Verus Imperator Adventum: The Sundering

[Inquisitor Fox]

"What say you, Mylady?"

Gabriel's offer was an exercise in mixed temptation. Knowledge was the one factor they did not have, and it was what they needed. Indeed, the very thought of invading another temple was simply to find more information, to attempt to track down Basavriuk before the were whittled down and destroyed by the very forces they strove against. The Blood Ravens she had worked with had a motto, 'Knowledge is power, guard it well.'

 

Where was the line of heresy? Would condoning Gabriel's obvious heretical methods be the same as following them herself? If word gets out, Gabriel had said. That was really the truth of the matter. If they were successful and she kept his secrets, kept silent the methods they used...

 

She had no knowledge of practical use of Warpcraft, simply in combating it. She was a powerful trained psyker, but she followed the premises of Nikea, avoiding the path of Magnus the Red.

 

The fact they would know they were here was inconsequential; their presence was already known. It was a race against time, and they needed to know more. Gabriel's life was forfeit the moment he passed too deep into heresy and endangered them all, he knew this. Her bolter would work well enough since her soul lightning and force sword would not.

 

Considering all the options left one realistic question.

 

"If I agreed what would I need to do?"

[Brother Delias]

Draken sat for a time in the deeper areas of the base, where none of the marines dared enter into. Although scoured clean of daemonic presence, without counting the host, many of the marines still deemed that something was simply 'wrong' with the lower levels. Currently his mind drifted back to his meeting with Decklan, the one and only that seemed to not have the pure intent not to kill him or the Host. This led him to wonder, did this man actually see the truth? Or was he another that was starting to turn to the side of the ruinous powers much like the quarry they were hunting here? Perhaps this, Basavriuk was much more than he seemed, or there were more elements then they were currently aware of. An incursion was iminent, he could feel it ebb and flow quite easily, even within the purified temple. This could only mean horrible things for the Conclave and those allied to it here, possibly to even Basavriuk himself, unless he was already claimed, in which case, if none other would, he would put Basavriuk to the blade himself. Looking down he found that he was holding the ancient red leather bound tome with an aged golden inquisitorial symbol inlaid into it. Opening the tome, he began pouring over each pagereadin over the sanctified scripts within. With each name read off, he began feeling out through the warp trying to sense what felt so wrong about this planet.

[Skytear]

Caves, Day 5

 

"Just take care of everything that happens."

 

It had taken them the night to set up the proper perimeter required for Crown's operation.

They had first had to find a suitably large cavern, which had been no problem. Pykönnen's Scout were skilled operatives.

The other part had been more tricky.

He lacked the equipment necessary to perform alien witchcraft so he had been forced to improvise. They had been able

to use some laser-scalpels to shape some stones into several shapes of exotic design.

With any luck, he would be able to use those as a perverted form of the Emperor's Tarot. A form that would tell him what they

would be facing.

 

Crown knelt in front of the seven stones, humming in meditation. His Nemesis Rod was buried in the mud in front of him, ready to be used if needed.

His Psycannon rested at his side as well - he would take no chances with Basavriuk.

As he sung litanies of praises, Crown freed his mind and let his psychic consciousness slide into the stones, using their exotic form to guide his conscience

through the warp. Seeking for other entities.

 

Pykönnen and himself were the only ones in the Cavern. The rest of their retrinue waited in the surrounding tunnels, ready to drown the cave in deadly gunfire, stemming from plasma heat to laspistol fire at the slightest notion of trouble.

Crown had no doubts Pykönnen would shoot him instantly if he proved a threat. And he was not planning to loose his mind.

 

Crown's eyes turned into a whiteisch blue glow - he felt the alien ritual work his way into his body and soul. Immediately he uttered incantations of protection and warding and felt psychic purity rushing through him. He was ready - and protected.

 

His voice sounded weak and otherwordly, with an eerie, Eldar-Howl.

"I can sense it. There is warp-taint here."

He concentrated and the stones in front of him lifted off the ground, dancing around each other in a intrincate display of beautiful, yet dangerous display of eldar witchcraft.

"There are many presences here, many of them shining with the light of the Emperor....yours is very strong."

His eyes flashed briefly - the meditation proved strenous to his body. He was a human. His body was not designed to tolerate xeno-warpcraft.

