[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (RPG IC)

[Mazer Rackham]

CHAPTER FIVE: ANGELS IN DIRTY PLACES

 

MISSION CLOCK: 0400 HRS ZULU.

TIME REMAINING: 11 Days

 

+++++++

 

The World of Damocles, The Hall Of Judgement, Day Cycle, 1st Segment .999.M41:

 

The early hours of the morning, the giant building begins to move. Literally everything is shaking. The vibration is so deep and violent, that alarm warnings erupt, declaring emergency protocols across 217 sectors of the lower hive, and around the thermal sink at the core. Anything not maglocked or taped down goes flying, the whole world listing one way, then back again, as the balance of the human inner ear is upset by the staggering vibration.

 

It lasts for half an hour. Once it subsides, people begin to pick themselves and pieces of their lives back up.

 

The prisoners in the holding pens share stunned glances, before lying down or against the wall, breathing hard.

 

Across from the communal cells are the solitaries. Reynard, Nicios, and Restal all inhabit one of these. Provided with a single bunk and ablutions cubicles, these are quite a grade up from the shared facilities the other prisoners are forced to endure. Even so, it is no Royal Hilverton Boarding House. Even the Imperial Knights beds had mattresses.

 

Clad in prison shifts and uncomfortable shoes, these three hapless servants of the Emperor endure the terrible rumbling.

 

On top of this, it has been several hours since the absolute spectacle in the upper spire, and the disturbing discoveries in the hidden crypt. The Halls of Judgement, the central Arbites command and control precinct, where the Judges train for all manner of eventualities that could befall a planet, are in turmoil. Absolom has declared martial law in many sectors of the hive to quell unrest in wake of the disturbances, and is currently eschewing all audiences. 

 

Voxhailers and notifications are thick in the squad rooms and dispatch pulpits, and Judges going out on duty bear the burden with a grim finality, as they clasp their shotguns tighter and cram on their body armour.

 

Rushing from their temporary bunks in the barracks, Falk and Bardas gain the safety of the Strategium, where they are ignored for the moment, as the business of restoring peace to the hive begins. Reports come in, that the Trade Houses and gangs have entered into open conflict, people are rioting, and the Ecclesiarchy is professing the end times for the world.

 

Patronages shift and flex as the hive convulses in painful throes, and the ramifications of the armed assault on the Governor.

 

Emerging from emergency counsel, a tall man wearing the uniform of the intelligence branch emerges, looking for the Arbitrator and Tech Sentinel.

 

"Provost Haldane," he calls, "quickly, come into my office - such as it is."

 

When you pass through the door, the floor and desk are strewn with detritus. Haldane pulls two chairs upright and retreats behind his own desk, waving you both to sit.

 

"We're in a hell of a state. Give me the gist."

 

Below, in the prison pen, the doors to the general pen have come loose, and the prisoners force the gates open, spilling into the small exercise and processing square. They laugh and joke, hysterical at being alive. They bang on the armoured glass portholes looking into the single-occupant rooms.

 

Falk/Bardas count as rested, although they will need to eat/drink etc. Nicios, Restal and Reynard are rested, but have 1 Level of Fatigue, as previously discussed.

Edited February 7, 2023 by Mazer Rackham
Typos/info

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard stayed in his bunk. Unlikely that it would protect him if the whole building came down, but it might be enough to avoid any smaller objects thrown around by aftershocks. He laid down and did his best to ignore the fools banging on the glass. Better to rest as much as he could, just in case he managed to get out.

 

Surely Absolom would soon release them? His claims and charges in the audience chamber were flat out ridiculous, the 'evidence' against them obviously full of holes. Reynard wondered how Valkyrie was faring. If she could speak, she would vouch for them. Hopefully.

 

Finally he shrugged. Pointless to concern himself. He couldn't go anywhere or do anything right now. He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable on the hard pallet.
 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cellblock:

 

The raucous mob get rowdier, hurling things at each other, and the glass partitions. One of them, a small  man has his head pressed up against the glass of Reynard's cell by a huge fist, before screaming and having his skull smashed across the glass in a red gush.

