawklesGM	Kahina limps over to her unconscious son, a strange mix of emotions swimming in her gaze. She strokes his hair lovingly, fighting to keep her face flat. "I'm going to kill this boy when he wakes up..." She mutters, tenderly squeezing his hand.
	Roland	        "Sure, might as well do something to relax a bit."
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	checks up on his current charge, a fellow medic, wounded to the extreme.
	Rajh_Tara	tries to head towards the roof without getting noticed.
	CawklesGM	Abbass wrestles over an empty crate and breaks out his deck of cards, dealing his buds in. He puts a lho pack and a liquor ration in the center. "Ante up," he says.
	CawklesGM	Jain the medic is still stable, but wheezes painfully. She's conscious, and looks at Izem with squinted, pain-filled eyes.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"Don't talk, we'll get you to a better facility soon." Izem smiles weakly to his medicinal compatriot.
	Rajh_Tara	collapses on the lone mattress on the roof.
	CawklesGM	Jain blinks. She couldn't talk even if she wanted to. Her experiences have rendered her mute.
	CawklesGM	The grimba game picks up steam...and Abbass clicks his tongue, pleased. He decides to start some small talk.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	after a couple of minutes, Izem prepares a dose of pain-killers and injects her with it, to help her sleep.
	CawklesGM	She fitfully moans as Izem lays a hand upon her, weakly thrashing about.
	CawklesGM	Vocalization...a good sign. The reaction is a little worrying though. Kahina comes up from behind and takes a look at the woman. "How is the weakling Mahdi?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	shrugs. "It has not even been day. I believe she will heal well, and perhaps will take well to some prosthetics." He smiles again.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"I hope I did not offend you during our ruse."
	CawklesGM	Abbass clicks his tongue and smooths his shiny hair. "Say...didja guys hear about what happened in that farmhouse? Outside of Qalyat?"
	CawklesGM	Kahina tilts her head and...smiles? "It was effective, no? Then it was worth it. I am curious though; is this the traditional manner in which Baziri adress their womanfolk?"
	Roland	"What happened?" Roland says.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	has a small fit of laughter. "I don't rightly know. What fleeting memories I have toward my parents never showed anything like that. I would never actually yell at you."
	Rajh_Tara	having trouble falling sleep.
	Ace_Nerat	+Muffin,how's my bath coming?+
	CawklesGM	Kahina looks somewhat serious. "I am your inferior in this warband. You must level the occasional, brutal vituperation, lest we have a ...repeat of the events of today."
	CawklesGM	Abbass smirks. "A small farming ranch got hit...everybody disappeared. No evidence of break in. A couple of blood stains, and thats it. There weren't even any foot prints, for miles around. Spooky eh?"
	Rajh_Tara	turns and lays on his back, He stares at the sky and thinks about his dad.
	Ishmael	        "Oh? Where's this farm?"
	CawklesGM	Meanwhile, Muffin jumps on the horn. "Tah wata...wata es 'ere. Tryna finna tub- AY! AY YOU TAR-+ The vox cuts out
	Roland	        "Sounds more like someone who covered there trails really well."
	CawklesGM	Abbass faces Ishmael. "About...10 kilometers from the city limits. And indeed indeed...I think it's ghosts."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik laughs. "Ghosts? GHOSTS?!"
	CawklesGM	Abbass nods. "Yes, ghosts."
	Ace_Nerat	rises to his feet and joins the rest of the men.
	Ace_Nerat	"What do I hear you talking about?"
	Ishmael	        "Huh, wish I could check it out."
	CawklesGM	Issam takes out a lho...and a needle. "A-a-are ya nuts? IT might be h-h-haunted!"
	Ace_Nerat	grabs the needle out of his hand.
	Ishmael	whinces at the sight of the needle. "Come on, it's probably something involving our fellows from the warehouse."
	CawklesGM	Jurdik slams his hand down. "Grimba!" Abbass produces a better hand, and groans emit from the table.
	Ace_Nerat	"You should really quit."
	Ishmael	        "For once... I agree with him."
	CawklesGM	"F-f-fuck you man. It keeps me sharp."