He would have to take risks - and strain himself if he wanted tangible rewards.

 

Crown reached out across the planet's surface, riding the winds of the winds of the warp. He felt his physical form waver as he partially phased out of the physical realm. And then..he felt it...a chilling sensation running over his whole body whispering to him.

Tempting him.

He had found Chaos. And it had sensed him.

Whispered to him.

WANTED him.

The Battle had begun. And it would be for him to decide when he had learned enough. The other option would simply not come to pass.

Crown felt the air grow hot and humid around him and he began to sweat. It had begun.

[Melissia]

"Any ideas Captain?"

 

"A few, dependant on equipment. A krak missile fired at the joints-- there, where the upper portion fo the turret meets the bottom, and above the legs. Damage it and it will be unable to turn and thus unable to properly aim on its horizontal axis. The same can probably be done with any anti-tank weapon, as well-- a lascannon, krak grenades, meltabomb, multi-melta, or " she shivered at the thought of attempting to fire one " plasma cannon. But the squad here does not have any of these, as the Inquisition deemed it unnecessary to grant us any heavy weapons or grenades before it sent us here. The best we can do is point our lasguns at it and pray to the Emperor that we get a lucky shot and disable that damned thing before it kills us all. Unless you have some special equipment we can use, or we can go back to base camp and obtain a piece of equipment. Regardless of what happens, I think it'd be best if we disabled it and let the techies take it and reprogram it so that we can use it, rather than destroy it outright."

 

Her outlook on things was, as always, grim. After all, she belonged to the Guard.

[Inquisitor Fox]

Nicole's combi bolter-stake crossbow was loaded and ready, trained at Crown himself. If he became possessed or otherwise too heavily tainted with Chaos he would be riddled with psycannon bolts and stakes as fast as she could shoot them. Hopefully, Emperor willing, it wouldn't come to that.

 

She could feel the interaction of the Warp and reality, blending in a harmony that was eerie and utterly fascinating to her. Thorians never undertook heretical activities themselves, but the opportunity to observe how the Warp interacted with real space was a golden opportunity to her. Admittedly, part of the reason she agreed to undertake the exercise.

 

She could feel presences closing in on Gabriel. Litanies learned long ago sprang to her lips, blessings and wardings against the Evil powers. She chanted them as she focused her own psychic powers on shielding herself. As before, Faith would be her shield against the unholy and unclean. Unlike many Inquisitors she did not doubt the divinity of the Emperor, as a Thorian she knew the Emperor had trascended into Godhood. Hopefully he would help watch over his servants now.

[The emperors chosen]

"Hayes, James, I'm heading back down to the planet, if you wish to join me I'll meet you in the hangar bay in three hours, we'll be stopping off on the Glorious while we head to the other side of Maeroc. We may have a lead on Basavriuk."

"sure Levinski, ill come along shortly, once my Valkyrie gets here, it has supplies for the teams down on the planet, ill join you shortly"

[Shunch]

Day 5. The Monolith

 

The Ritual of Release was complete. Humming acolytes standing in a loose semi-circle around him, Dioq began the Incantation of Summoning. As he progressed, he felt his tongue grow hotter and hotter. When he finally opened his mouth, smoke poured out, curling unnaturally around his head as if it were alive. Where the tendrils got in to his ears, Dioq could hear frightful gibbering. The whispers were soft enough that he couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but chilling enough that he didn't want to.

 

He knew that Basavriuk would not enjoy Dioq going above him, but it was simple fact that the Cartel owned all this. Even if Basavriuk liked to think that the thing belonged to him, Dioq knew he was perfectly within his rights doing this. Despite everything, Dioq chuckled to himself. Perfectly within our rights, he thought. One could hardly imagine what a Puritan would have to say about all this.

 

From the floor, the dust began to twist from its own accord, turning around in circles faster and faster until a small swirl had been clearly defined on the stone floor. Twirling upwards in a writhing gray spire, the dust speared outwards and struck the inert body chained across the plinth before it. The body began to writhe and shake, just like it always did. Dioq could hear the hideous squelch of ruptured flesh and the cracking of stressed bones as the dust, through some undefinable means, forced its way through the body's sternum without ever breaking the skin.

