Evervigilant 30

Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> The collapsed ventilation shaft is lined with thin wire descending from the ceiling, various bits of scrap metal along its length. These sway slightly with the movement of the air around them.
<Vigilant_GM> With a single swipe of his cleaver-arm, Rikk rips the rudimentary warning measures and climbs through into the ventilation system.
<Vigilant_GM> The darkness within becomes near absolute some 50 meters in as the turns, climbs, and descents in of the tubes swallow the light from without.
<Vigilant_GM> As you reach an T intersection along the systems, a low red glow provides some illumination.
<Vigilant_GM> "Sophisticated," comments Rikk. Ahead, the intersection has been worked into a sort of station. A panel of some sort provides the light, it appears, surprisingly, to be connected to an active electrical grid.
<Vigilant_GM> To both Karpah and Shiv, the setup and its connection to old railings along the sides of the ventilation system are immediately recognizable.
<Vigilant_GM> It appears the smugglers have been working on a system not unlike that found under Zax Holthane's safe house - that which allowed the acolytes to escape, even if at the cost of Karpath's right leg.
<Vigilant_GM> Rikk points you down the direction of the smuggler's work in progress. "The lift platform is dead ahead. You can't get lost."
* Karpath nodes "Understood."
<Nitrous> "Yup."
<Baird> "Preciate the help again Rikk. Give my thanks to Vornas."
<Shiv> "Was hoping to find that weird rail auto carriage. That thing was fun."
<Baird> "As usual you definition of fun is far from normal 'Itkit'."
<Vigilant_GM> Rikk nods, a grunt of aknowledgment from beneath his mask the only farewell. Satisfied that you understand how to proceed, he turns back to the Gallowsway.
<Shiv> "And there goes Rikk. Gonna miss him."
* Karpath chills turn down his spine and though where is right leg would be as he somewhat remembers the time they were in one of these tunnels last time.
* Shiv heads down the path to the lift. He says "Lets go, I rather not be down here all day."
<Nitrous> "Let's hope we don't lose another leg." and proceeds to the lift.
<Tony> "I take it this is not your first time down here?"
<Nitrous> "Nope."
<Shiv> "I don't think you can lose another limb, Jack."
* Karpath slowly turns his head towards Nitrous, and squints his eyes at him, more annoyed at his comment.
<Baird> "Been in something similar it seems."
<Nitrous> "Arms."
* Baird moves towards the lift with others after giving the surroundings another once over.
<Shiv> "Touché."
* Karpath follows Baird to the lift.
<Shiv> "But last time, we were down here Tony. It was filled with danger and a very fast vehicle."
<Baird> "When are our lives not filled with danger?"
<Tony> "Define danger Ikit?"
* Tony as he follows to the Lift
<Shiv> "A servitor with murderous habit and a guy with a gun who's arm I took."
* Tony looks to Shiv with the look of many questions
<Shiv> "It's a long story."
<Tony> "I bet it is, perhaps you can tell me sometime."
<Vigilant_GM> Up ahead, a vast opening leads upwards. An ancient and faded placard announces that this leads to Lift-Plat Delta 3-9-9. Massive girders frame the line of ascent to the platform. An ancient and bewildering array of chains, pulleys, and hydro-pneumatic extenders run along either side of the walls, each ready to provide motivation to the lift platform ahead. Decades of prayer parchment
<Vigilant_GM> and purity seals plaster the mechanical works of the lift, which glisten with sacred machine oils. Currently, several servitors are performing routine maintenance, one of whom is clambering high amidst the tangle of cables and chains in its spider-like chasis.
<Vigilant_GM> At ground level, one of the servitors announces in a loud monotone voice, "The conveyance ahead is undergoing the appointed maintenance rites and observances; thou shalt not utilize the conveyance until maintenance is completed in approximately nine-hundred seconds. The conveyance ahead is undergoing the appointed maintenance rites and observances; though shalt not utilize the conveyance
<Vigilant_GM> until the maintenance is completed in approximetely eight-hundred and ninety seconds," repeating the warning over and over.
<Baird> "Looks like we have some time gentlemen."
* Shiv pulls out his lho sticks and offers some to Baird.
<Vigilant_GM> As the ascent to the lift-platform evens out, you see the vertical chasm where the platform is due to arrive.
* Karpath takes some time to check over his Bolter.