	CawklesGM	A low gurgle emits from Jain's lips.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	Words fail Izem for a time as he wrestles with a reply for Kahina. "Even so, I," he pauses mulling over his words. "I could never treat you like that. Even if with what happened today." Izem then looks towards her son, thinking if his own parents were so suicidal in his own protection way back when.
	Ace_Nerat	breaks the needle and throws it out the window
	Ishmael	        turns and approaches Jain. "Hey, doc..."
	Ace_Nerat	walks over to jain and crouches next to her "Need something?"
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	"No, not now. She," Izem refers to Jain, "needs time and a better equipped facility than I can provide."
	CawklesGM	The woman looks barely there, mentally. She looks up at the two figures blankly. She's shaking her left foot...trying to catch her sock on the bed frame.
	Ace_Nerat	"Want me to take your sock off?"
	Ishmael	        tries to get it for her.
	CawklesGM	Kahina looks bewildered. "I don't understand Izem. You could never treat me like this...why? We are warriors. This is our way."
	CawklesGM	The ratty sock falls off...and a tube of parchment falls out, rolling across the floor. The sock hits the floor with a *CLACK*.
	Ace_Nerat	picks it up and opens it.
	Ishmael	        blinks and picks up the sock and tube.
	CawklesGM	The parchment unfurls to reveal...a map. Looks like an interscetion of some kind.
	Ishmael	        studies the map while absent-mindedly opening the sock and looking for anything else.
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	chuckles to himself darkly. "I-I  can't explain it, at least not here."
	CawklesGM	Kahina raises an eyebrow. "You are a strange man."
	CawklesGM	Inside the sock is some kind of strange metal device, covered in a couple of switches and strange instruments.
	Ishmael	blinks. "Uh... Ace? Any idea what this is?"
	Ace_Nerat	Fidels with the metal device
	Ishmael	        tries to stop Ace. "Wait!"
	CawklesGM	A button is pushed and a voice warbles out of the strange device...and everybody in the room stares.
	CawklesGM	++-...itch from that Beetee squad. Them darkies are working her over right now.++ The voice sounds gruff, grating.
	CawklesGM	++That's savage, Bratan. She crack yet?++ The accent is thick and foregin, belonging to a woman. The gruff man responds.
	Ishmael	"Turn it off..." Ishmael whispers.
	CawklesGM	++Nope. They must have conditioned them good. I'm impressed. Think they got spooky backing? Ex-Inquisitor? Munitorum stooge?++
	Izem_abn_Anaruz	looks into Kahina's eyes. "You wouldn't be the first to say that." He smiles, "at least I'm talented."
	CawklesGM	++Nah, Bratan. Just dedicated. The preperations for that jump done yet?++
	CawklesGM	++Yeah yeah Chuka...The minute they cross that corner...boom. Hehe. They ain't gonna see it comin'.++
	CawklesGM	++Brilliant. HEY! BOYS! QUIT THAT! WE WANT HER ALIVE! Jesus...those darkies. [You can hear a distant struggle]. Be Gentle, she's just a kid! Haw haw haw!++
	CawklesGM	There is static, and the recording cuts out...and then comes back.
	CawklesGM	 ++Intersection...2200...Intersection..2200...war game a go. You ready, Bratan?++
	CawklesGM 	++You better believe it, beautiful. Wanna contact the big lady?++
	CawklesGM 	++Nyet++
	CawklesGM	 Static...and now the recording is over.
	Ace_Nerat	 "What...was that?"
	CawklesGM	 The squad collectively shrugs.
	CawklesGM	 Kahina's mind is elsewhere, tending to her son.
	Ace_Nerat	"Next cohort i see is gonna regret being born."
 	Rajh_Tara	has passed out on the roof.
	CawklesGM	And suddenly, Muffin bursts through the door, dragging a huge tub, heaving and shirtless.
	CawklesGM	"CANNAE SUMUN 'ELP?!"
	Ace_Nerat	breaks into laughter.

Second Chat:
        XMB-173	        turns a light on and takes a look around the tunnel
	XMB-173	        examines the runes
	Ishmael	        tries to take a closer look at the runes.
	XMB-173	        "This writing makes my head hurt."
	XMB-173	        "Probably best not to look at them too hard."
