Evervigilant 43

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> First Officer Flavion looks to Anzaforr, a grave expression on his face. The holo-transmission goes dark. "Your orders, Captain?"
<Vigilant_GM> The Rogue Trader rises, turning to the Acolytes.
<Vigilant_GM> "Your master, I take it."
<Baird> "That is correct Lord-Captain."
<Vigilant_GM> Anzaforr takes in a deep breath, looking at his battle-scarred bridge.
<Vigilant_GM> "Helm. Power down engines," he says, the order repeated by First-Officer Flavion.
<Vigilant_GM> The Helm Master aknowledges and reports, "Enginarium powering down plasma engines, Captain. Twenty minutes until idle."
<Vigilant_GM> "Flavion. Pass the word to the Armsmen. Prepare to be boarded."
<Vigilant_GM> "Sir," he aknowledges with a salute.
<Velam> "Well, that's a surprise." Velam says in a nervous, ha-ha tone.
<Vigilant_GM> "Augury, what do we have?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Imperial cyphers, Captain. Decryption nearing completion. Otherwise, she's bloody invisible."
<Vigilant_GM> A display lights up in front of the Command Throne.
<Baird> "It was only a matter of time Logen. Especially in the way we left Desoleum. He probably sent his report as soon as we left."
<Vigilant_GM> Vessel Identity: DIVINE INTERCESSION
<Vigilant_GM> Vessel Classification: UKNOWN
<Vigilant_GM> "Is that all?" Anzaforr asks as Armsmen officers reach the bridge.
<Vigilant_GM> "We are unable to decode anything further, Lord-Captain."
<Vigilant_GM> Anzaforr nods, and turns to you once more. "You will be with me in the main umbilical. You will identify your master when he boards. If you are unable to do so, I will take this action as a hostile intrusion."
<Velam> "Of course, but out here? To my knowledge we didn't exactly exit the warp at the intended destination."
<Baird> "Do not doubt him Logen. I'm sure he has his resources that allow him to seek us out. Of course Lord-Captain. But I do caution against rash action."
<Baird> "Lead on Lord-Captain."
<Vigilant_GM> "Armsmen, with me," he calls as he exits the bridge.
* Velam gathers up his servoskulls before following the group.
* Karpath follows the group.
<Vigilant_GM> The eldar, Morrinoe, is nowhere to be seen.
* Thesse follows as well.
* Nitrous follows along
<Vigilant_GM> Even through open voidports, the Divine Intercession is as dark as the void, visible only because of the starfields its form covers as the vessel closes in.
<Vigilant_GM> A low, loud thump is followed by a series of metallic clicks and locks.
<Vigilant_GM> The hissing of leaking atmosphere takes over, then, until a series of amber lights turn green on a display panel.
<Vigilant_GM> With that, the whirring of ancient mechanisms sees the umbilical slowly open.
<Vigilant_GM> As the condensating air dissipates, a low red glow appears. Below it, the dark outline of a bulky man.
<Vigilant_GM> A steady pattern of magboots on the deckplate closes until his features become more apparent. The glowing runes on his right arm, the heavy scarring on his face, the cybernetic eye at their center, and the venerated Interrogator Lorenz - the servoskull floating above his shoulder.
<Vigilant_GM> "Is this he?" Anzaforr asks under his breath.
<Vigilant_GM> "You doubt an Inquisitor of His Holy Ordos?" the low, yet loud echoing retort comes from the figure ahead.
<Baird> "It is."
<Vigilant_GM> "N-no. Of course not... welcome aboard the Oath Unspoken, Inquisitor."
* Velam nods respectively to the Inquisitor and his Interrogator.
<Vigilant_GM> "Thomas. Take control of the bridge. Astrid, until I have cleared you of any wrong-doing, you are a prisoner of the Inquisition. Timor, you will be the Lord-Captain's escort until this is all over - there is no need to shackle him. Karpath. Ensure no shuttle or escape pod can exit the vessel. Once matters have been attended to, you will meet with me in the Stateroom."
<Vigilant_GM> Armsmen grip their weapons all at once.
<Vigilant_GM> "Inquisitor, I must protest! I have been nothing if not compliant! Ask your men, here. There is nothing that could make me complicit in--"
<Vigilant_GM> "Enough, Captain."
