Mission 02: Homeward [One Man Army]

AlphaJester

AlphaJester

Senior Member
OOC- as I mentioned at the end of the last mission, there is no briefing for this mission. There is also no requisition for this mission. Consider that enough time has passed that your wounds are healed (4 days).


IC-


The transmission had come in soon after they had landed on Vanities Revenge. It was simple.


+++ Transmission: Priority Ordo Xenos Deathwatch. Begin Message.


Watch Captain Josiah Kasblane requires Rogue Trader Kharos to transport Brother Markus Tarlocke to Watch Station Erioch, in the name of the Emperor, with all due haste.


Brother Tarlocke granted leave to assist Kharos in any endeavor, according to his own judgement.


The Emperor protects.


End transmission.+++
 
OOC- just starting things up. This mission is going to be interesting!


IC-


Five days after coming aboard Vanities Revenge the ship, a frigate, dropped out of the warp to resupply.


In your time on board the ship, Kharos has seen to it that chambers have been prepared to fit your needs, and your exact specifications.


"We will be meeting up with the rest of my ships shortly," Kharos said, on the bridge near Markus. "We have received transmissions from them, and they will have another astropath for us. The Void Master and Navigator assure me that we will have you back at Watch Station Erioch in a matter of days. It should not be long."


The Void Master, you have learned, serves as the captain of the vessel, ensuring that all components and crew are working at their best. On board the ship, Kharos has relatively few responsibilities and gives even fewer orders.


"Sir!" one of the bridge crew calls out. "Priority alert on the augur array! We have an incoming signal!"


"Can you identify it?" the Void Master replies. Kharos shows interest, but keeps his distance so as not to interfere.


"Looks to be escort sized, but they don't have the markings of one of ours."


"Ready arms!" the Void Master calls over the ship-wide vox.


Kharos leans closer to you. "Could be pirates," he murmurs.


Moments later another crewman calls to the Void Master. "They wish to vox us," he says.


"Allow it," the Void Master orders.


"Hello ship," the voice is male, but metallic because of the vox. "We are here to plunder you. Our broadside batteries are prepared to fire unless you stand down, lower your void shields and prepare to be boarded!"


The Void Master approaches the pair of you. "Milord," he acknowledges you first with a slight nod, then he turns to Kharos. "The assets aboard are yours, sir. What would you have us do?"


Kharos turns to you. "Milord Tarlocke, what are your thoughts? We could let them board us and plunder us. Or we may attempt to fight off their boarding parties. We could also open fire and trust our void shields. Or perhaps you have a more...dexterous idea?"
 
Tarlocke was well-accustomed to void travel. Even though the confines of the Revenge were new to him, he took to them well - he manoeuvred his way through the void-ship just as well as he would have planetside - perhaps even better. During his stay thus far, he had spent his time in quiet pursuits - praying in the ship shrine, contemplating the Codex Astartes, and maintaining his wargear and power armour. He had spoken very seldom - and when he had, it had only been in passing. Still, he had been pleasant enough whenever he spoke. It couldn't be said that his presence aboard the ship was an intimidating one.


The recent transmission appeared to have brought him back down to earth, however. "How many men do we have? We can feign co-operation - let them dock with the ship, and then I will push through and enter their vessel. We will not be intimidated by these wretches."
 
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OOC- its a bit long, but I am setting the stage.


IC-


The Void Master shakes his head. "They will use small craft and boarding torpedoes to breach our hull and attempt to flush out our atmosphere to remove any resistance. Their fighters will move for the bridge to seal off critical parts of the ship and use internal systems to eliminate pockets of resistance. Of course boarders never get that far, but they provide a great distraction. The raider will be arming a battery of macrocannons or lance weapons to blow out our engines, inflict critical damage. Then they wait a few hours and send over teams in voidsuits to scavenge for components and cargo."


"But lord Tarlocke has the right of it -- an offense of some type must be mounted against these wretches. They obviously think we have something of value, else they'd have opened fire," Kharos adds. "They likely assume we have come from the mine with a load of ores and precious stones."


"We ought to play that to our advantage."


"What about--" Aleksandre was interrupted by a bridge crewman.


"The Augur has identified Xenos technology! On board the Raider!"


"What is it?" Kharos demanded.


"Unknown. It doesn't register as belonging to any known Xenos species, and it is clearly not human in origin either."


"Then we must leave that vessel intact," declared the Void Master. "Damaging it too much may cause unforeseen and terrible consequences."


Behind the bustle and hubbub, Aleksandre tried to get Kharos or the Void Masters attention. "The Device could do it!"


Still the others, the leaders, were debating their options. Aleksandre activated his vox, speaking loudly, "Try the Device!" The only result was a screeching feedback echo. But it brought attention to him.