	Ace_Nerat	+Ish, we need you here.+
	XMB-173	        "Keep the lights off the writing, small woman."
	XMB-173	        crosses out some of the runes with his mechadendrite
	XMB-173	        "Wish we had a priest."
	CawklesGM	"Fek yeh, tay lookie pretteh."
	Ishmael	        "Pretty?"
	XMB-173	        "They are heretical. Do not look at them."
	CawklesGM	Muffin shrugs.
	XMB-173	        "This is the sort of thing with actual corruption."
	Ishmael	        squints his eyes and tries to copy them somewhere for later research.
	Ace_Nerat	continues down the tunnel
	Ishmael	        "So... what do you guys think?"
	Ace_Nerat	"Crazy tribe shiet."
	XMB-173	        "Heresy."
	Ishmael	        "I think it might be more than that..."
	Ishmael	        keeps copying while heading further inside.
	CawklesGM	The sound of your voice carries down the hallway, bouncing up and down, creating a strange acoustic ambience to the place.
	XMB-173	        "The kind that is actually harmful to mankind."
	CawklesGM	The hallway continues to stretch down...and down...and down...Muffin groans.
	XMB-173	        starts walking off, keeping his vision straight ahead.
	CawklesGM	"I tink dissa 'ere tuntun neh gun led anwer."
	Ishmael	        "What...?
	Ace_Nerat	"She doesn't think the tunnels going anywhere."
	Ishmael	        "Ah..."
	Ishmael	        "Wish I had a library..."
	XMB-173	        "Then where did they come from?"
	Ace_Nerat 	picks up the pace
	CawklesGM	And fate answers XMB's question, as the group stumbled into a torchlit antechamber. The bed rolls of the cultists still lie around a campfire. But that does not draw your attention...The right side of the room is dominated by an enormous shrine. Carved out of the wall is a highly detailed man like figure sitting cross legged. He's the very image of a warrior; tempered muscles, the poise of a predator, and the gaze of a...wait a moment. This figure does not have a man's head. Instead, it has the head of a grox, with two great curling horns emerging from its craggy forehead. Sat across its lap is a curved sword, and its right arm is crooked with its fingers pointed to the sky. It is an chimerical creature...serene and violent, man and beast.
	XMB-173	        "A disgusting heathen idol.", he spits, "We should destroy it."
	CawklesGM	Muffin stares at the idol, transfixed...
	Ace_Nerat	grabs muffin and pulls her away
	Ishmael	        takes notes. "Once I'm done taking notes... sure. And looks like this is Al-Qaum... these guys were serious..." He then puts a hand softly on Muffin's shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"
	XMB-173	        stares at the idol. His eye starts twitching.
	CawklesGM	"Coo statuh"
	XMB-173	        starts rigging three missiles to explode around the statue.
	Ace_Nerat	"Back out the hole."
	Ishmael	        "Nice work, that's for sure... wait for that, Metal man." He then looks around the room for anything else that's noteworthy. "Give me a bit!"
	XMB-173	        "Out. Now."
	CawklesGM	 From where you stand, you see the tunnel extends further to the north. On the western end of the room, the worked passageway descends deeper underground...as it meanders, you see the worked stone gives way to a cave. Muffin must be dragged away from the statue.
	Ishmael	        drags Muffin along, some muscle might be nice for protection.
	Ace_Nerat	smacks her across the face "SNAP OUT OF IT."
	XMB-173	        Once we're at a safe distance...
	XMB-173	        +Activating Improvised Cleansing Device. The Emperor protects.+
	XMB-173	        detonates the bomb.
	CawklesGM	"AY WHYA DO TAHT!" BOOM! You feel a violent rumble, and several loose stones fall to the floor as the bomb does its work. You feel a strange chill in the air...
	XMB-173	        glares at the woman. "Your faith is weak. On my homeworld, you would have been reassigned to Servitor duty."
	Ishmael	        readies his rifle as the air grows cold. "Good thing this ain't your homeworld, then. Let's get back up. Since you ruined the chance of further research."
	Ace_Nerat	makes his way back up
	XMB-173	        "An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded."
	XMB-173	        follows Ace
	Ishmael	        "My uncle would be against that..." He responds while heading up.