 

One bright individual decides to moon into Restal's quarters, pressing his well-appointed buttocks against the glass before drawing a face in the prints.

 

Another peers in at Nicios. "Hey! Hey Jubal, don't we know this guy?"

 

A pack of faces suddenly fill Nicios' window.

 

"Yeah, he was at the magrail station. Right before that bigwig and the Rozzers showed up."

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

From the scraps of information he had overheard since arriving his companions had already brought the wrath of the arbites down upon Aldario, and as the quake began he wondered if such premature confrontation was to be the end of it all... taking scant solace in knowing that the destruction of the hive did not fit any known motivation, now if only he could discern what in the Emperors name was going on.

 

A false alarm this time, a prelude, warning, or distraction was yet to be known.

 

The wait for audience was painful but calming the nerves of the nobles no doubt came first as no serious response could be mounted if the arbites had to keep them in line as well, Falk had seen the exodus of a noble house only once before and its momentum cared not for those that fell across its path. As Haldane called he ran through the events once more weighing suspicion against fact and the information given by the inquisition that might prove key, but which was not given freely.

 

Sitting before the Provost and placing his most recent cup of kaff to one side he took a long breath and began.

 

"Two days ago I was tasked by Praefector Absolom Drake to locate three individuals including Tech-Sentry Bardas here and Jericus Nicios of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica for special assignment. An Investigation of a murder now nine days past and threats in its wake of the destruction of the hive."

 

Falk paused for a moment as he ordered the events in his mind, "Initial suspicions fell upon the Tau in the light of xenotech siezed in recent arbites actions and now in the hive warehouse, but no evidence of their direct intervention has yet surfaced. It is speculation but the theft or sale of such assets from Aldarios past may have been the mis-step that brought attention to this whole affair".

 

Removing the picture of the three sisters from his coat Falk continued, "The three sisters of the Aldario household, now known to carry the mark of the witch, and an unwitnessed confession of their father to have made some form of trade to free Magda from the attentions of the black ships and to have pursued some cure to their affliction."

 

Still all that linked him to these events is his unconfirmed confession in a crypt that had been tampered with, "if he still lives he must be found, a picture, his script compared to that on the crypt below the warehouse. We have chased too many ghosts these past days." A picture in particular as for all they knew they had met him already under another name.

 

Glancing at Bardas least the tech priest had information to add he pressed on, "The victim, Dreyfuss, was missing when we located his sanctum, killed or carried away by something strong enough to tear open a security bulkhead. He had been consumed by paranoia and obsession and his notes spoke of a serum and a device by which to deploy it, he spoke of unseen enemies and the need to bring about their destruction. We have been retracing his movements ever since."

 

At that Falk paused to gauge the provosts reaction to his words.

[Mazer Rackham]

Appreciate that A.T, always nice to know how the Player and Characters are perceiving things.

 

The Halls of Judgement:

 

Provost Haldane frowns as you boil it down for him, but his eyes are sharp, alert. He absorbs the information without interruptions. He looks off into the middle distance as he thinks. A cold anger settles behind his eyes.

 

"There is no reason to delay. With the Storehouse in our hands, the blasphemy is significant, and well evidenced. You are well entrenched in this investigation and will be placed in charge for now, whilst we wrestle with the immediate problems. You will report directly to me, until the Praefector can be spared."

 

He studies the picter-graph, tapping the face of Lady Gwynne. "I know of this one. The Governor passed a writ of exclusion, barring her and some others from the Tower of Echoes. They slipped away before we could transport them to a sanctuary within the Telepathicum. I will issue an APB for her arrest. Being Sanctioned will make her safer to bring in with our stretched resources."

 

As he says it, he's doing it, fiddling with a comms headset and patching through to the dispatchers. He gives the details before turning to the picture again. "Well, well, well. The Governor is actually Helene. I've never had the pleasure - the spotlight isn't something for me to court. However..."