 

Abruptly, all the noises stopped. The whispers in Dioq's head faded away into nothingness, the acolytes concluded the chant, and the body fell silent and stopped twitching. Chains rattling, the body sat up.

 

Iiyanaxphant looked straight at Dioq. It knew the nature of the agreement as well as he.

 

"What do you want?"

 

"I think you know as well as I do"

 

"So you admit I'm in your mind? My my, we sure have bonded, haven't we?"

 

Dioq ignored the daemonhost. Attempting to engage the thing in a game of wits would only lead to his own insanity, and Dioq was in no rush to destroy everything he had worked so hard to establish. No, the daemon was a tool. A weapon. Only a madman spoke to his sword, so only a madman would speak to this....thing.

 

"The Imperials, as I'm sure you know, are mobilizing", Dioq stated matter-of-factly, "we need to know what they're planning, and their psychic defenses are far too powerful for us to penetrate."

 

Iiyanaxphant smiled. "Maybe for you".

 

Dioq ignored the daemon again. "I want you to find me an Inquisitor. Preferably alone, though a few others can't hurt. When you locate him, do not engage. Do you hear me? If I find out you've so much as revealed yourself, I'll have you banished in an instant. Are we clear?"

 

"Crystal". the daemon opened its mouth to reveal its own gleaming teeth, as if to emphasize the point.

 

"When you find them, you are to transport myself and my personal retinue directly in. Then, you return here and await my instructions. Any questions?"

 

"Ye - no. No questions", Iiyanaxphant then added as an afterthought, "Lord."

 

"Good. Now move out, filth."

 

Iiyanaxphant smiled. It already had a perfect idea of where to teleport the moron.

[Inquisitor =D=]

Smoke drifted around the room, smoke from the heavy bolter's recent murder of two guardsmen. Blood misted the air still and the taste of copper was born on it. Decklan stretched out both in body and mind this was gonna hurt a bit. Having no ordnance at their disposal meant they'd have to improvise to get around the sentry gun. Reaching into his coat Decklan produced a small mirror and with it surveyed the room as best he could. The tarantula was set into a small alcove just left of an arched entrance. They were in luck a large stone statue, who's features were long since lost, stood to the left of the sentry gun.

Of the major techniques taught in the Scholastia Psykana Decklan was only gifted in two. The first of which was a minor amount of "Farsight", the ability to predict the future as it were, just enough to keep him out of immediate trouble. The second and the one he was most gifted in was Telekinesis, with it he could hurl objects, people, or just hit things, but the saying "every action has a reaction" still held true and it hurt.

Closing his eyes Decklan focused on the task at hand concentrating as hard as he dared, reciting prayers to the Emperor to help. He could taste blood and not just the remnants of the two guardsmen but his own blood. After what seemed forever, Decklan lashed out at the statue, his eyes ablaze with psychic energy. Decklan's force hit the statue like a speeding chimera sending it toppling onto the sentry gun. Dust bellowed into the air and all the guardsmen had to cover their ears from the sound. Bleeding from the nose Decklan slumped against the wall his head throbbing from the effort. "That gun won't be bothering us anymore... Clear the chamber, I'll join you in a minute." Was all that Decklan could say. It would take a few moments to regain his composure. Knocking people around was one thing but toppling statues was another task completely, it was painful to say the least. But now that the sentry was out of the way they could continue on.

[Shunch]

Day 5. Maeroc IV

 

The daemon-thing went incorporeal, and immediately set about hunting. A vaguely white trail streaked out of the monolith, and spiraled down to the jungle floor. Blazing through the jungle at a blinding speed, Iiyanaxphant's warp-enhanced eyes were still able to absorb even the most trivial of details as he passed them by

 

A rain-speckled mushroom here, a dying insectoid there, rotting forest animal over...

 

The daemon's brow lifted slightly. There. Over there, some significant amount of effort had just been expended. A burst of psychic force, physically manifested psychic force, had just been released only a few kilometers north. It tasted like telekinesis, powerful telekinesis. Surprising, for a human. If it was a human. Despite himself, Iiyanaxphant smiled. Someone was probably in a bit of pain right now.