* Nitrous salutes
* Baird nods his head and turns. "I suggest you co-operate Lord-Captain. The whole situation will be explained." Having said his piece Baird heads towards the bridge.
* Nitrous follows orders
* Karpath nods to the the Inquisitor.
<Vigilant_GM> "Velam, prepare the Stateroom for our briefing. All relevant information and evidence."
<Vigilant_GM> Anzaforr glares at Baird for a moment, slowly his expression relaxes and he nods.
<Vigilant_GM> "Armsmen, stand down. This vessel is under the command of Inquisitor Mortem, and his men."
* Thesse is visibly confused and scared to ask questions.
<Velam> "At once, master." Velam bows, steps back twice before turning around and hurrying to the stateroom. He requests the help of two of the seneschal's trusted staff for the heavy lifting while he deals with putting together everything needed for the Inquisitor's debrief.
<Vigilant_GM> Mortem steps towards Tony.
* Karpath makes his way to the shuttle bay and make sure that the Flight Marshall has no ships and escape craft leave the ship.
<Vigilant_GM> "Kurst's prized pariah," he comments, observing Tony with the unbearable scrutiny of an Inquisitor.
* Tony looks a little nervous but looks at him in attention
<Vigilant_GM> "He will be sorry to lose you."
<Vigilant_GM> "Remain by my side, until this entire affair is over."
<Tony> "Understood sir."
<Vigilant_GM> "Sister," Mortem nods to Thesse as he makes his way further into the Oath Unspoken.
* Thesse takes a slight bow and nervously says "At your service, MiLord."
<Vigilant_GM> Some two hours since the Inquisitor's arrival, the Oath Unspoken's bridge is cleared of the corpses, inquisitorial stormtroopers enforcing Acting-Captain Baird's command, as First-Officer Flavion dutifully assists. The escape pod arrays are utterly powered down, and the launch bays are sealed as per Karpath's orders -these also enforced by the black and crimson stormtroopers. In the
<Vigilant_GM> Stateroom, the seneschal's staff has become Velam's own, rearranging it ahead of the brief while Nitrous escorts the Captain in.
<Vigilant_GM> ++It is time. Meet me in the Stateroom++ Mortem's voice calls the Acolytes.
<Velam> The savant thanks the staff for their help, most graciously. He finishes hooking his dataslate to the staterooms lavish and most impressive cogitator and pict-display built into the table.
* Karpath makes his way to the Stateroom.
<Baird> "Flavion you have the bridge." Baird exits the bridge and heads inside the stateroom.
<Vigilant_GM> "Aye, sir. My bridge."
<Vigilant_GM> On his way to the brief, the Inquisitor approaches Thesse, Tony by his side.
<Vigilant_GM> "Where are you from, Sister?" he asks as though searching for a lie.
<Thesse> "I am from Thaur. I serve the... the Order of the Undying Light and my job was escorting pilgrims and the remains of the decreased back to the planet, Thaur."
* Thesse says in one breath and as quick as she could.
* Tony looks at her impressed on how quick she said that
<Vigilant_GM> "And you are familiar with its traditions and Ecclesiastical teachings."
<Thesse> "Of course, milord. I tented to the graves from a young age."
<Vigilant_GM> "Indeed you did. You will join us, follow me."
<Thesse> "Of course, milord."
<Vigilant_GM> The Inquisitor passes by the storm-trooper checkpoint to the Stateroom.
<Vigilant_GM> When he enters, Anzaforr rises from his seat.
<Velam> The savant is still fiddling with his data slate, the pict-caster idling with a slowly rotating ]I[ the only thing present on screen.
<Vigilant_GM> Mortem aknowledges him with a terse nod before standing behind one seat at the center of the table.
<Vigilant_GM> "Tell me what you know, Valerius-Sigma," he finally says pulling the chair back and taking a seat.
<Velam> "Ah, shall I start from the very beginning, Master, or only where it is pertinent to this ship?"
* Karpath makes his way to the Stateroom and takes a seat of the table.
<Tony> "One moment sir."
* Tony lays down his gathered evidence and even his notebook.
<Baird> Baird begins laying out the details of what transpired up until this point including the assistance of Anzaforr and his men. Giving what he had promised the Lord-Captain. A glowing review highlighting his help, save for one point. The Xenos on board who is conspicuously absent. Though Baird does make the note that she - The Xenos - did assist as an ally of convenience in this situation.