"If we use the Device we can disable their warp engines and life sustainer. We wait a day or two and we can go over at our leisure, examine the Xenos tech and determine, with the aid of milord Tarlocke, what the appropriate response would be."


Kharos looked at the Void Master. "It is a good plan."


The Void Master turns back to you. "What do you think, milord? Do we employ Aleksandre's device and fight a short battle, or do we prepare ourselves for boarding and a longer battle?"


OOC- ask whatever questions you need to give the best advice to the Void Master, but be brief since there is an enemy waiting too, and they won't wait long.
 
"We cannot risk lasting damage to the ship that will delay our journey - employ the device. We must deny them any advantage they have," said Tarlocke. It was a pragmatic decision, but efficiency mattered more than glory on this occasion.
 
The Void Master spun away abruptly. "Void shields full! Prime the macrobatteries! Bring us about for broadside!"


Aleksandre adressed Kharos. "I will gather voidsuits and a few of our best to deploy the Device. The Emperor be with us." The engineer turned to leave.


"The Emperor be with is all," Kharos murmured.


OOC: If there is anythinh you want to do to participate go for it. Otherwise I will handle the battle and mobe things along.
 
"Dorsal batteries all fire! Fully arm broadside macrocannons! Helm, bring us about to flank them!" The Void Master was in his element. Clearly he had been brought on by Kharos because of his talent.


"Pitch up! Starboard yaw, increase thrust!"


Minutes ago a team had been dispatched with the Device. By initiating a roll over the other vessel the Void Master was subtly playing for time.


"Brace!" The ship shook as the enemies first volley hit, ripling into the void shields. "Continuous fire dorsal batteries!"


Building sized guns bellowed masssive shells across the void expanse. Void shields took punishment and kept going. Aleksandre was working masterfully to keep it running.


"Fire broadside!" The Revenge was laying with the top of the raider parallel to its broadside guns. The raider shook, flames showing on its hull.


The battle continued for a few minutes with damage on both sides. But siddenly the raider stopped firing.


"The Device..." Kharos breathed.


"Drop a beacon," the Void Master declared. "We will deliver lord Tarlocke and then return. Prepare for warp travel!"


The crew changed tasks, working with the fervor of the victorious.


"Master! The Gellar field generator is noy responding!"


"Abort warp jump! Where is Aleksandre?"


OOC: Hard to write that much on my phone. If you want to add something go for it. Otherwise I will add more tonight.
 
"I cannot repair it in the void!" Alekandre was saying. "A void suit restricts the tools I can use and it prevents me from making the proper offerings to the machine spirit."


"Then it appears we need a planet," Kharos mused. "Will you need further components to enact repairs?"


"No. Once on land repairs can be complete in perhaps 36 standard hours."


"Then we make for the nearest world," the Void Master turned and went about his task.


Kharos approaches you. "Apologies, milord, but it appears we have a slight delay. I hope it does not overly trouble you."
 
"I know that your crewmen are doing everything they can to resolve this, Kharos. I am not troubled," the space marine assured him. "If there is anything I can do to assist them in cutting this delay short, I am at your service."
 
OOC- Sorry for not posting yesterday. RL happened.


IC-


The process of landing a Frigate on a world was an involved one. Kharos explained that protocol first demanded they obtain permission from the planetary governor. Occasionally those planetary governors could be quite obstinate, particularly when one claimed to be transporting a Space Marine. Often such claims were made fraudulently. To appear in person would expedite the process, and potentially secure additional resources for fixing the damaged vessel.


The world they had found was call Cariss. It was a small agri-world that provided sustenance to the fledgling hives and forges of the rest of the Ravacene system. While not of massive importance, Cariss was still minorly significant in the infrastructure of the cetral region of the Jericho Reach.


The trip to the surface in the lander was brief. The wait to visit the governor was even more so. His aides leapt from their posts when they saw Tarlocke's black armoured form. They stood in the governors audience chamber. Kharos was speaking.


"Governor Sarthol," Kharos spoke in his 'pomp and circumstance' voice, "we most humbly petition for permission to land on your world to effect repairs on our Gellar Field Generator. As you can see we are on pressing business, transporting one of our Holy Emperor's own Sons on his business."


OOC- Is there anything you wish to say to expedite Sarthol's decision?
 
OOC - That's quite alright! Was a busy day for me, too! :)


Despite of - or perhaps, because of - the space marines' tendency to draw the eyes of all they pass, Tarlocke had conducted himself in a surprisingly demure manner. He had met the planetary governor with a simple bow of his head. To put the lesser Men at ease, he had removed his helmet, and held it before himself in a non-threatening manner, one hand holding the helmet itself and the other settled calmly over. Upon Kharos' gesture, he stepped forwards and addressed the governor. "I thank you for permitting us an audience at such short notice, Governor Sarthol. I am Markus Tarlocke, of the Novamarines Chapter. Kharos has already presented our request," he finished.
 