 

He reaches into his desk and withdraws a secure dataslate. From your seat you can see he is drawing up a Warrant.

 

For the sanction and arrest of Helene Aldario. The charge: Treason.

 

"That should start us off," he says, stylus snaking across the screen, "Tech-Sentry, do you have anything to add to Mr Falke's report?"

[Trokair]

Bardas

 

+I do Sir+ He takes a moment to collect his thoughts.

 

+During the investigation we have been hindered by armed opposition, no doubt sent to hide the crimes and silence any investigation. I believe that there are in fact two distinct groups. I do not know if they are partners in crime each trying to remove loose ends or if one is third party that seeks to profit from the events and is eliminating anybody who could get in the way.+

 

+One set of opposition consists of well trained and equipped mercenaries who have no hesitation of killing civilians that get in the way.+ Bardas briefly recounts some of the details in and outside Rivet City.

 

+The other group is less clear so far, but at least one part resides amongst or has access to a senior member of the Adeptus Mechanicus. It is possible that the honoured Praefector was already aware of some aspect of this, given that I was seconded to this assignment and I am an outsider to the local enclaves of my Order here in Hive Primus.+

 

 

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

"Lucian Greyson, Brimlock Grenadiers", interjects Falk, "seen with Fabian Canthus during the assassination attempt two days ago immediately after the destruction of Hive Tertius, pict recordings should confirm this and the assassins were aprehended on scene".

 

Falks tone grew colder, "they count both civilians and arbites among the casualties of their actions and may have been involved in the ambush at the warehouse. Analysis of the final vox record may match gunfire to the weapons they carry but more evidence will be needed to tie them to a noble house. If we don't find them soon they may be deemed an unaffordable risk to their employer."

 

He leaned back once more. Greysons men had been everywhere, perhaps even the warehouse somehow... yet did not recognise him in the underhive, nor had they tracked the pair during their later meeting with Tracer. He recalled the mans words, that anyone could be 'one of them', paranoia perhaps as his thoughts circled back around to the assassins.

[Mazer Rackham]

Haldane's Office:

 

"Greyson, I'll task one of our React teams to deal with him. We'll secure intellicam and picter privileges and we'll take a look at Fabian Canthus and his bully boys. Once we locate them," Haldane's says, face hard, "we'll shoot on sight. There can be no other punishment for the murder of Judges."

 

"This other party will not be so easy to deal with," Haldane continues scribbling, the paperwork of the Arbites in full flow now, "Tech-Sentry Bardas, you are well aware of the nature of your brethren, and their aggressive stance on sovereignty. We must proceed with more caution there. I will require harder proof of meddling to appease the Fabricator General of Damocles. Or, at least a bigger stick."

 

"Speaking of assassination attempts - there was an incident last evening, where three men burst into the chambers of the Governor and tried to eliminate her. It was an absolute mess of course. The Praefector demanded I place the bastards in protective custody. I didn't ask why. There is a connection here, but I do not immediately see it."

 

The Holding Cells:

 

"'E's a Judge spy, inn'e! We'll soon 'ave you outta there, little man."

 

The faces vanish from Nicios' window, and instead a heavy I-beam is braced against the glass, before a cadence of ramming starts, the metal thudding against the armoured material, small spider-webs beginning at the edges.

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

"At this time information is of greatest value to us, Greyson is the tool not the hand that wields it and his interrogation may be the key to ascertaining how deeply the Canthus household is involved in these events. Similarly I ask that no writ be issued for the Lady Gwynne at this time, she has sanction and so far only ancillary connection to these events, and her arrest may drive others underground before they can be questioned."

 

"Have the would-be assassins been identified, both here and at the station? A great deal of recent events suggest a power play between the houses that will only be heightened by the arrest of the Governor but this does not sound like it would be the work of Canthus or Greyson".

[Mazer Rackham]

Haldane's Office:

 

"You're the man on the ground, Falke. I shall stay the writs, and amend the order as you suggest. You're right, of course. Justice delayed for cause is not justice denied."