 

And then he felt it. Like a sweet aroma, the scent of warp-taint wafted over to the daemon. This time, the host's eyes flared brightly. Oh, this one was so perfect. So close. Just a little push. A little shove towards the darkness, and this one would belong wholly and completely to the warp. He was on the verge of it already, dabbling in things he shouldn't. He was trying to be righteous about it, but this one was already given over, even if he didn't know it yet.

 

Iiyanaxphant wouldn't even have to do anything. Literally. Reaching with unseen hands into the warp, the daemonhost found Dioq and his men, ready within the summoning circle. It would obey the pompous ass in that regard, but Iiyanaxphant had no intentions on returning to the monolith afterwards

 

He wanted to see it happen. It would be...delicious.

[Captain Malachi]

(OOC: Can't be bothered to wait any longer for Kadeaux to give Hayes permission to come along, so let's just say he has)

 

Day 6, 02:00. Hangar bay.

 

"Hayes, James, I'm glad you could both make it." Levinski said, greeting each of the other inquisitors with his trademark smiles and a hand shake. "Hayes, I trust you've stocked up on ammo? We don't want to find Basavriuk and be unable to apprehend him."

 

"I've noticed you don't have a staff of your own yet," He continued, still talking to Hayes, "I'm assigning Liam to you until we return to orbit, you'll find he's a good soldier and has a fine eye for detail." Turning slightly to include James in to the conversation, he went on. "I'm sending my old comrade Darren to the bridge of the Glorious, he'll be monitering our progress through a pict link I had Alasor install in to my augmetic eye several weeks ago, he'll be able to keep us informed of anything important and will be able to lend his usual brilliant mind without having to exert himself too much through fieldwork."

 

Suddenly getting more serious, he continued. "We honestly don't know what to expect on the surface, orbital scans were inconclusive and the psychic interference is making it impossible to find anything out that way either. It is my belief that Basavriuk has already been here, it seems we would be able to get a psychic signal through a bit easier if he hadn't. We have no idea what he wanted here, so keep your eyes open for anything."

 

He stopped then, waiting to see if either of the other inquisitors had anything to ask or say before they trasferred to the Glorious.

[Kadaeux]

OOC: I don't need to give permission, my job is co-ordinating your efforts and information NOT telling you what to do! You only needed my authorisation to release ship assets for your use.

 

+++Maeroc IV+++

+++Day 6; 02:40+++

 

Ryas paced the bridge of the vessel as he digested the situation on the surface with careful consideration. "Inform our people on the surface to keep away from sector A/844/DR9," He ordered and a Lieutenant ran to the console and broadcase the message on the Conclaves frequency "Bring the Imperial Might to these co-ordinates and commence Lance Bombardment of that location." He pointed to one of the six immobile spots.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

The Imperial Might circled around the plant avoiding the estimate gunnery ranges of the still-menacing space Hulk. Soon it came to Orbit over its target and the Gothic Cruiser aligned its portside weapons on the spot and began to fire.

[Grand Master Tyrak]

Kadaeux Posted Today, 12:37 AM

OOC: I don't need to give permission, you're Inquisitors grow up and think for yourself, my job is co-ordinating your efforts and information NOT telling you what to do! You only needed my authorisation to release ship assets for your use.

 

*OOC* I'll answer in the OOC thread.

 

*IC*

 

Hayes remained silent, and looked Liam up and down. He nodded approvingly. His Astropath looked rather disgruntled at this.

[Melissia]

The guardswoman narrowed her eyes at the display of psychic power. Hate the witch had long been Imperial creed, and that translated to deep distrust (or in this case, deeper distrust) in those psykers who worked for the Imperium of Man. But knowing that this Inquisitor could overrule anything she said aside from simply shooting him (which she had not yet found cause to do-- yet), she ignored it for now and shouted to her squad: "Bravo Sweep, Charlie Foxtrot, by twos; I don't want anyone dying in here-- so keep your wits about you." She was near the middle of the formation, as most commanders tended to be, where she could issue orders quickly...

 

... a moment after the orders were given the guardsmen moved with efficiency that would make an old Space Marine proud, searching for inhabitants, traps, and other signs of possible hostiles.

 

 

[ooc]This next part is assuming it is clear other than the turret.[/ooc]

 

A few minutes later, a yell issued from the room: "Clear! Get in here Inquisitor, I do not want to be responsible for your death if they left someone behind looking for stragglers!"