Sarthol was a man of presence whose air of authority seemed natural. "I am familiar with the Deathwatch,milord Tarlocke. Erioch is no so far from here as all that. Cariss is honoured by your presence." Sarthol turned his attention to Kharos. "Master Kharos, you may land your vessel. Enact your repairs in a timely manner if you please."


At that point a minor adept rushed in. At the same time Sarthol waved his hand. "Dismissed, you may go about your business. "


The adept whispered something to the Governor. As you were turning to leave Sarthol called out, "a moment milord Tarlocke! Might I beg the indulgence of your time a moment?"
 
"A moment," Tarlocke agreed, and turned back to face the man. "What do you wish to ask of me, Governor?" he quizzed back in a politely interested tone.
 
"Thank you milord," Sarthol says. "I wonder if you might look into an issue for me. My Enforcers have had limited success.


"For the past 3 weeks there have been strange dissapearances, always one per night. The only thing the victims seem to have in common is that they suffer from a wasting illness before that removes their vitality. I have stationed Enforcers to guard the afflicted to learn where they vanish to, but none of them have been successful. Some have no memory, others fell asleep. One was brutally murdered.


"We even have a group of Arbites in system who were drawn into this case. They are stumped too, or so they tell me.


"If you could look into this while you are here I would be most grateful. I will open to you the records of my cheif Enforcer, and I can introduce you to my head Magus Biologis. I am sure the Arbites will give you their information as well."
 
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"Very well, Governor; I will see what I can learn from the Enforcers first," said Tarlocke. "Where might I find their headquarters?"
 
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OOC: for the sake of writing and flow I will move the scene to the Arbites base. If there is anything you wished to accomplish on the way we can do that. Also I will edit my last post to better reflect thr arbites roll. Several instances should be changed to Enforcer instead of Arbite.


IC-


The Arbites were shockingly few. There were only 4, an off-world patrol that had stopped only briefly before becoming distracted by the missing people. Being that Arbites dont stop for local trouble, they must have believed that something more was at work.


The Arbites had taken over the Enforcers headquarters compound. It was a spartan structure, built for function rather than beauty. It housed about 400 enforcers. With their superior equipment and harsh demeanor the Arbites are not hard to distinguish.
 
OOC- you must be busy. But in case you need a little more to work with here you go.


IC- Almost immediately upon entering the Enforcer headquarters you are accosted by one of the four Arbites. His attitude is arrogant, and clearly he has very little regard for you or your station.


"Who are you? You have no authority to be here!"The Arbiter moves to block your path.
 
OOC - Yeah, you deserve a quick response; I had a pretty busy weekend along with a three-day internet outage. No opportunity really presented itself. I'll get a post up tomorrow.
 
Markus slowed down at the Arbiter's call, coming to a halt a couple of feet away from the man in his way. "I am Markus Tarlocke of the Inquisition's Deathwatch. Governor Sarthol has requested my aid in the investigation of the last weeks' disappearances."
 
The other Arbiters take notice now, and to your trained eye they seem to tense as though expecting conflict.


"And we," the Arbiter who accosted you replies, "are the law of the Imperium. This investigation is well in hand, regardless of what the governor thinks. There have been no Xenos sighted here. Be careful not to overstep your authority, even on the word of a planetary governor. " The mans voice is cold, emanating the cool aura of a threat.
 
"I have not come to challenge your authority, Arbiter," said Markus softly. Though calm, his tone made it clear that he disproved of the Arbiter's hostility. "But if the investigation is well in hand, then I challenge your ability to communicate, seeing as the Governor seems to be under the impression that you have had no progress whatsoever. My only reason for being here is to find the Emperor's missing subjects, Arbiter; why are you standing in my way?"
 
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OOC- A quick note: there are going to be several missions where there is no official briefing and thereby no official objectives. You are free to nominate your own objectives through the course of the mission and I will determine what they are worth.


For example, you may have "solve dissapearances" as an objective and "find out what the Arbiters problem is" as another. No limit to the objectives you can nominate, just no stupid stuff like "walk back to the lander" (unless that would be extremely difficult under the circumstances of the mission)


IC-


"Your presence here will interfere with our investigation - with imperial law. You don't want that, do you?" The Arbiter challenged. "It is best if you leave now. Before we have to do you the shame of escorting you to your vessel."


You notice the Arbiters have subtly placed weapons in easy reach. They mean to remove you by force if necessary.
 
OOC - I'll do just that.


Objectives:


- Solve the disappearances


- Investigate the Arbiters


"That will not be necessary. I will not cause an incident, Arbiter, though it is clear you will if I remain. Very well; I shall leave this headquarters," Markus replied. He turned to leave.


Presuming no interference, he would return to the Governor's palace, where he would request an urgent audience.
 
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