 

With a flick of his wrist, he puts the orders into 'draft', and pauses. "The would-be assassins are charged with murder, and as directed, being held under temporary ident, not their names."

 

"If you wish to interrogate them, I will take you to the cell block."

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

Falk nods, "let us begin, I will review the terms of their protection en-route. Do you have the files of the attack on hand?". The Praefectors custody order would not have been given lightly and would limit the scope of the investigation while he remained unavailable.

 

"One more thing, what is the status of the Secundus, Aldario?"

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

"Normally I'd meditate to relieve myself of the aches that the Arbites inflicted on me," Nicios said calmly to his companions, "but I believe our friends in the next cell are not going to allow me that luxury."

 

He stood up walked to the window. Placing his left hand upon it, he asked the inmates in the other room a simple question.

 

"Do you want to feel pain?"

 

 

Spoiler

Invocation (Willpower) test

Target - 43 (53 - 10 Fatigue)

Roll - 25

Result = Pass

 

 

Nicios' eyes go cold and dark, his smile a mere twitch as the litanies of retribution whisper through his head.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Lord_Ikka

[Mazer Rackham]

Haldane's Office:

 

Haldane answers the last question first. "Ah, yes, Kraevus. I assume he's still in the spire. My agent has yet to report in."

 

He spots your expression as he gets to his feet, bucking on his bolt pistol sidearm. "Who watches the watchdogs, after all, yes? After the affair with the appointed Secundus, the Praefector ordered surveillance. I have a good woman watching him. Her report is overdue, but..." he waves his hands at the mess.

 

Which he then searches through.

 

"The prisoners, yes, here."

 

He proffers a dataslate to Falk, containing the arrest reports, and describing the details of what transpired in the Governor's private audience chamber.

 

Arbites Custody Report: Incident 0114.

Detained: 3 males

Charge: Murder, Assault, Weapons Violations (Cont in Annex 3)

Victim: Prioress-Emissary Constanza Emilia D'Arque von Meridia

/Temporary prisoner numbers assigned: (Auth Append - Absolom Drake <DNA_print_encode>

Suspect One: <general description appended> IDENT: R34CH-01

Suspect Two: <general description appended> IDENT: NC1701-J

Suspect Three: <general description appended> IDENT: K3R3-AL

 

From the holopicts, you know these gentlemen very well.

 

He eschews a soft hat in favour of his Arbites helm, trapping it under his arm. It is badge enough, because apart from the small silver and golden oak leaves, he could be mistaken for any type of private security officer. "Prentice! Prentice, where the devil are you, man?"

 

"Sir?" an armoured street Judge replies, standing up, and saluting.

 

"With me! Escort duty, the holding cells."

 

"Sir!" The Judge checks his shotgun and tidies himself a bit, slapping off thick dust pockets from where he's been out and about.

 

The Holding cells:

 

"You'll be the one feeling pain in a minute, punk!" one of them barks.

 

The plasteel girder slams into the glass again, fracturing another layer.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

"I will give you one opportunity to turn away before the Emperor’s Judgment comes."

[Mazer Rackham]

The Holding Cells:

 

"Mate, when I get me 'ands on yer, youse the one gonna be wantin' Th'Emperor's judgement!"

 

Another thump, and the glass cracks in twain. Metal bars are jammed into the crack, or beat at the fissure to splinter it and break it open. The split is big enough to smell the scent of these thugs, cooped up together in sour sweat and ordure.

 

At this rate, they will be through any minute. Enough to squeeze objects through, then themselves.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

"Feel the Emperor’s Pain as He sits on his eternal Throne!"

 

Spoiler

Manifest Pyschic Power- Inflict Pain

Target - Speaking inmate

Threshold - 8

 

Roll - 3 + 6 + 5(WPB) +5 (Invocation) = 19

 

Overbleed x 1 (10 over threshold)- second target affected (second speaking inmate/closest inmate).