* Tony takes a interest in the strange Servitor with the strange chassis
<Vigilant_GM> On the far end, the call rune is being pressed again and again by one of five men trying waiting impatiently - one going so far as to kick over another servitor repeating the same message you received.
<Baird> "Somebody wanna get a closer look at those assholes at the far end?"
* Nitrous takes a closer look at the other group.
* Shiv lights a lho stick for himself.
* Tony as his gaze is turned to the sudden clanging of metal to the group of men.
<Tony> "Raolin, do you see those men of there, They are not from here yet it looks like two of them are wounded."
* Tony as he points it out too him
<Baird> "Do they match the people we're looking for?"
<Tony> "Can't tell, but they currently not from the Hive"
* Tony Lights a lho stick and begins to watch and wait for the lift
<Vigilant_GM> A cacophany of rattling chain, whirring gears, and hissing pipes commences. From across the chasm, you hear one of the men call something out, the others cheering him on.
<Vigilant_GM> The servitors stop their programmed maintenance, and reconvene, "Emergency maintenance suspesion. Please report to project Enginseer."
<Nitrous> "Not good."
<Vigilant_GM> Five minutes of the systems running, and the lift platform becomes visible in its slow descent from the vertical chasm.
<Baird> "Alright everyone, eyes up, looks like we're going to meeting them sooner than we thought."
<Karpath> "Ready when you all are." He says as he stand up.
<Nitrous> "Okay."
Vigilant_GM> Rails lock in place, and the platform settles in. The meter-high railings open up, allowing you, and your opposites, to step in.
* Baird steps forward onto the platform hand on holster just in case.
<Vigilant_GM> They exchange muted words with eachother as they close in, and step onto the platform. They keep their distance, and remain vigilant of your movements.
* Karpath steps onto the platform.
* Nitrous follows the group
* Shiv approaches the platform.
* Tony Goes on still smoking as he gets on the Platform
* Baird calls out to the group. "It seems like you all aren't from around here. We could use some information about the wastes. Don't expect the information for nothin though. You have two wounded and we have a doctor. Be willing to exchange help for your men for the info if you all are amenable."
<Vigilant_GM> "We'll manage," one of them replies. The man with the chest wound looks up at him, nervously, but doesn't speak up.
<Tony> "You sure? it's a long wait up."
<Shiv> "Hmm judging from the impact point of the chest, the severalty of the trauma may from the hemorrhages related in many hemolytic problems. This may result in death in a few hours depend on the amount of nasty pathogens in this environment."
<Vigilant_GM> Two of them whisper to one another, a disagreement apparent.
<Vigilant_GM> "Are you fucking blind? No chance!" one hisses at last.
<Vigilant_GM> "Keep your /doctor/ away. We will manage," he replies to the acolytes.
<Vigilant_GM> The lift platform rattles, slowing down to near a halt, before resuming at its normal speed.
* Shiv shrugs. He says "Enjoy whatever time remains of your life." He puts away his medikit.
* Tony begins to just wander about with his lho Stick lit closer to the Pale guy
<Baird> "I tell you what, I'll ask my questions anyway, if you decide that you'd like some recompense we can revisit the issue. To put it frankly we are looking for a particular group within the Wastes. A group of...'individuals', that have been acting out against a particular cult in the underhive. Any information you could shed on this group, where we could find them, how to contact them, etc, would be appreciated."
<Vigilant_GM> "Not in the law-enforcement consultant business, pal. Tell your friend to keep his distance, or I'll be a lot less friendly."
<Baird> "We aren't out to arrest anyone, fight anyone, or anything like that. Just trying to get in touch with some like minded individuals who we may become friends with."
<Tony> "Hmm? Oh sorry was staring into the void."
* Tony Pulls out a Pack of lho sticks as he gets a bit closer to offer them one
<Tony> "Want one to kill the time?"
<Vigilant_GM> It takes just over five minutes for the lift-plat to reach ground level. As the platform arrives it reveals a massive corridor 50 meters across and 20 high. Thirty meters ahead, a massive gateway opens to the wastes beyond the hive. Streaming in, even the light of Desoleum's clouded sun is almost blinding after the darkness of the hive.
<Vigilant_GM> "No need," he replies before turning to his men. "Let's go."
<Vigilant_GM> In the opposite direction, approximately 15 meters from the lift, the corridor opens up into one of Desoleum's primary traffic arteries, choked with people and vehicles. As soon as the railings open up, the men begin pushing their way through a crowd pilgrims, workers, traders, and servitors towards the gate.