[The emperors chosen]

IC

"sure Levinski, I am going to send the valkyrie down to the base camp to unload supplies, i think the ground teams need them, i just need to get some things in my quarters, then I will be ready to transfer

*Quarters,day six, 02:15*

"hmm, that seem to be all of it"James said, fitting the last of his things into a stuff sack, and throwing it over his shoulder " ah, a pity my armor is in the repair shop, I could of used it, ...ohh, almost forgot" he said, and going under his bed, took out a case, which he unlocked, and took out power-rapier. drawing it, and giving it a few test swings, he sheathed it, and attached it to his belt,"Levinski,I am coming down now, are you ready?"

[Inquisitor =D=]

A few minutes later, a yell issued from the room: "Clear! Get in here Inquisitor, I do not want to be responsible for your death if they left someone behind looking for stragglers!"

 

Inquisitor Decklan pushed himself up from the wall having regained his composure it was hard to tell he'd lifted a finger. Walking into the room he saw the damage he had caused bringing the statue down onto the gun. Pieces of stone were scattered all across the floor, as far as temples went this chamber was unremarkable. Four statues stood guard along one wall a set of double doors in the center, alcoves were set on every wall (one of which now houses a buried gun). Directly across from the statues were a set of stairs leading up and supposedly out of the temple. The chamber was poorly lit to begin with but now it was only lit by light of the guardsmen's flashlights and 'Olmes' built in lantern. As dark as the chamber was though Decklan didn't need much light to work with, he'd grown accustomed to it over the years.

As he approached the double doors he noted they were made of brass and though time had corroded them almost beyond reading he could make out ancient rites depicted on their surfaces. Analyzing anything that could give him a clue Decklan stared at the door for a moment, it was a curious display. Decklan placed a hand on the door, it was warm to the touch, he thought he could hear something on the other side. Something not unlike chains. He stepped away from the door and drew both of his bolt pistols feeling their reassuring touch on his hands. "Form Up! Someones on the other side of this door." He shouted to the guardsmen. They formed up with precision and ease, ready to handle anything on the other side of door.

At a word the doors were flung wide by the guardsmen, hot air rank with gore met the party causing many to gag at the stench. In the chamber ahead was a ghastly sight, gore from an unknown number of victims splattered every inch of the room. And in its center a figure was on its knees, held in place by numerous chains connected to hooks placed violently into its flesh. Around the hooks carved into the victim were sigils and other signs to the dark gods, its body pulsed and stretched with contained fury. The guardsmen turned some retching on the floor, but Decklan stood firm, he'd seen this before.

Decklan focused his mind and thought on the teachings of the Ordo Malleus on how to proceed. And as he thought the creature continued to spasm and shout. Remembering the prayer he was searching for Decklan began to chant at prayer of protection to keep the thing from him and the guardsmen. He raised one pistol and trained it on the creature he knew the blessed psycannon bolts would kill this thing without fear of a full possession taking place. "In Nomine Imperator." There was a flash of gunfire and the all was dark... the creature was dead.

 

"Someone turn their flashlight back on."

[Melissia]

"Keep your guard up, Inquisitor." She seemed to have a rather dim view of the Inquisition, but then, she was an embittered lesser officer of the Guard after all. She said to her squad, quickly and in a hushed voice: "Romeo Sierra Sierra". The guardsmen turned their lights on quickly at the command (quiteused to obeying orders), and began to scan the environments, sweeping across the room at the command issued in the phoenetic alphabet.

 

Continuing to treat the Inquisitor like a noncombatant, the woman stated: "Do not stay idle, let's continue moving. You provide direction and we shall go."

[Captain Malachi]

Day 6, 02:45. Hangar bay.

 

"Levinski, I am coming down now, are you ready?" James called over the vox.

 

"Of course, we'll be transferring over to the Glorious as soon as you get here, Hayes is here already." Levinski replied.

 

Day 6, 03:12. The Glorious.

 

"Right, we'll be heading down to the surface soon enough, but before we go I wanted to make sure neither of you had any questions." Levinski said to Hayes and James, during their trip to the other side of Maeroc IV.