Wrath and Duty 7

<StaffenGM> Weeks pass after the peculiar ending of the Dathamir Anomaly. The Inquisitor has spirited the mysterious Medjed away aboard her flagship, the Gaetia -- leaving the Kill-team to be borne along by the Haspasia, a fast and lean interdictor-destroyer, painted black as the night.
<StaffenGM> One morning, after your early rites are completed, you are summoned for the briefing of your next mission:
<StaffenGM> The world of Lucatiel.
<Priad> Priad arrives for the briefing, his armor donned and his new diagnostor helm attached at his side. His armor has received maintenance from the minor dings he took on their last mission along with a fresh coat of black. He tromps to his alotted spot and folds his arms, nodding to his fellow battler-brothers nad superiors.
<StaffenGM> Present in the ready room is a coterie of staff heads from the ship, including the ship's Commanding Officer, a hunchbacked Tech-Priest cradling a bundle of peculiar mechanisms wired to his limbs... and a hooded man wearing a beaked mask.
* Invictus enters the room right behind Priad.
* Draco follows behind Priad to the briefing. His maintenance rites are done and his equipment in check.
<StaffenGM> The strategic display activates, presenting you with a holo of a world.
<StaffenGM> "Lucatiel is conveniently placed at the coreward approach to the Hadex Anomaly," explains the masked man. "As such, it is a central link in one of the fastest routes around the edge of the anomaly, as well as an important defensive point against anything exiting the Anomaly itself. Losing Lucatiel would be a major setback for the Crusade."
<StaffenGM> "And we are now on the verge of losing it. The Inquisitor has caught wind of an elaborate conspiracy to overthrow the local government. Your mission will be to prevent this, and to purge the most significant conspirators."
<Invictus> "Who are we to purge?"
<Priad> "Indeed, why is the Deathwatch being called in for something an inquisitorial cell could do?" He eyes the beaked-mask man frowning.
<StaffenGM> "There has been some elaborate effort to conceal the nature of this revolt. As it may come to little surprise to anyone, the local Tau enclave is actively radicalizing and arming civilians and PDF personnel. Never before have the Tau attempted to expand outside of the Black Reef. This would make Lucatiel the most ambitious attempt to seize control of an Imperial world these presumptuous
<StaffenGM> aliens have made yet."
<Draco> "A Xenos attempt that will be exterminated."
<Invictus> "Vile creatures, they will be stopped and purged."
* Priad face twists into a scowl. "Blue-skinned devils, we'll cut them out like the rancid disease they are." He rubs his chin with a gauntleted hand. "Do we have any knowledge on who has turned against the Throne? Any cells or agents on the ground?"
<StaffenGM> "I have not been authorized to confirm or deny anything regarding the Inquisitor's field assets," the masked man states. "I can, however, provide you with names of noteworthy conspirators. Your mission shall be to eliminate them, and to see to it that the Tau leadership on the world is eliminated."
<StaffenGM> He thumbs a rune on the projector.
<StaffenGM> A variety of faces appear.
<StaffenGM> The masked man points to one -- a rail-thin man with an augmetic replacing his left ear. "Odilus Gage, Minister of Planetary Defense."
* Invictus studies the faces as they appear.
<StaffenGM> He points to another; a square-jawed woman with a scarred scalp that disrupts her hairline. "Lieutenant General Lana Koby of the Planetary Defense Force."
<Priad> The Apothercary's frown deepends, a pattern is very apparent as more faces are revealed.
<StaffenGM> He points to the next one: a portly male with painted eyelashes. "Public Minister Serhiyev Galden."
<StaffenGM> And lastly, he points to another man, who looks older than the others. "Minority Coalition Leader Ancyo Zjukura."
<Draco> "What is the locations of the Targets?"
<Priad> "What are the chances to make use of the PDF? Has this officer turned most of the rank-and-file from the light of the Emperor?"
<StaffenGM> "The two Ministers and the Diet member were confirmed to still be in the capital as of 24 hours ago. The Lieutenant General can be expected to be mobilizing troops. And no -- the PDF cannot likely be relied upon as an asset in this situation."
<StaffenGM> "These are the non-xenos assets of concern," explains the masked man. "We also have some intel on the xenos presence itself."
<Priad> "Unfortunate." He says simply.
<StaffenGM> "It is believed that a ambitious Tau leader known as a 'Ethereal' has arrived in the system to help prepare the coup. The Tau refer to this Ethereal as Aun'El Xan'Sett. We believe that Xan'Sett is likely within the Tau enclave, but that if he believes the planet is taken, he will emerge to meet with the conspirators."
<Invictus> "Interesting that he is here, from what I have heard he is one of the lieutenant of Aun'O Tsualal who is the supreme commander, knowing that he will be most likely heavily guarded and a direct attack against him would be a fools idea."
<Priad> "But from the sound of it, he is quite important in the Tau hierarchy." He looks to his battle-brothers. "Perhaps we should ambush this Ethereal when he meets with the traitors."
<Draco> "Logically and effective."
<Priad> "Have we any information on when they'll meet?"
<Priad> Priad looks to the masked man, "we would like to ask whoever, if they are down there, for assistance in locating the location point and perhaps the best area to set up an ambush."
<StaffenGM> "Based on the information we have, we can only guarantee the conspirators will be together with the Ethereal once the coup is complete."
<Priad> "Perhaps it wise then, to focus on the conspirators first, then focusing our efforts onto this Tau leader. Even if we somehow miss our chance to kill the xenos scum, they cannot lead a coup without leaders."
<Invictus> "I agree with this tactic."
<StaffenGM> "It is considered a mission priority to kill the Ethereal," asserts the masked man. "Will you disregard this, then?"
<Draco> "This seems like a job for assassins, but if we must."
<Invictus> "The Ethereal will be our main objective, but taking out the co conspirators would help along way to taking it out."
<Priad> "What are the chances of the Ethereal escaping off-planet after we kill his human lackeys?"
<StaffenGM> "Extremely high. The Tau currently have near-unlimited access on and off the planet. A notable contingent of smaller ships of the line have been permitted by the local government to orbit a nearby planet to protect the Ethereal when he makes his exit. His escape would be all but guaranteed if he chose to flee."
* Priad grunts. "Perhaps it is wise then, to kill the leader first. May the Emperor guide our thrust." He practically intones.
<Draco> "Are we in agreement? Kill the Xenos Scum."
* Invictus stands there pondering for a moment when a though pops in his head. "If the Tau's spaceborne presenxe is really so powerful, when why haven't they taken the planet by force. What if the reason they haven't is because of a anti-orbital planetary defense system that this world could have."
<Priad> "Is that true?" He asks the masked man.
<StaffenGM> He checks a data-slate. "The planet does have a more substantial than nominal buildup of defensive systems, in part due to its relatively strategic position."
<Invictus> "well then, I agree it is imperative we take out the Etheral."
<Priad> "Very well, in simple terms then, eliminate the Ethereal, hunt down the traitors, reactivate defensive systems as needed."
<Draco> "Seems reasonable."