* Nitrous attempts to shadows the other group
* Tony As they get a distance Tony tries to trail the strange group
<Vigilant_GM> The massive crowd makes for easy cover for the wastelanders and acolytes alike. Soon, only Tony remains on their trail.
* Karpath follows in the same direction but doesn't shadow the group.
<Nitrous> +Tony still on their trail? I lost them.+
* Baird moves towards the crow in the general direction of the opening that leads towards the wastes.
<Tony> +I still see them I am still following+
<Vigilant_GM> The access to the gate features a sanctioanry security checkpoint: Securitas Station Lambda -  XC-19. It features a gatehouse manned by five of the sanctionaries. The heavily armored gatehouse includes a battlement, and a sanctionary posted atop it in a heavy stubber position.
<Tony> +They stopped, Wait they are putting on Gas Masks+
<Vigilant_GM> The crowd quickly begins to panic ahead, and you're pushed in every which direction by the swaying group squeezing and pushing against you.
<Vigilant_GM> The sanctionaries struggle to keep an eye on what might be causing the panic, struggling to keep it from becoming a stampede.
<Nitrous> +Copy.+
<Shiv> ++Understood.+
<Karpath> +Oh boy this is not good.+
* Tony Seeing the panic he begins to slip his way though the crowd to get away from the panic
* Baird is able to dodge and avoid the majority of the press making i9t away from the panic.
* Nitrous get's stepped on
<Vigilant_GM> With the crowd trying to push beyond the checkpoint, the sanctionaries fire into the air.
<Vigilant_GM> "Stand back! Clear the gateway!"
<Tony> +That was their plan, they getting on Dune Bikes, this is a getaway.+
<Tony> +I could fire at them from here, but they are a distance from here.+
<Baird> +Hold fire, we'll see if we can get a vehicle from the sanctionaries and try and track them down.+
<Tony> +They are heading east+
<Baird> +Roger that.+
* Baird begins heading towards the Sanctionary gatehouse.
* Karpath follows Baird.
* Nitrous finds Baird
<Vigilant_GM> A reinforcement transport arrives, and sanctionaries in riot gear pour out, shields forward.
<Vigilant_GM> ++STAND BACK! CLEAR THE GATEWAY! NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL PERMITTED WITHIN FIFTEEN METERS! STAND BACK!++
* Tony Keeping low and distance from the attention keeping eye out for the party
<Vigilant_GM> The crackling of shock-mauls does little to calm the crowd, but slowly the sanctionaries clear a perimeter allowing them to shut the gates.
* Baird steps out of the crowd with his SCO badge held up. "Make a break in the wall for me and my men Sanctionaries!"
<Vigilant_GM> A moment later two of the shields are lowered, and the sanctionaries carrying them step back to create an opening in their formation.
<Baird> +Let's go.+ Baird nods to the Sanctionaries and moves towards the opening.
* Nitrous follows along
* Karpath follows Baird forward towards the opening.
* Tony Catches up with the party after seeing them.
<Vigilant_GM> Lesser-lethal rounds are fired into the crowd by riot-contol shotguns.
<Vigilant_GM> "You and your men get into the gatehouse!"
* Baird hurries inside.
* Nitrous hurries along
* Tony Follows suit, given the riled up Crowd
* Karpath moves inside.
<Vigilant_GM> "Oath-Captain Baltazar Wei," he identifies himself as he shuts the heavy door behind the last of you.
* Baird extends his hand. "Special Concerns Officer Raolin Daroshevik."
<Vigilant_GM> "If you can assist, grab some gear and help secure the vehicle bays and stables. Otherwise, officer, I'd prefer you stay out of our way until this mess is dealt with."
Baird> "Not to be abrupt Oath-Captain but me and my men are in pursuit of the wastelanders that took off on the bikes. We require a vehicle. Otherwise we'd be happy to help."
<Vigilant_GM> "Special Concerns operating out of the Hive... what a fucking mess," he rubs at his temples.
<Karpath> "Yep it sure is one."
<Baird> "They already have a head start and I prefer they didn't get further away. I agree, a far cry away from normal operations. Another week or two may see the whole damn hive crumbling down."
<Vigilant_GM> "Right," he exhales. He points to a box of riot-control gear. "Take this to Oath-Lieutenant Szaar at the stables. Give him word that he is to hold that position until a vox can be sent to him, and that I want no casualties."