<Baird> "I'm sure the others will have their own things to add." Indicating the notes and notebooks the others have placed on the table.
<Vigilant_GM> "Any specific observations to add?" he asks the others.
* Velam helps reinforce and illuminate Baird's explanation with what he has on hand. "The plot enacted on this ship extends so far as I have been able to connect to the conspiracies on Desoleum, and I believe our destination of Thaur will help connect several discrepencies in this investigation."
<Tony> "Oh yeah, Sir we lost a agent on the way into this vessel. I reckon this would be important sir given it's danger being left around."""
* Tony as he places Shiv's Investigator ID towards the Inquisitor
<Vigilant_GM> "That will be an administrative matter for you," Mortem looks to Baird, "Interrogator."
* Baird raises an eyebrow. "Sir?"
<Velam> "Congratulations."
<Baird> "It is an honor. I will do you and the Throne proud." Baird inclines his head in thanks.
<Vigilant_GM> "Kurst was to inform you of this months ago. Alas, your disappearance made this impossible."
<Baird> "Months sir? I'm guessing time has moved more slowly inside the warp. Mere weeks for us."
<Velam> "Not an uncommon occurrence, especially considering how we came out of the empyrean."
<Vigilant_GM> "Worse. A warp rift formed outside the system. The Pandaemonium has grown, and warp incursions have increased. The rift spat you out as I observed it aboard the Divine Intercession."
<Baird> "The Emperor smiled upon us it seems."
<Vigilant_GM> The Inquisitor unlinks his servoskull. Interrogator Lorenz floats to an interface port at the edge of the table, and links with it.
<Vigilant_GM> "I found a dataslate with unusually competent encryption on one of the corpses left just outside the bridge. These are its contents."
<Vigilant_GM> A flickering image appears on the large display, showing a shot of a dimly-lit robed figure. Beneath a red hood stiched with the cog and skull of the Mechanicus, a grotesque lipess mouth opens, a thin tongue wetting the numerous needle-like fangs before the creature speaks.
<Vigilant_GM> The gleam of what can only be a bionic eye shines from the shadows beneath the cowl. In a writhing mechadendrite, it is holding a vial of a viscous purple fluid, flecked with luminescent motes of something decidedly unnatural.
* Karpath tries to think if this Mechanicus figure looks similar to the one they ran into a while back but nothing comes to mind.
<Vigilant_GM> In a rasping, hissing voice, the creature speaks: "Salutations, Arch-Rector. By now, you will have received the data-logs I promised about the refining of artefacts, and I have received the package you prepared for me. The delivery of this information concludes our business. I am confident that, in tandem with all else I have given you, it shall allow you to draw forth the Awakened
<Vigilant_GM> One. By the process I have provided, you can create a liquid from the artefacts - the Blood of Izumat. Blood calls to blood, after all. If, of course, you can find sufficient sacrifices. But there should be no shortage on board the penitent-trader's vessel."
<Velam> "That....that thing, we encountered it in the deep tunnels of the Desoleum hive. Wretched bastard."
<Vigilant_GM> The Arch-Heretek pauses for a moment, his ragged breathing quite audible in the silence. "The business with... the divine host, as you call it, was unfortunate. However, the matter was concluded without the interferers learning the full details of its original creation and procurement. The loss of such a unique specimen for my experiments demands a retribusion I shall mete out in
<Vigilant_GM> due time."
<Vigilant_GM> Here, the recording ends.
<Karpath> "Oh boy that guy, well then."
<Tony> "You know him?"
<Velam> "We fought with him in those tunnels. Alas we did not vanquish him....I wonder."
<Vigilant_GM> "Izumat the Awoken... the Arisen," growls Mortem.
<Vigilant_GM> "Thaur was a place for the dead long before the Imperium reached the Askellon Sector. Izumat was one of the pantheon of the xenos race that lived on Thaur."
<Vigilant_GM> "The xenophilous cult, these... Inheritors, intended to crash the ship on Thaur's surface, part of an awakening ritual with thousands of casualties," he pauses for a moment before turning to Thesse.
<Vigilant_GM> "Sister, tell us what you know of Saint Merusaad."
* Baird let's out a low whistle.
<Baird> "Crazy bastards."
<Tony> "I have seen crazy, but that is pretty insane."
* Velam makes a mental note to store all this information later.
<Thesse> "Yes, I know of the Saint. He is the most reverend among the Saints of Thaur."