 

Result - all targets need to take a Willpower test, failure means that they have a -10 to any and all Tests as they struggle to overcome debilitating pain. No Psychic Phenomenon occur (no 9s rolled).

 

Power is Sustained until caster stops, re-test every 10 Rounds.

 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Holding Cells:

 

The two nearest - Jubal and his gobby mate from the magrail terminal, suddenly drop their clubs and sink slowly to their knees.

 

The effect is dramatic, the mob backs off quickly, some making the sign of the Aquila. There are hushed whispers about the 'taking the Emperor's name' and 'offending a blessed servant'.

 

"Blimey, E's one of them penitents, or sommat..." one gutturally croaks, as the two afflicted men seethe and gasp.

 

One of them, a smaller one, with a slightly more intelligent look about him carefully returns to the window, although he's bowing.

 

"I's sorry yer honner," he says. "We didn't knows."

 

Even the buttock-mooning idiot wipes the glass clean with his own prison garment, and the fighting stalls completely.

 

R|elative peace and quiet is resumed, the offending men left alone, the others unwilling to touch or interfere with the God Emperor's Wrath.

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Nicios merely nods to the former attacking inmates,  goes back to the ferrocrete bunk and sits. Eyes closed, he attempts to clear his mind.

 

 

Spoiler

Meditation- Willpower Test

Target - 43 (53 - 10 Fatigue)

Roll - 45

Result - Fail

 

The events of the past day swirl in his thoughts and when combined with the lingering pain of the Arbites' stun batons make meditation too difficult to accomplish. Sighing, he simple folds himself into a lotus position on the bunk and waits.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Lord_Ikka

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cellblock:

 

Five minutes pass, before the end of the cellblock is opened - this time from the Arbites side. A burly officer in detainment armour passes through the gate, flanked by two figures, both in exquisite robes. One is tall, male, the other female, half a head shorter. They approach all three cells, before the custodian takes his leave, with a small nod, locking up the doors of the suite behind him.

 

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the noble heroes."

 

The voice is cold, despite the evident smile. It is clipped, and dripping in blue-blood.

 

De Grassi pulls his hood back and runs a gloved hand through his hair.

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard opened one eye. Then closed it again.

 

"My word, child, your life must be even duller than I thought," he offered casually. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cellblock:

 

De Grassi chuckles, completely unperturbed by your dismissive attitude. "Oh, I'm very busy."

 

"I just wanted to thank you for your assistance." He takes a step closer to your window, and begins to laugh. The mirth is sharp, hard. Bitter. When he stops, his face is composed again, cold. "Everyone does what I want. In the end."

 

He nods to his companion and bangs on the door for the Arbites officer to open up.

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Yawning, Reynard let out a mutter. Ostensibly to himself, but he made sure it was loud enough to just be heard.

 

"Throne, what a -wit. Primus might actually be better off burnt to the ground, rather than ruled by one like that."

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cellblock:

 

"Considering I am withdrawing my witness statement against you, we're even." De Grassi thinks for a second. He inclines his head slightly, lip pulled up into a dangerous smirk. "Besides, you may get your wish. Ten minutes ago, I heard the news. Hive Secundus, stands no longer."

 

The guard opens the door and De Grassi swans out.

 

"Be seeing you..!" He waves over his shoulder.

 

He's gone.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

Blancmange the eyes always blinking during re-entry from the Warp. 

 

Who, who, what, why and what did it all have to do with the K? 

 

Something... 

 

Activity from the mewling hordes, drew him away from the sleeping. 

 

Slowly 

 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Halls of Judgement:

 

"Provost!" A young Judge runs down the stairs to catch Haldane, Bardas and Falk on the landing. He's out of breath, pasty. 

 

"What's the matter?"

 

"Hive Secundus, sir.  It's...it's...gone, sir. Notification just came in. We've been dealing with so much comms static..." He offers a dataslate.

 

Provost Haldane looks it over. "My God. Twenty-four million souls dwelled within. What is happening on Damocles?"