<Vigilant_GM> "The outpost with the stables will have what you need, vehicle depot included."
<Baird> "Understood, thank you Oath-Captain."
<Baird> "Darrell, Tony grab the crate and let's head towards the stables."
<Tony> "Got it."
* Tony assists Karpath with the crate
<Karpath> "Ok then." He goes to grab the crate.
<Vigilant_GM> The crowd on the other side of the gatehouse is both less numerous, and less contained.
<Vigilant_GM> Pushing through, you spot a group of sanctionaries driving the crowd away from the outpost as best they can.
<Baird> +There they are, looks like they need the gear pretty badly.+
* Baird begins moving over towards the sanctionary group at a quick pace.
<Vigilant_GM> The sanctionary at their lead fires off into the air with his side-arm in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
<Tony> "Hmmph Jack mind covering us to those guys?"
<Vigilant_GM> One of the "panicked" crowd members runs into you, scratching at his skin hard enough to tear. "Get them off, get them off!"
* Baird raises his arm mounted crossbow and fires a bolt at the oncoming lunatic.
<Vigilant_GM> The bolt strikes him in the thick of his thigh, dropping him instantly.
<Baird> +You two get that gear to the sanctionaries before this gets worse.+
<Vigilant_GM> Two sanctionaries rush to you, taking the equipment crate.
<Vigilant_GM> They bring it to their line where they each take helms, shock-mauls, and riot-control munitions.
<Vigilant_GM> "Szaar," a man calls out, "I am the officer in charge. Any idea what the fuck is going on?"
<Vigilant_GM> He turns to one side, then, "You men! Collect these wounded!"
* Baird moves closer as he speaks to the sanctionaries. "Some wastelanders created a panic and escaped. We were asked to bring you the gear and to deliver you orders to hold this position until a vox can be sent to you. We were also given authority to requisition a vehicle to pursue the wastelanders."
<Vigilant_GM> "How far do you intend to pursue?"
<Baird> "Until we find them."
<Baird> "They were on dunebikes so something that can, at the very least, match the range of those."
<Vigilant_GM> "If you don't know where you're going or for how long you'll be out there, you'll need something to keep you from drying up in the wastes."
<Vigilant_GM> "Get to the depot, tell them to fire up the Viator for you."
<Baird> "Appreciated Oath-Lieutenant." Baird moves into the depot.
<Vigilant_GM> A man with a weather-creased face and wearing protective garb approaches you as you secure the fuel-grade promethium cannisters to the sides of the Viator.
<Vigilant_GM> "You don't look like wasters," he observes securing a watering tin to his side.
<Baird> "We aren't. Just chasing some down."
<Vigilant_GM> "Dunes are my home. If you can pay, I can guide."
<Baird> "We could certainly use a guide, what would you like as payment?"
<Vigilant_GM> "Whoresons in the hive stopped trading water with us. You look like official types. Help us get fresh water and my services are yours."
<Baird> "We can certainly try. I won't make promises you'll get the water, but I'll do my damnedest to hold up my end."
<Vigilant_GM> He nods. "Can't say I have a better option. You may call me Lano. I am at your service."
<Baird> "Appreciate it Lano, you will be invaluable out in the wastes."
<Vigilant_GM> "I was ready to head into the wastes just now. I'm ready to depart when you are."
<Baird> "Let's do it." Baird gets into the Viator.
* Karpath boards the Viator.
* Nitrous gets near the gunners position
* Shiv hops onto the driver's seat.
<Vigilant_GM> Lano climbs into the vehicle, up-turning the hatches to create airflow.
<Tony> "I guess we will be both driving eh Ikit?"
* Tony climbs into the Co Pilot's seat.
<Shiv> "I guess? This will be fun."
<Vigilant_GM> Lano brings a single-eye magnocular up to his eye, the glass treated with a dark tint.
<Vigilant_GM> "The winds favor us. If we make enough progress, we will be able to wait out the next set of sandstorms by the glass ruins."
<Karpath> "Why is it called the Glass Ruins?"
<Vigilant_GM> He puts down the device, and looks at Karpath with a smile. "The glass steeds. Magnificent creatures."
<Baird> "Alright Itkit, make for the...Glass Ruins.."
* Shiv starts up the vehicle and drives off to the 'Glass Ruins'.
* Tony Takes off his Jacket and hands it at the back of the seat.