<Thesse> "Feast of his Martyrdom is a special occasion celebrating his deeds which attracts many pilgrims to come and visit the Thaur."
<Vigilant_GM> Mortem rises from his seat. "The feast is not two weeks away; my observations of the warp rift came from concerns of the dangers this could pose to the voidships already gathering around Thaur. Hundreds of thousands of new arrivals to the planet... a more ready opportunity for a mass-casualty sacrifice than any other."
<Vigilant_GM> Mortem reaches into his greatcoat, producing a rolled up parchment he opens up on the table in front of him - a map showing a section of a planet's surface. "Do any of you recognize this location?"
<Vigilant_GM> Anzaforr rises from his seat.
<Vigilant_GM> He looks intently at a circled spot on the map.
<Baird> "Can't say that I do, never been to Thaur, though I expect that's about to change."
<Velam> "If I remember correctly, from reading the codices of the geography of Thaur by Theologion Scarrus, that is Saint Merusaad's sacred resting place,"
<Vigilant_GM> "The map was taken from the same corpse before its incineration," Mortem adds with a tone of dread in his voice.
<Velam> "A lead then."
<Vigilant_GM> "Captain Anzaforr, unless Interrogator Baird's recommendations are otherwise, you are to be released, the vessel returning to your command. You will follow Divine Intercession to Thaur's orbit. Acolytes, there is much preparation you will have to undergo before infiltrating the cult and putting a stop to their heresy. Sister, your life has forever changed. You will join my Acolytes
<Vigilant_GM> on board my vessel."
<Vigilant_GM> Interrogator Lorenz releases itself from the table's interface port, and rejoins the Inquisitor.
<Thesse> "Thank you, milord. I accept, milord."
* Baird shakes his head. "No countering recommendations from me Inquisitor."
<Vigilant_GM> "Thank you, Inquisitor. I live to serve the Imperium," Anzaforr says with a bow of the head.
<Vigilant_GM> "You will, Captain."
<Vigilant_GM> The Oath Unspoken is relieved of the Inquisition's occupation, though the storm-trooper contingent leaves with the Inquisitor and his Acolytes, there are those on board the Oath Unspoken who believe strongly that no all who boarded have returned to the black ship, as evidenced by the close observation you receive as you take your leave.
<Vigilant_GM> As the voidships make their way to the inner system, Mortem's plans for your ascension are set into motion. Medicae staff prepare for the surgeries to be performed, armory passes are handed out for specific gear granted, and finally... an archivist requests the nomination of a Saint-Patron to formalize the ascended cell into the inquisitorial archives.
<Vigilant_GM> In the vessel's temple-shrine to the God Emperor, Sister Thesse is formally inducted into the Inquisition. Her name is added to the Archives.  Throne-Cell Cordius-Primus; Interrogator Thomas Baird.
<Vigilant_GM> Recovery from surgery, long hours of reindoctrination, physical conditioning and training, and extended hours of guided meditation and prayer take most of your time on the way to Thaur.
<Vigilant_GM> During this time, Inquisitor Mortem spends most of his time with Interrogator Baird, personally guiding his continued training.
<Vigilant_GM> The ship's Librarium Vaults are opened up to Loremaster Velam in preparation for their operation, while Thesse begins her vigilance over his soul.
<Vigilant_GM> Nitrous and Tony both engage in extended training for new gear together, while Karpath makes himself intimately familiar with the Gladius with the aid of advanced simulators.
<Vigilant_GM> As the day of arrival closes, a segment of the Inquisitor's armory is made available.
* Velam uses the time and oppurtunity given to him to practice with his newfound talents, gaining and transcribing many usefule bits of knowledge.
<Vigilant_GM> Mortem's Quartermaster issues the Throne Cell with gear and weapons, as well as new identifiers. These, he explains, have new encryption, allowing for interaction with other Inquisitorial systems.
<Vigilant_GM> "One last thing, Interrogator," he says before you leave.
<Vigilant_GM> A small dark wooden box is placed on the counter, and is opened facing Baird.
<Vigilant_GM> A ring engraved with Inquisitor Mortem's personal iconography on its wide face rests within.
<Vigilant_GM> "You are not worthy," the Quartermaster adds, pushing it towards the Interrogator.
<Baird> "I will endeavor to be so."
* Baird reverently closes the box and places it inside his trenchcoat.